PATASKALA, Ohio — As the threat of winter weather continues to rise for Wednesday, another probability going up is that you will need a mechanic.
“No one likes to be out in the cold,” Gary Forrest said. “Cars, either.”
Forrest has owned Local Boys Automotive Service Repair since 2006 and every winter he sees it.
“Little bit of everything,” he said. “A lot of suspension work. Steering, suspension. People drive off the roads.”
From suspension work to tires, alignment and broken door handles.
“They’ll freeze, then people will yank,” Forrest said. “They’re plastic [and] rip it right off their car.”
While the demand for service has been high, many central Ohio shops are seeing low employment.
“We’ve been always a little low on techs here and there,” Forrest said. “We could always use another one.”
Forrest says at five people in his garage he’s been at full-staff the last two years.
According to Market Source, the U.S. is facing a “critical, ongoing shortage of auto technicians.” It also estimates from 2020 to 2026, 16,500 shops would need 76,000 technicians just to keep up with demand. A demand that Forrest sees daily.
“[I] got more cars I can do today than I can get done,” he said.