How to Hire Diesel Technicians During the Technician Shortage

Growth stalls when there is nobody to turn wrenches. Many truck shop owners say finding and keeping good technicians is harder than finding work. This guide covers where to recruit, what technicians look for, how to grow your own, and how steady work from All Roadside helps you keep the people you hire.

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Know what you are hiring for

Write down the actual role: shop or road, experience level, schedule, on-call duties, required tools and licenses. A clear role attracts the right people and filters out the wrong ones.

Write a real job posting

Include pay range, schedule, on-call expectations, benefits, tool allowances, training and equipment. Describe the shop honestly. Postings that hide pay get fewer serious applicants.

Where to recruit

Diesel and heavy equipment programs at technical schools and community colleges. Visit, speak to classes, offer shop tours.
High school career and technical programs.
Military transition programs, where many veterans have relevant mechanical experience.
Job boards and social media, with real photos of your shop.
Referrals from your current team, with a referral bonus if you can afford one.
Parts suppliers and dealers, who often hear who is looking.

What technicians look for

Fair, predictable pay. Good equipment and diagnostic tools. A clean, safe shop. Reasonable on-call rotation. Respect. Training and a path to advance. Steady work, because flat-rate technicians earn less when the bays are empty.

Grow your own technicians

Apprenticeships and entry-level roles let you train people your way. Pair new hires with an experienced technician. Pay for training and certifications, perhaps with a reasonable commitment to stay.

Halfway: technicians stay where the work is steady. A free All Roadside listing helps keep bays and road trucks busy.

Interview well

Ask about real repairs they have done. Give a practical diagnostic scenario. Check references. Let the candidate meet the team and see the shop.

Onboard properly

A first-week plan, a mentor, clear safety rules, and regular check-ins during the first months. Many new hires leave early because nobody explained how things work.

Keep the people you have

Review pay regularly.
Share on-call fairly and pay for it.
Invest in tools and training.
Recognize good work.
Ask what would make the job better, then act.

Road technicians need extra support

Mobile technicians work alone, in weather, beside traffic. Give them good service trucks, safety gear, clear dispatch information and a way to reach help.

Steady work is part of retention

A shop with an unpredictable workload struggles to promise steady hours. Consistent call flow from several sources, including directories, smooths the peaks and valleys.

Frequently asked questions

Should I hire for experience or attitude?

Both matter, but a reliable person with a good attitude can be trained, while an experienced technician with poor habits can hurt the whole team. Many owners hire for attitude and basic skill, then invest in training.

How do I compete with dealers and large fleets for technicians?

Smaller shops can offer things larger employers sometimes cannot: more variety, a direct line to the owner, flexibility, and a voice in how the shop runs. Highlight those in postings and interviews.

Is on-call work a hiring obstacle?

It can be if it is unfair or unpaid. Spread on-call shifts evenly, pay for them, and keep them predictable. Clear rules make on-call easier to accept.

How does steady work help retention?

Technicians, especially those paid by the job, want full schedules. A shop with steady call flow from repeat customers, fleets and directory listings can offer more predictable hours, which keeps good people longer.

When should I hire a road technician?

When road calls are being turned away or delaying shop work. A road technician paired with a mobile listing that covers your home town plus 30 miles on All Roadside can turn those missed calls into revenue.

How All Roadside fits

Drivers and dispatchers search a truck problem in a place, land on All Roadside city, interstate, exit and problem pages, and call a provider from the directory.

Free: name, phone, address, hours and services on the area pages that cover you, closest first, below the paid sections, no photos.
Pro: $99 per month per listing, or $990 per year. Rotates in the Pro section above all free listings and covers every service category at that location.
Sponsored: an add-on to Pro. Two spots per service per area, shown above Pro, won by the highest monthly bid. Starting bids vary by city size.
Platinum: invite only, top of the list with rotating first place, for roughly the top 10 percent of providers in an area, chosen on answered calls, driver feedback and service quality.

Coverage is your home town plus 25 miles for shops, or plus 30 miles for mobile repair and towing. Add a listing in another town to reach farther.