The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence is bolstering efforts to strengthen the technician workforce pipeline by promoting WrenchWay's School Assist platform. This online tool connects industry members and vocational schools, and gives access to unified industry data.
“There are many groups out there doing great work to help with issues like the technician shortage,” said Dave Johnson, president and CEO of ASE. “ASE Connects is meant to supplement, not replace those efforts. Certain aspects simply work better when all parties involved are on one platform rather than individual silos for automotive, diesel or dealer versus independent.
Jay Goninen, co-founder and president of WrenchWay, also noted that unifying the recruitment efforts of shops, schools, instructors, and technicians across multiple industries reduces fragmentation, making it easier to tackle problems like the technician shortage head on. By focusing on ASE Connects’ two priorities, Goninen said he hopes the industry program will lead to “better-prepared students, more informed workforce decisions, and a healthier technician pipeline for the entire industry.”
Promoting School Assist
The first goal for ASE Connects is to continue outreach for WrenchWay’s School Assist platform, increasing membership for both shops and schools.
“As membership grows, ASE Connects will build on this foundation by adding new resources, tools, and support features for both schools and industry partners,” Goninen said. “Several of these enhancements are already in development, and we expect to share additional announcements in the first half of 2026.”
These tools will largely be for workforce development, but the WrenchWay co-founder said that they’ll also collect input from early adopters to see what will be most helpful for the industry.
“We truly want this to be a community approach,” Goninen emphasized.
As School Assist currently stands, WrenchWay said shops and dealerships can reach 3,200 schools and post-secondary programs through the platform so far. There, shops can reach out to instructors and see school requests for guest speakers, equipment, and more, as well as work with instructors to connect with students seeking internships, apprenticeships, or jobs. Schools can join the program for free, while shops can access School Assist as part of ASE Connects memberships (for $750 per year overall, and $550 per year if shops sign up before Jan. 15, 2026).
Collecting industry data
Meanwhile, the second priority for ASE Connects involves creating a dependable source of data for shops, dealerships, and fleets. To do this, ASE is launching a program called the Industry Data Exchange, which is built on WrenchWay’s Voice of Technician report, technician pay data, and ASE’s school data. According to an ASE press release, the goal here is to provide a clear view of workforce trends across the automotive, diesel, and collision industries. And all the data the Exchange collects will be anonymous.
With this feature, shops will be able to look data such as pay, benefits, and labor rates on a national level, and even filter that data based on location, shop type, and more. This will help shops make data-based decisions on hiring and benefits.
“Greater transparency gives leaders a clear view of what the market actually looks like—helping them stay competitive, set fair compensation, and identify areas where they may be falling behind,” Goninen said. “With better data, shops can make smarter hiring decisions, offer packages that attract the right technicians, and create workplace improvements that support long-term retention. Ultimately, transparency empowers shops to build stronger teams and reduces the guesswork that often leads to turnover or unfilled roles.”
