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Techs of Tomorrow: SkillsUSA National Winner Talks Competition, Equipment and Preparation by Victoria Antonelli
Twenty-year-old Dylan Ahmdt took home gold at the 53rd annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (SkillsUSA) in Louisville, KY, which took place from June 19-23. Winners of the Automotive Refinishing Technology competition received a snap-on tool box with tools and Carhartt clothing and accessories, as well as multiple training opportunities from different paint companies. “It was very fun competing in SkillsUSA once I was able to get over the nervousness,” said Ahmdt, a Dan-
vers, MN, native. “It’s an incredible experience, but it’s tough.” He said the most unique part of the SkillsUSA competitions is the handson experience. “I chose collision repair over a traditional four-year degree because I enjoy working with my hands,” Ahmdt said. “I’ve always loved cars and learning how they work.” He said that this year, the competitors were able to use new mobile spray technology as part of their test. Ahmdt and 27 other participants were able to get firsthand experience See Techs of Tomorrow, Page 42
State Farm is Dropped from Suit Alleging Coerced Repair Temporarily, 3M Will Be Included When Refiled
See State Farm Lawsuit, Page 26
P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
John Eagle Collision Center in Dallas, TX, and State Farm were sued in two separate cases for $1 million for allegedly using only adhesive to attach a new roof panel to a Honda Fit rather than welding it, as required by Honda OEM procedures. Matthew and Marcia Seebachan have dismissed their cases against State Farm Mutual Automobile Company, which alleged the insurer influenced an auto repair that didn’t meet OEM specifications in order to increase its bottom line. The lawsuit against State Farm was dismissed only 13 days after being filed.
According to the plaintiffs’ attorney the couple dismissed their lawsuit without prejudice, meaning refiling is likely. The plaintiffs’ law firm has confirmed to Autobody News that the action is procedural because including State Farm in the suit would delay the action against John Eagle Collision Center, which is scheduled to go to trial in early September. The plaintiffs also state that 3M, the manufacturer of the adhesive, will become part of the suit when refiled. The original lawsuits allege that the faulty repair caused the car to crush 33-year-old Matthew Seebachan and his
Change Service Requested
by Ed Attanasio
VOL. 6 ISSUE 12 SEPTEMBER 2017
www.autobodynews.com ww ww.autobodynews.com
CIC Panel Focuses on Legislative Requirements Related to Use of Non-OEM Parts
Manufacturers. “Some insurers will suggest that the consumer consented to their State legislation on disclosure and consumer consent policy when they signed it involving the use of nonoriginally, and they should OEM parts has been proknow what’s in there. We don’t posed – or challenged – in a think insurers do a very good job of explaining to consumers number of states this year. Wayne Weikel of the Alliance of what’s in there. So we think Panelists on both sides of the Automobile Manu[consent to the use of the parts issue squared off at the Colfacturers said lision Industry Conference consumers deserve at the time of the claim] is very important.” (CIC) held in Chicago this disclosure and the At its best, Weikel said, the summer. opportunity to give “Consent is very impor- consent for parts at consent process lays out in tant,” said Wayne Weikel, the time of the claim writing a good explanation to the consumer of what his or her options senior director of state government afSee CIC Panel, Page 24 fairs for the Alliance of Automobile by John Yoswick
Autobody News welcomes readers in Alaska where we are distributing our publication for the first time. If you’re reading this issue in another person’s shop contact us for a free subscription.
Car Guys Collision Repair in Agreement To Acquire Gunder’s Auto Repair In Lakeland, FL Dave Mitchell, the president of Car Guys Collision Repair said the deal will officially close on Sept. 15. In addition to another acquisition Mitchell made on Friday, this becomes Car Guys’ thirteenth location in central Florida. Mitchell said he and Gunder had been working on a deal over the past five months. Gunder’s Auto Repair made the deal public on Aug. 15 on its Facebook page. Mitchell said the deal is notable because Car Guys is very DRPheavy, while Gunder’s Auto Repair is openly anti-DRP. Ray Gunder, owner of the shop, had levied around 40 lawsuits against State Farm, All-
state, USAA, Travelers and GEICO back in 2013. “It’s an interesting story, with him getting out and us coming in,” said Mitchell. “We’re two different faces and models of collision repair.” “But there are also lots of similarities, because we want high quality and happy customers,” he continued. “What’s strange about that store is that most hops that are not DRP friendly, they don’t have much work. Insurance can strong-arm them—that didn’t work with Ray. Through his loyal customer base and service and attention to detail, customers have continued to come back regardless of insurance companies have said.”
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2 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
REGIONAL
AASPI Celebrates Strong Support for
Race to Keep Up with Carthage Hailstorm
Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Annual Golf Outing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
“Who Pays for What?” Survey Finds
Summit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
18 Million Fewer Domestic Nameplates. . . . . 40
AASP-Missouri Leadership & Management
Improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
After Hot Rod Crashes, the Owner is Suing
ASA-CO to Host Extreme Communication
Antonelli - Techs of Tomorrow: SkillsUSA
Auto Care Association Applauds Joint
Wichita Business for $700,000. . . . . . . . . 16
National Winner Talks Competition,
on August 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Statement on Tax Reform . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Equipment and Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Auto Care Association Appoints
All-Inclusive Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
BASF Accepting Submissions for
Featured Air Cannon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Car Guys Collision Repair in Agreement
ASA-IL’s 2017 CAN Conference to Include ASA-MI’s 32nd Annual Golf Outing ASA-OH to Host Two Educational
Seminars in September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Sheila Andrews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Glasurit® Best Paint competition . . . . . . . . 58 To Acquire Gunder’s Auto Repair In
Lakeland, FL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Auto Care Careers on Campus Expands
Car-O-Liner® Supports Caliber’s Changing
CARSTAR Location in Kansas City
Celphy Gets Schooled on Driving Etiquette . . . 4
its Program with Wheaton College . . . . . . 61
Lanes Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Teams-Up With BASF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Chief Introduces New Universal Uni-Clamp
Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
CIC Panel Focuses on Legislative
National Auto Repair Competition . . . . . . . 22
Craig Van Batenburg Offers Advice on
expensive car insurance rates. . . . . . . . . . 30
FADRA, Honda Pull Recalled Takata Airbags
in Madison, WI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Ford On Target - 2017 Volume 2 . . . . . . . . . . 58
May 2017 SWCC Graduate Takes First in Michigan tops state rankings - most
Midwest Job Fair to be Held Sept. 29
MNCARS: On a Roll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Service King’s Chicago Teammates Contribute
$45,700 to Angels on Assignment . . . . . . . 6
Anchoring System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Technician Shortage Issues . . . . . . . . . . . 12
from Local Salvage Yards . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Host of Hit TV Show “Bitchin’ Rides” to Debut New Custom Color Line of Akzonobel
Automotive Paints at SEMA . . . . . . . . . . . 54
St. Clair County RESA Career Academy
How to Add Three Stage Mitchell Paint
World’s Painters to Display Unique Automotive
Kia Selects OEC for Collision Parts Ordering
YANG’s Chicago Meet-Up Attracts 40 Young
Long-Running Federal Circuit Results
to Expand with $20K Grant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Artwork at 3M Showcase in Royal Oak, MI . 56
Professionals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
COLUMNISTS
Attanasio - First Impressions: The Appearance
of Your Facility Might Be a Liability . . . . . . 44
Attanasio - Industry Veteran Invents Useful
Tools at Collision Edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Attanasio - Shop Owner David Ludwig
Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
and Fulfillment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
in Victory for Mitchell in IP Dispute
with Audatex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Motor Vehicle Deaths Modestly Lower
than Last Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
National Auto Body Council Opens Nominations for 2018 Board of
Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
New Labor Rate Survey Website from NABR . . 67
Uses His Art to Give Back. . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Nissan Agrees to $98 Million Settlement
Company Culture and Customers . . . . . . . 52
Seattle Family Special Guests at CARSTAR
Documentation: 10 Tips on How to
Self-Driving Cars Must Learn Social Rules,
Phillips - Alaska Shop Owner Focuses on Phillips - Best Practices for Photo
Capture Useful and Relevant Images. . . . . 20
Phillips - Effective Estimating Can Help with Scheduling, Reduce Supplements, and
Improve Bottom Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Sisk - ALLDATA and Google Partner for
Free Marketing Webinar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Yoswick - Insurers Discuss Scanning,
OEM Position Statements, Automaker
Influence of Shop Choice . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Yoswick - Other States Add More MSO Locations, but Alaska Tops in
Percentage Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 NATIONAL
‘Working Feverishly’: Roofers, Body Shops
on Takata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Which are Key To Road Safety,
Researcher Says . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Service King Expands to 30 Shops in
Southern California. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
State Farm Coerced Texas Shop to Glue Car Roof, Lawsuits Claimed, Suits
Dropped but Refile Possible . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
U.S. House Panel Approves Broad Proposal On Self-Driving Cars, Mindful of Road
Deaths Increasing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Why Are Recalled Takata Airbags being
Recycled? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
WIA Summer Conference Receives
Publisher & Editor: Jeremy Hayhurst General Manager: Barbara Davies Contributing Writers: John Yoswick, Janet Chaney, Toby Chess, Rich Evans, Ed Attanasio, Chasidy Sisk, David Luehr, Stacey Phillips, Victoria Antonelli 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
Index of Advertisers
CVTC Camp Introduces Girls to Auto Body
Positive Responses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
more than 8 percentage points), and duplication of OEM seam-sealer (up 6.6 percentage points). Newly released data from the “Who Pays for What?” body labor survey, completed this past April by a record 1,042 shops around the country, contained some other evidence indicating the surveys’ positive impact: Of the 20 “not-included” body labor operations covered in both the 2016 and 2017 surveys, 18 had a higher percentage of shops (compared to a year earlier) now negotiating to be paid for them. “If you don’t bill for it, you will never be paid for it, yet the biggest percentage of shops not billing for these procedures say they never thought of billing for them when they are required as part a repair,” Anderson said. “These surveys were designed to help raise that awareness.”
Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 62 Axalta Coating Systems . . . . . . . . . . 2 Bettenhausen Automotive . . . . . . . 22 Blue Springs Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 61 Bob Hook Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 CarcoonAmerica Airflow Systems . 27 Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA). . . . . . . . . . . 19 Charles Gabus Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 ChemSpec USA, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Chief Automotive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Classic Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Courtesy Subaru. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Dent Magic Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Diamond Standard Parts, LLC.. . . . 29 Dominion Sure Seal . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 ECS Automotive Concepts . . . . . . . 40 Equalizer Industries, Inc. . . . . . . . . 32 Erhard BMW of Bloomfield Hills . . . 37 Erhard BMW of Farmington Hills . . 37 Ganley Westside Hyundai . . . . . . . 50 Ganley Westside Subaru . . . . . . . . 47 GM Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . 59 Griffin Automotive Group . . . . . . . . . 8 GYS Welding USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Herkules Equipment Corporation. . 30 Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34-35 Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers. . 65 Infiniti of Naperville . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Insta Finish Car Care . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Jack Phelan Chrysler-Dodge-JeepRam of Countryside . . . . . . . . . . 17 Jake Sweeney Chevrolet . . . . . . . . 46 Kelly BMW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Kia Motors America, Inc.. . . . . . . . . 13 Kia of Des Moines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
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. ©2017 Adamantine Media LLC. Autobody News Box 1516, Carlsbad, CA 92018; (800) 699-8251 (760) 603-3229 Fax www.autobodynews.com editor@autobodynews.com
Midwest
Contents
“Who Pays for What?” Survey Finds Improvements
More shops are now being paid “always” or “most of the time” for nearly two dozen not-included body labor operations compared to a year earlier, according to the latest findings from the “Who Pays for What?” quarterly survey series. Mike Anderson of Collision Advice, creator of the surveys, said that that’s something he’s pleased about. “Though many of the increases are slight, and within the margin of error for the survey, there are a number of procedures that have seen significant jumps,” Anderson said. “Clean-up of airbag residue is a good example, rising 9 percentage points since 2016.” Other procedures for which more shops are now reporting being paid “always” or “most of the time” include clean-up of old urethane (up more than 6 percentage points compared to 2016), application of weld-thru primer (up
Kia Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . 63 Killer Tools & Equipment. . . . . . . . . 41 Lancer Insurance Company . . . . . . 26 Laurel Auto Group of Westmont . . . 51 Lusid Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Luther Bloomington Acura-Subaru. 54 Luther Hopkins Honda . . . . . . . . . . 44 Malco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Maplewood Toyota-Scion . . . . . . . . 49 Mazda Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 67 McGrath City Hyundai . . . . . . . . . . . 6 MINI Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 60 MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38-39 Morrison’s Auto Parts . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Nissan/Infiniti Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Patrick Hyundai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Richfield-Bloomington Honda . . . . 52 Robaina Industries, Inc . . . . . . . . . . 45 Russ Darrow Automotive Group. . . 42 SATA Dan-Am Company . . . . . . . . . 7 SEMA Trade Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Sorbothane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Spanesi Americas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 64 The Sharpe Collection of Automobiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Toyota of Des Moines . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Toyota Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 60 Valspar Refinish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 VanDevere Kia-GM . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 West Bend Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Wizards Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Zimmer Chrysler-Dodge-JeepRam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 3
Self-Driving Cars Must Learn Social Rules, Which are Key To Road Safety, Researcher Says
In a presentation at the 2017 Management Briefing Seminars on Aug. 2, Melissa Cefkin, principal researcher of human-centered systems at Nissan’s Research Center in Silicon Valley, said autonomous vehicles need to understand learned social behaviors—such as assuming a pedestrian standing outside the left side of the car is about to get in and drive and not walk into the street — before manufacturers can safely deploy them. “We need to teach vehicles so they can move in a socially acceptable manner,” Cefkin said in an interview. While most human driving behaviors appear to be inherent, many—such as waving another car through an intersection—are actually learned through experience, she said. The challenge lies in programming these norms and behaviors into a self-driving car. It is an addressable obstacle, Cefkin said. “It’s not the death of the situation but rather an opportunity to advance it,” she said. When autonomous vehicles start appearing on public roads, most people will experience them from the outside, either sharing the road as a driver of another car, or as a biker or pedestrian.
Celphy Gets Schooled on Etiquette
Nissan is addressing this education challenge by analyzing human driving behavior to determine which reactions are natural and which are learned. Once these behaviors are differentiated, developers can teach the vehicle what to expect in situations that don’t adhere to natural assumptions, such as driving through a pedestrian-heavy college campus where people are less likely to abide by traffic signals. “What we’re trying to do is accelerate the ability to see those kinds of relationships that happen between different kinds of people in these situations,” Cefkin said. However, identifying such situations is incredibly complicated. In a four-way intersection alone, there are myriad right-of-way dilemmas that crop up, both between vehicles and between vehicles and pedestrians. How a car reacts to a situation also depends on time and place; traffic flows change by the hour, and each city has distinctive driving behaviors. Cefkin predicts it will take a few years before driverless vehicles can adapt to learned driving behavior in an acceptable way, and even then it will be an ongoing process.
U.S. House Panel Approves Broad Proposal On Self-Driving Cars, Mindful of Road Deaths Increasing
Automakers and tech companies are pushing a bill through Congress that would limit local governments’ ability to regulate self-driving vehicles on city streets. Designing autonomous vehicle systems to meet city needs could cut congestion, reduce traffic deaths and injuries, and free up scarce urban space for more pressing needs than car storage. Legislation is moving quickly through Congress. The House of Representatives held a June 27 subcommittee hearing on a package of 14 bills regulating self-driving cars, then consolidated them into a single bill, which a House subcommittee voted for 54-0. A U.S. House panel on Aug. 16 approved a sweeping proposal by voice vote to allow automakers to deploy up to 100,000 self-driving vehicles without meeting existing auto safety standards and bar states from imposing driverless car rules. Representative Robert Latta, a Republican who heads the Energy and Commerce Committee subcommittee overseeing consumer protection, said he would continue to consider changes before the full committee votes on the measure. The full U.S. House of Representatives will not take up the bill
until it reconvenes in September after the summer recess. The measure, which would be the first significant federal legislation aimed at speeding self-driving vehicles to market, would require automakers to submit safety assessment reports to U.S. regulators, but would not require pre-market approval of advanced vehicle technologies. Automakers would have to show self-driving cars “function as intended and contain fail safe features” to get exemptions from safety standards but the Transportation Department could not “condition deployment or testing of highly automated vehicles on review of safety assessment certifications,” the draft measure unveiled late Monday said. The issue has taken new urgency because of data showing road deaths in the United States rose 7.7 percent in 2015 over the previous year to 35,200, the highest annual jump since 1966. Traffic deaths climbed nearly 8 percent in the first nine months of 2016, government data showed. Current federal motor vehicle safety rules prevent the sale of selfdriving vehicles without human controls. Automakers must meet nearly 75 auto safety standards, many of which
4 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
were written with the assumption that a licensed driver will be in control of the vehicle. General Motors, Alphabet Inc., Ford Motor Co., Tesla Inc. and others have been lobbying Congress to preempt rules under consideration in California and other states that could limit self-driving vehicle deployment. States could still set rules on registration, licensing, liability, insurance and safety inspections, but could not set self-driving car performance standards, under the proposal. California state assemblyman Freddie Rodriguez questioned “why Washington would want us here in the states to not look at the safety standards—it should be up to every state.” Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., said the bill creates a “strong but flexible regulatory framework” that seeks to avoid “a patchwork” of different state rules. Auto dealers want the final bill to clarify that the measure would not preempt state dealer franchise laws that generally bar automakers from selling vehicles directly to consumers. Democrats praised the bipartisan proposal but said they want more changes before the full committee takes it up, including potentially adding other
auto safety measures. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group, said it is “pleased that the legislation is moving forward, and expect to see areas finetuned in the legislation.” Consumers Union, a public advocacy group, said the bill needs more changes and must “ensure that automakers demonstrate automated vehicles’ safety and don’t put consumers at greater risk in a crash.” The group opposes “restricting states’ safety authority without strong federal safety standards in place.” The administration of former President Barack Obama last year unveiled voluntary guidelines on selfdriving cars that asked automakers to submit a 15-question safety assessment. President Donald Trump’s transportation secretary, Elaine Chao, said she plans to update those in the coming months. Separately, Sen. John Thune, RSD, who is working with Democrats, said he hopes to release a draft selfdriving car reform bill.
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UPDATED DAILY
www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 5
St. Clair County RESA Career Academy to Expand with $20K Grant by Pamela Binsfeld, The Voice
St. Clair County RESA’s Career Academy in Marysville, MI, received a $20,000 grant from the Community Foundation of St. Clair County’s James C. Acheson Fund to expand its summer program that caters to high school students at risk of dropping out. In its third year, the Career Academy was able to broaden its reach to include all St. Clair County high schools, when it was previously limited to only Port Huron High School. “We tried to work out the bugs and we’re still trying to work out the bugs,” said Pat Yanik, director of career and technical education at RESA. “But, it’s going really well. We’ve had good student behavior and good student engagement.” Each high school is given four seats at the free, two-week summer program, allowing a total of 50 students to attend. Students apply for the spots and are chosen by their schools to attend the academy. “We are looking for students who potentially are losing interest in school,” said Yanik. “We don’t want them to quit school. In many cases, once a student comes to the Technical Education Center and they find something they really enjoy, it helps them see the reason they are in
high school and why they need to finish.” Students entering the program have finished eighth grade and are getting ready to enter ninth grade. After their first summer studying construction trades and culinary arts, they are welcome to attend a second summer to study digital media and health careers. Students must pass all classes dur-
The Career Academy provides a multi-year, tiered approach to helping high absentee and potentially non-college-nound students explore careers and learn the skills necessary to get and hold a job
ing freshman year to be eligible to attend the second summer session. Students who successfully complete both sessions and maintain their grades at school are given an advantage in attending a TEC program of their choice. “We hope this small TEC experience will get them to reconnect with their high
school experience,” said Yanik. “Stay in school, pass you classes and we’ll do what we can to get you in the program.” This summer’s academy has 14 second-year returning students and 38 new students. The Career Academy provides a multi-year, tiered approach to helping high absentee and potentially non-college-bound students explore careers and learn the skills necessary to get and hold a job, the Community Foundation of St. Clair County’s website states. The grant money will also pay for bussing the students from their respective high schools to the TEC building and back, breakfast and lunch each day, the teachers and the stipend for the additional math and language arts teachers. The St. Clair TEC provides 11thand 12th-grade students with practical experience in specific occupations before they graduate from high school. The programs offered include automotive technology, collision repair, construction trades, cosmetology, culinary arts, digital media technology, employerbased, health careers, information technology, mechatronics, metal machining technology, welding technology and video game design. We thank The Voice for reprint permission.
