Episodes

Steve Shaw and Dave Rogers take on the single most misunderstood investment in the modern dealership: training. Steve walks through what real training looks like, how to hire a trainer, why the four training modalities (seminars, on-site workshops, structured webinars, microlearning) must be blended, why 15-second clickbait “training” is hurting the industry, why an on-site trainer pays for itself many times over, and his signature formula: P + B = R³ (Process plus Behavior equals exponentially ...

Dave Rogers and Steve Shaw tackle the single most urgent crisis facing the automotive service industry: how dealerships pay their technicians. Manufacturer warranty labor times have been squeezed to the point where flat-rate technicians cannot make a living on warranty work alone, and the industry is hemorrhaging talent. This episode covers the realities of flat-rate pay, the importance of techs being able to perform maintenance and customer-pay work, the emerging legal angle of warranty labor m...

Dave Rogers and Steve Shaw sit down with Armen Mansouri, Service Director at Porsche South Bay — and a U.S. military veteran whose service shaped the leader he is today. This episode is built around honoring Armen's service, exploring why veterans make exceptional dealership personnel, his 1% Rule for building an elite service department, the mentor who shaped him, and the leadership principles he carried from his time in uniform to the service drive.

Episode 45 is the sequel — and the rematch — to Episode 42. This time the tables turn: Dave Rogers puts Steve Shaw head-to-head with ChatGPT. Dave skips the training questions and instead hits Steve with the real-world fixed operations scenarios from Steve's days running stores and consulting on service drives across the country. Steve has to take off his trainer hat, put his fixed ops director hat back on, and answer in the moment — no notes, no script. Then ChatGPT runs the same scenarios and ...

Steve Shaw and Dave Rogers celebrate the career service advisor — the often-overlooked professional whose dedication keeps customers safe and dealerships profitable. This episode makes the case that a young person can build an above-average income, raise a family, and enjoy a meaningful life as a career service advisor — no four-year degree required.

Steve Shaw and Dave Rogers tackle one of the most underrated challenges in the modern dealership: what happens when a high-volume domestic or import store suddenly decides it wants to play in the luxury sandbox? The case study hits close to home. Steve walks us through his own Jeep Grand Wagoneer experience at a Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram dealership — where a $100,000+ luxury SUV gets serviced in the same chaotic drive as a $25,000 Compass, a leased Cherokee, and a twelve-year-old Wrangler with thr...

In Episode 42, we put 30+ years of fixed operations expertise on trial against the most advanced AI on the planet. Steve Shaw asked Claude to generate ten of the toughest, most revealing questions a fixed ops expert could face — then handed the mic to Dave Rogers and let him answer them cold. We then compared Claude's AI-generated answers side-by-side with Dave's real-world, dealership-tested responses. Key talking points covered in this episode: • Claude (AI) generates 10+ expert-level fixed op...

Dave Rogers and Steve Shaw sit down with service advisor Tyler Smith — an experienced young man who ends up schooling both of them on how to write service in 2026. The kicker: the fundamentals Tyler swears by today are the same fundamentals that drove top-performing service drives back in 1987. Key talking points covered in this episode: • Preparation for the appointment • Reviewing the repair orders before the customer arrives • Proper menu presentation • Why having a manager working the drive ...

In this powerful episode, Steve Shaw and Dave Rogers dive deep into the importance of having solid processes in your fixed operations department. They break down: What exactly is a process? Why every successful operation needs them How to start with the end in mind The critical role of accountability Steve and Dave use a compelling analogy: flying an airplane. Just like pilots rely on checklists to ensure safety and consistency, your service department needs proven processes and strict adherence...

Steve Shaw and Dave Rogers tackle one of the hottest topics in fixed operations today: Should used car reconditioning be treated as a profit center or just a necessary expense? They break down the real pros and cons of each approach and deliver practical strategies including: · The power of a dedicated used car technician team · Why a 24–48-hour recon turnaround is a game-changer · The case for an after-hours recon center · How proper reconditioning impacts speed-to-market, gross profit, and cus...

Dave Rogers and Steve Shaw sit down with Janet Hayworth from Rainmaker Warranty Services for a deep dive into the evolving world of warranty claims and reimbursement for new car dealers. Manufacturers are tightening their belts — and if your dealership isn't keeping up, you're leaving money on the table (or worse, facing an audit). Janet breaks down exactly what's changing, what's being demanded, and how to stay ahead of it all.

