Southeastern November 2015 Issue by Autobody News

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VOL. 5 ISSUE 11 JANUARY 2015

Four News Stories from 2014 that Will Impact the Entire Collision Repair Industry in 2015

Freer Auto Body in Illinois Raises Money Year-Round for Community Christmas

As in most years, 2014 ended with some unfinished business for the collision repair industry. Here’s a look at four of the news stories from this part year that will likely continue to make headlines in the year ahead.

At the age of 18, it was David Freer’s dream to own a body shop, and that dream came true in 1991 when he and his brother, Tim, opened Freer Auto Body in Godfrey, IL. From the start, Freer Auto Body contributed to Community Christmas, which was David’s favorite project. Community Christmas, sponsored by United Way and Telegraph, raises money, toys and clothes for 15 local agencies. These agencies then distribute the goods to more than 6,000 less fortunate families in Riverbend. According to his mother and shop owner Margaret Freer, David would purchase sale items throughout the year and save them for the event. When David passed away in an

by John Yoswick

1. “We are requiring that you have the separation of the work area, but that can be (achieved) using curtains and proper filtration; it’s not going to require brick and mortar.” Ford Motor Company’s Paul Massie was a featured speaker at many in-

dustry events in 2014 as they automaker prepared to roll-out its 2015 F-150 pick-up, the first high-volume aluminumintensive vehicle. Ford and Massie worked last year to convince about 750 of its dealerPaul Massie ship body shops – and about 850 independent shops – to invest in the equipment and training to be certified by Ford to work on the vehicle. For shops with virtually See Four News Stories, Page 32

Auto Body Associations Look Back on 2014 by Chasidy Rae Sisk

From record snowfalls in the southern U.S. to a missing Malaysian airplane to the fear of an Ebola outbreak, 2014 was a memorable, if somewhat frightening, year around the world. In the American collision repair industry, 2014 was riddled with lawsuits against insurers’ unfair business practices and other battles for the rights of collision repair professionals, but industry associations still managed to provide some positive experiences for their members throughout the year. As the New Year rolls around, Autobody News asked a handful of association leaders about the most memorable things their associations did in 2014.

Dan Risley, Executive Director of ASA-National, states that “without a doubt, the most memorable thing in 2014 was NACE|CARS in Detroit. We made significant changes to the show including but not limited to the location, dates and show management company. We had no idea what to expect or how the industry would respond because the show had steadily declined for several years. What made it memorable was the overwhelming support and positive response from the industry. We are humbled, thankful and appreciative for all of those individuals and companies that helped make it a success.” “I think one of the most memorable moments of 2014 for me was at

by Victoria Antonelli, Online Editor

automobile accident on September 11, 2008, the Freer family decided to go even further with their contributions

The Godfrey Women’s Club baked all of the cookies for the year’s Cookies and Cocoa Community Christmas event

to Community Christmas by creating Cookies and Cocoa for Community Christmas the following December. “Freer Auto Body is very comSee Community Christmas, Page 20

Main Auto Body and CitySquare Brighten the Holidays for Dallas, TX, Children Main Auto Body has reached an agreement with CitySquare in which the body shop will collect and donate unwrapped toys and gifts to families CitySquare serves that are unable to

See Associations Look Back, Page 16

One of the many children to benefit from the CitySquare holiday fundraiser poses with Santa Claus, surrounded by donated gifts for Dallas youths in need. Photo credit: CitySquare

provide for their children on Christmas. In exchange for donating an unwrapped toy, Main Auto Body will give a free headlight restoration. Each year, CitySquare collects

(l to r) Albert Perez, technician; Ray Mundo Esqueda Jr, technician; Gerardo Valadez, owner and technician; and CeeCee Evans, manager; pose below the Main Auto Body shop sign

new, unwrapped toys and then distributes them as Christmas gifts to children in need. “Main Auto Body is very excited to be working hand-inSee Brighten the Holidays, Page 20

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Contents REGIONAL

Dropping Gas Prices and Strong Car Sales

Blackie’s Body Shop in Tennessee Endures

First Fully Robotic Paint Curing Equipment

Customer Arrested After Threatening Auto

Body Worker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Elite Motor Works in Sarasota, FL, Open

in New Location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Can Improve Bottom Line for Shops

and the Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Ford Begins Building All-New F-150 Truck . 42

Four News Stories from 2014 that Will Impact the Entire Collision Repair

Industry in 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

GA Shop Celebrates Four Years and

Freer Auto Body in Illinois Raises Money

GCIA’s November Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Gerber Collision & Glass Opens New

Mercedes-Benz May Move Headquarters

Hey Body Techs! Malco Tools Are Built

NC’s K&M Collision and One Other Receive

Industry Looks to Plant DNA to Solve

SC Drivers Ranked Worst in Nation by

Judge Grants Permanent Injunction

Father-Son Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Hardman Auto Body Opens in Tennessee. . 14 from NJ to GA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Prize from SCRS & Car-O-Liner . . . . . . . 8 Insurance Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Service King Acquires Body Shop in

Mississippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

COLUMNISTS

Attanasio - Your To-Do Marketing

Year-Round for Community Christmas . . 1

Repair Location in GA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Just for You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Scrap Metal Theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Against Connecticut Anti-Steering

Auto Glass Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

LKQ Renews $25,000 Contribution

to CREF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

MAACO®, Enterprise, LKQ and Axalta

Make a Difference for an American Hero. . 6

List for 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Main Auto Body and CitySquare Brighten

A Reliable Business Source . . . . . . . . . 26

Manheim Reports Wholesale Used Vehicle

Modern Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Mike Rose’s Auto Body Never Stops

Loftus Predicts, Multi Association

National Auto Body Council & Enterprise

Franklin - Commercial Customers— Luehr - Successful Change Using

Yoswick - CIC Says ‘No’ to ASA, Sheila

Task Force, Labor Rates. . . . . . . . . . . . 36

the Holidays for Dallas, TX, Children. . . . 1

Price Adjustments in Q3. . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Giving Cars Away . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Rent-A-Car Partner with Progressive

to Donate 117 Vehicles to Vets. . . . . . . 41

NATIONAL

Nissan Settles Class-Action Suit Claiming

ABRA Auto Body & Glass Donates

PPG Redesigned Website for

Allstate Gives $100,000 to Collision

Sherwin-Williams “Media Center”

