For every 10 technicians retiring, only two are coming into the industry, according to John Paulik, senior vice president and general manager of Tri State Truck Center, a Freightliner and Western Star dealership in Shrewsbury, Mass.

“We are also looking at approximately 50% of our current diesel technicians nationwide retiring within the next 15 years.”

Making things worse, the need for bus and truck technicians and diesel engine specialists is expected to grow 9% from 2012 to 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For many fleets the diesel technician shortage is already a reality and these statistics are cause for even more concern. Here are nine things that will help you in your technician recruiting and retention efforts.

1. Reassess your process

“The first step in fixing the problem is really understanding and reassessing your process from end to end,” says Patrick Pendergast, director of talent acquisition at Ryder System. “It’s not just about going out and trying to recruit technicians. You have to look at the job you have, the management structure you have, the training you have in place, and your rewards, compensation and benefits. You need to look at all those pieces and see how you look in the market.”

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