Gave my 2 week notice after talking to a fleet mechanic in Phoenix

I was at a shop in Phoenix last month picking up parts and got to talking with a guy who runs the fleet for a local delivery company. He told me he had been flat rate for 12 years before switching to fleet work and said his stress level dropped about 80 percent. He also mentioned he makes more now and has actual benefits and a retirement plan. That conversation got me thinking about how I've been chasing hours for 5 years and feeling burned out. I started looking into fleet maintenance jobs in my area and found a few openings. Has anyone here made the jump from flat rate to fleet and regretted it?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_christopher1mo ago

Did @wendysanchez mention if that HVAC crew went to commercial or just a bigger residential company? Honestly, fleet is a solid move but it's not always less stress depending on who you work for.

wendysanchez1mo ago

That fleet mechanic in Phoenix basically described what I've been noticing with a lot of tradespeople lately. I see electricians, plumbers, and mechanics all making the same switch from chasing jobs to working for a bigger company or fleet. The flat rate life just seems to burn people out after a while because you're always racing against a clock that doesn't care if you hit a rusty bolt or a stripped nut. A guy I know who does HVAC said his whole crew went from residential installs to commercial maintenance and they all sleep better now. It's like the whole industry is slowly figuring out that steady pay and real benefits beat the gamble of flat rate every time.