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ADAS ‘Here to Stay,’ Says American Honda Asst.

Manager, Could Be New Income Stream for Shops

by Stacey Phillips

Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Information and Collision Mitigation Braking Systems are just some of the Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) in vehicles today. According to Scott Kaboos, the assistant manager of collision marketing for American Honda Motor Co., not only will these systems prevent accidents in the future, but there may also be fewer claims on vehicles that are equipped with these systems.

Kaboos discussed “Honda ADAS Systems: Today and Tomorrow” dur-

ing a recent Guild 21 podcast. Presentations are sponsored by VeriFacts Automotive.

“Love them or hate them, ADAS Systems are probably here to stay,” said Kaboos. “The question is: ‘Are they going to be effective?’” During his Guild 21 presentation, Kaboos shared information from a study compiled by a major insurance company partner regarding 26,039 Honda Civic vehicles from the 2016 model year.

“We compared how many vehicles were drivable vs. non-drivable after an accident,” he said. “We noticed See ADAS, Page 4

Gov. Snyder: “Michigan Is Mobility’s Future”

Rick Snyder, Governor of Michigan, delivering his final State of the State address at the State Capitol building in Lansing on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016

CCC Drops Proposed Charges, Makes Other ‘Secure Share’ Changes

would have to pay CCC $0.50 for each estimate they received. CCC has now Following months of industry criticism halted plans for the $0.50 toll.

The company also said that contrary as well as recent strategic announceto its announced plans, it will ments from its competitors, CCC Information Services still allow such data transfers to said in late December that be done via the commonly used “Estimate Management it was making significant Standard (EMS)” data export changes to its new “Secure file rather than requiring the Share” data exchange reuse of the newer “Business quirements scheduled to go Message Suite (BMS)” data into effect in April.

Mark Fincher of export file. This will allow CCC had said that beCCC Information Services said the third-party vendors more flexginning next spring, all CCC company was ibility in implementing sysONE collision repair shop estimate data transfers to dropping its plans tems to accept BMS files. for added fees and third-parties—such as shop making changes to CCC also said it has made management systems, rental changes to its terms of agreeother elements of car companies or CSI its “Secure Share” ment in an effort to alleviate data exchange some of the other concerns providers—would have to go system voiced by industry vendors. through Secure Share (rather “CCC is committed to facilitating than shops sharing the data directly as they do now), and those third-parties See Secure Share, Page 4

by John Yoswick

ASA-MO Opposes Safety Inspection Repeal Measure The Automotive Safety Association (ASA) is urging Missouri lawmakers to oppose a measure designed to repeal the state’s vehicle safety inspection program.

ASA officials are encouraging all interested parties in Missouri to contact their state representatives in opposition

See MI Mobility, Page 35

P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018

Michigan is globally recognized as the hub for automotive innovation, technology, and research. We put the world on wheels and were the first to

transform transportation in a way that impacts how we live, work and travel.

The future of transportation is rapidly evolving, and here in Michigan, we are at the forefront of change. The American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti will serve as a state-of-the-art global epicenter for testing and development of automated vehicles, and in 2016 I signed landmark legislation allowing the operation of autonomous vehicles on Michigan roadways.

The Planet M campaign plays an important role in promoting Michigan as an international hub for mobility innovation and highlights our state’s rich manufacturing and entrepreneurial heritage. We’re showing the world

Change Service Requested

by Rick Snyder for The Detroit News

VOL. 7 ISSUE 5 FEBRUARY 2018

of House Bill 1444, which was recently introduced by Rep. John Eggleston (RD2).

Two years ago the ASA hosted a safety inspection forum in St. Louis to draw attention to the importance of vehicle safety inspections by incorporating input from all segments of the automotive industry, including state

vehicle administrators, policymakers, automotive repairers and other sectors of the automotive industry.

The group said Missouri and other state studies have shown the value of vehicle safety inspection programs with regard to saving lives, preventing injuries and damage to property. Regular vehicle safety inspections by a qualified technician can identify and repair most safety issues that arise from normal wear and tear on the vehicle.

ASA serves as the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and collision repair professionals. It also serves an international membership base that includes numerous state affiliate and chapter groups while advancing professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation, and member services.

Presorted Standard US Postage PAID San Bernardino, CA Permit #2244

2 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

REGIONAL

‘Car Santa’ Kept Veterans on the Road this

Christmas Season in MO . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

AASPI 2018 Annual Meeting to be

Knockout Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

AASP-MO Studies Vehicle Systems’

Alignments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Accidents in Iowa Snowstorm Keep

Shops Busy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Anti-Safety Inspection Legislation Introduced

in Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Arrest Made in Extreme Auto Burglary,

One Pending in York, NE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Creator of Chief EZ Liner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Ledoux - OE Certification Programs - Ford . . 38

Phillips - How an AMi-Accredited Designation Can Help Industry Professionals With

Essential Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Phillips - Model Vehicles With Emerging Technology Will Rely on Pre- and

Post-Scanning, Recalibration . . . . . . . . . . 46

Yoswick - Industry Foundation Helped

Storm Victims 5 Years Ago, Continues

Today. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 NATIONAL

ASA-Midwest Adds Heavy Duty Training

3 Varying Assessments of Wholesale

ASA-MO Opposes Safety Inspection

ACPN Announces 2018 Scholarship Winners . 54

Repeal Measure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Auto Insurance Awaits Auto Verification in IL . . 3

Body Shops Stay Winter Busy in WI,

Car Price Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

ADAS ‘Here to Stay,’ Says American Honda Asst. Manager, Could Be New Income

Stream for Shops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Salt Warning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

AGRR Magazine Survey: What’s the Cost

in MI, New Roundabouts a Factor . . . . . . . 21

Applications Open for 2018 University of the

Offers Services in St. Louis . . . . . . . . . . . 21

ASA Supports U.S. Congressman Carter’s

Collision Repair Industry Stays Winter Busy Cooper Color, Inc. Body Shop Supplies

Deer Add to Winter Driving Hazards in Ohio . . 12

of Doing Business? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Aftermarket Foundation Scholarships . . . . 59

Vehicle Data Access Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Deer Hits Result in Donation From Zara’s

Auto Care Association Accepting Scholarship

Drug Ring Involving Body Shop Worker

Auto Care Association Promotes Joe Register

Fire Causes $175,000 in Damage to IL

Auto World Goes ‘Back to the Future’ With

Fourth Wichita, KS-Area All Angles Collision

CARSTAR North America Names Jeff

Collision in IL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Busted in Cleveland, OH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Auto Repair Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Repair Opens to Public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Gerber Collision & Glass Opens Repair

Locations in Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Gov. Snyder: “Michigan Is Mobility’s Future”. . 1

Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

to Vice President, Emerging Technologies. . 54

VW Microbus Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Labanovich as Associate VP, Operations

for CARSTAR Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

CCC Drops Proposed Charges, Makes Other

‘Secure Share’ Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Hastings, MN, Tech Receives National Award . 18

Driverless Car ‘Guidelines” Allegedly Not

to Cold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Elon Musk Promises Tesla Pickup Truck

MI Body Shops Spike in Business Due

Moorhead, MN Body Shop Changes Owners . 14

Working . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

in Tweet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

North Butler, IA, Program Helps Students

Fire Guts Auto Body Shop Filled With Cars

Reichard CARSTAR Dealership Shops: Dayton

GM To Make Autonomous Car Without

Rolla, MO, Technical Institution Instructor

Management Success Teaches Shops to

Students Learn Essential Skills in Car

Meet Hundreds of Entry-Level Candidates

Techs of Tomorrow: Mexican Immigrant,

Progressive Evolves its Service Centers

Learn How to Use Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 and Brookville Locations Open in OH . . . . 26

ZObtains I-CAR Platinum Certification . . . . . 9

Care Class in Waverly, NE. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Graduate of IL College Fulfills Dream

in Evanston, OH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Steering Wheel, Pedals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Attract Business Using Social Media. . . . . 40

at CREF’s Career Fairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

for Customers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

of Becoming Painter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Quest Resource Adds Collision Center

NAIAS in Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Service King Apprentice Program Registered

Weld Chisel Tool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Skill-Loan Helps Auto Techs Find

Indianapolis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

The Future of Takata Airbag Claims . . . . . . . . 63

Thousands of Students Expected to Join

WI Collision Repair Graduate Invents Spot WIN’s Annual Education Conference in

Winter Mix Means Body Shops Are Busy

Chain to Portfolio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

by US Department of Labor . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Supplementary Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

The Sad Pathway to Airbag Injury . . . . . . . . . 40

in Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

U.S. Auto Sales Forecast Below 17 Million

Donated Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Uptick in Domestic Auto Sales; Vehicle Repair,

Wisconsin Auto Tech Program Receives COLUMNISTS

Attanasio - The Legend of Lavell Chisum,

www.autobodynews.com Don’t Miss the Weekly Industry NEWS Your Shop Needs.

in 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Insurance Prices Also Increase . . . . . . . . . 60

Urgent.ly Announces Collaboration With CCC . 55

from a council created in the early 90’s aimed at reducing vehicle theft and insurance fraud.

“The insurance companies currently provide a dollar per policy each year to the motor vehicle theft prevention fund. This new law, in 2018, will take 75-cents of that dollar and funnel that towards the creation of this electronic database and system,” Haupt said.

Once it’s finished, car insurance will be verified at random at least twice annually. Such a system is already in place in 12 other states.

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Publisher & Editor: Jeremy Hayhurst General Manager: Barbara Davies Contributing Writers: John Yoswick, Janet Chaney, Toby Chess, Ed Attanasio, Chasidy Sisk, David Luehr, Stacey Phillips, Victoria Antonelli, Gary Ledoux Advertising Sales: Joe Momber, Sean Hartman, Bill Doyle, Norman Morano (800) 699-8251 Office Manager: Louise Tedesco Digital Marketing Manager: Bill Pierce Art Director: Rodolfo Garcia Graphic Designer: Michelle Lucas Online and Web Content Editor: Rochelle Beckel Accounting Manager: Heather Priddy Editorial/Sales Assistant: Randi Scholtes

Index of Advertisers

to 2018 VISION Agenda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Drivers in Illinois might soon have their auto insurance electronically verified in an effort to make sure every vehicle on the road is covered. But that requires a database the state doesn’t have yet.

An industry estimate shows about one out of every eight drivers have no insurance even though it’s required by law.

This year, the state will begin collecting the funds to create the database. Henry Haupt of the Secretary of State’s Office says the money isn’t coming from a new tax… it’s coming

A Few Old Shops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 56 Bettenhausen Automotive . . . . . . . 18 Blue Springs Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 61 Bob Hook Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 CarcoonAmerica Airflow Systems . 41 Charles Gabus Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Classic Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 ChemSpec USA, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Courtesy Subaru. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Diamond Standard Parts, LLC . . . . . 5 ECS Automotive Concepts . . . . . . . 12 Equalizer Industries, Inc. . . . . . . . . . 8 Erhard BMW of Bloomfield Hills . . . 40 Erhard BMW of Farmington Hills . . 40 GM Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . 57 Griffin Automotive Group . . . . . . . . 43 GYS Welding USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32-33 Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers. . 55 Infiniti of Naperville . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Insta Finish Car Care . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Island Clean Air, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Jack Phelan Chrysler-Dodge-JeepRam of Countryside . . . . . . . . . . 17 Jake Sweeney Chevrolet . . . . . . . . 42 Kelly BMW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Kia of Des Moines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Kia Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . 53 Killer Tools and Equipment Corp . . 15 Laurel Auto Group of Westmont . . . 49

www.autobodynews.com Serving Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and adjacent metro areas. Autobody News is a monthly publication for the autobody industry.

Permission to reproduce in any form the material published in Autobody News must be obtained in writing from the publisher. ©2018 Adamantine Media LLC. Autobody News Box 1516, Carlsbad, CA 92018; (800) 699-8251 (760) 603-3229 Fax www.autobodynews.com editor@autobodynews.com

Midwest

Contents

Auto Insurance Awaits Auto Verification in Illinois

Luther Bloomington Acura-Subaru. 35 Luther Hopkins Honda . . . . . . . . . . 38 Maplewood Toyota-Scion . . . . . . . . 31 Mazda Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 52 McGrath City Hyundai . . . . . . . . . . 24 Midwest Parts Group . . . . . . . . . 22-23 MINI Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 60 Mitsubishi Wholesale Parts Dealers. 52 MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36-37 Morrison’s Auto Parts . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Nissan/Infiniti Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Original One PartsTM . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Patrick BMW MINI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Patrick Hyundai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Polyvance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 PPG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Richfield-Bloomington Honda . . . . 28 Robaina Industries, Inc . . . . . . . . . . 29 SATA Dan-Am Company . . . . . . . . 11 Spanesi Americas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 59 Symach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Sharpe Collection of Automobiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Toyota of Des Moines . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Toyota Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 60 VanDevere Kia-GM . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Zimmer Chrysler-Dodge-JeepRam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS 3

Continued from Cover

Secure Share

efficient, collaborative and secure communication between our customers and thsto do that, and [this] announcement is in response to that feedback.”

Change Faces Criticism Since first announced more than a year ago, elements of “Secure Share” drew fire from various segments of the industry, often voiced at the quarterly Collision Industry Conference (CIC) meetings.

CCC’s support for use of BMS (rather than EMS) was widely praised, because the newer standard gives the user more control over which portions of the data from an estimate are shared.

It can limit a parts vendor’s access, for example, to only the portions of the estimate needed to accurately fill the parts order (while not including, as an EMS file does, data relative to the customer and labor times).

But critics felt CCC’s scheduled elimination of the option to use EMS as of April 2018 was arbitrary and unnecessary. Some third-party vendors not set up to receive data via BMS said that that change alone, even aside from the $0.50 fee they would have to pay CCC for each estimate data file received, was an undue expense.

Others felt the mandatory transfer of data files through CCC gave the company too much control, in theory enabling CCC to decide which thirdContinued from Cover

ADAS

that with an ADAS system, the number of vehicles that were non-drivable after an accident decreased 31.5 percent. A lot more people drove home with their ADAS-equipped Civics than they did with the ones without ADAS.” They also studied how ADAS affects frequency—the percentage of time the vehicles were involved in an accident. “We found that the vehicles equipped with ADAS systems had a frequency rate of 12 percent. Those without ADAS had a frequency of 17 percent,” said Kaboos. “That’s a decrease of nearly 30 percent in frequency, which means drivers are 30 percent less likely to get into a collision at all with ADAS systems vs. without them.”

party vendors or “applications” are in cated securely, as can BMS. Neither the system and able to receive a shop’s one of them has inerrant security built data, as well as which portions of the within. We don’t see any reason at this estimate they receive. Secure Share, time to cut off EMS, and so we won’t.” critics said, also gave CCC Secure Share was also facunprecedented access to ing push-back from a variety what information is being of segments of the industry. sent to which vendors, inGeneral Motors’ John Eck, cluding some CCC competifor example, said his company tors. was concerned about the “im“They will know which pact on the [parts] procureCSI companies are successment process for our dealer Jack Rozint ful, and they will know who network.”

Dan Friedman of of Mitchell International said [those companies’] cusEnterprise said his company his company will tomers are,” Jack Rozint of wouldn’t participate in Secure continue to support Mitchell International cited Share and vowed instead to the “EMS” data as an example, noting that “keep collaborating and partexport file rather CCC competes for business nering with businesses that than requiring the use of the newer with other CSI providers in believe in open technology “BMS” data the industry. “And if they platforms.” export file want to target those products and customers, they now have a perOther Data-Sharing Lawsuits fect platform to do it.”

CCC’s about-face may also have been Mitchell and AudaExplore also influenced by some lawsuits related to added to the pressure on CCC to amend data-sharing arrangements in another its plans for Secure Share by vowing to automotive industry segment. Authencontinue to support data exchanges ticom is a “data scraper” that collects, using EMS (while also moving toward compiles and sells information from using BMS) with no additional fees. dealership management systems, with “We see no compelling reason at the permission of the dealers whose this moment to stop supporting EMS,” data it gathers. It is now suing two Rozint said at CIC in November. companies—Reynolds and Reynolds, “There is somewhere between 100 and and CDK Global—that dominate the 200 different services and applications market for dealership management systhat consume EMS data today. Those tems. In recent years, both Reynolds applications and services are fundaand CDK implemented technology to mental to processing claims, repairing block data scraping. The two compacars and ensuring that our industry is nies, Authenticom’s antitrust suit aloperating efficiently without the need leges, also formed agreements to to rekey data. EMS can be communiallow each other’s own data analytics Then they looked at severity. The average claim for a 2016 Civic vehicle without ADAS was $3,002. The average with ADAS was $2,769. “It was a surprise when we found out that the ADAS-equipped vehicles were less expensive to fix as a whole by about seven percent,” said Kaboos. “Our assumption is that it is because they may have needed to do some calibration and extra work, but the damage didn’t go as deep into the car.” Kaboos used the example of repairers needing to aim a radar rather than replacing a rail.

As part of Honda’s 2030 vision, Kaboos said the OEM’s goal is to have a zero-collision society at some point in the future. An important aspect of this is incorporating ADAS technology.

The ADAS systems on Honda and Acura vehicles are called Honda Sensing and AcuraWatch. The OEM’s use of ADAS dates back to 2011 when the

4 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

company used its first system on a Honda Odyssey. Up until 2016, ADAS systems were offered a la carte. Over the last two years, consumers had the opportunity to order Honda Sensing and AcuraWatch as a full suite of products.

With the release of the 2018 Accord, Honda introduced its first mass production vehicle to include the Honda Sensing Suite as standard equipment on all trim levels. This is regardless if it is the base model or the touring edition. “I do believe that’s probably going to continue as we release new models; we are going to see this become standard,” said Kaboos. “By 2022, we want to have our entire fleet equipped with this equipment.”

Levels of Automation The Society of Automotive Engineers explains the five different levels of au-

subsidiaries—which compete with Authenticom—to access the data from the other company’s system, while pledging not to help any other business gain access to one another’s systems.

Those who had previously purchased compiled data from Authenticom said they have seen their monthly bill for such data rise from the $35 they had been paying Authenticom to more than $700 to receive the data from Reynolds or CDK. Authenticom’s lawsuit was the first, but not the only, related to data sharing by CDK and Reynolds. Cox Automotive, the parent company of Kelley Blue Book, Autotrader and Manheim, filed suit in December against CDK, saying the company is colluding to eliminate competition in the market for compiled data from dealership management systems. Other dealership groups and businesses that rely on dealership data from those systems also have filed similar suits against CDK or Reynolds.

CCC Moving Forward Whether those lawsuits played into CCC’s decision is unclear. For its part, CCC is working to put a positive spin on the changes it has made to the Secure Share program as the April deadline for its required use approaches.

“Repairers and application providers will now have more choice and flexibility in how they work with one another,” CCC’s Fincher said in announcing the company’s changes.

tomation ranging from level 0 to 1— which includes some driver assist capabilities—to level 5 where the vehicle will be fully autonomous and have no steering wheel. Currently, the majority of Honda vehicles utilize level 1.

Three categories of level 1 ADAS: 1. Driver Information Systems: Blind Spot Information, Lane Watch and Cross Traffic Monitor 2. Preventative Measure Systems: Adaptive Cruise Control, ACC with Low Speed Follow, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Assist System 3. Avoidance Assistance Systems: Collision Mitigation Braking Systems and Road Departure Mitigation The 2018 Acura RLX will be released in November and include a new ADAS feature—Traffic Jam Assist.

“This is the first time Honda has See ADAS, Page 31

www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS 5

WI Collision Repair Graduate Invents Spot Weld Chisel Tool Finn explained further what the Spot Weld Chisel does. It’s a repair Matt Finn can now include “inven- tool designed to separate spot welds tor” in his list of accomplishments. that join two metal sheets. For examFinn, a 2002 graduate of South- ple, auto repair often involves the west Tech’s auto collision repair pro- body of a vehicle, which is composed gram, created the Spot Weld Chisel, a of metal sheets that are formed and then joined by spot welding.

To repair or replace a damaged metal component, a technician may need to detach the sheet metal panel from the rest of the vehicle. The Spot Weld Chisel is unique in that its chisel end is formed in a Pictured (bottom) is the tool Matt Finn originally invented U-shape, allowing it to get out of an old bed frame section next to Finn’s manufactured into an area of the car with litspot weld chisel (top) tle access. It also allows a repair tool designed for use on auto- lever movement (like prying) to break mobiles. The tool became available the spot welds and separate the metal for purchase in October. sheets at the seam.

According to Finn, who lives in When considering manufacturing Prairie du Chien, WI, the idea for this his original design, Finn found an ad tool came to him about 10 years ago. in the back of a tool magazine that soHe had purchased a 1931 Ford Model licited ideas for new tools.

A that he wanted to transform into a “I went back and forth deciding hot rod. if I should submit it. After about two years, I decided to submit the idea. I sent in the tool I had made and also put together a video of how it works and what I used it for so the company could see it in action,” he said.

“I started working with one manufacturer on the tool. It was really interesting to be included in all the communication between the company and their manufacturer. They sent me a prototype of the tool and then, in the end, just decided not to move any further. I didn’t get an explanation; they just told me they weren’t moving forward with it.”

Several years later, Finn sent the tool to Lisle Corporation, as he was familiar with their line of tools and had many of their products in his toolbox.

