August 2018 Midwest Edition by Autobody News

36 YEARS

MIDWEST EDITION

AUTOBODY IL / IN / IA / KS / KY / MI / MN / MO / NE / ND / OH / SD / WI

IL Auto Body Shop Alleges State Farm Steers Customers to Other Shops by Lhalie Castillo, Madison – St.Clair Record

An auto body repair shop filed a class-action lawsuit against State Farm for allegedly telling its cus-

tomers that the plaintiff's work is substandard and steering them toward shops that provide discounts. Classic Auto Body Inc., individ-

ually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a complaint on June 20 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, alleging the insurer violated the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Trade Practices. According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges the defendant interfered with its business expectancy by telling Classic Auto Body's customers that it does not guarantee its work and the work was substandard. The plaintiff also claims the defenSee State Farm Steers, Page 12

VW Exploding Sunroof Class-Action Lawsuit Is Partially Dismissed by David A. Wood, CarComplaints.com

A Volkswagen exploding sunroof class-action lawsuit is hanging on after the automaker filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. Plaintiff Rosaura Deras filed the lawsuit on behalf of consumers who purchased or leased in California any of the following vehicles equipped with factory-installed sunroofs: • 2005-2017 Volkswagen Jetta • 2015-2017 Volkswagen Golf

• 2007-2016 Volkswagen Eos

• 2006-2009 Volkswagen Rabbit • 2012-2017 Volkswagen Passat

• 2004-2006 Volkswagen Touareg • 2011-2017 Volkswagen Touareg • 2008 Volkswagen R32

Vol. 7 / Issue 11 / August 2018

ASA President Dan Risley Resigns to Pursue Opportunity in Illinois

The Automotive Service Association a consultant capacity until a new as(ASA) has announced that ASA Pres- sociation leader is named. ident and Executive Director Dan ASA Chairman of the Board Risley will be resigning efRoy Schnepper, AAM, refective July 13. cently announced Risley’s Risley has accepted a resignation to the board. position with CCC InformaDuring the transition, Risley has named Beth Risch, tion Services Inc. in his its current CPA, as interim home state of Illinois. For chief operating officer. the past five years, Risley Dan Risley Risch will oversee day-towas working remotely between his Chicago-area home and the day operations and report directly to North Texas area where ASA is based. the ASA Board of Directors beginTo ensure a smooth transition ning July 2. See Risley Resigns, Page 4 for the association, he will stay on in

INTRODUCING A NEW COLUMN!

Auto Body Attorney

• 2006-2015 Volkswagen GTI • 2009-2010 Volkswagen CC

AUTOBODYNEWS.COM

with Bruce Roistacher

See page 46 in this issue.

Subaru Customers Now Get Virtual Visibility While Car Is in for Collision Repairs by Denis Flierl, Torque News

Subaru customers now have access to virtual visibility when they get their car repaired in a body shop. Here’s how Subaru’s new program benefits consumers.

See VW Exploding Sunroof, Page 4

2019 Subaru Forester

Subaru of America is the latest automaker to launch a certified collision repair program, working with its dealerships as well as select independent body shops, that will make

getting your car repaired after a collision easier. While Subaru vehicles like the 2019 Subaru Forester get new safety technology, customers will still be involved in accidents. According to a report by Automotive News, Subaru unveiled its new plan developed with Wadsworth International, a consultancy in suburban Philadelphia that will administer the program. Subaru isn’t the first automaker to do this, as Wadsworth also provides administrative support to Jaguar Land Rover’s collision certification program. Subaru plans to expand its pilot collision repair program into a national network this year, certifying 400 body shops by 2019. Subaru of America has 630 dealerships in the US. What are the benefits for SubSee Virtual Visibility, Page 20

PERMIT #288 ANAHEIM, CA

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AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

Take Part in This Year’s MSO Symposium in Atlanta

REGIONAL AASP-MN Raffle Raises $42,000 for Industry Career Promotion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 AASP-MO Hosts Gateway Chapter Meeting . . . 21 ABRA Auto Body Repair Expands With 8 Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Abra Expands in IN With Acquisition of Church Brothers Collision Repair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 ASA President Dan Risley Resigns to Pursue Opportunity in Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Body Shop Owner Sued by Fire Victims in Wilmington, IL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Body Shop Owners Take Over Organizing Rushford Days Car Events in MN. . . . . . . . . 10

Ledoux - Oldest Body Shops In America: Bistagne Bros Body Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Ledoux - The 1940s – Part 2 – New Products, Higher Speeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Phillips - How To Increase CSI, Encourage Repeat Business and Differentiate Your Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Roistacher - Ask the Auto Body Attorney: August 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Sisk - ASA Hosts Road to Great Technicians Webinar With CARQUEST’s Chris Chesney . . 39 Yoswick - A Decade Ago, a Different National Association Sought to Replace its Executive Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Gerber Collision & Glass Opens Repair Location in IL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Body Shop Owners Take Over Organizing Rushford Days Car Events in MN. . . . . . . . . 10 CARSTAR Arnold, MO, Restores, Donates Car to Deserving Caretaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 CARSTAR SL, Enterprise Rent-A-Car

NATIONAL ‘Who Pays for What?’ Finds Half of Shops Have Not Billed for Seat Belt Inspections. . . 61 100,000+ Industry Jobs at Risk With Tariffs on Imported Auto Parts, Study Finds . . . . . . 58 AAAS Hosts YANG Meet-Up With Annual

Fight Cause. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Conference & Trade Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

CARSTAR St. Louis Holds Bumper Repair Class . 22

AASP/NJ’s Benefits Sloan Kettering Center . . . . 6

Church Brothers Collision Repair Car Show

Apple Car Project Evolves With Larger

Raises $16,000 for Dudley Foundation, IN. . 12 Gerber Collision & Glass Opens Location in Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Gerber Collision & Glass Opens Repair Location in IN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Heckley Auto Adds Auto Body Repair to Menu of Services in Woodburn, IN. . . . . . . . 20 Heppner's Auto Body To Expand in Woodbury, MN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 IL Auto Body Shop Alleges State Farm Steers Customers to Other Shops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Industry, Membership Respond to ASA-Midwest Disaffiliation, Member Choice . . . . . . . . . . . 24 June Hail Storm Causes Most Significant Damage Since 2004 in Spencer, IA . . . . . . . 29 KS Auto Body Association President Discusses New Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Man Found Guilty of Joliet, IL, Body Shop Murders Seeks New Trial, Judgment . . . . . . 16 MO Shop Owner Educates, Empowers With Wheels, Women & Wine Car Care Clinic. . . . 15 Morrill Collision Repair in KS Continues to Grow After 17 Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 MVTAP Raises $8,000 for MO-Area High School Collision Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Police Investigate 2 Major Car Vandalism Sprees in Columbus, OH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 St. Louis I-CAR Committee Meeting Attracts Local Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 U.S. Marine’s Family Receives Recycled Ride in Burnsville, MN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Test Fleet, New Hire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 ARM Hosts 18th Annual Kent Utter Jr. Memorial Scholarship Outing . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Auto Care Association Establishes Al Gaspar Memorial Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Auto Care Association Named Red Hot Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 AutoInc. Seeks Submissions for Top 10 Websites Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Car Prices Would Soar Under Trump’s Latest Tariff Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Center for Auto Safety Renews Call for Ford Recall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Gerber Collision & Glass Races With Chastain . 14 Kroger, Nuro Partner to Pilot Autonomous Delivery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Regional Association Event Announcements: August 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 SCRS Board Meeting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Spanesi Americas Expands Training Team . . . . 56 Stacey Phillips Joins CIECA as Communications Specialist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Subaru Customers Now Get Virtual Visibility While Car Is in for Collision Repairs . . . . . . . . 1 Take Part in This Year’s MSO Symposium in Atlanta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 TechForce Report Reveals Severity of Vehicle Tech Supply Shortage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Technology & Telematics Forum To Take Place With NACE Automechanika in GA. . . . . . . . . 58 U.S. Aftermarket To Grow at Annual Rate (CAGR) of 3.4% Through 2021 . . . . . . . . . . 61

COLUMNISTS Attanasio - Career Estimator Works for SF Giants in Security. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Attanasio - Reward, Motivate Your Employees Without Breaking the Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Volkswagen Adds Another 2,564 Vehicles to Takata Recall List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 VW Exploding Sunroof Class-Action Lawsuit Is Partially Dismissed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

CONTENTS

The MSO Symposium is led by highgrowth executives from the leading multi-shop operations within North America, including ABRA, Caliber, CARSTAR, Certified Collision Group, Fix Auto, Service King and several others. These highly experienced individuals gather annually at the MSO Symposium to deliver a program that speaks directly to their circumstances and provides relevant content to collision repair facilities in similar situations. With an expanded program for 2018, attendees will gain useful information on topics like: OEM Certification Programs—the Reasons “Why”; Pre-, Post- and In-Process Scanning; Talent Development; ADAS & its Impacts; and more. This year, MSO executives will be sharing guidance on what owners with prospective growth paths can do to prepare for expansion and will point out some things to avoid.

The MSO Symposium kicks off at 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 9. AkzoNobel will be providing attendees with a generous lunch, and PPG will bring attendees the opportunity to continue to discuss questions and answers during an evening reception, beginning at 6 p.m. The MSO Symposium’s program is directly relevant for owners of large yet independent collision repair facilities, OEM collision repair program managers, insurance professionals and members of multi-shop operators (MSOs). The event is exclusive and only open to people within the above categories. If you are a supplier of service or equipment to this industry, a limited number of prominent industry sponsorships are available as well. Be sure to register today, as seating is limited! The MSO Symposium is just one of the industry meetings set to take place in conjunction with the NACE Automechanika Show in Atlanta, GA.

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

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.

Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Launch Tech USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

AutobodyLaw.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Laurel Auto Group of Westmont . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Axalta Coating Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Luther Bloomington Acura-Subaru . . . . . . . . . 47

Bettenhausen Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Maplewood Toyota-Scion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Mazda Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Bob Hook Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

McGrath City Hyundai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

CarcoonAmerica Airflow Systems. . . . . . . . . . . 8

Mercedes-Benz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30-31

Certified Automotive Parts Association . . . . . . . 9

Midwest Parts Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19

Charles Gabus Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

MINI Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Classic Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . 34-35

Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Morrison’s Auto Parts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Courtesy Subaru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Nissan/Infiniti Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . 56

Dent Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Patrick BMW MINI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Dominion Sure Seal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Patrick Hyundai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

ECS Automotive Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

PPG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

EMS Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Richfield-Bloomington Honda. . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Equalizer Industries, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Robaina Industries, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Erhard BMW of Bloomfield Hills . . . . . . . . . . . 29

SATA Dan-Am Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Erhard BMW of Farmington Hills . . . . . . . . . . 29

SEMA Trade Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

GM Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes. . . . . . . 7

GYS Welding USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Spanesi Americas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 26-27

Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . 57

Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . 59

Symach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Infiniti of Naperville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

The Sharpe Collection of Automobiles . . . . . . 33

Jack Phelan Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram

Toyota of Des Moines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Autobody News Box 1516, Carlsbad, CA 92018; (800) 699-8251 (760) 603-3229 Fax www.autobodynews.com editor@autobodynews.com

of Countryside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Toyota Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Jake Sweeney Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

VanDevere Kia-GM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Kelly BMW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . 61

Kia of Des Moines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Zimmer Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram . . . . . . . . 64

Kia Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 autobodynews.com / AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

Continued from Cover

VW Exploding Sunroof

• 2009-2017 Volkswagen Tiguan

According to Deras, she leased a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta in June 2013 and purchased the vehicle on June 3, 2016, at the end of her lease term. She claims that in 2017 while driving on the freeway, a loud “BOOM” like a gunshot went off in the car, followed by a hail of glass falling on her head and the interior of the Volkswagen. She said she saw a large hole in the center of her sunroof with the edges of the glass pointing upward, indicating the glass wasn’t broken from outside the vehicle. The plaintiff said VW has concealed defects in the sunroofs because since Dec. 14, 2009, 57 “owners and lessees of Class Vehicles have reported an incident of their sunroof shattering” to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to the plaintiff, VW further knew of the defect through its internal tracking systems and because the automaker issued a recall for its 2013—2015 Beetle. The recall was issued “relating to the shattering of sunroofs,” but “it has done nothing regarding the far more predominant problem relating to all regular and panoramic sunroof Continued from Cover

Risley Resigns

“I want to sincerely thank Dan for his strong leadership during a crucial time in the history of the association,” Schnepper said. “His natural leadership talents, his financial prowess and inexhaustible energy led him to govern ASA with success and achievement. I know the entire board joins me in thanking him for his service and commitment to ASA.” As president, Risley navigated ASA through an era of great change and transition. Among his accomplishments include:

• Implementing sound financial practices and processes after the association endured employee fraud 4

shattering that affects potentially hundreds of thousands or more VW vehicles.” Volkswagen moved to dismiss the exploding sunroof class-action lawsuit, starting with implied warranty claims on the grounds they are barred by the four-year statute of limitations. The plaintiff does not dispute that she did not file the lawsuit within four years of the date on which she leased the vehicle. However, she argues that her claim was timely because her June 2016 purchase re-started the statute of limitations clock. The judge agreed. Deras also claims she can bring an implied warranty claim because Volkswagen sold her the vehicle, but VW argues the lawsuit never mentions where she actually purchased the vehicle. However, the judge ruled the assumption is the vehicle was purchased from the same dealership that leased it. However, according to the judge, VW won the argument about a claim of unjust enrichment by arguing the new vehicle warranty precludes the claim. Concerning the claim that Volkswagen knew about the sunroof problems because of internal monitoring and complaints made to NHTSA, VW says the allegations are not enough to state a claim in court, and the judge agreed.

Deras alleges NHTSA received 57 complaints of shattering sunroofs between Dec. 14, 2009, and April 11, 2017, and that safety regulators monitored the complaints. Of those complaints, 45 were made before Deras purchased her vehicle on June 3, 2016. But according to the judge, “the Ninth Circuit has held that consumer complaints suffice to establish knowledge only where there were an unusual number of complaints, such that the manufacturer would be on notice of a specific problem.” The judge also found the plaintiff contends there are “potentially hundreds of thousands or more of VW vehicles with defective sunroofs, so 57 complaints out of hundreds of thousands of vehicles aren’t an unusual number of complaints.” “These complaints therefore do not show VW’s knowledge of the alleged defect,” said Judge Jon S. Tigar. As for the allegation that Volkswagen knew about the alleged shattering sunroofs because of a previous recall related to sunroofs, the judge ruled Deras has cited no authority, and the judge is aware of none, holding that prior recalls of similar products is enough to establish knowledge of a defect. Therefore, the judge dismissed claims of violations of California’s unfair competition law, California Consumer Legal Remedies Act and

• Adding three new affiliates to the association

contributing to its mission of serving its members. My family has always been my top priority, so it will be nice to be back in my home base of Chicago for the long term.” Over the next few months, ASA will be conducting a search to find a new executive director, seeking an individual with association management experience. “During this period of transition, it is our priority to find the best individual to lead while still maintaining a stable and effective organization,” Schnepper said. “Associations are undergoing enormous challenges due to generational shifts, social changes and technology. It’s crucial that we find the right leader who can address some of those challenges and give us a clear vision for our future.” The association will be sharing a job announcement soon.

• Expanding and growing the popular MSO Symposium

• Founding the Advanced Technology Diagnostic Repair Forum, now rebranded the Technology & Telematics Forum

• Implementing a Corporate Sponsorship Program, which is a strong revenue stream • Partnering with Messe Frankfurt to combine Automechanika with NACE for NACE Automechanika “ASA has served the industry for more than 60 years, and I’m proud to say I was part of its rich history and success,” Risley said. “I look forward to staying engaged in ASA and

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

fraud by omission, but with leave to amend the claims. Overall, the judge dismissed all the claims against Volkswagen except claims related to implied warranties. The Volkswagen exploding sunroof class-action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California - Rosaura Deras, et. al., v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. The plaintiff is represented by the Law Office of Robert L. Starr, APC, and the Law Office of Stephen M. Harris, APC. CarComplaints.com has complaints about the models named in the lawsuit: • Volkswagen Jetta • Volkswagen Golf • Volkswagen GTI • Volkswagen CC • Volkswagen Eos • Volkswagen Rabbit • Volkswagen Passat • Volkswagen Touareg • Volkswagen Tiguan We thank CarComplaints.com for reprint permission.

SCRS Board Meeting

On Tuesday, August 7, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) will hold an open board meeting from 8:30–10:00 a.m. in Room B403 of the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. There is no fee to attend; you do not need to be a current member or need to pre-register, and anyone wishing to learn more about the association's work is encouraged to participate. The open meeting will precede the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) meetings Tuesday beginning at 1 p.m. and continuing on Wednesday morning from 8 a.m. until noon. The hour-and-ahalf meeting will include updates from SCRS staff and various committees' chairs highlighting current industry events of importance and work that the association has undertaken on behalf of the membership. The program will also include a live presentation from the SCRS Education Committee on repair facility maintenance and safety considerations. For more information please visit www.scrs.com or contact their offices at info@scrs.com.

autobodynews.com / AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

KS Auto Body Association President Discusses New Group by Chasidy Rae Sisk

The Kansas Auto Body Association (KABA) was recently founded by a small group of auto body industry professionals dedicated to improving the industry in their state.

KABA’s leadership members posed at their May meeting featuring Todd Tracy. (Left to right – Jamie Leonard, Jeff Oldenettel, Ementi Coary, Tony Adams)

KABA President Jeff Oldenettel was willing to speak about how the group got started and what their future plans are. He shared, “A small group of us began talking and decided the endeavor was worth pursuing. After a couple of GoToMeeting conversations, we all showed up at the Iowa Collision Repair Association’s trade show in January, even though none

of us had discussed it, and from there, things just took off!” KABA’s founding group includes President Jeff Oldenettel, Eddy’s Body Shops; Vice President Tony Adams, Weaver’s Auto Center; Secretary-Treasurer Jamie Leonard, Briggs Automotive; Board Member Clay Hoberecht, Best Body Shop; and Vendor Board Member Ementi Coary, Mitchell International. These industry leaders established the group’s mission statement: “To serve our members and the public of the state of Kansas through leadership, education and initiatives that further uplift the professionalism and business conditions of those engaged in our state’s collision industry for the safety and knowledge of the consumer.” Oldenettel elaborated, “As our mission statement expresses, we are seeking to improve the professionalism and standards of our industry for the betterment of the repairs for consumers within our state. We are planning to host four to six events each year in different areas of Kansas in order to bring in recognized leaders to our industry for the education and development of our profession. It’s

St. Louis I-CAR Committee Meeting Attracts Local Students by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On June 8, the St. Louis I-CAR Committee enjoyed a great turnout of students from Ranken Technical College, local shops and industry groups. Marketing Vice Chair Sarah Young shared, “The continued conversation and outline of the September 21 Career Fair with CREF was a key topic, touching on the importance down the line of vehicle and collision repair. The group discussed the need for education and general awareness to keep building the future of technicians.” Shelly Jones, chair for the St. Louis I-CAR Committee, noted, “I thought the meeting went great. John Helterbrand gave the committee insight on how the classes are going. We discussed where we are with our committee goals for the year. There were many that stayed after the main meeting for

AUTOBODY

the sub-committee job fair meeting. “We are coming down to the wire for those companies that want an ad in our full-color col-

lector item student guide. Every job fair participant receives a copy. Other big news is that this year we have opened up the event to parents of students that attend. This will give parents an idea of the career opportunities in the industry.”

