Heavy-duty repair shops saw strong business conditions and rising revenues last year, but a persistent technician shortage continues to shape operations across the industry.

That’s one of the key takeaways from Fullbay’s latest State of Heavy-Duty Repair report, based on responses from more than 900 industry professionals.

At the Technology & Maintenance Council’s annual meeting in Nashville, a panel discussion highlighted some of the findings from the report.

Strong Business, Rising Rates

On paper, the numbers are solid.

Total shop revenue reached $5.04 billion in 2025, up 68% since 2023. And 61% of respondents said business conditions improved compared to the previous year:

• 4% said a lot worse 
• 16% said a little worse 
• 19% said they were doing the same 
• 38% said they were doing a little better 
• 23% said they were doing a lot better

But those gains are happening alongside the ongoing shortage of qualified diesel technicians.

At the same time, shops have been charging more for labor and paying technicians more to attract and retain them.

The median labor rate climbed to $149 per hour, up about 10% year over year, while technician wages increased 14.1%. Mobile repair work continues to command a premium, with rates about 7.6% higher than in-shop service.

Still Not Enough Technicians

“Fifty-four percent of the shops reported as understaffed in 2025,” said Fullbay CEO Trent Broberg during the TMC panel.

Panelists pointed to intense competition for technicians as a driver behind rising wages. Shops are increasing pay to attract and retain workers, but compensation alone isn’t solving the problem.

Broberg noted that benefits, incentives, and overall working conditions are becoming just as important as hourly pay.

And that shortage isn’t showing signs of easing. Among survey respondents, 40% said hiring technicians has become more difficult. That shortage appears to be long-term rather than cyclical.

The workforce itself is aging. Survey respondents reported a median age of 41 and an average of 17 years of technician experience. Just 17% were under age 30—a number that underscores how thin the pipeline of new technicians has become.

Older Trucks, More Work

At the same time, demand for repair work is being driven by a years-long freight recession and uncertainty about emissions regulations.

Fleets have been keeping equipment in service longer, pushing up the average age of trucks, especially in the secondary market.

“Older trucks are just easier to fix,” said Jack Poster, VMRS Services Manager for the Technology & Maintenance Council.

With some green shoots of more business for many fleets heading into 2026, some equipment that had been sitting idle is coming back into service.

“You’re seeing people pull those trucks off the fence and trailers with lot rot and get them back into working order,” Broberg said.

That means more trucks needing attention, and often more intensive work before they can get back on the road.

Put those pieces together—older equipment, deferred maintenance, and more units returning to service—and it helps explain why shops are staying busy even as hiring remains a challenge.

That combination of older equipment and limited labor supply is contributing to sustained pricing pressure across the industry.

Tariffs and Repair Shops

External factors such as tariffs are also having an effect. Nearly half of respondents (46%) reported tariffs had led to higher parts prices, while 47% said tariffs had no significant impact on their operations.

Some shops reported shifting suppliers or delaying equipment purchases in response.

The panelists also speculated that the full impact of tariffs may not yet have hit respondents at the time the survey was conducted.

Artificial Intelligence

The report also highlights early but growing adoption of artificial intelligence tools in repair operations. About 35% of shops reported using AI tools such as ChatGPT, though usage remains concentrated in customer communications and basic diagnostic applications.

However, planned adoption suggests much broader use ahead, particularly in diagnostics, parts inventory management, and predictive maintenance.

While zero percent of respondents said they were currently using AI for predictive maintenance, 45% said they plan to use it in the future.