Matt Finn stands in the shop at Rick’s Auto “They have a long history in manBody ufacturing; they’ve been around since “I was trying to remove the quar1903 and they are based in Iowa,” he ter panel, but the area was too tight to noted. “They had the tool for a couple get into with any of the tools I had. I years while making some design found a piece of scrap angle iron (an tweaks, doing some field testing and old bed frame section) and was able to market research. I found that it’s a cut and shape it to the size I needed,” very deliberate and slow process.” he recalled. “Then I used a torch to One day, Finn received an email heat it and bend it so that it fit into the that the company had decided to move panel. It ended up working just like I forward with production of the Spot had hoped on the Model A, and I dis- Weld Chisel. The first production run covered it worked well on newer cars was 7,000 tools. at the shop (where he worked) as well.

To say that he was excited would That’s when I thought that it may be a be an understatement. good tool to have manufactured.”

“It’s great to know that it’s an

by Contributing Writer, Courier Press

6 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

American-made product, and I was relieved they were going to work with me on the patent process,” Finn said.

“That alone is a lot of work and a large expense to try to do on my own.”

Matt and his wife Carissa posed for a picture on their wedding day in front of the Ford Model A

Finn is a repair specialist for Rick’s Auto Body in Prairie du Chien, where he’s been working for the past eight years. He gives credit to Rick Rymarz, also a Southwest Tech graduate, for encouraging him to keep pursuing the manufacturing of the tool.

Eventually Finn will have a patent on his product, as it’s pending right now. The tool actually displays the

text “pat. pend.” on it.

Purchasing the Spot Weld Chisel is as easy as doing a Google search for “Lisle 51880.” Finn said they’re available on Amazon and eBay, and are starting to show up in all tool catalogs as well. He said he purchased one himself through a Matco Tools representative.

Now that he’s gone through the process of creating and getting a tool manufactured, Finn said he has three other tools in the design and prototype phases. So he may get to add more products to his list of inventions.

Finn invented the tool because he was working on restoring a 1931 Model A. So, is it road-ready?

Finn said, “It will never be finished. Right now, I’m busy with my young family so I don’t dedicate as much time to it as I used to. It’s in the garage and my boys like to play in it, or take it around town. I have a 1952 Chevy Sedan Deluxe that has room for my wife and kids, so we like to get that out to a few shows in the summer.”

We thank Courier Press for reprint permission.

www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS 7

North Butler, IA, Program Helps Students Learn How to Use Tools

by Andrew Wind, The Courier

Using a tool and knowing how to use it are two different things.

A recent addition to North Butler Middle/High School’s industrial technology programs aims to fill that knowledge gap.

Officials announced this week the school is offering certifications to students in precision measuring instruments, mechanical and electronic torque and multimeters. It’s being done in partnership with tool-making company Snap-On, the National Coalition of Certification Centers and local businesses. The school started rolling out the courses in mid-November.

“Before Christmas, we had 16 students get certified in unit one of PMI,” said industrial technology teacher Dave Brown, noting he’s got twice as many students ready to take more courses. That includes learning how to use English and metric rulers, tape measures and calipers — an instrument that allows for figuring out the size of three-dimensional objects.

It’s one of six precision measuring certifications.

Torque deals with using different types of wrenches. “Basically, what we do is talk about fasteners,” said

Brown — like bolts — and “what happens as we tighten” them. Multimeters are used in electrical work to check voltage.

exploratory courses.

“Each program has multiple certifications across the board,” said Foster. Students need to earn at least 70 percent on the course tests to be certified. Earning the certification “makes our students more employable.”

The cost of the tool chests and tools for the courses “was just under $50,000,” said Foster. The expense was largely covered by the district’s vocational curriculum funds with a portion offset North Butler Community Shcools Superintendent Joel by donations from partnering Foster, right, introduces Dave Brown, industrial tech businesses. teacher, during an event at North Buttler High School “It’s really good for us to get Photo: Mathew Putney skills that may help us later Brown noted the certifications are in life,” said Lucas Martzahn, an useful for careers in engineering, au- eighth-grader who is among the first tomotive, tool and die, buildings trades students to get one of the certificaand more. “Just a lot of trades, it will tions. give them a leg up,” he said.

Freshman Layne Freiberg noted “Dave is one of two high school the precise measurements he learned teachers in Iowa to be trained in this,” were possible in taking the first said Joel Foster, North Butler Com- course. He believes continuing on in munity Schools superintendent. The the certifications will be helpful with district’s certification is the first stand- his plans to work as an auto mechanic. alone program in the state and its mid“It makes a difference between dle school is the only one in the nation you and the other guy,” said Tate involved in the training. The certifica- Menne, a junior who also was certitions will be part of the middle school fied in the first course.

8 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Brown said students do course work online and complete labs before taking the tests. Each takes one to two weeks, depending on how fast the student works.

“Businesses are very excited,” said Brown, about the school offering the certifications. “In our area, we have a lack of plumbers and electricians, just tradesmen.”

American Tool & Engineering, one of the partnering businesses, hopes to offer some school-to-work experiences for students who complete the certifications. The Greene company supplies molds for consumer, automotive and industrial customers across the U.S. Other partners include Wedeking Electric of Marble Rock, Cooper Motors of Allison, and Allison Farmers Feed and Grain.

Snap-On and the National Coalition of Certification Centers were involved in creating the curriculum. Dan Prather, an account manager in SnapOn’s education division, attended the event.

“We’re really trying to help bring real-world, real-life experiences into the classroom to make better workers,” he said.

We thank The Courier for reprint permission.

Rolla, MO, Technical Institution Instructor Obtains I-CAR Platinum Certification

by Corbin Kottmann, The Rolla Daily News

Mike Hofstetter, collision repair instructor at Rolla Technical Institution (RTI), currently teaches 30 students, a mix of first and second years, and when he’s done teaching for the day, he still finds time to sharpen his own skills to make sure he’s the most qualified instructor he can be.

Recently, Hofstetter completed the necessary coursework to receive a platinum-level certification from the I-CAR program, an accomplishment only four others in the state of Missouri can boast.

“I-CAR was developed as a teaching, training school for professional people to learn new skills and learn how to repair newer automobiles,” Hofstetter said.

He explained the organization came to be in 1984, as the automobile industry was changing from fullframe models to what he described as “unitized construction.” I-CAR was developed to help professionals stay on top of a changing industry and does the same today, as well as introduces up-and-coming professionals to the field.

“It’s expanded to the point they’re teaching basic beginning information

to high school students,” said Hofstetter, who uses the organization’s curriculum in his classroom.

ability to stay on top of their game and keep up to date.”

Hofstetter explained there are fewer than 100 individuals in the United States with the same certification.

“If I’m not striving and reaching my highest ability, how can I expect that from my students?” he asked.

Hofstetter entered the teaching field after selling his own collision repair business, and the satisfaction of teaching has kept him working hard at RTI. “I’ve always enjoyed Mike Hofstetter teaches collision repair at Rolla Technical working with people and Institute, and recently received a certification that only always enjoyed teaching four others share in the state of Missouri new skills and imparting Hofstetter explained that obtain- my abilities to other people’s [skills],” ing the platinum level of certification he said. “There’s no greater reward from I-CAR isn’t required by the than to take somebody and show them state, so most vehicle repair profes- something they didn’t know how to sionals don’t pursue it due to the re- do. That’s what keeps you here.” quired time commitment. However, The automobile industry is Hofstetter said he felt the need to ob- changing rapidly, according to Hoftain the certificate to make sure he stetter, and the need to constantly rewas doing the best job he could. view chaining methods and procedures “My way of thinking is that is important. everyone who teaches should com“Automobiles are changing so plete that,” he said. “It’s not required rapidly that nobody who learned how by the state, but it does reflect one’s to repair an automobile even five

years ago, if they haven’t stayed up on training, is current to repair on automobiles,” he said, and explained how a procedure he knew three weeks ago could be different today.

Hofstetter strives to pass on this commitment to staying current to his students, as well as a solid work ethic and other life skills.

“My primary job here is to help young men and women be successful in life,” he said.

Even if students decide not to pursue collision repair after his program, he makes sure to give them transferable skills to be useful elsewhere, as well as what they might need to be a hardworking adult.

“Collision repair is a big part of what I do, but life skills are my biggest job,” he said. “Helping every student become successful in life.”

We thank The Rolla Daily News for reprint permission.

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Students Learn Essential Skills in Car Care Class in Waverly, NE

by Michael Wunder, The News

Some Waverly High School students spent last December gaining valuable skills that should last them a lifetime.

Around Thanksgiving, Watts Electric donated enough money to Aaron Jones’ Essential Car Care class to purchase three go-karts. Those vehicles have allowed students to gain hands-on training.

In the past, the class has focused mostly on theory, but the new go-karts will allow instructors to alter the curriculum to allow students to get more experience.

“Most of it has been theory,” Jones said. “In the past, we’ve had a little bit of ‘Let’s go out and check the oil or change the oil or change a tire’ kind of stuff, but this will allow us to go a whole lot deeper.”

Once the go-karts arrived at the school, Jones split the classes he had into three groups, each working on half of a car each period.

“It was kind of like working in the industry, where you do one part of it and someone else may be another part of it,” Jones said.

The structure of the lessons translated well to how someone going into a career in the industry might be organized, Jones said. That’s because the karts themselves aren’t all that different from a full-sized automobile.

“They have a suspension system that’s very similar to an automobile,” Jones said. “They have a braking system that’s very similar to an automobile.”

That makes the vehicles the perfect choice for a classroom, where both budgets and space may be tight.

“It lends itself really well at a reduced cost to an automotive class where we can’t have a full-scale shop,” Jones said.

When the karts came in, the students began building them, piecing them together in teams to discover just how each component worked.

Waverly juniors Ethan Qualset and Cameron Trail work on one of the Waverly go-karts (Staff Photo by Michael Wunder)

After the build process completed, the students were tasked with ensuring the vehicles ran properly.

After creating a makeshift track above the freshman football field, the students took the go-karts for a test drive.

“Really interesting to see students at that juncture,” Jones said.

“Because some of them are really, really timid, and you wouldn’t have thought they would be timid and so they wouldn’t really push the accelerator fully down. Then you have those students that you thought would be a little more timid and should’ve been letting off the accelerator more.”

The vehicles came with the engine mounted and part of the suspension system mounted. Other than that, students were tasked with building them.

Recently, the class received a check for $1,440 from the Foundation for Education. Most of that money was used to purchase a fire cage for materials in the working area.

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“We have been very blessed at Waverly with the community support that we have,” Jones said.

Some of the skills students

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gained in the classroom will benefit them for life, Jones said. Those skills include changing a tire, changing oil, knowing how to find a good used car and how to purchase car insurance.

“Some of those things can really save somebody a whole bunch of money if they know how to do them

on their own,” Jones said. “The thing that these cars do, it lets us do all of those things on a much smaller scale.”

Student Cameron Trail said the class would be great for all students to gain experience with tools and car care.

“I think it should be a class you should take if you’re a new driver or you haven’t taken anything like that before,” he said. “It gives you understanding of how your car works and just knowledge about it, which is good to know.”

Ethan Qualset, another student in the class, said he thinks it’s a valuable class.

“I’m hoping the school will be able to do this for future groups as well,” he said.

The plan is to continue the handson approach, Jones said.

“The idea is that we want to try to auction those off to the community so that we can recoup the money and buy a new car,” he said. “Hopefully [we can] make a little profit on it and buy another car.”

We thank The News for reprint permission.

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Deer Add to Winter Driving Hazards in Ohio

by Brandon Hannahs, Zanesville Times Recorder

Winter weather creates its own havoc on roads, but another culprit during this time of the year is deer.

The Zanesville, OH, Highway Patrol Post 60 has dealt with 199 deer accidents, only 10 of which featured an injury, through Dec. 20, while the Muskingum County Sheriff has had 14 such incidents through that date.

The Zanesville Police Department did not have stats recorded for those accidents.

The Highway Patrol did not have the number for incidents per month or areas of higher frequency, but the majority of the accidents, 119, occurred between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. (42) and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. (77).

The sheriff office had seven of the 14 happen in either October (three) or November (four). Cass Township had the highest rate with four, while nine of the 14 occurred during the same time frame as the hours provided by the Highway Patrol.

Highway Patrol Sargent Kevin Kelley recommended drivers be cautious during those hours.

“People should slow down, but you are better off hitting the deer

Shawn Wagner, owner of Classic Body Shop, echoed a similar sentiment with consistent work coming in. With his shop being in downtown Zanesville, he frequently gets vehicles from out of town that hit deer on Interstate 70.

Both also noted it’s common to work on vehicles with deer whistles.

“September to November is the biggest workload, but we see the same amount of cars now that we did 10 years ago,” Wagner said.

“Cost can be expensive depending on the parts. I just had a Cadillac come in with $10,000 worth of damage.

There are also the lucky ones who just lose a mirror A GMC Acadia was involved in a deer accident recently or get a small dent that only and is being repaired at Classic Body Shop in Zanesville. costs a couple hundred dolCredit: Brandon Hannahs, Times Recorder lars.” fall and winter are when he sees the On the insurance side, making majority of cars in need of repair after claims involving deer can be straighthitting deer, but work remains steady forward. John Patterson, an agent with year round.

McInturf-Fulmer Insurance Group, He estimated repair costs can noted drivers should try to contact local range from $1,000 to $6-7,000 de- authorities and their insurance agent or pending on parts, especially with the company. He recommended getting viincrease of electronics used in vehi- sual proof, like photos, and receiving an cles. estimate from a body shop.

than swerving,” he said. “The deer is going to give a lot more than a tree or guardrail.”

The accidents keep area body shops busy. Doug Roberts, manager of the Dutro Ford Body Shop, noted

Fire Causes $175,000 in Damage to IL Auto Repair Shop

Lake Fire Rescue District.

The fire appears to have started Crystal Lake, IL, Fire Rescue Dis- in an office and spread. Heavy trict is investigating a fire that caused smoke and flames were coming more than $175,000 in damages to an through the roof as the department auto repair shop off of Route 14. tried to put out the fire. The buildA portion of the road was shut ing has been deemed uninhabitable down for several hours as first re- until repairs are made, according to the district.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. No one was injured during the incident.

Algonquin-Lake in the Hills, Barrington Countryside, Carpentersville, Cary, East Dundee, Fox River Grove, Huntley Crystal Lake Fire Rescue District is investigating a fire that Nunda Rural, Wauconda, caused more than $175,000 in damages to Merlin’s West Dundee, McHenry 200,000 Miles auto shop off of Route 14 Township, Wonder Lake, sponders battled the flames in below- and Woodstock fire rescue districts freezing temperatures Dec. 30. all responded to the call along with Emergency departments re- the McHenry County Emergency sponded about 4:20 p.m. Dec. 30 to Management Agency and the Salvamultiple reports of heavy smoke tion Army, according to the district. coming from Merlin’s 200,000 Crystal Lake police said Route Miles Shop, 191 W. Virginia Road. 14 reopened shortly after 8 p.m.

Multiple passersby called 911 Dec. 30. to report the incident, according to We thank Northwest Herald for a news release from the Crystal reprint permission.

by Brittany Keeperman, Northwest Herald

12 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Patterson also said hitting a deer or a deer running into a vehicle falls under comprehensive and usually does not affect the premium, compared to hitting another vehicle or a telephone pole, which falls under collision and usually raises premium rates and has a higher deductible.

He added many insurance companies also offer first-accident forgiveness.

“We need to know where it happened, what time and damage to the car,” he said. “Insurance companies like a police report, but we understand they can be busy, so in this digital age, photos work and usually show if someone has hit a deer or not.

“If people are able to get all of those, it usually takes less than 24 hours to process a claim so people can get their car repaired. The most important part is not to swerve. You lessen the chance for injury, and you can fix the vehicle.”

We thank Times Recorder for reprint permission.

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AASPI 2018 Annual Meeting To Be Knockout Event

Million Verdict” as he shares details one of the most knowledgeable peoon the depositions, the trial, and the ple in his field, he is a sought-after On Saturday, Feb. 24, the Alliance information the jury used to decide speaker, author and consultant, who of Automotive Service Providers of upon the precedent-setting verdict. can discuss and teach on a wide Illinois (AASPI) will host its Annual Tracy has repeatedly told range of topics relating to Meeting at the Diplomat West in collision repair professioneverything—from the poliElmhurst, IL. als that “this is a defining tics affecting collision reThis year’s program promises to moment in your industry,” pair, to researching repairs be a knockout event featuring two ex- and by attending this inforproperly via technology, to citing sessions. mational seminar, AASPI giving and getting the best AASPI Executive Director Mike members can learn how to from insurers, to performLane shared, “We are hosting a ter- avoid their own $42 million ing an exactly correct rerific meeting next month featuring verdict, better understand pair—just to name a few Mike Anderson Todd Tracy, the attorney the jury’s concluthings!

If there is anything file photo who won the $42M lawsuit sion that OEM Mike doesn’t know, he will against John Eagle Colliprocedures were paramount, find out about it.” sion, as well as industry faand acquire a refined comRegistration will open at 8:30 vorite Mike Anderson of prehension of the possible a.m., and the Annual Meeting will run Collision Advice.” liabilities they are subjected from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Pre-registraAccording to AASPI to, based on the business de- tion is available until Feb. 16 for $125 President Bob Gottfred of cisions they make during for association members and $145 for Eric-LaSalle Body Shops, the course of the repair. non-members. At-the-door entrance Todd Tracy “This year’s Annual MeetNext, Collision Advice’s will be available for a credit card purfile photo ing is destined to be one of Mike Anderson will cover chase of $175 if space permits. Silver, the best. We are expecting record at- “Get Certified? OEM Certification: gold and platinum sponsorship optendance. Industry support includes the Pros & Cons.” As always, An- portunities are also available until Jan. Gold Sponsorships from Axalta and derson will bring his decades of in- 29. For more information on registerFinishMaster and Platinum Sponsor- dustry experience with his passion to ing as an attendee or a sponsor, visit ship from Hawk Auto Group.” provide an entertaining and motiva- www.aaspi.org.

Texas attorney Todd Tracy will tional presentation. AASPI’s website kick off the meeting with his presen- describes Anderson as “an acclaimed tation on “The Anatomy of a Law- champion of everything that is, or suit: The Crucial Details of the $42 could be right about the industry. As

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

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Moorhead, MN Body Shop Changes Owners

by Ryan Johnson, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

A long-running auto collision shop in Moorhead, MN, recently got new owners.

Michael Bednar and Chris Czernek, longtime employees at Larry’s Auto Body, 128 16th St. N., announced in a Facebook post in November that they’re the new co-owners of the business.

The two have a combined 38 years in the auto body industry, including 32 years at Larry’s, according to the announcement.

Larry’s Auto Body was established in 1949 by Lawrence “Larry” Fortier, according to Forum archives. Fortier died in 1996 and his wife, Gloria Fortier, took over the family business with her sons serving as managers.

The Facebook announcement didn’t say when Bednar and Czernek officially became owners of the business, which was family-owned until the purchase.

We thank The Forum of FargoMoorhead for reprint permission.

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‘Car Santa’ Kept Veterans on the Road this Christmas Season in MO Outside Logboat Brewing Company’s crowded taproom, a used white When Michael Crotchett received Dodge Dakota was waiting for Crotchthe call from Cars 4 Heroes, he knew ett. he had a chance to win a truck beFranz, also known as “Car Santa,” cause he was one of many applicants. started Cars 4 Heroes 22 years ago when this event was called Cars 4 Christmas. Cars 4 Heroes is a nonprofit organization based in Kansas City, which provides free and reliable transportation to veterans and their families who are unable to get it on their own.

“We get about 15,000 applications every year, and we give about 300 cars each Chris Shell, right, takes a video of Michael Richard year,” Franz said.

Crotchett, center, and Daniel Himes as they sit in Crotchett applied this fall Crotchett’s new car for the first time at Logboat and said he never thought Brewing Company in Columbia, MO, on Dec. 21. he’d receive a car this soon.

Crotchett’s previous car had broken down a few “I feel amazing—remonths ago. Credit: Olivia Liu, Missourian

by Yutong Yuan, Missourian

But he didn’t yet know he was the winner.

“He doesn’t know he’s coming for a car. He thinks he’s coming for an interview,” said Terry Franz, the founder of Cars 4 Heroes, on Dec. 21 before Crotchett received the car.

“And we got a car outside for him.

It’s a total surprise.”

lieved in so many ways,” Crotchett said.

Crotchett, 32, served in the Marine Corps for four and a half years before he received an honorable medical discharge in September 2010.

It used to take 40 minutes for him to drive to work. After his vehicle broke down, there was no way he could go to work. He had to temporarily move in with his cousin, who could give him a ride.

Galen Hassler, an owner of an automotive repair shop in Columbia, did mechanical work beforehand to make sure Crotchett’s new car runs well. Hassler has worked with Cars 4 Heroes for about five years, and said this was a good way to give back to the military.

We thank Missourian for reprint permission.

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Anti-Safety Inspection Legislation Introduced in Missouri

Missouri Rep. J. Eggleston, R-2, recently introduced House Bill (HB) 1444. If enacted, this legislation would repeal Missouri’s vehicle safety inspection program.

In 2015, ASA hosted a safety inspection forum in St. Louis to draw attention to the importance of vehicle safety inspections by incorporating input from all segments of the automotive industry, including state vehicle administrators, policymakers, automotive repairers and other sectors of the automotive industry.

Missouri and other state studies have shown the value of these vehicle safety inspection programs in terms of saving lives, preventing injuries and damage to property. Regular vehicle safety inspections by a qualified technician can identify and repair most safety issues that arise from normal wear and tear on the vehicle. If enacted, this bill will eliminate a program specifically designed to protect the motoring public.

