Automotive Technician at a Freight Forwarding Company

Summary

Thomas Aßmann has been with Karl Michels GmbH & Co. KG since 2008 and, as a certified master automotive technician, heads the company's own workshop at the Meudt location in the Westerwald. With a team of four technicians, he keeps a fleet of over 100 vehicles operational, including silo vehicles, tippers, walking-floor vehicles, and tautliners. In this interview, he talks about his day-to-day work as workshop manager at a logistics service provider, the biggest challenges in fleet management, an unforgettable breakdown assignment at the Swiss-Italian border, and what has kept him at Michels for over 15 years.

Table of Contents

Introduce yourself briefly: Who are you and what is your role at Michels?
What does a typical working day in the workshop look like?
Which vehicles do you look after and what maintenance intervals do you have?
And how do you keep track of maintenance and inspections?
What qualifications does your team have?
What is the biggest challenge in your job?
How do you deal with breakdowns and failures, including abroad?
Is there a specific example that has stayed with you?
How has the workshop developed in recent years?
And what are you planning next?
What do you hear from the drivers about the workshop's work?
And what do you personally enjoy the most?
What makes Michels special for you as an employer?
How long have you been here?
What role does the workshop play in training?
Conclusion: Fleet management at a freight forwarding company from a single source
FAQ

Introduce yourself briefly: Who are you and what is your role at Michels?

Thomas Aßmann: My name is Thomas Aßmann. I am a certified master automotive technician and have been here at Michels since 2008. I completed my apprenticeship here, attended the master craftsman school in between, and then came back. Today I am workshop manager and, together with my team, I am responsible for the entire workshop.

What does a typical working day in the workshop look like?

Thomas Aßmann: A typical working day starts with a brief meeting about what is on the agenda and a prioritisation of tasks, then we get started. We drive various trucks into the workshop, begin with the diagnosis, independently order materials as needed, and most of the time something unplanned comes up on top of that.

Late in the afternoon, when the trucks return from their runs, there are usually a few minor things that need to be taken care of at short notice. On average, we work on six vehicles per day, but on some days it is twelve or more.

Which vehicles do you look after and what maintenance intervals do you have?

Thomas Aßmann: We have around 100 tractor units and certainly 140 trailers and more (please verify). The types are very varied: silo vehicles, tippers, tipper bodies, two-way tippers, walking-floor vehicles, and tautliners. We are very broadly positioned in that regard.

And how do you keep track of maintenance and inspections?

Thomas Aßmann: We have the two legally required inspections per year: the safety inspection and the general vehicle inspection. In addition, we maintain lists of the various upcoming maintenance tasks on the vehicles. The intervals vary depending on the area of operation and the vehicle.

What qualifications does your team have?

Thomas Aßmann: We have staff who are authorised to carry out safety inspections, have completed the relevant training courses, and are registered with the trade guild. In addition, there are various smaller further training courses to keep us up to date with the latest technology. That is important because vehicle technology is constantly evolving.

The team consists of four technicians. Thanks to our brake test bench and safety inspection authorisation, all legally required inspections can be carried out in-house.

What is the biggest challenge in your job?

Thomas Aßmann: Specifically in our case, I would say: the most difficult and at the same time most exciting thing is the unpredictable. Breakdowns or accidents that always look different, are structured differently, new situations in various locations, sometimes abroad. Coming up with solutions and solving the problems – that is actually the most exciting part.

How do you deal with breakdowns and failures, including abroad?

Thomas Aßmann: Sometimes we also have to send someone out there, including overnight stays. We are often faster than commissioning someone abroad, because the fault is sometimes very specific and we have the materials and the know-how here.

Is there a specific example that has stayed with you?

Thomas Aßmann (laughs): Yes, we picked up a fuel tank at short notice in Koblenz because it was not available in Switzerland. Then we drove to the Swiss-Italian border, replaced the tank there, stayed overnight, and drove back the next day. That is also a huge advantage of Michels: the central location in Germany, in Europe. You can get everywhere quickly.

How has the workshop developed in recent years?

Thomas Aßmann: The workshop was restructured in 2018. We relocated internally, built a brake test bench, and completed the relevant training courses for the safety inspections, so that we can carry out all of that independently. The workshop was also reorganised a little in the process.

And what are you planning next?

Thomas Aßmann: We are considering acquiring an induction heater. This is a technology that is currently making its way into automotive workshops. With induction, you can heat ferrous materials in a targeted manner, without gas and oxygen or an open flame. It is more precise and safer. In addition, we are always looking for experienced specialists to strengthen our workshop team.

Are you an automotive technician or automotive mechatronics technician looking for a new challenge? Karl Michels GmbH & Co. KG is looking for reinforcement for its own commercial vehicle workshop in Meudt. View job offer now →

What do you hear from the drivers about the workshop's work?

Thomas Aßmann: The drivers are our direct "customers". What I hear: that the work is done conscientiously and properly, that you can rely on it. What has been done is 100 per cent in order – you never set off with a bad feeling.

And what do you personally enjoy the most?

Thomas Aßmann: What I enjoy most is actually the way we interact with each other. It is (mostly) very positive (laughs). Partly the conversations with the drivers when they come back from their runs and tell you about their experiences. The day-to-day working atmosphere is positive and cheerful.

What makes Michels special for you as an employer?

Thomas Aßmann: I believe that the company looks at each individual person individually and responds to their needs if any exist. That you are seen here, that good performance is recognised. And that you are given trust, can have a say in decisions, and are asked for your opinion.

How long have you been here?

Thomas Aßmann: I completed my apprenticeship here, then went to the master craftsman school and came back afterwards. That is now over 15 years. And I genuinely enjoy working here very much.

What role does the workshop play in training?

Thomas Aßmann: We have the professional driver apprentices with us in the workshop to introduce them to the technology. They really get to see beforehand what a truck looks like on the inside. That is part of the training. Those who later work as drivers can recognise and describe faults more easily. That is a real advantage for their later professional life. Depending on their age when they join, some spend up to two years with me in the workshop.

Are you interested in an apprenticeship at Karl Michels? Whether as a professional driver or in another apprenticeship profession – at Michels you not only learn to drive, but also understand what is under the bonnet. Discover apprenticeship positions now →

Conclusion: Fleet management at a freight forwarding company from a single source

The workshop of Karl Michels GmbH & Co. KG is an integral part of the company and today a strategic component of the entire logistics operation. It ensures the availability of a fleet of over 100 vehicles, enables rapid responses to breakdowns and failures – including abroad – and creates the reliability that drivers and customers depend on every day.

Thomas Aßmann and his team stand for a workshop culture based on quality, personal responsibility, and genuine team spirit. Anyone looking for an employer as an automotive technician for commercial vehicles or automotive mechatronics technician who recognises performance and thinks long-term will find at Michels a well-established family business with over 85 years of history and four generations of company management.

Interview Partner

Thomas Aßmann | Certified Master Automotive Technician & Workshop Manager, Karl Michels GmbH & Co. KG

Thomas Aßmann has been with Karl Michels GmbH & Co. KG since 2008. He completed his apprenticeship at the company, finished the master craftsman school, and has since been managing the company's own workshop at the Meudt location in the Westerwald. He is responsible for the operational readiness of a fleet of over 100 vehicles.