Hello all, wanted to talk about the structure of my service department, 25 bays (incl 2 alignment racks) 18 techs (incl 3 trainees). We have a very unique structure for our shop as we don’t differentiate between technicians, ie we don’t have lube techs or mainline techs, everyone does whatever work is on the RO (minus body work, detail, paint, also windshields). Everyone starts off as a trainee at an hourly rate, then when they get the experience needed and prove their worth they move into flat rate with their own bay and start working alone. From the beginning we’re all taught everything we need for flat rate and are already doing advanced jobs. I’m only a few months into being on my own but I’m doing diagnostics, suspension and engine work, and electrical work too. Only exception is that we have to be certified to work with High-voltage. Thoughts, questions, opinions?