ASA opposes HB 1444 and encourages all interested parties in Missouri to visit TakingTheHill.com and click “Alerts” to contact their state representatives in opposition.

www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS 15

Drug Ring Involving Body Shop Worker Busted in Cleveland, OH

by Chris Mosby, Cleveland Patch

Twenty-six people have been arrested for planning to bring large amounts of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine into Northeast Ohio, law enforcement announced Dec. 7.

The group allegedly brought hundreds of pounds of narcotics into the region.

“Today’s massive take-down marks a major step forward in combating illegal opiate sales within the city of Cleveland,” Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said. “As you can see from this joint effort, law enforcement remains committed to erasing this problem in Northeast Ohio. Further, we encourage anyone battling addiction to utilize the many resources that are available and strive to get well.”

Two of the men, Victor Felix, 39, and William Rodriguez, 40, are still eluding police capture. The FBI is asking the public for help with locating the men. Anyone with information is asked to contact law enforcement.

How the Drug Ring Worked: Three people, Irwin Jose Vargas, Keyra Linnette Martinez and Isidoro M. Gonzalez, are accused of

arranging shipments of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine from Puerto Rico between 2016 and today. The shipments included at least a kilogram of fentanyl, a kilogram of heroin and five kilograms of cocaine. Most of the shipments came through mailing services, including the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx and UPS, the indictment says. The group would also mail packages from China to Puerto Rico and from Puerto Rico to the U.S. The drugs would be stored in locations throughout the region, including Santiago Auto Care Services in Cleveland, an apartment in Parma, a home in Euclid and residences throughout Cleveland. The drugs would be sold out of those locations to other drug traffickers.

One of the men, Emad Silmi, of North Olmsted, is also accused of getting large amounts of cocaine and then selling them out of his business, Global Auto Body & Collision. Silmi allegedly also obtained large amounts of N-Ethyl Pentylone, similar to “molly,” and then selling that to other dealers out of his auto shop, the indictment says.

Silmi received at least five kilograms of cocaine and more than 100 kilograms of marijuana between Jan-

uary 2016 and March 2017, the indictment says. He is also being charged with conspiracy to launder money for trying to conceal his drug profits, law enforcement said.

Two of the men, Anthony Greenlee and Erkan Nevzadi, are said to have used guns, ammunition and other weapons to protect their drug trafficking, the indictment says.

“These groups brought hundreds of pounds of dangerous drugs into Northeast Ohio and sold them throughout our community,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “We will continue to work collaboratively to shut off the flow of drugs and seek long prison sentences for traffickers.”

The drug bust can be split into two groups.

Fifteen people are named in a 29-count indictment for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and a fentanyl analogue.

Those 15 people are: » Irwin Jose Vargas, 42, Euclid » Keyra Linnette Martinez, 42, Euclid » Irwing Vargas Rosario, 24, Cleveland » Isidoro M. Gonzalez, 41, Cleveland » Alcides Garcia, 46, Ponce, Puerto

Rico » Austin Natale, 27, Cleveland » Kayle Mae Jonela, 22, Brook Park » Rosemary Howell, 55, Cleveland » Dennis Mansfield, 58, Cleveland » William Rodriguez, 41, Cleveland » Jeffrey Mack, 44, Cleveland » Victor Felix, 39, Cleveland » Nelson Benitez, Jr., 34, Cleveland » Thomas Lopez, 39, Cleveland » Edgar Arroyo, 37, Cleveland A second group of 12 people have been charged in a 26-count indictment to distribute cocaine, MDMA and marijuana. Those people are: » Emad Silmi, 43, of North Olmsted; » Christopher Young, 46, Westlake; » Herbert Shaw, 44, Cleveland; » Samer Abu-Kwaik, 46, Cleveland » Nelson Benitez, Jr., 34, Cleveland » Jonathan Smith, 34, Lathrup Village, Mich. » John D. Ciarlillo, 42, of Medina; » Anthony Quinn Greenlee, 26, Huron » Santana Jones, 22, Cleveland; » Gregory Lowery, 32, Painesville; » Mogahed Mustafa, 30, North Olmsted, and » Erkan Nevzadi, 29, Cleveland.

We thank Cleveland Patch for reprint permission.

Accidents in Iowa Snowstorm Keep Shops Busy

by Phil Reed, KCRG-TV9

More than 80 accidents happened between the Cedar Rapids and Davenport areas during the snowstorm on Dec. 29, according to Iowa State Patrol.

Iowa State Trooper Bob Conrad said many of them could have been prevented simply by drivers slowing down.

The accidents are keeping a lot of body shops busy.

Four Guys Auto Sales & Body owner Scott Atwood in Cedar Rapids said they got about a dozen damaged cars towed there during the snowstorm.

He said they had to use their extra lot to find room for the cars

and that most of them are totaled.

Atwood adds that it’s too cold for his workers to do anything outside, so there will be a delay getting the vehicles fixed.

“You can’t work outside anymore, so the inside facility that you have, that’s what you have to work in, so it just slows everything down to a crawl,” Atwood said.

He said this can be common during the first major snowfall of the year.

“The winter came late this year. I think everybody is kind of unprepared. First snow, you always see more accidents than through the rest of the year,” Atwood said.

We thank KCRG-TV9 for reprint permission.

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WI Auto Tech Program Receives Donated Vehicle

by Staff, Star Journal

Nicolet College’s Automotive Technician program in Rhinelander, WI, recently added to its fleet of vehicles for students to train on, thanks to the

Pictured here with the 2013 Dodge Avenger, donated by State Farm, are (l to r) second-year auto students Justin Schulz, Tomahawk; Dominic Darley, Phelps; Damien Kopec, Sheboygan Falls; Lucas Price, Rhinelander, and Jason Glodowski, Hazelhurst. Submitted photo

donation of a car and a truck from State Farm Insurance. A 2013 Dodge Avenger and 2006 Chevy Silverado were both totaled by flooding, giving students plenty to fix.

“That’s exactly what makes these vehicles so valuable to us,” said Nicolet Auto Instructor Chris Kolasa. “It’s

real-world training for students that provides them the hands-on skills that are so in demand in the workplace.”

Nicolet’s Auto Technician program currently has about 20 vehicles in its fleet.

“It’s important for students to work on many different types of vehicles to see how each is different and give them that broad base of training that will help them be successful in their careers,” explained Kolasa, a certified ASE Master Technician with 15 years of experience working in the field and 16 years of teaching experience in the technical college system.

“The more diverse the set of vehicles students can work on, the better. This is a fabulous donation by State Farm that will definitely benefit students.”

This is the second time State Farm has donated vehicles to Nicolet.

In 2014, the insurance company donated a 2012 Ford Focus to the college.

Rhinelander Auto Salvage donated hauling services to transport the vehicles from Cudahy to the Nicolet Campus.

We thank Star Journal for reprint permission.

MI Body Shops Spike in Business Due to Cold

is your tires to avoid paying deductibles for getting in a crash, beAs frigid temperatures continue to cause the accident would be avoided plague West Michigan, crews are altogether. combating the icy road conditions “Tires today (are) safer than back and other dangers that come with it. in the ‘60s, ‘70s,” Romph said.

“They’re designed to fold up, but there’s so much more plastic for efficiency.

Plastic in 30 degree temperatures doesn’t work out.”

He said if a tire gets about half-worn, it’s time to replace it.

To check on a tire’s wear, turn a penny upsidedown and put it in the tread of your tire. The tread Mechanics work on vehicles at Wealthy Body Shop Inc. should cover Abraham Linin Grand Rapids, MI coln’s head. If not, it’s time At these low temperatures, using to get the tires checked. salt doesn’t work and an increased volume of accidents results in a hike We thank Wood 8 TV News for reprint in business for auto body shops. permission.

Chris Romph, owner of Wealthy Body Shop Inc., said his shop sees more suspension and collision damage around this time of year because drivers aren’t slowing down and may not SUBSCRIBE TO OUR have the right tires.

On Dec. 28, the shop was packed as 24 Hour News 8 took a look at CHANNEL: some of the cars with rear-end damage and other work needed.

Romph said one of the best investments you can make in your car

by Sarah Hurwitz, Wood 8 TV News

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Autobody News

18 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Hastings, MN, Tech Receives National Award

The ASE annual awards spotlight top scorers on the ASE CertiBryce Anderson, an ASE-certified fication Tests from among the ranks collision repair technician from of the more than a quarter-million Hastings, MN, was recently honored ASE certified professionals nationwith a national achievement award wide. Anderson is a heavy collision repair technician at Raymond Auto Body in St. Paul. He has been a technician for 33 years.

“Bryce is one of the outstanding ASE-certified professionals recognized annually by different segments of the automotive service and repair industry,” ASE President and CEO Timothy Zilke said.

From left to right: Chairman of the ASE Board of “Each of these elite techDirectors Jeff Walker, Snap-on Business Solutions nicians is presented with President John Wolf, Bryce Anderson and ASE an industry-specific award President and CEO Tim Zilke. Credit: Peter Jordan recognizing their achievePhotography ment.” as the Snap-on/ASE Master ColliWe thank Hastings Star Gazette sion Repair and Refinish Technician for reprint permission. of the Year.

Forty-seven automotive professionals were recognized Nov. 15 FOLLOW US ON at the fall Board of Governors meeting of the National Institute for Au: tomotive Service Excellence (ASE) held at the Marriott Mission Valley in San Diego, CA.

by Staff, Hastings Star Gazette

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Techs of Tomorrow: Mexican Immigrant, Graduate of IL College Fulfills Dream of Becoming Painter

by Victoria Antonelli

Luis Gutierrez moved to Aurora, IL, from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico at the age of 2. When he turned 16, he got his first car—a 1986 Buick Regal—which he dreamed of turning into a Low-Rider.

“When I tried to fix up my Buick, I kept getting ripped off because I didn’t know how to do anything myself,” Gutierrez explained. “After high school,

Luis Gutierrez moved to Aurora, IL, from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico at the age of 2

I realized I had to do something with my life, and told myself, ‘Why not learn how to paint and do body work on my own?’”

He added that his love for cars

started at a young age.

“I began my search for auto body schools after graduation, and enrolled at Waubonsee Community College [in Sugar Grove, IL] in 2011,” Gutierrez said. “I was 20 years old at the time, and now I’m 26.”

Gutierrez said he chose Waubonsee because he knew people in the collision repair program who spoke highly of the courses and instructor, Andrew MacDonald.

“Waubonsee was also in my price range,” he said. “Because of my immigrant status at the time, I could not receive grants.”

Gutierrez said he enjoyed the hands-on aspect of his classes the most, especially in the painting and body work courses.

“The most challenging part of the program was going into it having no idea what I was doing,” he said. “I’ve never really been a book person—I’ve always been more hands on—but regardless, I didn’t have any experience working on cars, so I was a little nervous.”

Gutierrez said his greatest achievement was learning and implementing the right procedures for working on vehicles.

“MacDonald understood my learn-

ing style and went out of his way to help me,” he said.

“Luis was a very conscientious, hardworking and punctual student,” said MacDonald. “His potential was apparent right from the start.”

Gutierrez graduated from the Waubonsee Community College collision repair program in 2012

Right after graduation in 2012, Gutierrez started his first collision repair job at a local body shop.

“I received a phone call from Luis shortly after he entered the workforce,” MacDonald said. “He stated that the shop he was working at did not do things the way I taught him, and he did not like the results of their methods. I told him that any start is a good start, to remember what I taught him and to hang in there.”

ASA-Midwest Adds Heavy Duty Training to 2018 VISION Agenda

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

ASA-Midwest has rolled out the agenda for its 2018 VISION Hi-Tech Training and Expo, a four-day management and training event for automotive service professionals.

This year’s event will be held March 1–4 at the Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park, KS. Onsite registration opens on Wednesday, Feb. 28 and continues throughout the conference, which features management, technical and heavy duty training. Managers and service advisors can learn about topics to streamline processes and boost profits, while technicians will get tips on increasing productivity and receive hands-on training for a variety of vehicle systems. This year, ASA-Midwest will introduce the addition of hard-to-find heavy duty

training on the latest technology, including diagnostic scan tools, air brakes, SCR and more.

Thursday’s educational offerings include 12 technical sessions and five management training sessions. That evening, ASA-Midwest will present the second addition to its 2018 agenda: an exclusive Hi-Tech Tool Expo featuring today’s top scan tools and diagnostic equipment.

On Friday, VISION attendees can choose from seven technical training seminars, seven heavy duty educational sessions, the VISION Educator Think Tank’s six options, or the Management Power Summit, which features eight informative presentations to select from as well as the lunchtime keynote presentation

by Chris Chesney.

The VISION Expo will be open on Friday night from 5–9 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

The 60,000-square-foot expo floor will feature some of the industry’s latest technology, tools, services and equipment.

Following breakfast on Saturday, ASA-Midwest will hold an Opening General Session before its 18 morning seminars. Another 18 educational options will be available

20 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

after lunch. The evening will proceed with an Industry Professional’s Reception and conclude with an Awards Dinner and Comedy Night Party.

The final day of the 2018 VISION Hi-Tech Training and Expo will feature breakfast, a Closing General Session and 16 options for Management/Technical Training.

The many educational sessions offered during the event will be taught by more than four dozen industry trainers, including Cecil Bullard, Bill Haas, Amy Mattinat, Rick White, Tony Passwater, Jeremy O’Neal, Danny Sanchez, and Greg Marchand.

A variety of package prices are available, including a four-day Power Pass for $675. All registration options are available online at www.vision kc.com, and registrations must be received by February 22, 2018.

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After working at that shop for two years, Gutierrez transitioned into his current job as a professional painter at White Eagle Auto Body, where he has worked for three years.

“I love what I do,” Gutierrez said.

“It doesn’t feel like a job anymore.”

Now that he’s accomplished his goal of becoming a painter, Gutierrez said his next dream is to own his own body shop.

“Luis is a prime example to my present students that if you are persistent and wait for the door of opportunity to open, good things will happen,” MacDonald said.

Gutierrez is also a member of a custom car club called Soul Assassinz.

“We haven’t been able to do much recently because of the weather,” he said. “But in the summer, we attend car shows and participate in other outdoor activities.”

Gutierrez said the club was created by his father-in-law in the 2000s.

“We have a wide variety of cars— not just Low-Riders,” he added. “We also have a kid’s chapter with LowRider bikes and children’s antique pedal cars.”

For more information on Waubonsee Community College, visit www .waubonsee.edu.

Gerber Collision & Glass Opens Repair Locations in Ohio

The Boyd Group Inc. announced the Dec. 15, 2017 opening of three collision repair centers in the west side suburbs of Cleveland, OH. The centers were previously operated as Suburban Collision Centers and are located in North Olmstead and Berea, two suburbs in Cuyahoga County.

With a population of more than 1.2 million, Cuyahoga is the secondlargest county in Cleveland. The three new Gerber locations are within a five-mile radius of one another and are situated less than seven miles west of Cleveland’s international airport. “The opening of these three locations increases our presence by 50 percent in the Greater Cleveland area and allows us to serve new customers and our insurance partners west of the city,” said Tim O’Day, President and COO of the Boyd Group. “With the addition of three established locations, we welcome a number of skilled technicians to our team and are pleased to have former owner Angelo Papotto and team lead Jason Voldrich assisting with the transition. We look forward to providing the North Olmstead and Berea communities with the professional and friendly service our Gerber locations are known for.”

Collision Repair Industry Stays Winter Busy in MI, New Roundabouts a Factor

by Alex Kline, WLUC TV6 Upper Michigan’s Source

Winter is one of the busiest times for auto repair shops.

Right now, Classic Auto Collision in Marquette, MI, has about 45 cars being repaired or waiting to be

worked on, and it’s only the beginning of the month. In December, the shop moved 70 cars from start to finish.

“So like right now, we’re seeing the deer hits come in, the collisions come in [and] the two new roundabouts in town are kind of stirring up some collision-related repairs as well, and they’re ranging anywhere from $2,500 all the way up to $12,000 worth of damage. So we’re kind of seeing all ends of the spectrum as far as the collision-re-

lated repairs,” says Jen Kinney, Manager of Classic Auto Collision in Marquette.

On average, cars remain in the shop between 10 days to two weeks, and the process is broken down into many different steps.

“Our system is broken down into an estimating area, an actual repair area, a painting area, a final assembly area, and a detail and inspection area, so there [are] many steps to the process.

From the time that we receive your car on the back of a wrecker to the time it goes out the door looking like new, many hands have touched it,” says Mark Leonard, a service technician at Classic Auto Collision.

On average, people are paying around $2,500 to $3,000 per accident, but the severity of the accident is a big factor in how much they’ll end up paying.

“Sometimes it could be a couple thousand dollars because you need a new door; sometimes it could be $10,000 because you need several new parts and pieces, so it depends on the speed that you’re going, whether you’re moving as well as the other car, or if your car was just

hit while parked, how fast you were going when you hit the deer—a lot of different things can weigh in there to escalate the amount of damage,” describes Kinney.

Newer vehicles may end up costing more to repair because of the new technology involved. When someone gets into an accident, the repair shop looks not only at the vehicle area involved with the collision, but the rest of the vehicle as well.

“The cars have become more sophisticated, undoubtedly, and the cost to repair them has risen significantly in the last 10, 15, 20 years from what it used to be, so the cost of repairs has risen with the advancement of the automotive technology, absolutely,” Leonard says.

We thank WLUC TV6 for reprint permission.

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Cooper Color, Inc. Body Shop Supplies Offers Services in St. Louis

Cooper Color. Inc. has been providing quality painting services since 1997, when the founder, David Cooper, acquired the former Gravois Auto Paint & Supply Co., which had been in business since 1935.

Cooper Color, Inc. is a PPG Platinum Distributor that specializes in automotive, custom, commercial, industrial, and aerospace coatings.

Cooper Color also offers aircraft primer and topcoats. The primer and topcoats used provide resistance to the corrosion, rain or chemicals that the aircraft may come in contact with.

Cooper Color, Inc. also has body shop supplies at its St. Louis auto body shop. Technicians at Cooper Color receive the best training there is on body shop repairs in order to have the knowledge and expertise needed to get its customers back on the road again after an unfortunate accident occurs.

Cooper Color, Inc. uses Deltron automotive finish on all automotive refinishes in North America.

www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS 21

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www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS 23

Fourth Wichita, KS-Area All Angles Collision Repair Opens to Public

by Carrie Rengers, The Wichita Eagle

Ready or not, Wichita’s newest All Angles Collision Repair opened Friday, Dec. 29.

“That’s a goal we set—to be open by the end of the year,” says general manager Ken Hunnell. “It took a little longer than we thought to get started.”

That’s because the new site at 2809 N. Greenwich was supposed to be the company’s third shop, but owner Steve Austin ended up buying another business in Newton this summer.

He acquired Brenneman’s Paint & Body Shop, which is now known as All Angles Collision at Brenneman’s Station.

“We wanted to pay homage to the Brenneman family business as well as the train community in Newton,” Hunnell says. “We did a lot of remodeling and upgrading.”

Then the focus shifted to the new 17,000-square-foot shop just south of 28th and Greenwich.

“We’re most excited about this one because it’s … our first ground-up build,” Hunnell says.

The West Street All Angles is a former Pep Boys site, and the East Kellogg site is a former Tractor Supply.

Those facilities are more than

20,000 square feet each.

The new one is smaller because it’s more efficient, Hunnell says.

“When we were able to have a blank slate, we were really able to look at things that caused waste or extra steps

The fourth Wichita-area All Angles Collision Repair opened Dec. 29 just north of K-96 and Greenwich. General manager Ken Hunnell, left, and owner Steve Austin built this shop around their assembly-line approach to working on cars. Credit: Jaime Green The Wichita Eagle

or processes,” he says. “It was pretty exciting to be able to say we’ve got this blank slate.”

Hunnell says a couple of years ago, All Angles changed its process for fixing cars. Today, it’s a segmented repair process that he describes as an assembly-line approach where employees focus on one task only, such as disassembling a car.

In that case, Hunnell says it leads to fewer missed parts and overlooked damage.

“Small things can hang up a large repair.”

There’s also a reassembly team, painting specialists and body technicians. Hunnell calls it “very disciplined production. Everything has a meaning.”

He says the staff examined each step—in some cases “literally down to the steps from one department to another.”

For instance, they looked at where parts enter the facility and determined that instead of coming in the front, it made more sense to have them taken directly to where they’ll be used.

“Our thing is to seek and destroy waste in how we operate,” Hunnell says. “It has a very lean production mindset.”

The company already has a site selected for its next facility.

“We have property secured in the northwest part of town,” Hunnell says.

He won’t say where yet, and it’ll probably be a couple of years before anything happens. For now, he’s got to focus on the new northeast shop.

“We’ve got everything kind of coming down to the wire,” Hunnell says. “They’re wrapping up the final construction.”

We thank The Wichita Eagle for reprint permission.

Deer Hits Result in Donation From Zara’s Collision in IL The Doenation charitable promotion from Zara’s Collision Center resulted in $10,350 presented on Wednesday, Jan.10, to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Illinois Capital Region.

Brad Zara (third from left) and Brady Smith (fourth from left) of Zara’s Collision Center present the Doenation check to members of BBBS on Wednesday, Jan. 10

From Oct. 1—Dec. 31, 5 percent of any deer-hit repair done by Zara’s, up to $250, was designated as a donation to BBBS. During the final quarter of 2017, Zara’s repaired 50 deer hits.

Zara’s Collision Center, now in its third decade of business, is located at 3117 Wide Track Dr. in Springfield.

Body Shops Stay Winter Busy in WI, Salt Warning

by Mimi Mitrovic, WAOW ABC 9

As winter moves in Wisconsin, local body shops are tied up with preparing your vehicles for the season.

President of Grieshbach Auto Services, John Grieshbach said that during this time of year customer traffic increases significantly.

