GEARS Staff
Popular Articles
My staff and I were discussing job assignments and “Role Descriptions” of what they were paid to do. I asked the office manager, “What is the purpose of...
In today’s fast-paced technical landscape, the world of transmission repair, diagnostics, and powertrain systems demand continuous learning and strong...
“How’s life?” It’s not uncommon to have friends ask this question when they haven’t seen you in a while. What’s your answer today? How’s “it”...
GEARS Staff
In recent past issues, I’ve covered the basic uses and misuses of the Digital Multimeter (DMM). This series will introduce you to the value of the digital...
Imagine a workplace where every team member is equipped with tools to turn vision into reality, where teams are empowered to thrive, and where growth is not...
GEARS Staff
FACT: I’m not an expert on transmissions. Never really saw one until I spoke at Expo a few years ago.
FACT: I am an expert on people. I’ve spent a lifetime...
GEARS Staff
James is 72, a retired factory worker living in Ohio. His granddaughter, Maria, hustles as a waitress while juggling college classes in Miami. Across the...
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
Every year around this time, students all across the country are finishing school and venturing out into a new phase of life as a working adult. I think of...
GEARS Staff
Welcome, once again to Clash of the Classics. This month we’ll head back to 1968 for a fresh look at two of my all-time favorite cars, the Pontiac GTO and...
You arrive at work before your coworkers and you don’t have a key to the shop. You aren’t the one in charge; you aren’t even on the clock yet. It’ll be...
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
I’d like to welcome everyone who made it to ATRA’s Expo 2016. This is our first time at the Paris Hotel and Casino, on the beautiful Vegas Strip. Its prime...
GEARS Staff
The Torque Converter Rebuilders Association (TCRA) Annual Seminar and Meeting is just around the corner, and this year promises to be one of the most...
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
Welcome to Powertrain EXPO 2025, and what better place to kick it off than beautiful San Antonio, Texas!
This year represents more than just a new event —...
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
GEARS Shopper advertising costs $325.00 for a one time insertion ad, (2 1/4 X 3) 2.25 X 3. Larger ads can be placed elsewhere in the magazine and are charged...
As anyone who knows me can tell you, I love my job. I enjoy working with people from all around the world and I’m proud of what we do here at ATRA. But every...
Our industry recently lost an icon. Maylan Newton passed away on January 26th. His name is synonymous with excellence in management and sales training through...
Two years ago (June 2023), I wrote an article that focused on shop throughput. It centered on the results of a survey ATRA conducted, focusing on key metrics...
GEARS Shopper advertising costs $325.00 for a one time insertion ad, (2 1/4 X 3) 2.25 X 3. Larger ads can be placed elsewhere in the magazine and are charged...
As I write this article, I can’t help thinking about Larry Bloodworth. Larry passed away last January 29th at age 70. He was a pioneer in bringing the...
GEARS Staff
She came back again and said, “There’s still a problem that happens around 60 miles per hour.” You’ve already checked the transmission three times. All...
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
My millennial cousin, Laura, works for a well-known consulting firm that transitioned to remote work during the Covid 19 pandemic. Originally from the Bay Area...
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
“The greatest use of a life is to spend it on something that will outlast it.”– William James
In the transmission world, legacy isn’t just about who...
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”– Henry Ford
For the Wells family of Magnolia, Kentucky...
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
“How are you doing?” If you’re like me, you probably responded, “I’m good,” or “I’m fine,” even when reality feels far from it. Sometimes...
GEARS Staff
For clients approaching 65 years of age, navigating Medicare plans could be daunting. However, as an advisor navigating Medicare plans for my clients is...
GEARS Shopper advertising costs $325.00 for a one time insertion ad, (2 1/4 X 3) 2.25 X 3. Larger ads can be placed elsewhere in the magazine and are charged...
There are many great business coaches in our industry. Many of them have come from the General Repair universe. With that said, like AAMCO, I have seen many...
ATRA’s POWERTRAIN EXPO, was held last month in San Antonio, Texas. It’s the premier event for our industry, providing access to technical and management...
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
It’s an honor for me when my clients refer their children to me. Jason Albert has been my client since 2014. Throughout the years, his family has...
GEARS Staff
As the calendar turns to 2026, a stillness descends upon ATRA – not one of conclusion, but of transition. For decades, Rodger and Diane Bland, you have...
GEARS Staff
Following up on last month’s Opportunity Zone discussion, my client ended up selling his home for 1.7 million in San Diego. I discovered that options are...
2024 has proven to be great for markets thus far. The year-to-date (YTD) return for the S&P 500 index as of the most recent market close is approximately...
In this issue of Keep Those Trannys Rolling, we are going to take a look at a 2004 Acura TSX experiencing torque converter clutch issues. This 2004 Acura TSX...
GEARS Staff
If you’ve been in the transmission business for more than five minutes, you already know stress is as much a part of shop life as torque converters and...
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
On a foggy January morning in Manhattan Beach, a young founder sat across from a retired aerospace engineer at a local café. The engineer, now living off...
Many people today are chasing after the wind. We want more – more money, more influence, more comfort, more control. We throw ourselves into our jobs...
Technology continues to move forward, and nowhere is that more evident than in today’s vehicles. In this issue, we’re focusing on new technologies and how...
Road Test, because you can’t confirm your repair without it. A road test is your first, and sometimes only, chance to identify a problem. It may be performed...
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
San Antonio, Texas, was once again the center of the transmission industry as professionals from across the globe gathered September 3–7 for the ATRA...
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
All business owners want to know, “What’s my business worth?” But different buyers will put different values on your shop:
Family
Employee
Ambitious...
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
GEARS Shopper advertising costs $325.00 for a one time insertion ad, (2 1/4 X 3) 2.25 X 3. Larger ads can be placed elsewhere in the magazine and are charged...
Every day we see headlines touting how much AI is taking over our lives. Yet, when we leave the house, get in the truck, drive, and arrive at work… There’s...
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
The powertrain industry is no longer just “evolving”— it has reached a critical pivot point where technology and management must merge to survive. As the...
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
GEARS Staff
With this year’s POWERTRAIN EXPO right around the corner, I can’t help thinking about teamwork. Every year, I marvel at how ATRA’s IBO and GEARS Magazine...
GEARS Staff
Things have changed a lot in our industry over the years, but one thing that has not changed is the desire to give our customers a transmission that is a more...