Service King’s Chicago Teammates Contribute $45,700 to Angels on Assignment
Service King Collision Repair Centers®, with the help of its local Chicago teammates, recently presented a donation in the amount of $45,700 to Angels on Assignment as part of the company’s ongoing Service King Cares initiative. Angels on Assignment is a local non-
profit organization based in Crete, IL, supporting families facing serious medical issues by providing financial assistance, transportation and sponsoring “Fun Days” to provide emotional support. The donation was made possible through funds raised at Service King’s second annual Chicago Charity Golf Tournament, which attracted about 140 golfers from around the community. “Angels on Assignment is overwhelmed by the generosity of Service King,” said Cheryl Albrech, Angels on
Assignment President. “Their contribution will help at least nine families in our area. This will allow us to increase the number of families we help in a year.” Service King’s annual Chicago Charity Golf Tournament has now directly benefitted Angels on Assignment in back-to-back outings, totaling more than $70,000 in support of the organization. “The Service King family and Service King Cares initiative is driven to join hands with those in our local communities who truly make an impact,” said Randy Jenkins, Service King Market Director. “Angels on Assignment certainly touches the lives of those who need it most across the Chicagoland area. It’s our hope this small token of our appreciation continues to fuel Angels on Assignment and its inspiring mission.” Service King is one of the fastestgrowing automotive repair organizations in the country. Through its Service King Cares initiative, the organization contributed more than $750,000 to nearly 100 different nonprofit organizations in 2016.
6 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
AASP-Missouri Leadership & Management Summit
Join AASP-Missouri on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017 at Syberg’s Dorsett for A Day with Richard Flint. Beginning at 2 p.m., Richard will be presenting two classes: 6 Steps to Embracing Change and From Great to Exceptional in Customer Service. Both of these classes are beneficial to Mechanical and Collision Businesses Management Teams, as well as to any vendor or supplier that has employees who provide service to its customers. The first class, 6 Steps to Embracing Change, will take place from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. There will be a social from 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres, sponsored by Performance Auto Color & AkzoNobel Coatings . The second class, From Great To Exceptional In Customer Service, will be presented from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Attendees will be able to choose either class, or both. Attendees will save $50 by choosing both. Attendees can choose two classes for less than they would usually expect to pay for just one Richard Flint class. The first 40 people to register for each class will be included in a $100 cash drawing — one for each class.
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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 7
CVTC Camp Introduces Girls to Auto Body Repair by RiverTown Newsroom
Leann Rafferty has dreams of her artwork decorating the bodies of cars and vans, but realizes she first has to learn more about repairing and finishing the bodies of motor vehicles. Now, the 2016 Gilman High School graduate is the only female in the Auto Collision Repair and Refinish program at Chippewa Valley Technical College.
It’s not unusual for a female in the program to be the only one, but that’s something CVTC would like to change through ongoing efforts to attract women to nontraditional occupations. On June 23, a one-day camp called “Exploration of Auto Collision —for Girls” was designed to show young women that they can do auto
body work, and do it well. Rafferty was a good fit to assist instructor Terry Taylor in working with the girls who attended. “I want to do custom airbrushing, the hot rod type of paint jobs,” Rafferty said. “I really like the painting part.” The girls attending the camp were of a like mind, having more of an interest in art than in autos. “I’m an artist; I paint a lot,” said Hope Bander of Pepin, whose brother, Derek, is in the CVTC program. “I thought this would be fun and interesting.” Bander, a Pepin High School junior, brought a friend with her—Kate Gadient, a Pepin senior. “When Hope asked me, I was like, ‘Sure, I’ll go,’” Gadient said. “I did some shop classes in high school and liked them, but didn’t do anything like this. And Derek was saying that Terry is a really good teacher, so I thought it would be fun to see.” Aliyah Loofboro, a freshman from Colfax, is also interested in the art part of the work. “I love painting and doing art,” she said. “My stepmom told me about this camp and thought I would like it.
1940 E. Main St. Waukesha, WI 53186
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I was very excited about it. It’s something I’ve never tried.” At the camp, the girls were provided with a simple auto body panel with a dent in it. They learned how to fill and smooth out the dent through a
sanding process, use primers, and paint and finish the panel. “They are all doing very well,” Taylor said. “We always have some girls in the program, but not a lot. It has to do with career paths, but we are getting more and more all the time, and they do a great job.” None of the girls enrolled in the camp pictured themselves pursuing a career in auto body repair, but they were all glad to have the experience. “Filling in the dent was kind of cool,” said Loofboro. “But I would like to do something related to art.”
“I don’t know why more women don’t want to do this,” said Rafferty, who lives near the tiny Taylor County community of Lublin. “I think it’s fun.” Loofboro expects that she will work in a body shop when she finishes the CVTC program, and perhaps get into doing some airbrushing body work on the side as she moves her career in that direction. She knows that she’s likely to be the only female in any body shop she works, but she hasn’t had a problem as the lone representative of her gender in the CVTC program. “I usually get along well with men,” she said. When Taylor asked her to help at the camp, she was anxious to volunteer. “I think it’s cool that more women are trying to get into this,” she said. We thank Pierce County Herald for reprint permission.
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MNCARS: On a Roll
Minnesota Careers in Auto Repair and Service (MNCARS) is a nonprofit organization established in 2016 by the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN). Its sole purpose is to promote careers in the automotive industry, recruit young people into the state’s college-level automotive service and collision repair programs and, ultimately, into industry workplaces. Now 18 months into the initiative, MNCARS is pleased to report progress on a number of fronts…
• Developed website, social media presence, marketing materials, counselors kit and other collateral to educate target audiences (“tinkerers,” school counselors and parents) about the career opportunities in today’s automotive service and collision repair industry • Established an industry speaker’s bureau and recruited “student ambassadors” to promote careers in the auto service and collision industry • Presented to middle school and high school automotive students and participated in career and college fairs throughout the state • Activated social media campaign to drive traffic to carcareers .org
• Sponsored St. Cloud Times SPARK feature on transportation careers and event at St. Cloud CTC • Distributed introductory materials and career promotion posters to school counselors • Organized World of Wheels Student Day • Attended MN School Counselors Association conference (2015 – 17) • Exhibited at Back to the ‘50s (2016 & 2017)
Dan Sjolseth, owner of Superior Service Centers in Eagan and Apple Valley and Chairman of MNCARS, states, “Those of us who have been involved in this effort from the beginning feel like we’re really starting to gain some momentum. Counselors, educators and parents appear to be much more receptive to the idea that a four-year college degree is not for everyone and that the skilled trades – especially automotive – have a lot to offer: rewarding and varied career paths with high earnings potential in a high-tech, high-demand industry.” Looking ahead, plans are underway to: •
Activate the grassroots army of
AASP-MN members at the local level to spread the MNCARS message far and wide • Partner with the MN Transportation Center of Excellence to deploy a career exploration trailer at local events to build interest and provide hands-on experiences related to automotive careers • Continue presentations to high school automotive students and participation in career and college fairs throughout the state • Continue social media engagement to drive traffic to carcareers.org • Begin the fundraising necessary to sustain the campaign into the future
Sjolseth added, “It’s going to take the work of the entire industry to keep driving our message home and make a bigger impact. The future of each and every automotive business depends on the availability of skilled technicians and other qualified employees. We encourage all members of the industry to put the resources developed by MNCARS to use in their own backyard to advocate and educate target audiences about the bright outlook for automotive service and collision repair careers and jobs in our state.”
Midwest Job Fair to be Held Sept. 29 in Madison, WI
The Automotive & Collision Industry Job Fair will be Friday, Sept. 29, at Gateway Motorsports Park, 700 Raceway Blvd., in Madison. The event is held by the St. Louis ICAR Committee, which has joined forces with NHRA and the U.S. Army Youth & Education Services (Y.E.S.) Program and is an opportunity to meet hundreds of potential employees from area technical schools. Students will attend the Y.E.S. Program and then move to the I-CAR Job Fair tent, where 30 to 40 employers will be ready to interview the students. By joining forces, the St. Louis I-CAR chapter anticipates between 800 and 1,200 students will attend both events, representing Automotive, Collision, Engineering, Science, and Math programs at 10 to 12 vocational programs in Missouri and Illinois high schools and colleges. Generated fees will be donated to the schools. The guest speaker will be NHRA driver Antron Brown. For more information, contact Gene or Doug Slattery at 636-343-8101, gene@automotivetechnology.com, or Shelly Jones at 314-601-2789, shelly@shaeferautobody.com.
www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 9
How to Add Three Stage Mitchell Paint Calculations SCRS has issued a tip for three stage paint calculations in the Mitchell system. For the system to recognize and calculate three stage paint finish labor, user must write the estimate as normal with refinish/ blend operations labor added. Enter quick code 933014 in the upper right corner, and the system will add “Three Stage”. Once you calculate the estimate, a line will appear for Three Stage Instead of the clear coat line. First major panel or soft bumper/fascia cover: Add .7 per refinish hour (70%), after time has been added for jamb, jamb and interior, edge panel, and/or underside (when necessary). Additional panel(s) and/or other refinish area(s): Deduct overlap (if applicable); add .4 per refinish hour (40%), after time has been added for jamb, jamb and interior, edge panel, and/or underside (when necessary). Blend adjacent panel(s): Allow .7 per refinish hour (70%) for each panel(s)/refinish area(s) blended.
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ASA-MI’s 32nd Annual Golf Outing Featured Air Cannon by Chasidy Rae Sisk
On July 10, ASA-MI held its 32nd Annual Golf Outing at the Eagle Eye Golf Course in East Lansing, MI, with 84 industry professionals in attendance. The weather was less cooperative than preferable.
2018 Golf Outing will be held on July 8, 2018, and the association is currently working to finalize its 2017 Fall/Winter training schedule
ASA-MI Ray Fisher joked, “We had beautiful sunny days leading up to the outing and beautiful sunshine in the afternoon, but Mother Natured reminded us of who was in charge earlier in the day with rain, so we had some tough choices to make. It’s very difficult to reschedule something like this, but we can’t allow folks to golf during thunder and lightning, so we
ASA-OH to Host Two Educational Seminars in September
by Chasidy Rae Sisk
In an effort to bring value to its members, ASA-OH is preparing its 2017-18 training schedule.
Currently, two informative seminars have been scheduled for September: “Stop Playing by the Appraiser’s Rules” with Tony Lombardozzi of Superare Marketing, and a Sandusky Networking Event that includes a short presentation on the latest parts program delivered by Larry Sherlock of the Classic Auto Group. Lombardozzi’s “Stop Playing by the Appraiser’s Rules” workshop will be held on Sept. 13 at the Ohio Auto Kolor facility in Columbus, OH, and on Sept. 14 at AkzoNobel’s Training Center in Strongville, OH. The seminar will cover the appraiser’s primary job, what shop owners must know,
what happens when a shop doesn’t comply with insurer price demands, and why insurance appraisers use fear tactics and threats when working with shops. The cost of this informative session is $89 for members and $149 for non-members. The Sandusky Networking Event will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 20 at Daly’s Pub in Sandusky, OH. In addition to having an opportunity to network with peers, attendees will hear from the Classic Auto Group’s Larry Sherlock about the latest parts programs available to collision repair shops. To register for either event, visit www.asaohio.org. Questions can be directed to ASA-OH Executive Director Matt Dougher at: mdougher @asaohio.org or 513-659-5324.
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decided to skip our pre-golf contests to stay on schedule and allow the golfers a full round of golf.” Fortunately, the mid-afternoon storm that was anticipated never arrived, but ASA-MI had already cut one of their new contests, which entailed getting the ball into an inflatable dinosaur’s mouth. Referencing another new contest for 2017, Fisher shared, “We sold opportunities for golfers to use an air cannon on a Par 4 that would land their ball on the green in one shot – about 315 yards! People enjoyed that one so we’re going to definitely bring that back next year!” Attendees had a great time networking with vendors and peers. Fisher noted, “It appeared that everyone enjoyed the day, and we are so appreciative of everyone who sponsored the event and supported us again this year – they are a great bunch of people and diehard golfers, I might add. We were able to have and enjoy our contest holes during the round of golf.” The day concluded with dinner, a 50/50 raffle and some giveaways. Team PRP sponsored dinner, Federated Insurance sponsored golf carts, and the putting contest was sponsored by Auto Value Auto Parts. ASA-MI is also grate-
ful to other sponsors, which included Shaheen Chevrolet, Micro Auto Paint and Supply, DHI Equipment Sales and Service, AutoZone Auto Parts, FinishMaster, Garage Gurus, and Painter’s
A new contest, in which golfers tried to get the ball into the dinosaur’s mouth, was cancelled due to the weather forecast
Supply and Equipment, among others. “It’s wonderful to have vendors step in and support our outing like these folks do – it really helps us put on a first-class outing and makes it a great networking event,” Fisher said. ASA-MI’s 2018 Golf Outing will be held on July 8, 2018, and the association is currently working to finalize its 2017 Fall/Winter training schedule.
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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 11
Craig Van Batenburg Offers Advice on Technician Shortage Issues by Autobody News Staff
Craig Van Batenburg, founder of the Automotive Career Development Center (ACDC), led an information session titled “Technician Shortage… How to Fix the Problem” at NACE Automechanika on July 26. His presentation covered the myriad recruiting issues collision repair shops are currently facing, as well as ideas on how to remedy such hiring issues. Encouraging audience participation, Van Batenburg asked attendees to call out some of the specific barriers that tend to hinder potential new technicians from working at collision repair shops. These problems included the disposable nature of modern day society (replace something instead of repair) and competing industries appealing more to technicians. Another audience member brought up the issue of technicians failing to engage in the proper training needed to succeed in the collision repair industry. “A technician won’t go to training – is that a problem, or is that a symptom?” Van Batenburg responded. “I think it’s a symptom of poor management.” He said that while running Van Batenburg Garage, he chose to treat the first interview of a potential employee as a conversation, rather than an interview. “We didn’t talk about money,” he said. “We’d walk around the shop, and I’d say ‘Can you run this as a scope? Do you know this tool?’ We’d say hi to the guys and we’d sit in my office with the door open, and just talk. If I liked you, and I thought you had the right culture, you’d fit in.’”
He said that the enrollment process of every management course he teaches would most likely result in less money earned for the owner of the shop, but that the lack of stress resulting from that class would be worth it. “You’ll have a lot less stress and be a hell of a lot happier,” he said. “If you really want to put the technician at the center, you will make less money. Instead of taking home $150,000 a year, you might take home $130,000. Who cares? There’s no difference between those two numbers. Once you make $90,000 a year, if you’re living in a modestly priced house, you have all the money you’ll ever need to make to have a great life.” Regarding hiring strategies, he recommended hiring two interns with the potential to advance to permanent technicians, although he strongly advised against limiting applications to solely local candidates. “You need to have a place for somebody to stay,” he said. “The pool of technicians in your town is not big enough. You need the United States.” He said interns would come in for about eight weeks and work on interesting, engaging projects, such as diagnosing trucks. “Bring them in from all over the United States, wherever it’s legal—that includes Guam and Puerto Rico,” he said. “You can also find them through your colleges. Bring them in for about 6-8 weeks. You don’t have to pay them, but I’d suggest you give them some money.” He said that when interns are brought in, there is no promise of a job, but a shop manager or owner could interview them for a quite awhile to de-
AASPI Celebrates Support for Annual Golf Outing by Chasidy Rae Sisk
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Illinois (AASPI) held its 2017 Golf Outing on August 3 at the Old Orchard Country Club in Mt. Prospect, IL. According to AASPI Executive Director Mike Lane, “Our 2017 AASPI Golf Outing was very successful. We had 113 golfers and 33 industry suppliers help sponsor the event. Golf outings, as a rule, are on a decline regarding the number of golfers who participate, yet our event has continued to be strongly supported.” AASPI’s Annual Golf Outing is the association’s sole fundraiser, with
proceeds supporting the group’s legislative advocacy initiatives. AASPI also held a raffle with a grand prize of a one-week trip to Costa Rica. Proceeds from the raffle were donated to the Misericordia Heart of Mercy charity, which provides a continuum of care for people with developmental disabilities. Lane shared, “Association-sponsored events are important because they provide financial support, as well as a forum whereby members can see the value of cooperative support of their association. We are fortunate that the industry continues to show their support of AASPI’s work by strongly participating in this and our other events.” For more information, visit aaspi.org.
12 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
termine if they’re a good fit for one in the future. “Two interns at a time,” he said. “Give yourself a break in between, because you’re going to wear yourself out after awhile.” He continued to say that shop owners and managers need to have interns coming in, or else it will be very difficult to find the right technicians. “Give them something difficult, right off the bat,” he said. “Give them something hard. You know what the young generation is going to do? The first thing they’re going to do is get their phone, and they’re going to become YouTube certified. It’s amazing how resourceful they are, and they will get that. They will get it done." He advised that shop owners and managers get these young technicians into their business as interns, so the determination of whether they will be easy to work with can be made early on. “You’ll know whether they’re cooperative in the morning or they’re rude,” he said. ‘“If you like them, offer them a job, and if not, the internship is over.”
He said that after 2-4 years of college, young technicians often need extra training that will need to be paid for, but shops can reimburse them for training costs if they remain employed there after the training is completed. “Base compensation needs to be a livable wage, which is $20 an hour,” he said. “Get them there as fast as you can. If you start their wages low and tell them you’re going to bring them up, they will be insulted. What’s the difference between $15 and $20 if you’re going to go up to $20 in six months anyway? Do the math. You’re being cheap.” He later continued to emphasize the importance of compensating interns and ensuring that the entire process be legal, because if an intern or employee were injured and not listed in the shop’s system, there would be serious consequences for the shop. “Provide housing,” he said. “Provide a car. Give them a beater – an old timey thing. And when it’s all done, sell it, and they can make you some money. You’ve got to find someone who likes people—in this industry, that’s not everyone.”
www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 13
‘Working Feverishly’: Roofers, Body Shops Race to Keep Up with Carthage Hailstorm Recovery by Koby Levin, The Joplin Globe
Months after the worst hail storm to hit Carthage, MO, in decades, cleanup is still in full swing. Even as insurance companies finish processing most claims, the demand for repairs is straining local roofers and body shops, who have hired additional help to keep up. Hail the size of golf balls slammed the town in the middle of the night on May 28, damaging cars, homes and public buildings. The storm destroyed vehicles and historic property at the 66 Drive-In movie theater, knocked out neon lights at the Boots Court Motel, wrecked the roofs of the county courthouse and the Over 60 Center, and forced the golf course to close while crews patched pockmarked greens. The city of Carthage plans to replace the roofs on more than 30 cityowned buildings, and officials granted permits for work on 300 roofs in July alone. By contrast, only 25 roofing permits were issued during July 2016. Insurance agencies in the area have hired extra insurance adjusters to process additional claims. “It’s unlike anything we’ve ever
seen,” said Ezra Cook, an agent for Farmers Insurance in Carthage, of the storm damage. American Family Insurance, which holds about one-eighth of the Southwest Missouri market for all types of insurance, has already processed more than 2,000 claims for the hail storm alone, many of them in Carthage. The damage to homes, cars and businesses insured by the company amounted to at least $2 million, according to insurance agent Bob Brown, who estimates that the total damage to the area will be eight times that. Payments have already been made in most cases, said Brown, who works at the American Family branch in Carthage. But many home and vehicle owners are still waiting for repairs as local roofers and body shops dig out from beneath the caseload. “There’s just too much for the contractors and body shops to handle,” Brown said. “Everyone is working feverishly, but they’re booked out until December.” Even with several crews patching up to six roofs per week, one Carthage contractor said he expects to continue
14 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
working on hail damage in the area through the end of the year. “The only thing I’ve seen like this storm, in terms of the workload, is the Joplin tornado,” said Allan Welch, owner of Honest Help Contracting and Remodeling, Inc. “Jiminy Christmas. Usually I’m (scheduled) two to three weeks out, but now I’m two to three months out,” said Wes Probert, owner of Probert Auto Body in Carthage. “I had to hire two more people.” While the storm may provide a boost to local contractors, it will cut into the bottom lines of national businesses still smarting from hail-related losses in 2016. Large insurance companies and auto dealers were hurt by higher-than-average hail damage last year, especially in Texas. Roughly $3.5 billion in hail damage was reported, up from an annual average of $1 billion.
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For Missouri and neighboring states, this has been a particularly bad year for hail damage. Apart from Texas—which regularly faces the worst hail damage in the nation— Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri have seen more reports of hail than any other states. Rachel Stump, of the 1000 block of West Chestnut Street, said 2.5-inch hailstones damaged her roof and car. Her fiancee, hoping to save money, plans to use their insurance check to fix the roof himself, but Stump took her car to the shop for $8,500 in repairs to the windshield, mirrors and body. “It was in the shop for three weeks—that’s how backed up they were,” she said.
We thank the Joplin Globe for reprint permission.
