Service Drive Revolution with Chris Collins

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Got a question for the show? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR! Chris Collins, the leading Automotive Service Manager Coach and Service Advisor Trainer in the world, discusses little known service drive secret weapons to help pull your service department ahead of the pack. Everything from hiring technicians, increasing dealership CSI, building relationships for long term customer retention, to increasing customer pay sales and more, is all discussed here on Service Drive Revolution. All from the automotive industries #1 go-to guy for Fixed Operations; Chris Collins. Listen, and enjoy!

  1. FEB 23

    SDR #347: Top 9 Reasons Service Managers Fail (And How to Avoid Them)

    Service Managers, Fixed Ops Directors, and dealership leaders — your leadership style is either building a powerhouse or quietly sinking your department. Most Service Managers struggle because they never truly leave the "technician" mindset behind. They manage by emotion instead of numbers, and they prioritize being liked over being a leader. In this episode of Service Drive Evolution #347, Chris Collins, Hogi, and Adam break down the 9 critical reasons why Service Managers fail and how to pivot toward a mission-driven leadership style. We also dive into the future of the industry, discussing our recent experiences with Waymo and Tesla's "Mad Max" self-driving tech—and what it means for the future of the service drive. In this episode, we break down: ✅ Why "The Technician Mindset" is the #1 killer of management success ✅ How to manage by facts and figures, not by feelings ✅ The "Recipe for Success": Why process must always beat people ✅ How to set clear expectations that your team can actually follow ✅ Why playing it safe is the riskiest move a manager can make ✅ The truth about self-driving tech: Waymo vs. Tesla's latest chips ✅ How to move from "Maintenance Mode" to "Mission Mode" If your service department struggles with: - Inconsistent performance and "rollercoaster" months - A culture of excuses instead of accountability - Lack of clear systems and processes - Managers who act like "glorified technicians" - Uncertainty about the future of automotive tech This episode provides the blueprint to stop "playing it safe" and start winning in the service drive. The success of your department depends on your ability to lead, not just solve problems. 📌 Watch now to evaluate your management style and prepare for the future. 🔔 Subscribe for daily automotive service industry insights 📞 Got a question? Call 833-3-ASK-SDR 📚 Special deals on training: https://offers.chriscollinsinc.com #ServiceDriveEvolution #ServiceManager #FixedOps #AutomotiveLeadership #TeslaFSD #Waymo #ChrisBulldogCollins #ServiceDepartment #dealershipsuccess

    1h 10m

  2. FEB 16

    Most Shop Foremen Are Doing This Wrong (And It's Costing You Production)

    Service Managers, Fixed Ops Directors, and dealership leaders — this role can either explode your production or quietly destroy it. Most dealerships misunderstand what a shop foreman in Fixed Ops is supposed to do. They treat the foreman like a master technician instead of a production leader. In this episode of Service Drive Revolution (#346), we break down: ✅ What a shop foreman's REAL job is ✅ Why production drops when foremen think like technicians ✅ How daily flagged hours should be tracked ✅ The right way to handle dispatch and technician balance ✅ How to build shop culture through standards ✅ Why coaching beats solving problems for techs ✅ How leadership in the shop drives gross profit If your service department struggles with: - Low technician productivity - Inconsistent efficiency - Poor shop culture - Lack of accountability - Or unclear production tracking This episode will change how you look at the shop foreman role. The strength of your shop foreman determines the strength of your Fixed Ops department. 📌 Watch now and evaluate your leadership structure. 🔔 Subscribe for daily automotive service industry insights 📞 Got a question? Call 833-3-ASK-SDR 📚 Special deals on training: https://offers.chriscollonsinc.com #FixedOps #ServiceManager #ShopForeman #DealershipLife #AutomotiveLeadership #ChrisBulldogCollins 🛑 On-Demand Training For Huge Results: https://shorturl.at/j7J8u 🛑 Book a free 30-min discovery call for coaching that grows your profits: https://calendly.com/cci-schedule/30-minute-discovery-call-with-chris-collins-inc?utm=SDRPod&month=2025-12 🛑 Best-selling books on making your Fixed Ops a money printer: https://chriscollinsinc.com/shop/ 🛑 Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR 🛑 Grab Chris's New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleader.com

    42 min

  3. FEB 9

    SDR #345: Increase Your NPS Score!