“It’s usually the first snowfalls when we get really busy and everybody realizes that their tires on the car are not good, so we have a lot to put on,” Grieshbach said.

He said that even though weather does play a factor in car accidents during winter, most of the time the collisions are caused by cars not being properly maintained.

“They think they just need to do an oil change, but there are a lot

more fluids in the car that need to be serviced,” he said.

Another problem during the winter months that many people forget to check on is the amount of salt collected on the car.

Grieshbach said that if car owners don’t clean their vehicles regularly, the salt can cause severe damage.

“It gets up in the crevice of the car and in the break lines and fuel lines,” Grieshbach said.

“After a number of years, it can rust out and cause safety issues.”

Managers recommend car owners have the regular maintenance check-up before the harsh weather starts to ensure their safety.

We thank WAOW ABC 9 for reprint permission.

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Thousands of Students Expected to Join NAIAS in Michigan The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) will become a hands-on classroom on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, as the 14th annual NAIAS Education Day showcases the changing world of mobility to thousands of Michigan students.

Registration deadline is Friday, Jan. 12, 2018.

students walk away with a better understanding of and appreciation for the rapidly changing pace of the world of mobility.”

In addition to exploring the latest products and technologies on display, NAIAS Education Day participants will have the chance to engage with the show long before and after their

Presented by Ally, NAIAS Education Day gives students—grade school through college level—a hands-on look at the vehicles and technologies that are changing the face of today’s automobile industry, as well as the careers behind them.

Last year’s event drew 4,000 students from 81 different schools.

“NAIAS Education Day gives students a behind-the-scenes look at the auto industry with the hope that it will inspire a whole new generation of automotive thought leaders,” said Ryan LaFontaine, 2018 NAIAS Chairman. “We’d like to think that

visit. Pre- and post-lesson plans are posted on the NAIAS Education Day website (naias.com /ned.htm). The lesson plans also include a test component specifically designed for students in automotive tech curriculums.

(NAIAS Education Day tours hosted by experts in their field can be arranged prior, upon request).

NAIAS Education Day sponsor, Ally, will provide lessons in financial life skills, rounding out the day of learning at the show.

Ally plans sessions on credit and auto financing as part of its Ally Wallet Wise free financial education

program. Wallet Wise teaches financial education basics in the areas of budget, credit, banking, investing and financing a vehicle via in-person sessions and online courses at AllyWalletWise.com. Select NAIAS Education Day high school students are invited to participate in Wallet Wise sessions, which will teach budget creating and the importance of maintaining a balanced budget, as well as the fundamentals of applying for and maintaining good credit.

NAIAS Education Day students and chaperones enjoy a discounted price of $13 per person, which includes pizza, chips and a soft drink. A limited number of bus grants ($100 each) are available to registered schools (on a first-come, first-served basis). NAIAS Education Day is the only time during the auto show when there will be designated bus parking with shuttles to transport attendees to Cobo Center.

Bus drivers are invited to attend NAIAS Education Day as well (a ticket is required).

To register a school or for more information, visit naias.com/ned.htm.

www.autobodynews.com

Winter Mix Means Body Shops Are Busy in Missouri

by Kelsey Anderson, KFVS12

If you happen to get in a wreck, it could take you a while to get your car fixed.

Josh Lineberry was with James Auto Body in Cape Girardeau, MO, and he said the weather is causing shipment delays out of Memphis, TN.

Credit: KFVS

“We have some suppliers that we get parts from out of there that haven’t delivered since Thursday [Jan. 11], so that’s put several repairs that were already in process even further behind, on top of the new work coming in,” said Lineberry.

According to Lineberry, body repairs can be expensive, and he said drivers really should not take a chance on driving if they don’t have insurance.

We thank KFVS12 for reprint permission.

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www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS 25

AASP-MO Studies Vehicle Systems’ Alignments

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On Jan. 10, AASP-MO members met at Hunter Engineering for an educational seminar focusing on which vehicle systems are affected by alignments.

According to Ron Reiling, Executive Director of AASP-MO, “The

Hunter Engineering hosted AASP-MO’s meeting on how alignments impact a variety of vehicle systems

event exceeded our expectations, and we had a great turnout with nearly 100 automotive service and repair professionals. AASP-Missouri meetings such as this help keep our members and their employees up to date with technology and changes in one of the fastest-changing industries in the world.”

The meeting began at 6 p.m. with a meet-and-greet and dinner,

followed by the training seminar beginning at 6:30 p.m. Training was followed by a tour of the facility and social time.

Reiling shared, “Hunter did an outstanding job with Larry Watson and Bret Spiller speaking about how alignment is directly connected with the vehicle safety systems on today's vehicles. They also gave us some insight into what’s coming down the road in the future. Hunter provided a great BBQ dinner. Thank you, Hunter Engineering, for the great event. The attendees enjoyed the presentation and were invited back for another technical class at Hunter.”

AASP-MO members have also been invited to attend Lunch and Learn events hosted by newest associate member Original One Parts.

These events will be held from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. with tours every 20 minutes on the following dates: Feb. 20, March 7, April 4, May 16, June 6, July 25, August 29, Sept. 12, Oct. 17, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12. Original One Parts will also be hosting an AASPMO meeting on April 11 at its facility.

For more information on AASPMO, visit www.aasp-mo.org.

Reichard Dealership Shops: CARSTAR Collision and Brookville Location Open in OH

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts announced the opening of two new dealership-based locations in Ohio.

CARSTAR Reichard Collision opened at Reichard Buick GMC, located at 4440 Salem Ave., Dayton,

OH, 45416. It is owned by Eugene and Jeffrey Reichard. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

CARSTAR Reichard Collision Brookville opened at Boose Chevrolet, located at 575 Arlington Rd., Brookville, OH. It is owned by Jeffrey Reichard.

Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Both CARSTAR Reichard Collision locations and their I-CAR Gold-certified technicians provide comprehensive services, from full

auto collision repair to small dent and ding fixes, storm damage repair, paintless dent repair and vehicle painting. They service all makes and models, including imports.

They also service fleet vehicles.

The CARSTAR Reichard Collision facilities offer towing, customer pickup, delivery and rental vehicles through Enterprise, and work with all insurance companies.

“We’re proud to welcome Eugene and Jeffrey Reichard to the CARSTAR family,” said Michael Macaluso, president, CARSTAR North America. “This reflects the growing trend of auto dealerships partnering with organizations like CARSTAR to help drive their body shop operations and profitability.

We look forward to serving the drivers of Dayton and Brookville at these two locations.”

For more information on CARSTAR, visit www.carstar.com.

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26 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

WIN’s Annual Education Conference in Indianapolis The Women’s Industry Network (WIN®) has released additional details on its next Educational Conference being held May 7–9 in Indianapolis, IN. “Racing to Connect” has been revealed as the theme for the two-anda-half-day event that brings education,

connection and celebration to collision industry professionals each year.

As previously announced at the 2017 Conference, WIN’s home base for the event will be the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis. The hotel offers an abundance of meeting space to host the organization’s growing membership and is ideally located among Indianapolis’ many attractions.

“No one thinks of Indianapolis without the Indy 500,” stated Wendy Rogers, Co-Chair for the 2018 event.

“It is one of the most famous races in

the world and connects fans across our country and the globe. WIN is thrilled to hold the 2018 Conference in a city with racing power and a drive to win. We hope you will join us in Indianapolis as we continue our race to connect individuals across the industry.”

In addition to educational sessions focused on both industry issues and professional development, the Conference will honor both the Most Influential Women and scholarship award winners at a celebratory gala dinner. The popular Scholarship Walk fundraiser is also guaranteed to be part of the 2018 agenda.

Additional programming details will be published by the organization as they become available.

For more information about the Conference, MIW nominations and scholarship applications, please visit www .womensindustrynetwork.com.

www.autobodynews.com

We’re Looking for a Few Old Shops!

Do you think you have the oldest, continuously-operated body shop in your area? Would you like to see your shop’s colorful history in print? If so, we want to hear from you.

A Autobody News and collision industry journalist Gary Ledoux are working on a joint project to find, and highlight the oldest continuously operated body shops in America. Some shops may have sstarted out in the early 1900’s as a blacksmith or carriage shop.

Some may have started as a mechanical repair service at a parking garage in New York or San Francisco during the 1920’s, and then turned to body work. In the latter part of the 1940’s, many ex-servicemen started body shops with skills they learned working on GI trucks and equipment.

There are so many unique and interesting stories out there that should be recorded and preserved for posterity.

Each qualifying shop submitted will be highlighted in Ledoux’ forthcoming book; YesterWreck: The History of Collision Repair in America. The estimated publishing date is the first quarter of 2019.

No book of this sort has ever been published for the collision industry. This is a unique opportunity to be part of something special. Ledoux will provide a signed, first-edition copy of the book, upon its publishing, to any shop whose photos are used in the book.

In addition, Ledoux will contact one shop from each of the five regions served by Autobody News for a complete interview and a feature story to be run in that region’s edition of the magazine.

What To Send If you think you have the oldest continuously-operated body shop in your state please send us: • Shop’s Name • Address / City State and Zip • Phone number • Email address • Current owner’s name • A brief history of the shop, most importantly what year the shop was founded.

Include the month if you know it. • Two to three photos of the shop, especially from its earliest days with any recognizable persons identified. These could be a picture of the front of the building, a group shot of everyone that worked in the shop at the time, people working on cars in the shop, etc. All photos should be scanned as a JPG with a minimum of 300 DPI. (Please do not take a telephone picture of a photo. The quality of such a photo cannot be satisfactorily reproduced.) All people in the photos should be identified if possible.

Please send all information via email to yesterwreck@yahoo.com.

For any questions, please contact Gary Ledoux @ yesterwreck@yahoo.com

www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS 27

Historical Snapshot

—John Yoswick is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon, has been writing about the automotive industry since 1988. He is the editor of the weekly CRASH Network (for a free 4-week trial subscription, visit www.CrashNetwork.com).

Contact him by email at jyoswick@SpiritOne.com.

Industry Foundation Helped Storm Victims 5 Years Ago, Continues Today with John Yoswick

20 Years Ago in the Collision Repair Industry (February 1998) A new Collision Industry Conference (CIC) committee has been established to consider alternatives to the current method of calculating refinish materials.

The committee, which will include representatives of all segments of the industry, was proposed by California shop owner Al Estorga. Estorga said that late last year he attended a two-day meeting on the issue organized by Motor Information Systems.

“At the end of the (meeting), it was evident to everyone in the room that we needed to try to find an industry solution,” Estorga said.

In 1998, California shop owner Al Estorga proposed that the industry develop an alterative to the existing method of calculating refinish materials, and was involved at CIC in developing some industry best practices for estimating

Motor’s Phil Cunningham said his company hopes to avoid the confusion that could result from the development of multiple refinish materials calculation methodologies.

“You’d have Mitchell’s solution and Motor’s, and I’m sure that ADP will jump into the fray and they will develop their own,” Cunningham said.

“So then you’d have three solutions out there and a lot of confusion. What we thought would be prudent is if before we take off down the road to develop our own solution, we should have a dialogue that says, ‘Can we have an industry solution that everyone can work with and avoid the confusion?’”

The committee will have to address several concerns raised by CIC participants before moving further. First, any antitrust or other legal issues involved in such an undertaking will have to be reviewed. Second, CIC participants questioned whether the methodology can change without changing the bottom line dollar figure, something that is

likely to be opposed by either shops or insurers.

“But if we don’t do it, we’re going to end up with three systems,” CIC Chairman Erick Bickett said.

– As reported in The Golden Eagle. A wide variety of alternative methods of calculating refinish materials have been proposed over the years, but no single one has gained widespread usage. Only about 1-in-5 shops, for example, report using an alternative materials calculator / invoicing system.

15 Years Ago in the Collision Repair Industry (February 2003) Collision repair shops are being asked to review their sales records for all non-OEM hoods manufactured by Jui Li for the 1995–2000 Toyota Tacoma and purchased between August 1997 and last March, and to notify those vehicle owners that the hood, which was CAPA-certified, is being recalled.

About 5,000 of the hoods could be involved in the voluntary recall, which is the first formal recall of a non-OEM crash part. It was found that if the primary hood latch is not engaged, the secondary latch on the part may not be positioned properly to prevent the hood from flying up.

The look into the part was launched last spring after it was reported that the secondary safety latch on one such hood failed during a shop test drive of a vehicle. Investigation by CAPA and the distributor found the distance between the striker and the secondary hood latch was off by about one-tenth of an inch, enough to keep the latch from catching sufficiently to hold.

– As reported in Northwest Automotive Journal. Both CAPA and parts certifier NSF have developed partstracking mechanisms for the nonOEM parts they certify to assist in any recall of such parts.

10 Years Ago in the Collision Repair Industry (February 2008) A U.S. House subcommittee held a hearing last week on whether patent law changes are needed to protect certain industries. A coalition of insurers and non-OEM parts makers and sellers is calling for a change to allow use of a matching exterior part to repair a vehi-

28 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

cle without infringing on patents the automakers hold on particular OEM parts.

Speaking at the hearing on behalf of several consumer groups, Jack Gillis told lawmakers the change is

In 2008, non-OEM parts proponent Jack Gillis testified at a Congressional hearing on legislation that would have reduced automakers’ ability to use design patents to restrict competition from non-OEM versions of crash parts

needed to maintain competition in the face of increasing patent filings by automakers, which, if allowed to stand, will drive up parts prices and the number of vehicles declared totals.

“Ford charges the same price for a fender as Dell charges for a high speed computer, flat screen monitor and color printer,” Gillis told lawmakers.

“A simple grill for your Toyota costs the same as a combination flat screen TV and DVD player. A Sears refrigerator-freezer with an icemaker is the same price as an unpainted door skin from Chrysler.”

– As reported in CRASH Network (www.CrashNetwork.com), February 18, 2008. The non-OEM parts industry has continued to fight for federal legislation that would slash design patent protection automakers’ hold on crash parts; the legislation was most recently the subject of a Congressional hearing in early 2016. Contrary to concerns raised by Gillis, however, the percentage of vehicles declared a total loss has remained fairly steady—between 14 percent and 17 percent throughout the last decade.

See Industry Foundation, Page 46

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www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS 29

Arrest Made in Extreme Auto Burglary, One Pending in York, NE York County Attorney Christopher Johnson announced that a susA man has been arrested in connec- pect, Jonathan Sierra, “has been tion with the burglary at Extreme Au- arrested in connection with the burtomotive in York, NE, that occurred glary at Extreme Automotive, which in October. An arrest warrant has occurred on Oct. 15, 2017. been issued on another person re“In addition, an arrest warrant has lated to that crime. been issued on a second suspect, Johnathan L. Mally, related to the burglary at Extreme Automotive—that subject is currently being held in the jail in Platte County on unrelated charges, and upon the conclusion of those charges, that subject will face charges in York County.

“Cases have been filed against both individuals, with numerous felony counts Burglars ransacked Extreme Automotive in York, NE. alleged against each suspect.

Police are looking for a mid-2000s Dodge extended The charges reflect not only pickup and box trailer that was driven there by the the burglary at Extreme Auburglars, as seen on surveillance video tomotive, but the theft of Extreme Automotive was bur- items utilized in the burglary, including glarized that October night, during a pickup truck and an enclosed trailer which more than $200,000 worth of belonging to other members in the comtools and equipment was stolen. munity,” Johnson said.

Also that night, a trailer was “These arrests are the product stolen from the Pizza Hut parking lot of months of investigation by nuas well as a pickup from Extreme merous law enforcement agencies, Automotive, both of which were led by our own York Police Departused in the burglary. ment. The citizens of York, myself

by Staff, York News-Times

included, are lucky to have such a dedicated police force that continues to not only pursue those who commit crimes, but to apprehend the perpetrators of crime within our community.”

At this time, it is unclear the level of felonies both face as this case remains under investigation and the county attorney’s office is considering all facts brought to the office by the investigators.

The county attorney’s office did not specify where the men reside.

York News-Times Editor’s note: More regarding this story will be published as the details become available.

The county attorney’s office did not specify where the men reside. He also did not indicate their dates of birth or their criminal records, although prison documents indicate that men with the same name in Nebraska have been incarcerated for a number of crimes, including burglary, sexual assault, possession of methamphetamine, theft and criminal mischief. However, without the specific dates of birth, it is not possible at this time to pinpoint if these are the same people.

We thank York News-Times for reprint permission.

Auto Care Association Accepting Scholarship Applications

The Young Auto Care Network Group (YANG) and the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), both communities of the Auto Care Association, are now offering young industry professionals a chance to experience first-hand how the Auto Care Association and various aspects of the auto care industry work through participation in the Next Step program.

The Next Step program offers future leaders in the industry the opportunity to become involved in the industry and trade association by awarding scholarships to attend the Auto Care Association’s Spring Leadership Days, May 9–11, 2018 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, GA.

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Continued from Page 4

ADAS

equipped a vehicle with level 2 autonomous features,” said Kaboos.

“This car will go from a complete stop and then accelerate and follow the car in front of it at a safe distance and keep you in the lane without any input from the driver.”

Honda is targeting 2025 for the introduction of vehicles with level 4 automation, which Kaboos said is nearly autonomous but includes a steering wheel and can be operated manually.

Kaboos discussed four ADAS systems and when it is necessary to calibrate them:

Collision Mitigating Braking System The Collision Mitigating Braking System (CMBS) on the 2018 Accord uses radar, a camera, control modules and an electric brake booster. “As you approach a vehicle in front of you, CMBS turns a dash light on and says, ‘Brake.”

Shortly after that, it will send a buzzer.

As a driver moves closer to the vehicle, it will start putting breaking force on. “It helps keeps you from rear-ending the car in front of you and uses

what is called ‘millimeter wave radar,” said Kaboos.

When to calibrate: If the radar is removed, installed or replaced If the ACC warning light is illuminated After collision damage to front end After structural damage anywhere on the vehicle After SRS deployment

Other considerations: Do not repair bumper cover near radar May require “special” grill or emblem Wheel alignment should be checked/adjusted prior to calibration Aiming should be performed after wheel alignment if needed Requires check of mounting position before aiming after a collision, especially with front end Kaboos said one of the big concerns is how much space is required to aim the millimeter wave radar. “Targets have to be set up at a predetermined distance from the vehicle and the area has to be clean, clear and flat,” he explained. It is necessary to have a level ground area with 33 feet in front of the car and 16 feet on either side.

Kaboos asked Guild 21 attendees

how many have a large enough space available to complete a millimeter wave radar. About 68 percent answered they do not have sufficient space requirements and the remainder said they do.

Adaptive Cruise Control Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) uses many of the same systems as the millimeter wave radar, the multi-purpose camera and other modules. “With ACC, drivers can set cruise control and follow the car in front of you,” explained Kaboos.

When to calibrate: If camera unit is removed/installed or replaced If windshield is removed/installed or replaced If LKAS or ACC lamps indicate a potential problem If DTCs indicate a problem with system If vehicle is involved in a collision If SRS is deployed

Other considerations: Only use OEM glass for replacement in vehicles equipped with multi-purpose cameras

Should be performed after wheel alignment if needed

Blind Spot Information The Blind Spot Information (BSI) system uses a pair of radars on either side of the quarter panel mounted behind the bumper cover of the vehicle. It turns a light on in the mirror when someone is in the driver’s blind spot. Kaboos said the informative system is meant to detect vehicles that move at a speed relatively close to the driver’s speed and cannot detect things on the side of the road such as signs and trees.

When to calibrate: After removing/installing or replacing a BSI radar unit After repairing or replacing body panels where BSI radar unit mounts If BSI warning light is illuminated

Other considerations: Requires wheel alignment check/adjustment prior to calibration Do not repair bumper cover near BSI radar units The BSI camera aiming requires about 13 feet to the side of each corner of the rear bumper; therefore, Kaboos See ADAS, Page 52

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www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS 31

H ONDA ILLI NO I S

Honda Superstore of Lisle Ch i ca go /Su b u rb s

866-874-6632 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-5 hondaparts@auto-plaza.com

Schaumburg Honda Automobiles Sch a u m b urg

847-884-8898 847-884-6632 Dept. Hours: M-F 6:30am-Midnight; Sat 8am-5pm k.kelley@rohrman.com IND I AN A

Basney Honda M i sh a wa k a

800-877-7477 574-255-2179 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-2

Bob Rohrman Honda La fa ye tte

800-488-3537 765-448-1000 Dept. Hours: M 7:30-8; Tue-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-3 Brho.partsmgr@rohrman.com

Bosak Honda H ig h l a nd

800-542-6725 219-922-3102 Dept. Hours: M 8-5; Tue 8-8 W, Thu, F 8-5; Sat 8-4 davepropeck@bosakmail.com

A CU RA OH I O

Columbia Acura Ci n ci nn a ti

800-654-3553 513-530-0698 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5:30; Sat 8-12 columbiaparts@mail.com IL L IN O IS

Acura of Libertyville Li b e rty vi ll e

847-680-7333 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 7:30-4 kmilz@acuralibertyville.com

Arlington Acura in Palatine Pa l a ti n e

800-991-8438 847-991-9005 Dept. Hours: M-W 7:30-7:30; Thu-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-3 aaip.partsmgr@rohrman.com

32 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Please contact these dealers for your Honda or Acura Genuine parts needs.

