On this episode of the Wrench Turners Podcast, I sit down with Canadian technician David Rodrigues. For nearly 20 years, David has been mastering his craft on Hondas and Acuras. This is not just a career recap. It’s a deep dive into legacy, leadership, and the reality of working flat-rate.

David shares how he started through co-op, landed a rare apprenticeship, and became the go-to diagnostic tech. But then he left. Why? Leadership that didn’t fight for his time. And when he returned, everything changed.

In this episode, we cover:

🙋‍♂️ Why being the best technician in the shop can feel like a curse

🙋‍♂️ How he diagnosed a TLX that only failed in the rain

🙋‍♂️What real support from a service manager looks like

🙋‍♂️How a good shop foreman can make or break a dealership

🙋‍♂️Why boring jobs make the best money

This is for the tech who wants more. More respect. More growth. More meaning in the work. Don't miss this conversation if you’re leading techs or trying to become one worth following.

Chapters:

0:00 The technician’s legacy

3:00 Hot Wheels to Hondas

10:00 Earned Apprenticeship

17:00 Dealership promised everything, delivered nothing

26:00 Diagnosing the impossible TLX

33:00 Shop foremen make or break it

42:00 The boring jobs pay the best

45:00 Best advice for every tech

49:00 Work-life balance isn’t one-size-fits-all

If you're a fixed ops director, service manager, Technician, BDC trainer, SaaS Founder, Service Advisor, or automotive professional looking to understand the future of dealership operations, this discussion offers valuable insights.

🔔 Subscribe to the Wrench Turners Podcast for more in-depth conversations with industry innovators.

#morethancars

If this helped, comment with your next video idea or tag someone who needs to press record. Better yet, go make something. I would love to see it.

Subscribe for episodes on:

Service advisor training

Technician productivity

Repair order accuracy

Dealership leadership and culture

Fixed Ops coaching and management

Automotive Content Creation

Event Media and Publication

Event Filmography

Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

Sponsored by The Bearded Brotherhood

Premium beard care products built for technicians.

Use code WRENCH15 at checkout: https://thebeardedbrotherhood.co

https://www.youtube.com/@TheBeardedBrotherhood

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-bearded-brotherhood

Powered by:

FixedOPS Marketing — Service marketing tools for dealerships

https://www.fixedopsmarketing.com

https://www.youtube.com/@fixedopsmarketing

https://www.linkedin.com/company/fixed-ops-marketing

The Lion Partnership — Consulting for service department performance

https://www.lionpartnership.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-lion-partnership

DCS - Digital Communication Solutions — Digital Sales and Service Tags

https://www.dicoso.us

https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-communication-solutions/

ASOTU - More than Cars - Where Innovative Ideas In Auto Are Born

https://www.asotu.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@asotu/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu

Toma - "We care about our customers."

https://www.toma.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/tomavoice/

This isn’t another how-to-fix-a-car video.

This is how to fix yourself in the trade before the trade breaks you.

In this Wrench Turner's Podcast compilation, five technicians and leaders drop hard-earned wisdom, not about tools, not about pay plans, but about mindset, ownership, growth, and survival in the bay.

💬 "No one’s coming to save you."

That’s the wake-up call running through every clip in this episode.

You’ll hear real stories and raw advice from:

Technicians who've fought burnout

Leaders who've turned mistakes into mentorship

Wrench turners who chose growth over gossip

If you’ve ever felt stuck, pissed off, or like you’re the only one who cares, this one’s for you.

j.

Subscribe for weekly episodes on:

Service advisor training

Technician productivity

Repair order accuracy

Dealership leadership and culture

Fixed Ops coaching and management

Automotive Content Creation

Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast

Spotify: https://wrenchturnerspodcast.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

Sponsored by The Bearded Brotherhood

Premium beard care products built for technicians.