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UPDATED DAILY

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

important for the collision repair industry in Kansas to have our own association because so many issues are legislated on the state level. It’s important to support and understand

what is happening both at the city and state level, and an association will allow us to bring trainers, leaders and speakers to the local level to improve our local industry.” A large topic that the association is currently focused on is ensuring that all collision repair professionals have access to OE repair procedures. “Some OEs made their repair procedures difficult to find, but this is constantly improving as the OEs seek to assist in how facilities are repairing their branded vehicles,” Oldenettel explained. “The best way we can help is to educate our industry on where to find these vital documents.” The biggest challenge that KABA has faced is dealing with the

failure of previous associations because of disinterest or loss of direction. KABA’s leaders plan to overcome that challenge “by staying on task with what our goals are,” Oldenettel reported. “We are not for or against any insurance companies,” he said. “We are not for or against direct repair programs or all aftermarket parts. We are here to promote the proper and safe repair of each and every vehicle that is brought to a shop, and we want to collaborate with the shops that are seeking to ensure safe repairs in these constantly changing times.” KABA’s members include MSOs, dealership shops and independents. The association is dedicated to including the entire state rather than focusing on the larger cities as past associations have done. On July 28, KABA will host a training session with David Luehr of Elite Body Shop Solutions in the centrally located Salina, KS. KABA has been consistently receiving phone calls and emails from repair facilities and vendors looking to partner with the developing association. For more information, visit kansasaba.com or call 316-530-2116.

autobodynews.com / AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

U.S. Marine’s Family Receives Recycled Ride in Burnsville, MN by Unsie Zuege, Chanhassen Villager

A U.S. Marine and his family now have a reliable vehicle thanks to LaMettry’s Collision, American Family Insurance, NABC’s Recycled Rides program and local vendor partners. In appreciation of Staff Sgt. Andrew Vanderplaats of Burnsville, MN, and the military, LaMettry’s handed over the keys to a fully restored 2016 Volkswagen Passat for his family at a May 22 ceremony at the Chanhassen AutoPlex Clubhouse (next to LaMettry’s Collision Chanhassen), according to a press release. The vehicle was donated by American Family Insurance and repaired by LaMettry’s Collision. Vanderplaats, a Minnesota native, enlisted in 2007. “I wanted to find a way not only to better myself, but also feel like I was contributing to a better nation and a better tomorrow,” he said of enlisting. While serving, he met and married his wife, Cassandra. The family spent several years raising three daughters in California before Vanderplaats was selected for recruiting

For his service, Vanderplaats has received the Navy Marine Corps Commendation, three Navy Marine Corps Achievement medals, five Certificates of Commendation and five Letters of Appreciation. He was also selected 2017 Recruiter of the Year. This is the eighth vehicle LaMettry’s Collision has repaired and donated through the National Auto Body CounPictured back row from left are: Darrell Amberson of cil’s (NABC) Recycled LaMettry’s Collision; Staff Sgt. Andrew Vanderplaats, AnRides Program. Recycled drew’s mother Cynthia Vanderplaats and (unidentified). Rides is a nationwide Front row from left are Andrew’s daughters: Tatiana, 7; program of the National Aubrey, 10; and Libby, 12. Auto Body Council in Cassandra recently passed away which collision repair companies, inunexpectedly at the age of 31 from surers, suppliers and vendors collabunknown health issues. The nomina- orate to refurbish and donate vehicles tion committee noted, “Despite car- to individuals, families and service rying the burden of his recent loss, organizations in need. Hundreds of this Marine continues to perform his vehicles are gifted each year across duties, along with taking care of his the country through the Recycled daughters and mentoring those young Rides program. More information men and women he is preparing to can be found at www.nationalauto bodycouncil .org. enter the Marine Corps.” Vanderplaats is being reassigned in June and his family is moving to We thank Chanhassen Villager for reprint permission. Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC. duty in Minnesota in 2015. He is currently serving as a recruiter in Burnsville.

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

Heppner’s Auto Body To Expand in Woodbury, MN by Hannah Black, Woodbury Bulletin

Woodbury, MN, City Council approved a permit on June 13 that would allow Heppner’s Auto Body to expand its operations. The project would add 6,492 square feet to the collision repair shop’s existing location, making it over 17,813 sf. Renovations to improve current structures include replacing 25year-old paint booths and moving air-handling units inside to reduce noise. The city planning commission held four neighborhood meetings to gather feedback on the expansion before unanimously recommending it to the council for approval. Mayor Mary Giuliani Stephens and several council members praised the commission for taking the time to seek approval for the project from people in the neighborhood. “The fact that there are no neighbors here to talk about it shows that everything has been worked out appropriately ahead of time,” said City Council member Amy Scoggins. We thank Woodbury Bulletin for reprint permission.

MVTAP Raises $8,000 for MO-Area High School Collision Programs by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On June 13, the Metro Vo-Tech Assistance Program (MVTAP) raised $8,000 during its annual golf tournament at Meramec Lakes Golf Course in St. Clair, MO.

Proceeds from MVTAP’s golf tournament will assist three local vo-tech collision programs with funds for supplies, equipment and equipment maintenance

According to AASP-MO Executive Director Ron Reiling, who serves on MVTAP’s fundraising committee, “Our 15th Annual MVTAP Golf Tournament proceeds will fund the needs for three area vo-tech high school collision programs. MVTAP will be able to assist the programs with supplies, maintenance of equipment and equipment.” In addition to Reiling, the fundraising committee consists of mem-

bers of the St. Louis I-CAR Committee, including ATI’s Gene Slattery, Ken Kohnen of Snelson Collision Center, Kevin Haller from Schaefer Autobody Centers, State Farm Insurance Retiree Dan Shymanski and ABRA’s Shelly Jones, who serves as WAC’s president and the St. Louis I-CAR Committee chair. “We have a nucleus of collision centers, suppliers and vendors who really work well together for the betterment of all shops in the area. Most are also members of AASP-Missouri’s Gateway Collision Chapter,” Slattery shared. The weather on the day of the golf tournament was warm and sunny with a pleasant breeze, Reiling reported. “Vendors, suppliers, collision shops and supporting partners enjoyed this day of relaxation, camaraderie and fun,” he said. “The tournament paid out cash prizes for longest drive men and women, closest to the pin on several holes as well as two flights of winners and a 50/50 drawing. In addition to a YETI cooler and several other attendance prizes, we awarded over $900 to the winners. “In an unprecedented act of sup-

port for our young people entering into the collision industry, all of the winners donated their winnings back to the MVTAP. We were already very pleased with the event, and all the winners giving back their winnings exceeded our expectations. This is tremendous for our great MVTAP serving the metro St. Louis area. En-

Attendees enjoyed a beautiful day of golfing

terprise Rent-A-Car did an outstanding job of providing food for everyone, and we’d also like to say a special thank you to Original One Parts for their support and participation in the success of this event.” During the 2017–2018 school year, MVTAP awarded three scholarships of $2,000 each to three local vo-tech high school collision programs. “With the success of the tournament and the generosity of the win-

ners, MVTAP will be able to at least match these amounts again for the 2018–2019 school year,” Slattery noted. “When people work together for all the right reasons, problems are solved and people get along much better. This type of event is proof of the commitment to and satisfaction in supporting the future of the collision industry.” Reiling added, “An event like this shows what we as an industry can accomplish when we all work together; we are providing excellent opportunities to students interested in entering the collision industry as a profession. “We have partnered with Gateway Motorsports Park, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and the NHRA/ARMY Y.E.S./STEM programs to put on an excellent job fair track side. Over 1,400 students from area vocational tech schools from Missouri and Illinois attended last year’s NHRA Gateway Nationals drag races. In 2018, we are projecting 14 vocational tech schools to participate and having upwards of 1,500 students who will be interviewed by 30 to 35 partners who will be conducting interviews with them during the event.”

autobodynews.com / AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

Body Shop Owners Take Over Organizing Rushford Days Car Events in MN by Staff, Bluff Country Newspaper Group

The always-popular Rushford Days car events in Rushford, MN, are entering a new era. Leigh and Kayla Volkman of L&L Volkman Auto Body Repair are taking over organizational duties from Pam Brand, who started the Car Cruise and Car Show 10 years ago.

Kayla and Leigh Volkman

After the 2017 Rushford Days Car Show and Car Cruise, Brand approached the Volkmans and asked if they would be interested in heading the events in the future, starting with 2018. Both Leigh and Kayla had an extensive background in autos, so Brand thought they’d be a good fit. They welcomed the opportunity. Leigh now heads the committee in charge of the Rushford Days Car Cruise and Car Show events. New Look for the Car Cruise The Volkmans are working with the committee to oversee the car events, which include the addition of a new major sponsor, Adam Engelhart of AAA Restoration. This year’s cruise was held on July 18 at 6 p.m., and began at the Rushford American Legion. For just a $10 entry/participant fee attendees received a t-shirt and dinner provided by Fred Engelhart, following the cruise, at Engelhart Performance on Highway 16 east of Rushford. Music was provided by “Last Call Meldahl.” The format of the cruise has changed since years past. Instead of making multiple stops, there was only one stop for dinner at Engelhart Performance. Because the event was held on a weeknight, the length of the cruise was limited to one hour to allow people time to attend. These changes were the result of feedback from various cruisers. As always, the cruise is a great opportunity to get 10

out and enjoy the cars and the beautiful Rushford area.

Car Show Format This year’s Car Show offered a few changes to encourage more entries and appeal to a larger crowd. There were no judges for the vehicles. Cars, trucks, semis, motorcycles, etc. of all years were welcome. People with rides that they are proud of felt comfortable dusting them off (when necessary) and bringing them to this fun event. The first 75 vehicles to pre-register were given dash plaques. Sponsor representatives looked over the registered vehicles and each was awarded one 5” x 7” plaque for their favorite vehicle in the show. Vehicles did not have to be in any specific condition, rating or stage of restoration to be awarded a plaque. The events remained kidfriendly and family-oriented. Participating vehicles ranged from old survivors in original shape to high-end expensive models. It takes a lot of work, time and money to restore, customize or build these rides, not to mention to maintain them to keep them running and looking good. The public wants to see what vehicles are out there, sometimes hear them run or even hear each one’s special story. People of all ages (and kids) enjoy seeing these vehicles as much as the owners have pride in showing and driving them. Volkmans Have Rich Automotive Background The Volkmans are from the Rushford area and grew up in the automotive world. Both have been involved in repairing and restoring various autos and classics, not to mention car shows and cruising. Leigh also raced for 15 years. Leigh retired from racing four years ago and bought the established auto body business (L&L Volkman Auto Body). The Volkmans restored a 1969 Gran Torino that they had purchased in the spring of 2016 after it had been severely devastated in a barn fire. By the July 2016 Rushford Days Car Show, they were able to show the car, with most exterior work completed while awaiting the interior work. Rushford Days 2017 Car Show found the car on display

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

with the total restoration completed. The Volkmans realized that showing their restored car was an excellent way to show off their abilities. They are currently working on Kayla’s recent acquisition of her dad’s 1970 Chevelle SS (Super

Adam, Amy and Annie Engelhart

Sport). Kayla grew up helping her dad with this car. He used to race it at tracks around Wisconsin, often with her in tow. Her parents were cruisers too. Since the Volkmans attend numerous cruises, shows and auto events, they are quite familiar with how car enthusiasts’ events work and what makes them successful. When asked what one word came to each of their minds to describe these auto

events and processes, their responses were: “beautiful” and “entertaining.” Car enthusiasts would most likely agree. Vehicles can be beautiful, and the events are entertaining and just plain fun. Besides handling the Rushford Days Car Events, Leigh continues to work on various auto makes, years and models in his auto body business. The oldest vehicles he has worked on (so far) are customers’ 1920s models. Frequently, the business does paint jobs on older vehicles and classics. Some of this work will be seen as some of the customers’ cars and trucks head for car shows this year. Currently, they have two classics they are working on for customers. One job in the shop, a white convertible 1970 Cuda, is for a repeat customer. The other is a supercharged 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk. Hopefully, these vehicles will be showing off their work in future Rushford Days Car Shows and Cruises. See Rushford Days, Page 16

autobodynews.com / AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

Church Brothers Collision Repair Car Show Raises $16,000 for Dudley Foundation, IN

The fifth annual Church Brothers Collision Repair Car Show raised $16,000 for the Gary Dudley Memorial Scholarship Foundation. The event was held June 16 at the Church Brothers’ Shadeland shop, 751 N Shadeland Ave. on Indianapo-

lis’ eastside. Approximately 100 vehicles participated in the show, which also served as the official car show of the 88th annual Marion County Fair. Church Brothers Collision Repair matched all proceeds raised by the show through entry fees, vendor fees and donations, and other contributions to bring the total to $16,000. The Gary Dudley Memorial Scholarship Foundation honors the memory of Indiana State Police Lt. Gary Dudley, who was killed while participating in a charity bicycle ride to raise funds and awareness for the state chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) in August 2006. The foundation awards schol-

arships to children of Indiana law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. Fifteen $2,500 college scholarships were presented at this year’s car show. The recipients, their late parents and the police agencies represented included:  Jonathan Bradway (Rod Bradway/IMPD)

(Nick Polizzotto/South Bend Police Dept)

 Josiah Davis (James Davis/Butler University Police Dept)

 Jean Gaston Stehr (Richard Gaston/Indiana St. Police)

the caretaker, thanks to CARSTAR Arnold, MO, and the local rotary club. CARSTAR Arnold owner Heath Harris saw an opportunity to give back to the community when a frequent customer at his Arnold, MO, collision repair facility mentioned an interest in selling her Chrysler Town and Country minivan after a fender bender. Harris purchased the vehicle, and he and his team went to work restoring the exterior, reconditioning it mechanically, detailing it inside and out and securing all safety and emissions inspections. 12

 David Rorex (Dorian David Rorex/Gary Police Dept)

 Sierra Bradway (Rod Bradway/IMPD)

 Nicholas Shaw (Jeffrey Shaw/Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Dept)

 MacKenzie Deguch (PaulDeguch/ South Bend Police Dept)

 Emily Toney (Bill Toney/Beech Grove Police Dept)

 Ashley Long (Brent Long/Terre Haute Police Dept)

 Taylor Winzenread (Andrew Winzenread/Indiana State Police)

 Taylor Heck (Eryk Heck/Allen County Sheriff’s Dept)

 Brooke Pitts (Rob Pitts/Terre Haute Police Dept)  Joe Polizzotto

CARSTAR Arnold, MO, Restores, Donates Car to Deserving Caretaker

One St. Louis-area woman can now safely transport the three young children for whom she recently became

 Lauren Rich (David Rich/Indiana State Police)

Through the local rotary club, Harris learned of an area family who needed larger, reliable transportation. They teamed up to present the vehicle on Wednesday, June 13 at a rotary club meeting. “We’ve always been committed to giving back to Arnold, MO, through a variety of programs,” said Harris. “It was a great coincidence that the opportunity to purchase this mini-van arose at the same time I learned about this woman’s need for trans-

portation. We’re happy to be able to contribute our time and efforts to be able to support her and thankful to everyone at CARSTAR Arnold who helped restore the vehicle.”

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

 Jessica Toney (Bill Toney/Beech Grove Police Dept)

This year’s presentations bring the total amount awarded by the foundation since its inception to nearly $260,000.

Continued from Cover

State Farm Steers

dant steers its customers to its preferred shops that provide discounts. As a result, the plaintiff claims it suffered loss of customers and damage to its business reputation. The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks an order certifying this case as a class action and appointing the plaintiff and its counsel as representatives. Classic Auto Body also seeks an injunction order enjoining the defendant form continuing to divert business from the plaintiff, award for all damages and legal fees and any further relief as the court deems just and proper. It is represented by Alvin C. Paulson of Alvin C. Paulson, Attorneys at Law in Belleville, IL. We thank Madison – St.Clair Record for reprint permission.

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autobodynews.com / AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

ARM Hosts 18th Annual Kent Utter Jr. Memorial Scholarship Outing by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On June 18, the Automotive Recyclers of Michigan (ARM) hosted its 18th Annual Kent Utter Jr. Memorial Scholarship Outing at the Links of Novi Golf Course in Novi, MI, established in memory of the association’s past executive director. His wife, Barb Utter, serves as the current executive director of ARM. “This event is very important to my family since it is in memory of their father and is always held close to Father’s Day,” she said. “My sons play in the event as well as two grandsons, my brother and many family friends each year. My daughters-in-law and granddaughters volunteer, as do other gals who are members of ARM. It is really a very special day for lots and lots of reasons. It is a fun event with a scramble format that allows golfers of all skill levels to participate. While everyone is competitive and likes to win, they know it is a relaxed day on the course. They can create their own foursomes or choose to be paired randomly. In spite of the record hot weather, everyone seemed to have a

great time.” The event attracted a large number of attendees and sponsors who support the golf outing, which is used to fundraise for ARM’s scholarship

The 18th Annual Kent Utter Jr. Memorial Scholarship Outing attracted a large number of attendees and sponsors

program. The program provides financial assistance to dependents of ARM members’ employees for college and secondary education. “We have awarded over 150 scholarships totaling approximately $135,000 over the past 18 years, and we have seven applicants for this coming 2018–2019 school year,” Utter shared. “First and foremost, our members and friends believe in the purpose of this event—to help our employees’ children realize their dreams. Knowing we are able in some small way to help these remarkable students continue their ed-

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

ucation gives us all great joy, and at the same time, we are able to join our fellow members and friends for a day of fun and networking. Our scholarship program is truly a great membership benefit. ARM members truly are very caring and generous. In fact, most of the winners donate their winnings back to the scholarship fund. That’s very special. Even those who don’t play in the event are generous sponsors. “It was everything I hoped for and more. Our chairs, Dave Creedon and Mike Sinta, do a fantastic job for us year after year, so we all know exactly what to expect, and my team of gals who volunteer each year to help me run the non-golf activities are amazing as well. We all have such a good time and look forward to each year as though it is a national holiday since we never want to miss participating. We already have the date for next year’s event—June 17, 2019. We encourage anyone who would like to join us to please do so. It’s guaranteed to be a great time!” For more information about ARM, visit automotiverecyclers.org.

Gerber Collision & Glass Races With Chastain

Gerber Collision & Glass joined JD Motorsports with Gary Keller again to sponsor driver Ross Chastain in Overton’s 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Chicagoland Speedway on June 30. Gerber was also an associate sponsor on the No. 1 Chevrolet of Vinnie Miller. Chastain drove the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller’s No. 4 Chevrolet Camaro. Chastain, having another excellent season, is 12th in Xfinity Series points. Gerber Collision & Glass has been a JD Motorsports partner for eight years. “I can’t say enough about what a great relationship we’ve had with the Gerber folks over the years,” said Team Owner Johnny Davis. Car owners have trusted Gerber Collision & Glass with their auto body repairs and auto glass repair and replacement for more than 80 years. Gerber started with one auto glass and trim shop in Chicago and has spread to nearly 400 shops in 22 states across the country, including more than 60 locations in the Chicagoland area.

