One of the issues which has dogged O’Reilly Trucks’ operation as it has grown is the ability to source new technicians to handle the increasing volume of work.
Brad O’Reilly and his wife Tracey have struggled to find new people or to recruit experienced technicians with suitable experience.
“We have struggled over the years to get technicians, but recently it probably has actually got easier,” says Brad.
“At the moment, a lot more mature age apprenticeship applications are put forward by people applying for positions, but five years prior to that it was very hard. Over the years we’ve trained them and most boys have given us a few years, once they qualify.
“There have been qualified people that come along, but they’re not to our standard. We do expect a high standard from our team and some find that difficult and move on.
“If you go somewhere else to get into your trade, but you don’t have people that know their stuff teaching you, it’s not good. We’ve had people coming in and they tell me they can do all these jobs and you give them the job and they go, ‘I don’t know how to do this’.
“We have found it more beneficial to put on people who we can build with and train into good technicians and in return, look after them.”
Statements like that are a damning indictment on some training schemes.
These problems and the similar experiences are being suffered by other maintenance truck maintenance operations in Wagga Wagga and around the area.
Brad used to work with one of the local Wagga TAFE teachers and has come to know all the TAFE teachers really well. This lead the O’Reillys to approach the local Wagga Wagga TAFE to get an apprenticeship teaching hub set up in the city.
There is now a central training hub that provides product specific training course available for apprentices in the area to learn about truck maintenance operations. It has gained a good reputation and is getting industry support.
Image: Prime Creative MediaThis particular course is drawing in young people who want to become truck technicians, not just from Wagga Wagga but also as far as field as Albury, Dubbo, Young and Forbes.
There’s also ‘girls can do’ program running at the local TAFE There’s about 12 or 15 girls from schools that go to TAFE one day a week for a term that take part and learn automotive and different skills. The O’Reilly business is a big supporter of it.
“We check in throughout the term and take some merchandise up,” says Tracey.
“They have challenges each week like who can remove the wheel the fastest, and they win the merch, but it’s enticing girls to get into trades as well. We’ve got a really good relationship with them and do whatever we can to help them out.”
The workplace culture the pair have developed has enabled them to keep technicians who might otherwise be tempted elsewhere.
“Every morning, I’ll go around everyone and say good morning,” says Brad. “In the afternoon I’ll go around and say thanks. Just simple things, and they appreciate it, I know I used to.
“There’s no crankiness here. We uphold high level of privacy and confidentiality for our customers and our team, with policies that outline the use of social media in the workplace.
“With everyone knowing the expectations of behaviour and actions in the workplace and is held accountable, with respect social media, you don’t take photos in the workplace and send them, reminding the next generation that a Snapchat ends up as a Reel and then it ends up across the world and it’s there forever.
“We have regular team meetings that gives everyone an opportunity to be updated and express ideas for improvement in the workplace. It gives them a bit of ownership as well.”
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