PDR Coach Podcast Trainers Edition with Rob McDowell From Paintless Dent Repair University in Louisville, Kentucky
Today on the PDR Coach Podcast, I am interviewing Rob McDowell who is a PDR trainer at the Paintless Dent Repair University in Louisville, Kentucky. Rob and I get into the details of how he got into PDR training and what makes his establishment stand out from the rest.
Question #1: Were you, are you or have you ever been a technician? If so, for how long?
Cory – Were you, are you or have you ever been a technician? If so, for how long?
Rob – Rob says that he was a technician and got into it back in 1998, and then started training technicians in 2000. He goes on to talk about his training facility, which he opened in 2010.
Question #2: Why or how did you start the training school?
Cory – Why or how did you start the training school?
Rob – Growing up in a customer service family, Rob talks about how he has always been an instructor of something – since he was 14 years old and instructed golf classes. He goes on to tell us that he was a tank trainer and a small arms trainer in the military before he went on to college and started training people in computers. Rob has always been great at training because he has a knack for taking something difficult and making it easier for people to understand it better.
Question #3: How many technicians have you trained and what is the success rate?
Cory – How many technicians have you trained and what is the success rate?
Rob – Because Rob has trained factory technicians as well as large automotive groups, he says that he has trained over 1,000 technicians so far. He is also a part of the total recon group which means he has to train a lot of in-house techs for detail groups. Rob says that he has been training about 150 technicians a year since 2010 and says the success rate is relatively high because the majority of people who come in, come in with a purpose.
Question #4: How many technicians do you train at a time and how long is the training?
Cory – How many technicians do you train at a time and how long is the training?
Rob – Coming from a military background, Rob says that he likes to train in small groups and that is why he trains no more than 4 technicians at a time. The training goes on for 2 weeks – one week is around the basics like quarter-sized dents on the top panels and side panels, and the second week is more of an advanced class that covers cannon ball-sized dents, crowns, creases, and bodyline dents. There is also a master class that Rob takes twice a year which involves more advanced tools and techniques.
Question #5: Why should a new tech pick your training school? What’s unique about yours?
Cory – Why should a new tech pick your training school? What’s unique about yours?
Rob – Rob says the one thing that sets his training school apart from the rest is that he trains factory technicians that come in with no experience in paintless dent repair, and in a matter of two weeks, is able to get them pushing out quarter-size dents in less than 30-seconds with almost 99% perfection. He also says that when technicians come to him for training, he is capable of sending them out for work right away.
Question #6: What do you offer your trainees outside of just physical PDR training? Do you offer tools or a tools list? And do you help with PDR pricing, marketing, and sales?
Cory – What do you offer your trainees outside of just physical PDR training? Do you offer tools or a tools list? And do you help with PDR pricing, marketing, and sales?
Rob – Rob says that his pricing for the classes is separate from the prices of the tools and he sells everything a la carte. However, he says he usually gives them a list and guides them to get the best quality tools. He moves on to talk about customer service and how he trains his technicians in proper customer service methods to help them manage their business better.
Question #7: Can you summarize your philosophy of PDR training and how it works from a very high level?
Cory – Can you summarize your philosophy of PDR training and how it works from a very high level?
Rob – Because Rob began his PDR journey in the 90s, he says that he has been trained in pretty much all the tried and tested methods out there. He has used traditional methods that were used in the early years and has moved on to the newer methods that incorporate the new PDR LED lights and trains his technicians in a hybrid method that incorporates both the old-school techniques as well as the newer methods. Rob, he says his PDR philosophy is that technicians need to know how to read the metal and react to it so that the dent can come out successfully.
Question #8: Do you teach anything about ergonomics and protecting your body?
Cory – Do you teach anything about ergonomics and protecting your body?
Rob – On the first day of training, Rob says that he teaches his trainees how to protect their eyes, back, and feet, and explains to them how the human body functions when completing a PDR job. According to Rob, PDR is the only reconditioning activity that is based on muscle strength and ergonomics.
Question #9: Do you train with lines, fog, or both?
Cory – Do you train with lines, fog, or both?
Rob – Rob says that he starts off his training with fog lights and then moves on to using lines. Even though Rob grew up working with lines, he says the transition from fluorescent to LED lights was something he never expected. However, today he feels that technicians need to know both techniques because the LED lights could get damaged or stop working at some point and they need to know how to improvise and get the job done.
Question #10: Do you train route work or hail?
Cory – Do you train route work or hail?
Rob – According to Rob, he says that route work, hail, and retail are all three separate things and that is why he trains his technicians in all three. He does, however, try and focus mainly on route and retail work because hail can be quite difficult to work unless the technicians are highly skilled and experienced.
Question #11: Do you teach working inverted or right-side-up?
Cory – Do you teach working inverted or right-side-up?
Rob – Only because Rob feels that working inverted or upside-down is not how he does his best work, he chooses to train his technicians either standing up or sitting down. He does give the techs a glimpse of what working inverted is like but doesn’t get into detail about it.
Question #12: Do you offer advanced courses?
Cory – Do you offer advanced courses?
Rob – As Rob mentioned earlier, his training lasts for 2 weeks. The first week is a beginner’s class whereas the second week is an advanced class. Apart from that, Rob also takes a master class once or twice a year where he works with master tools and larger dents and damages.
Question #13: Do you train techs for any large companies?
Cory – Do you train techs for any large companies?
Rob – Rob says that he trains technicians for all of the major manufacturers in the automotive industry and has even worked with the body technician of Delta Sonic Car Wash Systems. Since a car wash is capable of denting a car pretty badly, he regularly gets body techs to train so they can work on any damaged vehicles that come through the car wash.
Question #14: Do you offer certification or a test to graduate training?
Cory – Do you offer certification or a test to graduate training?
Rob – Rob says that he does offer an in-house certification that is great for the marketing side of PDR. Being a Vale-certified technician himself, Rob says he constructs his training to the standards set by Vale back in 2004. This certification, according to Rob, is as good as any of the certifications a tech can get from other institutions and will help them in marketing their business better.
Question #15: What are the package options? What’s the cost for the 2-week program and what’s the cost for the Master Class
Cory – What are the package options? What’s the cost for the 2-week program and what’s the cost for the Master Class?
Rob – The cost for the 2-week program is $5,000 in total. Week 1 (Fundamentals) costs $2,500 and Week 2 (Advanced) also costs $2,500. The Master Class is $2,500 as well.
Question #16: How do people pay you?
Cory – How do people pay you?
Rob – With technology becoming a part of our daily lives, Rob says that he accepts all types of payments such as cash, check, Cash App, Venmo, and PayPal.
Question #17: How far out to book a training with you?
Cory – How far out to book a training with you?
Rob – Rob says that it usually takes anywhere between 1 to 4 months to book a training class with him. He also says that he is currently scheduling his training for the fall and when people reach out, they are usually willing to wait.
Question #18: What’s the best way for them to reach you?
Cory – What’s the best way for them to reach you?
Rob – The best way to reach out is through the website at www.PaintlessDentRepairUniversity.com or email him directly at Rob@pdr-u.com. You can also call or text Rob at 502-345-0708.
Question #19: Where do you see the future of PDR going and how are you helping?
Cory – Where do you see the future of PDR going and how are you helping?
Rob – Rob explains that the future of PDR is quite bright because he feels that there is a lot of room to grow and technicians are needed now more than ever. Even though many PDR techs claim that there are too many technicians out there already, Rob says that he trains and sends technicians out regularly to areas that do not have a consistent PDR guy.