MO Shop Owner Educates, Empowers With Wheels, Women & Wine Car Care Clinic by Chasidy Rae Sisk

“I’ve often heard technicians say women don’t belong in a shop—what does that mean? Just do your job, and she’ll do hers!” stated Kim Barks,

Kim Barks, co-owner of Complete Car and RV Repair, hosted a Wheels, Women and Wine Car Care Clinic in May to empower women

who co-owns Complete Car and RV Repair in St. Charles, MO, with her father, Bob. In May, Barks hosted her first Wheels, Women and Wine Car Care Clinic at the shop in an effort to edu-

cate and empower women in their community when dealing with their vehicles. The class attracted 35 ladies, some of whom brought their daughters, inspiring Barks to teach both the current and future generations. She put a car on a lift to show the group how it works, and then talked about the auto body side of the business, including what to do in an accident and how an estimate is written. During the informative class, attendees enjoyed wine and snacks. Barks said, “It was a really nice event, and more people came than I expected. Everyone seemed really excited and eager to learn. The ladies asked a lot of questions, which is great because that means they felt comfortable and in a safe place. I’ve wanted to educate women about their vehicles for years, and Dad has always encouraged it. Women are often the buyers in a family, so shouldn’t they know something about such a major purchase?” Although women outside the industry are often intimidated by the idea of learning about their cars, Barks encouraged them to ask their repair shops to show them what’s

being done and explain why it is needed. “It’s their investment, and they should know how it works. Being educated can save money and prevent problems,” she said. “It’s about keeping families safe—vehicles can be

Barks taught attendees how their vehicles work since she believes women should know more about such a large investment

dangerous, so familiarizing yourself will allow you to know if anything looks, sounds or acts out of the ordinary. There are so many tools and resources available; it’s a shame how few people take advantage of them.” Barks was raised in the automotive industry, but she realizes that many women who may consider an automotive career can struggle to

gain an opportunity to enter the industry. “I encourage women to go to ASE to get an automotive education if they’re interested, but I’m not trying to turn anyone into a mechanic through my clinic,” she said. “I just want to educate them with some hands-on training and give them a chance to socialize with other women in a car-oriented environment so they see that it’s not something to be afraid of. “I think the Car Care Clinic is a great way for women to build confidence and learn that cars are fun! Women are typically quieter around men, but we need to change that to reshape our society. I’ve been around men my whole life, so if you set boundaries and build a relationship with them, they stop seeing you as [just] a woman and realize you’re just here to do a job, same as them.” Barks will host her second Wheels, Women and Wine Car Care Clinic on Sept. 15 at 9 a.m. and is seeking sponsors to help her educate and empower local women. For more information, contact Kim Barks at 636-724-2232 or kimbarks@completestl.com.

autobodynews.com / AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

Continued from Page 10

AASP-MN Raffle Raises $42,000 for Industry Career Promotion

On June 27, the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) gave away a 2012 Custom Fat Bagger Razorback motorcycle and bike trailer in a special statewide raffle held to raise funds for the Minnesota Careers in Automotive Repair and Service (MNCARS) workforce initiative. Dan Gilley, director of RLO Training, was the lucky winner of the bike, which was awarded during a lunchtime reception at the Veit Automotive Foundation Museum in Buffalo, MN. The event, which also provided an exciting tour of collectible cars and automotive memorabilia, was open to anyone who purchased a ticket. Valued at $30,000, the motorcycle and trailer were generously donated by honorary AASP-MN member Roger Bonn (recently retired from Peter’s Body Shop, St. Cloud) and his wife, Jill. The one-owner, original custom-built bike boasts a one-of-a-kind custom paint scheme and only 18,000 miles. Dan, who is from Seattle, purchased tickets earlier this year while in Minnesota to conduct training at the AASP-MN Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference. Now, he and his wife, Paula, will soon have an ex-

citing new addition back home. Not surprisingly, he is thrilled that the prize also comes with a trailer. “I told my wife, ‘If we win it, I can tow it home. It’s a long way from Seattle!’” he said. Launched in January and concluded in mid-June, the fundraiser sold over 2,300 tickets and raised more than $42,000 for MNCARS. Tickets were $20 each or six for $100. “The number-one challenge facing the industry is the availability of a future workforce. MNCARS is all about trying to address that issue and attract young people into our college programs and ultimately into industry jobs,” said AASP-MN Executive Director Judell Anderson. “We had an army of volunteers selling these tickets for the motorcycle raffle. Many active AASP-MN committee members were out on the street selling them to industry vendors and customers. It was really a group effort.” After deciding they were no longer going to ride, the Bonns chose to give one of their three bikes to AASP-MN to use as the Board saw fit to benefit the state’s automotive community. “The association has been so

Man Found Guilty of Joliet, IL, Body Shop Murders Seeks New Trial, Judgment

that was apparently compromised. Krasawski’s sentencing is A Bourbonnais, IL, man found scheduled for August 8. Beck was unable to be reached guilty of killing a man and woman June 26. in a Joliet, IL, auto body Beck previously sought shop wants a new trial or to have the case tossed by judgment, saying proseclaiming there was no cutors failed to prove him physical evidence linking guilty beyond a reasonhis client to Oram’s and able doubt. Willis’ deaths. On June 14, attor“We were surprised by neys for William N. Krasawski, 43, filed a motion William Krasawski, the verdict,” Beck said on for a new trial or judg- 43, Bourbonnais, IL. the day Krasawski was found guilty. “We were ment. In May, a jury found him guilty of murdering Michael R. happy with how the evidence came Oram, 48, of Joliet and Jamie L. in. We truly believed he was going Wills, 43, of Lockport on March 9, to be found not guilty.” In his closing remarks during 2016, inside Fleet Specialty Painting and Auto Body in Joliet. Both were the trial, Will County Assistant found beaten to death inside the State’s Attorney Michael Fitzgerald pointed to the physical and shop. The motion filed by Kra- circumstantial evidence, and tessawski’s attorneys, Alex Beck and timony of expert witnesses on Amy Christiansen, said the trial Wills’ blood splatter found on court erred by denying a motion for Krasawski’s clothes. He also refa hearing, motions to dismiss the erenced Krasawski’s actions after case, objections during testimony the murders. We thank The Herald-News for and allowing an expert to testify about tissue and blood evidence reprint permission. by Felix Sarver, The Herald-News

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

good to us,” Roger said. “I thought this would be a great way to give back and have some fun doing it.” In addition to donating the motorcycle, Bonn brought attention to the fundraiser by spending months towing the bike around to numerous association and industry events, including the Race for Automotive Education event at the ProKART raceway, the AASP-MN Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference, the 2018 AASP-MN Golf Outing, World of Wheels and the “Accelerate the Future” Car & Motorcycle Show at Hennepin Technical College. Founded in 2016, MNCARS was created to ensure a future workforce for Minnesota’s automotive service industry by raising awareness and recruiting people into technical college automotive service and collision repair programs and industry careers. MNCARS helps parents, influencers and students overcome misperceptions of the industry and attract the qualified employees the profession needs. More than $250,000 has been raised to support the initiative in the last two years. More information on MNCARS is available at carcareers.org.

Rushford Days Future Leigh’s vision for the future Rushford Days Car Show and Car Cruise is going to depend a lot on how things go this year. Everything will be monitored for any ideas that may develop as the events unfold. The committee is working with their various sponsors to make these events as enjoyable as possible for the community. The events are to stay family-themed and “fun.” The hope is that they will continue to grow in size as more locals and people from outside of Rushford attend and/or participate. They want to make the events more fun for kids to get them involved. Leigh states that people should be entertained and enjoy going to the events so that they want to come to Rushford to “hang out for the weekend.” Perhaps Leigh summed it up best: “Come out and enjoy yourself.” We thank Bluff Country Newspaper Group for reprint permission.

autobodynews.com / AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

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Continued from Cover

Virtual Visibility

aru customers? According to the reports, the intake process at the shop mirrors that of a dealership’s service drive. Estimators meet customers in the body shop’s service area to review collision damage. A key feature of Subaru’s new certified collision repair program enables customers to use their mobile devices to get daily photos of their vehicle as it goes through the repair process. The software for the program is produced by Audatex, which developed a web portal for Subaru called AutoWatch, allowing customers to get updates by email or text message and to direct questions and feedback to the body shop. Roy Duplantier, vice president

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of business development at Audatex, said, “You can get visibility into the shop virtually, as opposed to having to physically visit every shop.” Collision repair centers that use AutoWatch operate more transparently and tend to repair damaged vehicles faster, Duplantier said. At the same time, the collision repair program allows Subaru to monitor a shop’s repair practices and ensure it is complying with the certified network’s standards. “We get collision center statistics with cycle time and everything else that they’re doing,” said John Lancaster, Subaru of America’s national wholesale parts manager. “We also get customer satisfaction information, and the customer gets great communication out of it.” We thank Torque News for reprint permission.

AUTOBODY

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Heckley Auto Adds Auto Body Repair to Menu of Services in Woodburn, IN by Staff, The West Bend News

All people are born with some sort of special talent or gift. When that gift is your passion, it makes what you do seem less like a job and more like a pleasure.

Todd Heckley has been doing auto body work for the past 33 years in Fort Wayne. In early June, he left his long-time position to begin a new chapter in his career. In June, Todd joined his brother, Kevin, at Heckley Auto in Woodburn, IN. Heckley Auto is a family-owned local company that

has offered service and repair on all makes of cars and trucks since 1993. In 2014, Kevin expanded the business to include pre-owned vehicle sales. He is expanding once again with the addition of Todd to include collision and body repair. Todd attended Ivy Tech and received his degree in auto body technology in 1985. He has stayed current with the latest in innovative technology in his field since then. He has been married to his wife, Sue, for 30 years. They have four children and two grandchildren. Todd is a master craftsman when it comes to working with any type of medium. He has a strong work ethic, which is what drives him to continually offer the best outcomes for his customers. His reputation is one of integrity and good moral character, and his wife says he is not hard on the eyes. Heckley Auto is located at 4706 N State Rd 101 in Woodburn, IN. We thank The West Bend News for reprint permission.

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Abra Expands in IN With Acquisition of Church Brothers Collision Repair

Abra Auto Body Repair of America, a collision and auto body repair company, is pleased to announce its expansion in Indianapolis with the acquisition of all six Church Brothers Collision Repair locations.

Abra first entered the state of Indiana in 2012 with the opening of a franchise location in Kokomo. It has since added 14 more centers, primarily in the Indianapolis area. The addition of Church Brothers brings Abra’s total to 21 locations in Indiana. The six new Abra locations will be known as “Church Brothers, an Abra Company” for the foreseeable future. They will be staffed by

the same experienced employees, and customers will receive the same service on which they’ve come to rely. Church Brothers Collision Repair was founded in 1929 and has been family-owned for three generations, becoming a household name in the Indianapolis area. With repair centers in Avon, Castleton, Greenwood, Zionsville, downtown Indianapolis and on Shadeland Ave. in Indianapolis, the company has gained a reputation for quality repairs, caring customer service and a commitment to the communities it serves. Church Brothers co-owners Dan and Rhonda Hall and their family said that they have selected an outstanding company to shepherd their firm as it approaches its 90th year. “We are confident that we have partnered with a company that will continue our superior quality of workmanship and with excellent service focused on always satisfy-

ing the customer,” Dan said. “Given these hallmarks, we see Church Brothers Collision Repair continuing to the century mark and beyond.” “I’m really impressed with the employees at Church Brothers,” said Jim Kessler, Abra’s chief operating officer. “For almost 90 years, they have been serving their neighbors, and it’s an honor to carry on that legacy. We all look forward to welcoming them to the Abra family in Indiana.” Abra has its own history as a collision repair provider of choice, growing from a single location in suburban Minneapolis in 1984 to more than 350 locations in 27 states today. “We have built strong partnerships with insurance carriers with a commitment to helping our customers through a stressful period after an accident. We look forward to continuing to provide that same care in these newest locations,” said Kessler.

www.autobodynews.com

AASP-MO Hosts Gateway Chapter Meeting by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On June 20, AASP-MO hosted a Gateway Collision Chapter social event at Redfield Collision. According to AASP-MO Executive Director Ron Reiling, “Everyone who attended had a great evening at this social event for members.” More than 70 automotive industry professionals attended the event. “Greg and Amy went all-out for this social event, which included a live band, BBQ, refreshments and a great time to catch up with fellow members and like-minded professionals,” Reiling shared. “We try to do social events every so often to provide an opportunity for our members to recharge their batteries with other like-minded professionals in a great environment. Plus, it gives them the opportunity to see what fellow members are doing in their shops that could help to make an improvement in their shop or vice-versa.” For more information on AASPMO, visit aasp-mo.org.

autobodynews.com / AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

Police Investigate 2 Major Car Vandalism Sprees in Columbus, OH by Lu Ann Stoia, WSYX

There are no leads so far as police continue to investigate dozens of cases of car vandalism in German Village and the south side of Columbus, OH.

clean up the spray paint on Sycamore Street. Brennan Winkler said he is dismayed by the damage. “This is not my car,” he said. “I borrowed my dad’s white car to go on a camping trip. We couldn’t fit everything. I was pretty bummed

Dozens of cars in German Village and Clintonville, OH, were found vandalized July 10 with either spray paint on them or damage from "keying." Credit: WSYX, WTTE

Detectives want to know if the crimes reported July 10 could have been done by the same people who spray-painted and “keyed” at least a hundred cars on the north side and Clintonville area this weekend. People were busy trying to

when I saw this happen to my dad’s car.” Winkler was using soap and water to scrub off the black paint. “I just looked it up on Google and there are some really good forums with auto body shops that

Regional Association Event Announcements: August 2018 by Chasidy Rae Sisk

Please see below for upcoming regional automotive association events. AASP-MN To Host Night of BBQ and Horse Racing Fun On the evening of August 22, AASP-MN will host a fun evening of BBQ food and horse racing at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN. Attendees will enjoy a delicious BBQ featuring burgers, brats, grilled chicken, calico beans, coleslaw, chips and dip, fresh fruit, cookies, ice water and lemonade. Tickets are available for $38. For more information, visit aaspmn.org. NCACAR’s 3rd Quarter Meeting The North Carolina Association of Collision and Autobody Repair (NCACAR) will hold its third quarter meeting on August 16 at the CPCC in Fayetteville. The evening’s featured speakers will include Mike Cassata and Doug Irish. For more information, visit ncacar.com. AASPI Golf Outing On August 2, AASPI will host its 2018 Golf Outing at Old Orchard 22

Country Club in Mt. Prospect, IL. The annual event usually attracts more than 100 attendees for a day of food, fun and golf. Proceeds from the event benefit the association’s legislative initiatives with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Misericordia Heart of Mercy. Registration for the 18-hole four-person scramble costs $140 per golfer and is available at aaspi.org.

ASA Northwest To Host Annual Golf Tournament, Family Fun Night August will be a busy month for ASA Northwest. The association will host its Annual Golf Tournament on August 8 at the Eagles Pride Golf Course in Dupont, WA. A variety of contests will be held and prizes will be awarded. Proceeds from the event will benefit the ITEC Education Scholarship Fund. On August 23, ASA Northwest will host its Family Fun Night at Cheney Stadium. It will feature an allyou-can-eat BBQ buffet during the game between the Tacoma Rainiers and the Reno Aces. For more information on these and other association events, visit asanorthwest.com.

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

said start with soap and water and if not, try to find some type of acetone,” he said. “I hate to say [that] I was young once too, and I found stuff that was like this entertaining. So there is a part of this that I wonder if it is just coming back to me to get me on the other side. But you know, I wish people could find better things to do.” CPD Sgt. Jason Ayers said officers noticed a pattern in the cases. “The light-colored vehicles seemed to be getting spray-painted, where the darker-colored vehicles were getting keyed,” said Ayers, who believes somebody was in the passenger seat of a car, window rolled down, with spray paint and sharp objects. “By the time you roll down the street, you are going to get 30 cars in 60 seconds,” said Ayers. Police said they hope residents review and provide home surveillance video that could lead investigators to the culprits. The vandals could face felony charges. We thank WSYX for reprint permission.

CARSTAR St. Louis Holds Bumper Repair Class

On Thursday, June 21, the CARSTAR St. Louis Business Group, in coordination with 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division, put on a bumper repair class for area CARSTAR locations. The event was held at CARSTAR St. Peters, MO. Area CARSTAR owners, estimators and CSRs attended the class for training on plastic parts repair with the technical experts from 3M. Attendees learned valuable solutions with an informative presentation and hands-on instruction on how to properly repair plastic bumpers. “We are committed to providing the highest levels of collision repair, and this demands ongoing training on repair solutions as vehicle design, materials and technology evolve,” said Dean Fisher, COO of CARSTAR. “Many thanks to our partners at 3M for sharing their time and expertise. Trainings like this help our locations improve their performance and their profitability.”

autobodynews.com / AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

Industry, Membership Respond to ASA-Midwest Disaffiliation, Member Choice

Shop owners and industry suppliers throughout the country have responded in strong support of the recent announcement of “member choice” that was instituted in ASAMidwest. Effective Sept. 14, former ASAMidwest members will have the opportunity to select their membership level. This “member choice” option would not be available if ASA-Midwest remained an affiliate of the national organization, as ASA National’s affiliate agreement strictly mandates membership on all levels. The industry has responded to the disaffiliation announcement with overwhelming support, with comments including “seeing your association make this move signifies growth and change in the industry and the push to keep moving forward”, “a step in the right direction”, “keep me posted as I too am interested in turning the page and moving industry onward and upward”, and “a well thought-out plan with accountability to your members—that is the only road to success.” The ASA-Midwest board voted unanimously to empower its members and provide them with a choice of membership levels, while also re-

alizing that this decision would change the brand of their organization. “By changing the name of our organization to Midwest Auto Care Alliance™, we have empowered our members, as well as future members, to select their membership participation based on their personal needs

and experience. This is a business decision [that] should be available to all members and holds each member-based organization accountable for the programs and services that they offer in return for their dues,” stated Jerry Holcom, president of ASA-Midwest and owner of S&S Service Center in Kansas City, MO. The national Automotive Service Association recently announced the continuance of the affiliate name with a new chapter, also named “ASA Midwest,” to begin after ASA-

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The Boyd Group Inc. recently announced the July 6, 2018 opening of a collision repair center in Brunswick, OH. The center previously operated as Schade’s Auto Body and has served the city of Brunswick for 25 years. Brunswick is the largest city in Medina County and is located approximately 20 miles southwest of Cleveland. This new repair center is located less than three miles from the well-traveled Interstate 71, running from Cleveland, OH, to Louisville, KY. “With the opening of this location, we continue to strengthen our position in the Ohio market,” said Tim O’Day, president and COO of the Boyd Group. “This center is one of many strategically situated repair locations outside of Cleveland from where we can provide excellent service to our customers and insurance partners.”

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Midwest’s departure in September. Effective Sept. 14, the well-known ASA-Midwest affiliate will be renamed Midwest Auto Care Alliance™ (MWACA). “Don’t be confused. The same great leadership of area shop owners and managers will all move over to the new regional MWACA association. Our new organization will remain focused on membership, local training and events, and legislative initiatives which led to the success of our original ASA-Midwest affiliate,” Holcom stated. As the co-founder of the annual VISION HiTech Training & Expo event, Holcom also confirmed that there would be no impact on the organization’s upcoming VISION event in March 2019. Additional information and membership opportunities will be announced over the coming months as ASA-Midwest begins the launch of Midwest Auto Care Alliance™ on Sept. 14. For more information, about the new MWACA, industry professionals can visit www.mwaca .org or contact the ASA-Midwest headquarters located in Gladstone, MO.

Gerber Collision & Glass Opens Location in Ohio

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AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

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Morrill Collision Repair in KS Continues to Grow After 17 Years

Morrill Collision is excited to enrich its “family-owned-and-operMorrill Collision Repair Inc. has ated” status by welcoming Jerome been in business for 17 years. In Teeter’s wife, Cynthia, to its fullthose 17 years, it has grown from a time office staff. She will be taking simple collision repair shop employ- on the roles of towing department ing its two owners to a respected, dispatcher and coordinator, as well as parts manager. Cynthia is completing her degree at Calvary University and will be graduating with an associate’s in business. At the end of last December, Morrill Collision fulfilled its goal of entering the heavy-duty field of towing and recovery by purchasing a 2018 Freightliner Heavy Wrecker. It is an exMorrill Collision Repair: front row (l-r): Jordan Teeter, tremely versatile piece of Jessica Teeter, Daniela Rippe, Lindsey Jeffery, Melanie equipment that enables Teeter and Lonnie Teeter; back, Jerome Teeter, Jared users to tow anything from Millsap and Greg Dettmann. Submitted photo a pickup/trailer combinamultifaceted business employing tion to a semi. The heavy-duty side of nine staff members that include four towing adds new and weightier reshop techs and a full-time estimator. sponsibility, as it brings a higher level The little body shop has ex- of danger to the tow calls. Considerpanded to a top-of-the-line collision ing this, Morrill Collision drivers repair center with a rental car serv- went through two levels of Wreckice and a fully equipped towing and Master courses, learning in-depth safety measures and proper scene roadside assistance branch. by Joey May, Hiawatha World Online

Gerber Collision & Glass Opens Repair Location in IN

assessment procedures. The collision shop has also added an enclosed trailer to its fleet, enabling its employees to efficiently transport motorcycles in a way that will protect them from the elements. Throughout the next year, it is Morrill Collision’s goal to achieve the GOLD level in its I-CAR certifications. Each staff member will be attending classes of different kinds in areas such as frame repair, auto body repair and estimating. An important part of Morrill Collision Repair is that its employees are active learners in their field. It is the people with whom they work and for whom they work that they are thinking of as they continue to seek out the best products and safest procedure for what they do. We thank Hiawatha World Online for reprint permission.

