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Under The Hood
Is the shop heated? Air conditioned?
The Columbia shops are not heated or air conditioned.
What is the size of the team I’d be working with?
20 to 30 technicians
What are the shop hours and what are the shift timeframes?
7:30am-4:00pm, Monday-Friday. Overtime is sometimes required.
What tools does the shop provide that are available for all technicians to use?
Blanchard Machinery (BMC) has a toolroom that provides lifting, jacking, and cribbing equipment along with specialized tooling required for properly troubleshooting and repairing equipment.
What type of break room facility is provided?
BMS has a dedicated breakroom for employees.
How many bays does your shop have?
There are 10 bays in the Columbia Main Shop, 8 bays in the Major Machine Reconditioning Center (MMRC), and additional bays in the Specialization Shop.
How many repair orders do you average per month?
Information coming soon!
What is your parts ordering process?
When you team up with Blanchard, you gain access to Parts.Cat.com (PCC) — an online superstore with over 1.4 million Cat parts available for order. Parts.Cat.com is simple to navigate, and finding the right parts is easy using intuitive menus accompanied by images and factory specs. With a PCC account, you can order parts from anywhere 24/7/365 and ship your order directly to your job site. At Blanchard, we have 12 parts locations to serve you, along with dozens of Parts Express Drop boxes spread across South Carolina for simple and fast pickup. The Blanchard network of Parts Express Dropbox locations is a fast and convenient way for you to get your parts without having to travel to one of our statewide locations. With over 30 drop-off parts box locations, you can be assured convenient parts pick-up. We can also ship parts directly to you. For a minimal fee, any part weighing 50 lbs. or less can be delivered to the Parts Express Dropbox closest to you. We have over 125,000 Cat parts and non-Cat parts in stock, and we accept new parts shuttle deliveries direct from Caterpillar daily. While we can’t stock every part on our shelves, our Cat Parts Network ensures you’ll get what you need quickly. If you need something we don’t have in stock, we will get it fast. In over 98% of cases, requests for parts are ready for pickup within 24 hours so you can get your equipment back online.
What is your policy on side work?
We ask that employees do not perform work on the side.
Are there any other unique features of the work environment worth noting?
Safety Culture - We will foster a physically, emotionally, and psychologically safe work environment.
Do you offer any skills training or continuing education opportunities?
Blanchard Machinery offers apprenticeship programs for high school graduates as well the "Blanchard Blueprint" that is a guided career path for Diesel technicians.
Can you describe opportunities for career growth at your business?
BMC is a diverse company with many opportunities to grow into other job roles. For the right employee and hard work, opportunities are available
Can you describe your performance review process?
All employees receive a annual review along with quarterly check-ins.
What type of safety training is required?
Monthly safety training is required.
Can you describe how Techs work with and mentor younger techs?
The Mentorship Program is contributing to the building and development of our leadership, while strengthening the culture and promoting diversity within our organization.
How does your shop get involved with the local community?
BMC partners with Harvest Hope Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, and other community partners
Do you do anything with local high schools or tech schools to encourage more students to enter the profession?
We have a dedicated technical recruiter to make high school visits to promotes skilled trades.
Where do you see the shop in five years?
“As we look to the future, we must continue to expand our footprint and enhance our offerings to serve the ever-changing needs of our customers. As the fourth generation leading the dealership, our responsibility is to build upon the legacy of those who came before us and ensure that we leave the dealership and our communities better for future generations to come.” -Blanchard Machinery Company President Boyd Blanchard
Is there anything else you’d like to mention about career development and community?
We will invest in people, systems and processes to improve our overall effectiveness.
Do you have an application form and how long does it typically take to complete?
Technicians applications can be found at https://www.blanchardmachinery.com/about/careers/technician-careers. An application can usually take around 20 minutes.
Do you phone screen applicants before doing in-person interviews?
Yes. Light gauge on the candidate's interest in the position. Basic questions getting to get to know the candidate
What do your in-person interviews entail?
