Thermo King West

About Us

Force TK was formerly Thermo King West, Thermo King Chesapeake and Thermo King Central Carolinas. We have combined our strengths to better serve our customers. We are a Thermo King authorized Sales, Service and Parts dealership location. Thermo King is the world leader in transport temperature control systems for trucks, trailers, buses and rail cars. Thermo King also manufactures auxiliary power units, which dramatically reduce engine idling. As part of Thermo King’s unmatched nationwide dealer network, we provide expert factory-trained service from top-notch technicians. Force TK is a dedicated team of professionals who take pride in bringing our customers the best service, parts and accessories. We have a rock-solid reputation of providing excellent customer satisfaction and an enjoyable work environment. Our presence is in 9 states with 13 dealership locations.

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Under The Hood

Is the shop heated? Air conditioned?

In-bay, shaded shop environment, evaporative cooled and overhead fans. Some heaters but cold weather is usually not an issue in Phoenix.

What is the size of the team I’d be working with?

Approximately 20 Thermo King technicians and 10 trailer repair technicians, 18 in the aerial-lift division, among other employees such as service writers, foreman, service managers and many other employees on the property for a total of about 90 in our Phoenix area location.

What are the shop hours and what are the shift timeframes?

Shop hours: 7 AM - 7 PM Shift 1: 7 AM to 3:30 PM Shift 2: 10:30 AM to 7 PM

What tools does the shop provide that are available for all technicians to use?

A/C Machines Vacuum Pumps Refrigerant scales Laptops for service Thermo King Equipment tools: download cables, Controller tester, unit lifting bars, computer programs, etc. Remote controlled 2-ton cranes for installations Tech desk for paperwork completion Benches, ladders, platforms for work on truck and trailer refrigeration units Oxygen and Acetylene torches Wire wheel welder for steel and aluminum Wheel ramps for access to under carriage for vehicle-powered Van installations In the trailer repair area, specialty tools are provided

What type of break room facility is provided?

An air-conditioned room with sink, microwave, refrigerators, vending machines, coffee, hot and cold water, several tables and chairs.

How many bays does your shop have?

On the Thermo King side there are 8, on the Trailer Repair side 7. The Utility Crane side has two large indoor areas for building trucks and servicing them.

How many repair orders do you average per month?

Our Thermo King service averages about 240 per month.

What is your parts ordering process?

If needed on a repair, the technician goes to the back counter parts window and requests them.

What is your policy on side work?

The employee and the supervisor have a conversation about it.

Are there any other unique features of the work environment worth noting?

Thermo King trailer refrigeration units are easier to service with regard to stressing the body. Much of the work is done standing upright on a platform with the components in front of you.

Do you offer any skills training or continuing education opportunities?

We offer a six-month Mentorship Program for new hires, and for entry-level we have a four quarter Apprenticeship program with established curriculum and assessments. Thermo King University is a stellar program with required continued education or further certification each year for all technicians.

Can you describe opportunities for career growth at your business?

Thermo King technicians move from Apprentice Service or Installer Tech, to Certified Technician to Professional Technician and on to Master Technician. The majority of this is done within the Thermo King University modular online program, with on-the-job training and mentorship, and some is done at the Thermo King headquarters in Minneapolis.

Can you describe your performance review process?

For Entry-Level Apprentices, there is an assessment each quarter of the accomplishments, growth, and opportunities. This opens up the possibility of getting a raise every quarter within the first year. For all technicians, we have a year-end performance review which is given by the service manager to each technician and looks at: -Job Knowledge / Skill Level / Problem Solving -Productivity -Communication -Safety -Interpersonal Relations / Teamwork / Dependability

What type of safety training is required?

It starts in the employee orientation. Later, the manager or foreman trains each technician individually on areas of safety in the specific area of work. Furthermore, our practice is to have monthly safety meetings covering pertinent topics encountered in the workplace.

Can you describe how Techs work with and mentor younger techs?