I NDI A NA

M INNE SO TA

MIS SOU RI

O HIO

Honda of Fishers

Luther Hopkins Honda

Frank Leta Honda

F ishe r s

Ho pkin s

S t . L ou is

Be d ford

800-806-6404 317-299-3723

800-328-6016 952-908-8585

888-680-6025 636-336-5003

800-509-9057 440-786-3363

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6 honda-west@att.com

Dept. Hours: M-Thu 7-9; F 7-6; Sat 8-4 tim.lewis@hopkinshonda.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7-5 hondaparts@frankleta.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-4 jayhondaparts@gmail.com

Honda of Tiffany Springs

Great Lakes Honda

Victory Honda

Richfield-Bloomington Honda

Pl ymo uth

MI C HIG A N

800-824-4646 734-453-3600 Dept. Hours: M 7:30-8; Tue-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-4 Karl_messer@victoryplymouth.com

Zeigler Honda Ka la ma zo o

888-342-1678 269-585-5812 Dept. Hours: M-Thu 7-8; F 7-6; Sat 8-4 bobsmith@zagteam.com MI N NES O TA

Brookdale Honda B roo k lyn Ce nter

800-899-8900 763-331-6880 Dept. Hours: M-Th 7-9; F 7-6; Sat 8-6 parts@lutherbrookdalehonda.com

Buerkle Honda St. Pa u l

800-592-9514 651-484-0975 Dept. Hours: M-Thu 8-9; F 8-6; Sat 8-4:30 hondaparts@buerkle.com

IL L INO IS

K a ns a s C it y

Ak ro n

R ichf ie ld

816-452-3221

800-328-2703 612-866-8197

Dept. Hours: M-Fri 7-6; Sat 7-4 parts@hondaoftiffanysprings.com

330-633-8197 330-633-6060

Dept. Hours: M-Thu 6:30-9; F 6:30-6; Sat 6:30-5 parts@rbhonda.com

Roper Honda

M ISS OUR I

Bommarito Honda Ha ze lwoo d

800-731-8270 314-731-8270

Jo p li n

877-244-6632 417-625-0846 Dept. Hours: M, W, Th, F 7:30-6; Tu 7:30-7; Sat 9-1 dvice@roperauto.com N EBR AS KA

Superior Honda of Omaha

Ed Napleton Honda

O m ah a

S t . P et e rs

800-875-4190 636-928-4400 Dept. Hours: M-Sat 7-6 gethondaparts@napleton.com

Frank Fletcher Honda C ol um bia

573-818-3650 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-4 gropp@fletcherauto.com

Dept. Hours: Tue, W, F 8-6; M, Thu 8-8; Sat 8-4 grobinette@glakeshonda.com

Waikem Honda M a si l lo n

800-225-0281 330-478-4435 Dept. Hours: M 7:30-8; Tu-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-4 W IS C O NSI N

Dept. Hours: M-Sat 7-6 Lrowe@bommarito.net

IL LI NO I S

Continental Acura of Naperville

Jay Honda

888-408-0911 402-408-1100 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-5:30; Sat 8-6 ianw@hondaofomaha.com

Honda of Lincoln Li n co ln

800-742-7811 402-437-1201 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-5:30; Sat 7-12 hondaparts@hondaoflincoln.com

MIC HIGAN

Russ Darrow Honda M i lwa u ke e

888-318-1671 414-586-5401 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7-4; Sun 8-4 hondaparts@russdarrow.com

Wilde Honda Wa u ke sh a

800-526-3209 262-542-9300 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-9; Sat 8-4 wildehondaparts@gmail.com

W IS C O NSI N

Muller’s Woodfield Acura

Acura of Troy

Ho f f m an Es t at e s

Tr oy

Br oo k fi e ld

Chi ca go /Su b urb s

866-475-9280

630-960-2175

Dept. Hours: M 7-5; Tue-F 7-6 Sat 8-3 mcavallini@woodfieldacura.com

800-935-0923 248-643-0900

800-383-3936 262-439-6029

Dept. Hours: M 7:30-8; T-F 7:30-6; Sat 10-3 parts286@acuraoftroy.com parts287@acuraoftroy.com

Dept. Hours: M-Th 7:30-6; F 7:30-5; Sat 8-4:30 patrick.murphy@zimbrick.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-5:30; Sat 8-4 bobw@conacura.com

Joe Rizza Acura

M INNE SO TA

Acura of Brookfield

Buerkle Acura

O rl a ndo Par k

Mi nneap ol i s

708-460-6369 708-403-7770

800-717-3109 763-488-1122

Dept. Hours: M-W 8-5:30; Thu 8-7 F 8-4:30 Sat 8-2 acuraparts@rizzacars.com

Dept. Hours: M, F 7-5:30; Tue-Thu 7-7; Sat 7:30-4 acuraparts@buerkle.com

McGrath Acura of Morton Grove

Luther Bloomington Acura

Mo rto n Grove

847-470-2309

800-451-5078 952-887-0600

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-9; Sat 8-6 acparts@mcgrathag.com

Dept. Hours: M 6:30-6; Tue-F 6:30-9; Sat 8-4 parts@bloomingtonacura.com

B lo om ing t on

www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS 33

Product Innovation The Legend of Lavell Chisum, Creator of the Chief EZ Liner with Ed Attanasio

If there were a Hall of Fame for the inventors of collision repair equipment, there would be a whole wing named after Lavell Chisum, 92, the creator of the Chief EZ Liner.

With rudimentary tools and a lot of common sense coupled with a burning passion to create things, Chisum’s frame machine is being used in body shops all over the planet. 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of Lavell taking the legendary original EZ Liner frame machine to market.

The story all began when Chisum’s scholastic career ended at fifth grade because of his father’s travels throughout Texas to fix cars in the 1940s, which wasn’t ideal for his school schedule, he recalled.

“I must have changed schools 13 times, which sure didn’t help anything.

My dad was going around to small towns and fixing their wrecks,” Chisum said. “But there weren’t many cars in each little town, so he’d have to drive to the next one and fix their wrecks.”

Chisum’s journey took him through a handful of states as a youth, including Alabama, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado and even Alaska, among others. At age 18, he was working for body shops during the week while competing in rodeos on the weekends, he said.

age, Alaska in the 1960s, Chisum began to see a definite need for straightening frames precisely and quickly, so he started looking around for a viable solution.

“I had it all in my head for several years before I invented it,” he said.

“One day, I thought if this thing works, boy, it would help me. I was not doing the kind of quality work that I wanted to, so I started coming in on weekends and designing the machine.”

At first, Chisum drew lines on the floor of his shop to lay out the machine and then began experimenting with different set-ups and configurations.

Then he ordered some metal and a hydraulic pump and began using it in the shop. Rather quickly, Glacier Lincoln Mercury in Anchorage brought him pickups to straighten and soon, they wanted one of his machines for themselves.

“The people at the dealership hired me to operate the machine at their shop, and that was a great place to test it and develop it even more,” he said.

“I did that there for a full year, and then started looking around for a facility where I could mass produce them. I made the first few in my front yard and my neighbors weren’t real happy about that, so I began looking for somewhere else to build them.”

To show the world his new invention, Chisum decided to crash the party at an automotive equipment show in Los Angeles in 1968.

“There were six or seven frame machine companies there, so I talked to all of them, including Bear, Marquette, Whitney and Guy Chart,” Chisum said. “NoChisum manufactured the EZ Liner for many years before body got excited about it, exselling the patent to Chief Automotive in 1972 cept for one guy from “I would go to shops to get work Minneapolis who understood what I and they would tell me that I wasn’t old was doing. They had a machine that enough,” he said. “Age doesn’t have was too big and it required a pit in the anything to do with it, I told them, and ground. He took me up to his suite at pretty quick they could see I knew what the trade show and showed me what I was doing. For nine years, I was a bull they were doing with the Marquette rider on the rodeo circuit and I got machine, and I thought, ‘Mine is betgood. After working with all of those ter!’ So, I began working with a combody shop owners, those bulls never pany that started making the machines scared me at all.” for me.”

While running a shop in AnchorSo, after selling everything that

34 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.

he owned in Alaska and relocating to Minneapolis, Chisum hit the road to see if shops were actually using the EZ Liner. When he discovered that shops didn’t even know about the machine, he realized that the company in

Lavelle Chisum invented the Chief EZ Liner in 1968, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year

• Large Inventory • Wide Delivery Area • Free Local Delivery

Oklahoma building his machines wasn’t out there selling them. So, he went to a series of banks trying to get enough money to make them himself, and finally got lucky at the First National Bank in Claymore, OK, which gave him $5,000.

Once he got his funding in place and took responsibility for the manufacturing, Chisum’s EZ Liner took off, and today is one of the most popular frame repair systems ever made.

Chisum was honored as the Inventor of the Year in 1982 by the Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association, in addition to winning other awards for his invention. Today, it is used in body shops in all 50 states and throughout the world.

In 1972, he sold the EZ Liner’s patent to Chief Automotive, and two years later the company wanted to return it back to Chisum, he said.

See Lavell Chisum, Page 51

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Continued from Cover

MI Mobility

that Michigan has a strong foundation ready to build up the next generation of advancements in transportation.

We’ve made great progress so far, and we’re not taking our foot off the gas anytime soon.

I had the opportunity to attend the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to tout Michigan as the world leader in mobility and the best place where business, research and entrepreneurship can thrive. Michigan is a model state for future mobility investment and strategic partnerships, and our collaborative efforts and groundbreaking legislation are driving the next generation of advancements in autonomous and connected vehicle technology.

The North American International Auto Show kicked off in Detroit last month. Audiences from around the world will saw what’s in store for the future of the automotive—or perhaps we should say “automobility”— industry. I’m proud that Detroit is showing the world that the future of advancements in automotive technol-

ogy and mobility is here and now in Michigan.

One of the big challenges we face in our state is having a strong, sustainable pipeline of talent for the highly skilled jobs of today and tomorrow. As we continue promoting Michigan as the global destination for automotive business investments and partnerships, it’s critical that we have skilled, talented workers trained and ready for the good careers these companies will create.

This year the auto show included the Future Automotive Career Exposition in its AutoMobili-D exhibit.

This expo gave guests a glimpse of the vast career options and opportunities available in the automotive and mobility sectors. Attendees had the chance to connect with experts and learn about the skills needed as the automotive and mobility fields continue to converge.

Michigan’s economic comeback is undeniable. The last time our unemployment rate was at its current rate was in the year 2000. We’ve created more than 530,000 private-sector jobs statewide since 2010. So, the problems of Michigan’s Lost Decade are no longer the challenges of our fu-

Luther Bloomington Acura Our parts. Your peace of mind.

ture. The automotive industry— which represents an important part of Michigan’s past, present and future— can propel Michigan on to even greater economic prosperity.

The resurgence of the city of Detroit is something all Michiganians should be proud of. The Motor City holds so much of Michigan’s rich automotive history, and I believe it’s once again poised at the forefront of innovation in transportation.

Our state’s future has never been brighter, and we’re working hard to maximize Michigan’s momentum to ensure ongoing success and prosperity. I’m proud Detroit continues to carry on Michigan’s automotive legacy, and I’m confident that we will continue to be a global leader in the next generation of mobility and autonomous vehicle technology.

We thank The Detroit News for reprint permission.

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Autobody News

ASA Supports U.S. Congressman Carter’s Vehicle Data Access Bill U.S. Congressman Earl “Buddy” Carter, R-GA, is developing an automotive data access bill that will create a stakeholder committee at the U.S. Department of Transportation, allowing policymakers to hear from all sides of the automated vehicle discussion and ensure the independent repairer has a seat at the table.

Both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will be involved with the committee.

If enacted, Carter’s bill would establish a congressional advisory committee composed of representatives of the automotive aftermarket and other affected stakeholders. The committee is tasked with producing a comprehensive report on vehicle data, intellectual property protections, customer privacy, cybersecurity, vehicle safety, etc., within two years’ time. This bill would provide much-needed insight to Congress, as well as federal regulators. ASA supports this bill – all interested parties visit www.TakingTheHill.com and send a letter in support of Carter’s bill to their member of Congress.

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©201 ©201 FCA US LLC. Allll Rights Reserved. Chrysler, Chryslerr,, Dodge, Dodge Jeep, Ram, Mopar and SRT are registered trademarks of of FCA FCA US US LLC. LLC. www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS 37

OE Shop Certification

OE Certification Programs — Ford with Gary Ledoux

For this month’s OE certification profile, we spoke with Ford’s Lisa Fournier, Collision Product Manager, and Dean Bruce, Collision Marketing Manager.

ABN: Does your program have a specific name? When was it started?

Ford: Our program started in 2014 as, more or less, an internal program for Ford and Lincoln dealers only. We wanted our dealers with body shops to be “aluminum-capable” with the proper tools, equipment, a separate area for aluminum repair and so forth. This was all handled internally with our national staff and our own field personnel. Eventually, we knew we had to expand it, so in 2015 it became the Ford National Body Shop Network.

This gave us a more public presence.

ABN: What is the main purpose of the program?

Ford: The main purpose is to assist consumers with the ability to identify a Certified Repair Provider that possesses the proper tools, equipment, facilities and trained staff required to repair automobiles to manufacturers’ specifications ensuring the fit, finish, durability, value and safety of the vehicle.

ABN: What are the program requirements?

Ford: There is a comprehensive list of requirements. For space and brevity, we will highlight some of the most important [ones]. First, the shop must meet certain business requirements, like being in business for at least five years or having a valid credit rating.

They must also have Garage Keepers Insurance, have an electronic p-pages estimating system and offer customers a limited lifetime warranty on their work. The shop must be customer-centric, use a third-party CSI system and utilize a rental car provider. The shop must be I-CAR Gold Class or equivalent, have a frame rack, spray booth and the ability to access OE repair procedures and document the same. The shop must have a couple of specific welders and must be able to document

Gary Ledoux is an industry veteran with 48 years’ experience in the automotive and OEM collision parts industry. His column appears exclusively in Autobody News.

He can be reached at YesterWreck@yahoo.com

that someone is trained on their use.

There is an additional list of requirements for those shops that wish to be approved for aluminum repair.

ABN: What are the program benefits?

Ford: Ford’s national network of certified dealer-owned and independent body shops helps ensure that consumers have a certified choice should they need to get their Ford vehicle re-

paired. The consumer still has a choice, but now they have a complete national blanket of certified body shops to choose from. This coverage creates the basis for a Consumer Referral Program (CRP). With national coverage, Ford can promote collision care providers based upon quality, safety and proper repairs. This is especially critical with the introduction of the F150 and Super Duties; built with an innovative, highstrength, military-grade, aluminumalloy body.

Shops with the right tools, equipment, training and modified facilities can distinguish themselves from those that do not have what it takes. Some of the benefits for Ford-certified dealerowned and independent body shops are: • Leverage Ford Brand: Official Ford-Certified signage • Official Ford Certification badges to promote and market the shop through use in marketing, advertising, social media, online and recruiting.

• Collision Care Marketing Tools: Access to a suite of Collision Care marketing materials to differentiate Certified Collision Repair Business from local competition, including press releases and Official Ford Certification signage.

• Online Shop Locators & Appointment Requests: Benefit from being listed on multiple locators, including: Ford’s Consumer & Owner-Certified Shop Locators, Assured Performance’s Consumer & Insurance-Certified Shop Locators, Ford’s & Assured Perfor-

38 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

mance’s Consumer Collision Care Smartphone Apps.

• Ford Owner Marketing: Your Certified Collision Repair Business will be marketed as a preferred repair provider

by Ford Motor Company to its consumers. This includes: Digital Display, Online Videos, 1:1 Owner Communications.

• Ford Vehicle Owner Referrals: On-Demand Marketing, new vehicle owner referrals, insurer referrals, etc.

• Ford Collision Consumer Education: Ford’s consumer education marketing highlights the importance of using OEM parts and a Ford-Certified Collision Repair location.

• Business Improvement: Process and feedback to ensure your shop continues to have what it takes to properly repair the new generation of Ford and Lincoln vehicles.

Ford: Any Ford dealer-owned or independent body shop that meets the general certification requirements and the Ford aluminum-specific requirements are eligible.

ABN: Are any shops specifically ineligible?

Ford: Dealer body shops that are nonFord branded that are on non-Ford dealer sites are not eligible to be in the Ford National Body Shop Network.

Any shop that does not meet the general certification requirements or the additional Ford aluminum requirements will not be eligible for the Ford National Body Shop Network.

ABN: Must an independent shop be sponsored by a dealer? (If so, has that caused any problems?)

Ford: Yes, all body shops that want to

ABN: What shops are eligible?

See Ford OE Certification, Page 44

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The Sad Pathway to Airbag Injury

by Gordon Gibb, LawyersandSettlements

As Takata Corp. and its creditors continue to grapple with bankruptcy proceedings in tandem with a continuation of the supply chain for badly needed replacement airbag inflators, it’s instructive to look back from whence we came with regard to airbag injuries, lawsuits and recalls.

A lot has happened in three years.

In November 2014, Bloomberg News (11/14/17) undertook an exhaustive investigation of defective airbags associated with the Takata airbag recall. At the time, about 11 million vehicles had been recalled in the US over exploding Takata airbags and the sometimes catastrophic injuries that occurred in association with airbag failure. Globally, the recall count was 17 million in November 2014.

Just over three years later, that number has jumped to nearly 70 million. Hundreds have been injured. As for loss of life, there had been a handful of deaths reported globally in 2014.

That number has jumped to 16 as of today. When compared to the massive

recall of vehicles that carry the potential for danger, 16 appears to be a statistically low number. However, safety advocates correctly say that even one death is one death too many—especially in view of the events that led to how we got here.

In the last year or two, in the face of increasing incidents and press reports associated with the alleged (at the time) Takata wrongdoing, public awareness over the defective airbag issues has intensified in kind. However, in 2014 Bloomberg reported that Takata and some of its automotive clients were doing everything in their power to keep things under the radar.

Bloomberg found that five out of 12 lawsuits reviewed by the news agency were settled out of court.

“It’s very murky,” said Ralph Nader, who has been advocating for auto safety since the mid-1960s. “There’s a lot there that escapes NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), escapes Congress, escapes the media, escapes the consumer groups. The best information is usually coming out of product-liability suits, but they’re settling out. There haven’t been any public trials

yet.”

That was in 2014. Today, the lawsuits are mounting, Takata is a disgraced corporation and both vehicle owners and their manufacturers continue to scramble over replacing defective airbags in millions of vehicles before there are any additional injuries or deaths. As Takata goes through the various motions and machinations of bankruptcy, the focus is also on maintaining the capacity to manufacture replacement airbag inflators for those millions of recalled vehicles.

It’s a ticking time bomb for anyone who drives or rides in a recalled vehicle. Back in 2014, when the issue broke wide open, The New York Times (11/19/14) detailed the circumstances that saw Takata favor the much less-expensive, but more volatile ammonium nitrate.

“It shouldn’t be used in airbags,” said Paul Worsey, an expert in explosives engineering at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, in comments to The New York Times in 2014. The compound, he said, is more suitable for large demolitions in mining and construction.

“But it’s cheap, unbelievably cheap,” he added.

The New York Times articulated the concerns of two former Takata engineers, who told the newspaper in 2014 that they, together with some other employees of Takata, had reservations about the use of ammonium nitrate.

“It’s a basic design flaw that predisposes this propellant to break apart, and therefore risk catastrophic failure,” said Mark Lillie, a former senior engineer with Takata at its propellant plant in Moses Lake, Washington.

“It was a question that came up: Ammonium nitrate propellant, won’t that blow up?” said Michael Britton, a chemical engineer who worked with Lillie at the Moses Lake plant. “The answer was: not if it stays in the right phase.”

That reference to “the right phase” is telling, which we’ll get to in a moment. But first, as the Takata airbag injury issue continues to heat up, it’s instructive to drill down to the point at which Takata began to venture down the wrong path.

Back in the day, airbag manufacSee Airbag Injury Path, Page 50

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Management Success Teaches Shops to Attract Business Using Social Media

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On Wednesday, Dec. 7, Management Success hosted a webinar titled “How to Use Social Media to Drive Traffic to Your Shop,” presented by Jim Saeli, Senior Consultant and Trainer, and Andre Darville, Senior Consultant specializing in social media and digital marketing.

Saeli began by observing that the internet is so integrated in our daily lives that we can’t ignore it. Darville then pointed out that it has been made portable, so information can travel around with people everywhere they go.

“With businesses, it’s about utilizing that information and maximizing your space to cast the widest possible net so people can find you.

There’s much more opportunity these days,” Darville said.

Social media and a strong online presence can help shops with car count, customer retention, public relations, becoming a DRP and finding employees. According to Darville, the two biggest reasons social media is ignored are a lack of knowledge and a lack of

time. The most popular social media sites are Facebook, Yelp, Google+ and Twitter. The Management Success team explored each site’s benefits for webinar attendees.

Facebook boasts 214 million U.S. users, with the average adult spending more than 55 minutes per day on its website. Facebook allows shops to stay in contact with their customers, engaging them and “reminding them that you’re there for them. The more you work it, the more it works for you,” Darville said.

“Getting your page claimed, properly set up and maintained is the solution,” Darville recounted. “Post something every single day. It only takes two to three minutes and can be related to anything. You can see what people like based on their feedback.”

Some people love Yelp, while others hate it, but it has 84 million desktop visitors and 104 million mobile visitors, 80 percent of whom intend to make a purchase, and 98 percent of whom make purchases from Yelp businesses.

However, “most businesses aren’t getting their fair share of this traffic,”

Darville noted.

While there are 27.9 million small businesses in the U.S., Yelp only has 12 million small business listings, and only 2.1 million small business listings have been claimed, meaning nearly 10 million listings may not have accurate information. According to Darville, iPhone maps and Siri pull Yelp reviews so “it’s important to claim your page and ensure the information is correct, because customers are agitated when the information provided is wrong.