    Service Drive Revolution with Chris Collins

    45 min

  4. FEB 2

    SDR #344: Chris Collins Answers: Why Your Fixed Ops System Is Failing

    Service Managers, Fixed Ops Directors, and Service Advisors — If your service department feels busy but results stay inconsistent, the issue probably isn't your people. It's your system. In this episode of Service Drive Revolution #344, Chris Collins answers real questions from service managers and breaks down why broken Fixed Ops systems create advisor burnout, technician inefficiency, and customer frustration — even in dealerships with great employees. This episode covers: ✅ Why good people fail inside bad systems ✅ How poor process design increases unapplied labor and stress ✅ Why convenience and ease drive customer retention ✅ How quick lube setups often hurt long-term profitability ✅ Why the real competition is anywhere customers can service their vehicle ✅ How service managers regain control by fixing systems first If you're a service manager or advisor dealing with: - Constant chaos in the service drive - Missed opportunities and low retention - Inconsistent technician performance - High stress with little improvement 👉 This episode will change how you think about Fixed Ops systems and leadership.  #ServiceManager #FixedOps #DealershipService #CustomerExperience #ServiceDriveRevolution #ChrisBulldogCollins 🛑 On-Demand Training For Huge Results: https://shorturl.at/j7J8u 🛑 Book a free 30-min. discovery call for coaching that grows your profits: https://calendly.com/cci-schedule/30-minute-discovery-call-with-chris-collins-inc?utm=SDRPod&month=2025-12 🛑 Best Selling books on making your Fixed Ops a money printer: https://chriscollinsinc.com/shop/ 🛑 Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR 🛑 Grab Chris' New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleader.com

    31 min

  5. JAN 26

    SDR #343: Handling Difficult Customers in Fixed Ops the Right Way

    Service Managers and Service Advisors — If you're dealing with angry customers, escalations, or CSI issues, the problem usually isn't the customer. It's the system behind the interaction. In this episode of Service Drive Revolution #343, the conversation breaks down why most "difficult customers" in Fixed Ops are created by poor communication, unclear expectations, and weak leadership systems — and how service managers can fix it. This episode covers: ✅ Why arguing with customers makes situations worse ✅ How poor communication creates unnecessary conflict ✅ The leadership skill of absorbing tension and defusing emotion ✅ How to trace customer complaints back to process failures ✅ Why intention matters more than being "right" ✅ How to turn upset customers into long-term loyal customers If you're a service manager, service advisor, or Fixed Ops leader struggling with: - CSI problems - Customer escalations - Negative reviews - Advisor burnout - Constant complaints 👉 This episode will change how you approach customer conflict in the service drive. #ServiceManager #FixedOps #DealershipService #CustomerExperience #ServiceDriveRevolution #ChrisBulldogCollins 🛑 On-Demand Training For Huge Results: https://shorturl.at/j7J8u 🛑 Book a free 30-min. discovery call for coaching that grows your profits: https://calendly.com/cci-schedule/30-minute-discovery-call-with-chris-collins-inc?utm=SDRPod&month=2025-12 🛑 Best-selling books on making your Fixed Ops a money printer: https://chriscollinsinc.com/shop/ 🛑 Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR 🛑 Grab Chris's New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleader.com

    39 min

  6. JAN 19

    SDR #342: Stop Blaming Communication: The System Is What's Broken

    Everyone says they have a communication problem — but what if that's just the symptom? In this episode of Service Drive Revolution #342, Chris Collins, Adam, and Hogi break down why most service departments don't actually suffer from poor communication… they suffer from broken systems, unclear expectations, and low standards. From chaotic scheduling and overloaded advisors to uncontrolled waiters, missed callbacks, and "freelancing" employees, this conversation exposes the real reasons communication falls apart — and why training communication alone never fixes it. You'll learn: - Why communication is an outcome, not a skill - How scheduling, appointment flow, and waiters silently destroy CSI - The power of putting customers on a track with clear expectations - Why logging, follow-up systems, and structure matter more than software  - How leadership standards (or lack of them) define customer experience - Why what you allow becomes your department's identity If you're a service manager, fixed ops leader, advisor, or dealer principal who's tired of chasing symptoms instead of results, this episode will change how you think about communication forever. Because once the system is right — communication takes care of itself. #FixedOps #ServiceManager #DealershipLeadership #AutomotiveLeadership #ServiceDriveRevolution #ChrisBulldogCollins 🛑 On-Demand Training For Huge Results: https://shorturl.at/j7J8u 🛑 Book a free 30-min discovery call for coaching that grows your profits: https://calendly.com/cci-schedule/30-minute-discovery-call-with-chris-collins-inc?utm=SDRPod&month=2025-12 🛑 Best-selling books on making your Fixed Ops a money printer: https://chriscollinsinc.com/shop/ 🛑 Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR 🛑 Grab Chris's New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleader.com