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The Boyd Group Inc. recently announced the July 10, 2018 opening of a collision repair center in Elkhart, IN. The center previously operated as Duncan RV Repair. This location is uniquely equipped to provide Recreational Vehicle (RV) repairs and upgrades. This repair center’s specialized features, services and technicians, many of which are certified by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), attract customers from across and outside of the state. Elkhart is located approximately 150 miles north of Indianapolis and 100 miles west of Chicago. “Adding specialized repair centers like this new Elkhart location have been an effective way for us to differentiate our offering in a region, attract a dedicated customer base and enhance our brand recognition,” said Tim O’Day, president and COO of the Boyd Group. “We have built a leading position in the Chicago/Northwest Indiana region, and this location increases our capacity to serve our customers and insurance providers’ needs for both RVs and heavy trucks.”

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P HONDA ILLINOIS

Honda Superstore of Lisle Chicago/Suburbs

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

Schaumburg Honda Automobiles Schaumburg

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

Basney Honda Mishawaka

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

Bob Rohrman Honda Lafayette

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 Highland

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 ACURA ILLINOIS

Acura of Libertyville Libertyville

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

Arlington Acura in Palatine Palatine

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

Joe Rizza Acura Orlando Park

708-460-6369 708-403-7770 Dept. Hours: M-W 8-5:30; Thu 8-7 F 8-4:30 Sat 8-2 acuraparts@rizzacars.com

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

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

MISSOURI

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Victory Honda

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Roper Honda

Plymouth

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Milwaukee

800-824-4646 734-453-3600

800-731-8270 314-731-8270

877-244-6632 417-625-0846

888-318-1671 414-586-5401

Dept. Hours: M 7:30-8; Tue-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-4 Karl_messer@victoryplymouth.com

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

Dept. Hours: M, W, Th, F 7:30-6; Tu 7:30-7; Sat 9-1 dvice@roperauto.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7-4; Sun 8-4 hondaparts@russdarrow.com

Zeigler Honda

Ed Napleton Honda

Kalamazoo

St. Peters

888-342-1678 269-585-5812

800-875-4190 636-928-4400

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Dept. Hours: M-Sat 7-6 gethondaparts@napleton.com

M I N N E S O TA

Brookdale Honda Brooklyn Cente r

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

Buerkle Honda St. Paul

800-592-9514 651-484-0975

Frank Fletcher Honda Columbia

573-818-3650

St. Louis

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

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

816-452-3221

Richfield

Buerkle Acura

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

OHIO

Columbia Acura Cincinnati

800-717-3109 763-488-1122

800-654-3553 513-530-0698

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

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5:30; Sat 8-12 columbiaparts@mail.com WISCONSIN

Bloomington

Troy

B e d f o rd

800-509-9057 440-786-3363

Minneapolis

866-475-9280

Acura of Troy

Jay Honda

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

Luther Bloomington Acura

MICHIGAN

OHIO

Akron

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

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330-633-8197 330-633-6060

MINNESOTA

Mullerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Woodfield Acura

Lincoln

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

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-9; Sat 8-4 wildehondaparts@gmail.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-5:30; Sat 8-6 ianw@hondaofomaha.com

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Morton Grove

Omaha

888-408-0911 402-408-1100

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847-470-2309

800-526-3209 262-542-9300

Frank Leta Honda

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McGrath Acura of Morton Grove

Waukesha

Superior Honda of Omaha

Honda of Lincoln

Dept. Hours: M-Thu 8-9; F 8-6; Sat 8-4:30 hondaparts@buerkle.com

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Wilde Honda

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Russ Darrow Honda

800-451-5078 952-887-0600 Dept. Hours: M 6:30-6; Tue-F 6:30-9; Sat 8-4 parts@bloomingtonacura.com

Acura of Brookfield Brookfield

800-383-3936 262-439-6029 Dept. Hours: M-Th 7:30-6; F 7:30-5; Sat 8-4:30 patrick.murphy@zimbrick.com

800-935-0923 248-643-0900 Dept. Hours: M 7:30-8; T-F 7:30-6; Sat 10-3 parts286@acuraoftroy.com parts287@acuraoftroy.com autobodynews.com / AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

In Reverse with Gary Ledoux

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

The 1940s – Part 2 – New Products, Higher Speeds By 1943, WWII was in full swing. There were no new cars; tires and gasoline were rationed, and the American public wasn’t driving very far ... or bothering to renew their auto insurance. Many drivers felt there was no point if you couldn’t drive. Sales of auto insurance policies were down 11 percent compared to the prior year for all mutual insurance companies, except State Farm—which was up considerably. In early 1939, State Farm Founder and President George Mecherle launched a sales campaign called A Million or More In ’44, an all-out initiative to have a million or more auto insurance policies in force by the first quarter of 1944. At the outset of the program, State Farm had 476,638 policies in force; it had taken the company 16 years to get there. Now, only five years after the start of the program, and despite a raging world war, State Farm had added another 524,001 polices for a total of 1,000,639. State Farm was now the single largest insurer of automobiles in the U.S. George Mecherle noted that people had come to appreciate the value of auto insurance. Driven by Mecherle, State Farm agents were very aggressive. Some early collision industryrelated companies were born during this time. Mill Supply Company of Cleveland, OH, provider of replacement body panels, was founded in 1942, and the Schofield Manufacturing Company was founded in 1943. Both manufactured steel replacement panels for popular model cars. These were designed primarily as rust replacements, but no doubt were used in some collision work. The Marson Company, best known for body fillers, was founded in 1948. Steck Manufacturing, known for its specialty body repair tools, was founded in 1949. New products were introduced as well. In 1946, DuPont introduced Duco Metalli-Chrome paint, a luminescent lacquer that seemed to

change color depending how light reflected off of it. They were only available in darker colors, however, such as dark gunmetal gray or dark brown. In 1948, Reynolds Aluminum introduced a metallic flake for use in automotive finishes. By the early 1950s, Reynolds, Alcoa and others had developed improved metallic flakes for automotive paint. This, together with improved paint resins, started the industry on a road to a vast array of colors and color effect. True body shops began to emerge after the war. Some shops began specializing in low-priced to medium-priced paint jobs and started attracting a lot of business—so much so that in some shops, two painters worked on the same car at the same time to increase the shop’s volume. A mid-priced paint job in the mid1940s was $49.95. Materials cost $8, and two painters working together could prep, paint and finish eight cars per day, or one each working hour. In 1947, the Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI) was founded as a nonprofit automotive industry trade group to help promote the proper use and upgrade of tools used in the automotive repair trade. The first PBE-only jobbers began to appear to service the burgeoning collision repair business. Prior to this time, the collision repair trade had been served by jobbers who typically served the mechanical repair market as a primary customer. During the war, American citizens had to observe 35 MPH as the “Victory Speed” to save gasoline for the war effort. After the war, the “Victory Speed” was no longer in force, and people “drove with wild abandon” across America. It became a free-for-all on America’s highways, and nobody knew this better than Mecherle. In 1944, during the height of the war, State Farm processed 293,045 loss claims for auto insurance. In 1946, State Farm processed 648,609 claims! State Farm had to immediately hire more help and

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

more office space. But it wasn’t easy. The war effort had called 951 State Farm employees to service, many of them key managers and trainers. It took until the end of 1948 to “right the ship” and bring things back to normal—but it would be a new “normal.” In the prior two years, State Farm had seen some of the worst losses ever, draining 40 percent of the reserve funds used to pay claims. For a few months in 1946, State Farm was hemorrhaging money at the rate of $1 million per month! Moving forward, the cost of claims had to be mitigated—but how? Soon, a plan developed. State Farm would no longer insure a car more than 8 years old. They would no longer insure anyone under 21 (unless the family already had a SF policy), nor would they insure anyone over 70 years of age. State Farm also took a different tact in their advertis-

ing. To educate consumers about the huge cost of claim losses, starting in 1946, State Farm’s message was to drive carefully, reduce speed and avoid accidents. They said that State Farm auto insurance was one of the best bargains available, but it would only stay that way if the accident rate stopped rising. The company began cooperating with the National Safety Council and International Association of Police Chiefs in running safety campaigns. Then in 1949, after 27 years in operation and becoming the largest insurer of automobiles in the nation, State Farm Insurance decided it was time to have its own network of fulltime agents at the local level that would handle policy sales as well as claims. Up to this point, everyone had been part-time or handled State Farm policies as a side job, not as a See The 1940s – Part 2, Page 44

June Hail Storm Causes Most Significant Damage Since 2004 in Spencer, IA by Colin Van Westen, The Daily Reporter

By July 4, repercussions from the hail storm that had struck the Spencer, IA, area on June 8 were still being felt through the number of repairs at local auto businesses and claims filed with insurance companies in the area. Community Insurance of Spencer estimated it will pay out more than $4 million in client claims, while local body shops estimated individual claims to range from $1,000 to as high as $15,000. An average at Don Pierson Ford is between $5,000 and $7,000 in damage. “This was very unusual,” said Insurance Associates Producer Elizabeth Bohnenkamp. “This hail storm was crazy. We sat there on Friday night when it started to hail and got our watches out and started timing it. Usually hail lasts about seven minutes. This was 22 minutes of solid hail. It started about pea-sized and got all the way up to golf ball-sized. It was really severe in its damage.” Insurance officials and auto re-

pair experts agreed the extent of damage done to homes and vehicles varied greatly, depending on where the claim originated. The most severe damage came from the west side of town. The most notable damage was done to building roofs and vehicle bodies, including window moldings, roofs and

hoods. Auto body specialists at Don Pierson Ford, H&N Chevrolet, SS Collision and Ken Borth Auto gave varying estimates of when the hail damage traffic will conclude, with most predicting sometime in August at the earliest and into October at the latest. Asher Motor Company could not be reached for comment. Don Pierson Ford Body Shop Manager Justin Lode noted his

workload had increased “10 times” since the storm. He added that much of the work is handled by paintless dent repair specialists. “We get a few hail jobs every summer from around the area, but we haven’t had a big hail storm in Spencer since May 21, 2004,” Lode said. “That was a big one. Back then, paintless dent repair wasn’t as popular, so the repair process drug out a lot longer. If it is a paintless dent repair [job], there is a matrix that we use. It is a chart we go off of, taking into account the amount of dents and the size of dents. If it is aluminum, it is usually 25 percent more than what the chart says. It depends upon the vehicle. Everyone is different.” Community Insurance President Scott Simpson noted that policy rates for those who filed claims are likely to increase. Bohnenkamp said rate increases are based on the amount of claims made by the insured in the last three to five years and do not usually increase until renewal of the policy term. “Claims paid by insurance com-

panies will typically cause insurance companies to raise their rates a bit,” Simpson said. “We are blessed in Iowa to have some of the lowest insurance rates in the country, but when major claim events occur with millions of dollars paid out by insurance companies, their rates will increase a little.” Bohnenkamp said policy specifics and the coverage level of the insured varies. “All homeowners’ policies will have the coverage for the wind and hail,” Bohnenkamp said. “Sometimes their deductible will be different for all other perils. Sometimes you will see $1,000 for all other perils but $1,500 for hail. Sometimes it is just a flat deductible. On the auto policy, they would need to have physical damage coverage, so they would need to have comprehensive coverage. If they don’t have that in place, then they are not going to have any luck turning in a hail claim. If they have the comprehensive coverage, they are subject to that deSee June Hail Storm, Page 50

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Historical Snapshot with John Yoswick

—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.

A Decade Ago, a Different National Association Sought to Replace its Executive Director Study” published by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR). The report blasts the parts certification process, concluding that “certification has no value to the customer … If there are problems with the certified product, the certifying entity does not stand behind their own certification process.” Legislation enacted in 2001 authorized $125,000 to be spent by the BAR, a sub-agency of the California Department of Consumer Affairs, to study the best process for certifying crash parts and to designate the agency to bear responIn 2008, Oklahoma shop owner Gary Wano served on the sibility for overseeing crash board of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) as parts certification. For two it sought a new executive director following the resignation and a half years, the BAR of Dan Risley held meetings with repair“Our national advertising cam- ers, insurers, OEMs and aftermarket paign is helping drivers realize the parts certifiers. It sent out surveys to savings from dealing directly with auto body repair shops and conthe company and the convenience of ducted field tests on crash parts. In 24-hour service, seven days a week,” the end, the BAR reached several said Bob Miller, a GEICO regional conclusions, most notably: vice president. “The company adds more than 10,000 new drivers each • Elimination of non-certified aftermarket crash parts is not a viable week.” GEICO grew by 10 percent in option. Outlawing non-certified af1996 and 16 percent in 1997. Its termarket parts (as suggested by growth reached 18.9 percent during CAPA) would make the market less the first quarter of 1998. It ensures competitive and leave a shortage of such parts. more than 4.5 million automobiles. – As reported in The Golden • Certification does not protect Eagle. GEICO has continued to grow consumers from poor quality parts faster than most other auto insurers; … If the certifying entity warranted by last year it insured more than 24 their certified parts, it would provide million vehicles owned by its more “added value” to the certified part than 15 million policyholders. It and protect consumers against poor passed Allstate in 2013 to become the quality parts. second-largest auto insurer in the U.S. It still trails State Farm by 5.3 The study compared the CAPA Qualpercentage points of market share, ity Seal with the well-known Good but if its current pace of growth con- Housekeeping Seal of Approval. The tinues, GEICO could surpass State Good Housekeeping seal carried a limited warranty stating that if any Farm in less than a decade. product bearing the seal proves to be 15 Years Ago in the Collision Repair defective within two years of the date of purchase, the product will be reIndustry (August 2003) Aftermarket parts manufacturers and placed or the purchase price refunded. “If CAPA or Global Validators CAPA are likely vexed by the newly released “Crash Parts Certification feel their certification parts fit the 20 Years Ago in the Collision Repair Industry (August 1998) GEICO Direct, one of the country’s fastest-growing auto insurers, reached a milestone when it recently added its 3 millionth policyholder.

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

criteria of their certification program, why don’t they stand behind their certified parts?” the BAR report asks. – As reported in Autobody News. 10 Years Ago in the Collision Repair Industry (August 2008) The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) has issued a call for applicants following the resignation last week of its executive director, Dan Risley, after almost eight years with SCRS. Some critics of the association say they were not surprised to learn that Risley accepted a position with Allstate Insurance. But most interviewed about the announcement echoed the comments of Oregon shop owner Patty McConnell. “So sad to see one of our best advocates going over to the ‘other side,’” McConnell said. “Our industry cannot compete with insurers in

terms of pay plans, retirement plans and other benefits. Another sad day for this industry.” SCRS Chairman Gary Wano said Risley told the SCRS board his decision to accept the job was not an easy one but “would be best for him and his family.” Risley, who lives in the Chicago area not far from Allstate’s headquarters, is the second high-profile member of the industry to join Allstate this year, following Chad Sulkala, an SCRS and I-CAR board member who left his family’s collision repair business in Boston for a position at Allstate’s home office. – As reported in CRASH Network (www.CrashNetwork.com), August 19, 2008. SCRS later in 2008 hired Aaron Schulenburg as its new executive director, a position he still holds. Risley spent five years as a project manager with Allstate, then in

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2013 joined the Automotive Service Association as executive director. He left ASA this summer to take a position with CCC Information Services. Sulkala continues to work for Allstate. 5 Years Ago in the Collision Repair Industry (August 2013) In a 20-page report released last week, the Center for American Progress (CAP) says the alleged conflict of interest by an Illinois Supreme Court justice who voted in 2005 to overturn the $1.18 billion non-OEM parts verdict against State Farm raises troubling issues about the legitimacy of the judicial process. State Farm is accused in a lawsuit filed in 2011 of giving millions of dollars to third parties who then gave that money to the election campaign of Justice Lloyd Karmeier. Following his election to the Supreme Court, Karmeier was among the justices who voted to overturn the verdict against State Farm in a class action lawsuit (Avery v. State Farm) over the insurers’ use of non-OEM parts. “The facts surrounding the Avery v. State Farm case prove that unlim-

ited direct contributions to candidates have the potential to create conflicts of interest that cause the public to doubt the integrity of judges,” the CAP report concludes. “The current Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) lawsuit can unearth the truth about State Farm’s actions.” Karmeier stands for re-election next year, and the plaintiffs in the current RICO lawsuit have told the judge in the case that it is their “stated intention” to question Karmeier under oath about the allegations in a deposition. – As reported in CRASH Network (www.CrashNetwork.com), August 19, 2013. The trial in the RICO case involving State Farm’s alleged role in Karmeier’s election is slated to begin in early September. Body

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Auto Body Shop Owner Sued by Fire Victims in Wilmington, IL by John Ferak, Joliet Patch

Richard Morfoot and Shannon Crane Morfoot have filed a civil lawsuit at the Will County Courthouse blaming the owner of an auto body shop in Wilmington, IL, for their burns, pain and suffering. The fire occurred on May 27, 2017 at the home of Gordon Gleich, located in the 23200 block of Strip Mine Road in Wilmington. The lawsuit states that the Morfoots were moving a generator and connecting it to an electrical supply at an auto body shop owned by the defendant at the same address. A water heater and boiler were also in the same room as the generator, the lawsuit noted. Both items had gas-fired pilot lights. As the Morfoots were moving the generator to connect it to the electrical supply, “a can of carburetor cleaner improperly placed on a shelf in a room with open pilot lights fell off the shelf onto the generator and split open,” Morfoot’s lawyers noted. A fire broke out.

“The plaintiff, Richard Morfoot, suffered extensive and severe burns and smoke inhalation, causing hospitalizations [and] extensive medical bills and has become sick, sore and disabled,” noted attorney Michael Gahan of the Joliet law firm of Kavanagh, Grumley & Gorbold. The lawsuit also states that Shannon Crane Morfoot “suffered extensive and severe burns and smoke inhalation, causing hospitalizations ... Shannon Crane Morfoot moves this court for entry of a judgment in her favor and against the defendant, Gordon Gleich.” Besides “failing to warn the plaintiffs of the presence of flammable compressed liquids in a confined room with open pilot lights,” Gleich “was otherwise careless and negligent in failing to provide a safe work environment for the plaintiffs,” the plaintiffs’ lawyers argue. We thank Joliet Patch for reprint permission.

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Shop Management

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

with Ed Attanasio

Reward, Motivate Your Employees Without Breaking the Bank I interviewed a body shop manager a few years ago who told me that he motivated his people through fear. Everyone who worked there was scared of the guy and as a result, productivity was high, but most of his crew eventually left after 1–2 years. I asked him why he managed his people this way, and he said that he tried be a mentor and a friend to his employees for a long time, but most of them took advantage of the situation and his business suffered. He realized that when people fear for their jobs, they will work harder with better results. He admitted it created a lousy environment, but at least he was getting his money’s worth out of everyone, he reasoned. Dr. Nancy Friedman works with huge automotive corporations to help them with their morale and often focuses on incentive programs that are designed to motivate and retain top employees. She has seen every form of employee management out there, so she knows what works and what does not. “Motivating through fear is normally from the old, old school and it seldom works,” she said. “It also creates a very unpleasant atmosphere and turnover. There are much better ways to get folks to do what you need done.” With a shortage of qualified people in this industry, managers can’t act like Attila the Hun anymore. A good tech or estimator is worth its weight in gold, so keeping your best people is more important than ever. Rewarding your employees for their outstanding performance is one way to keep your crew happy and engaged, but many managers think it will cost too much or require too much time. But in reality, you can reward your employees for their good work without it costing you an arm and a leg. So, here are some ways to motivate your employees that will cost you very little while creating a positive and productive working environment. Based on experience, happy employees don’t send out resumes and are less likely to get poached by

your competitors.