Yelp also allows businesses to verify the services they offer, which is more effective.”

Google+ has 300 million worldwide users and is ever-evolving, along with Google My Business.

“Google+ is in the shadow of Yelp, but Google Maps and Android users use Google listings,” Darville said, and he also pointed out, “People use Google to search for things constantly, so claim your page to ensure they find your business. Google also takes related ratings into account and shares ratings from other sites, so it’s important to review and confirm your listing.”

Social media is the modern version of word-of-mouth, so it is imperative that businesses check their reviews regularly and calm angry customers who want to be heard in order to control the outside view of the shop. Darville advised against soliciting reviews since that can lead to being banned from the site.

Saeli said, “The key thing is to deliver great customer service. Then, inform customers that you have social media and value their opinions, but don’t ask for a review if they had a bad experience until you fix it.”

Darville added, “Don’t stress about negative reviews. Don’t respond publicly as the first course of action. Calm down and then figure out the best response. Sometimes, it works to apologize and offer to help, so attempt to resolve the situation directly with the customer in private. Sometimes, you can resolve the issue, and the customer will change their negative review to a positive review.

“If that fails, respond publicly with an apology for the misunderstanding.

Remember that the world is watching, See Management Success, Page 50

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Industry Training

Stacey Phillips is a freelance writer and editor for the automotive industry.

She has 20 years of experience writing for a variety of publications, and is co-author of “The Secrets of America’s Greatest Body Shops.”

She can be reached at sphillips.autobodynews@gmail.com.

How an AMi-Accredited Designation Can Help Industry Professionals With Essential Skills with Stacey Phillips

When talking about industry training, most collision repairers typically assume such training is technically oriented.

However, a survey conducted late last year by the Automotive Management Institute (AMi) found that more than 30 percent of the essential skills a technician should have includes listening, communication and interpersonal skills. The remaining 70 percent was shown to be technical knowledge and know-how.

AMi President Jeff Peevy said AMi has found that most technicians tend to stay at the same shop longer if they don’t struggle with listening, communication and interpersonal skills.

“If they lack developed skills in these areas, they tend to leave a shop in order to try to improve their environment because they don’t have the skills to talk or negotiate,” Peevy said.

To address this widespread issue, AMi offers industry professionals the opportunity to receive certificates and designations in management, leadership and customer service.

“We are working to become the overarching nonprofit that helps organize non-technical training for the industry,” said Peevy.

Currently, there are approximately 2,200 AMi-designated professionals and 2,000 pursuing a certificate or designation.

Whether an individual is looking to gain knowledge about customer service or become an accredited automotive manager or master-level estimator, a variety of AMi-accredited live courses are offered throughout the year at tradeshows such as NACE Automechanika and SEMA, as well as through associations. In addition, online training courses are available from industry experts such as Mike Anderson, Mike Cassatta, Frank Terlep and more.

“We’re experiencing tremendous growth right now,” said Peevy. “Online alone is growing over 250 percent a year.”

AMi was established in 1989. At the time, many business owners in the collision repair industry didn’t have experience in business administration and management. Leaders from the

Automotive Services Association (ASA) were looking for a way to formalize the training available. As a result, AMi was set up to be an industry collaborator and supporter of training

said Peevy. “We now have the ability collision repair. The typical timeline to to offer training providers their own receive a designation varies from sevbranded learning portals to help them eral months to several years. When inget their training to the market. The dividuals complete their credit hours, system works as a learning portal that they may participate in a cap-andtrainers can use to advertise to gown graduation ceremony and are their clientele as well as those given a university-quality diploma. who are working toward AMi By earning a professional desigcredit.” nation, Peevy said it demonstrates that Recently, the organization an individual is a continual learner, began awarding students cares about maintaining his or her procredit for articles, videos and fession and has a way to verify it. podcasts though the Alternate “We can impact a lot of people’s Methods of Learning (AML) lives who maybe didn’t go to college After completing their credit hours, individuals may program. or have a certain level of education,” participate in an AMi cap-and-gown graduation ceremony “A lot professionals are readhe said. and are given a university-quality diploma ing, listening and watching After going through training and providers and manage industry-recog- things they are learning from,” said receiving a designation, Peevy said nized, role-based verifiable profes- Peevy. “We created a program we refer many professionals have found they sional designations. to as Alternative Methods of Learning have not only improved their skills, Peevy, a prior senior director at I- to recognize all of the different ways but have also grown their businesses.

CAR for 16 years, joined the national that professionals learn.”

“The education I received through 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organOver the last couple of years, AMi helped me transition from a techization in 2015 as president, charged AMi designations have been divided nician to [a] management [position],” with growing AMi’s offerings and relinto mechanical service repair and See AMi-Accredited, Page 52 evance to the industry.

“Hiring someone is risky,” said Peevy. “You can invest a lot in the wrong person and they can hinder or really hurt the culture in your business and its reputation.”

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Rather than create its own courses, AMi works closely with training providers to standardize their education.

“We’re a support mechanism for them to help organize their training, so it becomes meaningful and relevant education,” said Peevy.

Training providers submit their course information to AMi, which www.jakesweeneychevy.com then goes through a review process for approval. A learning management system was recently created by AMi to organize all of the courses offered.

“Building content, especially online courses, can be very expensive, “

42 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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Continued from Page 38

Ford OE Certification

enroll in the Ford National Body Shop Network must have a Ford dealer sponsor. This requirement has not caused any issues to date.

ABN: Do you have any program partners such as Axalta, VeriFacts, Summit, Assured Performance or other? If so, what role do they play?

Ford: Yes, Assured Performance is our partner and they handle all the shop audits and the logistics. Once an audit has been completed and any gaps identified, Assured Performance follows up with the shop until the gaps have been satisfied.

ABN: Besides Assured Performance, do you have your own Ford field personnel to help drive the program?

Ford: We have our own Zone Managers that primarily call on our dealers and then another set of wholesale specialist representatives who call on the large wholesaling dealers. But neither of them work specifically on the certification program.

ABN: Do you have a magazine or some sort of periodical you share with your network shops?

Ford: Yes, we send out a newsletter to all our network shops.

ABN: What is the fee for the program?

Does the program run on an annual basis?

Ford: There is a $2,950 base certification fee for independent shops with an additional $500 marketing fee specifically for Ford. There is a $1,950 base certification fee for Ford dealer-owned body shops. There is no applicable Ford marketing fee for this group of shops and yes, the program runs on an annual basis.

ABN: Do you inspect every shop and if so, who does the inspections?

Ford: Every shop is inspected once a year by Assured Performance people.

ABN: Is there an optimum number of shops you want to have and if so, how close are you to reaching that number?

Ford: Yes, we would like to have 100 percent coverage in every rural and suburban major market area and build a sustainable national network with complete demographic and geographic coverage. We plan to be at 100 percent penetration in 2018. Right now, the network is growing well organically because shops are inquiring about it on their own, or the dealers are pushing it or Assured Performance is pushing it.

With that said, we would like to see a few more dealers step up.

ABN: Have you had any shops drop out, and if so, why?

Ford: A few have dropped out since inception. Most have continued in the program because they find value in the network and have already made the investment.

ABN: What has been the biggest challenge in establishing the network?

Ford: The biggest opportunity, for our or any OE certification program, is overcoming apathy within the industry. While approximately 10–15 percent of the industry is well on its way to becoming OEM-certified (3,500 to 5,000 shops), the rest remain fixed on the past. Many shops claim they have a great reputation in their market and generate plenty of work without the cost of compliance and certification credentials. Many operate outside of the mainstream and don’t feel they’re part of the equation. A massive percentage of the market focuses on cosmetic repairs and/or low-cost, consumer-paid repairs and wrongly assume they don’t have to have the OEM-required tools, equipment and training to still be able to repair the next generation of vehicles.

In addition, many shop owners see OE certification as another form of a DRP program. They want to see a return on their investment right away.

They not only spent the money for the cost of the program, but may have spent thousands in equipment [costs]— and now they want to see truckloads of damaged Fords showing up at their door. The challenge is in getting the shops to understand that this is a longterm commitment. Over time, there will be plenty of aluminum Ford trucks to repair, and because they got in on the program now, they will be in the best position to make those repairs and will be established as the go-to shop in their

44 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

town. They are building today for a better future tomorrow. Unfortunately, not all shops can see that.

ABN: What is your biggest challenge in maintaining the network?

Ford: The aluminum F-150 launched in 2015, so for the first year or so, shops were not seeing an abundance of these aluminum trucks coming through their shops. So, it was a major challenge for the shops to see value in making an aluminum tool and equipment investment as part of the requirements to be Fordcertified (in addition to the general certification requirements). Most shops thought the Ford National Body Shop Network was valuable and wanted to enroll and be a part of the network, but they were “waiting” to get Ford-certified until they saw more F-150s coming through.

Fast-forward to today—Shops are starting to see a rise in the number of aluminum vehicles coming through shops for repairs. We are also starting to see a rise in shops enrolling in the Ford National Body Shop Program.

This only strengthens the importance of having a Ford National Body Shop Network. Shops see the value of being

aluminum-capable.

ABN: What do you see for the future of OE certification programs?

Ford: Some shops don’t see the value of Ford’s, or others’ certification programs because they may not bring immediate results. We started our programs the year the aluminum F150s came out, and of course it took a while for shops to start seeing them. Now, our Super Duty models are aluminum. Moving forward, other models in the Ford truck line will have high aluminum content.

So for us, the future will bring more models, advancing technology, new repair procedures and more reason to be part of a certified program.

The future of the OE certification programs will be stronger and, more than ever, the backbone to ensuring vehicles are properly repaired to protect the consumers. With vehicles becoming more advanced in material and technology, coupled with the introduction of telematics, the OEM is going to be playing a bigger role in the collision business.

Author’s Note: In June 2015, Waikem Auto Body in Massillon, OH,

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Product and Process with Stacey Phillips

Stacey Phillips is a freelance writer and editor for the automotive industry.

She has 20 years of experience writing for a variety of publications, and is co-author of “The Secrets of America’s Greatest Body Shops.”

She can be reached at sphillips.autobodynews@gmail.com.

Model Vehicles With Emerging Technology Will Rely on Pre- and Post-Scanning, Recalibration As new vehicles are introduced to the Many body shops across the counmarket, often equipped with complex try wonder what new technologies their technology, the collision industry is employees should be aware of and how challenged with keeping up-to-date to work them into their daily workflow. with repair procedures.

“There is a lot of buzz out there As a result, Jake Rodenroth, di- right now about emerging technolorector of industry relations for asTech, gies—not just on the electronic side, said that staying current as but on the metal and submuch as possible is crucial to strate side,” he said. “From a the success of a collision reprocess perspective, it starts pairer’s business. with identification. As re“Collision repairers are pairers, we can’t get on the facing brand new models, same page with identificasometimes on the first tank of tion until we have product gas,” he said. “I think every knowledge and stay up-toJake Rodenroth shop needs to have some path date with modern vehicles.” to resolution. We’re the first line of deRodenroth said that identification fense.” can include ADAS and frequency-reRodenroth and Doug Kelly, CEO ducing technology, which can be hidof Repairify, spoke about the imporden behind windshields, glass, mirrors tance of pre- and post-scanning and reand grills; structural identification calibration during a Guild 21 podcast maps of the different substrates on a sponsored by Verifacts Automotive in vehicle; hybrid and EV powertrains; January. Repairify is the company that and special tool requirements. created the asTech device.

Throughout the Guild 21 call, atContinued from Page 28

Industry Foundation

5 Years Ago in the Collision Repair Industry (February 2013) The Collision Industry Foundation is seeking donations to assist shops devastated last October by Superstorm Sandy. PPG’s Bill Shaw, president of the Foundation, said some shops were

In 2013, Bill Shaw was president of the Collision Industry Foundation and seeking donations to help those in the industry impacted by Superstorm Sandy

without power for up to three weeks, and some were closed for up to seven weeks. Some were inundated with up to 6 feet of water, a combination of storm surge and sewer back-up, destroying equipment and resulting in all

the vehicles on their property being declared total losses.

“So just think of the effect on your business if you took out all the work-inprogress you had and all the vehicles that were sitting in your lot, and you lost all that revenue, plus weeks of production,” Shaw said. “And because it was a natural storm, guess what? Insurance claims were denied. Two of the shops said they were denied within hours of the storm. These businesses had to take cash out of their pocket to just rebuild.”

Funds donated will be used to help these shops replace computer systems or spray guns or whatever they lost, as well as buy replacement tools for technicians, Shaw said Those seeking assistance or wishing to make a donation can visit the Foundation’s website.

“The time is now for the industry to help those in need,” Shaw said.

– As reported in CRASH Network (www.CrashNetwork.com), February 11, 2013. The Collision Industry Foundation (http://collisionindustry foundation.org/) continues to help those in need within the industry, most recently providing assistance to Texas shops impacted by Hurricane Harvey last August.

46 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

tendees were asked to give feedback. they did so by looking up build data, When asked how many of their cus- and the remainder said they use antomers know what equipment options other method. are on their vehicles, 87 percent anDuring the presentation, Kelly swered “no.” stressed the importance of obtaining “I think you will see a shift in authorization from customers to perthose responses in the coming years as form work diagnostics, road tests and more millennials enter the potentially conduct off-site workplace and start buying calibrations. cars,” said Rodenroth. “They “It’s important that conare not intimidated by techsumers understand what innology. In fact, they embrace formation is being pulled and it.” how it might be shared,” said As a result, they are Kelly. “When doing diagnosknown to buy vehicles that tics, whether it’s with a thirdDoug Kelly contain an abundance of techparty or your own diagnostic nology and spend time understanding tool, you’re not pulling crash data. how every feature operates.

You’re pulling all of the stored trouThose who participated in the call ble codes.” were also asked how their staff stays This includes the possibility of up-to-speed on current model vehi- revealing things that are wrong with cles. The majority (75 percent) said the vehicle unrelated to the accident. they did so through secondary sources Many consumers are concerned such as the Internet, OEM sites and about the information shared with dealers. Only 15 percent answered their insurance company.

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“Consumers don’t intentionally misrepresent loss, but they are not always aware of when certain systems go offline or how,” said Kelly. “It’s good housekeeping to let consumers know what you are doing, explain the process to them and get their permission.”

A sample authorization form is available on the SCRS website, www .scrs.com, and asTech website at: https://astech.com/resources. A document is also available for repairers to hand out to customers to educate them about some of the systems available on today’s vehicles. This not only reminds them how complex vehicles are, but Kelly said it reinforces why diagnostic services, such as pre- and post-scanning and recalibration are important.

“If you don’t know what’s on the car, you can misdiagnose certain issues,” he said. “Sometimes false positives indicate an issue when in fact that vehicle didn’t come equipped with that item in the first place.”

Knowing the build data, understanding the tools and services being used, and ensuring they are up-to-date will all help in the repair of the vehicle.

• Airbag deployments are unique and can depend on many factors such as the number of occupants, their seat position, weight and if they were wearing seatbelts • Specialized concerns with hybrid and EV vehicles • Repair procedures that require scanning based on an operation being performed • Scheduling off-site ADAS calibration requirements proactively

Pre-scanning: Rodenroth said that some parties don’t think pre-scanning a vehicle is necessary, and suggested that those shops consider the following: • The role that trim levels can play

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Repair planning Rodenroth recommended addressing the vehicle owner’s expectations up front so he or she understands how the vehicle is equipped and what’s required to make it whole again.

“Consider repair vs. replace decisions very carefully, as many modern vehicles are constructed of non-repairable substrates and there is often limited reparability around ADAS components,” he said.

When it comes to parts utilization and the decision to purchase OEM or aftermarket, he advised listeners to watch bumpers and windshields very carefully.

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on that glass that is not serviced and can’t be transferred,” said Rodenroth.

“If you are going to use aftermarket glass, you’ll want to confirm all things are in place.”

During the call, attendees were asked if a shop should interpret, implement and audit OEM repair procedures into ALL repair activity on a damage report. Nearly 90 percent answered yes.

“The key words are ‘all repair activity,’” said Rodenroth. “Some shops will look up structural procedures and airbag procedures, but won’t look up how to take a fender, hood or bumper cover off.”

Recently, General Motors surveyed 827 collision repair shops and found that 80 percent didn’t pull repair information on every vehicle. Those who attended the Guild 21 call were asked why. Almost 45 percent said they rely on technician experience, 20 percent said the damage was minor, 15 percent said the information was hard to find/interpret, 10 percent answered that they didn’t have the time, and 10 percent answered other.

In the field, Rodenroth said he has observed that shops don’t have time to pull the repair information for a variety of reasons—including having too much work or insurers putting pressure on them to get vehicles uploaded in a certain amount of time.

“We always have time when something is wrong, whether it’s when the customer comes back and pays for a rental, or you have to deal with them when they are upset. Let’s take the time up front and make a good repair plan and communicate efficiently, Rodenroth said.

In addition, he said information is Continued from Page 44

Ford OE Certification

reportedly received the first heavily damaged aluminum 2016 F150 truck in the country. The truck was a highline, King Ranch model—about a $70,000 truck. The truck’s owner tried to drive the truck into a car wash that was not high enough, shearing off the roof, the rear of the uniside and the inner structure. The truck had only 4,000 miles on it. The repairs came to around $17,000.

www.autobodynews.com

often hard to find and interpret.

“I think that is mission number one for OEMs—to try and make that a little easier to find and even offer day passes to the repair info that a shop can purchase,” he said.

Post-scanning and calibration When it comes to post-scans and calibration, Kelly said, “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

“What we’re going to enter into with this calibration piece will dwarf any sort of discussion you’ve had to date on a pre- and post-scan.”

Kelly used the example of a Toyota Camry, reportedly the best-selling passenger vehicle. The 2018 model comes standard with an auto breaking feature. With the vehicle’s front-facing camera, any time a windshield is replaced or work is being done on the front of the Camry, a calibration is required.

“It’s doubtful to me that many in the industry really fully understand the full scope of this,” said Kelly. “Our defense as an industry is partly that the OEs themselves haven’t really come to terms with how it is to be done.”

Kelly recommended reading through the calibration repair procedures from each of the manufacturers to understand their differences and procedures. He noted that they are all “wildly different” and the recommended procedures sound like something from the Stone Age with plumb lines, string and measuring tapes.

“Add to that the space requirements, and you set yourself up for a pretty complicated process,” said Kelly.“I know there are a lot of people in the industry, and certainly the dealer network who are trying their

Fire Guts Auto Body Shop Filled With Cars in Evanston, OH

by Staff, WCPO

A two-alarm fire caused a “catastrophic collapse” of the roof at Camp’s Collision Center at 1930 Dana Ave. in Evanson, OH, according to Assistant Fire Chief Tom Lakamp.

Lakamp said about 70 firefighters arrived shortly after 5 a.m. Jan. 19 to fight the flames at the body shop, which was filled with cars.

The flames were out around 7:30 a.m.

The cause is currently under investigation, Lakamp said. No one was injured in the fire.

We thank WCPO for reprint permission.

48 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

hardest to do their best to recalibrate these cars after an accident. Many, if not most, are not doing it correctly and they don’t even know it.”

He said it isn’t an issue of people being mischievous or doing anything fraudulent.

“They just don’t know,” he said.

In addition, some of the repair procedures for today’s systems that are coming on vehicles are still being written while the cars are on the road.

“There are certain safety systems out there that have a certain progression to them that the OEs themselves haven’t quite figured out how to test in real-world circumstances,” said Kelly.

“As you go forward and you think about pre- and post-scans and where it fits in the continuum of us having to evolve as an industry, that’s just the table stakes—that’s just to understand what’s going on with the vehicle.”

Kelly cautioned shops about what could happen if instructions aren’t followed.

“My concern is that you’re going to be misrepresenting and potentially delivering back to the customer a car that’s not safe for the road,” he said.

“At the end of the day, we all have the same goal in mind: to return back to

the consumer a vehicle that is fit for use and is going to perform as planned.

And heaven forbid, if it gets in a second accident, those systems will operate as designed.

“The problem with the collision segment is that we get the newest cars in the worst possible condition. With the advent of all of the new electronics on cars and safety systems on cars, it’s hitting us harder than it is the general population.”

Kelly encouraged collision repairers to talk to peers and local associations to help get the word out.

“We owe it to our trading partners [insurers and vendors] and consumers to educate them on what car they have, what they bought, what the technology is, how it works and how it has to be repaired in the process of fixing those cars,” said Kelly. “If we don’t spend time educating folks, we are going to continue having these difficult conversations about who will or won’t pay and who will and won’t recognize certain repair procedures.

Once we can have an open dialogue and talk to people about what’s involved in fixing a car, I think a lot of friction and issues [will] tend to go away.”

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Continued from Page 40

Airbag Injury Path

turers based their airbags on a propellant called sodium azide, which was volatile and toxic. Airbag manufacturers, including Takata, were looking for a safer alternative.

They found it in a compound known as tetrazole, which was safer and environmentally friendly as well.

Engineers at Takata saw it as the breakthrough they had been looking for, and they readied the updated product for their automotive manufacturing clients for the 1998 model year.

But then, economics began to conflict with sound engineering principles. Tetrazole could only be manufactured in limited quantities, and tended to be expensive. Using tetrazole as an inflator compound may have met with a sound engineering profile. In the face of increasing competition for market share, Takata resumed the search for an alternative to sodium azide that would be less expensive than tetrazole and found one in ammonium nitrate.

Engineers at Takata, however, raised red flags, and they only had to

go so far as to quote explosives manuals and journals to make their point as to the volatility of ammonium nitrate, which “tended to disintegrate on storage under widely varying temperature conditions” with “irregular ballistic” consequences said Lillie, the former Takata engineer.