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Chief Introduces New Universal Uni-Clamp Anchoring System
Chief’s new Universal Uni-Clamp Anchoring System is now standard on all Chief frame racks. The anchor stand features a replaceable crosshatch section that works like 180
Chief Universal Uni-Clamp Anchoring System
teeth on both jaws and the anchoring stand to provide superior gripping power on the high-strength steel pinch welds common on modern vehicles. The bolt pattern on each jaw has been lowered 25 millimeters so technicians can easily tighten the fastening bolts from the outside, without
removing the lower ground effect trim panels found on many cars. “We have redesigned the Universal Uni-Clamp Anchoring System to increase anchoring speed and overall shop productivity,” said Richard Perry, OEM and strategic account sales manager for Chief parent company Vehicle Service Group (VSG). “The system provides better holding power as well as easier, faster attachment to the high-strength steel pinch welds hidden by the OEM appearance trend of lower trim panels.” The new crosshatch sections of the Chief Universal Uni-Clamp Anchoring System are also economical. When worn, they can simply be unbolted and replaced with a fresh set, without the need to replace the jaws themselves, or the anchoring stand. The system is compatible with all Chief specialty anchoring products, and can be retrofitted onto existing Chief Universal anchoring stands. To learn more about the Chief Universal Uni-Clamp Anchoring System, visit: chiefautomotive.com/Partsand-Accessories/Anchoring-Systems/ , contact your local Chief distributor or call (800) 445-9262.
CARSTAR Location in Kansas City Teams-Up With BASF
CARSTAR Metcalf in Stillwell, KS, is now locally owned and operated and uses BASF’s Glasurit 90 Line paint system.
“We have direct repair relationships with more than 20 insurance partners,” said Steve Hahn, CARSTAR Metcalf owner. “Now that this location is locally owned, I want to be even more involved in the community.” Hahn said he is planning an open house in October. “Without the support of the CARSTAR corporate operations team the last four years, purchasing this shop would not have been possible,” said Hahn. An iCAR Gold certified colli-
sion repair shop, CARSTAR Metcalf was a former corporate training center for CARSTAR. iCAR Gold status indicates that technicians are trained in the latest procedures and technologies to make a safe repair. The shop repairs an average of 160 vehicles, of all makes and models, per month. “Steve has been in the collision repair business for more than 20 years,” said John Moreau, BASF North American Key Account Manager. “His dedication to the customer mirrors BASF’s commitment to the automotive refinish business. BASF is looking forward to working with Steve to support the growth of CARSTAR Metcalf.” Every year, CARSTAR Metcalf hosts a First Responder Emergency Extrication (FREE) Training event. According to Hahn, local firefighters and EMTs are given hands-on training with extrication equipment to learn the best and safest ways to help accident victims. This year’s event will be held on Nov.r 8. Visit the CARSTAR Metcalf Facebook page for more details.
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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 15
After Hot Rod Crashes, the Owner is Suing Wichita Business for $700,000 by Tim Potter, Wichita Eagle
A battle over a valuable hot rod – involving one of the biggest names in the Wichita car world – is being waged in federal court. A Georgia man entrusted his hot rod, which he valued at more than half a million dollars, to Devlin Rod & Customs on East Douglas in Wichita, KS, so it could do some mechanical magic. But a Devlin employee wrecked the car, and now there’s a lawsuit. The lawsuit filed by Michael LaZear seeks damages of at least $700,000 and names as defendants Devlin Rod & Customs LLC, owner Timothy Devlin and Devlin employee Ryan James. LaZear said the business promised that no one would drive the car without his permission and that the shop had millions of dollars in insurance if anything happened to the car. Devlin Rod & Customs denies those claims and maintains that LaZear knew the shop would have to testdrive the car. The business says that LaZear owes it $18,984.51 for work on the car, a court document says. The conflict originated almost two years ago. On Oct. 20, 2015, James rapidly accelerated the 1956 Ford Fairlane to “peel out, burnout, ‘fish tail,’ ‘hot rod,’ or otherwise show off” as he was driving the car from another Wichita business where the car had been worked on, the lawsuit complaint says. The hot rod went out of control, rolled several times, crashed into a ditch and ended up “a total loss,” the lawsuit says. James pleaded guilty to recklessly driving LaZear’s Fairlane, and a Sedgwick County District Court judge ordered that his license be restricted for 90 days beginning June 1, 2016, records show. Car owner argument Devlin Rod & Customs was not supposed to let anyone drive the car without LaZear’s permission, and the business assured that the car would be transported only by trailer, the lawsuit says. The car had never been driven when it was left in Devlin Rod & Customs’ “exclusive possession,” it says. Although Devlin Rod & Customs had said it had “millions of dollars of insurance” to cover any possible loss of the Fairlane, after the crash “Devlin
advised LaZear that Devlin Rod & Customs lacked sufficient insurance to cover the loss of the Fairlane, contrary to Devlin’s promises and representations,” the lawsuit says. The custom car had a “replacement cost of between $500,000 and $700,000.” The lawsuit does not say whether LaZear had insurance to cover the loss.
car shows in the Midwest, held each January at Century II.
floor-mounted gear shift knob was a black 8 ball.
The Crash The Car The Devlin shop installed all the The lawsuit describes the 1956 Fairlane owned by LaZear as “a custom- gauges, including the odometer, the built, one-off 1956 Fairlane ‘Pro lawsuit says. “LaZear gave Devlin strict inTouring’ 2-Door Sedan.” “Through years of work, labor and structions that the Fairlane only be significant expense, LaZear transported by trailer, and that it not be transformed the shell of the driven under any circumstances withFairlane into the custom, one- out LaZear’s prior approval,” it says. of-a-kind show car of his “Devlin assured, promised …” On or before Oct. 20, 2015, Dedreams.” The powerful engine was vlin told James or another employee described as a “Ford ‘Boss to drive the car from the shop to a Nine’ 540 cubic inch V8.” The race-car business on South Greenwich frame, chassis and roll bar —a nine-mile trip, the lawsuit says. were fabricated by hand, the Work was done. On the morning of body shaped by hand and the Oct. 20, James was told to drive the This photo of the 1956 Ford Fairlane was submitted as Fairlane back to the Devlin shop. interior “custom restored.” evidence in the federal lawsuit against Devlin Rod & As James left the driveway at the Date-stamped photographs Customs. It was taken shortly before the car was totaled South Greenwich business, James filed with the lawsuit and in a crash, according to the lawsuit. A Devlin employee taken minutes before the hot “stepped on the gas and rapidly accelwas driving the car when it crashed rod crashed show the glossy- erated the Fairlane, immediately losThe lawsuit, filed in federal court black car with a custom paint job – a ing control,” the lawsuit says. in Kansas City, KS, alleges negligence yellow-and-orange-flame design flarWhen the hot rod crashed, the and deceptive practices involving a ing back from the gleaming grill. Part odometer showed 27 miles. consumer transaction. of the massive engine protrudes from We thank The Wichita Eagle for a cutout designed into the hood. The reprint permission. Shop Argument In a court document answering the lawsuit complaint, the Devlin shop denied that “actions were taken for the purpose of ‘showing off,’” and denied “that it was an ‘attempt to burnout.’” LaZear told the business “do what • Large Inventory you have to do” to drive and test the • Experienced Staff Ready To Serve You car, the business responded in the court • Wide Delivery Area document. • Competitive Prices • Free Local Delivery LaZear “knew specifically that the vehicle had to be driven to be tested,” the shop said. The business denied that it was deceptive and argued that there was no consumer transaction. And in a counterclaim, the shop contended that LaZear owes it $18,984.51 for work on the hot rod.
What’s Next The case is set for mediation in September. Depositions of Devlin and James are scheduled for August. LaZear’s attorney, Brett Randol, said July 20 he couldn’t comment. Devlin said he couldn’t comment on the lawsuit; his attorney couldn’t be reached. The Devlin hot rod shop name is part of the name of The Starbird-Devlin Rod & Customs Charities Car Show. It’s one of the most prominent
16 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
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Parts Hours: Mon - Fri: 7:30-5:00 1020 E Golf Road Schaumburg, IL 60173
www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 17
YANG’s Chicago Meet-Up Attracts 40 Young Professionals by Chasidy Rae Sisk
The Young Auto Care Network Group (YANG) held a Regional Meet-Up on Wednesday, August 2 at the Lakeview Baseball Club, adjacent to Wrigley Stadium, in Chicago, IL. Forty young auto care industry professionals enjoyed the opportunity to network with peers while cheering at a major league baseball game. “Networking is in our name,” JR Bishop, YANG Chair, stated. “It is the core of this group. These events are what tie us all together in this great big industry.” The all-inclusive event was held on the rooftop during the Chicago Cubs game against the AZ Diamondbacks, and was sponsored by Bosch, NGK Spark Plugs, Gold Eagle and APDI. “YANG Regional Meet-Ups are a great way to meet your peers who live locally,” said event host Kevin O’Connor, Director of Sales for APDI’s Western Region. “As someone who has hosted two Regional Meet-Ups, I would recommend partnering with additional companies,” O’Connor added. “It gives you more venue options, and you are not limited to your own company’s
YANG’s August 2 Meet-Up was held at the Lakeview Baseball Club in Chicago
budget. APDI isn’t a household name like Bosch or NGK, so this event really helped get our name out there. Hosting a Regional Meet-Up can be a great advertising tool for your company. If I wasn’t turning 40 next year, I would definitely host another event next year.” Courtney Hammer, Director of Job and Career Development for the Auto Care Association and YANG Liaison, said it was a very successful event. “Forty young professionals were able to meet each other for the first time,” Hammer said. “In fact, there were a few members from out of state who scheduled a sales meeting in Chicago on the day of the meet-up so that they could come to our event!
Everyone left with new connections. This group of young folks has actually reached out to Auto Care Association headquarters to see when they could schedule an event again. They loved it
by A & Jay Automotive Warehouse and held at the Gaylord National Resort in conjunction with the 2017 National PRONTO Fall Shareholders Conference.
The Chicago Meet-Up attracted 40 young professionals in the auto care industry
and want to try to do something together on a regular basis.” Feedback from the event included: “Taking part in YANG MeetUps has allowed me to network with other professionals in the auto industry whom I wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to meet,” and “While it has been great from a professional development standpoint, having the chance to be part of a community of likeminded individuals sharing similar life and work experience has been very rewarding.” Another participant noted, “With the opportunity of networking at the local event, I have been able to gain a broader knowledge of the industry, while understanding the importance of what we do.” YANG hosts its Regional Meet-Ups as a way for members from every part of the supply chain, in any job title, to connect with local peers. According to Bishop, “Having the opportunity to network in the same room with a variety of different types of aftermarket companies and people in different roles than your own is an eye-opening experience. When members get to meet others in the supply chain, suddenly they see a whole new bigger part of the aftermarket that they never ever knew existed.” YANG also held a Regional MeetUp at the Tenneco Lodge in Monroe, MI, on August 16, hosted by Tenneco, Inc. and the FRAM Group. Four additional Meet-Ups are planned for the next two months. • On Sept.13, YANG’s Meet-Up in National Harbor, MD, will be hosted
18 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
• Hosted by Federal-Mogul Motorparts, the Southfield, MI Meet-Up will take place at Champion Motor Speedway on Oct. 3, in conjunction with the University of the Aftermarket’s Aftermarket 101 Class. • YANG will host the Washington, DC Meet-Up on Oct. 4, in conjunction with the Auto Care Legislative
Summit, at the Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar. • On Oct. 17, the Memphis, TN Meet-Up will take place at the High Cotton Brewing Company and will be hosted by AutoZone and sponsored by Tascosalesreps.
YANG will also be represented at AAPEX in Las Vegas on Nov. 1, offering headshots from 10:30-3:30 p.m. and holding a Town Hall at 3:45-4:45 p.m. at the Venetian Hotel. The topic of the Town Hall will be “Get in the Driver’s Seat: The Three Keys to a Successful Auto Care Career.” YANG will also host a Networking Happy Hour that evening at LAVO, The Palazzo. “The YANG Regional Meet-Up program was created to better serve our members across the country,” Hammer said. “We understand that not all of our members travel to industry events—however, it is important to us that all of our members experience YANG. Encourage your young people to host an event. If you are interested in hosting an exclusive YANG Regional Meet-Up, please email yang@autocare.org.”
www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 19
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.
Best Practices for Photo Documentation: 10 Tips on How to Capture Useful and Relevant Images One of the many important steps in the claim handling process, according to Mike Cassata, owner of Hammer Insights, is proper photo and file documentation.
useful and relevant photographs that show the vehicle damage or lack of damage. “Photos are a real and necessary part of the complete claim file,” said Cassata. “DRP managers will tell you that poor photos and documentation can be a bigger problem than the quality of the repairs.” He shared insight with attendees about the correct process that the majority of carriers want to see, although the rules may vary from carrier to carrier. While working through the inspection process, Cassata said there are two important photos to capture in addition to a legible one of the license plate: the VIN sticker on the Mike Cassata, owner of Hammer Insights, during NACE Automechanika 2017 door and the dash instrument gauges with the car running. During NACE Automechanika in Not only will this identify any MalJuly, Cassata explained how to capture function Indicator Lamps (MIL), but
20 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
also other systems, mileage and fuel level. Cassata shared 10 tips for optimum photo documentation:
1) Observe the direct and indirect damages and then walk around the vehicle once or twice before beginning to take photos and writing the estimate.
2) Use the catcher’s position to take photos and refrain from kneeling to protect your knees.
3) If you can’t squat, find an alternative method that is comfortable for you.
4) Take the majority of photos from the height of the impact along the body of the vehicle whenever possible. A yard stick can be helpful to show the height of the impact. 5) Use sunlight and shop lighting to
your advantage and remove excess snow from the vehicle.
6) Fill the entire frame with the vehicle.
7) Parking lot lines can help accentuate damages in the images.
8) Include worn or trashed interior photos
9) Take your time, and make sure you aren’t including the vehicle owner, family members, pets or your own reflection in the photos. Review the photos prior to uploading them.
10) Don’t upload excess photos and carefully follow each carrier’s guidelines.
Regardless of the extent of the damage, Cassata said there are five angles required for all front-end claims: the front of the vehicle straight on, the
right-front corner, left-front corner, and both sides. Photos of the rear damage are captured in a similar way and include the right rear, right center, left rear and both rear sides. Side damage photos should be taken using a panoramic view with multiple angles from front to rear. After panorama and prior damage photos are taken, Cassata said it is often necessary to take photos of specific damage. In the event of a comprehensive loss, also known as “other than collision” (OTC), there are additional photos to take such as animal hair or remains in the event of an animal loss. If there was a fire, Cassata said to try and locate the origin and include your remarks in the comment section. “The cause of the fire is not covered, but the ensuring damage is,” he explained. In cases of vandalism or theft, Cassata said the damage is often random and not specific to one area of the vehicle. “Regardless of the damages, photograph both sides of the steering wheel and all possible points of entry such as door locks, door frames and glass,” he advised. “Remember, lack of damage in these areas can be just as important to the investigation as actual damages.”
Photos are also required of the electronic equipment and console area. Cassata said to take time to note if the sound equipment was removed surgically or in a hurry, causing damage to the dash. He recommended taking a wider view of the front occupant compartment since it will often show additional damage to the dash, seats or removed parts left behind by those who vandalized the vehicle. For vehicles that have been in floods, Cassata discussed fresh water losses as well as salt water losses. In terms of fresh water losses, he said to check with the carrier on its total loss guidelines. “Most will tell you that it’s usually up to the dash before they will total a vehicle,” said Cassata. In addition to removing the interior and trunk trim and carpets, he said to dry out the interior before mold and mildew appears. Salt water losses, according to Cassata, are usually deemed a total loss by a carrier if the water is over the rocker. “It’s much worse than a fresh water loss due to the corrosion,” he said. However, he said the water line could be higher than what shows on the interior on both salt water and fresh water losses.
Many insurance carriers will ask for a total loss evaluation, and may even pay a DRP partner for this service. Cassata said to be thorough, accurate and include all of the options and relevant information. “Proper photo technique is necessary for the claim file,” he said. “You are the appraiser of record and the payment to the policy holder will be based on your report.” In addition to taking photos of the VIN, gauges, actual damages and corner views, Cassata said all total loss vehicles require additional images such as vehicle options and front and rear interior views. Supplement photos are often taken after vehicle disassembly. Since they can be difficult to decipher, Cassata recommended getting close enough to capture the damage but remain far enough away to provide some context as to the location of the damages. At least one photo of the license plate must be included as well as an undamaged part of the vehicle. Insurance carriers often have their own requirements on how to document air bag deployments. In general, Cassata said the procedure is to include your initials and the date on the air bag with a permanent marker be-
fore taking a photograph. “This practice will reduce fraud,” he said. The full claim file is discoverable in court, which means it could be utilized in a court proceeding or other legal matter as well as used heavily in the decision-making process of settling the claim. Cassata said that every comment, line note, entry on the estimate, photo and entry in the portal must be turned over to the court when there is litigation. He recommended maintaining a folder on every vehicle you repair as well as a chronological record of the activity and ensure all comments pertain to the file in case you are called upon to testify. “You are the eyes and ears of the carrier so be sure to give them every opportunity to settle the claim fairly and responsibly by doing your part to supply the best photos and written documentation possible,” said Cassata. This article was based on a presentation by Mike Cassata, Hammer Insights, during NACE Automechanika 2017. For more information, call (585) 794-0914 or email: hammerinsights @outlook.com.
www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 21
May 2017 SWCC Graduate Takes First in National Auto Repair Competition by Alex Felker, CNA staff reporter, Creston News
“I honestly didn’t expect to win,” said Joel Hartstack, May 2017 Southwestern Community College (SWCC in Creston, IA) auto collision repair and refinish graduate. Hartstack was named the country’s 2017 collision repair technology champion at the National SkillsUSA Championships held June 18-23 in Louisville, KY. Hartstack, who earned a diploma in auto collision repair and refinish from SWCC in June 2016, and then continued to earn his Associate of Applied Science degree in auto collision repair and refinish in May 2017, is a 2012 graduate of Clarinda High School. “Honestly, my background would be that I always kind of liked tinkering around with cars,” Hartstack said. “And it’s something that I’ve just enjoyed doing as a free time type thing— and I figured if I can do it and make money at it, I might as well give her a shot. “I decided to enter it (the competition) because I thought it’d be fun to compete. And I figured I’d get the day off of class, and since I got the chance to go to nationals, I figured, ‘Hey, it’s a week off of work, and I knew you could win some cool tools,’ so I thought I may as well give her a shot.” The National SkillsUSA Championships is an industry elite level of competition. Contestants hail from all
50 states, each having won their respective divisions’ state competitions. The purpose of the championships is to “reward students for excellence, to involve industry in directly evaluating student performance and to keep
head welding, straightening and repairing sheet metal fenders and plastic bumper repair. “(It was a) very strict competition,” said SWCC auto collision repair and refinish instructor Jeff Magneson, who accompanies Hartstack to the championships. “As a matter of fact, if they get their cell phone out, they’re disqualified. If they talk to anybody over the fence, they’re disqualified. If they have to go to the bathroom, they’re escorted to make sure there’s no cheating or anything like that. They have to wear a uniJoel Hartstack, (pictured fourth from left) with left fist raised, celebrates with other national SkillsUSA form—you almost compare it winners at the National SkillsUSA Championships held to the military. They’re very June 18-23 in Louisville, Kentucky. Hartstack won the strict and disciplined about national championship in collision repair technology their competition.” training relevant to employers’ needs.” After these four days of competiThroughout the championships, tion, Hartstack emerged as gold chammore than 6,000 contestants competed pion. And although he did not expect across 100 different events. SkillsUSA to win, others were less surprised. is a multimillion-dollar event, and oc“Joel—and he’s received our outcupies a space equivalent to 16 foot- standing student award—we knew we ball fields. had a high quality student,” said MagThe collision repair technology neson. “He’s a farm kid, and anytime championship in which Hartstack won you get that you get a pretty good gold ran for four days. Contestants were tested on knowledge of business ethics (table setting, meeting etiquette), written certification tests, estimate analysis and writing, preparatory job interviews, including resumes and applications, and finally a series of handson tests, including structural repair of damaged car frames, vertical and over-
ASA-IL’s 2017 CAN Conference to Include All-Inclusive Reception
by Chasidy Rae Sisk
On Sept. 22-24, ASA-IL will hold its annual Chicago Automotive Networking (CAN) Conference at the Westin Chicago Northwest, featuring a full schedule of automotive educational seminars and a variety of networking opportunities. According to ASA-IL Executive Director Donna DePaul-Kelly, “We will be hosting an all-industry reception on Friday night that is free for industry professionals in all areas of the automotive industry. This will provide an excellent opportunity for networking with key industry vendors. We are also awarding at least 20 conference attendance scholarships to automotive students, in both collision and mechanical industries,
as part of our outreach initiative to encourage automotive careers.” Deb Bullwinkel, Co-Executive Director of the association, added that ASA-IL is currently undergoing a major initiative that will benefit everyone in the automotive industry, from collision facilities to mechanical shops to industry vendors, as members strive to encourage kids to pursue careers in the industry. “The framework for these plans should be ready to be presented at CAN, and we expect great things as our plans evolve,” Bullwinkel said. A three-day pass for ASA-IL’s CAN Conference costs $335 for ASA members and $400 for nonmembers. More information, including a complete agenda, is available at asailcan.com.
