Truckstar Collision Center, Inc

About Us

Truckstar Collision is a full-service body shop for trucks, buses, RV's and all oversized vehicles. We independently owned and located in Dane County east of Madison south of I-90 in the small town of Deerfield. Our facility is 38,000+ square feet with HD frame and alignment racks in house. We also have an indoor 70 foot media blasting booth in addition to two paint booths. At Truckstar we use Axalta Imron high-solids paint products and 3M materials. We have always been a high-quality repair shop with pride in the jobs delivered. We have been in business over 25 years and have a very diverse customer base. Since we work on all makes and models of medium and large vehicles, we are often the first call for independent operators and fleets. Once we become a resource, our customers rely on us for any future wrecks, as well as, painting and modifying their vehicles. Truckstar is family-owned and operated and promotes a fun family-like culture among employees. We operate professionally, promote good communication between the office and the shop and are always willing to listen so we can deliver the best job for the customer.

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Under The Hood

Is the shop heated? Air conditioned?

Body shop side has in-floor heat. Paint shop side has radiant heater tubes overhead. Shop is not air conditioned, but when overhead doors in the body shop are open air flows down through middle of the building and creates a nice breeze even down to the paint shop side.

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

There are about 12 technicians across all departments including body, refinish, frame, alignment, mechanical and media blasting. There are about 7 techs on the body side of the shop and 5 on the paint side, but we plan to add a couple of people to grow our team. We currently have 2 estimators and 3 additional staff in the office.

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

The shop is open from 7am - 5pm Monday thru Friday and 8am - 12pm Saturday. The shift schedule for technicians is 7:30 am - 4pm, but oftentimes technicians come in early or stay late to get some overtime hours in. Saturday is also available for overtime hours. The shift schedule allows for 2.5 hours of overtime built in each week. Flexibility of the standard shift schedule for individual needs may be accommodated. The important thing is schedule consistency and meeting expectations.

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

Various shop tools are provided; however technicians are required to provide basic tools to complete their jobs tasks whether in the body or paint departments. We offer a basic tool program for technicians beginning to build their tool boxes.

What type of break room facility is provided?

We have a nice, bright employee break room with refrigerator, sink, microwaves and pizza ovens located just off of the shop floor. In addition, there is a 2nd floor kitchen and training room that all employees are welcome to use. We provide plates, plasticware and coffee among other supplies. We also have our own soda machine and snacks available onsite.

How many bays does your shop have?

We work on a wide variety of sizes of vehicles and accommodate them for painting and repairs as needed. Generally, we consider the bay count to be 33 bays including paint booths, frame rack, alignment rack and blast building.

How many repair orders do you average per month?

As a heavy-duty repair shop our jobs vary greatly in the number of labor hours to complete them with some jobs having 100's of hours. Some jobs are in and out in a week; however, many jobs are in the shop from two to 8 weeks or more. On average we bill 65-70 jobs per month.

What is your parts ordering process?

Estimates are written for all customer repairs and parts sourced and ordered per job. We use reliable vendors for parts quotes and ordering to coordinate receiving the right parts prior to starting repairs. Supplemental parts may be identified upon teardown and are ordered to expedite the job and keep technicians moving forward. PO#'s are used for all parts orders and received in our shop management program.

What is your policy on side work?

Side work is allowed as long as it does not conflict with our customers and work we perform for them. We do not allow use of the company shop for side work outside of an employee's personal vehicle.

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

Our shop expansion was completed during the pandemic which greatly improved the work space for technicians and staff. Our capacity was increased greatly and work space for each technician without having to be crowded on top of each other. There is also now shared space for trainings, meetings and social gatherings.

Do you offer any skills training or continuing education opportunities?

Yes. Since we work on all makes and models of semis, RV's, buses and medium-duty vehicles there are opportunities all of the time to learn new skills and repair techniques through on-the-job training. Seasoned Techs and staff share knowledge to help in the learning process. We also utilize online and in-person training opportunities offered by our vendors and set aside paid time for employees to complete them.

Can you describe opportunities for career growth at your business?

Growth and career advancement in the shop consists of expanding skills knowledge and the ability to do more and different tasks. As the list of mastered skills grows, the Technicians status as a C, B, or A Tech advances. The more versatile and good at the job a Tech becomes, pay advancement and incentives are rewarded, as well as, assignment to a wider variety of repair types. Lead positions and in-office positions may also become available as our company grows.

Can you describe your performance review process?

As an independent shop, the process is not mandated by a corporate HQ. However, we do give reviews at least annually, which included a two-way discussion and wage review. Feedback and wage increases are given at anytime, as needed, throughout the year based on employees' needs.

What type of safety training is required?

Basic understanding of shop safety is expected to be known. Attendance to in-house safety training classes would be required. Some tools and equipment can only be operated by proper personnel with proper training.

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

Less experienced Techs often start by shadowing and assisting a seasoned Tech on the floor. Tasks assigned are specific to the skill-level of the inexperienced Tech and may be repeated until a technique is mastered. (For example, removing and installing bumpers.) As the skill level of the new Tech becomes clearer, jobs are assigned and he/she can work independently with a seasoned Tech overseeing the repairs and providing some direction along the way. Senior Techs like working with and mentoring as long as the younger Tech listens and can execute tasks competently. They don't mind answering questions, but don't want to repeat themselves over and over again and not be listened to.

How does your shop get involved with the local community?