Aluminum Repair Tips & Techniques in

Toyota’s “Game-Changing” Recommended

Auto Body Associations Look Back on ‘14. . 1

Using Industry Statistics to Your

ABPA Convention Announced. . . . . . . . . . 14 $10,000 to Families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Repair Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Preparation for Ford F-150 . . . . . . . . . . 42

Automotive Service Excellence Techs

Faulty Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

ADJUSTRITE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Website Addition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Repair Procedures Set to Launch in ‘15 . 45

Advantage with Mike Anderson . . . . . . 18

Honored at Annual Meeting . . . . . . . . . . 4

Web-Est and Crash-WriteR Announce

Drastically Change Repair Industry. . . . 40

WI Driver Blames Beer Battered

Collision Avoidance Technology Could

Conviction of Saturn Ion Driver Thrown

Out After 10 Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Joyous New Year from all of us at Autobody News. We look forward to bringing you our collision news in 2015, including a more frequent e-newsletter, more regional coverage and easier access to content on our websites. Get in touch with us to promote your regional events, association meetings and anything you think the rest of the industry should know. Advertisers can reach us at advertising@autobodynews.com. Articles can be submitted to editor@autobodynews.com. Publisher & Editor: Jeremy Hayhurst General Manager: Barbara Davies Assistant Editor: Stacey Phillips Online Editor: Victoria Antonelli Contributing Writers: Tom Franklin, John Yoswick, Janet Chaney, Toby Chess, David Brown, Rich Evans, Ed Attanasio, Chasidy Sisk, David Luehr Advertising Sales: Joe Momber, Sean Hartman, Bill Doyle, Norman Morano (800) 699-8251 Sales Assistant: Louise Tedesco Art Director: Rodolfo Garcia

Closing of Acquisition Agreement. . . . . 40

Fish Fry for DUI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Allan Vigil Ford-Lincoln . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Arrigo Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep-Ram . 12 Assured Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 41 Car-Part.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 CarcoonAmerica Airflow Systems . 28 Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA). . . . . . . . . . . 31 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Coggin Deland Honda . . . . . . . . . . 16 Crown Automotive Group . . . . . . . . 39 Dent Magic Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 DJS Fabrications, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . 48 Don Reid Ford. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Equalizer Industries, Inc . . . . . . . . . . 4 Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers FL, VA, GA, AL, MS. . . . . . . . . . . 37 GM Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . 43 Gus Machado Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Hendrick Automotive Group . . . . . . 13 Hendrick BMW/MINI . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Hendrick Honda Bradenton . . . . . . 20 Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23, 24-25 Hyundai Motor America . . . . . . . . . 11 Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers. . 40 Jon Hall Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Serving Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina 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. ©2015 Adamantine Media LLC.

Autobody News

Southeast

Changing Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Craftsman Supports Monroe Students in VA . 6

Could Create Manufacturer Problems . . 38

Indexof Advertisers

Aero Colours Relocating in VA . . . . . . . . . . 9

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Kernersville Chrysler-DodgeJeep-Ram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Kia Motors Wholesale Parts Dealers. 47 Lexus Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 44 Malco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Mercedes-Benz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Mercedes-Benz Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 MINI Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 41 Mitsubishi Wholesale Parts Dealers . 45 MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 27 Nalley BMW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Performance Automall . . . . . . . . . . 14 Porsche Wholesale Parts Dealers . 45 PPG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Priority Honda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Rick Hendrick Dodge-ChryslerJeep-Ram. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Safety Regulation Strategies . . . . . 34 SATA Spray Equipment . . . . . . . . . 21 Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18, 19 Subaru of Gwinnett . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 33 Tameron Hyundai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 UniCure Spraybooths . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Valspar Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

www.autobodynews.com | JANUARY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 3

Automotive Service Excellence Techs Honored at Annual Meeting

Service King Acquires Body Shop in Mississippi

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) honored 47 ASE-certified automotive professionals recently as the top service technicians at 38 companies, including 13 at tire and automotive service dealerships. Those honored are among the top scorers nationwide on ASE tests, the institute said, and are selected by the award sponsors based on those scores plus on-the-job excellence, community service and other factors. The award winners represent a cross-section of the auto, truck, collision, parts and educational segments of the industry. “The enthusiasm and professionalism displayed by all of our award winners is a testament to the high-quality individuals wearing the ASE Blue Seal,” said ASE President and CEO Tim Zilke, “and we are proud to have them as part of the ASE family.” The winners were recognized on Nov. 19 at the ASE’s Fall Board of Governors meeting held in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Among those recognized was Jamie Bullis, only the second working female technician to be honored in more than 30 years, the ASE said.

Service King announced on November 25 that it has acquired Ridgeland Body Shop in Ridgeland, Mississippi. With this acquisition, Service King now adds a second location to the Jackson Metropolitan area. Service King also operates a third Mississippi location in Southaven. “The addition of Ridgeland Body Shop further enhances our ability to provide high-quality collision repair services in the Mississippi market,” said Mike Abbott, Service King Regional Vice President of the South Central United States. “We are thrilled to bring this strong brand and well-established business into the Service King family. We look forward to serving the city of Ridgeland and providing customers the Service King standard of excellence.” The facility, currently owned and operated by Joyce Wade, Joe Sedro and John Cadwallader, has the capacity to repair up to 250 vehicles per month. For additional information on this acquisition and other Service King locations and services, visit www.ServiceKing.com.

