The Truth About “Mechanics”

By Dave Fairburn, Co-Founder of CrewHero and North Point Outdoors

Let’s tell the truth about mechanics in this industry.

Most landscape mechanics didn’t go to a trade school to specialize in mower decks, hydrostatic transmissions, string trimmers, loader hydraulics, or trailer lights.

They didn’t get a degree in fixing handheld blowers, rewiring dump bodies, or welding cracked gates.

They’re not diesel techs certified by Cummins or trained on Cat's proprietary software.

They’re just hardworking, talented, problem-solving warriors who learned through fire — often out of necessity, interest, or sheer survival instinct.

At North Point Outdoors, we call them Superheros. Batman specifically.

Yes — Batman.

And we mean it.

Why Batman?

Because they work under the cover of darkness.

Or, more literally:

• In the middle of the night

• In the dark corner of the shop

• With a headlamp

• Fixing the same broken blower

• Again

• Before anyone else even arrives

They fix things quietly. They don’t make a fuss. And when the crew leader rolls out at 6:30 a.m. and everything works…

No one stops to ask how.

But it wasn’t magic.

It was Batman.

He ran to NAPA at 8:45 p.m.

He scrounged eBay for a discontinued component.

He made it happen — again.

And that’s cool… for a while.

Until it’s not.

The Problem With Being a Silent Hero

Eventually, Batman burns out.

Why?

Because no one tells him what’s actually important.

So he starts his morning fixing what he saw first.

Truck 31’s backup camera?

Sure, that’ll only take a minute.

Except…

Today isn’t Truck 31’s day.

Today is DitchWitch day — and she’s got no spark.

Now production is pissed.

“We needed the ditch witch! Doesn’t this guy get it?!”

No.

He doesn’t.

Because he’s working off a printed Word doc taped to a dirty clipboard with six things crossed off, two added in pen, and grease on the rest.

He’s flying blind.

Maintenance Chaos Is Real

Let’s not sugarcoat it.

• When was the last oil change?

• Is the trailer gate fixed?

• Who broke the trimmer again?

• Is the skidsteer leaking?

• Did the field guy report that blown hydraulic line?

And here you are…

Trying to keep track of it all.

Sourcing backordered parts.

E-Mailing five vendors.

Searching through emails for part numbers.

Working late to keep things afloat.

You finally find a workaround. You order the part.

It’ll be here in three weeks.

But you forget one thing:

You didn’t tell him.

So the field guy — the one who submitted the request — thinks you forgot about him.

He’s annoyed. Quiet. Off his game. You don’t know why.

But he thinks:

“I’ve asked five times and nothing gets fixed. I’m out here busting my ass, and they don’t even remember I submitted that request.”

The truth?

You did remember.

You did care.

You did order it.

But he doesn’t know that.

Because your system doesn’t let him see what you’re doing.

Enter CrewHero

CrewHero changes the game.

Now, when that frontline guy submits a repair request — he’s looped in the whole time.

• He can see the status

• You can comment updates

• He can reply

• You’re on the same page

• You’re on the same team

You’re not the bad guy anymore.

Now it’s you two vs. the three-week lead time.

Warriors against the supply house.

Not each other.

Final Thought

Maintenance is endless.

But that doesn’t mean it has to be chaotic.

Your best mechanics are already heroes — they don’t need capes, but they do need clarity.

They need priorities. Visibility. Respect.

They need to know what matters — and who’s waiting on them.

And your frontline needs to know they’ve been heard — that the broken mower isn’t forgotten.

CrewHero brings both sides together.

It’s the silent grease-stained bat signal — but smarter, faster, and finally… seen.

Let’s stop burning out Batman.

Let’s give him the tools he deserves.

— Dave Fairburn

Co-Founder, CrewHero & North Point Outdoors