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work ethic—and they’re pretty good with their hands—so we pretty well knew he was top-tier. And that’s the neat part of these contests; it gives you a neat chance to see how your students stack up against other programs in other states, and he definitely proved himself. “Joel is pretty laid back and confident. He doesn’t get rattled very easily. He’s very intelligent—he picks up on things very quickly. And we don’t do a lot of practice for these competitions, so we kind of rely on the training we’ve been doing for these last two years to prepare them. And Joel represented Southwestern and Iowa very well. Couldn’t have asked for better.” And what’s next for Hartstack? Does he plan on continuing in auto collision repair? “Definitely—and as a career. That’s what I’m planning,” Hartstack said. “That’s what I’m doing now, and that’s what I like doing. I feel like I can make some money at it, and not hate going to work every day.” We thank Creston News for reprint permission.
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CIC Panel
parts, Gillis said. “Consent is a really tricky issue for consumers and consumer advocates,” he said. “Because of course we believe in full disclosure. But when you have to sign for something, there’s an inherent bias built into that signature. Therein lays the problem.” But Weikel said efforts to eliminate any state-required disclosure and consent won’t happen “on our watch.” “They have been aggressively defeated every place they have been filed,” he said. “I don’t see why we don’t have a bill in every state requiring informed consent.”
are regarding the parts used in the repair of his or her vehicle. Just as the automakers’ view of parts disclosure and consent probably came as no surprise to CIC attendees, advocates for the use of non-OEM parts predictably voiced objection to some aspects of such state laws. “Disclosure is important,” Terry Fortner, vice president of corporate accounts at LKQ Corporation said. “Everybody should know how their car is being repaired. But written consent was developed not for the conFederal Patent Proposal sumer, but for private interest groups. The panel also briefly debated the merAt the end of the day, we beits of the “Promoting Automolieve in disclosure, but we are tive Repair, Trade and Sales not a supporter of written Act of 2017,” or the “PARTS consent.” Act,” proposed federal legisAaron Schulenburg, lation that would slash the executive director of the Sotime that automakers can use ciety of Collision Repair design patents to prevent other Specialists, said he sees some Terry Fortner of LKQ companies from producing reirony in proponents of nonplacement crash parts from 14 Corporation said OEM parts actively working traceability of parts years to just 30 months. The is more important to eliminate state laws rebill is designed to increase that certification quiring disclosure, consent or competition for OEM crash other restrictions on the use of such parts by shortening the period under parts. Speaking at an event earlier this which automakers can prevent the proyear, for example, a representative of duction and sale of non-OEM versions LKQ said his company worked to of patented parts. overturn an Arkansas law that limits Similar bills have been introduced the use of non-OEM parts without the during every Congress since 2007, and written consent of the vehicle owner Weikel said his organization doesn’t (the law was not overturned). “think it has any chance of going any“That sends a bit of a mixed mes- where” in this Congress either, in part sage in my opinion, especially when because it singles out only one industry you look at the variation in the [qual- – automaker replacement parts – for ity levels of the] parts that are avail- decreased patent protection. He said able in the marketplace,” Schulenburg patent law correctly protects those who said. “Why not safeguard the con- pour resources into the design of somesumer’s ability to choose that thing from those who simply on their vehicle?” copy that item “without actu“There’s a fundamental ally investing the money problem with consent—Why that’s necessary to develop do you need to consent to them.” something that is the same,” Allowing generic verJack Gillis of the Certified sions of prescription drugs Automotive Parts Association CAPA’s Jack Gillis without giving the developer (CAPA), responded. “There’s of a new drug time to recoup said requiring an inherent bias that the con- consumers’ consent its investment might lower to the use of nonsumer hears when you say, drug costs, Weikel said as an OEM parts can ‘We’ll get your car all fixed analogy, but “it’s not fair to bias their view up, but by the way we are the company that’s actually of such parts going to use these parts here, invested all that money on and you need to sign on the dotted the front-end.” line that you know we’re using these Gillis countered that someone parts.’” who buys a vehicle shouldn’t “be an Having to sign to consent to the use indentured customer” of the auof certain parts can unfairly lead con- tomaker, “having to buy all of my parts sumers to question the quality of those from that company.” He said the fed-
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eral bill gives automakers 2.5 years of patent protection – “even though we think it should be zero years” – and prevents one automaker from copying the vehicle design of another. But Weikel said if non-OEM parts manufacturers want to make versions of parts covered by an OEM patent, they can do what LKQ has done in some cases: sign an agreement with the automaker that allows them to sell non-OEM versions of the parts in exchange for licensing fees paid to the OEM. “That’s what should happen,” Weikel said. “That’s what happens in other industries.”
Views on certification and tracking Panelists shared viewpoints on a variety of other issues related to non-OEM parts during the CIC discussion:
• Gillis said he thinks all non-OEM parts – including mechanical parts – should be certified as equivalent to OEM. “It’s far more important that steering mechanisms and brake pads and true safety devices being put on cars match [the OEM],” Gillis said. “It’s probably more important that a
brake pad meet the specifications that the original brake pad met than a fender does.”
• Fortner said he believes that traceability of parts is more important than certification of the parts. He said his company’s KeysIQ program allows a part the company sells to be traced from the manufacturer to the specific car on which it was installed. In the case of a recall—and Fortner said there have been two this year—“We’re able to trace that part all the way to the shop and to the car.”
• Weikel said among the concerns he has with non-OEM parts certifications is the lack of crash-testing conducted on such parts. He said CAPA —to its credit—decertifies parts when deemed necessary, but “what happens to the consumer that got that product the day before it was decertified?” He said shops also say they order certified parts only to have non-certified parts delivered.
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State Farm Lawsuit
29-year-old wife, Marcia, who were trapped inside their used 2010 Honda Fit when the glued roof failed. It then created a domino effect that caused the vehicle’s safety cage to collapse, which led to the fuel tank located directly underneath the driver’s seat to rupture. During the Dec. 21, 2013 accident, the couple was trapped behind their steering wheel. Matthew Seebachan remained conscious as the fire burned his feet and lower legs before he was extracted from the wreckage by another driver. Another motorist then rescued Marcia Seebachan through the passenger window of the badly damaged vehicle. Neither was killed, but Matthew Seebachan’s burns took two full years to heal, according to their counsel. The couple is represented by vehicle safety lawyer Todd Tracy with the Tracy Law Firm in Dallas, who filed two civil cases—one against John Eagle Collision Center, and one against State Farm. The federal lawsuit claimed that several years ago, State Farm coerced John Eagle Collision Center into using
an untested 3M panel bonding adhesive in lieu of Honda-specified welding to replace the hail-damaged steel roof of the Honda Fit that the Seebachans had bought as a used vehicle. “The couple suffered crushing injuries... because John Eagle Collision Center allegedly cut insurance costs by using glue instead of welding the car’s metal structure together, according to a defective repair lawsuit against the Dallas auto body shop,” the Tracy Firm said in a press release. “John Eagle Collision Center, by covering up its arrogant repair of using glue rather than following the manufacturer’s body repair specifications and using welds just like Honda had done when they designed, developed, and tested the vehicle, created a time bomb that was waiting to explode,” Todd Tracy said. “This shop repairs almost 5,000 vehicles a year in Dallas alone, not counting their Houston Collision Center. It is a billion-dollar-a-year business that apparently is not following the manufacturer’s repair recommendations. In this case, the insurance company paid John Eagle $8,500 to make a repair that was not up to manufacturer standards. Is every vehicle that leaves a John Eagle Collision Center in Dallas or
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Houston a ticking time bomb waiting to kill or maim? That’s a good question.” On July 7, the body shop director at John Eagle Collision Center, Boyce Willis, stated under oath that John Eagle intentionally violated Honda’s 20092013 Honda Fit body repair manual when it glued the new steel roof onto the 2010 Honda Fit with 3M 8115 adhesive. “State Farm dictated to John Eagle Collision Center about how the car was to be repaired, i.e., to use adhesive rather than spot welding,” Willis said. “Furthermore, State Farm can ‘trump’ the [OEM] specifications because the repair facility needs to get paid.” The suit alleged fraud instead of shoddy work or poor shop management, according to the lawsuit. “Defendant John Eagle unilaterally chose—on its own—to purposefully ignore Honda’s repair specifications,” it stated. “Defendant John Eagle made a conscious and deliberate decision to place unsuspecting people in a vehicle that it knew or should have known could cause serious injury or harm if involved in an accident, such as occurred in this case. Indeed, John Eagle knew that people could be killed or seriously injured, and deliberately chose to place the Seebachans in danger.”
The repair was done by the vehicle’s prior owner, and Matthew and Marcia Seebachan were unaware of it when they bought the car, according to Robert Riggs, a spokesman for Tracy Law Firm. A Carfax report allegedly did not contain the information, according to a report from Tracy Law Firm. “State Farm advertises that it is a good neighbor, but they are committing what is known as economic terrorism, and the body shops and the consumers are the victims,” Todd Tracy said. “The insurance company says, ‘Go ahead and do a subpar repair,’ and then they cover it up with a nice paint job and hand it over to the customer. Good shops know that they have a moral obligation to meet OE standards, but then they’re not getting paid for them by the insurance companies and losing millions. The insurance companies wear them down, and eventually something like this happens and people get hurt.” The consumer suffers in the end, Tracy said. “State Farm secretly and covertly plays Russian Roulette with its customers and the public by forcing body shops to choose their profits over the safety of the motoring public,” he said. “State Farm sells auto insurance, so they
are not in the business of designing vehicles, or testing vehicles, or repairing vehicles. And their adjusters are certainly not professional automotive engineers with an expertise in designing vehicles that provide crash-worthy protection to prevent serious injuries. No insurance company should ever dictate to a collision center how to repair a vehicle. Such coercion jeopardizes public safety on the nation’s highways. We know what the insurance companies have done to health insurance, so do we want them dictating what happens in the collision repair industry as well?” Tracy said that it ends up being a lose-lose situation for body shops. “If you’re a shop that worries about safety and quality, you really have only two viable options, because the insurance company has a gun to their head,” he said. “First, they can refuse the work, but that means they’ll go bankrupt. Or they can do the repairs to OE standards and then try to get paid by the insurer for a proper repair, but that ends up being just a slower form of bankruptcy.” John Eagle Collision was reportedly paid in excess of $8,500 by State Farm for a July 2012 hail repair, which entailed a complete roof replacement, according to the Tracy Law Firm.
Honda OEM repair procedures direct shops to use a tack-weld on the front and rear corner edges of the new roof, and then perform a series of two- and threeplate spot welds and MIG plug welds to achieve the repair. Willis also stated that 3M informed the shop that it was okay to use their adhesives on roofs, but then he also recognized that 3M documents stated that Honda prohibits that practice. In addition, Wills claimed in his deposition that utilizing structural adhesive was superior to welding, while admitting that he had no data to support the claim. “It’s cleaner [and] it’s less intrusive to the vehicle,” Willis stated, according to the court transcript. “Keep in mind, it’s a—it’s a panel. It’s not a structural piece—it’s a panel.” The lawsuit also accused State Farm of violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. In addition, Texas Watch, a nonpartisan citizen advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that insurance companies and other corporations are accountable to their customers, requested that the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) investigate State Farm’s involvement in the allegedly non-OEM repairs. “For many years now, we’ve been telling shops that something is going to
happen and someone is going to die because we didn’t follow the procedures,” said Toby Chess, an I-CAR program instructor, training specialist, former salvage yard operator and regular writer for Autobody News. “Why isn’t the insurance company that the shop worked with on the line as well? Because we indemnified them, which means the burden is all on the body shop side while the insurance companies reap the benefits. “Honda says you weld that roof on, but the shop decided we’re going to glue it on. We have three things here— money, time and quality—which two do you want? The insurance companies want it cheap and fast, and what ends up going out the door is quality.” Aaron Schulenburg, the Executive Director of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) weighed in on the case. “Some things require a catalyst, but nobody ever wants a catastrophe like this one [in order] for it to happen,” he said. “It stresses the importance of doing OE repairs and creating a culture within your business that is focused on gaining access to the information that’s out there, on every job. As an industry, we need to do a better job of recognizing those who perform the best, in accor-
dance with OE procedures, and setting them as the example that others should be encouraged to follow. “There are documented repair procedures out there, and the industry needs to embrace utilizing them. This case, and others, is a prime example of why it is important that we as repairers make that a priority in all of our repairs. “In fact, in June of this year, SCRS issued a position statement on the matter. It documented that it remains our position that if an OEM documents a repair procedure as required, recommended, or otherwise necessary as a result of damage or repair, those published procedures would be the standard of repair until such time the documentation changes. Disregarding a documented procedure that is made available to the industry creates undue and avoidable liability on the repair facility performing the repair. “We will obviously have to wait and see how this plays out, but in the end, the obligation to repair these cars correctly is on you to use your professional experience and the tools that are available to perform the appropriate repair. The parties that make these determinations about both the repairs and the associated costs are potentially going to See State Farm Lawsuit, Page 30
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Michigan Tops State Rankings — Most Expensive Car Insurance Rates Maine, Ohio and Idaho all have large swatches of rural areas, competitive insurance marketplaces and, best of all, cheap car insurance premiums. According to data analysis by Insure.com, Maine is the cheapest state for car insurance, with an average annual premium of $864. This is the third year in a row, and sixth time out of the eight years the comparison study has been conducted, that Maine has grabbed the title of the cheapest state. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Michigan – named the most expensive state for car insurance for the fourth consecutive year. The lowest Michigan has even been on the most expensive list is third, back in 2012. That was the year that Louisiana, which claimed second place this year for most expensive, took the No. 1 spot. Michigan’s average annual premium is $2,394, which is 82 percent higher than the national average of $1,076. It is 177 percent more than Maine’s cheapest average rate for the
Car insurance requirements vary by state, and that’s one reason for the differences in rates. Other reasons include state legal systems, how the state is affected by natural disasters, crime rates and the frequency and severity of claims.
Top five least expensive states to insure for 2017 (average rate and how they compare with national average)
Top five most expensive states to insure for 2017 (average rate and how they compare with national average) “Michigan residents can blame their unique no-fault system for their high cost of auto insurance,” says Penny Gusner, consumer analyst for Insure.com. “It allows for unlimited medical benefits for injuries sustained in auto accidents and a lot of fraud arises – the result is exorbitant car insurance premiums for car owners.”
Top five most expensive states to insure for 2017 (average rate and how they compare with national average)
country. For an example of how rates compare for specific vehicles, insuring a 2017 Toyota Camry LE in Michigan costs, on average, $2,711. In Maine, the average rate for the best-selling sedan is just $945. See the full story, including the average insurance rates for every state and the top 20 best-selling vehicles, at Insure.com’s car insurance rates by state, 2017 edition.
Louisiana’s high rates are due in large part to the litigious culture of the state. When large claims are continually paid out, insurance companies raise all policyholders’ premiums to cover these settlements. Top five least expensive states to insure for 2017 (average rate and how they compare with national average) “States with cheaper car insurance rates tend to be more rural re-
Continued from Page 27
pending litigation, I obviously can’t comment directly about the case, but as you know, auto body shops must follow accepted trade standards for good and workmanlike auto body and frame repairs,” Molodanof said. “This means that auto body shops in California must perform repair procedures, including sectioning of component parts, in accordance with OEM service specifications or nationally distributed and periodically updated service specifications, such as those offered by I-CAR, that are generally accepted by the auto body repair industry. It’s very clear.”
State Farm Lawsuit
end up being liable, and that’s an important consideration for a business. When it’s all said and done, everyone in this industry should focus on putting the consumers, their family and anybody else traveling around on the roadway safely back into a vehicle that is repaired to the way it was before the accident.” Attorney Jack Molodanof, the CAA’s lobbyist, said that the laws in California are clear. “Since this [was]
gions of the nation,” Gusner says. “A higher concentration of motorists in metro areas leads to crashes, claims and thus higher auto insurance rates. Car insurance companies see rural regions with less traffic to be less of risk and, thus, charge less.”
30 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Easy-to-use tools with real data Our interactive map offers motorists an at-a-glance look at state rate information and how each compares to the national average. We also provide a tool for consumers to research nationwide and state car insurance rates for 2017 vehicles – a must when looking to buy a new vehicle.
Methodology Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to calculate auto insurance rates from six large carriers (Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, Nation-
wide, Progressive and State Farm) in 10 ZIP codes per state. Rates were compiled in May 2017. Rates were averaged in each state for the cheapest-to-insure 2017 modelyear versions of America’s 20 bestselling vehicles for the first quarter of 2017 and each state was ranked by that average. These models represent a little over 40 percent of the U.S. new-car market in 2017. By highlighting the most popular vehicles, averages are more accurate without high-end sports or luxury cars skewing the data. Rates are for comparative purposes only within the same model year. Rates are based on full coverage for a single, 40-year-old male who commutes 12 miles to work each day, with policy limits of 100/300/50 ($100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $50,000 for property damage in an accident) and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage. The hypothetical driver has a clean record and good credit. The rate includes uninsured motorist coverage. Actual rates will depend on individual driver factors.
www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 31
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.
Effective Estimating Can Help with Scheduling, Reduce Supplements, and Improve Bottom Line Estimating is often said to be one of the most important components of running a successful body shop. According to John Shoemaker, business development manager for BASF Automotive Refinish Coatings, effective estimating can help with scheduling vehicles, reducing supplements and improving a business’s overall bottom line. “I teach shops the importance of documenting the repair process so everyone understands it,” said Shoemaker, who regularly meets with shops to help them grow and maximize their opportunities. “It’s a communications device. You’re communicating not only to the customer but to the insurance company, parts suppliers, technicians and various other people throughout the repair process.” Shoemaker said that proper documentation ensures all parties are on the same page and allows employees to perform at an optimal level. “The goal is to capture as much up front as pos-
sible before the repair process begins,” and seam sealers; and chipped paint. said Shoemaker. “By being thorough, it will help prevent complications later ■ Verify the Vehicle Information: This on.” includes the make, model, trim level It all starts with a proper vehicle decoding, mileage, production date, inspection with the customer. Shoe- exterior color, interior trim color and maker advises shops to deother options. velop a mutual understanding of the vehicle ■ Take Preliminary Photos: condition, the areas being reIn addition to the four corpaired and the pre-existing ners and the license plate, damage. “You want to make Shoemaker said to photosure that you’re writing an graph the instrument cluster, estimate based on what the John Shoemaker, VIN plate and production customer’s perception is be- business develop- date. The Collision Industry cause that’s going to follow ment manager for Conference Insurer-Insurthrough when you return that BASF Automotive ance Relations Committee Refinish Coatings vehicle after the repair,” he offers a set of best practice said. “Overall, be thorough, itemize guidelines for digital imaging at ciall repairs, be descriptive, make line clink.com. notes, take photos and label them.” Shoemaker’s tips on how to be ef- ■ Review the Repair Process: When fective during the estimating process: becoming familiar with the damaged Visual Assessment: Check for panel areas, be sure to check the P-pages, the misalignment or deformity; loose joint H-Notes and review the Society of Col-
32 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
lision Repair Experts (SCRS) Guide to Complete Repair Planning listed on the SCRS homepage.
■ Pre-Scan Diagnostics: A pre-scan of the vehicle is required by most vehicle manufacturers and allows the technician to find fault codes and verify the need for system recalibration.
■ Initial Damage Verification: While reviewing the damage on the vehicle, Shoemaker recommended starting at the end where there is the most damage and then work panel by panel to the opposite end of the vehicle. ■ Initial Structure Measurement: You must document the need for torque box and select point measurements. This will communicate the need for additional alignments based on damage and severity. ■ Evaluate Structural Damage: Shoe-
maker said to pay particular attention to crush zones when visually inspecting the vehicle. When reviewing the structure composition, he recommended checking OE, AllData and I-CAR to determine the steel type and reparability. Then, shops should itemize and document the repair by using line notes to describe individual structure repairs.
■ Identify Associated Damage: Determine the damage to the adjacent panels, which can include damage to flanges and inner panels. This damage is often repaired without compensation because of the lack of documentation.
■ Document Access Labor: Documenting the additional labor to access damage can be added as a line item on the estimate. Shoemaker said to show the labor within an area being repaired and create a line note explaining the addition.
■ Inspect Lighting and Wiring: After inspecting all light bulbs and harnesses, document the wiring repair including the number of wires broken.
■ Identify Mechanical Repairs: Identi-
fying mechanical components separately is important in defining the repairs required.
■ Interior Repairs: Shoemaker said to document damage from secondary impact and those related to restraint system activation.
