3 Ways to Onboard a New Tech Faster

1. Standardize the "Truck Stock" Strategy

New techs often fail not because they lack skill, but because they lack the right tools. If a rookie arrives at a job and doesn't have the part, they panic. They waste hours driving to a supply house or calling senior techs for help.

The Fix: Remove the guesswork. Don't let new hires build their own inventory. Hand them a "Standardized Truck Stock" list on Day 1.

• The "Universal" Safety Net: instead of stocking 50 different specific thermocouples, stock the OCM Universal Thermocouple. Instead of 20 specific igniters, stock the OCM Universal Hot Surface Igniter.
• Why it works: It simplifies their decision-making. They learn one product that solves ten problems. It gives them the confidence that they have the solution in the van, which reduces anxiety and speeds up the fix.

2. The "Pre-Diagnosis" Dispatch Method

Sending a green tech to a blind call is a recipe for callbacks. Instead, use your dispatch process as a training tool.

The Fix: Implement a "Triage" step before the truck rolls.

• Gather Data First: Train your dispatchers (or use a senior tech for 30 minutes each morning) to get the Model Number and Serial Number before the new tech is dispatched.
• The "Cheat Sheet": Have the new tech look up the equipment manuals and parts diagrams before they drive to the site.
• The AllPoints Advantage: Teach them to use search tools to identify likely failure points (e.g., "It's a fryer not heating? It's probably the high-limit or the thermopile"). Sending them in with a hypothesis makes them look like a pro and keeps them focused.

3. Implement a "Tech-Check-Tech" Policy

You can't be on every roof with them, but you can be there virtually. The biggest cause of call-backs is a rookie walking away from a machine that seems fixed but isn't.

The Fix: For the first 90 days, a new tech cannot close a ticket without a "Tech Check."

• The Process: Before leaving the site, the new tech must video-call a senior tech or service manager.
• The Checklist: They show the machine running, the flame pattern, and the thermometer reading 350°F.
• The Correction: The senior tech can spot the rookie mistake immediately ("Hey, that pilot flame looks weak, did you adjust the bypass?").
• The Result: You catch the call-back before the van leaves the parking lot. It costs you 5 minutes of a senior tech's time to save a $300 return trip.