Home | Ratchet and Wrench Skip to main content Latest industry news and insights for auto care shop owners and operators News Magazine Multimedia Columnists Running a Shop Sections News Magazine Multimedia Columnists Running a Shop Shop Life Operations Leadership Special Podcasts Industry Survey Report Ratchet+Wrench Award Jobs Webinars White Papers Contact About Us OEM Wholesale Parts Directory Advertise Magazine Subscription Newsletter Subscription Contact Us Follow us on https://www.facebook.com/RatchetAndWrench https://www.instagram.com/ratchetandwrench/ https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4447458/profile https://twitter.com/ratchetnwrench https://www.youtube.com/@VehicleServiceandRepair Tools+Technology How Tiered DVIs Create Value for Technicians, Customers, and the Shop Ditching bloated inspection templates for tiered DVIs can streamline shop workflows, eliminate technician friction, and drive long-term profitability. Columns Broski: Getting the Yes Isn’t the Goal Great Water 360 Multimedia Letting Go: The Emotional Side of Selling Your Auto Repair Shop Ratchet + Wrench Radio Adams Automotive Columns Hayes: The Language of Winning Columns Saeli: Your Most Important Job Isn’t Running Your Shop. It’s Teaching It. Career Center Sign up for our eNewsletters Get the latest news and updates Sign Up Learning Resources Sponsored The State of the Market Report: Technology Adoption Within Automotive Repair Shops New data reveals how automotive repair technology adoption, from AI to ADAS and EV services, is reshaping independent shops. April 20, 2026 Sponsored Is Your Shop Lost in the ADAS Gap? Nearly half of independent shops offer ADAS services—but most lack the processes, training, and confidence to deliver them consistently or profitably. Join industry experts as... April 21, 2026 Sponsored Top Tips for Attracting and Retaining Technicians Finding and keeping qualified technicians is one of the biggest challenges facing today’s auto repair shops, but it doesn’t have to be this hard. Our guide... March 3, 2026 Sponsored Winning the Battle for Bay Volume: Smart Strategies for Service Shops Service shops are under more pressure than ever—rising customer expectations, digital-first behaviors, and operational bottlenecks are quietly cutting into profits and bay volume... April 6, 2026 Podcasts View More Blaire O'Neal Multimedia Podcast: When Repair Costs Total More Than Cars Ratchet + Wrench RadioDr. Blaire O'Neal unpacks why more vehicles are being declared total losses, how rising repair costs and parts pricing are reshaping the collision industry, and what it means ... Aug. 5, 2026 TechForce Foundation Multimedia Podcast: The Next Generation of Technicians Is Here. Are Shops Ready? Ratchet + Wrench RadioOn this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, TechForce Foundation’s CEO Jennifer Maher talks about the technician shortage, Gen Z's changing career priorities, and what independent... July 29, 2026 Stryten Energy Multimedia Keeping Fleets Moving: What Battery Technology Means for Shop Success Ratchet + Wrench RadioDan Autey of Stryten Energy explains how evolving vehicle electrical systems, battery technology, and preventive maintenance are reshaping fleet service—and creating new opportunities... July 22, 2026 Grote Industries Multimedia 125 Years of People-First Leadership: What Shops Can Learn from Grote Industries Ratchet + Wrench RadioNewly appointed VP of HR Josh Wilber shares how culture, communication, and values-driven hiring have helped Grote Industries retain employees for decades—and what independent... July 15, 2026 Videos View More Education+Training ASE Instructor Training Conference: Filling the Farley Gap Larry Tuttle, Brian LaCroix, Jake Sorenson, and Jaime Angell join moderator Chris Messer to tackle the technician pipeline gap at ASE's ITC. July 30, 2026 Sponsored Eliminate Estimating Bottlenecks. Just Flow. From Inspections through Approvals. Estimating bottlenecks slowing you down? Learn how OneFlow Estimator + Inspections connects workflows to help shops build estimates faster. June 4, 2026 Sponsored Building a Strong Technician Pipeline for Long-Term Shop Success Finding and keeping skilled technicians is one of the biggest challenges facing repair shops today, and the most successful operations take a proactive approach. In this Tech ... April 16, 2026 Sponsored Communication That Keeps Customers Coming Back Great customer service goes beyond fixing vehicles; it’s about building trust