• Replies 12 replies
  • Subscribers 2 subscribers
  • Views 2 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related

How do you handle technician scheduling during peak seasons?

Mike Dolan

HVAC peak season is here and my dispatch board looks like a accident scene. We're already running 60 hour weeks and I'm still turning away jobs.

Currently have 12 techs, normally handle 8-10 calls per day per tech. Right now we're at 14-16 and quality is starting to slip. Callbacks are up.

What actually works? I don't need theory, I need something I can implement Monday morning.

Specifically:

  • Are you using temporary/contract techs? Worth the training overhead?
  • Overtime vs hiring — where's your break-even?
  • How do you prioritize when everything's "urgent"?

Also — anyone using the new bulk assignment feature that shipped last month? Saw the announcement but haven't had time to test.

Parents

  • Mike, we've been through this exact scenario. Here's what actually moved the needle for us:

    Contractors are worth it — but only if you have a 2-week onboarding checklist. We learned the hard way that throwing them at jobs day one creates more callbacks. Now we pair every contractor with a senior tech for 10 jobs minimum.

    Priority framework that actually works:

    • P1: No heat/AC + vulnerable customer (elderly, infant, medical equipment)
    • P2: No heat/AC, standard conditions
    • P3: Maintenance, upgrades, non-critical

    Dispatch has authority to bump P3s by 48 hours without manager approval. This alone reduced our daily chaos by 40%.

    Re: bulk assignment — yes, we're using it. Critical tip: sort by zip code first, then skill match. The default sort wastes 20 minutes of drive time per day per tech.

Reply

  • Mike, we've been through this exact scenario. Here's what actually moved the needle for us:

    Contractors are worth it — but only if you have a 2-week onboarding checklist. We learned the hard way that throwing them at jobs day one creates more callbacks. Now we pair every contractor with a senior tech for 10 jobs minimum.

    Priority framework that actually works:

    • P1: No heat/AC + vulnerable customer (elderly, infant, medical equipment)
    • P2: No heat/AC, standard conditions
    • P3: Maintenance, upgrades, non-critical

    Dispatch has authority to bump P3s by 48 hours without manager approval. This alone reduced our daily chaos by 40%.

    Re: bulk assignment — yes, we're using it. Critical tip: sort by zip code first, then skill match. The default sort wastes 20 minutes of drive time per day per tech.

Children