Manpower the big repair snag, says TRTA
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THE shortage of skilled and reliable man
power was the main problem facing the vehicle repair and service industry, the Traders Road Transport Association has told the Prices and Incomes Board. Tlie Association had been invited by the Board to comment on costs and charges in the motor repairing industry.
A survey conducted among some of the Association's larger members showed that 35 per cent performed all their own maintenance, 26 per cent maintained at least 90 per cent of their vehicles themselves, and only 10 per cent did no maintenance. The remainder did only part of their own maintenance themselves.
Considerations which influenced members to maintain their own vehicles were, in order of priority:— Control over work and vehicle availability; lower costs; planned maintenance on a 24-hour basis possible; own staff familiar
with vehicles; lack of local facilities.
The shortage of skilled labour led to high labour charges and a tendency to fit replacement units instead of repairing faulty ones.
Over half the members surveyed by the Association criticized the lack of spares immediately available at commercial garages and main stockists. Shortage of working capital often prevented the smaller local garages from carrying adequate stocks and there appeared to be a need for greater manufacturer assistance, particularly in the provision of spares against extended credit or even on a realistic sale or return basis.
There was a need for more evening facilities, said the Association, but it appreciated that such facilities were costly in terms of manpower. The Association was, with the garage trade, looking closely at this problem.