■ Identify Paint Type and Refinish Processes: After locating the body plate, Shoemaker said to determine the color formulation using a website like Paintscratch.com. This helps shops verify and document the refinish process.
■ Identify and Document R&I Process: Determine R&Is for repair access such as headlamps, mounting brackets and windows as well as R&Is for paint access, including door handles, weather strips and fender liners. Then itemize the R&Is and use line notes for details.
■ Identify Stripe Requirements: Shoemaker said to first find out if the stripe is OEM or aftermarket, then document it on the estimate to ensure proper billing.
■ Fluid and Tire Requirements: Any fluids removed from the vehicle should
be measured for proper billing and reusable fluids can be stored in a sealed container. Note the tire manufacturer, size and tread depth in the line note.
■ Take Final Photos: The estimate can be used as a checklist, use photos to clarify repairs and Shoemaker recommended taking the photos in the order of the estimate and then labeling them for clarification.
■ Validate Estimate: Make sure to validate all “Incl” labor. When in doubt, Shoemaker said to consult DEG. Then add miscellaneous charges such as a car cover and hazardous waste.
“Determining the vehicle value is the last step in estimating and is important to prevent starting repairs on a vehicle that might be close to being non-economical to repair,” said Shoemaker. He recommended researching the NADA website and indicate the exact make, model and trim of the car as well as the current mileage. After determining the value, shops can then decide on the reparability of the vehicle. Shoemaker said that estimating systems often don’t accurately calculate the value of the vehicle. In
many states, the total loss threshold is between 70-75 percent of the value on newer cars and he has found that estimates can be eight to 10 percent off. He recommended that shops manually calculate the value before beginning the repair to help determine if the vehicle is a total loss. He used the example of a vehicle that was calculated using an estimating system and the threshold showed 50 percent. “We used NADA figures and came up with 58 percent,” said Shoemaker. “If this vehicle was in a state where the total loss threshold was 70 percent, you’re a lot closer than you should be if you’ve already started the repairs.” On average, Shoemaker said a writer will write eight to 10 estimates per day. He said that by adding just one tenth increase in body labor per estimate, a shop can increase its sales by $3,660.80 per year based on writing eight estimates a day. A one-tenth increase in paint labor with an average of eight estimates per day will increase sales $6,156.80 per year. “We have to keep in mind that we are not finding “new” labor,” explained Shoemaker. “In most cases, technicians are already performing these tasks but See Effective Estimating, Page 54
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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 35
Product Innovation Industry Veteran Invents Useful Tools at Collision Edge with Ed Attanasio
Tim Briggs, 44, and his wife, Ginger Briggs, are the owners of Collision Edge and the inventors of many products, including The Tape Thing, The Dent Viewer and The Estimating Kit. These tools are designed to simplify basic tasks and make technicians’ lives easier. Founded in 2014 and staffed full-time by Ginger and her sister, Pam Griswold, Collision Edge is located in the family barn in Chattahoochee Hill Country of South Atlanta. Tim Briggs entered the collision repair industry as a distributor/rep for Fowler Color Company in Atlanta, GA, in 1996 after working as a painter and airplane mechanic for many years. “I didn’t know anything about the industry. I focused on learning one new thing every day and asked a lot of questions” Briggs said. “After that, I got a job working as a territory manager and did regional business development for PPG for a decade. During
my last three years there, I managed their largest MSO account and there was a ton of travel involved. My young family needed a dad at home, so I decided to get back into distribution and went to work for a regional jobber to get off the road. My heart has always been in the shop, solving problems for customers.” Today, Briggs is the Director of Strategic Development for National Coatings & Supplies, Inc. (NCS), where he works on numerous internal and external projects. “NCS encourages employee innovation,” he said. “It’s such an awesome company.” Briggs is always looking for solutions. Many of the tools that he has created came about while he was looking for a better way of doing things when visiting shops. The first invention that Briggs developed was called the Estimating Kit, a simple invention that informs users how to precisely re-affix car emblems
VANDEVERE KIA
Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.
and stickers after a repair. “We were doing disassembly back in 2014 and taking emblems off a truck, but when the time came to put them back on there, we basically had to guess,” he
Tim Briggs, owner of Collision Edge, is the inventor of the Tape Thing and The Dent Viewer, which are used in body shops all over the world
said. “Then, later when I was driving home, I passed one of the same types of vehicles on the road and I could see that I missed the right spot for the em-
blem by about six inches.” Briggs then started looking for a tool that he could use to avoid misplacing car emblems ever again. “My wife had a laser engraving business at that time, so I took one of her magnetic sheets to create the first prototype,” he said. “I went down in the basement that night and made the very first set of rulers. There are four different rulers in a set. They are designed to work in combination to locate the emblems and aid in photo documentation for justifying Blend Operations.” Briggs began giving the Estimating Kit to his customers for free, and soon bigger and better ideas started entering his inventive mind, which led to The Dent Viewer. “I spent a lot of time working with shops to improve processes,” he said. “I was at West Georgia Paint and Body one day, and my friend and owner [of the shop] Tim Wilkerson was trying to take a photo of a dent. He was mov-
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ing the camera all around, and I was wondering what he was doing. He told me he was trying to get the ceiling grids in the picture, because the insurance company won’t pay for dents unless they see them in the photos. So I went home that night and started coming up with the idea of The Dent Viewer. It was originally a plain white board with black grid stripes on it, and it worked okay. I made about 50 of them and gave them to all of my customers because I knew it solved their [dent viewing] problem. I wasn’t in it to make money—I just wanted to help my customers and make their lives a little easier.” Like most great inventions, they evolve as users provide invaluable feedback to their creator over time. “One day, an estimator called me and said he couldn’t get a good photo of a car, so I drove down there and it turned out to be a white car,” Briggs said. “So at that point, we decided to paint the other side of the board in black with white lines so they could use the device with white vehicles.” After that, Briggs refined The Dent Viewer even further, adding a reflective film to the white side that illuminates grid onto the panel with the camera flash. He finally had his final
version to share with his customers. Today, The Dent Viewer comes in two sizes and is a big seller with shops and insurance companies alike, Briggs said. “The big four insurance companies really like The Dent Viewer, because they normally have big problems getting good photos of damage,” he said. “The field adjusters and shop estimators love it because they get fewer calls on photo quality from desk reviews, plus it’s a huge time saver to not have to retake photos after the estimator realizes his pictures aren’t detailed enough.” The inventions started accumulating in Briggs’ mind—every time he saw a problem in a shop, he immediately started looking for solutions. “With every repair, techs are taking nuts and bolts off the vehicles and throwing them on a work table,” he said. “So, I started working on a magnet that you can clip onto your pocket that would hold nuts and bolts [in order] to cut down on walking back and forth from the table to set them down or drop them on the floor, because it’s a waste of motion.” Briggs didn’t realize at the time that he was developing The Tape Thing
Caddy, even before he invented The Tape Thing. One day, he saw a technician doing a dance with a roll of tape. “He was using it, and then putting it under his armpit,” he said. “Then, he would use it a little more and then stick it under his other armpit and then his mouth! I realized he didn’t want to set it down because it would get dirty. At one point, he dropped the roll and it ran across the floor and fell into a puddle of water. I thought, ‘There has to be a better way of holding on to that tape.’” So the next day, Briggs found himself in the plumbing department of Home Depot with a roll of tape and purchased more than $150 worth of magnets, PVC fittings, epoxy and furniture skid pads. After tweaking the design and coming up with a way for the tape to spin in the user’s hand without burning it, Briggs knew he was on to something that might be big. He eventually ordered 2,500 units from a manufacturer in China, with most of the final assembly taking place in his living room, and sold them all. Briggs is a consummate tinkerer and isn’t happy until he gets his inventions right, so he has now redesigned The Tape Thing three times. However, he is finally delighted with
the finished product. “We improved the magnet strength and mounting, and made every change the voice of the customer’s request,” said Briggs. Briggs loved his final product and sold thousands more quickly, but all he could think about was the original idea that started him down this path. Enter, The Tape Thing Caddy. “It holds everything you need to prep a vehicle, including the razor blades, safely along with rags, scuff pads and sandpaper,” he said. “The goal is that when using The Tape Thing Caddy, preparers don’t ever have to set anything down, bend over to pick anything up, or walk away to find supplies.” Three years ago, Briggs and his wife took their inventions to their first SEMA Show to unveil the Tape Thing to the collision industry. “We met some cool people,” he said. “Tim Gerhard from TG Products let us put our products in his booth alongside his new product, The Rail Saver. We took 500 or so of The Tape Things with us to Las Vegas that first year and sold out. We threw estimating kits in the box and were surprised to see that they sold equally well.” See Useful Tools, Page 43
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18 Million Fewer Domestic Nameplates by Jim Lang, Lang Marketing
While the car and light truck population on U.S. roads climbed by 19 million between 2006 and 2016, the number of domestic nameplates moved in the opposite direction. The domestic nameplate light vehicle population fell by 18 million over this 10-year span. This plunge in the number of domestic nameplate light vehicles caused a significant change in the mix of domestic and foreign nameplates on U.S. roads. The domestic nameplate share of vehicles in operation (VIO) fell nearly one-fifth, with dramatic implications for the car and light truck aftermarket in the U.S.
Light Vehicle Population Growth The number of vehicles in operation (VIO) climbed from 248 million at mid-year 2006 to over 267 million cars and light trucks by the middle of 2016. This 19 million increase in VIO occurred despite a significant downturn in new vehicle sales for several years following the Great Recession of 2008.
Nameplate Contribution to VIO Growth Domestic and foreign nameplates did not contribute equally to the 19-million-increase in the car and light truck VIO between 2006 and 2016. In fact, the entire gain was generated by foreign nameplate cars and light trucks, while the number of domestic nameplate light vehicles plunged over this 10-year span.
Domestic Light Vehicles Domestic nameplate cars and light trucks decreased by 18 million be-
tween 2006 and the middle of 2016. Such a decline in the domestic nameplate population had never before occurred in the U.S. There were just over 168 million domestic nameplate light vehicles in the U.S. in 2006, with that number falling to approximately 150 million by mid2016.
Domestic Nameplate Cars and Light Trucks All of the reduction in domestic nameplates was suffered by domestic cars. Their population fell from nearly 70 million to 49 million between 2006 and 2016. Domestic nameplate light trucks recorded a modest 2.5 million increase during this 10-year span. Plunge in Domestic Nameplate VIO Share Domestic nameplate cars and light trucks fell from two-thirds of all light vehicles in operation during 2006 to just over 56% at mid-year 2016. Domestic nameplate cars and light trucks both suffered losses in VIO share. Domestic nameplates accounted for 56% of passenger cars during 2006, with their share falling to 40% 10 years later. The domestic nameplate light truck share also declined, from 80% to 69% between 2006 and 2016.
Aftermarket Impact This historic decline of domestic nameplates and their share of cars and light trucks on U.S. roads have significant aftermarket implications. The reduction of domestic nameplates was greatest among newer vehi-
Nissan Agrees to $98 Million Settlement on Takata
Nissan Motor Co. agreed to a $97.7 million settlement to resolve class-action consumer economic loss claims in the United States tied to the recall of 4.4 million vehicles with Takata airbag inflators, court records show. The settlement is similar to others reached with major automakers. In June, a federal judge in Miami granted preliminary approval to settlements with Toyota Motor Corp., Subaru Corp., BMW AG and Mazda
Motor Corp., totaling $553 million and affecting 15.8 million vehicles with Takata inflators. In other Nissan news, workers at Nissan’s Canton, MS, assembly plant have rejected unionization. By a margin of 2,244 to 1,307, workers voted against UAW representation, giving the union yet another blow in its decades-long quest to organize foreign automakers’ assembly plants in the South.
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cles, particularly those 6 years and younger, while domestic nameplates accounted for a growing number of older vehicles, especially those ages 12 years and up.
Repair-Age Sweet-Spot Domestic nameplates suffered a significant decline among vehicles in the so-called repair-age sweet-spot (those 6 to 10 years of age), which generally average the highest rates of aftermarket use for many different products. This has led to a steady decline in aftermarket product share generated by domestic nameplates. Future Domestic Nameplate Decline This trend of weakening domestic nameplate aftermarket performance will continue as the number of domestic nameplate light vehicles declines over the next five years, the result of weak domestic nameplate share of new car and light truck sales coupled with domestic nameplates accounting for a disproportionate share of light vehicles scrapped each year.
Six Major Takeaways • Total vehicles in operation (VIO) climbed 19 million between 2006 and 2016.
• Domestic and foreign nameplates did not contribute equally to the increase in car and light truck VIO over the past 10 years.
• Domestic nameplates fell from twothirds of all light vehicles in operation during 2006 to just over 56% by midyear 2016. The share loss among domestic nameplates was suffered by both cars and light trucks. • Domestic nameplate light vehicles plunged 18 million between 2006 and the middle of 2016.
• Domestic nameplates recorded a significant decline among vehicles in the repair-age sweet-spot (those 6 to 10 years of age).
• The decline in domestic nameplates has occurred at a historic rate over the past 10 years. This trend will continue for the foreseeable future.
www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 41
Continued from Cover
Techs of Tomorrow
in the AkzoNobel upgraded mobile spray booth during the six-hour challenge, which exposed them to new and emerging technology. “It helped our teams color-match paint perfectly in a matter of seconds,” Ahmdt said. “It was really interesting to get inside and work with new technologies emerging for our generation of auto aftermarket painters.” Ahmdt’s first-place win earned him an all-expenses-paid trip to visit AkzoNobel to extend his education and attend a paint manufacturing training session. According to a company press release, “AkzoNobel, a global paints and coatings company and the largest sponsor of the SkillsUSA competition, was instrumental in the creation of the 53-foot rig designed by Rick Farnan to advance the training offered at this year’s event. This is the second installment of the spray technology, which was first created in 2012 by AkzoNobel engineers.” When asked what the competitions consisted of, Ahmdt said it was a
Ahmdt graduated from Ridgewater College in Willmar, MN, in spring 2017 and now works full-time at Kruse Collision Center in Marshall, MN, as a combination technician. “I reached out to my instructors from Ridgewater, Jim Wallace and Joe Wambeke, to help me prepare as well,” he said. Ahmdt placed in the Minnesota state SkillsUSA competition before moving on to nationals. “During the national competition, we had to write an estimate one day, and then the next day there were multiple stations. We had 45 minutes at Dylan Ahmdt (center), winner of the SkillsUSA competition each one,” he explained. “The in June, with his instructors Joe Wambeke (l) and Jim first station I went to required Wallace (r) fixing a scratch on a bumper tors, and not following what anyone that I had to feather out, prime and then block back out.” else was doing during each test.” At the second station, Ahmdt In order to prepare for the competitions, Ahmdt said he took the time completed color ID and masking. “At that one, we took a test on to study different P-Pages, or estimating guides, so that he would know where the paint codes would be found, and then we had to mask up the side about the products he’d be spraying. “I also wanted to refresh my of a car as if it were being painted,” he memory on what I had learned in explained. The third station focused on color school,” he said. series of high-pressure situations in which the participants had to think on their feet. “If we had let getting nervous affect us, we wouldn’t have been able to perform,” he explained. “The best thing I did was doing what I had been taught, at school and through my men-
42 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
tinting. “We were given one spray out that was marked as the car, and then one other spray out. We had to compare it to the car and determine what toner we would add to make it a match. Then we actually had to go in the booth and tint a color, and do a spray out,” Ahmdt explained. The last station tested their knowledge of spot repair. “They had a panel that they had sealed a corner of, and we had to prep the panel for paint and clear,” Ahmdt said. “Then we had to go and spray the color and blend it out, and then clear the entire panel.” Now that the national competition is behind him, Ahmdt said he is trying to figure out if he qualifies for the 2019 WorldSkills in Russia. “If I’m eligible, I’d like to compete,” he said. To learn more about Ridgewater College, visit: www.ridgewater.edu/ Pages/default.aspx. To learn more about AkzoNobel, visit: www.akzonobel.com.
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Other States Add More MSO Locations, but Alaska Tops in Percentage Growth by John Yoswick
The fact that shop consolidation has continued at a brisk pace over the last two years shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone in the industry. However, the state with the fastest pace of MSO growth may be more surprising—Alaska. New research published in CRASH Network shows that the number of U.S. shop locations owned by multiple shop operators (MSOs) with 10 or more locations has increased by more than 40 percent since 2015. Caliber Collision has nearly doubled in size over the past two years, for example, while other large MSOs (ABRA, Gerber and Service King) have also added between 50 and 100 locations each. In addition to this group of large consolidators, there are now more than 20 other regional MSOs that operate 10 or more locations (up from just 13 such chains two years ago). Combined, they add an-
other 269 locations (up from 195 in 2015) to the total. While other states, particularly in the Western and Southern regions of the country, have added more MSO shops throughout the past two years, Alaska’s relatively small shop population allowed its MSO growth, as a percentage of its total shop population, to outpace the rest the country. For example, Washington remains the most MSO-concentrated state in 2017, with 15.7 percent of its shop population (not including dealer-owned facilities) operating under the banner of a national or regional consolidator. But that MSO concentration is up only 2 percentage points over what it was in 2015. By contrast, Fix Auto USA’s addition of seven locations in Alaska gave that state a whopping 14 percentage point increase in MSO concentration since 2015. CRASH Network derived these numbers by combining the U.S. location counts of ABRA, Cal-
Continued from Page 36
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iber, Gerber, Service King, CARSTAR, Fix Auto USA and other consolidators with 10 or more locations, then comparing that MSO count in each state to the state’s total independent repair facility population, as reported in the most recently published U.S. Census Bureau data. While Bureau data does not include dealership locations or one-man shop operations, it provides a level base from which to make state-by-state comparisons, as well as historic comparisons. Complete state-by-state data is available for subscribers on the CRASH Network website (CrashNetwork.com)
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Yes, Collision Edge has done very well, but it does not mean that Briggs is going to quit his day job or think about early retirement. “We were devastated by the 2008 downturn,” he said. “Our kids’ college funds didn’t amount to much and wasn’t going to get them far. After a lot of prayers, we swallowed hard and pulled the trigger sourcing molds and buying inventory to go to work on our American Dream. Our kids work in the business, attending all the trade shows they can, packing orders and assembling product. This is the legacy I leave to them. The lessons this business has taught them and me are irreplaceable. I tell everyone that I have a full-time day job and I don’t draw a salary from Collision Edge–zero. Every dime Collision Edge makes is either put back in the business, given to charity or poured into our kids’ futures. We’re going to keep solving problems as long as our customers reward our efforts with their continued business and moral support. I love the body shop industry; it’s such a great community.”
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Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.
First Impressions: The Appearance of Your Facility Might Be a Liability with Ed Attanasio
When I began writing on this industry, there were no DRPs and all of the cars still had carburetors in them (remember those good old days?). Over the years, I have seen body shops step up in almost every way. Today, the public has a better opinion of the collision repair industry as a whole. They can see it by the way their vehicles are repaired to OE standards and in many cases, are impressed by the overall customer experience, including the appearance of the
The owner of BumperDoc in Escondido, CA, spent $50,000 on his waiting area, and was money well spent
shops. The old days of greasy garages with old furniture and outdated magazines in their reception areas are no longer the norm. The collision industry has figured out that if you look like a professional operation, you’re already halfway there. I interviewed a body shop owner recently who had been rejected for an OE certification that he badly wanted. He was told the reason for this was that his facility didn’t look professional enough. His shop is I-CAR Gold certified, outfitted for aluminum repair and has some of the most cutting-edge equipment onsite, but he did not cut the mustard because his shop (mainly the waiting area) wasn’t up to par. He also mentioned that he has probably been knocked out of contention for several DRPs because of the state of his facility. About 20–25 years ago, we learned for the first time that most of the car dealerships in this country see a definite need to provide better facilities to compete. They beat most independent body shops to the punch by going over the top with their interior design and amenities. If you take a look at today’s new collision centers at car dealerships nationwide, you will
see things such as state-of-the-art architecture, multi-level parking, marble floors and restrooms that look like they should be at a Four Seasons Hotel. Customers are treated like royalty, with snacks, free water, juices and one of those coffee makers that offer you 6–8 different flavors from which to choose. They have hugescreen TVs and free Wi-Fi. One collision center in Northern California has an actual cafe on the premises, like its very own Starbucks, and—get this—a hair salon. It’s all about the old first impression, because in most cases it’s a lasting impression. It used to just be called customer service, but now it’s the “customer experience,” like it’s a ride at Epcot. It’s no longer just about doing a good job and getting a positive review as a result. No, now it’s about connecting with customers to retain them for the long run, or at least until the next time they get in an accident. If you could take your car to a really nice facility where you can be pampered, or to a shop that is old and beat-up, where would you go? You’re going to have to pony up your $500 deductible either way, so why not opt for the comfy collision center over the less attractive independent shop down the street? It’s not going to cost you any more for the repair, so it’s really an easy decision.
