with Keith Hebert
Every route tech and hail guy has dreamed of traveling the world chasing hail storms. In the perfect situation you can make some good money, meet new people, and experience a new culture. Grab your passport as PDRtalk sits down with veteran hail tech, Keith Hebert and learns about his worldwide travels. Keith started his PDR career as a local route/retail tech in 1997 with Dentmasters in Virginia. He started chasing hail full time in 2004.
Where and when have you traveled outside of the US for hail work?
I’ve been to Algiers, Algeria (2008), Melbourne, Australia (2010), and Tours, France (2013).
How did the culture, work life, and attitudes towards PDR technicians vary in the different countries you have worked in?
In Algiers Africa it was a very strict work environment because of the not so friendly area. All of the techs were basically restricted to the work site and the hotel. We were bussed into the manufacturing plant at regulated hours.
In Melbourne Australia, it was great for me. When people ask about Australia, I tell them from the time I stepped off the plane it felt like home. The culture is pretty diverse and it helps that the US enjoys a good relationship with Australia. The attitudes were great and the experience was 1st class.
My best international experience to date was the first time I went to France. The income was okay but the experience with the people and culture was outstanding! I had heard before I went that it was difficult to work and get along in France as a hail tech because of the language barrier and attitudes towards US techs. My experience was quite the opposite! I worked directly with one of the largest local companies that has a good reputation. I was assigned to a decent location with a good manager that spoke English. Not speaking French was certainly problematic but the company I worked for knew that and accounted for the language barrier. The work schedule was prearranged. I met my manager early Monday morning, went over the schedule for the week and then travelled the countryside and worked in a total of 17 different shops during my almost 3 month stay. I also found a great family on Airbnb.com that spoke English. I brought my wife and youngest daughter over on separate occasions and we have all now become great lifelong family friends! In fact, the whole French family just came over and spent 6 weeks with us this past summer at our home in Virginia. There’s not enough room here for me to tell of this journey but suffice it to say, I’ll be going back if the opportunity presents itself and I’m not too busy here in the states.
Did you work for a broker or a local dent company?
Algiers, Africa and Melbourne, Australia was for a broker. France was for a local dent company.
Was it hard to obtain a work visa? How was the visa arranged? Through the broker?
Algiers and Melbourne were a bit more difficult but France was pretty easy. In all cases they are for short term work visas. In Australia, it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain a work visa. When I went there in 2010 it was 3 months max and then you literally had to leave the country. At that time, you could return for an extension after you physically left the country. At the 3 month mark we literally flew to Auckland New Zealand for lunch and returned the same day on a Sunday so we would could be back to work on Monday. LOL.
Was the insurance claims or supplement process different?
It’s all pretty much the same. Although, in Australia the insurance companies seem to have much more control over the customer than in other areas, including the US. A much higher percentage of claims were repaired there because the insurance companies controlled the car.
Is the matrix abroad similar to the US matrix?
It’s similar but the problem becomes an issue of pricing yourself out of a job. In many areas of the world it’s simply cheaper for a body man to repair the car conventionally. In these cases, many times it doesn’t matter what the matrix says if it’s just cheaper to perform a traditional body shop repair/repaint. Another issue I found in France was that insurance wasn’t paying the collision center to blend the paint into adjacent panels. Again, this meant that if they couldn’t charge blend time, then their overall repair cost was less which made it a bit more difficult to justify higher PDR prices. Forget that PDR was the better, cleaner repair and that the owner retained his original paint. Didn’t matter.
Is currency conversion an issue?
It can be an issue. I worked with a friend of mine in Australia. We split 50/50 but when we got paid at the end of one month, the rate changed between when I was wired the money and when he received his wire. His was quite a bit less. LOL. We still joke about that! If the conversion rate is weak, some guys try to open local bank accounts in the applicable work country and then transfer when the rates get better.
What are the tax implications when you work abroad?
It depends on who you work for and how they account for it. In most cases, the countries that you might work for have a treaty with the US and you report it in the US. At least that’s been my experience. This is another thing you have to pay attention to. More brokers seem to want to hold back taxes now because of international pressure. It just depends who you work for and what country it is. Do your homework before you agree to any hail deal!
Did you have any issues with a language barrier?
In France, it was difficult at times. However, I’ve found that if you learn at least a few basic greetings, smile and treat everyone with respect they will reciprocate in the same manner. I also used a couple of language translator apps that got me through some challenging situations. In one instance I needed a heat gun for a stretched dent. After a failed and awkward attempt at a game of charades, I used the app and had the heat gun in a jiffy. As a hail tech, you might encounter a little skepticism the first time you show up to work. If you remain professional and demonstrate you are skilled at your craft, they will come around and realize you are just like them. You are there to do a job and maybe gain a little culture while you’re at it. Just remember, they probably love their country just like you love yours. Express interest in the people and their culture and you’ll make new friends. I received many bottles of wine in France from different shop owners and or managers while working there. Unfortunately, US techs might carry a slight stigma around the world as being arrogant. Whether true or not, perception is their reality. The best advice I could give especially in international travel is to remember, “You are in someone else’s country and a little humility goes a long way.”
Did you get paid on time? If not, did you leave the country before you were fully paid?
Well, that depends on what “On Time” means. Yes, I got payed on time but there was a misunderstanding on what the pay schedule was in France. It turns out to be about 2 months from when you start which is longer than the states. But yes, all money was paid “on time” and in full. Yes, I did leave the country in all cases before all money was paid. That’s pretty typical though. Depending on the length of your trip, you’ll get paid while you are there but then you’ll leave and the remaining balance will follow. You better be real sure of who you work for and their reputation before you agree to an international hail gig. All expenses are yours upfront and you’ll likely be waiting a while before you get paid, no matter who you work for. Money management is critical.
Which cities did you enjoy working in the most? Pick one US city and one foreign city?
Any city near home in Virginia
Tours, France
Keith Hebert is an independent Master Hail Technician for hire. Read his reviews at PDR Nation and connect with him on Facebook.
