Mechanical Meter Training
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By Counterman
To be successful in aftermarket parts sales requires a very broad knowledge base. It means having the ability to address customer parts requests for dozens of different vehicle manufacturers spanning more than 75 years of production, including multiple vehicle systems. Much like our inventory mix, our employees’ knowledge needs to be “spread out” to accommodate these varied requests. Sure, we all have our strengths and specialties, but imagine the bottlenecks at the counter if Heather was the only staff member familiar with reading the paper catalogs covering vintage applications, or that Larry couldn’t catalog anything unless it was for a domestic vehicle.
While we would never hire a counterperson with such gaping blind spots concerning vehicle knowledge, when it comes to store operations, these kinds of scenarios happen every day. Cross-training staff eases the burden for everyone in the organization, from the top down. Becoming an “expert” in your own particular role doesn’t need to prevent you from being a versatile member of the team.
link hidden, please login to view For obvious reasons, not every employee will be responsible for making management-level decisions. But when it comes to daily operations, each member of your staff needs to be given not only the tools to succeed, but also the skills and authority to use those tools effectively. We’ve all worked in locations with extended business hours or short-staffing situations, and felt the pinch when a key member of the team was absent. Picking up the slack in these situations has become a harsh reality in today’s business environment, and without cross-training for the remaining employees, everyone on both sides of the counter suffers for it.
Depending on your individual role within the organization, you may have very little exposure to some of the other roles being performed around you, or you may already have experienced each role along the way to your current position. The hierarchy of roles in this industry tends to follow a natural progression, from delivery and stocking associates to counter and sales positions, and eventually to various management roles. Along the way, there is often considerable overlap in skills and responsibilities at each stage.
At any level of the hierarchy, the most destructive employee attitude is the “not my job” attitude. Traditional workforce roles generally fall into either “labor” or “management” categories. Many organizations even reinforce this idea through uniform choices. Unfortunately, this also may create a division among employees, who feel that titles are designed to separate them rather than to complement each other. Even worse than those employees who claim that something is “above their pay grade” are those members of the team who believe that performing a particular task is beneath them. Having a delivery driver who is comfortable with helping with simple customer service tasks is no less important than the keyholding manager who makes a hot-shot delivery to help maintain a commercial customer’s workflow. Cross-training works in both directions!
There may not be an “I” in “team,” but there are two of them in “idiot.” Building a team that can move effortlessly between roles requires all parties to be invested in the overall success of the business, not just their own individual interests. We need to identify those members of our team who are most capable of (and interested in) growth beyond just a narrowly defined job description. We need to encourage them to acquire new skills, and to remind employees who already possess those skills that having others trained in their role is a benefit, not a threat.
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By Counterman
Autel U.S. announced that its Autel Academy ADAS Training Program has received accreditation from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR).
ASE and I-CAR Accreditation
The ASE and I-CAR accreditation confirms that Autel’s instructor-led training program meets the requirements for technician training and development as defined by these organizations. ASE and I-CAR are widely recognized as benchmarks in automotive service and education, and their endorsement signals that Autel’s curriculum delivers industry-relevant instruction aligned with current technological demands.
Matt Shepanek, vice president of credential testing programs at ASE, emphasized the significance of the accreditation process, noting that it delivers meaningful value for both training providers and the industry. “Accreditation provides training organizations with recognized credibility, ensures their curriculum aligns with current industry standards, and verifies that they are maintaining high-quality instruction, facilities, and resources,” said Shepanek. “Autel successfully met all of these criteria, and we are pleased to recognize them as an ASE-accredited training provider.”
ADAS Calibration Training Program
link hidden, please login to view link hidden, please login to view launched its ADAS calibration training program in 2023 at its U.S. corporate headquarters in Port Washington, New York. The program combines structured classroom instruction with hands-on experience in a dedicated training bay, allowing technicians to work directly with ADAS calibration equipment and real-world vehicle scenarios. The classroom portion delivers a foundational understanding of ADAS theory, including system architecture, sensor types, OEM calibration requirements, and workflow best practices. Hands-on training reinforces this foundation as technicians perform static and dynamic calibrations on vehicles in a controlled, real-world environment.
The program also emphasizes diagnostic strategy and troubleshooting to help technicians identify and resolve common calibration issues encountered in shop settings. Topics include alignment variables, target placement errors, environmental factors, and system fault conditions.
Following strong demand,
link hidden, please login to view has expanded its training footprint to additional locations, including Michigan, Missouri, California, and Florida, making advanced ADAS education more accessible to technicians across the country. Technician Certification Assessment and Continuing Education Credits
To further enhance the program, Autel will introduce a third day of training to its current two-day course. This additional day will include a technician certification assessment, enabling participants to demonstrate mastery of the curriculum.
Successful completion will provide technicians with ASE and I-CAR continuing education credits, reinforcing both their technical competency and professional credentials.