Steve and Dave break down why so many dealership videos miss the mark—and how the typical 2–5 minute “factory-style” inspection video often fails to engage customers. More importantly, they discuss how to create video multi-point inspections that customers actually want to watch. The conversation also covers practical strategies for improving your process, including: · Different write-up approaches at the service drive · Who should be creating the videos (technicians vs. dedicated videographers)...

Dave and Steve take a conversational “wander” through the core principles of dealership success—covering management, leadership, and the often-overlooked importance of mastering the basics. They also break down why solid auto maintenance fundamentals aren’t just for technicians—they’re critical for the entire operation, from service advisors to leadership teams.

Steve Shaw and Dave Rogers deliver a no-BS, often hilarious discussion about one simple truth: It’s called WORK for a reason. It’s not vacation. It’s not relaxation. It’s not playtime. It’s work.

Dave Rogers and Steve Shaw pull back the curtain on the Fixed Ops profit secrets that most dealerships are completely overlooking — the under-the-radar tactics that can boost your fixed operations profit immediately. While everyone else chases the same obvious plays, these battle-tested approaches deliver fast, measurable lifts in customer-pay revenue, absorption rate, and overall service department profitability — without needing more staff, big budgets, or months of implementation.

In Episode 33, Steve Shaw and Dave Rogers break down a powerful comparison: how elite coaches in professional sports (especially Major League Baseball) approach player development versus how most dealerships manage their service teams. They discuss why the best coaches in MLB don’t just manage — they actively coach every day to raise individual and team performance. Yet in the service department, many dealers still view training and coaching as an expense or a distraction that pulls technicians ...

Steve Shaw and Dave Rogers sit down with Bryan Shaw to expose a shocking real-world example from a CDJR dealership: In eight years, across 2 separate vehicles (including one under a free maintenance program), the dealership never once recommended a tire rotation or alignment to the customer. This isn’t just one bad store — it’s far more common than most dealers want to admit. Across the country, service departments are routinely missing basic maintenance opportunities, leaving billions of dollar...

Dave Rogers and Steve Shaw reveal how to create truly **frictionless service** by removing the biggest obstacles between your dealership, technicians, and customers. We tackle the **number one pain point** in most dealerships: the **Diagnostic Charge**. We also break down other major hurdles including: • Shop supplies fees • Prepaid service programs • Special order parts delays

In this episode, Steve Shaw and Dave Rogers sit down with Dave Anderson, CEO & Founder of EvenFlow AI, for a powerful follow-up on one of the hottest debates in fixed operations: appointments vs walk-ins debate rages on… until this AI expert drops the truth.

Steve Shaw and Dave Rogers dive headfirst into the critical world of customer retention and the power (or pitfalls) of service contracts and vehicle service contracts. They unpack proven strategies to keep customers coming back to your service drive long after the sale, while building lasting loyalty without giving away the store.

Steve Shaw and Dave Rogers break down how mastering your parts strategy drives customer retention and turns your parts department into a profit powerhouse—especially when it comes to aftermarket vs. OEM. We cover: • Why retention is the heartbeat of fixed ops • Real tactics that build trust and repeat business • How aftermarket parts win on price—and keep customers in your bay • Why aftermarket can significantly boost parts gross profit More value for the customer. More profit for the dealership...

Should service departments prioritize appointments… or allow customers to walk in anytime? Many dealerships struggle with balancing customer convenience, technician productivity, and service lane chaos. In this episode, Steve and Dave debate whether dealerships can actually grow their service business by controlling appointments to match production capacity—or if the industry’s common approach of “just come in whenever” is holding stores back.

Dave and Steve discuss real strategies to boost customer-pay loyalty, turn one-time visitors into lifelong advocates, and protect your gross without relying on giveaways that erode profit. If your retention numbers are slipping or you're tired of competing on free oil changes, this episode delivers the mindset shift and tactics to win back the service drive.

Dave Rogers and Steve Shaw, we sit down with Damon Egan, Service Manager (often referred to as Service Director) at Sherwood Ford in Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada—Western Canada's largest Ford dealership. Damon shares powerful insights on leadership, the strategies behind building an overwhelming success culture, and how a truly unified team elevates fixed operations to the next level. From fostering trust and accountability to driving record-breaking performance, this conversation is packed wi...