GCIA’s November Meeting by Chasidy Rae Sisk

During the evening of Wednesday, November 19, the Georgia Collision Industry Association (GCIA) held their November meeting at the Embassy Suites in Alpharetta, GA, in collaboration with several leading collision repair industry corporations. Nearly 60 people attended the informative meeting which was divided into seven segments, giving each presenting company an opportunity to address specific issues. The meeting began with GCIA’s Executive Director Howard Batchelor reading the Anti-Trust statement and providing several updates to association members. He informed them that CIC will be holding a meeting in Atlanta at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia on Wednesday, April 8th and Thursday, April 9th, and he also reminded attendees that the 2015 Southern Automotive Repair Conference will take place at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, MS on Friday, April 17th and Saturday, April 18th. Additionally, Batchelor proudly announced that GCIA donated $2000 to Maxwell High School’s automotive program in an effort to support the next generation of collision repair professionals. David Byers, CEO of CARSTAR, presented an “Insurance Industry

Overview,” discussing the recent increase in consolidations which is resulting in fewer independent shops and more multi-shop operations (MSOs). BASF presented “Repair Planning” with an emphasis on the importance of capturing all parts on the estimate. In “Car Rental Technology,” Hertz explained their new interface for their estimating program. When Mitchell presented “Mobile Estimating Technology,” they revealed their new email feature which helps shops manage scheduling by sending reminders about drop-off and pick-up times. FinishMaster presented a “Collision Industry Overview” where they discussed MSO buying habit. Also, 3M presented “Aluminum Repair: Some Facts and Myths” to give attendees a glimpse of what’s coming in 2015 with the Ford F-150 and other aluminum vehicles. Batchelor called the meeting “very informative” and was pleased with the great turnout. After the meeting concluded, several attendees praised GCIA’s November meeting as “one of the best meetings of the year.” GCIA PO Box 1252 Cumming, GA 30028 770-367-9816 www.gcia.org

4 JANUARY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

She is a master auto technician employed at Bridgestone Retail Operations’ Firestone Complete Auto Care location in Minnetonka, MN. Others recognized as their employers’ top automobile technicians include:

● Bobby Soward, Belden’s Automotive & Tires – Pronto Smart Choice award winner; ● Ron Knuckles, Big O Tires, Louisville, KY; ● Dave Wilson, Merchant’s Tire & Auto Centers, Baltimore, MD; ● Keith Young, Meyer’s Automotive Service, Festus, MO – Bosch Automotive Solutions; ● Shane Schultz, Midas International, Freemont, IN.; ● Jason Gruber, National Tire & Battery (NTB), St. Peters, MO.; ● Ed Kiekover, OK Tire Stores, Zeeland, MI – Identifix “drivability” technician of the year; ● Vu Nguyen, Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack, Murrieta, CA; ● John Zeiss, Ray & Dana’s Inman Auto Care, Fords, NJ – RepairPal; ● Brad Greer, SpeeDee Oil Change & Tune-up, Oakdale, CA; ● James Foulk, Tire Kingdom, Edgewater, FL; and

● Gerry Wolfe, Wolfe’s Auto Service, Lititz, PA. – Snap-on Inc.

The ASE said it has been recognizing top technicians for more than 40 years, often with sponsor support. “We couldn’t do this without the support of our many award sponsors, whose ranks include some of the bestknown names in the industry,” Zilke said. “Their commitment to excellence is reflected in the talented individuals receiving these awards each year.” Randy Nussler, an instructor at Midlands Technical College in Chapin, SC, was named the “Gates Tools for Schools” ASE instructor of the year. Fifteen of the winners work at car dealerships and five at truck dealerships, the ASE said. One student, Joe Grenchick at Southern Illinois University, was honored, as was Master Sergeant Robert Forbes of the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Ramstein Airbase in Germany. The remainder work at a variety of auto and/or truck repair facilities.

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MAACO®, Enterprise, LKQ and Axalta Make a Difference for an American Hero

MAACO® teamed up with the National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides™ program to make a difference in the life of an American hero. In partnership with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, LKQ and Axalta, the MAACO® Fleet Solutions team donated a restored vehicle to expecting mother and Marine veteran, Sherika Fayson. “The thought of having a reliable car brings tears to my eyes,” said Fayson. “It’s overwhelming to think what a difference it will make in my life.” “This would not have been possible without the help of Robert Fish, MAACO® Fleet Solutions National Account Manager, and our incredible partners,” said Frank Petrane, MAACO® Vice President of Fleet Sales. “Enterprise Rent-ACar donated the 2014 Nissan Versa and Axalta automotive finishes and LKQ provided resources necessary to complete the project.” The Orlando MAACO®, located at 917 Mercy Drive, is owned and operated by Frank Furino. Furino and his team dedicated more than 30 hours of body work, colli-

Gerber Collision & Glass Opens New Repair Location in GA

The Boyd Group Inc. announced the opening of a collision repair center, located 30 miles north of Atlanta, in Woodstock, Georgia. The location previously operated under the name Towne Lake Collision and has approximately 10,100 square feet of production space. “This new center further expands our presence in the Georgia market, and will serve to bridge the brand gap between our already established centers in Kennesaw and Roswell,” said Tim O’Day, President and COO of the Boyd Group’s U.S. operations. “As we continue to increase our geographic footprint we are able to better serve both our customers and insurance partners in Georgia, as well as nationally.” “We are very excited to enter the Woodstock market,” O’Day added. “It is one of the fastest growing areas in Georgia, doubling in size in the last 10 years, and we are proud to introduce our Gerber brand of high-quality service to this community.” The Boyd Group is looking to add new collision repair locations to its network in Canada and the U.S.

sion repair and paint service. “It’s important to give back to the community that supports you,” said Furino. “When asked if I was interested in participating in this program, I didn’t hesitate. As America’s bodyshop it was an honor to give back to an American hero, like Sherika.” Over 1,000 vehicles have been donated through the National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides™ program since it began in 2007.

For more information on the Recycled Rides™ program, visit: http://www.nationalautobodycouncil .org/programs/recycled-rides.

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Customer Arrested After Threatening Auto Body Worker by ClickOrlando.com

A man deputies call a disgruntled customer has been arrested after they say went to an auto shop armed with a gun to demand his vehicle back. Deputies said the man went to the Orlando Auto Center Collision Repair on Overland Road on Dec. 2 demanding his vehicle back. The man was told his vehicle wasn’t ready, so the man then came back to the shop with a gun, according to deputies. In the midst of the incident, one shot was fired in the air and the workers hit the man to subdue him, deputies said. The man was arrested by deputies and was taken to the hospital for injuries suffered after being hit. The man’s identity was not released. The shop owner told Local 6 that the work on the man’s car was finished and that the car owner didn’t want to pay right then. The man promised to come back and pay later and tried to take the car and leave, the shop owner said. The shop owner said he took the keys from the man, which enraged the man to the point of the man pulling out a gun and threatening to shoot. No other details were immediately available.