The reception area at Ramsey Paint & Body in Fort Lauderdale, FL, shows that you don’t need a lot of space to make it look good
Now obviously, you still need to do all of the right things to succeed, such as answering the phone promptly and correctly, greeting customers quickly and with enthusiasm, fixing the vehicle correctly the first time, delivering it to the customer on deadline and staying in contact with the customers throughout the entire repair, etc. But if you can do it all in a facility that impresses rather than depresses the customer, you’ve
44 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
already set yourself up for victory. Ron Mercurio is the owner of the BumperDoc in Escondido, CA. It’s a franchise with 28 locations, the first of which he was able to buy in 2008. His
more than $50,000 on our lobby alone, because we knew we had to have the right image. We are located near Rancho Santa Fe, which is a very high-income area, so those people are used to nice facilities and expect top-notch customer service.” By taking the high road when it comes to his facility’s appearance, Mercurio’s business gets better every year. “We are always looking to improve our space, and that’s why we took out a rolling door and installed a large window where our customers can see our techs working on their cars,” he said. “It offers a whole new level of transparency, and our clients really appreciate it.” At Uptown Body & Fender in Oakland, CA, co-owner Giovanna Tanzillo has been increasing her business every year since she opened its doors with her partner, Lisandro Allende, in 1992. She
The waiting area at Uptown Body & Fender in Oakland, CA, gets 5-star reviews from its customers. It looks more like a cool cafe than a body shop
first goal was to make his facility look professional and clean, but with a warm and fuzzy feel. “We worked very hard on our reception area to make it engaging and to show our customers that we care about quality,” Mercurio said. “We spent
See First Impressions, Page 67
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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.
ALLDATA and Google Partner for Free Marketing Webinar with Chasidy Rae Sisk
by Chasidy Rae Sisk
On Thursday, July 27, ALLDATA partnered with Google’s Automotive Marketing team to provide a free one-hour webinar on “Best Online Marketing Practices” for automotive shops, presented by Google Product Specialist Matt Krystofik. The material, relevant for both collision and mechanical shops, was very informative, and the interactive webinar attracted more than 200 automotive industry professionals. “Best Online Marketing Practices” discussed changing consumer and technology trends that shops need to know about, three ways to grow a business with Google tools, and resources to help shops keep up with changing digital behavior. Krystofik began by sharing his intent to help shops make their advertising “accountable, actionable and impactful using myriad tools.” After explaining Google’s goal of connecting users with information they care about, Krystofik indicated that consumer behavior is changing constantly with technological advances. With smartphones readily providing the ability to research and consider their options, customers’ expectations are steadily increasing. Consumers have limited time, expect transparency that builds trust, and are guided by technology’s ability to easily connect them with a business. Krystofik stressed, “Customers value interactions with little friction and where they can easily access the information they’re seeking at the moment they want it. Customers have more choices than ever, and if you don’t commit to speed, you’re losing customers.” It is imperative for businesses to be present whenever, however and wherever the customer chooses to shop. Google projects that 80 percent of the $49 billion automotive parts sales industry in 2017 will be digitally influenced, compared to 78 percent in 2016. Krystofik asked, “What are you doing today to future-proof your business? There’s never been a more important time to ensure you have a great digital storefront.” Over the past five years, there has been a 57 percent decline in visits to
brick and mortar stores, but each visit yields higher value because customers do their homework online and enter with a strong intent to make a purchase. “Google My Business lets you take charge of what people see when they do a local search for your shop, plus it allows you to update your listing and engage with customers from a phone, tablet or desktop,” Krystofik stated. “Just as important, it’s free to use.” Shop owners can update their Google My Business listing to adjust holiday hours, add a phone number or upload photos. These updates are made in real time, and the listing increases reach when customers search for that shop. Krystofik advised, “Ask happy customers to post a review on your listing, because 70 percent of people trust online reviews from other customers.” Google My Business also contains an Insights dashboard that reveals how customers interact with the shop’s listing, allowing the business to better target customers and attract new ones. Offering deals and providing updates on a listing is another key means of generating more sales and repeat customers. Because everyone constantly uses their smartphones to research information, it’s important for businesses to build a great mobile experience. Shops can also generate and personalize a website from the listing. According to Krystofik, “There are many powerful features available to drive business. Promote potential customers with a call to action, or employ the option for people to submit their contact information so you can call them at your convenience. Booking appointments online is not currently available, but will be coming soon.” Krystofik then emphasized the importance of ensuring company websites load at an appropriate rate of speed. Krystofik shared, “Fifty percent of people will leave a website if it takes more than three seconds to load, but on Insights, you can test your speed, see the number of customers being lost due to the slow load, and compare your site to industry competitors. “Google’s free tools help you un-
46 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
derstand what’s on your customers’ minds – think of Google as a data source for intent. Google Trends shows what people research, allowing you to see shifts in customer behavior and determine how to best meet their needs or desires. Recently, we’ve seen an increase in ‘near me’ searches.” Discussing how to recognize customers with a high intent to purchase, Krystofik recommended using Google Adwords, which includes a keyword planner to expand a shop’s reach, explore how keywords will perform, or help users choose optimal words for their Google advertising campaigns. Additionally, businesses only pay for the service when it results in people reaching out to them. The conversion tracking tool offers additional benefits by providing data based on ad clicks. Krystofik stated, “Google offers great free resources to make the digital ecosystem much less daunting,” and encouraged his audience to register
their Google My Business listing, compare their site to others, and utilize Google’s free data trend tools. “Don’t lose potential customers before they walk in your door!” he said. After the presentation, Krystofik held a Q&A session, providing hints for taking ownership of listings, submitting feedback for updated photos and maps, and using Google’s customer support numbers for problems with various features. He also reemphasized the importance of reviews, the significance of making websites mobile, and discussed the value of a YouTube channel with good content as a marketing tool. Krystofik concluded with “one helpful hint – claim your Google My Business listing!” Presented by ALLDATA, the 35minute Google webinar, Best Practices for Marketing Your Shop Online, is currently available for on-demand viewing.
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Why Are Recalled Takata Airbags being Recycled? by Mike Holfeld - Investigative Reporter, Donovan Myrie - Special Projects Producer, KSAT
By now, you’ve probably heard the story: millions of airbags manufactured by Japanese auto parts supplier Takata have been recalled by auto manufacturers. Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) figured out that long-term exposure to high humidity and high temperatures breaks down the propellant used to trigger tens of millions of Takata airbags. The result: faulty airbags can go off unexpectedly and with enough force to break apart components, sending shards of metal into the head, neck, and body of a driver or front seat passenger. And that’s exactly what happened to 18-year old Karina Dorado. In March, Dorado got into an accident in Las Vegas while driving her 2002 Honda Accord. The accident wasn’t severe, but the teen was almost killed. Metal from the Accord’s Takata airbag punctured her windpipe, causing her to almost bleed to death. What
makes this accident so troubling is that Dorado’s airbag had already been replaced once… with a recalled airbag from a 2001 Honda Accord. “The vehicle she was driving had a recalled Takata airbag,” Billie Marie Morrison, an attorney representing
salvage title. A salvage title allows someone to buy the “shell” of a car, fix it up, and then resell the car. Cars with salvage titles are considered total losses for the insurance company, but insurance adjustors believe there is money to be made at an auction, and,
the Dorado family, said. Morrison said the airbag was “not the one that came with her car.” Dorado’s story is an odd one, but highlights a loophole with Takata’s airbag recall. Recycled airbags not turned in to be replaced by manufacturers can instead end up in used cars, even though it’s illegal to do just that. In Dorado’s case, the story starts with an accident in Phoenix in 2014. A 2002 Honda Accord (that she would eventually end up owning) was considered “totaled” by the insurance company, but had what is known as a
with the right repairs, the car can be made road-worthy again. Part of the repair to Dorado’s Accord was to replace the steering wheel airbag that had deployed in the Phoenix accident. But instead of getting a new airbag, the seller used an airbag from a 2001 Honda Accord. That car was recalled by Honda to replace the airbag, but the car was never brought in. Dorado’s father bought her the 2002 Accord with a recalled 2001 Accord airbag car in 2015. Two years later, the teen was in the accident that almost killed her.
“It’s not uncommon for shops to use recycled airbags that were taken from vehicles on salvage yards, or sold online and put into vehicles where the airbags deployed in an accident.” — Chris Basso
Illegal or not? Illegal. According to the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation (TREAD) Act of 2000, it is illegal to sell a used automotive part (that has been the subject to a recall) that has not been fixed. So if you have a battery casing that has been recalled and fixed by the manufacturer, you can resell that part. But if you have never taken that same battery casing in for the recall, it’s illegal to sell it to someone else. Period. In fact, as part of the FAST Act signed by President Obama in late 2015, the maximum fine levied by the NHTSA for a single violation of selling recalled equipment was upped to $21,000, with the amount for civil penalties for a related series of violations topping out at $105 million. “We just don’t sell ‘em,” Tim McMillon said. McMillon has seen his fair share of Takata airbags. He owns M&K Used Auto Parts and has about 2,500 cars spread across 20 acres in Orange City. “We take these airbags and give them to the right people to get them off
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the streets, so nobody uses them,” he said. In McMillon’s case, he was contacted a few months ago by Honda. The company asked him to go through his records to see if he had any cars with recalled airbags sitting in the yard. McMillon’s team pulled the airbag and sent them to a contractor who was hired by Honda, who then got the airbags back to the Honda. The buyback program nets McMillon about $50 apiece. How many airbags has Honda America gotten back from salvage yards? More than 70,000. That number comes from Chris Martin, a company spokesperson. Martin said Honda is working with RAS (Rebuilders Automotive Supply) to recover airbag modulators from salvage yards that contain recalled Takata inflators. Once in-house, Honda stores the bags for eventually disposal. Martin told News 6 that Honda leads the industry in fixing Takata recalls (they’ve completed some 10 million inflators). But that’s only a bit more than 60 percent of the recalled inflators still out there, and they have a ways to go.
“Owners of recalled Honda and Acura vehicles should seek repair at an authorized dealer as soon as possible,” Martin said. “There is no reason to wait. The recall repairs are free, we have plenty of replacement parts for all affected Honda and Acura models, and, if they need it, we’ll even provide a free loaner car to the vehicle’s owner for the day of the recall repair.”
GETTING RESULTS: What to do if you suspect your car has a recalled airbag? Despite the best efforts of Honda, RAS, and salvage yard owners such as McMillon, there are still cars out there that have original equipment faulty airbags, or cars that have been taken in for the recall, fixed, but then had used faulty bags put in the vehicle. “More than 750,000 airbags are replaced every year,” Chris Basso with Carfax said. “It’s not uncommon for shops to use recycled airbags that were taken from vehicles on salvage yards, or sold online and put into vehicles where the airbags deployed in an accident.” Carfax is just one of many companies that track vehicle histories. Aside from used cars, the company
also tracks thousands of salvage title cars that are put back on the road each year. And although many of them are safe, Basso believes it’s a good idea for the buyer to be aware of the previous condition of the car. “Information is the first step to protection here.” According to the NHTSA, there are about 70 million driver side and passenger side airbags that have been recalled. And those airbags aren’t just limited to Hondas: 19 different manufacturers have issued recalls spanning across 139 different models. There are two steps you should take to see if you may (or may not) have a car included in the Takata recall. First, to see a full list of cars affected by the Takata airbag recall, go to https://www.nhtsa.gov/recall-spotlight /takata-air-bags. If your car is on this list, it’s time to dig a little deeper. Get your VIN number and see if your specific car has an open recall. You can plug in your VIN number at https:// vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/. If you have an open recall on your car, contact the dealership to see when you can bring the car in for a replacement airbag. However, if you’re still not sure about the car and you want to
be absolutely positive you have a safe airbag, there are some extra steps you can take. Select a vehicle history search tool to run a background check on your car. Three of the biggest companies specializing in vehicle histories are AutoCheck, VinAudit, and the aforementioned Carfax. Prices, options, and features vary for all three; you can read up and decide which one is best for you in this article. Once you get a detailed report on your car, there’s still one more thing you can do to check your airbag: pull the airbag out of the car and look at the serial number. As the saying goes, DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME! Airbags are tricky pieces of equipment; leave it to a professional to get the airbag out, examine it, and follow up with the manufacturer. Basso said most shops charge about $60 for this. That’s not a bad price for peace of mind and ensuring the safety of you and your passengers. We thank News 6 WKMG-TV in Orlando for reprint permission. News 6 is continuing to investigate this issue, so be sure to visit ClickOrlando.com /investigators to stay up to date.
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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.
Shop Owner David Ludwig Uses His Art to Give Back with Ed Attanasio
Dave Ludwig, 58, owns Prestige Auto Body in Manchester, NH, a shop he started with just one helper back in 1986. Today, he has 24 employees and is well-known for his quality repairs, but many people in the community also know him as someone who isn’t afraid to help others through his art. By creat-
Dave Ludwig and his daughter, Elizabeth, stand next to Ludwig’s first sculpture, a 9-foot pink ribbon that he designed with a local radio station to create awareness about breast cancer in New Hampshire
ing a series of incredible sculptures, Ludwig is building his philanthropy in a creative way that continually helps the charities he chooses again and again. Always willing to help, Ludwig determined many years ago that he could use his unique artistic ability to help causes and organizations. “It’s so much more meaningful to use my art to help these nonprofits, as opposed to just writing a check,” Ludwig said. “Anyone can give money and there is nothing wrong with that, but using your hands to make something that people will appreciate while raising money for the cause—how can it get any better than that?” Giving back to his hometown is a big deal for Ludwig, he said. “I was born and raised right here, so we donate to and support as many worthwhile organizations as we possibly can, including cancer associations, programs that support single homeless parents and local drug education and support groups,” he said. “These charitable efforts have allowed us to build a positive reputation and establish credibility as a business.”
Some call Ludwig’s creations sculptures or structures, but everyone agrees that they were created for a good cause, and surely qualify as art. “We do them for different community events to raise awareness, but we also do them to show people that good body techs are more than just wrench turners or guys who just slap bondo around,” he said. “Whether it’s their paint work or metal work, it’s amazing and these people are indeed artists.” Nearly a decade ago, a local radio station met with Ludwig and asked if he could be a sponsor for a big fundraising event. That’s when his artistic journey began. “They were looking to do something different, so I said, ‘Let’s brainstorm and see what we can come up with,” he said. “Our first piece was a large 9-foot pink ribbon made of aluminum that we did for a breast cancer nonprofit. When we unveiled the ribbon at the very first event, we saw the response, and it was pretty awesome. Since then, the ribbon has been to a lot of breast cancer-related events, and so many cancer survivors have signed it.” Ludwig and the radio station came up with the idea of having cancer survivors sign the sculpture, making it a piece of art that will continually help the charity by spreading its message.
bust wearing a pink bra that’s actually a bank. “It’s 8 feet tall and 7 feet wide, and surely our most ambitious project to date,” Ludwig said. “It has a clear glass door on the back so people can see how
Ludwig created this beautiful butterfly sculpture for the New Hampshire Breast Cancer Coalition
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“At that first event, I was able to meet so many survivors and hear their stories as they signed the ribbon with their names and their years of remission,” he said. “It was an amazing experience—one I will never forget.” Ludwig’s second project gained significant attention for its creativity and “Bust Bank,” which is a white
50 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
One of Ludwig's most well-known pieces is called the “Bust Bank,” a sculpture of a woman’s bust that also acts as a bank where people can donate to fight breast cancer
much money is being donated.” Always looking for a new project, last year Ludwig created a 6-foot butterfly to help Hope for New Hampshire Recovery, a drug rehabilitation and awareness program. “The butterfly represents hope and is made out of foam core covered with aluminum,” he said. “The wings are removable, and the whole structure breaks down easily so they can travel with it to other events. I am currently working on another piece for them.” With an eye to possibly get out of the body shop business by age 65, Ludwig does not call it retirement, but rather a change of careers. “I have no desire to retire,” he said. “So when I step away from the shop, I will continue doing my creative endeavors, whether it’s making furniture or sculptures or even making high-end gold carts for people in Florida—who knows? I have to do something that stimulates me, and the art really does that.”
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Shop Strategies 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.
Alaska Shop Owner Focuses on Company Culture & Customers While Dealing with Repair Challenges in the Last Frontier In Anchorage, AK, body shop owner Ryan Cropper often tells customers that Able Body Shop is where strong values merge with quality work. Cropper currently operates two locations in The Last Frontier and said he has built his business on relationships and trust—one customer at a time. Autobody News spoke to Cropper about how he and his team go the extra mile to provide excellent customer service while dealing with collision repair challenges in Alaska.
How has your background enQ: abled you to run two successful body shops?
A:
From an early age, I learned the benefits of hard work and found that true commitment and dedication carry value. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. When I was 10 years old, I began mowing lawns in Alaska and
owner wanted to retire. I felt it was the perfect fit, so I purchased the shop in 2002. I was 22 years old and ready for a new adventure!
Ryan Cropper and his family after receiving the award for Community Service for small business in 2015
I used money from small loans to expand the company and in 2004, I purchased Total Truck Accessory Center. We opened Able Body Shop Downtown two years later. In 2016, we added another building that used to be a body
itive one. We have found that having a culture that we are proud of is one of the most important components of having a successful business. Number two would be the team atmosphere. We are still a flat rate shop, but we truly run in teams. Every team member in our company is paid 100 percent commission except two—our maintenance man and bookkeeper. We also only spend marketing dollars on things that directly benefit our community. Our management style is democratic and borders close to the guidelines of mentorship. We encourage informal communication of knowledge and experience. We support dialogue that builds positive relationships, and we give our employees a reputation to live up to. I am proud to be able to contribute to the growth and success of my 50 employees’ careers and personal lives.
What are some of the current Q: challenges collision repairers are experiencing in Alaska? Finding great team members in A: our market is very difficult. We also have a problem with parts avail-
ability. Parts can take over a week to arrive in most cases. Another challenge we have operating a collision repair business in Alaska is the drastic difference we can experience in workloads, depending on the season. When the snow is on the ground from October to April, it really changes the game!
Q: Is your shop part of any DRPs? We have most national DRPs A: as our business partners. Over the years, we have had great success See Alaska Shop Owner, Page 60
Richfield - Bloomington Honda Since starting the nonprofit organization Empowering Destinations, Cropper said they have given away nine cars to families in need
started my own summer business called RC Lawns. By the time I was in high school, I had renamed my company Aurora Landscaping and hired many of my classmates as employees. However, my true passion was auto body work. I worked on my family’s and friends’ vehicles and attended auto repair classes in Oregon to learn more. When I was a tech in college, I found out that Able Body Shop Midtown was for sale in my hometown. It had been established in 1969, and the
shop, and we are currently working on an additional facility that will open this winter.
What are some of the things Q: that set your body shop apart from others in the industry?
We tend to be very different A: than the average body shop in the United States. The number one difference is the culture of our company and the steps we take to make it a pos-
52 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
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Continued from Page 32
Effective Estimating
since the tasks are not identified, neither the technician nor the shop is being paid.” Shoemaker said that nothing happens without an estimate. “By being thorough and effective at the beginning allows you to be proactive throughout the repair process,” he said. “Identifying as much as possible up front helps you schedule properly, reduce secondary parts orders and properly determine the repair completion date.” He said shops struggle with all of
these things daily. “Improve your estimate process and you will improve the quality of life in your facility,” said Shoemaker. “Test yourself. Pick a vehicle that is running late in your shop today. Then ask, ‘Why is it running late?’ to find the root cause.” In most cases, he said you’ll find the part or repair process you are waiting for approval on could have been identified during the estimating process. This article was based on a presentation by John Shoemaker, business development manager for BASF Automotive Refinish Coatings. For more information, email john.a.shoemaker@ basf.com.
Car-O-Liner Supports Caliber’s Changing Lanes Program ®
Car-O-Liner, a leading global provider of high-quality, technologically advanced collision repair solutions for the automotive aftermarket, has announced a program to provide equipment and training support for Caliber Collision’s “Changing Lanes” program providing transitioning soldiers with collision repair career opportunities. Car-O-Liner will provide structural frame repair machines, measuring systems and welders to the Caliber training centers in Fayet-
teville, NC, and Killeen, TX. In addition, Car-O-Liner distributors have agreed to volunteer their time to conduct training seminars on a regular basis. Peter Richardson, Director of National Accounts for Car-O-Liner, stated, “Car-O-Liner is proud to partner with Caliber Collision to assist our military veterans learn valuable skills in order to successfully transition into the collision repair industry.”
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Host of Hit TV Show “Bitchin’ Rides” to Debut New Custom Color Line of Akzonobel Automotive Paints at Sema AkzoNobel and Dave Kindig, host of the popular cable TV show “Bitchin’ Rides,” have been working together to jointly develop a new custom color line of automotive paints. The new custom colors will make their debut at SEMA 2017.