    38 min

  7. JAN 12 · VIDEO

    SDR #341: The Fixed Ops Leadership Mistakes Killing Service Department Profit

    Service Managers, Fixed Ops Directors, and Dealership Leaders — If your service department feels busy but profits don't match the effort, the problem isn't your people. It's your leadership systems. In this episode of Service Drive Revolution #341, the conversation breaks down the Fixed Ops leadership mistakes that quietly destroy productivity, inflate labor costs, and hold service departments back — even in strong markets. This episode covers: ✅ Why leadership decisions matter more than market conditions ✅ How minimum performance standards lift technician productivity ✅ Why unapplied labor is a leadership problem, not a technician problem ✅ How tracking and visibility instantly change behavior ✅ Why systems outperform talent in the service department ✅ How to prepare your Fixed Ops operation for 2026 growth If you're a service manager or advisor dealing with: - Inconsistent technician efficiency - Rising labor cost per hour - Unclear accountability - Strong sales with weak service profits. 👉 This episode will change how you think about leadership in the service drive. #FixedOps #ServiceManager #DealershipLeadership #AutomotiveLeadership #ServiceDriveRevolution #ChrisBulldogCollins 🛑 On-Demand Training For Huge Results: https://shorturl.at/j7J8u 🛑 Book a free 30-minute discovery call for coaching that grows your profits: https://calendly.com/cci-schedule/30-minute-discovery-call-with-chris-collins-inc?utm=SDRPod&month=2025-12 🛑 Best-selling books on making your Fixed Ops a money printer: https://chriscollinsinc.com/shop/ 🛑 Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR   Grab Chris's New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleader.com

    40 min

  8. JAN 5

    SDR #340: Your Fixed Ops Questions Answered: Scheduling, Walk-Arounds & Diagnostics

    Service Advisors Refusing Walkarounds? Scheduling Chaos? Customers Who Can't Afford Repairs? In this episode of Service Drive Revolution, Chris Collins answers real, unfiltered questions straight from the service drive. From why advisors resist walkarounds, to how to properly schedule service appointments, to what to do when customers can't afford diagnosed repairs, this episode is packed with practical leadership insight and real-world systems thinking.  🔥 Topics Covered in This Episode: ✅ Why service advisors push back on walkarounds (and how leadership creates that problem) ✅ How non-negotiable systems outperform "freelancing" advisors  ✅ The Service Drive Judo philosophy: using customer momentum to create structure ✅ How top-performing dealerships enforce consistency and accountability ✅ Smart service scheduling strategies (when to stop booking appointments) ✅ Loading the shop early vs. booking to close ✅ Managing waiters without overwhelming advisors ✅ How to handle customers who can't afford repairs before diagnosis ✅ Why repair authorization upfront protects both the customer and the advisor ✅ The leadership lesson hidden inside system design 🧠 Key Leadership Insight: Bad systems ruin good people. Good systems help average performers perform above average. This episode is a must-watch for: Service Managers Fixed Ops Directors Dealership Leaders Service Advisors Anyone responsible for customer experience and profitability in fixed operations  🛑 OnDemand Training For Huge Results: https://shorturl.at/j7J8u 🛑 Book a free 30-min. discovery call for coaching that grows your profits: https://calendly.com/cci-schedule/30-minute-discovery-call-with-chris-collins-inc?utm=SDRPod&month=2025-12 🛑 Best Selling books on making your Fixed Ops a money printer: https://chriscollinsinc.com/shop/ 🛑 Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR 🛑 Grab Chris' New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleader.com

    21 min
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4.6
out of 5
84 Ratings

About

Got a question for the show? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR! Chris Collins, the leading Automotive Service Manager Coach and Service Advisor Trainer in the world, discusses little known service drive secret weapons to help pull your service department ahead of the pack. Everything from hiring technicians, increasing dealership CSI, building relationships for long term customer retention, to increasing customer pay sales and more, is all discussed here on Service Drive Revolution. All from the automotive industries #1 go-to guy for Fixed Operations; Chris Collins. Listen, and enjoy!

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