Mobile Specialist

Roadside assistance technicians are also known as breakdown engineers, and they are responsible for assisting motorists who are stranded at the side of the road. They are responsible for diagnosing problems with vehicles and either repairing them in situ, or moving them to a safety point. Duties may commonly include:

• Responding to breakdowns or accidents relayed from a control centre
• Driving to the motorist’s location
• Examining the vehicle and locating any faults
• Explaining to the driver what work needs to be done
• Repairing the fault or towing the vehicle to a garage
• Arranging transport for the driver of the faulty vehicle
• Keeping records of any work carried out

As a roadside assistance technician you will need to demonstrate:

• Strong communication and empathy skills
• The ability to think on your feet and stay calm under pressure
• The ability to explain technical issues in a simple way to the customer
• A reassuring manner
• The ability to work on your own

You will need to have a strong technical background and possess qualifications in roadside recovery at either level 2 or 3.

You can also complete an Automotive Technician Accreditation in Roadside Assistance, this accreditation shows current competence and is valid for three years.  For more information please click ATA Roadside Assistance.

Qualifications

IMI Awards

Level 2 Diploma in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Principles (VRQ)

City & Guilds

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair (VRQs) (4290)

Please note: These figure are meant as a guide only and may vary from employer to employer

Recovery drivers usually work around 40 hours per week, which will include late nights and weekend work on a rota basis. There may also be a need for on-call services. The majority of the time is spent on the road travelling to stranded customers and carrying out vehicle assessments using specialised equipment. You will need a full driving licence.

Salary:

• You can expect to earn around £30,000 per year
• This may rise to around £35,000-£40,000 with experience and in more senior positions

There may be opportunities for overtime pay depending on your employer. You may also be eligible for holiday entitlement, company pension and private healthcare schemes.

You may come into this role from that of a service technician following additional training, or you may be able to enter via an apprentice/traineeship programme that will typically work towards an N/SVQ level 2 at this stage in roadside recovery.

To do this you may require GCSEs/Standard Grades in English, Maths, Science and IT or appropriate equivalents. For further information on apprentice/traineeships in England please visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk, for Wales please visit www.careerswales.com for Northern Ireland please visit www.nidirect.gov.uk/careers and for Scotland please visit www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk

Apprenticeships

Motor Vehicle |Service and MaintenanceTechnician (Light Vehicle)  In tins apprenticeship you’ll choose your area of specialization, whether that’s motorcycles, cars, heavy vehicles or vehicle electrical systems. You’ll be working in a service technician type role, carrying out routine maintenance and basic repairs, as well as identifying and reporting faults.

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