“AkzoNobel is proud to join forces with Dave Kindig, a true automotive artist, who is known throughout North America for his exceptional quality, workmanship and style,” said Jennifer Solcz, North American Marketing Manager for AkzoNobel Vehicle Refinishes. “AkzoNobel is in the business of color, and we are dedicated to color innovation through product development and dynamic strategic partnerships.” Kindig is the owner and Chief Designer of the custom fabrication
automotive shop, Kindig-It Design, in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is a stateof-the-art, one-stop custom shop where automobiles are rendered, designed, built and restored into works of art. The shop, which Kindig operates with his wife Charity, was so well recognized and respected, that the Velocity channel gave Kindig and his crew their own television show in 2014, “Bitchin’ Rides.” The show follows the everyday work of the crew at Kindig-It Design. “I’m thrilled to be working with AkzoNobel on developing this brand new custom color line,” said Kindig. “Since I started spraying Sikkens Autowave, my projects have never looked better. So, it is very exciting to me that I will be able to combine my style and quality and mix it with AkzoNobel’s exciting product line in order to come up with some pretty sick colors.” For more information on AkzoNobel, visit www.akzonobel.com.
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FADRA, Honda Pull Recalled Takata Airbags from Local Salvage Yards by Mike Holfeld - Investigative Reporter, News 6 WKMG-TV in Orlando
The mangled white 2003 Honda Accord parked in the front of the M&K Used Auto Parts yard in Orange City is the latest vehicle confirmed to have recalled passenger-and driver-side Takata airbags that have been pulled from the local auto recycling market. Tom McMillon, owner and president of the used auto parts yard, told News 6 he had already collected 30 Takata airbag modules from Honda vehicles in the last two weeks—modules that, ironically, weren’t on the original recall list. “It’s the right thing to do,” McMillon told WKMG-TV News 6. “Let’s get them off the street.” McMillon is a member of FADRA, the Florida Auto Dismantlers & Recyclers Association , a group that is working with Honda as part of a national effort to track and pull “airbag modules that contain recalled Takata inflators” from every Honda model between 2002 and 2012. Chris Martin, spokesman for American Honda Motor Co., Inc., told News 6 that Honda has already “recovered over 70,000 airbag modules from salvage yards in the U.S.”
According to Martin, the recalled devices are shipped to a secure storage location “for eventual disposal.” McMillon told News 6 he first received the call from Honda officials two months ago. McMillon said the airbag modules found in any vehicles (19 manufacturers are impacted) are pulled and tossed into a cardboard box until they are “collected” by a representative of Rebuilders Automotive Supply (RAS). According to Martin, RAS buys back recalled Takata airbags and then makes sure “they get to Honda, effectively taking them out of the open marketplace.” “(In) our industry, we’re not supposed to recycle these airbags— they’re supposed to go to the people to get rid of them for us,” McMillon told News 6. “There’s a lot of them out there. That’s what worries me.” Martin told News 6 there is no reason to delay getting the airbags replaced if you see your vehicle identification number (VIN) is on the recall list. “Owners should seek repair at an authorized dealer as soon as possible,” Martin said. “… The recall repairs are free, we have plenty of replacement parts for all affected Honda and Acura
models and, if they need it, we’ll even provide a free loaner car to the vehicle’s owner for the day of the recall repair.” Using the VIN, it is easy to determine if a vehicle has contained a recalled but unrepaired Takata airbag inflator by visiting recalls.honda.com or recalls.acura.com. There are 19 automobile manufacturers impacted by the Takata air bag recall effort. For a full list of cars affected by the Takata airbag recall, go to https:// www.nhtsa.gov/recall-spotlight/ takata-air-bags. If you want to know if your car has an open recall, go to https://www .nhtsa.gov/recall-spotlight/takata-airbags or https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/ We thank News 6 WKMG-TV in Orlando for reprint permission. News 6 is continuing to investigate this issue, so be sure to visit: ClickOrlando.com /investigators to stay up to date.”
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Auto Care Association Appoints Sheila Andrews
The Auto Care Association has announced the appointment of Sheila Andrews as director, heavy duty programs. The new position was created to directly apply the Auto Care Association mission statement and strategic pillars to the independent heavy duty aftermarket. Andrews previously served as director, government affairs, Auto Care Association. Andrews will be responsible for developing programs that respond to immediate and future needs of the industry, as well as creating strategies to help make the industry more efficient and strengthen the competitiveness of the independent heavy duty aftermarket. “The heavy duty aftermarket has an identity that sets it apart from automotive in many ways, but all organizations in the independent aftermarket share similar threats,” said Andrews. “I look to leverage the full depth of resources from the association to benefit the heavy duty channel in addressing those threats and opportunities.” For more information, visit www.autocare.org.
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Service King Expands to 30 Shops in Southern California
After first expanding to Southern California in 2014, Richardson, Texasbased Service King Collision Repair Centers recently announced the organization eclipsed another milestone in the region with the opening of its 30th local auto body repair center.
The announcement comes as Service King finalized a deal to partner with Valley Motor Center Auto Body in the heart of the San Fernando Valley. As part of the deal, Valley Motor Center, located at 14954 Oxnard St. in Van Nuys, CA, will begin operating as Service King immediately. Service King, one of the fastest-growing automotive collision repair providers in the U.S., operates locations in 24 states across the U.S. “Valley Motor Center has a long, rich history of providing premier collision repair service to San Fernando Valley motorists,” said
Tim Cusic, Service King Market Vice President for Southern California. “We are thrilled to continue growing the Service King family across the Southern California community with best-in-class repair services all backed by the core Service King promise.” In three years, Service King has grown its footprint to 30 locations in the region and 42 total locations across The Golden State. The company focuses on providing consistently dependable service and working alongside all major insurance carriers to deliver a seamless repair experience. Service King repairs all vehicle makes and models while backing its work with a written lifetime guarantee. By partnering with Valley Motor Center, Service King adds one of the top repair shops in the community to its roster. The 22,000+ square feet of production space provides the capacity to repair more than 400 vehicles a month. “The Valley Motor Center family is proud of its history and commitment to serving the Los Angeles community,” said Cindy Cohen, Valley Motor President & CEO. “Joining hands with Service King provides
our customers and business partners the support and benefits of a premier industry leader. We look forward to a very bright future together under the Service King name.” Valley Motor Center Auto Body served the Los Angeles area with collision repair service since 1994. Throughout its 20-plus year history, the company earned a reputation for superior quality and providing outstanding customer service while earning the business of several leading insurance providers. As a Service King company, the location will extend the organization’s reach to the heart of the San Fernando Valley providing local motorists access to the company’s growing repair network. For more information on the organization, or to find a local Service King repair center, visit: Service King.com and follow the company on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Auto Care Association Applauds Joint Statement on Tax Reform
The Auto Care Association is pleased and relieved to see that the tax reform framework negotiated by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX), announced today, has removed the border adjustment tax (BAT) from consideration. “I want to thank those members who tackled this issue headon by scheduling meetings with their legislators, writing letters and making phone calls. Their time commitment and dedication to the cause was phenomenal and they should all be proud of their efforts. We are grateful that we now have the opportunity to work with Congress and the administration to reform the outmoded tax code that is a burden to all of us.”
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World’s Painters to Display Unique Automotive Artwork at 3M Showcase in Royal Oak, MI
Join 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division in a celebration of classic car culture at the 2017 Woodward Dream Cruise with special guests Chip Foose, legendary automotive designer, and automotive painters from around the world. The 3M Demonstration and Education Mobile Operations (D.E.M.O.) trailer
will showcase the latest 3M solutions for automotive repair and maintenance with hands-on demonstrations for body repair, paint preparation, vehicle painting, paint finishing and vehicle appearance. As part of the celebration, 3M AAD has invited 10 leading painters from around the world to illustrate their vision of classic car culture on a hood, using the 3M™ PPS™ System and other 3M automotive products. The unique hoods will be
unveiled at the 2017 Woodward Dream Cruise and the painters will be available to discuss their creations. 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division, automotive design legend Chip Foose and 10 leading painters: Pablo Prado, KandynChrome, USA Jacob Miles, Milestone Paint & Body, USA Connie Manjavinos, PassionateInk, USA Clay Hoberecht, Best Body Shop, USA Justin Jimmo, Refinish Network, Canada Carl-André Giroux, Canada Danny Schramm, SchrammWerk, Germany Christian Wilke, Germany Carmine De Maria, C.A.D. Custom, Australia Shane Wanjon, Exclusive Image Paint and Body, USA
3M D.E.M.O. Trailer Pasquale’s parking lot 31555 Woodward Ave Royal Oak, MI 48073 Saturday, August 19 9 a.m. ET to 6 p.m. ET
56 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
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WIA Summer Conference Receives Positive Responses by Chasidy Rae Sisk
Women in Automotive (WIA) held its 2017 Summer Conference July 9 –11 at the Omni Orlando Resort in Championsgate, FL. According to WIA Founding Board Member Subi Ghosh, “The event was incredible! We had over 300 attendees from all over the country coming together to learn, share, network and grow. “We are happy that our attendees seem to have had a great response. People not only enjoyed the access to brilliant minds to network with, but also learned important and valuable nuggets to take back to their companies and implement to bring about change and progress. I personally brought some members of my team that were so inspired and took notes back to act on immediately. The concept that seemed to stick with most of them was to invest time and education into themselves to grow and become stronger leaders in order to develop strong leaders themselves.” Speakers at WIA’s 2017 Summer Conference included Lisa Copeland, Nicole Ashe of Cox Automotive, Shari Fitzpatrick, and FCA’s Ralph Gilles. The major topics covered were
leadership, dealership strategies and tactics, personal development, and selling, marketing and employment trends for women.
WIA’s mission is to accelerate the role of women in the automotive industry. They strive to educate, empower and connect women and men throughout the industry in an effort to move forward. Ghosh elaborated, “Each year’s events are designed to continue that mission, and growing to be able to include more people. We also want to attract and recruit women into the industry. “Every year, the event seems to get bigger and attract more influential names and roles within the industry than I expect. I personally believe this is a long overdue event and movement. Women have been somewhat ig-
Ford On Target—2017 Volume 2 Volume 2 of the Ford 2017 On Target publication is now available, according to I-CAR. Features of this volume include repair procedures, future technologies and replacement parts availability.
The first article talks about replacing the front apron tube (upper rail) on the aluminum F-150 and Super Duty. They compare the aluminum procedure to the procedure done on the previous steel bodied FSeries. The new procedure is less invasive than the previous generation, and does not require removing the instrument panel. According to the article, both the F-150 and the Super Duty have many similarities. However, the upper rail replacement procedures have many differences. One of the biggest differences is that the F-150 utilized a hydroformed aluminum upper rail, while the Super Duty uses a hydroformed HSLA-350 steel rail. Gerry Bonanni, Ford Sen-
ior Damageability Engineer, states in the article, “Repairers are strongly advised to research the repair. That is probably the single strongest piece of advice I can give.” Ford also talks about current and future advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). They touch on a current system, Pedestrian Detection, which is featured on several different Ford/Lincoln models, such as the 2017 Ford Fusion. This system utilizes a bumper-mounted radar and a windshield-mounted camera to detect pedestrians while driving. They also talk about future systems, such as Evasive Steering Assist and Wrong-Way alert. These systems are expected to start being utilized within the next two years. Finally, they announce that you can get replacement boxes and cabs for the F-150. To read the entire issue go to https://rts.i-car.com/ collision-repair-news/ford-on-target -2017-volume-2.html. You can also go to the Ford OEM Information or Lincoln OEM Information on the RTS website to easily access this publication.
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58 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
BASF Accepting Submissions for Glasurit® Best Paint competition
nored as a population within the automotive industry and are hungry for opportunities to connect and learn. The movement of forcing the conversation is the most attractive component of our main annual event and all of the smaller events we have throughout the year. It is so incredibly exciting to be a part of something that is moving the industry forward in such a great way. The buzz within the industry, the impact we’re making with and for our attendees, and the results they are bringing back to us the following years, are all exceeding my expectations!” One important idea that WIA wants the industry to remember is that the association is not just for women. Ghosh explained, “Our content, agenda and overall feel of our events focus on broad concepts that fit anyone or any role within the industry. We believe we have grown year over year because of our focus on inclusivity. All walks of automotive, all vendors, all partners, all media sources, and even all competitors are welcome and included. WIA is for everyone, because only together can we make a real difference.”
BASF is accepting submissions for the third annual Glasurit® Best Paint Award. Photos submitted must be of a Glasurit-painted vehicle, and the vehicle must be on display at the up-
2016 Glasurit Best Paint Award winner: a 1969 Mustang, owned by Tim Spencer, painted by Jonathan Goolsby of Goolsby Customs
coming 2017 SEMA show. The vehicle must also utilize Glasurit 22, 55 or 90 Line products, including primer, basecoat and clearcoat. BASF and Glasurit will honor the winner’s outstanding excellence in painting at SEMA 2017 with Chip Foose presenting. The legendary restoration expert and long-time Glasurit advocate will judge the vehicles based on fit and finish, quality of preparation and final presentation. Photo submissions of Glasuritpainted vehicles will be accepted now through October 27, 2017 on the BASF refinish web site.: http://www .refinish.basf.us/ For more information on Glasurit, visit the BASF booth #20353 at SEMA 2017.
For more information on WIA, visit: WomenInAutomotive.com.
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LaFontaine Buick GMC Cadillac
Gateway Chevrolet Cadillac
Sweeney Chevy Buick GMC
800-342-4260
800-476-0760
LEXINGTON
800-880-5020
859-263-5022 859-263-8527 Fax
M-F 7:30 am - 5:30 pm Sat 8 am - 5 pm
aworkman@wgautogroup.com
Bob Hook Chevrolet LOUISVILLE
800-274-4665
502-499-0917 Fax M-F 8 am - 5:30 pm
bmaberry@bobhook.net
Indiana
Schepel Buick GMC MERRILLVILLE
800-588-7757
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Michigan
Alma Chevrolet Buick GMC ALMA
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HIGHLAND
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Mills Parts Center WILLMAR
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Rosedale Chevrolet ROSEVILLE
800-247-0585
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parts@rosedalechev.com
FARGO
701-282-8880 701-277-4565 Fax M-F 8 am - 7 pm Sat 8 am - 4 pm
Ohio
Classic Chevrolet
330-726-2297 330-726-0709 Fax M-F 7 am - 5 pm
mattf@sweeneycars.com
VanDevere Chevy AKRON
800-362-9650
MENTOR
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800-352-7275 24-HR Fax
chevyparts@vandevere.com
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Jake Sweeney Chevrolet CINCINNATI
513-782-2829
513-782-2846 Fax M-F 7:30 am - 6 pm Sat 8 am - Noon jakesweeneychevy.com
Missouri
YOUNGSTOWN
M-F 7:30 am - 5:30 pm
Wisconsin
Ivan Gandrud Chevrolet GREEN BAY
800-242-2844
920-468-3658 920-468-3673 Fax M-F 7 am - 7 pm Sat 7 am - 2 pm
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Bob McCosh GM COLUMBIA
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M-F 7 am - 6 pm Sat 7 am - 3 pm gmparts@bmcmail.com www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 59
Continued from Page 52
Alaska Shop Owner
with those partnerships and continue to value what it brings to us. The challenge is they often expect the same re-
talented high school students from the local auto body program and have had fantastic results with this over the years. The students start out working for free, just getting school credit. Once they are somewhat up to speed, we put them on payroll and assign them to a team. Many even stay with us for a full auto body career.
As an advocate of eduQ: cation, how do you ensure you are advancing your
technicians’ skills and what is the importance of doing so? Ryan Cropper currently operates two locations in The Last Frontier
sults you see in the continental 48 states, which can sometimes be difficult to achieve.
Can you tell us about the shop’s Q: internship program with the King Career Center?
We have been sponsoring a A: successful internship program with the King Career Center for over
10 years. We hire a couple of the most
Alaska requires auto A: body repair technicians to have a creative mind
and patience while honing an attention to detail that ensures a high level of quality on every job. They have years of practical body shop experience and hands-on exposure to high technology equipment. Currently, we are concentrating on I-CAR training for our staff as well as OEM certifications. We spend over $30k a year with I-CAR training. We do whatever it takes to get our staff the training needed, even if it means flying out of
state for it. I am also extremely involved in 20 groups with Axalta, which is where I find out what is upand-coming in the industry.
What initiatives have you taken to support the commuQ: nity in Alaska?
We are big on sponsoring local A: organizations that are making a difference or helping the people of
Alaska. That is where we came up with Empowering Destinations. We started the nonprofit with the intention of giving a reliable vehicle to a deserving community member who needs a helping hand. To date, we have given away nine cars to families in need. For the past three years, thanks to the help of other community businesses, we were successful enough to give two vehicles per year. We are strong advocates of community involvement and I’m an active member of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce. A couple of years ago, we received an award called the “Gold Pan Award” for Distinguished Community Service by a small business, given to us by the Chamber of Commerce. That was a huge deal for us!
ASA-CO to Host Extreme Communication on August 28 by Chasidy Rae Sisk
On August 28, ASA-CO will host “Extreme Communication,” the next course in the association’s 2017-18 Professional Business Series, at Kenz & Leslie BG Training Center in Wheat Ridge, CO. Julie Massaro, Executive Director of ASA-CO, shared, “Since communication is at the heart of every business deal and transaction, it is extremely important to communicate effectively with co-workers, customers and family members. We are bringing this seminar to our members to help them hone their communication skills.” Following dinner at 6 p.m., the seminar on “Extreme Communication” will be taught by ESI’s Maylan Newton from 6:30-9:30 p.m., and is designed for owners and managers. Newton will discuss how to have difficult conversations that many people prefer to avoid by providing new tools to deal with these dreadful discussions and by teaching attendees how to turn confrontations into conversations that improve the business, lower stress and develop better leaders. To register for this seminar or any of the upcoming sessions in the Professional Business Series, visit asacolorado.org.
Choose Original MINI Parts. MINNESOTA
OHIO
Brookdale Volkswagen Brooklyn Center
Brunswick Volkswagen Brunswick
763-331-6480
Fax: 763-331-6481 M-F 7am-6pm; Sat 8am-4:30pm
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ILLINOIS THESE DEALERS are GENUINE WHOLESALE PARTS SPECIALISTS.
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The Dealers Above Are Original MINI Parts Distributors ©2017 MINI, a division of BMW of North America, LLC. The MINI name, model names and logo are registered trademarks.
60 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Seattle Family Special Guests at CARSTAR Event
The CARSTAR Puget Sound Business Group hosted another hugely successful charity event, upping its total raised to more than $77,000 for the Seattle Children’s Hospital over the past two years, including some $37,000 during its recent 12th Annual CARSTAR Charity Golf Tournament at The Golf Club at Newcastle in Newcastle, WA. On hand at the event was a very special family, Lee’or and Wendy Rutenberg, parents of young Sadie Rutenberg, who underwent lifesaving surgery for a congenital heart defect discovered before she was even born. Sadie was the first child in the United States to receive a pediatric heart valve as part of the Halo U.S IDE Trial. “When you find out that your child has a disease like Sadie has, you begin to wonder if anybody can help.
Seattle Children’s doesn’t just provide medical care, but also the hope that a family clings to as they navigate their child’s illness,” said Wendy Rutenberg. “Like so many of the other families we met during our stay at Children’s, we are able to sleep at night knowing that regardless of our ability to pay we will also be able to turn to this amazing organization for help. Thank you.” The charity event was a collaboration involving all of the 25 Puget Sound CARSTAR locations, who worked together on this important charitable initiative. A group of 144 golfers got to enjoy the tournament and the many related activities, including a silent auction and an appearance by the CARSTAR Miss Rock hydroplane. A good time was had by all.
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The Auto Care Association is partnering with Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL, to attract college-age students to working for the auto care industry. Auto Care Careers, a program of the Auto Care Association, will participate in an exclusive event created to highlight the association’s career opportunities. The association in partnership with CARDONE Industries, Inc., and Wheaton College is planning an industry night that will include a meet-and-greet networking session, panel discussion and pizza. Wheaton College is a topranked, academically rigorous liberal arts college located west of Chicago in Wheaton, IL. Majors include business, economics, communication and international relations. Students from all academic majors will be invited. The partnership with Wheaton College is an example of the Auto Care Careers on Campus initiative of the Auto Care Association. The new program partners with universities, colleges and vocational schools to promote the thriving auto care indus-
try as a dynamic place to work. Other on-campus events planned this fall semester include participation at Texas A & M, Grove City College, University of Northwestern Ohio, Ferris State University and the University of North Florida. The Wheaton College event will be held on Thursday, Sept. 27, starting at 6:30 p.m. on the college’s campus in Wheaton, IL. Working directly with the educational institution or through an industry company, Auto Care Careers on Campus provides the tools and resources necessary to conduct on-campus events, whether in the classroom or as part of a career fair. Employers can learn more about participating in the Wheaton College initiative or another one of the upcoming on-campus fall events by contacting Katy McQuiston at katy.mcquistion@autocare.org and visiting our website at: www .autocarecareers.org/on-campus.