According to The New York Times in its report three years ago, ammonium nitrate cycles through five solid states.

As the vehicle goes from receiving the heat of sunshine to the cold of night, the temperature swing is large enough for the ammonium nitrate to change from one phase to another. Remember Lillie’s earlier comment above, with regard to the acceptability of ammonium nitrate provided it stayed in the same phase?

As it turns out, that’s doubtful—especially in areas of high humidity. [Which is] why the defective airbag injury recalls have been focused on areas such as Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Southern California and other areas with a similar climatic profile.

Other airbag manufacturers stayed away from ammonium nitrate amidst the compound’s risk for volatility.

Takata, however, allegedly saw dollar

signs with this cheap compound, and ran with it.

The cheaper airbags powered by ammonium nitrate were a hit economically with automotive manufacturers, and Takata’s market share for airbags quickly grew, eventually helping Takata to become the largest single supplier to the automotive industry.

It is alleged, however, that Takata never shared with anyone the reason as to why its airbags were less expensive, and no one apparently bothered to ask. The reservations of those engineers who spoke out against the use of ammonium nitrate were ignored.

The sheer success of Takata supplying what turned out to be defective airbags that could lead to airbag failure, has contributed to the size and depth of the massive recall, as well as the near-impossible task of replacing millions of defective and potentially dangerous ammonium nitrate inflators.

Until those inflators are replaced, the risks for airbag injuries will only continue—as well airbag lawsuits.

We thank LawyersandSettlements.com for reprint permission.

Continued from Page 41

Management Success

so NEVER argue with the customer.

Instead, ask if there’s anything you can do. Take the customer experience into consideration and remember that sometimes people just have a bad day. Once you respond publicly, the review is permanent.”

Management Success offers business analyses to help shops evaluate key points in their business, including their website, social media, finances, marketing, sales and production.

Saeli closed with, “You care about what you do, and you all deserve to do well.”

Management Success will hold its next webinar on “Setting Shop Resolutions,” scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018 at 3 p.m. PST. Registration is available at https://register .gotowebinar.com/register/164628 4853950135555.

For more information on Management Success, visit www.management success.com or call 818-500-9631.

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Continued from Page 34

Lavell Chisum

“They were having some trouble marketing it, but then they went out and hired a fella named Dick Mullen, who was a great sales rep and really

Little Lavelle (right) started out helping his father as he traveled throughout the Midwest to body shops fixing cars

turned it around. Pretty soon, the EZ Liners started selling like flapjacks,” Chisum said.

The following year, Chisum opened Leo’s Paint, Frame & Body in Alabama, where it was so successful that he started thinking about franchising the business. He eventually sold the shop to his manager, Joe Hudson, who went on to own 85 shops in five states within a 20-year period. In the 1980s, Chisum took part in establishing two MSOs, including Collision Automotive Repair Services with approximately 400 shops and later, Collision Center International with 500-plus shops, both of which lasted 5–6 years.

Chisum’s good friend, Greg Marion, is an industry veteran who believes that Chisum hasn’t received enough credit for his role in the history of collision repair.

“He was way ahead of everyone else in this industry in more ways than most people know, especially the younger people in the industry now,” Marion said. “His early visionary ideas of franchising multiple body shops and uniting collision repair organizations etched the template for today’s industry standards.

Today, he lives on his social security in McAlester, OK. He would have made a lot more money, but he trusted some of the wrong people, in-

cluding a patent attorney. If every technician who ever used an EZ Liner gave Lavell $5, he would be a millionaire many times over again.”

Looking back, Chisum is proud of the EZ Liner, even though he isn’t a millionaire today.

“No one understood what I was doing with this machine, but I never gave up, because I believed in it and knew it would work real good,” he said. “They still sell well today, and I’m not sure how many of them out there are in use right now, but I’m guessing 15,000 or more. I got royalties on it for 22 years and it was a great run, so I can look back and say, ‘Hey—I made this!’”

Special thanks for Greg Marion for providing useful information for this article.

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Quest Resource Adds Collision Center Chain to Portfolio

Quest Resource Holding Corporation announced that it has added one of the fastest-growing providers of automotive collision repair services in the United States to its portfolio of customers.

Under the multi-year agreement, Quest will manage a comprehensive recycling program that includes recycling waste motor oil, antifreeze, hazardous waste, tires and oily water. Quest will also provide emergency response protection to all 330 collision repair centers located throughout the United States.

“The addition of another national chain to our portfolio of customers is a strong testament to the value that our services provide in helping fast-growing companies achieve their environmental goals,” said Ray Hatch, Quest’s Chief Executive Officer. “We provide our customers a ‘one-stop’ solution for all of their recycling, sustainability and waste disposal needs from coast to coast.”

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Progressive Evolves its Service Centers for Customers Progressive is making some changes to improve the convenience of its claims experience while supporting the double-digit growth in its personal auto business.

In the coming months, Progressive will change the way it uses its Service Center facilities. The company’s 68 Service Centers will stop being a drop-off/pick-up point for customer vehicles. Current shops that support their local Service Cen-

ters will be invited to transition to the Progressive network of approved repair facilities. This decision to evolve the Service Centers is in response to shifting customer preferences and fast-paced environmental changes. This evolution will give customers choosing to have their vehicle repairs managed through Progressive the option of dropping off their vehicle at one of nearly 3,000 Progressive-approved shops that deliver customer service and repair quality consistent with the Service Continued from Page 31

ADAS

said repairers need a 36-feet-wide space to work.

Lane Watch System The Lane Watch System (LWS) is a camera that is placed in the right-hand mirror. When the right-hand turn signal is on, it allows the navigation unit to show drivers what is being seen by the camera. It can also be turned on manually. “A normal person has about 20 degrees of visibility in a rear-view mirror and with the LWS, this increases to 80 degrees,” said Kaboos.

When to calibrate: LaneWatch camera is removed/installed or replaced Passenger side rear view mirror is removed/installed or replaced Passenger side rear view mirror cover is removed/installed or replaced Passenger side door position is adjusted Passenger side door is removed/installed or replaced In terms of space requirements, LWS requires much less than other ADAS systems. Kaboos said to expect

Center experience.

“I’m proud of our Service Center history and the millions of customers we served through that process.

We’ve evolved our Service Center model over the years to make sure we’re doing the best job we can to meet our customers’ needs, and that evolution continues with this most recent change,” said Mike Sieger, Progressive Claims President. “We’ll have an even broader network of shops in more locations for customers to choose from, and we’ll continue to provide high-quality customer service and claims handling experiences.”

Thanks to continued significant growth of Progressive’s business, all Service Center employees will be offered claims jobs, and most Service Centers will remain regional claims offices. This will enable Progressive to continue maintaining a local presence in the communities where it does business.

Progressive’s limited lifetime guarantee, offered on all covered repairs completed through Network shops, will continue to apply.

about a 21.3 depth off the left front of the car and an 11.5 feet width.

The tools needed for these systems can be purchased directly from Honda dealers. “Any competent technician can probably perform these calibrations and have pretty good success,” said Kaboos. Guild 21 attendees were asked how many had already done a calibration on an ADAS system; only 12 percent said they had in the field.

Those who were part of the call were also asked if they plan to embrace calibrations in the near future. About 70 percent said they are ready to do it right now or in the near future; 23 percent said they are not quite ready but will probably do it in the next two to three years; and the remaining seven percent said they were never going to do it.

Kaboos said recalibrations can be a new income stream for shops.

“Shops performing their own ADAS calibration will most likely have tighter control of cycle time on this part of the repair process,” said Kaboos. “It also allows you to take control of the safety features of cars. You’ll know that the repair is taken care of and the vehicle is going to perform the same way that it did prior to the accident.”

52 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Continued from Page 42

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said Anthony B. Brooks, the collision center manager at Heritage Collision Center in Joppa, MD. “I found the training helped me navigate through each step of my career path. I would strongly recommend that anyone in the automotive industry look to AMi for future training opportunities.”

Maria H. Carrillo, owner of Carrillo & Sons Collision Center in San Diego, CA, also shared her positive experience. “AMi courses have increased my knowledge and expertise as an owner. Attending AMi courses have given me more confidence in my leadership position.”

Daniel Schnepper, general manager of Butler’s Collision in Roseville, MI, said he has improved his knowledge in customer service. “Through the different AMi courses I have taken, I have learned different ways to handle different customers, [and learned] not all customers are the same. Every customer has different characteristics and needs, [and I learned] how to handle all the different customer needs to provide them with a great experience.

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I have seen and taken great marketing ideas that help sell my business and boost our sales. I have learned how to deal with employees and help them feel needed, wanted and appreciated, creating a good, friendly work environment.”

AMi accepts tax deductible donations from the industry through its Learning Foundation Program.

“We’ve found that vendors and manufacturers really care about the sustainability of their customers,” said Peevy. “They are helping us offer education and designations to increase the professionalism of our industry, so they’ve supported AMi with donations to keep the cost of training as low as possible.”

More information about AMi certificates, designations and the industry training offered can be found online: https://www.amionline.org/.

To get started, Peevy recommends setting up a professional profile under the myAMI LOGIN link. After choosing the segment of the industry you are part of, the system will ask for your interests and what you would like to pursue, then will populate the required core competency courses that are required as well as the electives.

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Skill-Loan Helps Auto Techs Find Supplementary Work Skill-Loan LLC, a San Carlos-based Software as a Service (SaaS) company, announced the availability of Mechanics & Body Shops Marketplace V2.0 with a Premium Membership service for auto repair and body shops looking for full-time employees and a service for auto technicians looking to supplement their incomes with temporary or part-time work.

Premium members can post jobs and find technicians, service advisors and service writers free of charge as part of their Premium Membership subscription. Auto technicians can be notified of short-term assignments posted by local auto repair and body shops or post their availability for work. The new release of the application ensures best fit between the employee’s skills and qualifications and what the shop owners are looking for.

“On average, every auto repair employee is out of the shop four weeks of the year for vacation, sick days, jury and military duty and personal time off,” said Elie Massabki, founder and CEO of Skill-Loan. “With technicians contributing $1,000–$2,000/day in gross profits to a shop, shop owners are missing out on $10,000 to $20,000 in gross profits each year for each technician they employ. At the same time,

ACPN Announces 2018 Scholarship Winners

The Automotive Content Professionals Network (ACPN), a community of the Auto Care Association, announced the winners of the 2018 ACPN scholarship.

The judges selected three exceptional candidates who demonstrated success within their organizations through professionalism, hard work, dedication and their remarkable abilities and talents.

Each year, the ACPN awards three deserving content professionals in the auto care industry with a scholarship to attend the 2018 ACPN Knowledge Exchange conference—the largest gathering of catalog professionals and their vendors and solution providers.

The Knowledge Exchange conference provides content professionals with a focused and unique opportunity to learn, share best practices, network with peers and interact with service providers in the content management space.

www.autobodynews.com

many technicians are looking for opportunities to supplement their incomes during their time off. Mechanics Marketplace helps auto repair shops put significant profits back in their pockets by having borrowed technicians and freelancers cover for their absent workers while helping technicians increase their incomes.”

Skill-Loan had its first Northern California mid-Peninsula kick-off meeting on Dec. 19, 2017 with local members to learn how to best make use of the Mechanics & Body Shops Marketplace application and discuss common issues they would like to tackle as a group. While many collaboration ideas were discussed, shop owners unanimously confirmed the need for temporary and full-time technicians. Other regional networks are now being formed in various US cities and technicians are being introduced to the app.

“The number one issue that keeps me and my general manager up at night is the availability of reliable and experienced technicians,” said Mark Schwartz, CEO and owner at Holland Car Care (www.hollandcarcare.com) in San Carlos, CA. “I think this is a nationwide problem and especially in the California Bay Area. I am pleased to fi-

nally find a company that is focused on our industry and where I can go to find full-time employees, as well as technicians, to cover for my absent ones.”

“As an 18-year independent, highend and European car service, repair shop and used car dealer, we do share employees and knowledge frequently from shop to shop. We work closely with factory dealers as well, especially for newer cars and more complicated programing. Mechanics Marketplace is an ideal platform to help me with both,” commented Zim Gwee, owner of Topline Automobile Inc. (www .toplineautos.com) in San Mateo, CA. “I have 28 years’ technician experience.

I have invested heavily in high-end diagnostics equipment and I am excited about the opportunity to sublet services to and from other shops and recoup my investment faster.”

The website name and logo have been changed to Mechanics & Body Shops Marketplace to better represent the businesses in the network. Technicians and auto repair and body shop owners can also find the company at www.autorepairjobs.net and www.car repairjobs.com. More than 100 body shops and 300 general auto repair shops are members of Mechanics & Body Shops Marketplace today.

Auto Care Association Promotes Joe Register to Vice President, Emerging Technologies

The Auto Care Association announced the promotion of Joe Register to Vice President, Emerging Technologies.

He will be instrumental in changing the association’s profile in setting vehicle technology standards by working with his global

counterparts in industry standardssetting organizations, such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and SAE International.

Register joined the Auto Care Association’s Technology department in 2016, serving as director, technology solutions, and brings more than two decades of experience in data and information technologies to the association.

Service King Apprentice Program Registered by US Department of Labor On Dec. 21, Service King Collision Repair Centers announced its fastgrowing Apprentice Development Program has officially received certification from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Officials from the Department of Labor, Texas State Representatives and Service King teammates held an official signing ceremony commemorating the milestone on Dec. 21 at Service King’s National Support Center in Richardson, TX. “This is certainly a proud moment for the Service King family as we continue investing in the development and training of the next generation of skilled automotive technicians,” said Chris Abraham, Service King CEO. “The Apprentice Development Program has long been a vision of our company and we couldn’t be more proud to see its growth across the country. It’s our mission to equip aspiring technicians with a firm foundation of quality training, hands-on experience and ultimately a long, rewarding career as a Service King teammate.”

The company’s certification comes on the heels of the White House Executive Order signed in June promoting the growth of apprenticeship programs across the U.S. Furthermore,

54 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

the Service King program was instituted to proactively combat a reported 13 percent decline in the population of automotive repair and maintenance workers between 2002—2014, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“I am so happy to have Service King operate in North Texas,” said State Representative Angie Chen Button. “Creating a skilled workforce is vital to our state’s economy and providing opportunities for job seekers.”

As a certified apprenticeship program, Service King’s Apprentice Development Program positions itself to become eligible to receive federal workforce and education funds to reinvest into the growth of the program. Aspiring auto body technicians interested in Service

King’s Apprentice Development Program are encouraged to learn more by visiting ServiceKing.com/careers.

According to the Department of Labor, certified apprenticeships help businesses develop highly skilled employees, increase productivity, reduce turnover and lower the cost of recruitment. Furthermore, apprenticeships provide customized training, safer workplaces as well as a stable and reliable pipeline of qualified talent.

The Service King Apprentice Development Program provides incoming technicians with a hands-on training program featuring personalized instruction from an Apprentice Supervisor solely dedicated to the program.

The program features an immersive and proprietary curriculum that promotes a focused learning environment. To achieve this, each class is capped at four apprentices per instructor. To ensure a real-world environment, all apprenticeships are hosted inside Service King Collision Repair Centers across the country.

The program has been widely heralded in the media, and across the industry, for its success in attracting and training young talent, including recent coverage by Dallas CBS affiliate KTVT and the Dallas Morning News.

Urgent.ly Announces Collaboration With CCC

Urgent.ly, the only global, digital roadside assistance platform, announced it is working with CCC Information Services Inc. (CCC) to contribute roadside assistance data and services to CCC’s recently launched connected data exchange.

That exchange, CCC™ X, helps convert connected data into actionable experiences for consumers, insurers, OEMs and others. CCC X will integrate Urgent.ly data into software-driven services to enable the automatic dispatch of the company’s more than 39,000 connected roadside assistance vehicles to the scene of accidents to ease, speed and drive new efficiencies into collision and claims management.

Powered by the CCC ONE™ platform, CCC X is the gateway for leveraging connected car data within the broader CCC network to drive a new era of connected car programs. The integration of Urgent.ly’s Intelligent Towing Solution™ will enable automated dispatch of Urgent.ly’s connected towing vehicles to accident scenes. Insurers will understand when a collision has occurred, quickly engage policyholders at the accident scene, determine the likelihood a vehicle is a total loss or repairable, auto-

matically dispatch towing services, and route the vehicle to the appropriate location for total loss processing or repair; which can help curb unnecessary tows, storage fees and rental car costs, slash cycle times and increase customer satisfaction.

“We’re excited to work on innovative new solutions with great technology providers like Urgent.ly,” said Mac Fraser, General Manager of Telematics, CCC. “The goal is to drive value back to consumers and business partners alike.”

Urgent.ly CEO & Co-Founder Chris Spanos said, “The combination of the Urgent.ly and CCC ONE platforms will help deliver significant value, cost savings and superior customer experience to CCC’s insurance, automotive and repair facility customers as a powerful solution to help reduce claims expense, provide faster service and increase customer loyalty.”

The CCC network includes more than 350 insurance companies, dozens of automotive OEMs and more than 24,000 repair facilities, making it easy for them to tap Urgent.ly’s network of more than 39,000 digitally connected service vehicles for roadside services and collision solutions.

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“We are honored and very fortunate to have someone of Jeff Labanovich’s experience join our corporate team,” said Michael Macaluso, President, CARSTAR North America. “His decades of insight and understanding as a successful CARSTAR store owner will make him a vital member of our team and a fantastic resource for our CARSTAR franchise partners. We look forward to his many contributions to our brand and our success in the future.”

A native of Ontario, Labanovich began his career in sales at Whitby Auto Wreckers, then worked as a manager at Clarington RPM and Copart before opening his CARSTAR location. He attended Carleton University.

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GM To Make Autonomous Car Without Steering Wheel, Pedals

by Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge

General Motors plans to mass-produce self-driving cars that lack traditional controls such as steering wheels and pedals by 2019, the company announced Jan. 12.

It’s a bold declaration for the future of driving from one of the country’s Big Three automakers, and one that is sure to shake things up for the industry as the annual Detroit Auto Show kicks off.

The car will be the fourth generation of its driverless, all-electric Chevy Bolts, which are currently being tested on public roads in San Francisco and Phoenix. And when they roll off the assembly line of GM’s manufacturing plant in Orion, MI, they’ll be deployed as ride-hailing vehicles in a number of cities.

“It’s a pretty exciting moment in the history of the path to wide-scale [autonomous vehicle] deployment and having the first production car with no driver controls,” GM President Dan Ammann told The Verge. “And it’s an interesting thing to share with everybody.”

The announcement coincides with the tail end of CES, where a number of big companies announced their own plans to deploy autonomous vehicles, and right before the Detroit Auto Show, where the industry will have on display all the trucks and SUVs that make its profits.

By committing to rolling out fully driverless cars in a shortened timeframe, GM is seeking to outmaneuver rivals both old and new in the increasingly hyper-competitive race to build and deploy robot cars. Ford has said it will build a steering-wheel-and-pedalless autonomous car by 2021, while Waymo, the self-driving unit of Google parent Alphabet, is preparing to launch its first commercial ride-hailing service in Phoenix featuring fully driverless minivans (though still with traditional controls).

Unlike those other companies, GM provided a sneak peek at how its new, futuristic cars will look on the inside. In some ways, it’s the vehicular version of a Rorsharch inkblot test.

The bilateral symmetry of the interior looks both unnerving and yet completely normal at the same time. Instead of a steering wheel, in its place is blank real estate. Under the dash, more empty space.

The automaker submitted a petition to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for permission to deploy a car that doesn’t comply with all federal safety standards. Am-

a detailed, sometimes boring, some- of times that human safety drivers times fascinating look at how GM were forced to take control of their designs and programs its cars to han- driverless vehicles, or the number of dle all the mundane and insane accidents in which GM’s cars were involved. (Cruise Automation, GM’s things that happen on US roads. self-driving unit, told California reguThere are some standout elements in the announcement, lators that its cars were in six crashes such as GM’s argument as to in September 2017 alone. Under state law, companies with a license to test why its testing in San Francisco is exponentially more autonomous vehicles are required to important than its suburban disclose all accidents, even when they are not at fault.) testing. (Emphasis ours.)

Speaking of accidents, GM has While we also test vehicles in Phoenix, our San Francisco not one, but two data recorders in each vehicles predict an average of of its autonomous vehicles to store and protect information in the event of 32 times as many possible inGM and Cruise plan to deploy autonomous vehicles by 2019 teractions as those in Phoenix. a crash. The collected data includes mann said the company wasn’t seeking Thus, San Francisco challenges our information from the car’s sensors, an exemption from the Federal Motor self-driving system more because, as vehicle actions, and any malfunctions Vehicle Safety Standards—something the number of objects increase, there that occur. Like a black box recorder the government caps at 2,500—just a are exponentially more possible interon an airplane, the data logging manew way around a few of the requirechine is designed to withstand cataactions with objects that the self- drivments. strophic accidents. ing system must consider.

GM is proposing to “meet that The report and the announcement For example, GM’s self-driving standard in a different kind of way,” Chevy Bolts encounter 270 emerabout GM’s first fully driverless vehiAmmann said. “A car without a steercle are sure to impress investors, gency vehicles for every 1,000 miles ing wheel can’t have a steering wheel driven in San Francisco, compared to which have been bullish on the comairbag. What we can do is put the just six in Phoenix. pany thanks to its unique ability to equivalent of the passenger side airbag scale its product. The automaker has The safety report excludes cerSee No Steering Wheel, Page 61 on that side as well. So it’s to meet the tain information, such as the number standards, but meet them in a way that’s different than what’s exactly preAudi dealers strive to make you an scribed, and that’s what the petition seeks to get approval for.”