Use code WRENCH15 at checkout: https://thebeardedbrotherhood.co

Powered by:

FixedOPS Marketing — Service marketing tools for dealerships

https://www.fixedopsmarketing.com

The Lion Partnership — Consulting for service department performance

https://www.lionpartnership.com

DCS - Digital Communication Solutions — Tools for service and BDC teams

https://www.dicoso.us

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

03:16 Dealing with Bad Days (Derek Scherer)

06:30 Understand Before You Diagnose (Daniel Lee)

09:14 Take Ownership of Your Training (Clinton Cruz)

11:48 Positivity is a Survival Tool (Brooklynne Morse)

13:22 Invest in Your Growth (Jeremy Stephens)

16:46 Final Message

From Parts Ninja to Shop Coach and Service Director of Multiple stores | Robert Migliaccio | Wrench Turners Podcast

Today’s guest didn’t just work his way up; he built his way up. Robert Migliaccio started as a teenage car detailer, dropped out of high school, and never looked back. With decades in the trenches of fixed ops, Robert’s story is the kind you don’t hear often, and the kind you don’t forget.

He’s run parts counters like a silent assassin, coached technicians with empathy and clarity, and now oversees multi-store service operations across states. And he does it all while mentoring new techs, giving back to local schools, and living what it means to be a leader in the service lane.

💥 Topics we cover:

👉 How Robert found opportunity after dropping out of high school

👉 What it really takes to run a winning parts department

👉 The question every tech should ask during an interview

👉 Why the best leaders treat their stall like a franchise

👉 How to bring entrepreneurship into a dealership

👉 The myth of the “dead-end” parts job

👉 Leading a shop while raising a family on one income

👉 What basketball taught him about leadership and peace

If you’re in fixed ops, this is one of the most well-rounded voices you’ll hear. And if you’ve ever felt stuck in your role, this episode might be the spark you need to keep going.

📌 Don’t forget to:

👍 Like

💬 Comment with your biggest takeaway

🔔 Subscribe for more real, raw conversations from the world of automotive

👍 Work with me:

Want to be on the show, be a sponsor of any show that I host or produce? Do you need a content creator for your business or automotive event filmography? Reach out: joshua@justworkhard.com

🎙️ Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast

🌍 More episodes and resources:

https://wrenchturnerspodcast.com

https://wrenchturners.online

📸 Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/

💼 Connect with Joshua Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

🧔‍♂️ Sponsored by The Bearded Brotherhood

Premium beard oils, balms, and waxes made for the blue-collar man.

Use code WRENCH15 at https://thebeardedbrotherhood.co for 15% off.

💻 Powered by:

FixedOPS Marketing — Service Department Marketing https://www.fixedopsmarketing.com

The Lion Partnership — Strategic Dealership Consulting https://www.lionpartnership.com

DCS - Digital Communication Solutions for Dealerships

https://www.dicoso.us

Connect Convert Close - Sales and BDC Workshop

May 22, 2025

https://www.connectconvertclose.us

Writing accurate, detailed repair orders isn't just paperwork—it's how shops get paid, protect themselves from chargebacks, and deliver exceptional customer service.

In this episode of The Wrench Turners Podcast, host Joshua Taylor is joined by Alec Ruffini, a Navy vet turned Fixed Ops leader, and Clemente Dominguez, a fast-rising shop foreman. Together, they break down why most service departments struggle with RO documentation and how to fix it, starting today.

Whether you're a technician frustrated by bad write-ups or a service advisor getting frustrated with poor "stories" from the shop floor, this episode shows you how to bridge the gap.

In this episode, we cover:

👉 Why a clear customer concern, cause, and correction (3C) matters

👉 How bad RO stories cause warranty claim denials and chargebacks

👉 Why do missing details like location, duplication steps, and verification notes ruin the work

👉 The technician's side of the story and how to fix the "I hate typing" problem

👉 Tools and processes to improve RO writing without slowing down the shop

👉 Real-world examples of bad and better ROs

👉 How to drive better communication between advisors and techs

👉 Voice-to-text workflows to streamline documentation

👉 What a 1% improvement in RO stories means to your bottom line

If you manage, write, or work on repair orders, this is your blueprint for better documentation, fewer comebacks, and higher approvals.