Make Work Fun Again! Why does everyone have to be so serious all the time? It’s easier to introduce some fun into your crew’s daily activities and lighten up the mood. Some shops encourage their employees to come into work early by offering them special treats and reward zero absenteeism, while others include games at lunch or during breaks to alleviate fatigue and encourage interaction within the crew. Dr. Friedman believes that this approach can work, but in moderation. “There’s an old saying: ‘Find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life,’” Dr. Friedman said. “So no amount of games, activities, etc. can replace loving what you do, because if you do what you love, that’s the real fun. I have seen these incentives work at some shops, but in the end, the motivation needs to come from your employees themselves.” Keep Everything Positive Some shop managers call their employees out on the carpet whenever they do something wrong, but that won’t build morale. Everyone wants to do a good job, so when they fail, they don’t want to be embarrassed in front of their fellow employees. So always follow the classic management rule of ‘praise in public and criticize in private’. Conversely, if someone goes the extra mile to do an outstanding job, praise them in front of the crew and give them the kudos they deserve. “Even a good technician or estimator will make a mistake now and then, so don’t be too critical and overbearing when it happens,” Dr. Friedman said. “Stay positive, but don’t coddle them and communicate what you want to say behind closed doors if at all possible.” Talk to Your People Some bosses only communicate with their employees when they’re talking

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

shop or assigning tasks. Getting to know your people is a key way to connect with them and retain them for the long run. Casual conversation and learning about your employees will foster stronger bonds and enable them to feel like they are members of your team. If you keep it impersonal, even your top employees can start to feel isolated and eventually look elsewhere for work. “Some shop managers think they don’t have enough time to talk to their employees, but it’s an important part of creating a positive climate, so finding the time is essential,” Dr. Friedman said. “Being nice to your people isn’t difficult, but you also have to know when to be direct, and that way you’ll gain their respect and keep them onboard.” Create a Wall of Fame I have been to a few shops where they

have photos of their employees on the wall in the reception area honoring them for their best work and other achievements, such as passing a training program. People appreciate being appreciated, and it’s something easy to do. Your customers can also then see that you value their work, which creates a sense of security in the consumers’ eyes. “This is a great idea because everyone wants credit for doing a good job,” Dr. Friedman said. “It might also be nice to let employees put up notes, emails and other things they get from happy customers. They are the ‘real’ fans. It makes employees feel good as well, seeing the accolades they created.” Special Days Off It may not sound like much, but allowing your employees to leave early See Reward, Motivate, Page 36

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National Associations with Chasidy Rae Sisk

Chasidy Rae Sisk is a freelance technical writer from Wilmington, Delaware, who writes on a variety of fields and subjects, and grew up in a family of NASCAR fans. She can be contacted at crsisk@chasidyraesisk.com.

ASA Hosts Road to Great Technicians Webinar With CARQUEST’s Chris Chesney On June 20, the Automotive Service Association (ASA) hosted a webinar called “The Road to Great Technicians” with Chris Chesney, senior director of customer training for the CARQUEST Technical Institute. Attendees qualified for one credit from the Automotive Management Institute. After ASA Vice President Tony Molla introduced the webinar’s presenter, Chesney recounted his collaboration with the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) to identify the Road to Great Technicians. They began in March 2016 when NASTF’s Spring General Meeting focused on the topic of building a road to great technicians. Chesney was asked to explain the current state of the aftermarket training industry. He defined the current state of aftermarket training as a lack of industry standards and a structured career path, unorganized training offerings, and disjointed efforts by industry organizations. However, he also identified many good building elements. Current problems in the industry include the inability to find new talent, graduates not performing to industry standards, an inability to afford techs and the amount of time is takes to replace a technician or advisor who leaves a company because companies do not build bench strength. Chesney stressed, “You have to invest in those new technicians, but many shops cannot find someone who can perform out of the gate, so we need to focus on growing our own and building our bench strength to overcome this problem. We have a need now for the next several years. Reports indicate that we need 80,000 technicians each year, but only 25,000 are being produced.” Chesney identified the aging workforce, oncoming tidal wave of technology and lack of a structured career path as reasons for the significant needs for technicians. Focusing on the influx of technology, he explored the unseemly amount of data that is transferred within modern vehicles.

Diag.net’s Scott Brown, WTI’s Mark provide the right skills to students. Chesney explained, “They’re Warren, NASTF’s Donny Seyfer, ASE’s Trish Serratore, S/P2’s Kyle producing the wrong technicians beHolt, DrewTech’s Bob Augustine cause we aren’t involved. We have to and Cengage’s Erin Bren- be involved. We need to design a curriculum for schools and employers to nan. Exploring possible solutions to the industry’s problem, this group defined 13 solution elements, starting with new and enhanced communication with parents and influencers of pe- ensure that, regardless of where techripheral students, early nicians work, they are uniformly The Road to Great Technicians team’s vision for the future engagement with tactile trained for the skill level. We have to of automotive education culminates in the idea of the students in middle and high provide people with the opportunity Automotive Institute of Science and Technology school, support of STEM to grow throughout their careers.” the Technician Life Cycle, which in- and development of a well-articuThe team also believes that the cluded the following seven steps: sec- lated career path with clear opportu- industry needs to provide internship ondary shadowing, post-secondary nities for advancement and growth experience, develop programs to intern, entry-level apprentice, techni- that students and parents can see. help in-service technicians become cian, senior technician, master techniThe industry also needs to get mentors, and ensure that testing and cian and specialist; however, he noted involved with vocational education certification programs are uniform that this does not include possible “off content to ensure these programs and tiered to provide milestones for ramps” on the Road to Great Technicians. Occurring after an industry professional becomes an entry-level technician, these “off ramps” include in-service continuing education and higher education, which can offer technicians a variety of paths to pursue in their careers, ranging from master technician to shop foreman to shop owner or even becoming an engineer for an OEM. In a January 2018 meeting, the education team at NASTF identified a subcommittee of industry experts tasked with creating a framework of education around the life cycle of a At Richfield - Bloomington Honda we maintain a technician and other job roles within comprehensive inventory of high quality, Honda the industry. This framework is inGenuine parts. Our Honda Parts professionals tended for curriculum providers to are here to answer your questions. Overnight use in order to offer a career pathway parts ordering available. that means something to the industry and is transferrable throughout the Parts Dept. Hours industry. The group began with the Mon.-Thu. 6:30am - 9pm vision that they would prescribe deFri. 6:30am - 6pm grees of competencies at every skill Sat. 6:30am - 5pm level, focused on the safety and reliPhone: ability of the ground vehicle fleet. This Road to Great Technicians Fax: 612.866.9915 team consists of NASTF Chair Mark Start something special! Saxonberg, Toyota’s Jill Saunders, 501 West 77th St. • Richfield, MN 55423 WTI’s Rob Morrell, CTI’s Chris Chesney, NACAT’s Bill Haas, of “It’s not the problem of education,” he said. “It’s our problem, and we’re going to look into that.” Chesney presented a picture of

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achievement. Employers also must find ways to provide wages and benefits that are competitive with other industries attracting the same individuals. “As technicians progress through their career, it is imperative to communicate career options to ensure they don’t leave the industry,” Chesney elaborated. “Vehicle technology has accelerated to unprecedented levels, necessitating faster and more thorough technician skill development to ensure public safety. To add further credibility and value to the process, NASTF is encouraging practical examinations similar to other safety-related skills as a means to verify requisite skill level attainment. Currently, this is not regulated and we cannot keep up with the advancing rates of technology, but we need a way to prove our skills and be prepared for what’s coming, not merely what is on the road right now.” The current state of industry education is outcome-based and not sufficient to serve today’s technology. The future of education must be competency-based with a focus on mastery of skill and validation of a

technician’s mastery and development of skills that are recognized and transferable. A competency-based education offers a variable class structure and the ability to test out of the subject matter at different levels, enabling students to finish as they are able.

ist technician. According to Chesney, “Each step would require a variety of requirements as far as training and experience. They would also require mastery of competencies using curriculum provided by the industry, to include mentoring, demonstrated

The Road to Great Technicians team identified a roadmap that includes off ramps instead of a straight path in hopes of identifying a tangible career path for those entering the automotive industry

The Road to Great Technicians team defined a new NASTF Technician Life Cycle that includes seven steps: apprentice technician, maintenance technician, service technician, repair technician, diagnostic technician, master technician, and special-

skills and self-paced curriculum. Finally, technicians seeking to advance would prove their skills through oral and hands-on exams.” Continuing the work they have started, the team plans to provide the industry with a white paper by the

end of the year, but they encourage the industry to comment and opine. While the team will be limited in size in order to maximize effectiveness, they encourage industry professionals to join NASTF and the NASTF Education Team. The group’s vision for the future of automotive education culminates in the idea of the Automotive Institute of Science and Technology, which would include a pathway education in a project-based environment. In ninth and 10th grades, students would sample each pathway through projects designed to highlight the different aspects and career fields before choosing a specific pathway in 11th grade to focus on in their final two years of high school. Their choices would be automotive technology as a trade, business, or engineering. While obtaining their associates degree, students would enter the discipline of their choice, working in shops to gain practical experience while simultaneously acting as mentors to younger students. Chesney concluded the webinar with a question and answer session.

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Tips for Busy Body Shops 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.

How To Increase CSI, Encourage Repeat Business and Differentiate Your Shop During a recent webinar, Nick Schoolcraft explored the three most common causes behind unfavorable customer interactions at collision repair facilities. He also shared tactics and tools to help attendees overcome these obstacles to enhance their businesses. With more than 15 years of customer experience and marketing consulting, Schoolcraft, president of Phoenix Solutions Group, said that by having a deeper understanding of your shops customer’s needs, above what is constituted as standard industry CSI, a shop can begin to develop a better overall experience for its customer. He said detailed research and a customer-first mindset should be the first thing a shop does when looking to improve satisfaction, increase sales and differentiate itself from the competition. “Shops that focus on the customer and exhibit empathy see an increase in repeat rates up to 30 percent,” said Schoolcraft during Dave Luehr’s Elite Body Shop Solutions webinar held in May, titled “What is Driving Poor Collision Experiences.” “Seventy percent of repeat customers choose a shop based on how they feel they were treated in the past; however, what’s more interesting is that nearly 65 percent of collision customers are lost because of indifference from the repair facility.” Eight years ago, Schoolcraft was hired by Accenture, a global consulting company, where he worked with major automotive brands, insurance companies and multinational brands to help them develop better customer and employee experiences. In 2017, he joined his father’s company, Phoenix Solutions Group, a marketing firm dedicated exclusively to the collision repair industry. Founded in 1988 by Steve Schoolcraft, the company focuses on developing data-driven marketing and customer experience strategies that help auto body shops grow collision sales while increasing their customer and employee satisfaction. The insights he shared during the webinar were based on research

gathered from 30 years of PSG research as well as his work at Accenture. “Most in the industry would agree that customer expectations are changing at a rapid pace,” he said. “Customer expectations have become less ‘siloed’ in that they no longer differentiate between you and the retail store down the street.” He said this is why it’s imperative that collision facilities focus on enhancing their overall experience, from accident to post-repair.

Q: A:

Why do body shops have these issues?

It’s important to understand that customers are stressed out when they are involved in an accident. When people are in stressful situations, they tend to glom on to experiences that are very comfortable and familiar to them while seeking out people they trust for advice. This is incredibly important because we’re facing an era where you aren’t just measured against your competition anymore; instead, you’re stacked up against brands that might not even be seen as a competitor. It has been shown that 87 percent of consumers measure all brands based on the interactions they have with companies like Amazon, Netflix and Starbucks. Therefore, it’s important to pay close attention to how these brands interact with their customers and make sure that every interaction you have mirrors those of these customer experience leaders, which are typically simple, effective and satisfying. A great example of how this is starting to impact our industry is with manufacturers looking to take control of the entire vehicle experience by introducing things like subscription leasing. Cadillac, Porsche, Mercedes and even Lincoln are using this subscription model to provide customers with flexibility in the type of vehicles they drive, simplified interactions by providing complete insurance coverage and other benefits

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

like concierge services. Most importantly, they provide a personalized experience through a deep understanding of their customers’ needs. That is why it’s more critical today than ever before to truly understand your customers’ needs. The concern for a lot of people is how the collision industry measures customer interactions and satisfaction, which today is incomplete. Standard industry benchmarks don’t reveal how well you deliver on the customer’s expectations of the entire repair experience, which are more driven by emotion than simply your shop’s ability to meet the delivery date. Most shops are missing out on vital insights like how well the shop sets expectations, what would have improved the experience or why the customer chose them in the first place. Not having these details limits your shop’s ability to differentiate itself, resulting in stagnant sales

growth. In a survey conducted by Phoenix Solutions Group, it showed that 67 percent of customers mention average experiences as a reason for not returning to a shop; however, only one out of 26 customers complain about the experience, which inflates everyone’s CSI. This is why our research methods take a much more direct approach at answering the question: What does exceptional look like, and how do certain elements throughout the repair impact the overall perception? Having a really strong understanding of how everyone in your organization is interacting with customers, as well as where the experience falls short, will deliver better overall value for your shop—all of which are left out of today’s standard industry CSI. Our voice of customer research provides shops with a 360-degree

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view of how their customer feels about the overall experience and why they chose the shop, ultimately enabling us to align sales strategies that fit the customer needs better— resulting in greater customer retention and increased sales.

Q: A:

How can a collision repair business really grow?

It starts with understanding if your shop is exceptional or average. Do you know what is needed over and above the general expectations of the repair experience? It should start with understanding why people choose your shop, then developing your sales tactics and marketing to match that need. Align your shop’s value proposition with what the customer wants and accept that it isn’t just quality or a DRP that sells. Shops should recognize that marketing your shop should begin the moment a customer picks up their repaired vehicle. Sadly, the industry’s answer to this is to elicit online reviews followed by generic emails two or three months after the repair. It needs to be much more than that, and it should be centered around delivering a personalized message that is unique. Consumers live in an incredibly loud and fragmented world full of advertising messages. They receive thousands of messages every day from advertisers, mostly through digital platforms. Only about 2 percent of consumers view or take action on those. Think about how much smaller that percentage is for a niche product like collision repair. However, it’s not all doom and gloom. The messages that tend to rise to the top are the ones that are personalized, unique and relevant to the customer. The reason for this is because consumers are seeking out companies that connect with them on a deeper level than just trying to get them to buy something. The returns and benefits of personalized marketing tactics (letters, relevant social media posts, community events, etc.) typically outweigh the benefits of standard marketing (email, SEO, text messages, etc.) 10 to 1. This is because personalized marketing allows you to address what is often called the “emotional motivators” of the purchase decision. These motivators 42

are typically questions like: How simple will this shop make it for me? Will I be satisfied working with this shop versus the shop next door? Do they seem to care? Your customer wants to find somebody they can trust and who they believe has their best interests at heart. Again, this is an emotional event and not something they do often. Finding comfort is a critical part of their purchase decision. This is further validated by our research, which shows that when you align with your customers’ emotional motivators, you can remove the weight the customer puts on questions like ‘What happens if you are not on my insurance’s preferred list?’ or ‘Why is your estimate higher than the estimate from the other shop?’ The reason why connecting the emotional motivators is so critical is because everybody wants to buy from people they like. Understanding these motivators requires a shop to take a different approach than relying on standard industry CSI. Unfortunately, shops focus solely on things like online reviews to help solve this problem. What should be considered with this strategy is that online reviews become obsolete when everyone in the market has four stars or higher. While online reviews do play a part in the collision purchase journey, our research shows that less than 1 percent of collision customers use online reviews solely as the reason to choose a shop. Generally, we have found that people will consult a trusted resource first, then do research online and use Facebook or online reviews as a validating factor for their decision. This purchase behavior is why understanding what customers desire from the experience is so critical. These insights allow you to apply logic across your initiatives to make sure you are differentiating your shop and not wasting precious marketing dollars on perceived silver bullets.

engaged employees.

How to break the “transactional” mindset:

Customers feel processed. Think about what a customer goes through after an accident; they talk to a police officer, then the insurance company and finally end up at a shop to get an estimate—all of which have their own processes. Body shops can be the biggest offenders of the process mindset, mostly because shop processes are typically defined by an insurance partner, not by the shop itself. These requirements become increasingly apparent with the lack of continuity shops exhibit with customers, followed by their overall poor communication scores. This alone puts shops in a tough situation of developing a deeper bond with the customer. The goal should always be to find a way to develop a seamless interaction throughout all four parts of the collision experience: collision, estimate, repair, and post-repair. When you do so, you can drive incremental gains for your business and be seen

more as a trusted partner rather than a service vendor. Some tactics that we offer our customers to overcome process are:

1) Make it easy for customers: Connect as frequently as possible to keep customers updated; help them understand the expectations up front and provide service options, such as better hours. Consider implementing technology to help triage their situation before they arrive at your shop. 2) Give customers control: Educate customers about what is about to occur throughout the process and validate their preferred method of communication. We often suggest incorporating visuals to help customers fully digest the repair experience. 3) Personalize the experience whenever possible: Ensure team members know what is going on with the repair; simulate other personal experiences the customer might have such as the checkin/check-out process at a hotel and

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What are the top customer issues in regard to the repair experience?

From our research, there are three: customers feel their interactions are transactional, the delivery experience is rushed or transaction-focused and overall poor customer service driven by poorly

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understand their needs and incorporate them into every conversation you have with them. 4) Never automate support: Technology should complement human interaction, NOT replace it. It has been shown that 83 percent of consumers in the U.S. prefer dealing with a human when going through an emotional event. Automated support requires a deeper understanding of the customer to be effective. 5) Communicate with care: Be customer-first and communicate issues quickly; focus on the outcome, not the problem; be consistent and show compassion. Customers will be more emphatic toward the approach than the resolution if you communicate throughout the entire experience. How to improve the delivery experience The second issue we often see is a poor delivery experience, which in PSG’s philosophy is the most critical part after the sale of the job because it is the last chance you have to make

an impression on the customer. The delivery of the repaired vehicle is the shop’s last chance to solidify a relationship with them and/or to redeem yourself for any issues that happened during the experience. Unfortunately, most shops believe they have this locked down. What we have found is that the opposite is true. In a recent study of customers who had a repair six months prior, only 20 percent could remember the shop’s name. While that stat is scary, it further validates that most shops fall into the ‘average’ category and haven’t done anything to really differentiate themselves. This research is why we believe the delivery process is one of the most critical parts of the repair experience. Typically, a customer is greeted, the shop reviews the paperwork, asks for the deductible and after all of that they ask the customer if they want to see the repaired vehicle. The missing piece is shops don’t put the customer into a familiar experience that allows them to feel more at ease. Think about how you purchase most items; do you typically pay before you see the goods? Would you pay for a meal

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Phoenix Solutions Groups’ tips for a better delivery experience:

1) Prepare: Be ready for the customer. Always quality-check the car to ensure it is clean, ensure staff is available and familiarize yourself with the customer file. 2) Greet and review job: Don’t make customers wait for more than five minutes. The first thing should always be to walk them out to their vehicle and resell the job with enthusiasm while pointing out your craftsmanship!

3) Review paperwork and transact: Go over the warranty coverage and any additional paperwork before collecting the funds; ask if they have questions; thank them for their business and explain how the survey in-

formation will help your shop become better.

4) Stay in touch: Rather than relying on online reviews and digital communication, the more personalized the interaction is, the more connected the customers feel.

With 42 percent of customers returning to a shop based on the impact left on them, a better delivery process will not only help a customer remember your shop—it will also help with repeat and referral business. This should always be the focus of any shop because it is incredibly expensive to acquire new customers— five to 12 times more than it does to retain existing customers.

How to enhance your customer service through better employee engagement: Money is a critical component to employment. Everyone works to get paid, but it’s not what drives great employee engagement. A recent study showed that appreciation for the work people do and good rela-

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tionships with their colleagues are critical elements to delivering great employee engagement. What this means is that it comes down to the shops’ culture. Culture is a defining factor of great organizations that deliver great customer experiences. According to John Hopkins University in 2015, 95 percent of employees value culture over salary. What’s important to note is there’s not just one thing that creates culture—it’s many things working together. You want to have people working with you who understand the industry, but also have a clear view of how their job affects the business as a whole. We’ve found that shops that centralize the employee with the customer will see higher productivity, higher profitability, an increase in collision sales and higher referral rates. We’ve also seen better employee engagement leading to better business metrics— like 17 percent higher productivity. Phoenix Solutions Groups’ tips to enhance your employee experience: 1) Empower your people: Ensure employees feel essential to what they Continued from Page 36

Reward, Motivate

on birthdays and anniversaries is a sure way to win hearts and thereby increase productivity. Also, many shop managers give their people “mental health” days off and will accommodate things such as doctor’s appointments, visits to the DMV and other tasks that require time off. Another solution that works at many shops is offering flexible hours, as long as it does not negatively impact their production. Some employees will take advantage of this system, so managers need to monitor this approach carefully. “Some shops have reported that closing an hour early is as important as a day off,” Dr. Friedman said. “That’s an easy one and your employees will appreciate it, especially if they have a long commute.” Keep Your Office Door Open Give your employees the confidence to walk up to you whenever they have a concern, and be as transpar44

are doing every day and inspire them; employees need to feel trusted so they can come to you with questions and feedback. We work with shops to redefine their mission statements to incorporate the employee’s voice, as well as utilize customer comments and research to help empower the employee base. 2) Teach the “why,” not the how: Provide your team tools and solutions to help solve the issues they face by understanding what is occurring in your shop; invest in consistent coaching and training and lead rather than mandating actions to achieve a better outcome. Using an employee engagement survey like the one we use with our customers helps determine the needs of your employees, which is critical in developing a better strategy and training curriculum.

for fun during and after work; and support staff with tools and resources. Remember, recognition and rewards do not always have to be money—people like to be treated fairly and recognized by their peers.