6 JANUARY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Craftsman Supports Monroe Students in VA by Leesburg Today

A delegation from Craftsman Auto Body and its suppliers gathered at Monroe Technology Center in Leesburg on Dec. 5 to donate $25,000 worth of material and equipment to the school’s auto collision program. The truckload of supplies, including paints and sandpaper, will help the students training at the center, and, hopefully, better prepare them for careers in the industry. This year, there are five seniors and 16 juniors in the twoyear program. Some of them are likely to begin their careers at one of Craftsman’s service centers, as more than two dozen previous graduates have done. “It’s Merry Christmas today,” teacher Dave Williams said. “I’m speechless. I really am.” “This will last me for years,” Williams said of the crates of supplies, adding the donation will free up money to purchase other needed items. The donation included material from some of Craftsman’s suppliers: Norton, National Coatings & Supplies, Keystone Automotive Industries and Axalta Coating Systems. It was organized through the Chicago-based Collision Repair Education Foundation, an I-Car associated nonprofit

that provided $14 million worth of supplies and scholarships to training programs nationwide during 2014. “Thanks for teaching these kids to do things the right way,” Paul Krauss, CEO of Leesburg-based Craftsman, said to Williams. He noted the company employs about 600 and is eying an expansion into the Richmond market. Foundation Exec. Dir Clark Plucinski said many technical schools lack the equipment needed for hands-on training and spend most of their time teaching theory rather than, for example, learning how to take doors apart and repair them. The foundation’s mission is to help get schools the material they need. “You get better training and these guys get better technicians,” Plucinski said to four of the program seniors who were surrounded by Craftsman representatives. “You’re going to be superstars and you’re going to make super money.” Norton representative Jeff Steinbach noted the students are training in one field where jobs are safe from current corporate trends. “This is one job that will never be outsourced to another part of the world.” Clark noted the students may not stay in collision repair, but will have the training to succeed in other ventures, from running their own shop to sales.

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NC’s K&M Collision and One Other Receive Prize from SCRS & Car-O-Liner

On November 7, SCRS in partnership with Car-O-Liner, provided two SEMA Show attendees prizes to help perform both aluminum and traditional steel repairs. This is the fourth year in a row that this partnership has provided prizes for SEMA attendees who visit company booths that have participated in the SCRS Repair Driven Education (RDE) series. This year’s prizes − the Car-O-Liner Aluminum Workstation and QP-1 Steel Dent Puller − were won by K. Michael Bradshaw (K&M Collision, Hickory, NC) and Paul Rudow (CARSTAR Elmira, Ontario). “When I got the call from Aaron [Schulenburg, SCRS Executive Director] telling me that I had won, I asked if he was messing with me,” chuckled Bradshaw. “It was such perfect timing; we are already Porschecertified at the shop for aluminum, but were looking to buy this exact piece of equipment as we look at expanding our services to work on Ford’s new aluminum vehicles. It couldn’t have come at a better time.” This year marks Bradshaw’s firstever trip to SEMA, and as he explains, SCRS was a major factor in getting him to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“The RDE series was the main reason we came to the SEMA Show. Of course there are a ton of cool products on the floor to see, some of which we purchased, others we’re looking into for the future, but we got so much out of all the educational opportunities provided by SCRS. The OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit in particular was so informative − to have representatives from manufacturers like Audi, Tesla and BMW sitting right up there and available to answer repairers’ questions was amazing. At our shop, we’ve always held SCRS in high regard − we actually just recently joined as a member − and we’ve always appreciated all they do for the industry. Winning this workstation just makes us appreciate them, as well as the generosity of Car-O-Liner, even more!” Coming all the way from Canada to attend the SEMA Show, Rudow had no idea he would be leaving Las Vegas the proud owner of a new QP-1 Dent Puller. “It was definitely a nice surprise being one of the prize winners,” he said. “We’ve already been in touch with the Canadian Car-O-Liner rep, who will be delivering the equipment to us. We’re very excited!” “This was my second SEMA, traveling with my brother and busi-

ness partner,” Rudow continued. “One of the nicest things − other than this great prize from SCRS, of course − is the enthusiasm that the vendors we meet seem to put into their presentations, and also just into general conversation. Everybody asks questions about Canada, and we had many nice chats going on. We’re already looking forward to coming back next year and meeting some more friendly faces!” As National Sales Manager Doug Bortz explains, the decision to once again team up with the association was a no-brainer, especially in light of rapid changes coming to the industry. “With the focus on aluminum, Car-O-Liner feels we have the best solution for repairing damaged aluminum panels when they can and should be repaired,” he says. “The Car-O-Liner Aluminum Workstation provides the best mix of tools to provide accurate and efficient repairs. Car-O-Liner works closely with those organizations that promote topics and agendas important to our industry, providing growth and relevancy for collision centers to be successful. This is what we see in the hands-on team at SCRS, and they have been wonderful to work with.”

ABRA Auto Body & Glass Donates $10,000 to Families

ABRA Auto Body & Glass recently helped raise $10,000 during the Pine Island Country Club Golf Tournament to benefit The Sandbox. The Sandbox serves families whose children have cancer or a life-altering illness. More than 100 golfers and guests gathered at Pine Island Country Club in Charlotte, NC, to show their support and encouragement in late October. “Our gratitude to ABRA Auto Body & Glass, participating golfer, and the Charlotte community is truly overwhelming,” says Mara Campolungo, Executive Director of The Sandbox. “The donation from the ABRA Auto Body & Glass golf tournament will exponentially help our organization provide basic, day-to-day needs to families facing cancer or a life-altering illness of their child well into 2015. It also allows us to sponsor the Holiday Wish Lists of additional families to ensure they’re able to receive gifts and warm winter clothing.” “We are delighted to contribute to a cause that helps families emotionally and financially during the most difficult time of their lives,” says Erin Cambero, ABRA’s Market Vice President.

