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Under The Hood
Is the shop heated? Air conditioned?
Our shops are well ventilated when it’s warm and are heated including in floor heating in the winter.
What is the size of the team I’d be working with?
Each location and shop department size varies. Within our “Family of Companies,” the shop size can be as small as 2 technicians or up to 26 technicians in our larger shops.
What are the shop hours and what are the shift timeframes?
Hours per day vary by company, location, and department. Our business operating hours are Monday – Friday, 7:00 AM to 12:00 AM. We run 3 shifts, 1st shift, 2nd shift and 3rd shift. We also offer 24/7 on-call roadside assistance. Some locations offer 4-10’s.
What tools does the shop provide that are available for all technicians to use?
The shops provide all diagnostic tools, large sockets, specialty required tools, etc. Hand tools and toolbox are supplied by the technician or through our Toolbox Program (limited supply).
What type of break room facility is provided?
The break rooms contain tables and chairs, microwave, refrigerator/freezer, toaster, pizza oven, vending machines, plates, napkins, utensils, etc.
How many bays does your shop have?
The number of bays varies by location/department. It ranges from 2 bays at our smallest shop to 19 bays at our largest shop.
How many repair orders do you average per month?
Our largest shop closes 1,000 repair orders per month.
What is your parts ordering process?
We have a full retail Parts Department and Warehouse stocked with commonly needed/used parts that are pulled from our warehouse. Specialty parts (if not stocked) would be sourced by our parts department or Service Manager. Sourced parts are typically from local parts stores, online, or dealers, most of which we get same or next-day delivery. Technicians fill out a parts order request form then they are pulled for the technician. We feel that it’s important for technicians to focus on diagnosing and repairing vehicles and don’t want to burden them with looking through parts catalogs. We also have additional staff to do parts runs when needed.
What is your policy on side work?
If/when Supervisor approves, it is okay to work on immediate family vehicles.
Are there any other unique features of the work environment worth noting?
We are a fun, caring, Minnesota-based, family-owned business that truly cares about its employees. We like to work hard, play hard, and take pride in everything we do!
Do you offer any skills training or continuing education opportunities?
We offer in-house vendor training, leadership classes, endless online training, on-the-job training, hands-on experience, shadowing of experienced mechanics, and a monthly technician test given to gauge knowledge and growth mechanically during your employment with us. We choose a select few engine technicians that are offered additional certifications (such as CAT & Cummins Engine courses etc.)
Can you describe opportunities for career growth at your business?
Within our “Family of Companies,” the opportunities are truly endless. We are huge about promoting within, and we do promote within often. We post jobs internally before looking outside the organization. We offer a Leadership class to help develop our emerging leaders. We also stress our “Open Door Policy” because we value our employees and their ideas. Our goal is to retain long-term employees and have a fun work environment for all our employees.
Can you describe your performance review process?
We do a 90-day review/check-in from the date of employment. As well as annual performance based reviews that are completed mid-year (June).
What type of safety training is required?
Safety is very important at the Blaine Brothers Family of Companies, and we take pride in having a safe work environment for all our employees. All employees attend our monthly safety meetings and go through OSHA training. We also have in-shop meetings per department to go over safety training/concerns/issues as well as participate in our daily stretching programs which are proven to decrease strains/injuries.
Can you describe how Techs work with and mentor younger techs?
We have a 30/60/90-day process for our new technicians. Our company has provided over 40 plus years of service in the trucking industry, and we have mechanics that have been on the journey with us throughout all these years. Management takes the initial lead role in who will mentor each new technician based on their skills. Everyone in the shop helps each other out. Our experienced mechanics truly want to pass down their years of knowledge to our “green/new techs”. With younger technicians, it really depends on how much experience the younger technician has. We start by having you shadow one of our experienced technicians for a week, a month, or up to 90 days, depending on how quickly you pick up on how we do things. We may also have you shadow multiple technicians during the first 90-days, as each tech has a different skill set to offer. After that, we put you on your own under close supervision from the Service Manager/Shop Lead as they are always there to answer questions and offer technical advice where and when needed. Each person is different and we treat each training situation as such.
How does your shop get involved with the local community?
We love to give back. We donate to Toys for Tots, Earth clean-up day, Military/Veteran partnerships, as well we have many sponsorships we sponsor/donate etc.
Do you do anything with local high schools or tech schools to encourage more students to enter the profession?
100%. We volunteer a lot of our time to the local High Schools and Technical Colleges in and around the surrounding areas. We helped develop a program with the Tri-District that allows the high school students to get those hands-on shop experiences, one group assisted with building a Grill Truck…. that was cool. We also help in the classrooms by providing helpful tools such as mock interviews, resume writing classes, etc., helping the students prepare for the career force. We also attend career days and job fairs at the local schools and colleges.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention about career development and community?
We are always open to helping out within our community’s career development which is why we are involved with our local schools and colleges, as well as, the development of our employees.
Do you phone screen applicants before doing in-person interviews?
Yes. The phone screen typically takes 15-30 minutes depending on the position you are applying for. This is a great opportunity to chat more about the position, your mechanical background, benefits, and any other questions you many have!
What do your in-person interviews entail?
