Hot take: Our shop's new drone policy has mechanics split

Kelly Fox · 2026-03-01T02:25:48.17321+00:00

Management bought drones for all routine exterior checks. Some guys love how fast they can scan hard-to-reach spots. Others worry we're losing the eye for detail that comes from hands-on work. Where do you stand on tech like this?

shane3576mo ago

Bird's nest is right. Ours spotted a cracked antenna base.

6

shane_bell6mo ago

Wait, @derek_gibson said a BIRD'S NEST?

1

derek_gibson6mo ago

Remember when we had to climb ladders for every inspection? Drones cut that time in half at my old place. We used them for roof checks on warehouses, spotting loose panels way faster than walking the whole thing. They even caught a bird's nest blocking a vent we would have missed. Sure, you might miss some rust spots, but the trade-off for speed is worth it. Honestly, the guys complaining probably just miss the break from being up high.

-1

lee186mo ago

Miss the break from being up high" is killing me. Yeah, I'm sure that's it. They just loved risking their neck for a little quiet time away from the boss. The drones probably do miss some stuff, but so does the guy who's mainly focused on not dying up there.

1