
The Level Testing Sales Amplifier: A Tiered System for Auto Repair Diagnostics [RR 1070]
16/12/2025 | 33 min
Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS Watch Full Video Episode Eric Svedberg breaks down a smarter, more profitable way to price diagnostic work—what he calls the Level Testing Sales Amplifier. At its core, the system tackles a problem most repair shops quietly accept: testing is often a loss leader. When technicians are tied up diagnosing complex issues, shops miss out on parts sales. A-level technicians can earn less than their B-level counterparts doing routine work, and the rising cost of software and tools goes unpaid. Svedberg reframes the conversation by using the word “testing” instead of “diagnostics,” a term he believes is clearer and more intuitive for customers. Testing implies a process, not a guarantee—setting expectations from the start. The Level Testing system uses a tiered structure tied to the shop’s base labor rate: Level One – Basic Testing:Single, constant, duplicable issues (like a check engine light that’s always on).Level Two – Intermediate Testing:Multiple concerns or intermittent problems.Level Three – Pandora’s Box:Highly complex vehicles, often previously misdiagnosed or unsuccessfully repaired elsewhere.Level Four – “Grandmother Rate”:Disaster cars involving severe electrical damage, corrosion, or major disassembly. While the levels are designed as an internal framework, Svedberg finds transparency with customers increases trust and buy-in. Service advisors are coached to remove Level Three from most conversations upfront, steer customers toward Level Two testing as the norm, and clearly explain that testing fees are for time spent—not credited toward repairs. For true Level Three cases, advisors frame the value honestly: if it were simple, another shop would have already fixed it. Svedberg emphasizes that the system is easy to train and implement—often within a week—by focusing on quick wins with top advisors. Its simplicity improves communication, closes the tech efficiency gap, and can be applied beyond diagnostics to services like module programming and ADAS calibration. Every decision, he says, must pass the test: Is it good for the car? Good for the customer? Good for the shop? Eric Svedberg, European Autowerks, Virginia Beach, VA, https://www.gofuelcoaching.com/ , https://www.europeanautowerks.com/ Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS Learn more about NAPA Auto Care and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at http://napatracs.com/ Connect with the Podcast: -...

The Power of ASE Certification: 40% Better Productivity and 60% Fewer Comebacks [THA 463]
12/12/2025 | 27 min
Thanks to our Partners, Shop Dog Marketing, NAPA TRACS, Today's Class, KUKUI, and Pit Crew Loyalty
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Recorded live at AAPEX 2025, ASE President Dave Johnson and AAPEX Shop of the Year winner Tom Palermo discuss the value, impact, and future of ASE certification. A major highlight: the U.S. Secret Service joined ASE on the AAPEX show floor, promoting technician careers and showcasing armored vehicles. Johnson notes that the Secret Service requires ASE certification for maintenance roles—proof that if it’s “good enough for the president’s car,” it matters for the whole industry.
Key topics include ASE’s updated test content based on real shop feedback, powerful data showing certification improves productivity and reduces comebacks and attrition, and the ongoing challenge of boosting consumer awareness. They also discuss increasing industry requirements for ASE, new certification efforts for Vehicle Security Specialists, and the continued push for professionalism in today’s high-tech automotive field.
Dave Johnson, President, ASE, National Institute For Automotive Service Excellence
Tom Palermo, Preferred Automotive Specialists in Philadelphia, PA. Tom’s previous episodes HERE
Thanks to our Partner, Shop Dog Marketing
Shop Dog Marketing at Shop Dog Marketing.com. "Want to see your auto repair shop thrive? Let Shop Dog Marketing be your guide. Our customer-first approach, combined with AI-driven creative content, ensures top rankings.
Thanks to our Partner, NAPA TRACS
NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at http://napatracs.com/
Thanks to our Partner, Today's Class
Optimize training with Today's Class: In just 5 minutes daily, boost knowledge retention and improve team performance. Find Today's Class on the web at https://www.todaysclass.com/
Thanks to our Partner, KUKUI
Stop juggling multiple marketing tools. KUKUI’s integrated platform delivers 4x better website conversions, automated follow-up, and real-time ROI tracking. Get industry-leading customer support with KUKUI at https://www.kukui.com/
Thanks to our Partner, Pit Crew Loyalty
You’re probably tired of chasing new customers who never return. We understand. Pit Crew Loyalty ends the one-and-done cycle, turning first visits into lasting, reliable revenue at https://www.pitcrewloyalty.com/
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- Join Our Virtual Toastmasters Club: The Future of Automotive Services: Diversify or Get Left Behind [RR 1069] 09/12/2025 | 44 min Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS
Recorded Live at ASTA 2025, we explore the rise of the automotive specialist and why the industry needs a language shift—calling instructors “educators” instead of “trainers” to reflect the complex, continuing education modern technicians require.
