We received a call from a federal department probably a decade ago, inquiring how we dispose of lead wheel weights. We explained we collected and recycled them – they’re worth money. His response was along the lines of, “yeah, thats what everyone is telling me. I’m not sure why we’re doing this”.

Another government solution looking for a non existent problem to fix.

In 2021, I got into the automotive field with the desire of becoming a diag tech. I completed tech school, learned wiring diagrams, labscope, voltmeter, practiced on my own vehicles. A euro specialty shop hired me and honestly, I quickly began to regret my decision. The shop provided the tools and their master techs allowed me to grab whatever I needed from their huge tool collection. With each job, I began to realize that I was going to have to invest a ton of cash on tools. Sometimes, I struggled finding complete service info or wiring diagrams on certain vehicles. It was really frustrating. I ended up quitting on my 6th month and began working in a completely different field. Two years later, a new shop opened near my home. The owner had a good reputation. Well, I got a job there, in attempt to jump start my automotive career.. I ended up quitting on the 2nd week. That desire of wanting to become a diag tech (or a tech, in general) was long gone. It’s the working conditions, crappy pay, body aches, and huge tool investment that did it for me. These days, I’m no longer in automotive and looking at other career options. A lot of my former tech school classmates left the field after the first year.

We can talk all day about vehicles being big computers and having all sorts of technology, but at the end of the day you have to be equally interested in getting dirty, hurt, bleeding, and working on things that were not designed to be easily serviceable and are incredibly frustrating.

Moving jobs consistently and working my way into management was the only way I was able to feel respected, treated as a professional, and not in pain at the end of a work week.

Not everyone is cut out to be a manager or sit at a desk all day, but there are certainly more lucrative trades that do not require as many different skill sets or capital to get started.

Not sure how to correct this issue, but that is my rant.

A bit of sympathy never hurts also.

Read the details properly… she was hit by a car joe certified, nothing to do with her. And with respect to other “master techs”, who replied here, ultimately the tech is responsible, sorry, that’s where it ends. If anyone asks for a safety and you overlook a failure item, you are ultimately guilty, all the others involved should be guilty as well. They admitted to being complacent in finding and referring a tech that would do the dirty. If it was gun trafficking theyd all be charged… Think of the responsibility you have with this power. I know dealers who go to friends who do safety, and tell their friend “yeah the vehicle is all good, pass no problem, not one moment spent on the car. Safety issued. Where safety issues are 100% a concern!!! How is that in any way any less negligent than selling meth to kids? It warrants a criminal charge, simple.