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Laurel BMW of Westmont
Westmont 630-230-2890 Direct Wholesale M-F 7am-6pm Sat 8am-3pm www.laurelbmw.com
Patrick BMW
Schaumburg 847-605-4055 847-619-4511 Fax M-Sat 8am-5pm
INDIANA
Basney BMW
South Bend 800-274-8504 574-273-5075 M-F 7:30am-6pm parts@basneyimports.com www.basneybmw.com
MICHIGAN
Erhard BMW of Bloomfield
Bloomfield Hills 800-626-9787 248-642-0443 www.erhardbmw.com
Erhard BMW of Farmington Hills
North County BMW
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BMW of Okemos
Okemos 517-853-2600 517-853-2661 Fax M-F 7:30am-6pm mbedard@lovewhatyoudrive.com www.okemosautocollection.com
www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 61
Industry Insight with John Yoswick
—John Yoswick is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon, who has a body shop in the family and 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.
Insurers Discuss Scanning, OEM Position Statements, Automaker Influence of Shop Choice Representatives from four major instatements and repair procedures in customers know “where their car can mediate notification that a vehicle has surance companies weighed in on general? be fixed [correctly].” been damaged” in order to quickly scanning, automakers’ influence on “We don’t consider them Andreoli, like all the in- start helping the driver. Without that consumers’ choice of shops, and refergospel,” Hoffbauer said. “A surers on the panel, noted currently, he said, there are delays in with Ed Attanasio ring drivers to OEM-certified shops at lot of them are pretty vague.” that customer shop choice is loss reporting, and vehicles may get the sixth annual MSO Symposium. He said there are some a key philosophy at his com- towed multiple times prior to repairs. The half-day symposium was held position statements “we basipany. He said one “If we could collaborate in July during NACE Automechanika cally disagree with” and “have of the “cycle time” with stakeholders to help that in Chicago. The event was open not our own philosophy on,” such measurements his process happen seamlessly only to multi-shop operators (MSOs), as OEM prohibitions on use company tracks is for the customer, [and] make Progressive’s but also to largerwith single-location shops of non-OEM parts or the re- Chris Andreoli said the length of time that notice immediately so Ed Attanasio (those with annual sales in excess of $3 pair of wheels. between the acciwe can be there to help them vehicle telematics could be used to million). “We try to study things. dent and getting the as quickly as possible, that more quickly get Panel moderator Marcie Tieger We try to talk to the OEMs vehicle to the shop, [would be] a real win for all USAA’s Kyle of Symphony Advisors asked the in- [to get more information or vehicles into shops so if vehicle telemthe stakeholders,” Lindorfer Thompson said after accidents surers if they anticipate issuing a forspecificity],” Hoffbauer said. atics helps “com- DRP shops should agreed. direct cars they mal position on vehicle scanning. “We have these ongoing conversapress that timeframe,” that is Tieger asked the panelists are not equipped Sandee Lindorfer, auto line tions.” a good thing. if a direct repair shop turns to repair to other withforEd management director All-Attanasio “We’re aligned with Russ: Kyle Thompson, assisaway an assignment, saying shops state, said her company is It’s not gospel for us, too,” tant vice president of claims it is not equipped or trained working on such a statement, Lindorfer said. “I agree [that] for USAA, agreed that his company to fix that particular vehicle, whether though she did not provide a sometimes they just don’t wants to work with automakers to it would be viewed by the insurer “as timeline for it. make sense. So we try to “align our direct repair networks with not up to date” and thus jeopardize its “We evaluate each claim work with the OEMs when the offerings that they would [provide] status in the program. See Insurers Discuss, Page 65 on a case-by-casewith basis. Ed ThatAttanasio we come across those to see at the time of loss,” and get that “imAllstate’s Sandee has always been how we’ve Lindorfer said her if we could do something to approached claims settlehelp communicate with them company reviews Audi dealers strive to make you an vehicle scanning ments,” Lindorfer said. “We and elevate that particular sitcharges on a “casecontinue to look at pre-and uation that may just not seem Audi Genuine Parts fan by-case basis.” post-scanning and continue to to make sense to us, or even learn. We leverage all our partners here, to repairers. Some statements make a withto Stacey Phillips as well as Tech-Cor, give us feedlot of sense, and others we question back. And we engage with OEMs to and try to collaborate with the OEMs.” better understand their position stateAs the automakers move toward ments.” using vehicle telematics to automatiLindorfer said Allstate would like cally be notified of collisions, are the shops that conduct scans on insurers concerned about the vehicles that are part of Allpotential influence automakwith Stacey Phillips state claims to include that ers may have on getting drivscan information with the ers to OEM-certified shops Illinois South Dakota claim file. rather than an insurers’ direct Russ Hoffbauer, proprepair shop? Audi Exchange Audi Sioux Falls erty and casualty claims di“First, I don’t think it’s Highland Park Sioux Falls rector for State Farm, also mutually exclusive because a 847.432.5880 888.540.6399 Russ Hoffbauer of said scanning continues to be State lot of shops that are on our with Stacey Phillips 847.432.5708 Fax 605.221.0550 Fax Farm said his “a learning process,” and that Select Service program are company doesn’t gorejel@audiexchange.com parts@grahamauto.com the company makes its deci- view OEM position certified,” Hoffbauer pointed statements “as sions on payment for scanning out. “I do think the OEMs Missouri gospel.” on a “case-by-case” basis relhave the technology advanKansas City Audi ative to the “nature of the damage and tage right now, having the technology Kansas City what technology the vehicle has.” in their automobiles. So we’re defi866.949.9500 Toll Free “From ourwith perspective, nitely working with them, talking to Staceywe’re Phillips 816.941.4969 Direct kind of in the same place, just gatherthem, and trying to determine how this 816.942.3156 Fax ing more information,” said Chris is going to work in the future and the Andreoli, corporate physical damage steps that we all should take.” M-F 7am-6pm process director for Progressive’s netHe said it basically should come Sat 8am-5pm work repairs. down to everyone involved—automakcfowles@molleaudi.com How do they view OEM position ers, insurers and even shops— letting
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62 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
with Victoria Antonelli
ILLINOIS
MICHIGAN
(708) 720-8972
(517) 393-5700
Hawkinson Kia Matteson
(708) 720-0657 Fax
M, W, F 6am-5pm Tu, Th 6am-7pm; Sat 8am-2pm jmihas@hawkinsonnissankia.com www.hawkinsonnissan.com/ez-parts
IOWA
Kia of Des Moines Des Moines
(515) 727-1815 (515) 309-1412 Fax
M-F 7am-6pm; Sat 7:30am-4:30pm parts@kiadm.com www.kiadm.com
KANSAS Midwest Kia Wichita
(316) 652-2960 (316) 652-2992 Fax
M-F 8am-6pm; Sat 8am-2pm wsturm@midwestkia.com
Kia of Lansing Lansing
(517) 393-6767 Fax
M-F 7:30am-6pm mattr@lansingisyoung.com www.kiaoflansing.com
Seelye Kia of Holland Holland
(616) 582-1008 (616) 582-1009 Fax
Napleton’s Mid Rivers Kia St. Peters
(888) 816-9729 (636) 926-0683 Fax
M-F 7am-6pm; Sat 7am-3pm bprinster@napleton.com pschnare@napleton.com www.midriverskia.com
Suntrup Kia St. Louis
(800) 727-8496 (314) 815-3060 Fax
M-F 8am-6pm rbundy@betterseeseelye.com www.seelyekiaholland.com
M-F 7am-5pm www.suntrupkiasouth.com
Lou Fusz Kia
Kia of Fargo
MISSOURI St. Louis
(877) 221-4151 (314) 595-4942 Fax
M, W, F 7am-8pm; Tu, Th 7am-6pm Sat 7:30am-4pm fuszkiaparts@fusz.com www.kia.fusz.com
NO. DAKOTA Fargo
(800) 728-7601 (701) 282-5924 Fax
M-F 7am-5:30pm; Sat 8am-5pm
OHIO
Montrose Kia Sheffield
(440) 934-6699
VanDevere Kia Akron
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WISCONSIN Bergstrom Kia of Appleton Appleton
(920) 993-3000 (920) 749-1588 Fax
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M-F 7:30am-6pm bgordon@gomontrose.com www.montrosekia.com
www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 63
National Auto Body Council Opens Nominations for 2018 Board of Directors
The National Auto Body Council (NABC) announced it is now accepting nominations for seven open seats for its Board of Directors. Deadline for nominations is Friday, Sept. 1. To qualify, the nominee must be either an individual member of the National Auto Body Council or the designated representative of a company member. Board members are elected for three-year terms. All nominations must be submitted in writing. The election will take place at NABC’s upcoming Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at the SEMA Conference in Las Vegas. Per NABC Bylaws, proxy voting and nominations from the floor are not allowed. Current NABC Board members whose terms are ending this year may also seek re-election. They include: • Greg Clark, Caliber Collision Centers • Michael Jordan, Manchester Collision Center • Keith Egan, Colours, Inc. • Joe Lacy, formerly of GEICO • Elizabeth Stein, Assured Performance
• Kerry Angers, Enterprise Rent-a-Car • Arlo Johnson, Driven Brands “NABC has already made a tremendous impact to help improve the lives of thousands of individuals through our community service programs. We have the opportunity to change and save even more lives, and welcome nominations for all segments of the collision industry for leaders who are passionate and committed to these same goals,” said Chuck Sulkala, NABC Executive Director. NABC initiatives include the successful and popular Recycled RidesTM program as well as First Responder Emergency Extrication (FREETM), and the Distracted Driving Initiative. Nominations for NABC board seats must be submitted in writing: Info@NationalAutoBodyCouncil.org or Executive Director Chuck Sulkala at chucksulkala@msn.com. Fax NABC administrative office at (414) 768-8001 Mail to: National Auto Body Council, 7044 S. 13th St Oak Creek, Wisconsin 53154 For more information, please contact Chuck Sulkala directly.
Long-Running Federal Circuit Results in Victory for Mitchell in IP Dispute with Audatex The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s (PTAB) February 2016 decision invalidating all three patents in Audatex’s patent infringement lawsuit asserted against Mitchell, agreeing that the Audatex patents are abstract and not inventive. Audatex sued Mitchell in February 2012, alleging that Mitchell’s WorkCenter software infringed three Audatex patents. The Audatex patents detailed a business process for using the internet to process insurance claims, including total loss valuations. Before the PTAB, Mitchell asserted that the Audatex patents simply use well-known technology to generate valuation reports for damaged cars, and are not intended to improve a computer’s functionality. In February 2016, the PTAB sided with Mitchell and invalidated all three Audatex patents as abstract under the U.S. Supreme Court’s Alice Corp. decision, in which the high court ruled that abstract ideas implemented using a computer are not patent eligible. The PTAB also decided each of the claims in all three Audatex patents were both anticipated and obvious.
MINNESOTA
Courtesy Subaru
Direct (952) 887-0600 (952) 881-1787 Fax Mon. 6:30-6; Tue.-Fri. 6:30-9; Sat. 8-4 parts@bloomingtonsubaru.com www.bloomingtonsubaru.com
Mon.-Fri. 7:30-5:30; Sat. 8-Noon parts@courtesysubaru.com
OHIO
(800) 903-2434
(800) 451-5078
Brunswick Subaru Brunswick
Toll Free (888) 460-7080
64 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
SOUTH DAKOTA
Luther Bloomington Subaru Bloomington
The following dealerships are eager to serve your needs. Call your local Subaru collision parts specialist today!
Audatex appealed portions of the PTAB’s decision to the Federal Circuit. After receiving briefing and hearing oral arguments, on July 27 the Federal Circuit affirmed the PTAB’s invalidation of all three Audatex patents. In its written decision, the Federal Circuit fully backed Mitchell’s arguments and rejected all of the appeal issues raised by Audatex: “The proposed claims recite nothing more than the collection of information to generate a valuation report for a damaged vehicle with the aid of well-known technology,” the opinion reads. “They embody an abstract idea that merely uses a computer and generic components as tools to collect these data and generate reports.” “To see the Federal Circuit affirm the PTAB’s decisions so quickly after oral argument is welcome news for Mitchell,” said Stephanie Kroon, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary at Mitchell. “We believed from early in the case that Audatex’s claims against Mitchell had no merit and the Federal Circuit has confirmed our position. This decision is a complete victory for Mitchell.”
Direct (330) 460-7080 (330) 460-7082 Fax Mon.-Fri. 8-6; Sat. 8-4 www.brunswickautomart.com
Rapid City
(800) 658-3054
(605) 342-1178 Fax
WISCONSIN
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(262) 544-1913 Fax
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Kia Selects OEC for Collision Parts Ordering and Fulfillment
OEConnection LLC (OEC), the leading automotive technology provider for original equipment manufacturers’ (OEM) distribution
networks, announced that Kia Motors America has added CollisionLink to its collision parts marketing program. The CollisionLink parts ordering and fulfillment solution will allow Kia’s dealer network to access competitive pricing on eligible OE parts and expand its market penetration in the U.S. Kia is the 23rd automotive dealer network in North America to use CollisionLink to facilitate its parts marketing program. With the addition of Kia, virtually 100 percent of all consumer vehicles on the
road in the U.S. are now supported by CollisionLink. “We are excited to bring Kia on board and to assist with its collision parts program,” said Bill Lopez, OEC Vice President & General Manager, Collision. “With our CollisionLink solution, Kia dealers can compete more effectively and increase their OE part sales while also improving order processing efficiency and customer satisfaction.” “Selecting CollisionLink will provide our retailers with competitively priced OE parts,” said Greg Silvestri, Executive Director, Service Operations. “We chose CollisionLink because it has become a standard operating procedure among body shops that prefer to use OE parts at competitive prices. CollisionLink also streamlines the dealers’ workflow when processing orders to better serve its customers.” By the fourth quarter of 2017, all Kia dealers will have access to their collision parts marketing program via CollisionLink.
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Illinois
MCGRATH CITY HYUNDAI Chicago 6750 W. Grand Ave.
773-889-3070
Mon-Fri 8am - 5pm www.mcgrathhyundai.com
PATRICK HYUNDAI Schaumburg 1020 E. Golf Road
847-605-4055 847-619-4511 Fax
Mon-Fri 7:30am - 5pm www.patrickhyundai.com
The RIGHT
COLLISION PARTS
Continued from Page 62
Insurers Discuss
“It’s actually quite the opposite. You shouldn’t look down on that. It points to strength in the relationship,” Andreoli said. He said if it was happening frequently, his company might talk to that shop about getting OEM-certified to fix those vehicles, but he said he recognizes that that can be “an expensive proposition.” Thompson agreed. “[If] someone is [saying the vehicle] really needs to go somewhere else, I’d be extremely disappointed if somebody in our organization looked down on that shop,” he said. “I think with tooling and training and everything else, the days when everybody can repair everything are getting further and further from the truth.” So are the insurers set up to identify OEM-certified shops on their networks? Hoffbauer said that’s not happening currently, but is something State Farm is studying. “We do have conversations with the insured, and if they ask, we can recommend or try to provide advice,
Indiana
but we believe in customer choice, and they can go wherever they’d like to,” he said. “But we would prefer they make an informed decision based on facts.” Similarly, Thompson said “capabilities-based assignments” are in the works at USAA. “It does me no good at all to send a vehicle to a shop that isn’t properly equipped to handle the repair,” he said. “It just creates delays in the overall process, which isn’t good for the member.” Lindorfer said Allstate has information available if a direct repair shop works on a particular type of vehicle, such as the aluminum Ford F-150, but the company’s systems will need to evolve before they can match that up with the customer’s vehicle at the first notice of loss. “But our adjusters do try to tell them when they are writing the estimate that if they have a vehicle that needs a special type of repair, they need to inquire with their shop to ensure that they are able to repair that type of vehicle,” she said.
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Ohio
INDY HYUNDAI
CLASSIC HYUNDAI
800-592-5170
440-266-6750
Indianapolis 7101 E Washington St.
317-536-1552 Fax
Mon 8am - 8pm; Tue-Fri 8am - 6pm Sat 8am - 1pm inss.partsmgr@rohrman.com www.indyhyundai.com
Minnesota
Mentor 8460 Tyler Blvd.
440-266-6763 Fax
Mon-Thu 7am - 7pm; Fri 7am - 6pm; Sat 7am - 3pm gregj@driveclassic.com www.driveclassichyundai.com
LUTHER BLOOMINGTON HYUNDAI Bloomington 4801 American Blvd. West
877-801-0641 952-377-2081 Fax
Mon-Thu 7am - 7pm Fri 7am - 6pm; Sat 8am - 4:30pm parts@bloomingtonhyundai.com www.bloomingtonhyundai.com
For Your Collision Job. Visit these Genuine Hyundai Parts Dealers: www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 65
AUTOBODY MARKETPLACE
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Motor Vehicle Deaths Modestly Lower than Last Year Preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council indicate motor vehicle deaths in the first six months of 2017 are 1 percent lower than they were during the same six-month period in 2016. However, the country is fresh off the steepest estimated two-year increase in motor vehicle deaths since 1964, and it is too early to conclude whether the upward trend is over. The estimated deaths during the first six months of 2017 are still 8 percent higher than the 2015 six-month estimates, and the final six months of the calendar year—July
to December—tend to be deadlier than the first six. An estimated 18,680 people have been killed on U.S. roads since
New Labor Rate Survey Website from NABR National AutoBody Research (NABR) recently announced the launch of its new Labor Rate Survey website, LaborRateSurvey.com, making its VRS Labor Rate Surveys available to all collision repairers nationwide. LaborRateSurvey.com provides body shops easy access to NABR’s three surveys: VRS Standardized Labor Rate Survey, VRS Labor Rate Survey for Luxury & Special Vehicles, and the specialized Auto Body Labor Rate Survey for California, which is compliant with new survey regulations from the California Department of Insurance. The new site provides an immediate opportunity for
authorized collision repairers to further strengthen the industry’s largest independent labor rate data source, which combines labor rate prices, training, OEM certifications and equipment. All data is reported by the shops themselves and survey results are made available to both collision repairers and insurers. “With a simple, easy-to-remember website address like LaborRateSurvey.com, it could not be any easier for all shops in the industry to access and take the VRS Labor Rate Surveys,” said Sam Valenzuela, President of National AutoBody Research. “The VRS survey
January and 2.1 million were seriously injured. The total estimated cost of these deaths and injuries is $191 billion. “The price of our cultural complacency is more than a hundred fatalities each day,” said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “Although the numbers may be leveling off, the Road to Zero deaths will require accelerating improvements in technology, engaging drivers and investing in our infrastructure.” The National Safety Council has tracked fatality trends and issued esti-
mates for nearly 100 years. Last winter, the Council estimated as many as 40,000 people were killed on the roads in 2016—a 6 percent rise over 2015 and the largest two-year percentage increase in deaths in 53 years. Those estimates—as well as the 2017 preliminary estimates— are subject to slight increases and decreases as the data matures. Factors impacting motor vehicle fatality trends include an improved economy and lower gas prices, both of which have helped fuel a 1.7 percent increase in miles driven from 2016 to 2017.
solves all of the key problems with surveys that this industry has faced and struggled with for decades.” NABR provides an independent and innovative solution that levels the playing field for everybody. Among many other features, the survey is open to all repairers and is easily accessible; is available online 24/7; is standardized, so all shops take the same survey; measures posted rates; the data is not changed or manipulated in any way; and through the Variable Rate System (VRS), all labor rate data is fully transparent equally to everybody—collision repairers, insurers, and consumers. In addition, all
surveys go through a multi-point verification and validation process to ensure only genuine auto collision repair shops are included in survey results and to verify that claimed certifications are real. Through its “Each 1, Tell 2” campaign, in which one shop takes the survey today and asks two others to take it tomorrow and do the same, LaborRateSurvey.com has the potential to reach the industry’s 33,000 body shops in only 15 days. But body shops must participate and help spread the word in order to help both themselves and insurers obtain the valuable labor rate data they need. Continued from Page 44
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First Impressions
credits much of her success to the look and feel of her shop. “We wanted to create a comforting atmosphere for our customers, because when they come here, they have a lot of things on their minds,” Tanzillo said. “They are stressed out, so we want to alleviate that as quickly as we can. That’s why we created a waiting room with an espresso and tea bar, classical music piped in and artwork all over the walls. Our customers hang out here and we don’t mind it, because we know that it’s all about the attitude we want here at Uptown Body & Fender.” So, if you’re thinking about sprucing up your shop, especially in those areas that are called “customer facing”—a business service feature experienced or seen by a customer— go for it. It will be money well-spent, because you can be one of the best shops in your area, but if it your facility looks like something out of “The Walking Dead” or “Sanford & Son,” you’ll never get the love and respect you deserve.
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