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New Alternative Fuel Vehicle Course Premiered by I-CAR, Both 1- and 2-Hr Offerings

I-CAR® has launched an all-new instructor-led course, Alternative Fuel Vehicle Damage Analysis and Safety (ALT03). This live, instructor-led, 3credit hour course improves a collision repair professional’s understanding of how to safely approach alternative fuel vehicles of all types after a collision and how to understand the risks and risk-avoidance of working around such vehicles. Online options for Alternative Fuel Vehicle Damage Analysis and Safety (ALT03) are also available, broken into two courses for learning effectiveness: Alternative Fuel Vehicle Damage Analysis (ALT04e), a 1-hour offering and Alternative Fuel Vehicle Safety (ALT05e), a 2-hour offering. Josh McFarlin, I-CAR Director of Curriculum & Product Development explained, “Each vehicle will require specific knowledge about the different risk avoidance elements engineered into these vehicles from a propulsion system perspective. This makes building knowledge on the different alternative fuel vehicle types extremely important,” McFarlin continued, “This course serves as a solution to building a knowledge base on hybrid, electric and advanced fossil fuel powertrain

systems such as propane, CNG and Diesel.” Each course dives deep into important information on safely repairing these vehicles after a collision and the common parts found on electric vehicles. They meet training requirements in ProLevel® 1 for Estimators, Auto Physical Damage Appraisers and Electrical/Mechanical Technicians in I-CAR’s Professional Development Program™ (PDP). The new courses have replaced Electric and Electric Hybrid Vehicles (ALT01/e) and Hybrid Electric and Alternative Fuel Vehicles (ALT02/e). Either the Live course or both online courses must be completed in order to receive credit. I-CAR is also debuting the new “Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Disable Search” on the I-CAR Repairability Technical Support (RTS) Portal. Through the Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Disable Search, professionals can more easily identify where parts of the hybrid or electric system are located, how to disable the system before beginning a repair, welding best practices and refinish precautions. All of this information can quickly be found by make, model and/or year. Visit: www.i-car.com/rts.

Elite Motor Works in Sarasota, FL Open in New Location

Elite Motor Works moved to a new location in early November 2014. The repair shop is now located at 1749 Cattlemen Rd. The company specializes in car maintenance and repair for Lexus, BMW, Mercedes Benz, and Mini Cooper. However, the company has the experience and tools to work on almost any make and model, according to heraldtribune.com. Call Elite Motor Works at 941556-9110 for more information.

Aero Colours Relocating in VA

Aero Colours plans to build a 16,800 square-foot auto body and repair shop on 9.3 acres of undeveloped land in Williamsburg, VA, according to wydaily.com. The shop has been operating in a leased space in Victory Industrial Park, while owners Michael and Dana Barefoot looked for a bigger space. The York County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a special-use permit for the new shop at its Nov. 18 meeting, according to wydaily.com. The Aero Colours website states the shop offers collision repair services and 24-hour towing.

GA Shop Celebrates Four Years and Father-Son Team

Carsmetics of Alpharetta, GA, an accident repair shop known for its friendly, hospitable employees, is celebrating its fourth year in operation. Carsmetics owner, Craig Gonzales understands the dynamics of success and that building a positive rapport with customers is one of the main reasons they come back. Gonzales’s brother Chip, a local businessman, has been involved in the shop’s progress since the day is opened. The two brothers agreed that body tech Xavier Jarque Sr. should be promoted to manager, and now helps run the shop. With Xavier Senior’s list of customers continuing to grow and the shop getting busier, he decided he needed an assistant. The team then hired his son Xavier Jarque Jr., who is also a technician. Carsmetics repairs vehicles that have “drivable damage,” meaning they have been in collisions but are still in drivable condition. These vehicles don’t necessarily require an insurance claim because the repair cost is at or below the insurance deductible. “We are proud to focus on drivein, drive-out auto body repairs within just a couple of days compared to the long delays found in the auto body repair industry,” said Gonzales.

www.autobodynews.com | JANUARY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 9

Blackie’s Body Shop in Tennessee Endures Changing Industry by Bill Dries, www.memphisdailynews.com

Cars are a lot different, and the business of an auto body shop is too, since Delmus “Blackie” Moore opened a body shop on Fourth Street in Downtown Memphis in 1951. The business of body work is much faster, with less time for the custom work that once was much of Blackie Moore’s stock in trade. And Blackie’s Body Shop has added a name as it has moved over the decades. Dallas Moore, the current owner and son of Blackie Moore, added what he calls a second name to the business — Memphis Auto Body Collision — on the advice of the insurance companies that now define the business of auto body repairs. “Insurance companies control this industry. If you have a wreck and you report it, they’ve actually got their own body shops that bow down to them,” Moore said in December in the office of the business at 5408 Pleasant View Road in Raleigh. “They cut the labor rate, don’t charge any storage, do all the work for them—estimating for free… We’ve got a name and we can help people with their deductibles.” In his father’s day, it was called a “discount,” and the body shop contin-

ues the practice of a lifetime warranty on work as long as you own the car. Blackie’s still does body work repairs that aren’t insurance claims, and the family business has generations of customers who know it as Blackie’sBlackie Moore started his body shop after moving to Memphis from California, where he had worked as a welder in shipyards during World War II. “His cousin was a body man in California… He did welding at night and his cousin worked at a body shop during the day,” Dallas Moore said. “He was fascinated. He picked up fast how to put cars together, cut them in half, do custom work, do body work.” The family moved to Memphis in the early 1950s. Blackie’s opened on Fourth Street Downtown in 1951 and did auto custom work in the age when cars had big fins and lots of chrome and other metal. In his office, Dallas Moore points to a display case of memorabilia that includes a photo of a 1958 DeSoto. “If you look real hard, there’s no door handles,” Moore said. “A push button was under the windshield wiper button.” “We’re a production shop for insurance companies. That’s where the money is. Custom work is time-con-

