WSTA Staffing Models
Mechanic Staffing Model
The basic formula for the model is listed below:
Fleet Mileage for Year ÷ 1,000 x Average hours per 1K ÷ Average
Direct Labor Hours (per mechanic) = Number of FTE Mechanics
Example: 2,962,850 Miles ÷ 1,000 x 5.4 ÷ 1,440 hrs = 11.11 FTEs
In order to use the model you will need three pieces of
information: Fleet Mileage for the budget year; your fleet average
labor hours (per type of coach) per 1,000 miles; and your average
direct labor hours per mechanic.
Your Annual Fleet Mileage is provided by your Operations,
Budget or Service Development Office by coach type. You will
need to apply the formula for each coach type/miles or use and
average from the previous year(s).
Fleet average hours per 1K miles can be calculated by: Annual
Mechanic Labor Hours ÷ Total Annual Fleet Miles x 1,000
Example: 15,997 Mechanic Labor Hours ÷ 2,962,850 Miles x
1,000 = 5.4 hours per 1,000 miles
Your Average Direct Labor Hours (per mechanic) is determined by
the example on the following page:
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Technician Availability
Average Direct Labor Hours
Paid Hours ………………………………..... 2,080
Vacations
Holidays
Sick Leave
Breaks
Training & Meetings
Awaiting Parts
Other
(120)
(96)
(80)
(115)
(40)
(139)
(50)
Potential Direct Labor Hours ……………… 1,440
Note: Example used is 1,440 Direct Labor Hours.
Use the Direct Labor Hour average your organization
experiences.
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Service Technician Staffing Model
The basic formula for the model is listed below:
Dwell time (minutes) per coach x Number of coaches x Number of
time per day x number of days ÷ 60 minutes (1 hour) ÷ Average
Direct Labor Hours = FTE Technician
Example: Gillig 40’ HF – 19 minutes (dwell) x 100 coaches x 1
time a day x 365 days ÷ 60 ÷ 1,440 hours = 8.03 FTEs
In order to use the model you will need four pieces of information:
Dwell Time per fleet type; the number of coaches per fleet type;
the number of times each day that the service is done; and your
average direct labor hours per service worker.
Dwell time is the total time it takes to: Fuel; check fluids; sweep;
mop; quick clean inside; probe (x times a week); thump tires;
outside wash (x times a week); visual inspection; report; and travel
time.
The number of coaches per fleet type is what you expect to average
for the next budget year.
The number of times each day that each item in the dwell time is
done needs to be averaged, before you multiply times 365 days.
For example: many probe only 2 or 3 times a week, while other
may do it every day; many only outside wash 2 or 3 times a week
and not every day.
The process for determining your average direct labor hours per
service worker is same as it was for your mechanics. However, the
nature of the work may change the averages.
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Average Direct Labor Hours
Paid Hours ………………………………..... 2,080
Vacations
Holidays
Sick Leave
Breaks
Training & Meetings
Awaiting Parts
Other
(120)
(96)
(80)
(115)
(40)
(139)
(50)
Potential Direct Labor Hours ……………… 1,440
Note: Example used is 1,440 Direct Labor Hours.
Use the Direct Labor Hour average your organization
experiences.
FTEs for Steam Cleaning & Inspections needs to computed
separate using total labor hours per year on Work Orders ÷ Direct
Labor Hour average for the Service Workers.
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Inside/Detail Wash Technician Staffing Model
The basic formula for the model is listed below:
Length of Coach x Number of coaches x Number of cleanings per
year ÷ 100’ per day ÷ Number of annual work days = FTEs
Example: 40’ x 100 x 6 ÷ 100’ ÷ 182 days = 1.31 FTEs
In order to use the model you will need four pieces of information:
Coach length (60’ or 40’) (use 40’ for any coach 40’ or <); the
number of each type anticipated for the next budget year; how
often you are required to conduct a detailed inside cleaning; and
the average number of work days your detail wash technicians
work.
Coach length and number of coaches: Self explanatory
Cleaning Cycles every 42/60/75 days = 8.7/6/4.87 x a year.
Average number of work days per technician: We used 1,456
direct labor hours ÷ 8 hours = 182 days (your number may vary)
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Reasons your numbers may be different than the Staffing Models:
Fleet Age
Facilities
Budget
WO System
Vacancies
Work Force Age
Parts Availability
Backlog
Yard Layout
PM Program
Work Force Experience
Tools & Test Equipment
Miles between Trouble Call
Training
Inspections / Frequency
Method to compensate for additional staffing: (Inspections;
Steaming; Wrecker Operations; Special Projects)
 Capture all labor hours (Work Orders are the best method)
 Determine the average annual direct labor hours / day or
work for that classification of employees (i.e. 1456 hrs / 182
days)
 Additional FTEs = Captured Work Order Labor Hours / Days
÷ Average annual direct labor hours (1456) / days (182)
Please contact John E. Alley, Assistant VM Manager at King
County with any questions you have:
john.alley@kingcounty.gov
(206) 263-3419
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