Text the estimate to the person who can say yes, with a photo of the problem and a link they can approve from. Most delays happen because the estimate went out late, reached a driver who cannot approve it, or sat in an email inbox.

What slows approvals down?

The service writer waits to finish every line before sending anything
Parts prices need several phone calls
The estimate goes to the driver when the fleet manager decides
The customer cannot see why the repair is needed
No one follows up after it is sent

How do we write estimates faster?

Save your common jobs with their labor and parts so a service writer starts from something that already exists. Send a labor-and-known-parts estimate quickly and update it if a part price changes, rather than holding the truck for a perfect one.

How does this work in WrenchPilot?

You can send an estimate by email or by text to as many as three numbers, so the driver and the person paying both see it. The customer opens a link to approve it. Shops that want a deposit can require prepayment at approval. Sends and approvals stay on the job, so you can see what was sent and when.

Is a text approval good enough?

For most repairs, a recorded approval is far better than "he said go ahead on the phone." For large jobs or new customers, check your state's repair rules and your insurer's view on written authorization. This article is not legal advice.

What about fleets that require a PO?

A link does not change a fleet's purchasing rules. Ask for the PO number when you send the estimate, and put it on the invoice, since a missing PO is a common reason a fleet payment stalls.

Want to see it on your own work?

Bring a real repair order to a WrenchPilot demo, and check current pricing first. Lite is $100 per month for one user. Pro is $300 per month with up to 10 technicians, no per-user fees, and no contract.

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