Should the Auto Repair Industry Take Notes from the Heavy Duty Trucking Industry? | Mathieu Patenaude
Podcast: The Jaded Mechanic PodcastPublished On: Tue Sep 23 2025
Description: Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors.Promotive can help you find your dream job. Touch HERE to see open jobs.Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HEREWanna go to Tekmetric's first ever industry training event Tektonic? Register HEREIn this episode, Jeff is joined by Mathieu Patenaude, a mobile heavy truck technician from the Ottawa area. Mathieu shares his journey from working for a school bus company to running his own mobile diagnostic business, explaining the challenges of adapting to rapidly changing truck technology and industry standards. They both talk about the challenges of working in harsh Ottawa winters, the unique demands of fleet maintenance, and the importance of thorough diagnostics and road-testing in the trucking world.Timestamps: 00:00 Ottawa Business Overview with Matthew06:08 Old School Car Troubleshooting13:03 Ottawa's Troubled Transit Project16:57 Parking Lot Truck Challenges21:34 Trailer Safety Overload Experience26:20 Renting Trucks vs. Specialized Equipment35:11 Pursuing a Career with Mercedes?37:16 "Tech Diagnostics: Knowledge Builds Over Time"43:47 Rising Door Rates in Canada47:29 "Shop Pranks with FUE Cans"56:12 "Rethinking Trade Apprenticeships"58:15 "Encouraging Thoughtful Problem Solving"01:08:05 Importance of Failure Analysis01:08:43 Incomplete Failure Analysis Practices01:15:40 Procrastinating Vehicle Maintenance Woes01:20:54 Changing Car Culture Impacting Youth01:25:32 Paving His Own Path01:30:48 Tech Distractions in the Workplace01:39:01 Transmission Fluid Level Check Process01:45:46 Handle Both Car Batteries01:47:07 Critiquing from an Ivory Tower01:51:39 Hidden Car Defects Dilemma Follow/Subscribe to the show on social media! TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffcompton7YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheJadedMechanicFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091347564232
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