“We are proud to have our ADAS Training Program recognized by ASE,” said Chris Gutierrez, Product and Training Director – ADAS, Autel North America. “This accreditation validates the depth and quality of our curriculum and our hands-on approach. Our goal is to ensure technicians leave our program well prepared to perform accurate ADAS calibrations with confidence and consistency in real-world shop environments.”
Technicians and ADAS Systems
For technicians, this training represents an opportunity to build expertise in one of the fastest-growing and most technically demanding areas of automotive service. ADAS systems directly impact vehicle safety, and improper calibration can lead to system malfunctions or compromised performance.
Through Autel’s ASE and I-CAR-accredited program, technicians gain the confidence to perform precise calibrations, reduce liability risks, increase shop efficiency, and position themselves as trusted specialists in advanced vehicle technology.
With this accreditation, Autel continues to strengthen its role as a trusted partner for repair shops, technicians and industry professionals seeking reliable tools and comprehensive education in ADAS technologies.
For more information or to book your class today, click
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By Counterman
Every shop owner knows that keeping up with technology is no longer optional. From ADAS calibrations to the latest diagnostics, change is constant. Training is how independent shops stay ahead. That’s why industry veterans like Kathleen Callahan, owner of
link hidden, please login to view in Englewood, Florida, and Bernard Tansey, co-founder and COO of link hidden, please login to view in Santa Clara, California, make AAPEX a must-attend event each year. Tansey says the return on investment from AAPEX training goes far beyond the classroom. “Every time you’re there, every year there’s something new,” he explains. “We always come back with these new golden nuggets and like, ‘Hey guys,this new system’s coming out or this new tool is coming out.’ It also amps the staff. They see that we care about what they’re doing. We want to make their lives easier.’”
For Callahan, the event is equally valuable on the management side. “I love the fact that we can go to
link hidden, please login to view and see the new technologies that are coming out,” she says. “Where else in the world can you go and talk to 15 20 or 30 different vendors? The amount of knowledge and the amount of different manufacturers and trainers and distributors in one place is unmatched in any other conference.” Tackling All of The Training
When it comes to training strategy, both Callahan and Tansey treat AAPEX like a classroom for the whole shop. “One of the things that I look at is if I’m bringing my staff, we might split up to divide and conquer,” Tansey says. “I’ll send these two to one class because they’re our A techs. My other team I might send to a different class. I might even jump into a class just so I have the content and we can all share this data together.”
Callahan approaches it with the same mindset, focusing on sessions that deliver real-world results. “You really have to have a return on your investment,” she says. “No matter what position you hold within the industry, there is something at AAPEX for you or that you can bring back to your shop that will benefit the entire team.”
Tansey agrees that the key is relevance. “Just because something may sound really cool, ask yourself: are you ever going to use that information?” he says. “There may be something where they’re talking about truck air brakes. That’s awesome, but we don’t work on them. Could your time be better useful in a course that you’re going to take back and actually make a positive change with?”
Both shop owners are looking forward to the
link hidden, please login to view, from customer service and employee engagement to mental health and leadership. As Callahan puts it, “Training keeps you sharp, your team engaged, and your business moving forward. That’s why AAPEX is such a valuable experience.” In today’s aftermarket, it’s not enough to train to keep up. You have to train to stay ahead. Watch the video for more
link hidden, please login to view training insight from Callahan and Tansey.
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By Counterman
Now is the time for counter professionals to get up to speed on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).
These systems have quickly become one of the fastest-growing segments in the aftermarket. During a recent media conference call, Chris Gardner, senior vice president of programs and technology at
link hidden, please login to view, shared new findings from the organization’s updated ADAS outlook report. The projections, now extended through 2035, show stronger and faster growth than initially anticipated. “The ADAS replacement component market will reach around a billion dollars by 2029,” Gardner said. “That’s one year earlier than what we had reported in our earlier study.”
The original study, published in 2022, sparked high interest across the industry. In response, MEMA released an updated version of the report titled
link hidden, please login to view, three months ago. The new study offers a more detailed 10-year view of calibration and component replacement trends, along with a breakdown of growth across collision and mechanical channels. Mechanical Repair Takes Center Stage
Historically, collision repair shops dominated ADAS calibration work, driven by accident-related sensor and camera replacements. However, the MEMA study now shows a major shift underway, especially for mechanical repair segments.
“There’s tremendous growth there,” Gardner said. “It’s a clear picture of the tremendous business opportunities for our members in the ADAS space.”
According to the report, the collision segment will see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6% through 2035. But mechanical repair will outpace that significantly with a 13.5% CAGR. Combined, the two segments reflect an overall CAGR of 9.5%.
Turning Point Expected by 2031
One of the most critical takeaways from the study is when mechanical ADAS work will match and then surpass collision repair.
“By 2031, the ADAS replacement component market for mechanical repairs will equal collision,” Gardner explained. “And then going forward after 2031 will exceed the collision market.”
This forecast represents a clear opportunity for automotive parts counter professionals. As mechanical shops take on more ADAS service, the demand for replacement sensors, brackets, cameras and calibration tools will continue to rise. Counter pros who understand these systems and stock the right parts will be best positioned to support their customers and grow their business.
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