Subscribe for weekly episodes on:

Service advisor training

Technician productivity

Repair order accuracy

Dealership leadership and culture

Fixed Ops coaching and management

Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast

Spotify: https://wrenchturnerspodcast.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

Sponsored by The Bearded Brotherhood

Premium beard care products built for technicians.

Use code WRENCH15 at checkout: https://thebeardedbrotherhood.co

Powered by:

FixedOPS Marketing — Service marketing tools for dealerships

https://www.fixedopsmarketing.com

The Lion Partnership — Consulting for service department performance

https://www.lionpartnership.com

DCS - Digital Communication Solutions — Tools for service and BDC teams

https://www.dicoso.us

Chapters:

00:00 Why repair order writing matters

01:07 RO example: “Customer is here for the recall”

03:33 RO example: “Vehicle is making a whooping noise”

13:07 RO example: "Rough idle and no check engine light"

16:48 What’s missing from most repair orders

17:41 Enforcing better RO habits

23:49 Voice-to-text tips for faster, better documentation

From Navy Veteran to Coaching Service Teams | Alec Ruffini & Clemente Dominguez | Wrench Turners Podcast

Today’s guests didn’t stumble into leadership; they forged their way there. Alec Ruffini, a Navy veteran turned automotive coach, and Clemente Dominguez, a rising shop foreman, join host Joshua Taylor to talk about what it really takes to run a high-performing dealership service department.

From ethical sales and technician development to team dynamics and trust-building, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom. Alec shares lessons from decades of turning around underperforming shops, while Clemente offers a fresh perspective from someone who went from independent repair to managing a 25-person dealership team.

💥 Topics we cover:

👉 Alec’s unexpected career path

👉 Why integrity matters

👉 What Clemente learned

👉 How to build technician trust

👉 What it actually means to be a steward

👉 Communication shapes team performance

👉 The one mindset every technician needs

👉 Managing stress

If you're in Fixed Ops, an aspiring leader, or a technician wondering how to level up, this is your playbook. This is how leaders get built.

📌 Don’t forget to:

👍 Like

💬 Comment with your biggest takeaway

🔔 Subscribe for more real, raw conversations from the world of automotive

🎙️ Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast

🌍 More episodes and resources: https://wrenchturnerspodcast.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/

💼 Connect with Joshua Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

🧔‍♂️ Sponsored by The Bearded Brotherhood

Premium beard oils, balms, and waxes are made for the blue-collar man.

Use code WRENCH15 at https://thebeardedbrotherhood.co for 15% off.

💻 Powered by:

FixedOPS Marketing — Revolutionizing dealership service marketing. https://www.fixedopsmarketing.com

The Lion Partnership — Strategic Dealership Consulting https://www.lionpartnership.com

DCS - Digital Communication Solutions

https://www.dicoso.us

Chapters:

00:00 Leadership that changes Fixed Ops

01:55 Navy to service director

03:45 Clemente’s path

07:26 The big transition: smol vs large

10:10 Coaching culture: “More or better”

12:04 Alec’s leadership test

17:03 Mentorship wins

21:29 How great leaders build trust

27:13 Clemente’s “shop equality”

32:30 Advice for techs

35:46 How Alec and Clemente manage anxiety

The Hard Truth Every Mechanic Needs to Hear in 2025

Feeling stuck in the shop? This video will change how you think about your career.

Auto technician pay is flat. Tariffs are rising. Leadership feels clueless. And you are still expected to fix cars, deal with customers, hit your hours, and somehow stay sane.

In this unfiltered message from the cold seat of his motorcycle, Joshua Taylor breaks down exactly what every automotive technician, service advisor, and tradesperson needs to hear right now.