After you complete the phone screen, the next step in our hiring process is an in-person interview with the hiring manager and tour of the shop! The manager will conduct a casual one-on-one interview to get to know you, your experience, knowledge, and skill set to determine if it’s a good fit for you, as well as, for the company. After the one-on-one sit-down, the hiring manager will give you a tour of the shop to give you an idea of what we do on a day-to-day basis. Interviews typically take between 30 minutes to an hour depending on how the conversation goes or if you have questions. After the tour we may have you complete an official application, and obtain a copy of your driver’s license along with a signed MVR form (if needed for the position) for insurability purposes.
Do you perform background checks, drug screening, or personality tests before hiring an applicant?
Currently, the only positions we require a background check for is Tow Truck Drivers. The interview process helps us get an idea of your skills/knowledge to determine whether you’d be a good candidate for the position. We do not perform a personality test. We do require a pre-employment physical and drug screen after an offer has been accepted, however, the offer can be withdrawn if you cannot perform the essential required functions for the position determined by a medical examination or passing a DOT pre-employment drug test (if required). Our Core Family Values are very important to us, we aren’t looking to just fill a role, we are looking for individuals who want to be a part of our family culture. We like to work hard, play hard, and take pride in everything we do!
Do you perform a skill assessment before hiring an applicant? If yes, what does it entail?
No skill assessment is completed before hiring. Once an employee is hired, we may utilize a technician test to help us determine your strengths and areas of knowledge, as well as, to gain insight to areas for continued development and training. During the interview process, the manager asks detailed questions to learn more about your technical skill sets and mechanical knowledge. This allows us to have productive conversations about your work experience, education, training, and development.
After an in-person interview, approximately how long should I expect to wait for a rejection or an offer?
Applying for a new job can be stressful, and we recognize that change is hard. We pride ourselves on making sure that we keep an open line of communication and we try to connect with the candidates quickly. It could be as soon as an hour after the interview, with a maximum of 48 hours (unless more interviews are scheduled) which in that case we do let you know the timing of when the decision will be made. It’s also important to us to clearly communicate that you can feel free to reach out to us with any questions, updates, or where you as the applicant stand in the process. Our goal is to give an answer sooner rather than later, but you will hear back from us and are always welcome to reach out to us as well.
Approximately how long does the full hiring process take from submitting the application to the time of the hiring decision?
It’s a quick turnaround. One week maximum. Once an application is submitted, our recruiting team immediately reviews the applicant and determines if there is a potential position within our Family of Companies that would fit the applicant’s skillsets. As far as timing goes, from the date of the interview to the end of the pre-employment physical process can be 3-5 days pending the physical/drug test results. Most hired employees start as soon as 1-2 weeks from the offer being accepted (could be sooner). HR will coordinate/confirm a start date that works with your availability.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention about your hiring process?
We are a Minnesota based and family-owned business that cares about its employees. We are looking for candidates that want to be a part of a family, someone who takes pride in the quality of work they put into every job they do. We do not expect an immediate decision once an offer is made; we encourage you to think through an offer (once extended). It’s important to us that you feel it’s a fit and that you want to be a part of our team. We only ask that you communicate with us about your decision.
DIESEL TECHNICIAN / MECHANIC
Pay Range: $25.00 - $45.00/hour
Wage varies based on skillset and experience. We are always open to discussing wage! No cap on wage. Hourly pay. Overtime opportunities. Anything over 40 hours per week is paid at time and a half. Paid Weekly. 10% Shift Differential on 2nd and 3rd Shifts.
- Health Insurance Offered
- We offer full health benefits. Employer pays 72% of your weekly medical premium (cost varies depending on plan choice)
- Dental Insurance Offered
- We have a plan available through Delta Dental.
- Vision Insurance Offered
- We have a plan available through EyeMed for hardware/contacts & glasses. Eye exams are covered under our medical plans.
- Retirement Plan Offered
- We offer employees a 401K plan with a company match.
- Sick Leave Offered
- Part of the PTO bank.
- Vacation Offered
- Years (1-5) accrue 1.54 hours/week = 80 hours Years (6-14) accrue 2.31 hours/week = 120 hours Years (15+) accrue 3.08 hours/week = 160 hours (PTO rollovers year to year) it is NOT a "use it or lose it" program. 2-weeks paid Military leave for drills yearly, eligible after 1-year of employment
- Paid Holidays Offered
- 6 paid holidays (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day). Holidays that fall on Saturday or Sunday (we are closed the Friday before or the Monday after).
- ST / LT Disability Offered
- Short and long-term disability insurance is available at employee’s expense and may be purchased after 30 days. Rates: Vary depending on wages
- Life Insurance Offered
- A $50,000 life insurance policy is gifted to all full-time employees. Additional coverage may be purchased at the employee’s expense.
- Uniforms Offered
- Uniforms provided along with cleaning services.
- Other Offered
- We reimburse technicians for safety prescription glasses & boots yearly. Health Savings Account (optional). Flex Spending Account for Dependent Care (optional). $5000 Sign on Bonus. Monthly Incentive Bonus based on efficiency. Internal Referral Bonus. Family Culture that drives appreciation days, company and family events, and annual company-wide Christmas Party. We like to work hard, play hard, and take pride in everything we do!
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