We support the local community through the chamber of commerce, community center, food bank, and school; and participate in community events around town. Deerfield is a small community of around 2500 and has appreciated having Truckstar in town.

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

We are involved with the Deerfield high school and Madison College to expand our impact on recruiting students into the aftermarket repair industry, specifically heavy-duty repair. We offer tours of the shop and have hired local students for the summer.

Is there anything else you’d like to mention about career development and community?

As owner of Truckstar, I am committed to improving our career development track for young Technicians entering the industry. We will tap into the resources and spend the time and money needed to get everyone trained properly. I would like to see a full-on apprentice program to implement to continue successful onboarding of new employees.

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

We do not phone screen applicants.

What do your in-person interviews entail?

We generally schedule an in-person interview to confirm application information and get to know you a little bit more. If time allows, we give a shop tour to help applicants become familiar with the shop environment and what we do. Follow-up interviews are given if there is an opening or if a candidate is a potential match for a future position. 2nd interviews are with a different person such as the production manager. 2nd interviews include additional questions and discussion to determine your skill level and whether it's a good fit. Come prepared with knowledge about the position you're applying for, as well as, knowledge about our company. Interviewers will offer an opportunity for you to ask questions.

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

We follow laws and requirements for legal employment. CDL drivers are required to take extra steps for employment and maintaining their license (if applicable). Otherwise, we do not have a standard test program for employment. Surveys and skill tests may be requested.

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

We do not use a specific skills assessment test before hiring. We like to discuss the skills and aptitudes you bring to the table and your willingness to pick up on new skills. We work on a wide variety of jobs but, by applying specific skills and techniques they get done. Be prepared to discuss your applicable skills and knowledge!

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

All interviews are handled individually. Depending on the open positions and candidates qualifications, we proceed accordingly. We will give a timeline during the interview of when we will be following up with candidates for a specific position. If no open positions, we keep potential good future candidates on file. It is recommended to stay in touch and reach out if you are interested in any positions. The more proactive you are the better.

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

The timeline varies by the job opening and whether we are hiring immediately or not. The hiring process can be accomplished quickly, if it fits the applicant and open position.

Is there anything else you’d like to mention about your hiring process?

We are very flexible with the application process. It can be as simple as giving a phone call to start the ball rolling. We communicate throughout via phone, email or text to stay on the same page about the hiring timeline and hiring process. We encourage applicants with repair or refinish skills, or mechanical aptitude to apply!

Health Insurance Offered: Our health insurance is Quartz (UW Health providers). Truckstar pays 50% of the premium offering individual, employee/spouse, employee/child, family coverage. We offer two Quartz plan options to choose from. New employees are eligible on 1st of the month after working 60 days. Plans renew December 1.
Dental Insurance Offered: We offer dental benefits through Delta Dental of Wisconsin. New employees are eligible on 1st of the month after working 60 days. Plan renews April 1.
Vision Insurance Offered: We offer DeltaVision benefits. New employees are eligible on 1st of the month after working 60 days. Plan renews April 1
Retirement Plan Offered: We offer 401K with matching. You can choose standard 401K pre-tax contributions or Roth IRA contributions. The wait period to enroll is at least 6 months from employment date. All contributions are fully-vested. If you contribute 3%, Truckstar matches 3%. If you contribute 5% or more, Truckstar matches 4% Investments are managed through American Funds.
Sick Leave Offered: 16 hours of sick time/personal time off (PTO) is available per year. It is prorated if you do not work a whole year. PTO is paid in 4 hour increments. If you are out for a sick day, we pay 4 hours for the day. So, four days missed would use up the 16 hours. Any sick time/PTO not used during the year is paid out at year-end.
Vacation Offered: Our current vacation policy is: 1 week after 1 year of work 2 weeks after 2 years of work 3 weeks after 10 years of work
Paid Holidays Offered: We currently celebrate 6 paid holidays: New Years, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
ST / LT Disability Offered: Short-term and long-term disability is offered through Principal. Truckstar pays 50% of the short-term disability premium for all employees. New employees are eligible on 1st of the month after working 60 days. Plan renews April 1
Life Insurance Offered: Truckstar pays the premium for $20,000 of term life insurance for all employees. Additional voluntary life insurance is available, with guaranteed issue up to $100,000 upon hire. Higher limits are available but may require proof of insurability. New employees are eligible on 1st of the month after working 60 days. Plan renews April 1 Life insurance benefits are offered through Principal.
Uniforms Offered: We provide 11 sets of uniforms including cargo pants, long/short-sleeve work shirts, 2 shop jackets. Uniforms can be turned in for cleaning weekly. There is a 30 day wait to order uniforms. Additional t-shirts, sweatshirts, coats, hats and gear are purchased occasionally for Technicians and staff. We also provide a boot allowance for employees at times.
Other Offered: Accident and Critical Care coverage plans are offered through Principal. New employees are eligible on 1st of the month after working 60 days. Plan renews April 1. Other benefits include: -Get paid every week on Friday -Monthly bonuses put cash in your pocket -All company lunches monthly -Annual holiday party -Thanksgiving turkeys -Snacks and sodas onsite -Employee account and purchases discounts -Availability of shop for personal vehicles -Employee work anniversary and birthday recognition -Free coffee, and break/lunch supplies -Team outings -Holiday bonus -Year-end profit sharing

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Truckstar Collision Center, Inc - Technician Jobs in Deerfield, WI

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About Us

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Under The Hood

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