Panelbeater

1300 Tow Pty Ltd, operating as 1300tow and Heavy Smash Repairs, is a towing, recovery and heavy vehicle smash repair business based at 22 Donday Court in Pakenham, serving Melbourne's south-east from Dandenong and Beaconsfield through to the wider Cardinia area. Established in 2014, the business has spent more than a decade building a name for dependable, on-time service. Its fleet is on call around the clock for breakdowns and accidents, recovering everything from cars and prestige vehicles to vans, buses, caravans, boats and heavy trucks, while dedicated Hino, Isuzu and Ford flatbeds carry forklifts, farm equipment and trade machinery. Roadside assistance and the removal and salvage of written-off vehicles round out the towing side. Under the Heavy Smash Repairs name, the business takes on accident-damaged prime movers, tippers, refrigerated trailers, buses, coaches and earthmoving equipment, from cosmetic damage through to major structural work, dealing directly with the major insurers and returning each vehicle to manufacturer standard. 1300 Tow Pty Ltd is now looking for an experienced Panelbeater who takes pride in careful, accurate metalwork to join its team. Panelbeater | 1300 Tow Pty Ltd | Pakenham, VIC 3810 Key Duties: • Inspect accident-damaged trucks, trailers and buses as they arrive in the yard after recovery, photograph each job for the insurer's assessor, and strip off crumpled panels, bumpers, mirrors, steps, trims, seats and upholstery to expose everything that needs repair. • Straighten bent chassis rails, cab structures, crossmembers and trailer frames with hydraulic rams and mechanical pulling gear, checking each pull against manufacturer dimensions with laser measuring and alignment equipment. • Where a cab, body or trailer section is beyond economical repair, cut out the damaged metal and weld in a new or good used panel using MIG, TIG and spot welders, matching the factory joins. • Beat out dents and creases in cab panels, doors, tipper bodies and trailer sides with hammers and dollies, then fill minor low spots with body filler and file, grind and block-sand until the surface is smooth and ready for primer. • Restore corrosion protection with seam sealers, cavity wax and underbody coatings, and where required mask, prime and spray-paint repaired panels in the spray booth, matching colours precisely and applying hard-wearing finishes suited to heavy vehicles. • Refit repaired and new doors, bonnets, guards, bumpers and body panels, set even gaps and alignment, and reinstall locks, latches, hinges, seals, mouldings and interior trims so everything opens, closes and seals as it should. • Repair panel, deck and cab damage on the company's own tow trucks and flatbeds, and assist truck body builders when recovery vehicles are built up or modified, or when classic and custom-built vehicles come in for restoration. • Check each finished job for panel fit, paint finish and working doors, locks and lights, complete the job card with hours, parts and photographs, and coordinate with dispatch so the vehicle is ready for collection or delivery on the date promised. • Work safely at all times, using the right protective equipment for welding, cutting, grinding and painting, keeping welders, hydraulic gear and hand tools in good order, and storing and disposing of paints, solvents and waste correctly. Qualifications and Experience: • At least 1 year of experience as a Panelbeater; heavy vehicle repair experience will be well regarded • AQF Certificate III including at least two years of on-the-job training, or AQF Certificate IV, preferably in automotive body repair Personal Attributes: • Takes pride in accurate metalwork and a clean, factory-standard finish • Safety-conscious, with careful habits around welding, cutting, grinding and paint work • Reliable and punctual, and organised enough to meet promised completion dates • A practical problem-solver who can work out the right repair method for heavy or unusual damage • A clear communicator with the yard and dispatch team, insurance assessors and customers • Comfortable with physical, hands-on work and equally effective alone or in a team Salary & Employment Conditions: Hours: 38 hours per week - Full-time Salary: $75,000 to $85,000 plus superannuation per annum How to Apply: If you are a skilled Panelbeater who enjoys bringing damaged heavy vehicles back to the road, we'd love to hear from you. Please be sure to combine a covering letter addressing the key criteria set out above as the first page of your resume.