4) Create a transparent world where you foster growth, collaboration and trust: Keep staff informed about the business and inspire collaboration; ensure they are aware of how their role aligns with goals of a body shop; and encourage them to be transparent to customers during the repair process. The more the customers are informed and the employees are aware of what’s happening, the more encouraged they are going to feel in their interactions with customers. This strategy can be easily implemented through the development of a more robust surveying and research solution.

3) Reward and recognize regularity: Acknowledge employee contributions and utilize customer feedback to appreciate good work; ensure your team is unified to help them thrive; provide opportunities

How shops can make this repeatable and part of their organizations

ent as you can in this regard. Encourage them to come up with new ideas and solutions, and let the younger employees pitch to the crew without getting negative feedback from your veteran employees. Some shops schedule semi-regular brainstorming sessions where your people can throw around ideas anonymously so that no one gets judged or marginalized for their enthusiasm. “This does not mean that you have to literally keep your office door open,” Dr. Friedman said. “But letting employees know that you will always have time for them is important. Not rushing them when they stop to talk is also key. In many cases, the best ideas will come from your employees during these open- door conversations.” You don’t always have to increase salaries or pass out hefty bonuses every time your crew is in the need for some motivation to work hard. Communicate with them, understand their cause for worry, add in some fun, make the work environment light and healthy, and you will retain your employees longer while improving their productivity.

Continued from Page 28

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

Q: A:

It starts with understanding your customers and how your

The 1940s – Part 2

full-time profession. It was decided, “The ideal agent was to be a man with at least a high school education, but preferably a college man. He was to be a man of integrity and standing in his community. Once he joined State Farm, he was to be educated in the techniques of insurance as well as trained in the skills of selling it, so he would be thoroughly aware of the nature of the product he was offering the public. He was to know the intricacies of life insurance, a field where policies are far more complex than auto insurance. And he was to know about fire insurance.” Finally, a story about the formation of the collision repair industry in the 1940s would not be complete without mention of Glenn Mitchell—a parts counterman at a

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different segments are looking at your business. Once that is done, you can then better address training challenges that are critically important to your shop, which will help you drive a seamless experience. Once you find a way to incorporate that into your daily operations, there is tremendous business value to be unlocked. You’ll drive greater retention, increase advocacy and most importantly you’ll enrich the lives of your employees because they are indeed the foundation of any successful business. The more you can improve their lives, the better your overall metrics will be— top line and bottom line. To watch a replay of this webinar, visit https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/ register/7978064457470349825.

For more information about Elite Body Shop Solutions and to sign up for the next monthly webinar, email info@elitebodyshopsolutions.com. For more information about Phoenix Solutions Group, contact Schoolcraft at 847-764-8079 or visit www.phoenix solutionsgroup.net/grow-sales.php San Diego Chrysler-Plymouth-DeSoto dealer who founded Mitchell Manuals in his garage in 1946 by creating an easily used parts catalog for collision repair estimating. Mitchell had the idea of arranging collision parts by the quadrant of the car rather than by component groups, as in manufacturer catalogs. Eventually, aided by Duke Norman in 1958, he added labor and paint times, which enabled a body shop or insurance company to do a repair estimate and generate a bill of materials and work orders. Prior to this time, a body man would “guesstimate” labor by dollar amounts—as in $25 to hang the fender and $20 to paint it. They would then call the vehicle dealer for the parts prices. It was a laborious process, and the shop never really knew if they were making any money on the repair or not. But Mitchell’s idea, born in his garage in 1946, changed an entire industry.

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Auto Body Attorney with Bruce Roistacher

Ask the Auto Body Attorney: August 2018 I am excited to initiate this monthly column that will keep shop owners up-to-date regarding important legal cases, rules and regulations, and new operating procedures that affect our industry. I seek to do this in plain English and answer any questions that shop owners around the country may have regarding the above. Obviously, I cannot give any legal advice and this column will consist of my own opinions regarding legal issues.

The State Farm Case That Never Seems To End The State Farm non-OEM crash parts lawsuit has taken many winding turns. A trial on an important issue is scheduled to begin on Sept. 4, 2018. During the last court appearance, the Illinois Supreme Court indicated that it will be notifying consumers who were insured by State Farm and had non-OEM crash parts installed in their vehicles between July 28, 1987 and Feb. 24, 1998 that a class- action lawsuit may affect their rights. You may recall that there was a $1.05 billion damage award in favor of approximately 4.7 million State Farm policyholders regarding those non-OEM crash parts. The class-action lawsuit involves everyone who prevailed in the Avery, et al v. State Farm $1.05 billion lawsuit, which was subsequently overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court following the election of Chief Judge Lloyd Karmeier. According to the plaintiffs, Karmeier should have recused himself because (and get this) State Farm contributed more than $4.8 million to Karmeier’s election. Of course, both State Farm and the good Judge deny any wrongdoing. However, the lawsuit is seeking new damages of $7.6 billion for the entire class. I will keep you informed as to the status of this case, which is sounding more like a television series on Netflix. Litigation Across The Country Is On 46

The Rise Suing Insurance Companies For: •

Short Payments

•

Steering

• • •

Capping Of Labor Rates Totaling

Unfair Negotiations

In New York, Nick Orso’s Body Shop of Syracuse is suing for nearly $3 million from State Farm, Allstate and Adirondack Insurance Companies. The suit alleges capping and short payments from the use of PaintEx and other labor itemization methods. The lawsuit is similar to Leifs Auto Collision Centers of Oregon wherein Leif Hansen alleges that insurance companies are practicing “triple D” tactics, i.e., deny, delay and defend. The issue is usually about labor rates and insurance companies attempting any tactics that they can get away with to save money. In many of these cases, the issue of assignment from the insured to the body shop becomes a legal issue. Therefore, it is good practice to make certain that your assignment will pass legal requirements. I will keep you abreast of the outcome of those cases and include a sample assignment that I would use in New York. (Please consult an attorney in your state.) In Missouri, a shop, i.e., collision company, filed a lawsuit under an assignment of proceeds for his customer seeking monies from an alleged short payment by GEICO. The case involved a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt rear-ending a 2016 Ford C-Max on Oct. 21, 2017. GEICO wrote an estimate for their policyholder of $3,850.22. Unfortunately for the shop, which disassembled the car and determined the damage was $13,409.66, the initial estimate was a “joke” according to the shop’s owner.

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

Bruce Roistacher has tried in excess of 100 jury trials in federal and state courts. He is a former NYC prosecutor and has previously represented insurance companies, which can be a great advantage to his automotive clients. Bruce can be reached at Bruce@AutobodyAttorney.com or by phone at 866-Law-MANN.

GEICO upped the estimate to $6,338.36, which still was short and led to the lawsuit that demanded $10,415.49, i.e., the difference from GEICO. This case reflects the issue of body shops doing total disassembly in order to accurately determine the amount of damage. Insurance companies are generally opposed to that process and apparently would rather “guess” the amount of damage. In addition, GEICO and other insurance companies routinely question the hourly labor rate charge of the body shop. I will keep you posted on that lawsuit and others that are noteworthy around the country. Big Brother May Be Knocking At Your Door OSHA recently beefed up its outreach and made a list of the fol-

lowing problem areas for shops to watch:

• Respiratory protection is the most common area of OSHA’s issuance of penalties and fines. By the way, the average fine for OSHA violations is more than $4,500 per shop. • Hazard communication was also an area of concern. Therefore, it is a good idea for your shop to have a written program advising employees on harmful substances with which they may come in contact and, of course, supplying adequate protection—for example, a sign requiring safety glasses where your employee might perform a potentially dangerous procedure that would affect his eyes. Also, be cognizant of chemicals that are used in

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Center for Auto Safety Renews Call for Ford Recall According to a press release from The Center for Auto Safety, on July 2, the second anniversary of NHTSA’s opening an investigation into occupant exposure to exhaust and carbon monoxide in 1.3 million Ford Explorers, NHTSA failed to complete its investigation and Ford failed to fix the problem. Based on the extraordinary danger posed by prolonged exposure to exhaust fumes and the repeated complaints from consumers who, despite receiving the repair, are still being exposed, the Center for Auto Safety sent a letter to Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Hackett asking for a recall before tragedy strikes. In the nine months since Ford’s Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP17N03) was released stating that the vehicles were “safe,” Ford has continued to refuse to acknowledge that there is any danger relating to exhaust fumes being regularly inhaled in the interior of these vehicles, stating that carbon monoxide levels do not “exceed what people are exposed to every day.” Yet for “peace of mind,” Ford

offered a no-cost service reducing the potential for exposure for MY 2011-2017 Explorers. However, it appears many Ford owners are far from “satisfied.” Ford owners continue to file complaints with NHTSA about exposure to exhaust and carbon monoxide in their Explorers. Scores of consumers, even after receiving their “peace of mind” fix, continue to report experiencing the same symptoms as before their visit to the Ford dealership. “With all due respect to the efforts undertaken by Ford, and NHTSA, over these last two years, the continued complaints and corresponding reports of incidents and injuries demonstrate that the problem of carbon monoxide exposure inside Ford Explorers has not been resolved,” said Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety. “Based on the number of new complaints NHTSA has received, the problem seems to continue in MY 2018 Explorers, suggesting that the issue apparently has not been designed out of the vehicle. We urge

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NHTSA and Ford, on behalf of Ford’s customers, and everyone with whom they share the road, to act before tragedy strikes.” According to the Centers for Disease Control, excess exposure to CO is responsible for more than 400 deaths annually in the U.S. Carbon monoxide poisoning is often referred to as a “silent killer” because, unless mixed with other gases, it is odorless. What makes the exposure so dangerous is that the symptoms (loss of consciousness, nausea, headaches or light-headedness) mimic flu-like symptoms and therefore delay accurate diagnosis of the root cause of the injury—elevated levels of CO in the victim’s blood. Further, as the victim is often unaware of the immediate cause of their injury, CO exposure can be an unsuspected culprit when no expected source is recognizable, leading to underreporting of incidents. It is easy to imagine a roadside crash caused by CO exposure resulting in a serious injury or fatality being written off as “drowsy driving.” Appropriately, the Ford Explorer

owner’s manual contains the following warning: “Do not drive your vehicle if you smell exhaust fumes. Carbon monoxide is present in exhaust fumes. Take precautions to avoid its dangerous effects.” Yet, in response to reports of exactly this circumstance since at least 2012, Ford refuses to properly protect its customers. In July 2017, NHTSA indicated that the most likely culprit for the exposure of Ford consumers to potentially lethal amounts of carbon monoxide was cracked exhaust manifolds. Nonetheless, Ford issued a customer service program (CSP17N03) focused on less expensive and potentially less effective repairs such as reapplying weather sealant and reprogramming the climate control in order to give customers “peace of mind,” but stated the “vehicles are safe.” The CSP did not vary dramatically from previous technical bulletins Ford has quietly been issuing since 2012 to address the same issue. (See: TSB 14-0130, and TSB 16-016.) See Ford Recall, Page 51

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Day Job/Night Job

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

with Ed Attanasio

Career Estimator Works for SF Giants in Security When George Melendez isn’t writing estimates at Regal Collision in Vallejo, CA, he is working as a security specialist for the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.

pions.” Melendez’s biggest champion is his father, who introduced him to the body shop business in 1983 even though his plans were not headed in that direction initially. “I was fresh out of the service and wanted to be a San Francisco cop, but while I was waiting to enter the academy, my dad asked me to come work with him at his body shop, G and M Auto Restoration,” he said. “I started liking it and decided that I wanted to be an estimator, so I went to V-Tech, a school in Fresno, CA, to learn the trade. I noticed George Melendez is the head estimator at Regal Collision that most of the other stuin Vallejo, CA, and also works for the San Francisco Giants dents that were there were as a security specialist training to be insurance adWhen he works at the shop, he is justors, so I learned about estimating estimating the costs of repairing a and how their business worked as damaged vehicle. When he performs well. I learned how to estimate from his role for the Major League SF Gi- the front bumper to the back bumper ants, he is using similar skills, he said. and everything in between, and the “When I do an estimate, I’m education I got there was invaluthinking about potential issues with able.” the car that may not be easy to find After just one year on the job, and make sure I look for every- Melendez was already running the thing,” Melendez said. “When I am shop, a position he held for the next working for the Giants, I am also 12 years. looking for issues that might occur in “I want to thank my father for different parts of the stadium. In both giving me a career in this industry,” positions, I have to be thorough and he said. “I have met so many great detail-oriented, so my career in the people over the years and I would not collision repair industry has helped change it for the world.” me be a better security specialist for A lifelong fan of the San Franthe team.” cisco Giants, Melendez started atA lifer in the collision repair in- tending games at the team’s original dustry, Melendez has been the head stadium, Candlestick Park, as a youngestimator at Regal for the past five ster. years, but has more than 35 years of “Foremost Milk used to give experience in the industry. He is the away tickets to the game on the sides only estimator at this busy shop, but of their milk cartons,” he said. “We works closely with Bill Hasma, the would drink all of the milk fast so company’s blueprinter. that we could use the tickets. At that “We work well as a team, like time, I lived only 1.5 miles from Canthe Giants do,” Melendez said. “I get dlestick Park, so we attended a lot of a lot of help from everyone here, and games in the 1970s and saw Hall of that’s why we succeed. Regal Colli- Fame players like Willie McCovey, sion is a top shop, and the Giants are Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry, a top team with three World Series for example.” titles within the last eight years, so I In 2005, Melendez attended a guess I surround myself with cham- Fanfest event at the Giants’ current

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

stadium, AT&T Park, where he saw a sign that said the team was hiring people for different positions. “It had always been a dream of mine to somehow work for the team, so I applied and after a few interviews, I got hired. For my first four years, I was assigned to doing security in the bleachers, dealing with the drunks and rowdy fans.” By keeping his cool and using logic while placating obnoxious and often drunk fans rooting for both teams, Melendez has been able to keep the peace in most cases, he said.

game, so it’s a valuable tool for anticipating what could possibly happen next.” The Giants and Dodgers fans are well-known for not liking each other, but one American League team has the most confrontational fans in the major leagues, Melendez said. “We don’t play the Red Sox every year, but when we do, we really have to be on our toes,” he said. “The Boston fans are loud and they show up in force and they think they own the stadium. So we sometimes have to remind them that this is our home and if you come here, you better act right.” Over the years, the team has had to step up its security, which is how AT&T Park provides a safe environment for its fans, he said. “When I started, we had roughly 60 guards covering 40,000 fans, and now we have more than approximately 120 guards doing the job. I used to work probably 70 events every year, but now I watch the stadium Melendez poses with two of the three championship trophies when it’s empty and cover that the Giants have won since he took the security job with maybe 25 games annually. I the team in 2005 watch the stadium when it’s “Let’s say a Dodgers fan is caus- empty, and you would be surprised by ing trouble,” he said. “I will talk to how many people try to sneak in there him and say, ‘Look, you spent a lot of or climb the fences to just walk on the money to buy a ticket and come up field or steal things.” here from LA. Why don’t you just With definite retirement plans play nice so that I don’t have to kick ahead for Melendez, he wants to you out?’ Usually they will listen, but work at Regal Collision until he’s 67 if they continue, I’m not afraid to get and work for the Giants until he’s 75. SFPD to escort them out of the sta“God willing, I want to do both dium. I also tell them that if they try of these jobs for a while and hopefully to come back, they’ll be arrested.” see a few more World Series games For the past decade, Melendez during that time,” he said. has worked in the team’s camera room, where he watches everything that goes on in the stadium and conAUTOBODY tacts security in the stands when needed. Don’t Miss the Weekly “We have 260 cameras, and we Industry NEWS save all of our footage because at alYour Shop Needs. most every game there will be at least Sign Up Today! one civil suit filed for some reason,” he said. “We can see every seat all the www.autobodynews.com time and monitor each fan at the

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autobodynews.com / AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

TechForce Report Reveals Severity of Vehicle Tech Supply Shortage TechForce Foundation recently released “Transportation Technician Supply Report,” a new report that reveals the growing severity of the vehicle technician supply shortage. Based on an analysis of National Center for Education Statistics’ (NCES) 2011–2016 data, TechForce found that the supply of postsecondary new entrant vehicle technicians has not kept up with the spike in demand. Although the shortage has been ongoing, it became more severe in 2013, and the gap between supply and demand has continued to increase through the present. New entrant technicians are those needed to fill the growth in new positions in the occupation as well as replace those who leave the occupation. They are distinguished from experienced technicians who may move between employers, but don’t add to the overall trained workforce in the occupation. The report reveals that auto tech postsecondary completions have been declining since 2013. The supply of postsecondary auto graduates decreased by 1,829 completions in 2016 from 2012. There were an estimated 38,829 graduates for 2016 in contrast to the projected Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) new entrant demand of 75,900. Private sector institutions have experienced the greatest decline while public two-year institutions (primarily community colleges) have increased substantially. The supply of collision technicians has been steadily declining over the past six years. Conversely, total postsecondary completions for diesel programs have increased over Continued from Page 29

June Hail Storm

ductible, which is usually $250 or $500. That comprehensive coverage is pretty common for newer vehicles. I would say anything 2007 or newer, you usually see full coverage on those vehicles.” H&N Chevrolet General Sales Manager Brian Fassbender said that Spencer is lucky that these events have not been more frequent. “I talked to a dealer an hour 50

the same period. The projected BLS new entrant demand for diesel technicians is 28,300 annually against a supply of 11,966 in 2016. For the collision market, the projected BLS

annual new entrant demand is 17,200 technicians compared to supply of 5,791 completions in 2016. As to what can be done to alleviate the supply shortage, Jennifer Maher, CEO/executive director of TechForce said, “Our country and education system have divested in high school auto shops and stigmatized trade school education, which is killing the trades. A big part of the problem is the outdated image of the ‘grease monkey’ mechanic that students and their parents, teachers and counselors may have. Today’s techs are well-paid, highly skilled, handson problem solvers who are not burdened by massive school debt like their four-year school counterparts. As we change this image, we can get more students interested in becoming technicians.” Doug Young, co-author of the report and managing director of Wilcap L.L.C, said, “Changing perceptions will require building a pipeline into the industry—before parents and students have committed to ‘college for all,’ before students have decided that they aren’t interested in STEM subjects in high school and before the old percepfrom here to try and get some feedback on how to handle some things because this is my first go-around,” Fassbender said. “The dealer said probably in the last 10 years, they have gone through it four times. I would say we are pretty fortunate that this is the first time since 2004.” SS Collision Owner Shawn Morton estimated that 90 to 95 percent of cars outside during the storm have hail damage, even if owners are unaware of it. We thank The Daily Reporter for reprint permission.