Our entry-level technicians are mentored by a peer who has proven to be a good listener and a positive employee. Each week, the mentor sits down with the mentee and asks a series of questions about how the week has gone and how the work is going. It enables the mentee to free express any ideas, good experiences, frustrations or to offer a suggestion on how to improve the work process. It is a positive experience for the new hire, in place for the first six months of work.

How does your shop get involved with the local community?

We work with the food banks in our state, supplying them equipment and support. We are also in partnership with Thermo King Corporation offering discounted pricing to those agencies that are doing tremendous work in our community!

Do you do anything with local high schools or tech schools to encourage more students to enter the profession?

We have a very good relationship with UTI in Avondale, AZ. We are currently building relationships with local technical high schools.

Do you phone screen applicants before doing in-person interviews?

Most managers will talk to them on the phone before calling them to the shop. The goal is to get an understanding for where the person is coming from, level of experience in the given trade, or if entry-level, to ascertain what mechanical aptitude the person has.

What do your in-person interviews entail?

If the applicant is coming out of schooling, the manager will ask how schooling went, what courses were most interesting, what were some of the key skills gained. For all applicants, a walk around the shop is an ideal place to ask questions, talk about the type of company we are and the work we do, ask about tools, mechanical background, see if any questions, and ask if the type of work we engage in would be of interest.

Do you perform background checks, drug screening, or personality tests before hiring an applicant?

After giving a conditional offer letter, we will do a background check, a drug screen and if the person will be driving for us, a check on the driving record.

Do you perform a skill assessment before hiring an applicant? If yes, what does it entail?

Some positions have a questionnaire which gives us good insight into the experience level of the applicant. Often, the manager can ascertain just by having the applicant talk about prior experience mechanical aptitude.

After an in-person interview, approximately how long should I expect to wait for a rejection or an offer?

It would vary, but one to three days would be reasonable.

Approximately how long does the full hiring process take from submitting the application to the time of the hiring decision?

It depends on the circumstances, but it should be about a week if the applicant is able to visit the shop soon after an invitation.

A Level Technician Pay Range: $40.00 - $46.00/hour

Master Thermo King Technician. Based on experience, and skill set

B Level Technician Pay Range: $34.00 - $40.00/hour

Professional Thermo King Technician. Based on experience, and skill set

C Level Technician Pay Range: $29.00 - $34.00/hour

Certified Thermo King Technician. Based on experience, and skill set

Student Tech / Apprentice Pay Range: $23.00 - $25.00/hour

Ours would be a variation to the title above and this range is for Full-Time Entry-Level Thermo King Apprentice Installers or Apprentice Service technicians.

Health Insurance Offered: United Healthcare (UHC/UMR) medical with Optum Rx. We have not raised our employee health costs in 5 years; in fact, we lowered them. We offer a PPO plan and a high-deductible plan with health savings (HSA).
Dental Insurance Offered: Mutual of Omaha Dental coverage.
Vision Insurance Offered: Mutual of Omaha Vision coverage.
Retirement Plan Offered: Our 401(k) plan, available soon after hire, has a match at 50% up to 6% of your pay. The match is made weekly on payroll.
Sick Leave Offered: 40 hours a year, given up front. New hires can use it after 60 days.
Vacation Offered: Start accruing at 40 hours once hired. It moves to 80 on your one-year anniversary, and beginning on your four-year anniversary, it jumps to 120 hours (3 weeks).
Paid Holidays Offered: 8 paid holidays per year.
ST / LT Disability Offered: Free to employees at company expense.
Life Insurance Offered: $50,000 in life insurance offered for free at company expense for all full-time employees. Additional offered on a voluntary basis.
Uniforms Offered: Shirt, jacket, and pants and $100 safety shoe/boot allowance every year.
Other Offered: Legal Shield and Identification Theft, offered on a voluntary basis. An additional benefit is that we pay our employees every Friday.