The nationwide shortage of automotive technicians has been an ongoing issue in the industry for years.

So auto industry training platform RockED and communication technology provider TruVideo are teaming up to do something about it.

The companies have partnered to bring a video inspection training and certification program to automotive schools and colleges throughout the U.S., seeking to help tech school students develop skills for future roles in the automotive sector.

TruVideo said it is collaborating with RockED to distribute the certification nationwide at no cost to schools and students.

In a news release, TruVideo and RockED said they are making the joint investment in training because the technician shortage is “a major risk factor for the automotive industry.”

The curriculum focuses on video inspections, which the companies said has become the No. 1 communication tool between technicians and their customers. They noted video inspections require technicians to employ more “soft skills” such as thoroughness and clear communication.

The video inspection training will be offered to any accredited automotive school, the companies said, with access to RockED’s Leveraging Video Inspections to Gain Trust, which covers topics such as communication, customer service and videography.

TruVideo said consistent use of video and texting in the service department can lead to 15-30% more hours per repair order and 10-30% higher CSI scores. RockED’s program is designed to help future technicians develop those communication and customer-service skills to confidently perform professional video inspections.

“Just knowing how to repair a vehicle is no longer enough,” TruVideo co-founder and CEO Joe Shaker said. “Knowing how to communicate with customers has become the key. Recent human behavior has shown that video is not only the preferred communication method for customers, but the best way to deliver trust and transparency as well.”

The companies said customers appreciate the clarity of video inspections, technicians have been slow to adopt the practice because it requires communication and presentation skills that have not typically been part of their training.

“We know that continuous learning and innovation are how technicians can enable themselves to progress in their careers,” RockED Matthias Stoever said. “This new certification program from RockED in partnership with TruVideo aims to equip the next generation of technicians with the skills they need to succeed in today’s automotive environment.”