Automotive workshops worldwide face an evolving landscape. As new electric and hybrid vehicles are launched into the market, workshops are challenged to keep pace with new technology while managing pressure around parts availability, pricing and supply chains.

A recent IMR report highlights how these pressures are affecting automotive workshops globally. The main concern for 20.6% of workshop respondents was difficulty securing affordable parts, followed by 17.7% who noted the challenge to keep overhead costs down during ongoing supply shortages. Another 11.1% expressed concerns about customer retention and the need for incentives as repair costs continue to rise. For heavy vehicle workshops, these challenges are often magnified due to vehicle size, load requirements and the specialised equipment needed to perform repairs safely and efficiently.

Challenges in Heavy-Vehicle Workshops

Australia faces the same challenges. The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association reports that 45% of workshops experienced a 7-14 day delay for critical heavy vehicle components in 2024. Workforce Australia also noted that 38% of heavy-vehicle workshops struggle to recruit qualified mechanics, particularly in regional locations. Extended wait times and limited staff can significantly increase downtime and put additional strain on workshop operations.

Read our previous blog on attracting talent to Australia’s automotive workshop industry here.

To help address these pressures, heavy-vehicle workshops are increasingly turning to mobile lifting solutions. RUD’s Endurequip and Finkbeiner heavy-vehicle hoists are designed for high load capacity, safe operation and full mobility, allowing mechanics to move vehicles efficiently between service bays when required. This means they can continue repair work even when parts are delayed or staff numbers are limited. RUD Heavy Vehicle Hoists comply with AS 2550.9:1996 and AS/NZS 2538:2016 to ensure safe lifting for trucks, buses and road-trains.

Read how Finkbeiner hoists can lift a full tipper and dog trailer without disconnecting the trailer, hydraulics or air lines here.

Enhancing Efficiency, Safety and Future Readiness

Efficiency is critical when overhead costs increase and competition intensifies. RUD Heavy Vehicle Hoists, through the Endurequip and Finkbeiner product lines offer mobility, versatility and reliable lifting capacity that allow workshops to plan jobs around available space, improve workflow and reduce setup time when paired with vehicle stands and vehicle ramps.

See the full range of Endurequip accessories here.

The shift toward electric and hybrid heavy vehicles can complicate repairs. These vehicles have higher weights and different underbody layouts due to the batteries in addition to different diagnostic requirements. However, both Endurequip and Finkbeiner hoists are adaptable to lift a range of traditional and future vehicle types.

A Brisbane workshop servicing a fleet of 20 trucks recently demonstrated this flexibility. By using Endurequip Portalift hoists during a critical parts delay, mechanics were able to continue servicing other trucks and buses while waiting for axle components. This reduced downtime from five days to two and kept the fleet operational. A clear example that lifting equipment can reduce workflow interruptions even when essential repairs are on hold.

Investing in Reliable Heavy-Vehicle Hoists

The IMR study reinforces broader industry concerns: 7.8% of workshops reported difficulty finding qualified, reliable mechanics, while 4.8% complained about the ongoing challenge of staying up to date with new diagnostic and software requirements for EVs and hybrids. Another 4.1% noted the importance of retaining skilled staff.

High-quality workshop equipment contributes directly to staff retention. Endurequip hoists, which are Australian-made for over 35 years and Finkbeiner hoists, which are made in Germany since 1927, demonstrate a long history of reliability, precision engineering and performance. Technicians value equipment that is safe, efficient and consistent, and workshops equipped with dependable lifting systems are more likely to attract and retain skilled personnel.

Read why Ross Martyr from Toowoomba Heavy Diesel says Finkbeiner is a game changer for his workshop.

With rising costs, ongoing parts delays and a rapidly changing vehicle fleet, investing in reliable heavy vehicle lifting equipment is one of the practical steps workshops can take to maintain productivity, retain their staff and ensure long-term operations.

Reference: The survey is taken from IMR Automotive Research - https://www.automotiveresearch.com/insights/2025-repair-shop-challenges 

Call us at 07 3809 1300 for more information on robust, sustainable heavy vehicle lifting solutions that empower your workshop.

Copyright to RUD: This information is accurate at the time of publication, and RUD Australia takes no responsibility for any errors, inadvertent or otherwise.