The Real Cost of Sending Employees on Parts Runs.
- Parts Now
- May 16
- 2 min read
Most repair shops do it every day.
A needed part becomes available across town.
A dealership finally gets the OEM module in stock.
A warehouse locates the backordered component.
And suddenly someone from the shop has to leave and go get it.
Usually it’s:
a technician
a service advisor
a helper
a porter
or even the owner
At first, it seems normal.
But when you actually break down the real cost of employee parts runs, the numbers become surprisingly expensive.
For many shops across DFW, sending employees for parts is quietly one of the biggest hidden productivity losses in the business.
Why Parts Runs Cost More Than Most Shops Realize
Most shop owners only think about fuel costs when someone leaves for a pickup.
But fuel is actually the smallest part of the expense.
The real cost comes from lost productivity.
A typical parts run often includes:
driving through DFW traffic
waiting at parts counters
warehouse delays
dealership lines
locating orders
loading inventory
returning to the shop
What should be a “quick run” can easily become a 1–2 hour interruption.
Now multiply that by:
employee wages
lost labor production
delayed vehicle repairs
workflow interruptions
slower customer turnaround
and suddenly one simple pickup becomes very expensive.
Downtime Hurts Repair Shop Revenue
When technicians leave the bay for parts, repairs stop.
That means:
fewer completed jobs
delayed labor hours
slower customer pickups
reduced workflow efficiency
If service advisors leave:
customer communication slows
phones go unanswered
scheduling gets interrupted
Even owners lose valuable time when they have to stop managing the business to handle emergency pickups.
And in busy Dallas–Fort Worth traffic, those delays add up fast.
Why More Shops Are Outsourcing Parts Delivery
Instead of pulling employees off productive work, many repair shops are now outsourcing their pickups to dedicated automotive couriers like Parts Now.
Rather than paying your team to sit in traffic, you can keep:
technicians repairing vehicles
service advisors helping customers
bays producing revenue
workflow moving efficiently
while a professional delivery service handles the pickup.
That means:
faster turnaround times
improved productivity
less stress
lower hidden operating costs
Same-Day Parts Delivery Across DFW
Parts Now provides same-day and rush automotive parts pickup from:
O'Reilly Auto Parts
AutoZone
NAPA Auto Parts
dealerships
OEM suppliers
warehouses
performance shops
specialty vendors
across the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
We help repair shops avoid wasted payroll hours while keeping repairs moving quickly.
Smarter Shops Protect Their Time
The most profitable repair shops understand one important truth:
Every labor hour matters.
When your employees stay focused on productive work instead of driving around for parts, your entire business operates more efficiently.
Because in today’s automotive industry, protecting time is just as important as fixing cars.
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