You will learn:

✅ Why your mindset is the most valuable tool in your toolbox

✅ How to start earning what you are actually worth

✅ What to do when management ignores your value

✅ Why training apprentices is still your responsibility

Whether you are a new tech, a shop foreman, or a veteran mechanic, this video is your call to stop blaming the economy, stop waiting on permission, and start leveling up.

WATCH THIS IF YOU:

Are not making enough money as a mechanic

Feel stuck in your technician career

Want to learn how to communicate better in the shop

Need real talk about pay, training, and leadership

Believe in personal responsibility and growth

Mechanics are the backbone of society. You fix what breaks. But you cannot fix your paycheck, your stress, or your future by complaining. You fix it by getting better. Starting today.

👀 Want to improve but not sure where to start? Drop a comment. I will reply.

💬 Like what you heard? Share this with your team or someone who needs to hear it.

Subscribe for regular episodes on:

Shop Floor Mental Health

Service advisor training

Technician productivity

Repair order accuracy

Dealership leadership and culture

Fixed Ops coaching and management

Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast

Spotify: https://wrenchturnerspodcast.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

Sponsored by The Bearded Brotherhood

Premium beard care products built for technicians.

Use code WRENCH15 at checkout: https://thebeardedbrotherhood.co

Powered by:

FixedOPS Marketing — Service marketing tools for dealerships

https://www.fixedopsmarketing.com

The Lion Partnership — Consulting for Dealerships and Independants, Automotive, Powersports, Motorcycle, Marine, and more. Sales and Service department performance improvements.

https://www.lionpartnership.com

DCS - Digital Communication Solutions — Tools for service and BDC teams

https://www.dicoso.us

Today's guest, Louise Azzopardi, didn’t just fall into the automotive world. She ran toward it, with confidence and clarity most of us didn’t have at 15. From her earliest days wrenching in rail yards and truck shops to standing on the world stage as the first woman to compete (and win gold) at Australia’s WorldSkills nationals, Louise has never followed the conventional path. She didn’t just want to work in the trades; she wanted to change them.

After enduring bullying, sexism, and mental health challenges, Louise stepped into something more powerful than technical mastery; coaching, mentoring, and equipping tradespeople with the emotional tools they were never taught. Now the host of Anxious Tradeswoman (Building Confidence), a life coach, and a global speaker, Louise is on a mission to make the trades a place where everyone, regardless of gender, background, or body size, can thrive.

In this episode, we cover:

👉 Farm girl to award-winning heavy diesel tech

👉 The emotional and physical toll of “toughing it out”

👉 What she means by “There is no tiger”

👉 Boundaries, not bravado, create lasting leadership

👉 Practical tools leaders use to support teams

Louise offers real-world advice for tradespeople who feel like they’re constantly on edge, overwhelmed, or doubting themselves. Her message is simple but powerful: You don’t have to “stay strong” just to survive. You deserve to exist, grow, and feel safe where you work.

🎙️ Listen to Anxious Tradeswoman wherever you get your podcasts

Follow Louise on

https://www.instagram.com/louiseazzopardicoaching

https://www.youtube.com/@louiseazzopardi9275

A Special Thank You

The Wrench Turners Podcast is made possible thanks to our sponsors and partners who believe in supporting the people behind the wrenches.

FixedOPS Marketing

https://www.fixedopsmarketing.com

Changing the game in dealership service marketing.

The Lion Partnership

https://www.lionpartnership.com/

Your go-to for industry connections that matter.

Digital Communication Solutions GmbH

https://www.dicoso.us

Simplifying sales and service communication.

The Bearded Brotherhood

https://thebeardedbrotherhood.co/wrench15

Premium beard oils, balms, and mustache waxes for the Blue Collar Man. Use code WRENCH15 for 15% off. I do get financial compensation when this happens, I appreciate it when it does.

We appreciate these partnerships for helping push the industry forward.

— j.