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

tions eliminate any interest among parents and career counselors in learning more about the opportunities in the transportation technician occupations.” Greg Settle, the other co-author of the report and TechForce’s director of national initiatives, said, “With only a small percentage of students interested in going into a skilled trade versus seeking a college degree, the competition among all the skilled trades for those students is fierce. If you look at auto technicians, they can make a very solid, middle-class income. However, starting wages for auto technicians are among the lowest across the skilled trades, and that is often what young and men and women will focus on when making a career decision. Add to that the fact that entry-level technicians are expected to arrive at their first job with their own tools and it does not make the career very attractive, compared with other choices.” According to Maher, “Without some form of focused, collective action, the transportation industry will

continue to suffer from inadequately financed, fragmented efforts to solve these problems. A solution requires pooling resources and consistent public messaging to change perceptions and build a talent pipeline. TechForce Foundation is dedicated to providing the collective source of action to solve the root causes of the problem.” This report, along with last year’s demand report, are examples of how TechForce works to create awareness of the problem, provide credible data to support the industry’s claims and, with even greater industry participation, improve the range and quality of these services. Funding for the report was provided by TechForce donors, including Advance Auto Parts, Autoshop Solutions, AutoZone, Babcox Media, Bridgestone Retail Operations, Cengage, General Motors, George Arrants Enterprises, Interstate Batteries, Nissan North America, Manheim, Shell Lubricants, Snap-on, S/P2, Sunstate Equipment, Toyota Foundation, Universal Technical Institute, Valvoline, WD-40 and 10 Missions Media.

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Continued from Page 47

Ford Recall

In the intervening months, the Center for Auto Safety has continued to be contacted by Ford customers experiencing symptoms related to CO exposure in their Explorers. Some had brought their Explorers in to dealerships to receive repairs prior to the issuance of CSP-17N03. Others brought their Explorers in afterwards. In some instances, consumers report they are being charged for repairs related to this hazard. Recall repairs must be free under federal law. Below are samples of five complaints from consumers after they received the Ford “fix” for this problem. In total, NHTSA has received more than 1,500 complaints regarding exhaust fumes leaking into 2011–2018 Explorers:

• Ford customer in Jenison, MI, owns a 2012 Explorer. After experiencing an odor and feeling nauseous and dizzy, the consumer brought the vehicle to the dealer “on three sepa-

rate occasions to have the voluntary Ford exhaust campaign completed.” The consumer is still experiencing the exhaust odors and medical symptoms associated with elevated CO exposure.

• Ford customer in Las Cruces, NM, owns a 2013 Explorer. The vehicle has been serviced for CO entering the cabin under Ford’s CSP-17N03 on two separate occasions. Still, the consumer smells exhaust in the cabin and his/her personal CO monitor is picking up unsafe levels of CO in the vehicle. Additionally, the consumer will not place his/her 1-year-old child in the car for fear of CO exposure. • Ford customer in Windsor, MD, owns a 2015 Explorer. Two months after having the vehicle serviced at a Ford dealership for CO, the customer again began experiencing strong CO odors in the cabin and suffering headaches. When the customer called the dealership to schedule another repair, the dealership informed the customer that they would charge $138 for a diagnostic evaluation.

• Ford customer in Porter, TX, owns a 2014 Explorer. After receiving a letter from Ford concerning CO in the cabin, the consumer brought the vehicle to a Ford dealership to repair the issue. The consumer states that the issue is now worse, and that the two CO detectors in the vehicle indicate unsafe levels of CO within minutes of driving. Additionally, when the consumer and his/her family ride in the vehicle, they suffer headaches.

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• Ford customer in Westminster, MD, owns a 2016 Explorer. Two months after having the vehicle serviced under the CSP-17N03, symptoms of CO exposure persisted. Upon bringing the vehicle back to the service center, two additional leaks were found. Ford initially refused to cover the cost of the repair, and only after five days of hassle did Ford agree to pay 80 percent.

$2,500 to CARSTAR’s charitable efforts to fund research, treatment and advocacy for cystic fibrosis. Enterprise presented the donation to the CARSTAR St. Louis Business Group and the Driven Brands Charitable Foundation. Cystic fibrosis is a chronic, progressive and frequently fatal genetic disease primarily affecting the lungs and digestive systems in children and young adults. The average life expectancy of someone living with CF is 40 years. There is no cure. With the help from the Enterprise Holdings Foundation, CARSTAR will continue its efforts to help support the mission to cure cystic fibrosis.

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autobodynews.com / AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

Car Prices Would Soar Under Trump’s Latest Tariff Plan by Rick Newman, Yahoo! Finance

President Trump thinks a new tax on imported cars will boost American auto production and bring back thousands of jobs. He’s about the only one. As the Trump administration readies a report on imported cars that could be the pretext for new tariffs, economists and industry officials warn of soaring costs for car buyers, a drop in overall sales and a net loss of jobs. Trump said recently that if trading partners don’t agree to his demands, “I’m going to tax their cars coming into America, and that’s the big one.” Big blunder might be more likely. Trump’s idea is to impose a 20 percent tariff on imported cars to encourage more domestic auto production. Imports would become more expensive, so consumers, in theory, would buy more domestic models, and more automakers would build cars in America to escape the tariffs. In reality, the most certain outcome is that prices would shoot up as soon as the tariffs went into effect. Americans buy about 8 million imported cars each year, and a 20 percent tariff would add $5,000 to the cost of a $25,000 car. Manufacturers might not pass all of that onto consumers, but the cost of an import would still rise by more than $4,000, on average, according to the National Taxpayers Union. Many popular models would

suddenly be more expensive. Here are a few examples, with the current starting price followed by the higher price including the entire 20 percent tariff: Cars made in America would suddenly have a big price advantage. But those prices would probably rise as well because the competition would now be more expensive. The

National Taxpayers Union estimates the price of an American-made car would swell by $1,262. With prices higher across the board, Americans would buy fewer cars. Taxing Car Parts This is a very simple analysis based solely on where a car is assembled. But Trump could go further and tax cars based on the amount of American-made content in the vehicle. This more complicated formula would impose some degree of tariff on virtually every vehicle sold in America, because just about every car includes some foreign components. The Ford (F) F-150 pickup, for

Kroger, Nuro Partner to Pilot Autonomous Delivery

The Kroger Co. and Nuro recently announced a new partnership to redefine the grocery customer experience for Americans by piloting an on-road, fully autonomous delivery experience. Together, Kroger, America’s largest supermarket retailer, and Nuro, maker of the world’s first fully unmanned road vehicle, are working to make the convenience of grocery delivery accessible and affordable for customers everywhere. Through this innovative partnership, customers can place same-day delivery orders through Kroger’s ClickList ordering system and Nuro’s app. During the test, orders will be 52

delivered by Nuro’s fleet of autonomous vehicles. This is the first application and deployment of Nuro’s hardware and software. The

pilot market will be announced soon and is expected to begin this fall. Krogerwill change the status quo of grocery delivery through

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

instance, is one of the most “American” cars on the market—but its U.S./Canadian parts content is just 65 percent. (Manufacturers are required to disclose U.S. and Canadian content combined, but not to break out each country.) So Trump could put a 20 percent import tariff on 35 percent of the value of an F-150. On an entry-level F-150 costing $27,705, that would be an added tax of $1,939. In the country-of-origin disclosures automakers are required to file with the government, a few models consist of more than 70 percent U.S./Canadian content. None is above 80 percent. Trump’s whole plan, of course, is to boost U.S. manufacturing employment. But a variety of studies show tariffs on auto imports would do the opposite. Why? Because higher prices would reduce overall car sales and automakers would have to downsize. The Peterson Institute for International Economics estimates that auto tariffs would kill 195,000 auto industry jobs. That would rise to 624,000 lost jobs if other countries retaliate with similar tariffs, which is likely. (The PIIE analysis is based on a 25 percent tariff on imported autos and parts, whereas Trump has said he’s considering a slightly lower 20 percent tariff.) General Motors (GM), the biggest

convenience at a low price. This allows customers to get what they need, when they need it, wherever they are. “As part of Restock Kroger, we have already started to redefine the grocery customer experience and expand the coverage area for our anything, anytime and anywhere offering. Partnering with Nuro, a leading technology company, will create customer value by providing Americans access to fast and convenient delivery at a fair price,” said Yael Cosset, Kroger’s chief digital officer.

domestic automaker, said in a recent regulatory filing that tariffs on imports would hurt, not help, the company and the broader industry. “The penalties we could incur from tariffs and increased costs could lead to negative consequences for our company and U.S. economic security,” the automaker said. GM added that “some of the vehicles that will be hardest hit by tariff-driven price increases—in the thousands of dollars—are often purchased by customers who can least afford to absorb a higher vehicle price point.” Used vehicle prices would rise as well, since the overall supply of cars in the used market would decline, pushing prices up. On their own, tariffs on auto imports probably wouldn’t cause a recession. But they’d weaken a key industry and sap disposable income, leaving the economy more vulnerable to a downturn. Is Trump serious? Would he really damage the auto industry in order to save it? Nobody knows, but Trump wasn’t bluffing about the tariffs he imposed on steel and aluminum imports earlier this year or those going into effect now on $50 billion worth of imports from China. A saggy stock market, depressed by investors worried about trade wars, hasn’t changed his mind either. If you’re thinking of buying a new car, now may be the moment. We thank Yahoo! Finance for reprint permission.

“Unmanned delivery will be a game-changer for local commerce, and together with Kroger, we’re thrilled to test this new delivery experience to bring grocery customers new levels of convenience and value,” said Dave Ferguson, cofounder, Nuro. “Our safe, reliable and affordable service, combined with Kroger’s ubiquitous brand, is a powerful first step in our mission to accelerate the benefits of robotics for everyday life.”

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autobodynews.com / AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

Volkswagen Adds Another 2,564 Vehicles to Takata Recall List by Marc Stern, Torque News

Though it seems as if the Takata airbag recall has disappeared from the headlines, it certainly hasn’t gone too far away. For instance, Volkswagen just added another 2,564 vehicles with potential exploding airbag housings. Airbags, while having proven to be beneficial in preventing road deaths, have also been a thorn in the side of the industry and regulators. The devices have been prone to blowing up during a standard deployment. As they explode, the airbag inflator housing shatters, flinging shrapnel throughout the passenger compartment. Let’s look at some background on this. The year 2015 was a big one for the auto industry. No, it wasn’t big as in “hooray, hooray,” as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had once again found its authoritative ruling voice. It was a time when the NHTSA came down hard on General Motors as it tried to hide a key snafu on its compacts. The agency also didn’t pull any punches as it fined Honda and Fiat Chrysler Autos for their slow reporting. And, it was the year when the agency told Takata to recall four of its major airbag lines because they tended to blow up on deployment. Devices Do Their Jobs And Then Some You would have expected them to explode when they deployed because that was what they were designed to do. The devices were designed to sense accidents of more than five mph. If they did, they were to deploy. All of this took place in milliseconds, and the bags deflated by the time you knew what had happened. But, there was a problem with Takata airbags. On deployment, a number of them fired with too much pressure—the result of airbag propellant becoming contaminated with moisture. Over time, the amount of

deployment force grew a whole lot (researchers would call this almost exponentially). In all of this, though, there was a problem. A climate of good old boy cronyism and super-company protectionism had grown up, as well. In-

deed, many middle management types and senior engineers knew they had a problem with at least four of their lines of airbags. And they knew that the fuel they used was also problem-filled. Finally, there was a climate of secrecy—they would tell no one of the problems, even though people were being injured or killed. Ultimately, they were found out and the scion of the founder—a grandson—was forced out of the company. The company couldn’t take the strain of the constant recall, and they went bankrupt, only to be bought up by another firm. An Issue That Is Proving Troublesome To say that this issue is troublesome is putting it mildly. Beginning in 2008, Takata faced the first of many recalls. Indeed, a second recall that year was needed because the first recall was no good. And recalls continued into 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 and so on. Each time, the body of cars grew by millions of vehicles. It is estimated, in fact, that by the time this recall has ended, some recalls will touch some 55 million cars. The number of airbag propellant containers and devices will likely be in the 70 to 90 million range. Some models, in fact, have had to be recalled two and three times before the replacements have had the desired effect.

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AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

More important is the fact that there have been 20 deaths linked to exploding airbags to date. More than 185 drivers and occupants were seriously injured. There have been some mysterious clusters of the airbags as well with five people who died in Malaysia, as well as a bunch of early Honda Civics and Accords that had failure rates in the 55 percent range. No Manufacturer Is Immune No manufacturer has been immune. At the start, the recall involved only 11 automakers; however, by the time nearly two decades had passed with no resolution—now—it was up to 22 manufacturers. Manufacturers have increased the number of cars as well. For example, Volkswagen has added 2,564 2003 vehicles to its recall list. They include the: •

2003 Passat Sedan

•

2003 Golf

•

2003 Jetta and Jetta Wagon

•

2003 EuroVan

•

2003 EuroVan chassis

•

2003 EuroVan Caper Van

When the front driver’s airbag deploys, it is possible that the force of the deployment will cause the entire airbag enclosure to turn into shards. In turn, the shards scythe through the interior of the vehicle, harming the front seat passenger and the driver. The fix, according to the NHTSA, is replacing the airbag inflator unit. The repair will be free of charge. It is expected to begin August 12. For more information, owners can contact VW Customer Service at 800-893-5298. The VW internal number for this recall is 69X3. Or, owners can contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 or the agency. Source: NHTSA, self-research

We thank Torque News for reprint permission.

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Oldest Body Shops In America: Bistagne Bros Body Shop by Gary Ledoux

From November 2017 to February 2018, Autobody News ran an ad looking for the oldest, continuously operated body shops in America. The oldest was George V. Arth and Son in Oakland, CA founded in 1877—and still going strong. However, we received information from a number of other long-running businesses several of which will be featured in this column over the next few months. If any body shop in America can be called the quintessential post-war body shop, it’s Bistagne Bros Body Shop in Glendale, CA. Just out of school, and before that devastating December morning in Hawaii, Tom and George Bistagne were already getting their feet wet in the automotive industry. In the backyard of their Glendale home, the two brothers began customizing cars, working on the engines and chassis. They were what one might call a pair of “pioneers” in the California car craze later made famous in movies and music by such artists as The Beach

days … they worked nights … they worked on weekends just to keep up. A career in automotive customizing looked promising. And then it all came to an abrupt end when Uncle Sam “requested” their services. Eventually WWII ended. Tom emerged a captain and George as a first lieutenant. They tried to pick up where they had left off in the customizing business. But after several years of war, rationing and just plain doing without a lot of things, the market just wasn’t there anymore. Business was “spotty” and not enough to earn a living. So they decided to drop Tom Bistagne (in truck) and George Bistagne circa 1950 what was not profitable and pretty smart rebuilt Fords of which “specialize.” Heavy engine work was dropped, they justly were proud.” Friends saw their work, liked it as was customizing. Maybe they were and wanted the brothers to work their visionaries and saw the future of incharm on their own cars. Before they creased post-war car sales and inknew it, they had a small business creased miles traveled now that going, customizing cars for friends, gasoline was no longer rationed. Or, neighbors—anyone who saw or ap- maybe it was just instinctive to the preciated their work. They worked brothers. But they decided to concenBoys and Jan and Dean. An article about the brothers in the August 1955 edition of the Western Automotive Journal reported that the brothers, “…had a free hand in operations, but not too much financial resources. They turned out some

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trate on body repair and automotive painting. In 1946, the Bistagne Brothers Body Shop was founded in a rented, 400-square-foot shop on the northeast corner of Chevy Chase and Verdugo in Glendale, CA. The two brothers and a single hired helper now had a clear vision of where they were going and how they were going to get there. In 1948, the business expanded and a plot of their own real estate, on the southeast corner of the same intersection, was purchased. A purposebuilt garage building was erected on the site into which the brothers moved in 1949. As of January 2018, they were at the same site. A 1955 magazine article notes, “All operations on the 5,000-squarefoot lot are under direct Bistagne control except two which are sublet. Vic’s Top Shop is conducted by Victor Roehner, an old Pierce-Arrow craftsman from Buffalo where quality workmanship was a creed. The other sub-tenant is Russell Thomas,

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autobodynews.com / AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

AutoInc. Seeks Submissions for Top 10 Websites Contest

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) and its official publication, AutoInc. magazine, are inviting all current ASA members to enter the

magazine’s annual Top 10 Websites Contest. Member shops can show off their hard-working sites to peers, letting them see how online marketing prowess can attract more consumers and boost profitability. The competition always has been tough, so winning will give ASA shops and employees the recognition they deserve. ASA will publish reviews of the Top 10 sites in the November/December issue of AutoInc., and we’ll send the winners extra copies of the magazine to place strategically around their waiting rooms so customers can see the outstanding sites. Now more than ever, a shop’s website is its best business tool to

attract and retain customers—aside, of course, from the consistent quality of its service. “ASA member shops have always been ahead of the pack in ensuring that their websites help motorists make the most educated decision possible in choosing their shops over others. They understand the importance of a sophisticated website in a mobile age and want to be recognized for their efforts,” said Leona Dalavai Scott, marketing and communications director. To access the entry form and contest guidelines, ASA member shops can visit https://www.autoinc .org/top-10-websites/. Our carefully selected panel of judges has lengthy experience in showcasing and promoting content on the web. They’ll provide a uniform evaluation of each site’s specific features, including: • •

Mobile-friendly and mobileready

Technical details all working

By 1955, Tom and George employed “eight metal men, four painters for spot and complete jobs, one glaze and polish man, one frame specialist who runs a frame and alignment op- and one tow truck operator.” By their own admission, some eration in a 40 X 30 foot shop. He has a $5,000 investment in the latest of their early days in the collision Bear equipment for frame and front repair business were rough-going financially. In the days before end work on which he specializes. CCC, Mitchell and Audatex, they had no idea what to charge for a repair to ensure that their costs were covered and a fair profit was realized. But eventually they figured it out, and “diplomatically declined” those jobs that were not profitable. In June of 1955, the shop performed the following work: 148 customer-pay The Bistagne Bros shop in 1949. It looks very similar today jobs for which they col“Mobile equipment of the lected a cash payment, 114 insurance Bistagne plant consists of two pick- jobs and 48 miscellaneous jobs. Durup trucks and a tow car for bringing ing this period, the shop was part of in wrecks. The firm maintains a fleet one of the earliest forerunners of the of 10 loan cars for the convenience DRP concept: the Available Garage of customers whose vehicles are tied Plan, which gave them “preferred up for service. There is no charge to listings” with insurance companies See Oldest Body Shops, Page 58 customers for use of a loan car.” Continued from Page 55

Oldest Body Shops

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

•

Clear call-to-action

•

Good first impression/visual design

•

• • •

Spanesi Americas Expands Training Team

properly

Spanesi Americas is proud to announce the addition of Dan Dziuban in the role of technical trainer. Dziuban joins the Spanesi training team, which is tasked with creating curriculum and delivering all educational activities for Spanesi Americas’ customers, distributors and internal staff members across the United States and Canada. “I’m excited to join the team of Spanesi Americas,” Dziuban stated. “I’ve Dan Dziuban been looking forward to joining the team since I first used the Spanesi motorcycle lift in my repair facility. Spanesi builds excellent products and I’m looking forward to providing training for Spanesi’s customers and distributors.” Mr. Dziuban has over 20 years of experience in the automotive and industrial coatings industry. Recently, he owned and operated his own automotive repair facility.

Conveys shop’s credibility

Social media presence

Clearly communicated objective/purpose Consumer friendliness

Members, along with the rest of the industry, have always looked to ASA’s winning websites as a benchmark for how to successfully promote automotive service and collision repair facilities to current and potential customers. They also help educate the motoring public about the importance of car care. The deadline for this year’s contest is August 1, 2018.

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Auto Care Association Establishes Al Gaspar Memorial Fund

tomotive Parts and Accessories Association (APAA) for five years prior to joining AAIA. He also held a variety of roles at aftermarket companies, including: executive vice president at McKay Chemical Company (a division of Blue Coral); vice president, consumer sales for Wynn Oil Company; and vice president, sales and marketing worldwide operations for Bardahl Manufacturing. Gaspar received numerous honors throughout his career and served on a number of boards and committees. “Al Gaspar was committed to industry education as evidenced by his time at AAIA, so it is fitting that donations made in his name will help ed-

ucate the next generation of aftermarket leaders,” said Bob Egan, MAAP, chairman, University of the Aftermarket Foundation. “We thank the Auto Care Association for launching this fund and encourage others to follow their lead by making a donation in memory of Al Gaspar.” To make a donation to the University of the Aftermarket Foundation in memory of Al Gaspar, visit www.UofAFoundation.com to donate online or send a check made payable to the University of the Aftermarket Foundation to 7101 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1300, Bethesda, MD 20814 and indicate that the donation is in Gaspar’s memory.