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(Of course, the issue of exemptions from federal safety standards may become moot if Congress passes a bill to lift the cap from 2,500 to 100,000. But as of now, the legislation is stalled.)

GM made this announcement to herald the release of its first 33-page safety report to the US Department of Illinois South Dakota Transportation. The feds suggested in 2016, and again last year, that tech Audi Exchange Audi Sioux Falls companies and automakers working Highland Park Sioux Falls on self-driving cars voluntarily sub847.432.5880 888.540.6399 mit a safety checklist to the govern847.432.5708 Fax 605.221.0550 Fax ment in order to help keep tabs on this gorejel@audiexchange.com parts@grahamauto.com fast-moving technology. GM is only the second company working on auMissouri Ohio tonomous vehicles to have submitted its report, with Waymo being the first.

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www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS 57

3 Varying Assessments of Wholesale Car Price Changes

by Nick Zulovich, Auto Remarketing

As 2017 wound down, J.D. Power Valuation Services, KAR Auction Services and RVI Group all shared their wholesale price analysis for what happened in November.

The report that showed the greatest change came from J.D. Power Valuation Services, which indicated in its latest issue of Guidelines that wholesale prices of used vehicles up to 8 years in age fell by 4.2 percent in November.

“November’s loss was more than anticipated,” analysts said in the report.

“However, we expected some compensation towards the end of the year for the lift in demand and strengthening in prices associated with Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.”

After three consecutive months of increases, the J.D. Power Valuation Services’ Seasonally Adjusted Used Vehicle Price Index declined in November, softening by 1.6 points or 1.4 percent to settle at 113.0. Through November, the index is down 5.9 percent compared to the same period in 2016.

Meanwhile, according to ADESA Analytical Services’ monthly analysis of wholesale prices by vehicle model

class, values in November averaged $10,797. That figure represented a 1.6 percent drop compared to October, but a 1.2-percent lift relative to November 2016.

KAR Auction Services chief economist Tom Kontos pointed out that almost all segments saw monthover-month average price declines,

although full-size SUV/CUVs had a noteworthy uptick despite higher gas prices.

“Average wholesale prices in November were down month-overmonth more significantly than in October and, despite being up modestly on a year-over-year basis, are indicative of an end to the price boost from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma,” Kontos said in his latest installment of the Kontos Kommentary.

“Retail used-vehicle demand was soft for the month as well, al-

though CPO sales were solid,” he added. “Lingering truck demand in Texas in the aftermath of Harvey may have again contributed to the strength of midsize SUV/CUV prices in November.”

The team at RVI Group determined real used-vehicle prices (seasonally adjusted, 2- to 5-year-old vehicles) declined slightly on a year-over-year basis in November.

According to the RVI Used Car Price Index, real used-vehicle prices (after adjusting for MSRP) fell by 0.1 percent in November when compared to November of the previous year.

Similarly, month-over-month real used-vehicle prices declined by 0.1 percent. On a month-over-month basis, about half of the segments saw small gains in used car prices.

“Prices for used vehicles are stronger than expected due to higher demand for both new and used vehicles after the hurricane season damaged approximately 1 million cars,” RVI Group said.

Kontos offered more insights from ADESA’s November data when looking deeper into the market.

Kontos pointed out that average wholesale prices for used vehicles remarketed by manufacturers were up

0.9 percent month-over-month and up 7.3 percent year-over-year.

He also mentioned that prices for fleet/lease consignors dropped 2.3 percent sequentially, but ticked up 0.8 percent annually.

Kontos went on to state that average prices for dealer consignors were down 4.2 percent versus October, and up 3.7 percent relative to November 2016.

Turning back to Guidelines, J.D. Power Valuation Services projected how the December data might land.

Analysts projected that wholesale prices of vehicles up to 8 years in age are expected to decline by approximately 1 percent. That forecast is slightly less than what analysts recorded a year earlier, which was a dip of 1.7 percent.

In terms of its full-year expectations, J.D. Power Valuation Services pegged used-vehicle prices to drop by 5.6 percent in 2017, which would be 1.5 points higher than what the firm spotted for 2016.

We thank Auto Remarketing for reprint permission.

www.autobodynews.com

U.S. Auto Sales Forecasted to Fall Below 17 Million in 2018

by Sean Szymkowski, GM Authority

Many automotive forecasters agree that the end is nigh for record vehicle sales.

2017 will likely mark the first time since 2009 that auto sales will fall instead of grow. Final numbers won’t be available until January, but early figures peg the figure at around 17.2 million cars sold in the United States, which is down about 2 percent from 2016.

Next year, things will likely continue on the downward trend.

Automotive News reported that annual vehicle sales will likely fall below the 17 million mark in 2018.

That’s a major shift from what automakers have been accustomed to.

It will also shift how automakers market new vehicles and how generous incentives may be.

Thus far, the slow sales decline hasn’t worried automakers like General Motors because transaction prices have risen to create higher profit margins. GM still sees a steady market for new cars, and not a sharp decrease. Industry analyst Jessica Caldwell of Edmunds

made her predictions as well.

“That period of growth that we had grown accustomed to is obviously over, and the industry is starting to rightsize,” she said. “We could see a fight for market share.

They’re looking to keep their share, and if one company starts increasing their incentives, generally others follow.”

Right now, analysts project 16.7 to 16.8 million new cars sold in 2018, though that figure could fluctuate due to increased takehome pay with the inbound Trump tax cut legislation.

This year will be an important one for GM. The automaker will roll out the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and 2019 GMC Sierra, and both play an integral part in the automaker’s healthy bottom line. The pickups also help finance mobility and self-driving car programs.

We thank GM Authority for reprint permission.

www.autobodynews.com

58 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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Applications Open for 2018 University of the Aftermarket Foundation Scholarships

Applications are being accepted online for the 2018 University of the Aftermarket Foundation scholarships, which are awarded to students planning automotive aftermarket careers. The application process is entirely electronic through the UAF scholarship website, www.automotive scholarships.com. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2018. The University of the Aftermarket Foundation and more than 30 additional organizations award automotive scholarships.

Your one complete online application will automatically be considered by every organization for which you meet their qualifications. More than 2,500 scholarships have been awarded by UAF and all the collaborating organizations since 1998. Students will be considered for UAF scholarships, and students from North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia will be considered for the AAACT Scholarship Fund scholarships as well, in any course of study.

AAACT scholarships are open to any AAACT member in good standing, member’s employees or immediate family.

AGRR Magazine Survey: What’s the Cost of Doing Business?

by Katherine Coig, glassBYTEs.com

Not getting paid in full for parts, time and labor is easily one of auto glass shops’ biggest grievances when it comes to working with insurers and Third Party Administrators (TPAs).

This, at least, is according to a recent survey conducted by AGRR magazine.

The cost of living varies greatly across the U.S., and for some rural or small-town auto glass shops, what TPAs are willing to pay doesn’t cover all of the costs associated with operating a business.

“Most TPAs do not take into consideration the higher expenses of the more rural shops, travel time and expenses,” one survey respondent

noted. “The operating costs go up and all the TPAs do is look out for their bottom line without consideration for the shops. Example: Where else in this country can you get a shop labor rate of $35 per hour and nothing extra for shop materials and such?”

He’s not alone; it’s an issue body shops are dealing with as well. According to an ongoing multi-state lawsuit against several major national insurance companies by auto body shops, State Farm has allegedly determined a method to set a market rate for repairs.

The lawsuit says State Farm uses a “half plus one” method, which calculates the total number of employees or work bays (whichever is fewer) in a market area and lists the shops from fewest employees or bays to the shop with the highest. After the list is totaled, the half number, plus one, is chosen to set the market rate.

Therefore, if there are 10 auto repair shops in a market area, the shop listed at number six would determine the market labor price. However, the document states it is unclear

MINNESOTA

how the method defines a market area.

“All TPAs treat those of us who are serving outlying rural communities as if we are in the city,” said another auto glass shop respondent, “rarely taking into account increased cost of doing business due to distance from suppliers.”

Another commented, “Insurance companies say they have surveyed the labor and material rates in our area.

They are not the least bit accurate. We operate in rural Colorado, and they try to classify us with the front-range rates. They need to be more accurate on their surveys.”

We thank GlassBYTEs.com for reprint permission.

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www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS 59

Auto World Goes ‘Back to the Future’ With VW Microbus Design

by Daron Gifford, Automotive News

Many baby boomers felt a flashback in August when Volkswagen announced plans to start building a ‘60s-style microbus, called the I.D. Buzz, for delivery in 2022.

The auto industry, however, is looking at the move as another small step into the future, as the vehicle’s electric-modular structure is becoming a popular prototype these days.

Manufacturers and suppliers will need to monitor this possible paradigm shift closely; it could be a serious threat or a huge opportunity.

How big of a shift?

Imagine cars that are little more than a flatbed battery on wheels (think skateboard) with a variety of Legolike modules—pickup truck, minibus, luxury limo, camper, recreation vehicle or even air transport. (Airbus is working on the latter, believe it or not.)

Longer life That means instead of buying different vehicles, consumers can buy one cab-and-chassis battery and then snap on (or, more likely, bolt on) different top hats and modules. Such a system could increase the price of

one vehicle, but reduce the cost of two or more.

The vehicles could also last longer than cars and trucks today. A battery should run for 10 years (and

commodate unused modules.

For auto makers, part of what’s attractive about modular is that if they can get more vehicles off of a single platform or architecture, it drives down their amortized cost per unit, which helps improve their capital return on investment.

For VW, because it’s trying to shrink its numbered platforms globally, modular also fits into its plans well, as they can have this one larger platform, on which they can stick a box, or a truck, or a passenger vehicle on top. (Tesla Inc., unThe I.D. Buzz, shown as a concept, is part of VW's battery surprisingly, perhaps, also electric lineup is working on a modular can be used by utilities for storage af- minibus.) terward); fewer moving parts mean it could run well past 200,000 miles. Commercial use Someday, a million miles might be Manufacturers seem especially keen possible. Given the growing preva- to develop commercial uses. The I.D. lence of ride-sharing, miles will be- Buzz, for instance, comes in two come much more important to users models—one for cargo and the other than years on the road. for passengers, aimed at the ride-sharThe economic disruption from ing market. Amazon and UPS also are modular cars could be enormous for exploring the concept for freight and everyone—auto manufacturers, sup- container shipping, as are startups, pliers, even home builders; garages such as NEXT in Silicon Valley. might have to be built larger to acIn the past, some auto makers

used common platform architectures to achieve a degree of limited modularity. The RV customization industry has been utilizing Ford Econoline vans for years. And if you remember it, General Motors tried with the Pontiac Aztek and its optional camper pop-up. Then there is the Chrysler minivan, which has folding seats for cargo space and has spawned numerous imitators, as well as a devoted following.

What’s novel about the I.D. Buzz, specifically, may be the ability to efficiently use space with a common unibody vehicle architecture for a variety of configurations, which should expand the utility of the modular concept well beyond what has been seen before.

And who knows? Much the way VW’s Bug and Microbus changed the automotive world 50 years ago, the company’s I.D. Buzz could do the same in the 21st century.

We thank Automotive News for reprint permission.

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Uptick in Domestic Auto Sales; Vehicle Repair, Insurance Prices Also Increase

by Katherine Coig, glassBYTEs.com

Domestic sales for new autos experienced an uptick November to December. According to the latest

figures from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), U.S. automotive unit retail sales increased by 6 percent, or 20,900 units, on a month-over-month basis.

Year over year, domestic auto sales dropped 18.2 percent—to 366.6 thousand in December 2017 from 448.0 thousand in December 2016.

Here are the BEA’s latest figures: The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) also updated the consumer price index for November 2017.

The index for motor vehicle maintenance and repair increased year over year by 1.3 percent, while month-over-month figures remained stagnant.

The index for insurance continues an upward trajectory, increasing by 8 percent on a year-over-year basis. October to November also increased, up 0.8 percent.

Consumer Price Index: Insurance and Repairs The index for motor vehicle repairs and insurance.

We thank GlassBYTEs for reprint permission.

60 FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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Elon Musk Promises Tesla Pickup Truck in Tweet

by Ethan Baron, The Mercury News

Even as Tesla struggles to deliver its entry-level Model 3 sedan to consumers amid plans to produce a compact SUV, an electric semi and a new Roadster, CEO Elon Musk is adding yet another vehicle to the company’s promised lineup.

Responding to a wishful tweet from a Canadian marijuana-seed vendor who said, “Need an electric pickup truck please,” Musk pledged on Twitter that his Palo Alto electric car company would grant the Vancouver Seed Bank’s wish.

“I promise that we will make a pickup truck,” Musk tweeted Dec. 26.

“Have had the core design/engineering elements in my mind for almost 5 years. Am dying to build it.”

Musk said in his tweet that the pickup would come “right after” the Model Y, which is to be a compact electric SUV, and is tentatively scheduled to go into production in mid-2019. The flamboyant CEO’s pickup truck confirmation follows his teaser from a July 2016 “master plan” document, in which he referred to a “new kind of pickup truck.” In April, Musk had tweeted that the pickup would be unveiled within 18 to 24 months.

After responding to the Vancouver Seed Bank—a company managed by a former would-be socialist politician who quit his Canadian federal candidacy over a video showing him dropping LSD—Musk gave some good news to a Twitter user who asked him if the pickup would be as large as, or larger than, the ubiquitous Ford F150 truck.

“Similar total size,” Musk tweeted.

“Maybe slightly bigger to account for a really gamechanging (I think) feature I’d like to add.”

According to Ford, a standard F150 is about 18 feet long, 7 feet wide and about 6 feet tall. Another Twitter user chimed in with hopes that the Tesla pickup’s purported game-changing feature would be a toilet.

Revelation of the apparently concrete plans for the pickup came soon after Tesla was roiled by another round of trouble. With every vehicle model so far plagued by production delays, Musk in November announced the entry-level Model 3 had been delayed as well, and was three months behind on its target delivery date.

Coming after hundreds of job losses—described by Musk as performance-related layoffs and by some critics as retaliation for attempted

Continued from Page 56

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been on a buying spree, acquiring both Cruise and LIDAR startup Strobe to help it become a “full-stack” autonomous car company. It also plans to roll out at least 20 new electric cars by 2023, a goal that puts it in a position to bring battery-powered driving to the mainstream.

Ammann says it’s what gives GM a leg up over its rivals.

“We believe this technology will change the world,” he said. “And we’re doing everything we can to get it out there at scale as fast as we can.”

We thank The Verge for reprint permission.

Your leading source for MIDWESTERN Collision Repair News!

We thank The Mercury News for reprint permission.

Original Thought #78

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unionization—the Model 3 delay was bad news for the closely watched firm, which in November also announced a $619 million quarterly loss, far higher than Wall Street had expected. The company is also facing three lawsuits alleging it ignored racism against black workers on its Fremont factory floor.

But Tesla and Musk received a welcome boost later in November after announcing Tesla would make an electric semi-truck, leading a number of major companies, including Walmart and Pepsi, to put down deposits for the potentially revolutionary transport vehicles.

In a surprise announcement during the semi-truck launch, Musk also revealed a prototype of a new Roadster, which he said would be the fastest production car in the world, going from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than two seconds and hitting a top speed of more than 250 miles per hour.

Tesla is taking reservations for that road rocket, which is to sell for $200,000, or $250,000 for one of the 1,000 “Founders Series” vehicles. Musk said the Roadster would be available in 2020.

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www.autobodynews.com | FEBRUARY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS 61

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The Future of Takata Airbag Claims

by Jane Mundy, LawyersandSettlements.com

At the beginning of last year, Takata—the automotive parts company behind the largest automotive recall in the nation’s history—entered into a plea agreement with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). The company then declared bankruptcy a few months later, setting off an avalanche of legal filings throughout the world, with an international corporate restructuring effort continuing to this day.

“It’s critical to remember that as this process plays out, consumers have and will continue to be hurt and killed by rupturing airbags,” says attorney Frank Melton of Newsome Melton, PA. Unfortunately, things will continue to grow more complicated for those consumers in the months and years to come.

“We are at a critical juncture in the Takata airbag litigation,” says Melton. “Over the next few weeks, the Delaware Court presiding over the Takata bankruptcy proceeding will review and rule upon Takata’s proposed reorganization plan; that ruling will have permanent ramifications for current and future Takata

airbag victims.”

Melton explains that while the Takata-DOJ plea deal set aside a fund of money for current and future Takata airbag injury victims, that pot is very limited.

“The headlines stated that Takata agreed to establish a $1 billion restitution fund. But only $125 million of

into a bankruptcy trust for compensation.

“Channeling injunctions have been used in the past, but only rarely, and typically in the asbestos context,” explains Melton. “What is rather unique, and I think unheard of, in this case is that the proposed injunction would extend beyond just

that fund was set aside for consumers.

The rest was earmarked for the auto manufacturers.”

So where can consumers look for relief in the years to follow? The answer to that question is currently up in the air, and may very well be determined by the Delaware bankruptcy court.

Back in November, Takata filed its proposed reorganization plan. Part of that plan calls for the imposition of a so-called “channeling injunction,” which would funnel current and future injury and death claims

Takata—the debtor—and would include third-party automakers that used Takata’s airbags in their vehicles.”

The Bankruptcy Code only references channeling injunctions in one place—Section 524(g). This section was enacted back in the 1990s, and essentially acted to retroactively bless a bankruptcy court’s action in an asbestos proceeding. Notably, Section 524(g) is specific to asbestos, and contains several specific constraints on the use of a channeling injunction, including the require-

“It’s critical to remember that as this process plays out, consumers have and will continue to be hurt and killed by rupturing airbags,” —Frank Melton

Driverless Car ‘Guidelines” Allegedly Not Working

by David A. Wood, CarComplaints.com

Auto safety organization Consumer Watchdog says self-driving car companies are taking advantage of the government’s hands-off approach to matters of safety by failing to provide reports about the safety of the technology.

Since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) created its 12-point safety “voluntary guidelines” for autonomous companies, only Waymo (Google) has published a safety report. And even with that, Consumer Watchdog says Waymo’s report reads more like a marketing brochure than a detailed safety report of self-driving car technology.

Instead of doing its job by creating and enforcing safety regulations that must be met by driverless car companies, NHTSA is allowing manufacturers to provide safety reports when they feel like doing it.

Consumer Watchdog says this has made public highways nothing more than laboratories where humans are guinea pigs—proof that NHTSA’s voluntary guidelines don’t work.

When a company doesn’t publish details about its autonomous technology because it doesn’t have

to, the public is left in the dark about what is taking place on local roads and highways.

Consumer Watchdog says if it wasn’t for California, the driving public would know nothing about how self-driving technology is working.

Driverless car companies in California require permits from the Department of Motor Vehicles and crash reports must be filed within 10 days of an incident. Additionally, yearly “disengagement reports” must be provided that explain when the autonomous technology failed.

Seven companies were approved for testing of driverless cars in 2014, which required those companies to file disengagement reports with the California DMV by Jan. 1, 2016. However, today there are 19 companies that are required to provide reports. The DMV says it expects to release those reports in January 2018.

Previous data indicates why human drivers are monitoring the skills of the computerized cars. For example, Mercedes-Benz drivers had to take control of the driverless cars 1,051 times out of 1,739 miles driven.

We thank CarComplaints.com for reprint permission.

ment that 75 percent of the current asbestos claimants vote in favor of the injunction.

“The procedural mechanisms for asbestos channeling injunctions—including the notice and voting requirements—in Section 524(g) clearly do not apply to non-asbestos cases. So it’s not clear what procedures would have to be observed in the Takata bankruptcy proceeding, or whether such an injunction could or would ultimately withstand appellate review,” says Melton.

The proposed Takata reorganization plan states that the channeling injunction will be subject to a separate vote.

“The vote will take place in the next few weeks. That’s why it’s critical for consumers to contact an attorney immediately if they or a loved one may have a Takata airbag injury or death claim,” explains Melton.

“The time for their voice to be heard is now; if they wait, it will likely to be too late to do what is necessary to protect their rights.”

We thank LawyersandSettlements .com for reprint permission.

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Meet Hundreds of Entry-Level Candidates at CREF’s Career Fairs

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

If you are an industry member facing an aging workforce or in need of additional entry-level staff, “you need to connect with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) in 2018 to

Students at past career fairs connect with industry companies looking to hire new talent

participate in one of our scheduled career fairs and/or get involved with local schools,” says Brandon Eckenrode, Director of Development for CREF. As 2018 begins, the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is gearing up for its next round of career fairs, which will be a bit different from how they’ve been in the past.

According to Eckenrode, “We are collaborating with TechForce Foundation to make these transportation career fairs, allowing us to invite participation from a wide variety of programs (collision, automotive service, heavy duty, diesel, etc.) Business students will also be invited to participate, and these events continue to be available to all collision repair industry members.”

The first career fair in 2018 will take place in Tampa, FL, on Feb. 14, followed by the event in Miami, FL, on Feb. 16. On March 1, a career fair will be held in San Antonio, TX, while the career fair on March 16 will be held in Los Angeles, CA. Six career fairs are currently scheduled for April: Chicago, IL, on April 6; Phoenix, AZ, on April 7; Denver, CO, on April 12; Greensboro, NC, on April 18–19; Atlanta, GA, on April 24; and Boston, MA, on April 26.

CREF and TechForce Foundation also hope to hold career fairs in Dallas, Houston and Nashville this spring, but dates have not yet been confirmed. To get more information on participation in these career fairs, contact Eckenrode at Brandon.Eckenrode @ed-foundation.org.

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