Which job statuses should an auto repair shop board actually track daily?

A practical set of job-board statuses that reflect how work really flows through a repair shop.

September 3, 2026 · 3 min read

Quick answer

Track a handful of clear stages that mirror real shop flow: checked in and waiting, being diagnosed, under repair, waiting on parts or customer approval, and ready for pickup. Flagging the blocked cars separately keeps stalled jobs from being forgotten, and ready triggers the pickup notice.

An organized auto repair shop with cars parked in labeled work bays

Waiting or checked in

The first status covers cars that have arrived but work has not started, checked in and waiting. This tells the shop what is in the queue and helps prioritize the day. Without it, cars that dropped off early can sit unnoticed while later arrivals jump ahead by accident.

This stage is also where you triage. Seeing everything waiting lets a shop decide what to pull in next based on promised times, complexity, and bay availability rather than just whatever is nearest the door.

Keep reading: How do you keep customers informed about their car repair status all day?, What is the best way to run a repair shop job board smoothly?, Why do customers get frustrated waiting for auto repair status updates?. See how GarageTrackr helps you auto repair job board with live status for customers.

In progress and being diagnosed

Active work needs its own status, or a couple: being diagnosed and under repair. This is the heart of the board, showing which cars are actually on a lift and getting attention. It lets everyone see the shop's real workload and which techs are on what.

Separating diagnosis from repair can help, because a car being diagnosed may still need a customer conversation before real repair begins, and knowing which stage it is in tells you what happens next.

Waiting on parts or approval

The most important statuses for preventing lost time are the blocked ones: waiting on a part and waiting on customer approval. These cars are stalled through no fault of the techs, and flagging them clearly ensures someone chases the blocker instead of the car sitting forgotten.

Tracking these separately from active work also keeps your view of capacity honest. A car waiting on a back-ordered part is occupying space but not consuming labor, and that distinction matters for planning the day.

Ready for pickup

The final status is ready, the car is done and waiting for the customer. This closes the loop, triggers the pickup notification, and tells the shop the bay will soon be free. A car that is finished but not marked ready is a missed chance to get the customer in and clear the space.

GarageTrackr tracks these stages on a shared board, from waiting through in progress and parts or approval holds to ready, and moving a car to ready can text the customer, so the statuses reflect real shop flow and drive the next action automatically.

Key takeaways

Track waiting cars to manage the queue.
Track active diagnosis and repair as the core stages.
Flag cars blocked on parts or approval separately.
Track ready to trigger pickup and free the bay.

Written by

Julien Jimenez

Julien Jimenez is an independent software builder based in Paris. He designs, ships, and operates focused SaaS products for small businesses and independent professionals. Read the full author page.

Frequently asked questions

Why separate diagnosis from repair on the board?

A car being diagnosed may still need a customer conversation before real repair begins. Splitting the two stages tells everyone what happens next, whether that is an approval request or simply starting the work.

Why track blocked cars apart from active ones?

Cars waiting on a part or approval occupy space but consume no labor. Flagging them separately keeps your view of capacity honest and ensures someone chases the blocker instead of the car sitting idle.