One of our recruiters will conduct a phone screen. Discussion includes the candidate's background, certifications, career goals
Do you perform background checks, drug screening, or personality tests before hiring an applicant?
Yes, Blanchard Machinery will conduct a background and drug screen on selected candidates.
Do you perform a skill assessment before hiring an applicant? If yes, what does it entail?
Yes, technicians are given a safety profile test and a mechanical reasoning test prior to employment.
After an in-person interview, approximately how long should I expect to wait for a rejection or an offer?
Within 7 days
Approximately how long does the full hiring process take from submitting the application to the time of the hiring decision?
Initial screening is typically within 1-2 weeks of applying. Interview Invitation approximately 3 weeks after screening. Hiring decision is made approximately within 1-2 weeks following the interview.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention about your hiring process?
All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactorily passing our mandatory pre-employment process which will include a background check and drug screen.
A Level Technician
Pay Range: $20.00 - $50.00/hour
Machine technicians have the opportunity to earn up to $50.00, based on experience and skill set
Student Tech / Apprentice
Pay Range: $20.00 - $24.50/hour
Apprentices begin at $20.00.
- Health Insurance Offered
- Blanchard Machinery Company’s health plan offers comprehensive benefits designed to give full-time employees and their dependents maximum health care protection.
- Dental Insurance Offered
- Blanchard Machinery Company offers full-time employees the option of purchasing Dental Insurance.
- Vision Insurance Offered
- Blanchard Machinery Company offers full-time employees the option of purchasing Vision Insurance
- Retirement Plan Offered
- All employees age 18 and over are eligible to participate in the Employee Savings Plan on the first day of service. Employees that have completed one year of service and 1,000 hours with the company are eligible for the Company Match. In addition, the company may make a discretionary profit sharing contribution to the plan which the employee is eligible for after completion of one year of service and 1,000 hours with the company. The Employee Savings Plan is designed to give employees the opportunity to take advantage of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Under this law, you save money for retirement on a pretax basis, thereby realizing significant tax savings at the same time as you’re saving for the future. Company contributions are subject to a vesting schedule.
- Sick Leave Not Offered
- Vacation Offered
- Blanchard Machinery will provide all regular full-time employees with Paid-Time-Off (PTO) each calendar year to use for time away from work. Eligible employees will be issued a specified amount of PTO upon their date of hire and each January 1st thereafter. PTO hours will be based on the employees anniversary date (year) as of January 1 each year. You may use PTO for any number of reasons, including but not limited to: -Vacation -Personal illness -A family member’s illness -School activities or conferences -Religious observances -Personal business Years of Service Total Days Total Hours Year 1 Pro-Rated Up to 120 Year 2 15 120 Years 3-5 18 144 Years 6-9 20 160 Years 10-14 23 184 Years 15+ 25 200 ***PTO may be taken in one hour increments
- Paid Holidays Offered
- We recognize the following as paid holidays: New Year’s Day Memorial Day Fourth of July Labor Day Thanksgiving Day and Friday afterwards Christmas Day If a holiday falls on a Saturday, it will be observed on Friday. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, it will be observed on Monday. PTO is in addition to the Company’s holiday schedule.
- ST / LT Disability Offered
- Blanchard Machinery Company offers full-time employees the option of purchasing Long Term Disability Insurance, Short Term Disability, and Term Life Insurance for an additional cost
- Life Insurance Offered
- Full-time employees receive Life Insurance in an amount of 150% of basic rate of annual salary, up to a maximum of $50,000.
- Uniforms Offered
- Parts and Service Personnel, with the exception of clerical and management, will be required to wear company uniforms. Blanchard will pay 100% of the cost of these uniforms, including laundry charges.
- Other Offered
- Additional Benefits Include: -Credit Union -Direct Deposit -Family and Medical Leave -Sick, Funeral & Military Leave -Jury Duty Pay
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