Ongoing training important for technicians

Last weekend, if you couldn't get your car repaired, it's because all the best technicians, shop owners and managers were in Itasca at the annual ASA of Illinois CAN Conference.

We had some of the best training in the country going on all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning. We were treated to some fantastic hands-on training by some terrific trainers.

There were five sessions with 20 technicians broken up into groups around five cars. Groups moved from classroom time to hands-on time. It was great to see the incredible learning that was going on in that real-life environment.

While that was happening, outside in the "hands-on tent," there were a multitude of management and technical classes going on at the Westin Hotel.

If you are in the repair industry and you missed this, put the weekend of Sept. 22, 2017, on your calendar so you don't make that mistake again next year.

If you are a car owner, make sure you ask your favorite shop if they are a member of ASA (the Automotive Service Association) because if they are not, they should be. Shops should be taking advantage of this training whenever it comes around.

• McAllister is on the board of directors of ASA of Illinois. Douglas Automotive is at 417 W. Main St., Barrington; 123 Virginia Road, Crystal Lake; and 416 Northwest Hwy., Fox River Grove. For information, visit douglasautomotive.com. Send questions to underthehood@dailyherald.com.