ABRA Auto Body Repair Expands With 8 Centers

plus employees to our Abra family to continue that reputation.” Abra has a long history in Utah, starting with the opening of the Murray, UT, location in 1998. These newly acquired centers expand Abra’s operations into southern and northern Utah and complement nine existing centers in the greater Salt Lake City

area. In Indiana, Abra completed the acquisition of all six Church Brothers Collision Repair locations on June 29. Details of the acquisition were previously announced. Altogether, Abra has added 16 locations in 2018 and now has 354 repair centers in 27 states across the nation.

In recognition of its former president and CEO, Al Gaspar, the Auto Care Association has established a memorial fund in his honor. Donations made to the University of the Aftermarket Foundation in Gaspar’s memory will be used to fund scholarships and industry educational initiatives. “We couldn’t imagine a better way to honor the legacy of a leader who meant so much not only to the history of our association, but also our industry,” said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association. “Al’s vision has progressed our industry in countless ways and we have all benefited from his passion and fore-

Abra Auto Body Repair of America is continuing its national growth with the addition of eight centers in June. In Utah, Abra acquired Centric Collision, located at 1545 State St. in Provo, UT. The 16-employee, 32,000square-foot shop opened on June 4. In a separate transaction, Abra Logan, located at 1240 South Hwy 89 in Logan,

sight of what our association and industry can be.” Gaspar, who passed away in November at the age of 79, served as president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), the precursor to the Auto Care Association, from 2000 until 2004. Two of his biggest accomplishments during his tenure at AAIA included overseeing a fundraising effort to build the Aftermarket Education Center at Northwood University and directing the effort to raise funds for the research that led to the creation of the Car Care Council. Gaspar spent more than 40 years in the auto care industry, serving as president of the Au-

UT, opened on June 25. The 21,000square-foot shop has seven employees. Each shop is the first Abra location in these communities. “We’ve already got a great team, and we’re proud of the reputation for quality we’ve built in Utah,” said Jim Kessler, Abra chief operating officer. “We’re excited to welcome these 20-

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Continued from Page 46

Auto Body Attorney

various wheel cleaners and other cleaning agents.

• WHAT DID YOU SAY? Believe it or not, OSHA is concerned about noise levels, i.e., repeated uses of air hammers or grinders. Therefore, you might test the decibel level and offer annual audiograms to employees. • Don’t get excited, but paint strippers are another area where OSHA is looking. These chemicals may have substances that could put your employees’ health at risk.

• Watch out for unsafe stairs or storage areas that present a danger. • Finally, lifts can be fatal if they are not inspected on a regular basis, so make absolutely sure that your lifts are safe for your employees.

In the coming months, I will discuss the issues of shops around the coun-

try becoming a victim of insurance company steering (their use of shops that may have cut “sweetheart deals”), the issue of totaling, capping (the insurance company’s policy of capping of labor rates), insurance companies’ unfair appraisal or refusal to negotiate an appraisal, and the issue of what the law calls tortious interference with your business. My goal is to alert shop owners of the issues presented in everyday business in dealing with the insurance companies, and if indeed you feel victimized, what recourse you may have. Feel free to send any questions, comments, or concerns to The Auto Body Attorney c/o Autobody News.

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autobodynews.com / AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

Technology & Telematics Forum To Take Place With NACE Automechanika in GA

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has announced the 2018 Technology & Telematics Forum will take place in conjunction with the 2018 NACE Automechanika Show at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

The half-day program will begin at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 8 and conclude at 6 p.m. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and similar vehicle technologies continue to redefine the repair process and the knowledge to properly repair today’s vehicles. In today’s market, ongoing education and information are critical to the success of collision and service repair professionals. Industry trends clearly point toward expanding accident avoidance technology and the use of telematics data. Sensors, cameras,

lidar, radar and similar developments in vehicle technology affect all industry stakeholders and the need to be prepared. Attendees can expect to learn about the newest options on today’s vehicles and what they need to do to be prepared when that vehicle comes into their shop. The impact on the repair process, claims, service, maintenance and cybersecurity is still being defined. Stay current and don’t get left behind, as the future is here. All industry stakeholders are encouraged to attend, including but not limited to:

• Collision and service repair facility owners, managers, service writers and estimators

• Executive and management staff from MSOs, networks and franchisors • •

Insurance professionals Technology providers

• Mechanical and collision repair technicians **

**As vehicle technology continues to evolve, the repair process between mechanical and collision is increasingly becoming connected. The beginning of bridging the gap between those who repair today’s automobiles is a goal of this event. Dan Risley, president of ASA, stated, “This event is unique in that it exclusively covers the latest in telematics and other new technology as it relates to the collision and service repair industries. ADAS and telematics is bridging the gap between the two automotive industries and we want to facilitate the cross pollination of knowledge and information. This year’s advisory board played a significant role in developing content relative to the needs of the market and attendees of this program.” For registration, please follow www .naceautomechanika.com/ttf.

For more information please visit www.advancedtechrepair.com.

100,000+ Industry Jobs at Risk With Tariffs on Imported Auto Parts, Study Finds

On June 29, the Auto Care Association urged the Trump administration to consider the severity of unintended consequences that may ensue by imposing tariffs on imported autos and auto parts, including the negative impact it would have on not only both the U.S. automotive industry and the jobs created by these imports, but also the U.S. economy at large. In comments submitted to the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the Section 232 National Security Investigation of Imports of Automobiles, Including Cars, SUVs, Vans and Light Trucks, and Automotive Parts, the association explained that the auto care industry’s “ability to source parts and components globally supports U.S. auto exports, provides U.S. consumers with a wider selection of vehicles and parts, and keeps vehicle repair and maintenance costs affordable for working families.” The association’s comments further explained that “the availability of affordable high-quality parts from foreign sources creates thousands of jobs that might be threatened should the Trump administration move for58

ward with a tariff on vehicles and vehicle parts.” Included in the comments was a recent economic study completed for the Auto Care Association by John Dunham and Associates, which found that a 25 percent tariff on imported auto parts could cause a reduction of 17,800 jobs in the auto parts manufacturing sector, resulting in $1.4 billion in lost wages. The study further predicts that 6,800 jobs would be lost by vehicle repair shops and an additional 85,200 jobs in the auto care wholesale and retail segment due to lower demand. These are mostly small family-owned businesses that would suffer severe economic harm should a 25 percent tariff be levied on autos and auto parts. Because the auto industry operates on a global platform, the reality is that goods are rarely designed, manufactured and consumed in one country. Technological efficiencies, lower trade costs and improved logistics have allowed companies to tighten and optimize supply chains. Imports help companies lower costs and improve product quality, allowing them to remain competitive do-

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

mestically and export globally. The study also found that imposing additional tariffs on auto parts and components would increase their price substantially, making it more difficult for working Americans to afford a new car or the cost of repairing the vehicle they currently own. The study estimates that the cost of car ownership will increase by more than $700 per year per household should the tariffs be imposed. The Auto Care Association concluded its comments to the Department of Commerce by recommending that the Trump administration “refrain from trade restrictions that would undermine the auto industry, and instead seek solutions that protect U.S. investments, facilitate trade and create competitive value chains that benefit the global growth of our industry.” For more information about the Auto Care Association’s government affairs initiatives, please contact Aaron Lowe at aaron.lowe@ autocare.org.

www.autobodynews.com

Continued from Page 56

Oldest Body Shops

bringing them “prestige and business from the carriers.” Only a few years after its founding, Bistagne Bros. began to get recognized for its superior repair work and custom paint jobs. At that time, it used Acme refinish paint exclusively. As was the tradition in the mid-1950s, paint companies put out their own “newsletters” to promote their products and highlight those shops that used their product. In the mid-‘50s, Acme paint dedicated an entire issue to the Bistagne brothers’ work and their use of Acme paint. The cover of the periodical featured the brothers and a freshly painted bright red Jaguar, with the lovely Miss Glendale at the wheel. The Bistagnes’ head painter at that time was Dean Avery, a man with 16 years’ experience who used the “Acme Color Eye,” resulting in “excellent color matches.” Avery liked the ability of the shop to create and tint its own paint instead of ordering the “factory-packaged paint” from the local jobbers. The 1970s saw the second generation of Bistagne brothers (Tom Bistagne’s sons) enter into the office and become part of the family business: Bob Bistagne in 1975 and Chuck Bistagne in 1977. Over the years, the automotive repair business flourished under the family ownership and management, and expansion was sought yet again. In 1999, an adjacent gas station was purchased and construction was started on expanding the business to encompass the entire southeast corner of the intersection. The new office headquarters opened in 2000. Over the years, the Bistagne family has been involved in various industry initiatives, including the California Autobody Association, and local civic groups like Rotary. In 2003, Bistagne Brothers saw its third generation, Robert Bistagne (Bob’s son), enter into shop management. In 1946, one or both Bistagne brothers welcomed each and every customer that stepped on the lot. Today, almost 75 years and three generations later, a member of the Bistagne family continues that same tradition.

Apple Car Project Evolves With Larger Test Fleet, New Hire by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati

Apple’s long-rumored “Project Titan,” also known as the Apple Car initiative, has gone through several changes over the years. While the Cupertino, CA-based tech giant initially appeared to be focused on manufacturing its own vehicle, the company has since opted

to focus on developing self-driving technologies instead. Apple CEO Tim Cook, for one, stated back in June 2017 that Apple was “very focused on autonomous systems.” Since then, the iPhone-maker has gone all-in on the self-driving race. Today, the company commands the largest fleet of autonomous vehicles on California’s roads, even surpass-

ing the number of veterans in the field, such as Waymo. The growth of Apple’s self-driving fleet in California has been nothing less than astounding. According to a MacRumors report, information obtained from the California Department of Motor Vehicles has revealed that Apple started with a fleet of 27 autonomous vehicles in January. By March, there were 45 self-driving vehicles operated by the tech giant. By mid-May, the company had 55 vehicles and 83 drivers in its fleet. Just two weeks after that, Apple’s fleet of self-driving cars grew to 62 vehicles and 87 drivers. In comparison, Waymo has 51 autonomous vehicles testing on CA roads. Apple’s self-driving cars are characterized by their rather hefty roofs, which include an array of cameras and advanced LiDAR equipment. The vehicles are running Apple’s in-development autonomous driving software. Just like some of Google’s fleet, Apple has selected Lexus to be its car manufacturer of choice, with the company using Lexus RX450h SUVs as its test vehicles. Each of Apple’s self-driving cars is deployed with a safety driver,

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as the company’s permit currently does not allow fully driverless operations yet.

Apart from growing its fleet, Apple is also growing its talent pool for its self-driving initiatives. Just recently, the company hired senior selfdriving car engineer Jaime Waydo, who has previous experience as an engineer from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. What is particularly notable from Waydo’s work experience, however, is that she worked for Waymo before joining Apple’s selfdriving car project. The former NASA engineer oversaw systems engineering at Waymo while also aiding the self-driving car Google subsidiary in making pivotal decisions about the driverless operations of its test fleet in Arizona. Apple’s self-driving car project

is among the company’s largest, most ambitious initiatives to date, with Cook dubbing it as the “mother of all AI projects.” In a way, Cook’s statement rings true, considering that Apple has made its name and established its reputation in consumer technology, not in automotive engineering. While the company does have experience with artificial intelligence and machine learning thanks to products like the iPhone and voice-activated assistants like Siri, a self-driving car system is an entirely different challenge. It is, after all, one that Google is still trying to master despite being in the industry since 2009, and one that Tesla is still seeking to learn despite having more than 150,000 vehicles on its fleet gathering data every day. We thank Teslarati for reprint permission.

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Auto Care Association Named Red Hot Association

AAAS Hosts YANG Meet-Up With Annual Conference & Trade Show by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On June 6, the Automotive Aftermarket Association of the Southeast (AAAS) hosted a Regional Meet-Up for the Young Auto Care Network Group (YANG) in conjunction with the 2018 AAAS Conference and Trade Show held at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Miramar Beach, FL. YANG members who attended the Meet-Up received an invitation to attend the rest of the conference at no charge. Matt Ward, director of government relations, shared, “By combining the YANG Meet-Up with the annual conference, YANG members were able to connect with other YANG members as well as industry leaders that were in attendance. Just like every other YANG Meet-Up, attendees enjoyed their time spent connecting with peers in the industry and meeting new people. The relationships built and maintained at these events are extremely beneficial both for the individual and the in-

The Auto Care Association was recognized as a “Red Hot Association” by DCA Live at the first an-

dustry as a whole.” Ward is also a member of YANG, which includes young industry professionals under the age of 40. He noted, “The aftermarket is a people-driven industry, and YANG has given me a great avenue to network with and meet other industry peers, many of which I consider to already be leaders in the aftermarket. It is fun to be in a room full of YANG members that are excited about what they do and the industry they work for. You cannot attend a YANG event and not be optimistic about the future of the automotive aftermarket. “All Meet-Ups are different and can range from networking receptions to educational seminars, with previous events being held at many different types of venues. The focus always remains the same, which is good old-fashioned networking. Make sure to be on the lookout for a YANG event in your area. You do not want to miss it!”

AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

● ● ●

nual DCA Live 2018 Red Hot Not Profits and Associations event in Arlington, VA. The event honored Washington, D.C.-based organizations that demonstrated performance as a high-growth or innovative nonprofit or association. The list of 2018 Red Hot Associations included: ● ● ● ● ● ●

Stacey Phillips Joins CIECA as Communications Specialist

The Collision Industry Electronic “It is used for the exchange of colliCommerce Association (CIECA) sion industry messages and data across multiple organizarecently announced that tions and networks and alStacey Phillips will be lows organizations to joining the national organtransmit only the data reization as the marketing quired for the application and communications cowithout transmitting ‘unordinator, effective immeneeded data.’ On behalf of diately. CIECA’s Board, we wel“In her new role, come Stacey and look forStacey will be instrumental Stacey Phillips ward to having her help as CIECA continues to promote the adoption of BMS (Busi- engage the industry with information ness Message Suite) standards,” said and educational opportunities.” Phillips has more than 20 years Fred Iantorno, executive director of CIECA. “Her expertise in market- of experience helping companies ing and communication strategies will help CIECA communicate its mission to develop and promote electronic communication standards that allow the collision industry to be more efficient.” The BMS (Business Message Suite) is CIECA’s comprehensive set of electronic communication standards for the collision industry. “BMS provides the industry with a greater ability to protect the customers’ personally identifiable communicate their vision. She has information,” said Clint Marlow, worked for a wide range of busiCIECA’s chairman of the board and nesses and fields, including techniclaim innovation director at Allstate. cal industries such as automotive,

●

Auto Care Association Conference of State Bank Supervisors Infectious Diseases Society of America Association of Corporate Counsel Association for Career and Technical Education American Society for Engineering Education

engineering and oil and gas, as well as consumer-focused magazines, newspapers and websites. She is the prior assistant editor at Autobody News magazine and continues to write articles for the collision repair industry. The award-winning writer is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a double major in journalism and political science and earned an honors thesis in environmental politics. She has co-authored two books, including “The Secrets of America’s Greatest Body Shops,” which was released in 2017. “As e-commerce has become a bigger part of our daily lives, the flow of data among trading partners has expanded as part of the repair process,” said Phillips. “The next few years will present an amazing opportunity to help unite the industry in a common cause—the adoption of standards. I’m excited to be part of this challenge and help build a solid foundation to achieve great results for this industry.

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American Psychiatric Association National Federation of Independent Business International Sign Association Military Officers Association of America American Association of Airport Executives American Medical Writers Association National Association of School Nurses Architectural Woodwork Institute Association of Governing Boards National Grocers Association National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Future Business Leaders of America

“We’re honored to be recognized alongside these outstanding associations making a positive impact on our community here in our nation’s capital and throughout the United States,” said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association.

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‘Who Pays for What?’ Finds Half of Shops Have Not Billed for Seat Belt Inspections

“Some even go so far as to state The quarterly “Who Pays for What?” survey conducted this past spring seat belts must be replaced if they found that just over 30 percent of were in use during a collision,” he shops that seek to be paid for inspec- said. “Some OEMs also state that the tion of seat belts when it is necessary inspection process includes using a scan tool.” as part of the repair process Anderson said the resaid they are paid “always” sponse to the survey quesor “most of the time” for it. tion “is very concerning in Fifty percent of shops have that it indicates to me that not asked for payment for too few shops are researchthis important process. ing OEM repair procedures “Of the nearly 100 and are thus not aware” of procedures and items we ask about over the course Mike Anderson of what the automakers call for. of four surveys each year, Collision Advice “As an industry, we this is the one that most keeps me awake at night,” said must accept responsibility for reMike Anderson of Collision Ad- searching and following the requirevice, who conducts the surveys with ments for this on every vehicle,” Anderson said. CRASH Network. The survey, to which more than He said the latest of the four 2018 “Who Pays for What?” sur- 1,000 shops responded, did offer veys, which focuses on not-included some indication that the industry is frame and mechanical labor opera- becoming more aware of the need for tions, is open now through the end of inspection of seat belts during colliJuly at https://www.surveymonkey sion repair. The same survey two years earlier found that fewer than .com/r/TN8RY72. The findings related to seat belt one in four shops (24 percent) said inspection are troubling, Anderson they were paid regularly for the prosaid, because every automaker has cedure. That had climbed to 31 pera very specific procedure for the cent this year. The percentage of shops that said they’d never sought to process.

be paid for the procedure had fallen somewhat from about 62 percent in 2016 to about 59 percent this year. In addition to asking shops about their billing practices—and insurers’ payment practices—regard-

ing about two dozen not-included body labor operations, the April survey asked about shops’ scanning practices, estimating and electronic parts systems usage, and body labor and storage rates. The current survey focuses on frame and mechanical labor procedures and includes some all-new questions to offer the industry even more helpful information; shops can

take the survey before the end of July by visiting: https://www.survey monkey.com/r/TN8RY72 Survey participants receive a report with complete survey findings at no charge, broken down by region, insurer and DRP vs. non-DRP. The report also includes analysis and resources to help shops better understand and use the information presented. Anderson said the survey, which will take about 15–30 minutes, should be completed by the shop owner, manager or estimator who is most familiar with the shop’s billing practices and the payment practices of the largest national insurers. Each shop’s individual responses are held in the strictest confidence; only aggregated data is released. The results of previous surveys are also available online (https://www .crashnetwork.com/collisionadvice).

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U.S. Aftermarket To Grow at Annual Rate (CAGR) of 3.4% Through 2021

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The U.S. automotive aftermarket is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4 percent through 2021, according to the “2018 Joint Channel Forecast Model” produced jointly by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) and the Auto Care Association. The 2018 Joint Channel Forecast Model also predicts that the total aftermarket sales will grow from $286 billion in 2017 to $327 billion in 2021, an increase of nearly $41 billion over the four-year period. “The Joint Channel Forecast shows the continued strength of key aftermarket drivers and the impact of the confident consumers, buoyed by a strong job market and lower personal tax rates and shows influences driving evolution in the aftermarket: new and emerging technologies, changes in the distribution model and changes in consumers’ expectations for mobility. We are an industry facing a lot of change, but we believe we have the people in the independent aftermarket with the leadership, vision and entrepreneurial spirit to enable us to

grow and thrive in our pending era of change and opportunity,” said Bill Long, president and chief operating officer, AASA. “The sustained growth projected in the forecast is not only a result of key economic upswings, but also technology that is creating opportunities for new products, services and solutions across our market,” said Bill Hanvey, president and chief executive officer, Auto Care Association. “These new technologies continue to widen the reach and scope of our industry as well as enable opportunities to add to the 4.6 million job powerhouse that we are.” The market sizing and forecast is conducted on behalf of AASA and the Auto Care Association by IHS Markit, the world-renowned economic and market information firm. The forecast is based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Economic Census, IMR and Polk data, and proprietary IHS Markit’s economic analysis and forecasting models. Visit www.aftermarketsuppliers.org and www.autocare.org.

autobodynews.com / AUGUST 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

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