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Platinum-level training leads to gold standard at Taylormotive

Chuck Taylor has seen a lot of changes in the automotive industry over the years. He started working in his father’s shop at the ripe old age of 11. He swept the floors and emptied the garbage, among other odds and ends.
Taylormotive

Chuck Taylor has seen a lot of changes in the automotive industry over the years.

He started working in his father’s shop at the ripe old age of 11.

He swept the floors and emptied the garbage, among other odds and ends.

Not surprisingly, he followed his father’s footsteps into the industry, got his mechanics licence in 1980, and took over most of the day-to-day business of Taylormotive in 2013 after his father passed away.  

Reflecting on changes in the industry, Taylor notes as cars have become more advanced repairs have also become more complex.

Service technicians have to continually maintain and upgrade their skills, and while all of his shop’s service technicians are Red Seal certified, they now boast a gold standard.

In November, Taylormotive received an I-Car Gold Class certification. A training program through the Automotive Industry Association, the I-Car gold level certification requires at least one technician at the shop to achieve platinum-level status in each of the following categories: non-structural technician, steel structural technician, estimator, and refinish technician.

In order to reach a platinum level, the technicians had to complete between 10 and 22 courses throughout the year depending on the category. Five technicians at the shop achieved a platinum status and Taylor says a lot of time and money went into the effort.

“It doesn’t come easy,” he notes. “It’s a lot of work.”

But it’s worth it. Ongoing training is essential to maintain a high degree of skill and to keep up with ever-changing automotive technology, he says.

“Cars today are getting more and more sophisticated,” explains Taylor, adding the technology is advancing almost faster than the manufacturers and technicians can learn it.

“Everything has changed,” says Taylor, including how the car is made and how it’s put together (cars are being glued together now instead of welded).

New technologies are being added to vehicle development to create lighter, more fuel efficient cars, and so more and more manufacturers are going “outside the box” when creating new designs. And that means more to learn.

Along with training, knowledge, and experience, more advanced equipment is also required for proper diagnosing and repair, and Taylor says he has made significant investment in specialized tools, including advanced pressurized spot welding equipment and 3D frame measuring systems, among others.

“It’s getting more and more crucial today (that) people are aware they’re getting their cars looked at properly,” says Taylor. He says only 10 per cent of repair shops currently meet the gold class standard in North America, with only 15 shops in B.C.

The I-Car Gold Class certification applies to collision repair specifically, but Taylormotive is a full service shop. All five technicians who have earned the platinum standard will have to maintain their certification by completing yearly training.

For more information about the I-Car program visit i-car.ca or i-car.com.