Heavy‑duty shops continued to raise wages and labor rates in 2025, but the industry’s technician shortage remains stubbornly entrenched.
According to Fullbay’s newly released State of Heavy‑Duty Repair report, hourly technician wages increased by more than 14 percent on average, yet 57 percent of shops still report being understaffed. The report was published during the American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, which took place March 16-19, 2026.
“Part of Fullbay’s mission is to create clarity throughout the entire heavy‑duty repair ecosystem to allow owners, technicians, and everyone involved in the maintenance and management of heavy‑duty equipment to be at their best,” stated Trent Broberg, Fullbay’s Chief Executive Officer. “This report is designed to shine a light on the challenges, solutions, and unique methods owners and techs are taking to keep the most important sectors of our economy moving.”
The 2025 edition marks the sixth year of the report, produced in collaboration with TMC. Fullbay compiled responses from nearly 900 professionals across freight, logistics, and repair, supplemented by anonymized operational data from more than 3,400 shops using the Fullbay platform. The findings reflect activity across Class 6–8 vehicles, agricultural equipment, emergency units, construction machinery, commercial fleets, and other heavy equipment.
Hiring Remains Slow Despite Wage Growth
One‑third of shops said it takes two to four weeks to hire a technician, but five percent reported hiring cycles longer than 12 months. Even with these delays, turnover remains relatively low: 57 percent of shops report annual technician turnover below 10 percent.
Shops continue to use financial incentives to attract and retain talent, but not always in the same way. While 63 percent offer bonuses, only 19 percent provide referral bonuses, leaving a potential recruitment lever underused.
Financial Performance Improves
Nearly two‑thirds of shops said they performed “a little or a lot better” financially in 2025 compared to 2024—a notable jump from 52 percent the previous year. Labor rates also climbed, rising 7.4 percent in 2025, up from a four percent increase the year prior.
AI Adoption Remains Limited
Despite growing industry interest, 65 percent of shops still do not use AI. Among those that do, the most common applications are diagnostics (19 percent) and customer service or communications (18 percent). Predictive maintenance adoption remains low at eight percent.
Top Concerns For 2026
Shop owners are evenly split on their biggest worry heading into 2026:
- hiring qualified technicians during the ongoing shortage, and
- managing rising operational expenses.
Each concern was cited by 43 percent of respondents.
About Fullbay
Fullbay is a Phoenix, Arizona‑based software company specializing in heavy‑duty repair shop management solutions. Founded to streamline operations for commercial repair facilities, the company provides workflow, invoicing, parts management, and customer communication tools for shops across the United States and Canada. Its annual State of Heavy‑Duty Repair report has become a widely referenced benchmark for technician wages, shop performance, and industry trends. For more information, visit www.fullbay.com.