We also dive into the mobile diagnostics and repair market, discussing strategies for growth, high-complexity work, and the investments needed to compete. Looking ahead, the industry faces a technological turning point by 2030, with new vehicle architectures and ADAS calibration requirements threatening shops that fail to keep up.
The episode closes by emphasizing the power of networking, connecting with peers, and staying ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.
https://astausa.org/pages/asta-expo
Rich Falco, Diag on Demand, Instructor at Carquest Technical Institute. Listen to Rich’s previous episodes HERE
Keith Perkins, L1 Automotive Training, Listen to Keith’s previous episode HERE.
Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS
Learn more about NAPA Auto Care and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care
NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at http://napatracs.com/
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- Our Classroom page for personal or team learning: Finding Joy in Your Business Again: The Shop Owner’s Comeback Story [THA 462] 05/12/2025 | 37 min Thanks to our Partners, NAPA TRACS, Today's Class, KUKUI, and Pit Crew Loyalty
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Shop owners, are you feeling burned out or stuck in the grind? This episode is for you. Shop owners Jimmy Alauria and Dave Kusa dive into how to pause, reflect, and reignite your passion for the business you built.
Key takeaways:
Think Bigger:Grow your business beyond what you can manage alone—empower your team and expand your vision.Evolve as a Leader:Stop being just a manager—step into the CEO role and watch your business thrive.Culture Matters:Set the tone, share your dream, and build a positive environment your team can rally around.Delegate & Recharge:Offload the hats you wear, hire strategically, and take time off to see the big picture.Balance Family & Business:Set boundaries to protect both your shop and your relationships.
The truth? Falling in love with your business again starts with falling in love with your ability to lead it.
Jimmy Alauria, 3A Automotive and Diesel Repair, Phoenix, AZ. Jimmy’s previous episodes HERE
Dave Kusa, AutoTrend Diagnostics in Campbell, CA. Listen to Dave’s other episodes HERE
Thanks to our Partner, NAPA TRACS
NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at http://napatracs.com/
Thanks to our Partner, Today's Class
Optimize training with Today's Class: In just 5 minutes daily, boost knowledge retention and improve team performance. Find Today's Class on the web at https://www.todaysclass.com/
Thanks to our Partner, KUKUI
Stop juggling multiple marketing tools. KUKUI’s integrated platform delivers 4x better website conversions, automated follow-up, and real-time ROI tracking. Get industry-leading customer support with KUKUI at https://www.kukui.com/
Thanks to our Partner, Pit Crew Loyalty
You’re probably tired of chasing new customers who never return. We understand. Pit Crew Loyalty ends the one-and-done cycle, turning first visits into lasting, reliable revenue at https://www.pitcrewloyalty.com/... The Value of Diverse Training at ASTA 2025: From Finance to Mental Health [RR 1068] 02/12/2025 | 28 min Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS
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Recorded Live at ASTA 2025, Ryan Ragan, Executive Director of ASTA, discusses the explosive growth of the event, Ragan’s long-term vision, the wildly creative opening-night party, and the industry-wide push to elevate professional language in the automotive field.
Episode Highlights
Record-Breaking Growth:ASTA 2025 moved to a larger venue and saw a 34–35% increase in registrations, reaching four-digit attendance. Ragan restructured the expo for better vendor ROI, including a shop-owner-only show-floor window on opening night. His biggest hurdle wasn’t logistics—it was convincing people that such a massive upgrade was even possible on a tight timeline. The payoff came when an attendee told him the show felt like the “SEMA of the East.”“Out of This World” Theme:ASTA’s first themed expo featured an alien-inspired opening night with a mechanical bull, giant dartboard, sumo matches (announced by Carm), and 10-ft champagne-serving aliens.Education & Professionalism:Ragan stressed the importance of ongoing training in an era where cars are “rolling computers.”A major topic: shifting industry language—embracing titles likemechanical specialistto elevate professionalism and attract new talent.
Ragan hopes every attendee left with three things:
New knowledge to solve future shop challengesA fun memory to brighten tough daysA new connection they can call for advice
https://astausa.org/pages/asta-expo
Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS
Learn more about NAPA Auto Care and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care
NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at http://napatracs.com/
Connect with the Podcast:
- Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/
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