SC Drivers Ranked Worst in Nation by Insurance Website

South Carolinians don’t need to travel far to see the nation’s worst drivers—all they have to do is pull out of their driveways, according to a consumer advocacy website. The Palmetto State shared top “honors” with Montana in Car Insurance Comparison’s “Worst Drivers by State” rankings during the week of December 8. South Carolina ranked No. 2 in the 2013 ratings, just behind Louisiana, which improved to a tie for sixth on the list. Each state was ranked based on a scoring system that includes driver fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, percentage of fatal crashes involving pedestrians or bicyclists, and fatal crashes that involve alcohol. This year’s survey also considers National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics from 2012, the latest available, according to company spokesman Tyler Spraul. South Carolina ranked No. 1 in fatalities per 100 million miles traveled. However, there has been a 28 percent decrease in fatal crashes in South Carolina since 2007, according to Sgt. Bob Beres of the S.C. High-

way Patrol. Statewide, alcohol was involved in 47 percent of vehicle fatalities—the nation’s eighth-highest rate. Beaufort County fared slightly better than the state average, with alcohol involved in only 38 percent of vehicle fatalities. South Carolina ranked fifth in the careless driving category, which includes pedestrian and bicyclist deaths. However, pedestrian fatalities in South Carolina are down 15 percent in 2014 compared to 2012 yearto-date, Beres said. The report warned that insurance companies could use this information to increase or decrease premiums and insurance rates. However, rates are based on much more, according to S.C. Department of Insurance spokeswoman Ann Robertson. “It is true that driving behaviors do play a role in insurance rates,” Robertson said. “However, there are a lot of other risk factors that go into their development.”

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suming,” said Dallas Moore, Owner, Memphis Auto Body Collision. The custom body work is a thing of the past. “We’re a production shop for insurance companies,” Moore said. “That’s where the money is. Custom work is timeconsuming. Restoration is time-consuming, and most people just don’t want to pay the big bucks to do it. The insurance companies pay by the hour.” Moore recalls the “biggest wreck I ever had”—meaning the highest dollar figure to repair damage for a car brought to his shop. It was a new 2012 Camaro with $20,000 in damages the owner wanted repaired. From Fourth Street, Blackie’s moved to Gayoso Avenue and then to Chelsea Avenue in North Memphis. Dallas Moore bought the current site on Pleasant View in 1978, two years after his father died, but didn’t move the business immediately because of the recession of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The move came in the mid-1980s. Moore himself moved to Scottsdale, AZ in 1987 and rented the business out, which kept the name. He returned in 1992. Moore has two sons who work in the business, one as a painter.

“I told them, ‘You are never going to get rich in this business, but you will never want for anything,’” he said. Another truth of the body shop business is the cars Moore and others who work in the business drive. “We’re in the car business. We don’t have car notes,” Moore said, noting he’s driving a Trail Blazer that came into the shop in 2006 as a $37,000 car its owner had wrecked shortly after buying it new. But the owner let the insurance lapse before the wreck. Moore filed a lien and got the car’s title. “It took me a year to build, but it only cost me $3,000,” he added. “If you’re not in a rush you can take your time, fix it when your men are slow and find parts reasonable.” Autobody News thanks the Memphis Daily News and the author for permission to reprint this story.

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www.autobodynews.com | JANUARY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 11

First Fully Robotic Paint Curing Equipment Can Improve Bottom Line for Shops and the Environment by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor

Two industry veterans, with over 100 years of experience between them, recently brought an innovative paint curing technology to North America that offers collision repair owners potential energy and cost savings, as well as increased productivity in their shops. As the owners of D&S Curing Solutions, Doug Verdier and Sam Midgley are the official North American suppliers of the Ionitec Gas-Fired Infrared Technology. It is the only fully robotic piece of equipment that can be retrofitted into any paint booth and used with all types of paint, including High Solids or water-based paint materials.

The car is shown in the paint booth with the robot curing device

“The machine focuses energy just on the specific areas on the automobile that are about to be cured,” said Verdier, who installed the equipment in his Oregon-based shop, Active Auto Body, on October 2, 2014. “It definitely benefits shops by saving on their gas bill and by getting work out faster, putting more cars through the paint shop everyday. The system is very easy to use and my painter took to it within days.” Located in the center of Portland, Verdier said his shop has the capability to bring in more work but there is only so much room to expand. Working on high-end vehicles, Verdier said “We can only hurry them so fast before we start jeopardizing the quality of the repair.” He found that by adding the paint curing equipment to his existing paint booth, it doesn’t take up any more space in the shop and has helped with efficiency. “This equipment allows the body shop to move things through the paint shop much faster and they’re cured completely once they leave the booth so your body shop manager or your technicians can put them back together without messing up the paint. The paint is fully cured and it’s like working on a car that has come off the assembly line or from the dealership.” Typically, he said a shop with one

booth might paint four or five cars a day. “With this piece of equipment, you can easily step that up to eight to 14 cars a day,” said Verdier. “With the Ionitec curing process the only thing that is dried or heated are the panels that have been painted,” said Midgley. “With our system there is no need to heat the entire booth and total cross linking occurs within seconds at a temperature on the panel of around 250 degrees F. When the car comes out of the spray booth it is fully cured and ready for final assembly or minor polish and delivery to the customer. Midgley said unlike other machines, you do not have to mask the plastic parts with a protective coating to keep them from melting and it only takes one passage to cure the job. “You press a series of buttons on the machine and the curing process starts automatically,” he explained. Curing is when there is a full cross linking of the paint molecules. This process, called “exothermic reaction,” ties the paint molecules together and creates cross linking. “This allows a quick turnaround time for customers with the same result you would get from the car factory when the car was first painted,” said Midgley. In addition, he said the process saves a massive amount of energy – up to about 95 percent by not having to heat the entire spray booth – and also improves the gloss. The paint curing system received a green energy award in Europe at Automechanika in September 2014.

