Having a team of experienced professionals is crucial when it comes to your vehicle’s mechanics. With so many intricate parts that go into the fixing and upkeep, it’s important to make sure you have a team you can trust for your vehicle’s maintenance. This is why Levin Tire & Service Center invests in its team year-round to make sure everyone is always set to help any customer, whether it be a quick checkup or a longer fix, at a moment’s notice.
“We want to be efficient when someone comes in. We want to make sure we get their car fixed correctly and out the door as soon as possible because that person needs to get back to work, life, whatever it might be. If we're not efficient, then we're not giving that customer the best service they should be receiving,” said Levin Tire Marketing and IT Manager Dan Trzeciak.
The bulk of this preparation is done through training. Regardless of department and background, each new employee must go through a series of onboarding sessions to fully immerse themselves into the world of Levin Tire.
Front desk service members, for example, are required to make sure they’re up to date on all products Levin Tire offers. This includes taking online classes to learn the ins and outs of Goodyear and other name brand tire manufacturers as well as additional training on the different types of oil and fluids used, such as Mobil Oil, and their benefits for each product level.
“Those are the big things because oil changes are the most common service. Then, of course, we sell a lot of tires, so we want to make sure they're experts in those two fields to start,” Trzeciak said.
The training also extends beyond new hires as well. It’s an ongoing process to make sure veteran employees are also kept up to date. This includes group training sessions provided by local parts vendors where multiple technicians come out, both from Levin Tire and other companies, to focus on different specific areas of a vehicle, which may be computers, refrigerant, emissions repairs, or something else. Equipment field representatives, additionally come out once a year to retain employees and make sure they’re still using equipment correctly, such as alignment and flush machines.
“A lot of those trainings are ongoing all the time,” Trzeciak said. “It really doesn't matter how long you've been here. If you've only been here a year, if you've been here 20 years, if there's a training that is available to you that would be beneficial, you could take it.”
Like any industry, the tire market is constantly changing, so Levin Tire makes sure to sit down with employees each month to talk over anything that’s different, such as any products that have been discontinued or if there are any new up-and-coming trends to be aware of. Technology, for example, has brought about major change to the automotive industry in many ways, so Levin Tire has been going the extra mile to learn about as many technological advances in cars as possible.
“We meet to talk about what we're seeing as far as industry trends. There was a period where we were getting a lot of Teslas in, so we had to transition to help accommodate those such as what can we fix on them, what tires are they using” Trzeciak said. “Cars also now have lane detection, so cameras are built into the cars. That's another thing Levin employees learned about in the last three years and how our programs on our computers can help so customers don't have to go to the dealer.”
Levin Tire also greatly values its employees' input. If a team member comes across a training they think will benefit the team or improve their work, they’re welcome to step forward with their thoughts and ideas.
“All they have to do is ask their manager and get it approved through our general manager, and then they’ll be on their way to that training at no cost to that employee,” Trzeciak said. “If an employee truly feels it's beneficial to learn something and would help their store do that service in the future, we're all on board with investing in our employees.”
Additionally, Levin Tire makes sure to take care of its own. No matter their position, each employee is eligible for healthcare with the lowest premiums possible to make sure they can make their health and well-being their main priority.
“We want our staff to be healthy. We want them to visit the doctor and get those regular checkups and not have to be worried about the additional expenses that may come with that,” Trzeciak said. “Rates have continued to rise for a company over the last couple of years and Levin Tire has covered that increase at no additional cost to the employees.”
“I've been here for almost nine years now, and every day is great. We're a family-owned business, so everyone is close, and we work well as a team. If I think that a training or program or a new tool is needed, I can just walk right into my general manager's office, plead my case, and get it done,” said Trzeciak. “It's very nice to work in an environment where things can happen quickly to not only give my shops something they need, but the customer as well. I like the people I work with, they've been very good to me, and it's nice to be in an environment where you feel appreciated and can make a difference each day.”
Levin Tire is looking to add more to its quality team as a new location in Crown Point is set to open next year. For more information on Levin Tire & Service Center, visit its website at levintirecenter.com.
