Deyling Rodriguez may be in the early days of his automotive career, but he admits he's in love with wrenching. His enthusiasm came through loud and clear in this interview.
Motor Age is partnering with TechForce Foundation to share profiles and perspectives of young automotive technicians who are in the early days of their careers.
What are the key challenges you've faced as a technician?
Oh man, when I was working on a new 2024 Ford Raptor, it definitely brought its own set of challenges! Those trucks are loaded with all sorts of advanced tech and features that can feel a bit overwhelming. I mean, you’ve got to get familiar with everything from adaptive cruise control to those cool off-road modes, which are super fun but can be tricky to diagnose if something goes wrong.
One of the big headaches with a brand-new model is that there often aren’t enough manuals or resources available yet. It can feel like you’re trying to navigate uncharted territory, which isn’t ideal, especially when you’re under pressure to fix things quickly.
Read our full series of interviews with young technicians:
What improvements do you think the industry should make to better support both new and experienced technicians?
I think the industry could really step it up by offering more hands-on training and mentorship programs. Pairing newbies with seasoned techs would make a world of difference. That is how I am learning now, and I am learning more because I can work through problems with someone who is already experienced in the field.
In your opinion, what does the industry need to do to prepare for the future?
I really think the industry needs to embrace training and education on new technologies a lot more. With electric vehicles and smart tech becoming the norm, it’s super important for shops to stay ahead of the curve. Investing in ongoing training for technicians is key. We need programs that keep us updated on the latest advancements, not just the basics.
As a technician, do you feel like the industry is doing enough to make sure shops can keep up with evolving technologies?
To be quite honest, I don’t feel like the industry is doing enough right now to help shops keep up with these rapid changes. A lot of places are still stuck in old ways, and it’s tough to find the resources we really need as new technicians.
It would be awesome to see more collaboration between manufacturers and training organizations to create better curriculums that focus on the tech we’ll be dealing with in the coming years.
Who has been influential in your journey as a tech, and what advice would you give to employers to create a more supportive environment for all technicians?
My biggest influence had to be my high school automotive teacher. He was a very skilled man with lots of intelligence and up-to-date knowledge about the industry.
He was hard on us students, but that's because he wanted the best for us. I can not thank him enough for what he has done for us. He laid down a path for us to continue into our careers by motivating us and giving us life-long advice.
