Blue Ox OXSMART Training Tackles Service Tech Shortage

You’re probably aware of a recent issue plaguing the auto industry. For several years now, employment statistics have continued to report an alarming shortage of automotive technicians. (A trend that shows no signs of slowing down any time soon, despite a concerted effort to revamp future tech programs.) A combination of vehicles getting more complex and consumers getting less resourceful has led to a situation where both automotive and RV dealerships and service centers are in need of skilled problem solvers who are well-versed in both mechanical and technological tools.

The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) reports that in 2017, dealerships wrote more than 316 million repair orders, with service and parts sales exceeding $114 billion. That’s over 12 percent of total revenue! Obviously, service departments are not only important to the consumers who frequent them, but also to the dealerships who rely on them as a source of steady income.

While the number of RV wholesale shipments has risen drastically in recent years, the number of technicians to service these vehicles has not. According to the RV Daily Report, “The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the number of RV repair technicians at 13,520 techs, meaning the average technician is responsible for servicing an estimated 658 RVs.”

Yikes.

As an automotive enthusiast, perhaps you’re sitting there thinking, “Who cares? I’m a gearhead.” But you should care.

What do car guys, truck enthusiasts, and powersports lovers have in common? They all tow trailers with their prized possessions—from expensive vehicles heading for auction and worksite necessities to camping gear and more.

So, what does this have to do with Blue Ox Towing?

We’re glad you asked. If you’re familiar with Blue Ox, then you know that the company is big on safety. The brand is synonymous with reliable products that perform well under pressure. In fact, some customers would go so far as to call them life-saving.

But beyond safely building products, Blue Ox is also committed to ensuring its customers know how to safely use those products. And a big part of that falls on the shoulders of the technicians servicing the equipment.

That’s why, several times a year, Blue Ox hosts training sessions throughout the U.S. and Canada to provide detailed and guided instruction to RV technicians. Called OXSMART, this comprehensive program runs for two days and focuses on hands-on technical training with Blue Ox’s RV-related products.

Specialists from the company guide fellow technicians through the proper installation and servicing of tow bars, baseplates, weight distribution systems, braking systems, chassis performance products, and more. Information these techs can then pass on to coworkers, trainees, and—ultimately—us consumers.

While OXSMART events are held in multiple locations throughout North America, the company seems to find particular satisfaction in hosting them on its home base in Nebraska. “In addition to installation and product training, the Nebraska events give the technicians the opportunity to meet the teams that design and build our products,” Ellen Kietzmann, Blue Ox president and CEO told RVBusiness. “We welcome feedback from our participants providing insight and ideas to continue to innovate and bring new products to the market that enhance the lives of our shared customers.”

OXSMART Attendees Earn Credits

Further sweetening the deal for OXSMART graduates is the program’s RVDA/RVIA recertification status. Established in 1993 by the RV Dealers Association (RVDA) and the RV Industry Association (RVIA), this certification program was designed to identify professionals who properly follow diagnostic and repair procedures per industry standards. Technicians are required to complete two comprehensive tests that measure their technical competency. (You can read more about the program here.)

Once a technician passes the program, the certification is good for five years. After that, they must recertify or retest, which is where Blue Ox comes in. Those who successfully complete an OXSMART training session receive 12 hours of credit in the RVDA-RVIA Service Technical Certification program.

“Providing educational opportunities and empowering our dealers and their employees is the most important part of the Blue Ox philosophy,” Kietzmann told RV News. “Simply put, we aren’t satisfied unless our customers are. We are proud of the progress we have made with our technical educational platforms and our partners are a valued part in helping us achieve this.”

If you’re interested in learning more about the OXSMART training program or any of Blue Ox’s other, more bite-size training opportunities, check out the company’s website here. We also suggest you check out the RV Technical Institute, here. A new training initiative launched by the RVIA, the institute aims to face the RV tech shortage problem head-on, by creating a standardized, national curriculum and bevy of easy-to-access educational resources.