and long-term loyalty. This Tech Tip Short explores customer service best practices for auto... Feb. 12, 2026 Shop Life View More Lola Schmidt Columns Schmidt: A Confident Close  Believe in the repair, and your customers will too. Aug. 6, 2026 Greg Bunch Columns Bunch: Your Shop Is Trying to Tell You Something The numbers don't give you the answers—they tell you where to start looking. Learning to interpret what your shop is saying is one of the most important leadership skills an ... Aug. 3, 2026 Columns Bennett: Are You Measuring What Made You Successful—or What Makes You Profitable? Your role has changed. Your dashboard should, too. July 30, 2026 The Institute Columns Bullard: Hiring That Actually Improves Profit The systems and processes that build stronger teams and healthier margins. July 28, 2026 Columnists View More Katie French Columns French: Running on Empty The mental health check-in everyone needs but no one wants to talk about. July 23, 2026 Dutch Silverstein Columns Silverstein: The Mirror in the Case Testing the limits of continuing education. July 21, 2026 A1 Automotive Columns Warnock: The Leadership Ripple Effect Why influence is more contagious than you think. July 17, 2026 Columns Demarest: The Five Biggest Profit and Loss Mistakes in Repair Shops The key errors that hinder understanding your shop’s financial health, including inaccurate data, unnecessary detail, and poor sales measurement. July 15, 2026 Operations View More Operations Checkers to Chess How “business as usual” could be holding your shop back. July 3, 2026 Emme Osmonson Running a Shop 2026 Ratchet+Wrench Industry Report Now Available This year’s report introduces new data on ADAS readiness, EV service, AI adoption, apprenticeship programs, and diagnostic profitability. June 29, 2026 Operations Q&A: Identifying and Fixing Front Counter Inefficiencies Randy Modos, president and co-founder of PayJunction, explains how shops that adopt integrated, user-friendly payment solutions can enhance customer satisfaction, increase repair... June 23, 2026 LSOphoto Operations OEC General Auto Repair Shop Survey Puts Spotlight on Industry Hurdles Nearly 700 shops across the U.S. weighed in on what technicians need out of a career, what’s holding consumers back, and what the parts ordering process looks like for the average... June 5, 2026 Leadership View More Ivan Pantic Running a Shop Numbers: Workweek Realities Hours behind the wheel of shop ownership. July 7, 2026 Leadership A Bigger Runway Brian Moak found a way to make a bigger difference by doing something he never imagined—being acquired. June 8, 2026 Running a Shop Going Out on a High Note After 20 years helping build Autoshop Solutions from the ground up, Margaret Palango steps away as CEO—confident the team and culture she nurtured will carry the company forward... March 24, 2026 FG Trade Leadership How an Emotionally Intelligent Leader Leads Turning self-awareness into stronger teams, deeper connections, and lasting shop success. Feb. 26, 2026 Sales+Marketing View More Sales+Marketing Think Outside the Shop: How One Owner Turned Everyday Moments into Marketing Gold From free tea and pizza to candles and scratch-offs, Sasha Holley built The Shop Georgia’s brand by connecting with her community long before customers ever needed a repair. July 27, 2026 Sales+Marketing More Than a New Sign Done right, a full rebrand can transform a shop. Two owners share the lessons they learned from their shop overhauls that helped build lasting brands. April 30, 2026 Sales+Marketing Case Study: Find Your Ideal Customer The secret to relieving stress and adding to your bottom line could be as simple as opening your CRM. Oct. 2, 2025 Sales+Marketing 5 Ways Royalty Auto Service Grew a YouTube Channel, and a Much Broader Customer Base  From TikTok stardom to YouTube success, this Georgia-based father-son shop demonstrates how authentic content builds trust from viewers and customers worldwide. June 26, 2025 Ratchet+Wrench is the resource for auto care and service center owners, operators, and managers to lead cutting-edge operations. It equips readers with the most progressive shop management strategies, tactics, and tools for future success through stories from real industry professionals and experts on issues that matter most to the automotive aftermarket. Newsletters The top stories, industry insights and relevant research, assembled by our editors and delivered to your inbox. 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