Bringing First Robotic System to U.S. The business partners have been friends since 1957 when Midgley immigrated to the United States from Australia and met Verdier at school in Concord, CA, located east of San Francisco. Verdier’s father owned an auto body repair shop in Rodeo, CA where Verdier and Midgley eventually worked. In 1976, Verdier moved to Oregon and opened a Porsche body repair shop in Portland. Midgley joined Verdier and helped as a painter in the shop. Two years later Verdier opened Active Auto Body. Meanwhile, Midgley had moved back to Australia to work for Ford Motor Company in design engineering and then joined General Motors manufacturing for 25 years, working throughout Australia, North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific as a paint specialist. He was hired back at Ford Motor Company Asia-Pacific to look after six assembly

12 JANUARY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

plants as a paint engineer. He also has a long association with lean manufacturing at both companies. When Midgley decided to retire, a friend of his with a large body repair shop in Melbourne asked his opinion about a new technology, gas-fired in-

Doug Verdier (l) and Sam Midgley (r in the paint booth with the 1st Ionitec Gas-Fired Infrared Technology in the U.S.A.

frared curing systems, manufactured by Italian-based company Symach. After learning about the technology, Midgley was offered a job as a training manager for the company in 2011. Following extensive training at the Symach facility in Bologna, Italy, he came back to Australia to teach body shops how to use the technology and shared the information with Verdier. One

year later the two traveled to Italy and came across Ionitec’s robotic system. After visiting nearly a dozen shops throughout Switzerland, Italy and Germany, Verdier said he was so impressed with the system he purchased a machine for his own collision repair shop. “The success of this technology in Australia and Europe has really taken off in the last five or six years,” said Midgley, who predicts the U.S. will follow their lead. “The insurance companies are really pushing hard on the body repair shops to get their costs down,” said Midgley. “With this system you can get your costs down and improve your output at the same time.” Once a shop purchases the technology, a full measurement of the paint booth is taken and then the equipment is manufactured in Italy. After installation, Midgley and Verdier will take the shop through a full training process that normally lasts one or two weeks. “I think this would be a benefit to any shop that is conscientious about trying to save on fossil fuels as well as any shop that has a progressive attitude to improve work flow and generate more revenue for their shop,” said Verdier.

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www.autobodynews.com | JANUARY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 13

Mercedes-Benz May Move Headquarters from NJ to GA

Mercedes-Benz, a German luxury automaker, may be moving its U.S. headquarters from Montvale, NJ to Atlanta, GA, reports Urvaksh Karkaria, Atlanta Business Chronicle. MBUSA headquarters in New Jersey has 500 employees, and occupies 141,000 square feet of office space on about 37 acres of land, added Karkaria. If Mercedes decides to relocate, it will join several other big players in the auto industry that have migrated to the union-free, low cost Southeast, including Volkswagen, Toyota, and Kia. According to an anonymous source, Atlanta is a top sales and service market for Mercedes. The luxury automaker has yet to confirm the move. Karkaria reported that the automaker company also may locate a service center for its planned hydrogen fueled vehicles and the Savannah port is also attractive for the overseas auto manufacturer.

Hardman Auto Body Opens in Tennessee

Allstate Gives $100,000 to Collision Repair Education

Allstate Insurance Company announced on Dec. 3 a contribution of $100,000 to the Collision Repair Education Foundation. The donation will help support high school and technical college school programs, instructors and students nationwide. The money will be allocated to the foundation’s Collision Repair Education Campaign fund that provides annual student scholarships, school grants, and the annual Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant, which is $50,000. “Education is a vital step in preparing the next generation of great technicians needed to repair vehicles that are becoming more complex by the day,” says Allstate’s Claims Vice President Pam Overton. “Contributing to the Collision Repair Education Foundation is an investment in the future and something we take great pride in at Allstate.” Collision Repair Education Foundation Executive Director Clark Plucinski said, “Allstate’s continued support has allowed the Collision Repair Education Foundation to help collision school programs graduate students who are productive, efficient, and capable staff members day one on the job within the collision industry.

by Stacey Morgan, maconcountytimes.com

There is a new car repair business in Lafayette, TN. Hardman Auto Body opened its doors Nov. 2014 on Times Avenue, in the building right behind American Exteriors. Owner William “Bill” Hardman, along with his sister as office manager, Tammy Hancock, said they are ready and willing to greet customers. Hardman Auto Body is an all collision repair shop. They will do frame, body and glass replacement, and paintless dent repair. Hardman said, “Some other minor things too, like if your window gets off track, we can fix that.” Hardman said, “I’ve been in the business about all my life. My dad was in it and my grandfather was in it.” Hardman is an I-CAR certified technician, as well as Dupont-certified for paint. He has worked for others for many years, now he has chosen to open his own shop. “I just decided to do my own thing,” Hardman said. Thanks to Stacey Morgan at maconcountytimes.com for giving us permission to reprint this article. A link to the entire article is available at www.autobodynews.com

ABPA Convention Announced

The Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) announced that the 2015 Annual Business Meeting and Trade Fair will be held in downtown Chicago, IL from April 21-24, 2015. The venue will be the Drake Hotel. “With the great success that we had in Austin in 2014, we listened to our members and will build upon the feedback they provided to make our convention in 2015 in Chicago even better,” said Edward Salamy, Executive Director of the ABPA. “We will be expanding on our successful educational breakout programs and our guest speakers will provide valuable information for our members as it relates to running their businesses.” Automechanika Chicago, the largest U.S. trade show for automotive technicians and shop owners, starts the following weekend, which will enable attendees to visit both shows without paying twice for airfare. For reservations, call 1-80055-DRAKE or visit https://aws. passkey.com/event/12546016/ owner/2879/home. The group code for guests is ABP and the cutoff date for the room block is March 30.

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Hey Body Techs! Malco Tools Are Built Just for You by Ed Attanasio

One consequence of the evolution of the collision industry is that better tools exist now than ever before, thereby dramatically improving the working lives of body technicians everywhere.

The S6R Redline, 6-inch model, Hand Seamer by Malco Products is designed to save time, prevent hand fatigue and last for many years

Malco Products, Inc. in Annandale, MN, won first place at the 2014 SEMA Show’s New Product Showcase in the Collision Repair and Refinish Products category for its Quarter Panel Hemming Air TurboXTool. Founded in 1950, Malco was a market pioneer with its innovative HVAC hand tools initially, but today the company serves several industries, including collision repair.