Chapters

00:00 Intro to Louise Azzopardi

01:21 Starting at 15

03:33 Mechanic rejection and finding HD

06:36 Meeting Sarah; a pivotal mentor

10:34 Gender bias and physical limitations

13:52 Culture, ego, and asking for help

16:07 First-year apprenticeship in a dealership

17:49 Working on diesel trucks and rail

21:02 How Australian apprenticeships are structured

25:37 Trade stacking and EV education

30:37 EV, infrastructure, and future of fuel

33:09 Sexual harassment, bullying, and mental health

35:16 Winning WorldSkills; first woman to do it

36:56 “I’m tired of being strong”

40:28 Coaching tradespeople in mental resilience

42:27 Boundaries and how to communicate discomfort

45:13 Emotional intelligence and leadership

48:51 You are 50% of every relationship

50:18 Louise’s advice: “There is no tiger”

51:36 Question from Josh Arnold: “How will you change the industry?”

52:08 Louise’s answer: “By giving people the tools to change their world.”

52:47 Louise’s question for the next guest: “What do you do to calm anxiety?”

53:01 Where to find Louise & upcoming appearances

🎧 Listen on Spotify:

🔗 Follow Joshua Taylor on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

💬 Like, comment, subscribe, and share to support this mission of turning mechanics into leaders.

🌍 Wrench Turners Podcast Socials:

https://wrenchturners.online

https://wrenchturnerspodcast.com

https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/

Today's guest, Josh Arnold, never planned to be a mechanic. He picked it off a college list like a random raffle number. On day one, his future mentor told him to quit. And honestly, he probably should have. But he didn't.Instead, he worked six days a week at a flat rate, with no shortcuts. Fast-forward, and he is now a Toyota and Subaru Master Tech, a trainer in the shop, and the MyKarma Grand Prix Champion for his top-tier Video MPI skills.In this episode, we cover:Clueless apprentice to award-winning Master TechThe power of doing the jobs nobody wants to doWhy Video MPIs are a game changer How techs can build their careers, increase their pay, and change the industryJosh offers real-world advice for technicians looking to level up. His message is clear: Do things differently, do the work others will not, and watch your career grow.Like, comment, and subscribe to help spread this message and support technicians everywhere.Always looking for guests, please reach out by email to be on the show: joshua@justworkhard.com A Special Thank You

The Wrench Turners Podcast is made possible thanks to the support of our Partners, Sponsors, and Affiliates.

FixedOPS Marketing

• https://www.fixedopsmarketing.com
• Changing the game in dealership service marketing.

The Lion Partnership

• https://www.lionpartnership.com/
• Your go-to for industry connections that matter.

Digital Communication Solutions GmbH

• https://www.dicoso.us
• Simplifying sales and service communication.

The Bearded Brotherhood

• https://thebeardedbrotherhood.co/wrench15
• Premium beard oils, balms, and mustache waxes for the Blue Collar Man.

We appreciate these partnerships in pushing the industry forward!j.

Chapters00:00 Intro to Josh Arnold

01:21 Josh’s Unexpected Career Start

02:14 Why He Chose Auto Tech

06:05 Toyota T10 Program Entry

09:01 Learning Through Used Cars

13:27 Flat Rate Work Strategy

16:20 Becoming a Master Tech

21:12 Winning My Karma Grand Prix

25:32 Video MPI Importance

27:23 Getting Paid for VMPI

30:49 Continuous Improvement Mindset

33:24 Advice for Technicians

36:03 Service Quality Specialist Role

38:45 Work-Life Balance & Family

41:23 Future Goals in Auto Tech

42:47 How to Change Industry

43:07 Closing Thoughts & OutroListen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=9305ecd058f84eb4

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/If you found the following insightful, please consider commenting, liking, subscribing, and sharing it as we develop Mechanics into Leaders. Wrench Turners Podcast with over 160 Episodes helps Mechanics become happier, healthier, and more productive.Wrench Turners Podcast Socialshttps://wrenchturners.onlinehttps://wrenchturnerspodcast.comhttps://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/