The numbers don’t lie—and they don’t look good for the automotive industry.

Brandon and Austin break down data comparing auto techs to other trades and discuss why technicians are often paid less despite increasing complexity.

We cover:

• The growing gap between trades
• Why automotive has no defined career ladder
• How that impacts technician retention
• Why labor rates don’t always match skill level
• And why AI and scan tools can’t replace experience

This episode pulls no punches.

In this episode, we talk about times customers were not fully honest, times communication was unclear, and situations where nobody was trying to cause problems but things still went wrong.

We discuss:

Stories of deceptive customer behavior shops sometimes deal with
How estimate misunderstandings happen more easily than people realize
Why clear communication matters before, during, and after repairs
How both customers and shops play a role in building trust

If you’ve ever wondered why some repair experiences spiral into frustration, this episode is for you.

Flat rate vs hourly—it's one of the most argued topics in the automotive industry.

In this episode, we dig into why technician pay is such a difficult problem to solve and why there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

We discuss:

• Why flat rate can reward efficiency—but also create frustration
• Why hourly pay can feel stable—but sometimes lack motivation
• The unintended consequences of both systems
• What a better future for technician pay might look like

If you’ve ever questioned how techs should be paid, this episode is for you.

There’s a side of the automotive industry that rarely gets talked about — the honest, feel-good moments that happen every day.

In this episode, Austin and I share real stories from our shop and others that show what integrity actually looks like in action.

From diagnosing vehicles correctly the first time, to helping customers without charging for the small stuff, these are the moments that build lifelong trust.

This episode is about:

Doing the job right the first time

Putting people over profit

The real relationships built in auto repair

In this episode of the Automotive Integrity Podcast, we talk about one of the biggest questions vehicle owners have:

How do you know if a repair shop is trustworthy?

Austin and I break down what separates a professional, ethical repair shop from one that relies on pressure, confusion, or poor practices.

We discuss:

• Why proper diagnostics matter and why guessing at repairs costs customers money
• What good communication from a repair shop should look like
• Common red flags vehicle owners should watch for
• How professional shops explain estimates and repair decisions
• The mindset and practices that define an integrity-driven repair business

Our goal is to help both vehicle owners and automotive professionals understand what a healthy repair relationship should look like.

If you want to learn more about building trust and transparency in the automotive industry, this episode is for you.

There are thousands of automotive professionals across this country who operate with honesty, transparency, and real care for their customers.

They just don’t always get the spotlight.

In this first episode of the Automotive Integrity Podcast, we introduce ourselves, share our background in the automotive industry, and explain why we believe integrity deserves to be recognized, supported, and elevated.

After decades of hands-on experience in service, sales, and diagnostics, we’ve seen firsthand what integrity looks like in action — shops that stand behind their work, technicians who go the extra mile, and business owners who choose long-term trust over short-term gain.

This podcast isn’t about criticizing the industry.

It’s about highlighting what’s working.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Our journey in automotive
• The values that shaped our approach
• Why integrity matters more than ever
• And how the Automotive Integrity Alliance was created to recognize and support businesses that operate the right way

If you’re a vehicle owner who values transparency…
A shop owner committed to doing things right…
Or someone who believes trust still matters in business…

You’re in the right place.

Because integrity isn’t just good ethics.

It’s good business.

And we’re here to shine a light on it.