What Blue Collar Workers Know About Management That Tech Needs Books and Podcasts to Figure Out
Jul 26, 2025
Growing up in my father's truck repair shop, I witnessed project management in action long before I ever read books or watched talks about tech productivity. The mechanics there handle real-world challenges—problem-solving, communication, and efficiency—instinctively. Here’s what I learned from their world that’s just as relevant to software development and startups:
1. Daily Stand-Ups
Every morning, the team gathers to discuss current projects: who’s working on which truck, what’s left to do, and any roadblocks. It’s not a formal meeting, but it keeps everyone aligned and informed. They’ll also check on the status of ordered parts and help each other out if someone is stuck—just like a tech team’s daily stand-up.
2. Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Approach
Often, you don’t know the exact issue right away. Suppose a truck has a problem: it could be the sensor (50 euros, 1 hour to fix) or the engine (1,000 euros, 10 hours to fix). Instead of jumping to the most expensive solution, mechanics test the simplest fix first—the MVP—then iterate only if needed. This saves both time and money, and builds trust with the client.
3. Transparent Client Communication
Clients dislike surprises. In the shop, mechanics give estimates upfront, and when they discover additional issues or delays, they immediately update the client—sending photos of damaged parts and realistic timelines for repairs. If a part will arrive tomorrow, the client knows exactly when the truck will be ready. In tech, keeping your customer in the loop builds confidence and prevents misunderstandings.
4. Understanding Opportunity Cost
For a truck owner, downtime means lost income, not just repair costs. My father always considers this; he might tell a customer, “Don’t bring your truck today if I can’t work on it—bring it in two days, and I’ll start right away.” Or, diagnose the issue in an hour, let the owner continue working while waiting for the part, and minimize idle time. Similarly, in tech, downtime on a money-making website is costly—smart planning and honest time estimations matter.
5. Batching Repairs for Efficiency
When doing a big repair (say, replacing a differential), mechanics look for other small parts that are due for maintenance, like brake pads. Because everything is already disassembled, changing the pads now takes 15 minutes—later, it would take hours and another shop visit. In software, this is when you refactor code or improve your site’s design while you’re already making big changes, saving time and effort in the long run.
6. Long-Term Relationships Over Quick Wins
A good mechanic, like a good developer, values long-term trust more than quick profits. Don’t replace or fix things the client doesn’t need. If a customer insists on an unnecessary repair, the best mechanics explain why that’s not needed, saving the customer money and building loyalty. This approach mirrors great client consulting in tech—guide your clients, don’t just deliver what they ask for blindly.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes we underestimate “blue collar” workers’ skills just because they didn’t attend business schools or management workshops. Yet, every day I see them solve real problems, communicate transparently, and deliver real value with a practicality that many in tech struggle to achieve. There’s a lot we can learn by watching how work actually gets done on the shop floor.