When Galen Guidry muses on what sets his Today’s Car Care business apart from the competition, he concludes the difference is in the details.
Topping the list is the experience and knowledge possessed by the members of his staff. His technicians are regularly certified and go through continuous training. That’s something that isn’t a given anywhere you go, said Guidry, who began working with cars alongside his father at the age of 12 and who personally trains his staff members.
With a wealth of experience, the now 50-year-old remains as passionate about his craft as ever.
“Certification doesn’t last forever,” Guidry said, noting technicians must re-test every five years to be certified and up to date. “A lot of guys advertise certified techs when that’s not the case. And when you have trained and skilled technicians, it makes a world of difference. It costs more to hire them, but it’s worth the investment when it comes to getting it done and getting it right.”
Guidry has invested in his staff by paying for them to go through training classes, where his employees can meet others in the field and learn and vice versa.
“It’s all about continual education,” Guidry said.
To that point, the Luling business employs a master technician with L1 Certification, an automobile advanced engine performance specialist — less than five percent of shops nationwide have someone with that certification. Another will complete his master tech certification in August. Master Certification requires expertise of engine repair, automatic transmission/trans axle, manual drive train and axles, suspension and steering, brakes, electrical/electronic systems, heating and air conditioning and engine performance. One must also document at least two years of relevant hands-on experience.
Those and the shop’s other technicians work with state-of-the-art equipment, something else Guidry has continually invested in.
“Everything’s computerized. There’s no machine that you can just plug into a car to tell you what’s wrong,” he said. “You still have to research and diagnose it and not just rely on a code, because there are too many variables and things that can go wrong or change the circumstances.
“That’s where the skill level of the technician comes in. A generic machine is going to cost less but it’s not going to identify what the factory-level one can with the same accuracy.”
These things have helped with the business’ reputation for getting its customers back on the road quickly. The time for repair usually takes between one and two days, even on major fixes.
“We understand part of the value is convenience,” Guidry said.
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