Designing tools that are easy to use and cause minimal impact on the human body has been instrumental in Malco’s success. When the company designs any tool, it first looks at how it will be used; how long it will last and how it can save labor and wear and tear on the person that will use it every day. If a tool does the job, but it injures the hands, elbows or shoulders of the user, what’s the advantage? As a body shop owner, you obviously want your techs to be healthy and injury-free, because losing an employee to injury can drastically impact your cycle times and compromise your production. One of the most unique aspects of all Malco’s hand tools are the fact that they’re designed to comfortably fit hands of all sizes, from small to very large or gloved hands. The human hand’s natural power stroke range falls within a gripping range of 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches (63 to 89 mm). The challenge for accommodating this entire range is to provide handle openings and natural ergonomic contours that complement hand strength and resist strain and fatigue of repetitive motions without sacrificing the labor-saving, productivity

features of the working end of the tool, such as length of cut or throat depth. This balancing act has been achieved with all of Malco’s Redline Handled family of Hand Seamers (hand brake) and the company’s 11 models of “Andy” lightweight-with-the-strengthof-steel Aluminum Handled Snips.

This model MV12“Andy” Aluminum Handled Snip is designed with the busy body tech in mind and is specially designed to cut plastics including auto bumpers

Development Engineer Thomas Batho has worked on Malco’s design team for the past 15 years, which means he has played an integral role in the creation of more than 50 tools for Malco. “Every tool we make is designed with things like ergonomics, safety and the life cycle of the tool at the forefront,”

Batho explained. “We pride ourselves on making products that the customers want because they fill a need and then we stand behind them 100%. That’s something we take very seriously here at Malco.” At least 1,000 hours goes into the development of each tool manufactured by Malco. The company’s Redline Handled seamers were no exception, according to Batho. “With every tool, we do the field research first—to see if there’s a need and where the markets are headed. With our collision tools, we go to body shops to gather data. We personally visit shops in our area and do webinars with others country-wide. The ideas come in and the results are documented. Then we enter the concept stage followed by the initial design stage and prototyping. When we have a functional product we take it into the field and get reactions from techs, before we finalize it. Once we’ve completed that, we release it to manufacturing, do final testing and finally offer it to the public.” More information about the tool designs and the entire Malco Products line can be accessed at www.malcotools.com.

www.autobodynews.com | JANUARY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 15

Continued from Cover

Associations Look Back

the conclusion of the OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit that we launched during the SEMA Show,” recalls Aaron Schulenburg, Executive Director of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS). “This was a first year event that we spent the entire year working to develop content for. I love that our trade association produces events that can make our members feel inspired and empowered, and it is one of the very specific reasons that SCRS and SEMA partnered on our work together over 5 years ago. We saw opportunity for an industry that had everything to gain from good ideas being delivered in an environment that fostered creativity and business development. I never fail to be in awe of that ‘electricity’ that fills the halls and classrooms of the Show, and this particular day of focused discussion was memorable because it brought people together to focus on an issue that is important to all.” Schulenburg continues, “this session generated some remarkable responses from the attendees, as we took a good hard look at the defining responsibilities of collision repair businesses, automakers and equipment manufacturers as the room focused on a common issue relative to repairability of new technology found in the structural design of the modern vehicle. The topics from this new forum have spawned a whole new level of engagement from an industry hungry for more information. It has shone a light on areas that SCRS can help to encourage and promote relevant and much-needed industry discussion, and where we can provide insight into areas of curiosity. The work from this session has already fueled potential programs and offerings that we will launch during the year and that will inspire programs next year. What makes it memorable isn’t the event; it is watching the ideas flow in the postevent conversations and to see what was just a spark of imagination in our planning session turn into such a valuable resource that inspires so many others. For those that joined us this year, I hope it was equally as memorable for you. For those who couldn’t, I really hope you can next year!” In 2014, the National Auto Body Council (NABC) assisted in facilitating the donation of over 300 vehicles that

were restored by members of the collision repair industry and donated to families and military heroes in need of reliable transportation. “In speaking for the NABC, I’m proud to say that our organization, made up of dedicated members of our inter-industry, changed the lives of the recipients of those vehicles, forever, through the NABC’s Recycled Rides initiative,” states NABC President, Nick Notte. “ This activity was in direct support of the NABC’s vision, which states that ‘Automotive Collision Repairers are Admired Professionals.’ It absolutely supports the NABC’s mission to ‘Develop, implement and promote community-based initiatives which exemplify the professionalism and integrity of the Collision Repair Industry’.” Tony Ferraiolo, President of the Auto Body Association of Connecticut (ABAC), believes that the best thing the association did in 2014 was to “bring education style meetings to our membership, specifically by presenting topics with speakers to address industry concerns and ever-changing evolution. We strive to entice members to get away from their normal way of conducting business and experience new and different approaches to keep up with training, technology, and equipment.” For the Georgia Collision Industry Association (GCIA), “our most memorable achievement was raising money for a local technical school to help them educate the next generation of technicians,” according to GCIA Executive Director Howard Batchelor. “The average age of technicians is over 45 years, and we need a well-educated work force to work on the technically advanced vehicles of today.” John Petrarca, President of the Auto Body Association of Rhode Island (ABARI), says “in 2014, ABARI witnessed the positive effects of its hard fought legislation regarding the valuation of total losses that was passed in 2013. As the regulatory process concluded in 2014, consumers quickly began to see the benefits of the legislation, as insurers must now use the 75% repair cost/value threshold for every vehicle, or obtain the owner’s written consent to total the vehicle, thereby preventing insurers from unfairly declaring a consumer’s repairable vehicle a total loss, because it would cost less. The law also requires insurers to value total loss vehicles based upon either NADA or Kelley Blue Book when settling total loss claims. ABARI fought

16 JANUARY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

2015. Lastly, our educational seminars were well attended and received good reviews from our membership.” “At ASA-Illinois, our best accomplishment was hiring Donna Kelly as our new Executive Director,” said Dave Walter, President and Chairman of ASA-IL’s Board. “That, along with Deb Bullwinkel staying on as Co-Executive Director, was the catalyst for our 15% growth on the Mechanical side. They were also instrumental in what many would say is our most significant accomplishment, opening ASA-Illinois to Collision members after almost 20 years. They did a great job this year, and we’re looking forward to more growth in 2015.” ASA-CO Board members got the chance to meet ASA-National’s Executive Director in 2014, and according to the affiliate chapter’s Executive Director Kari Foster, “meeting with Dan has been the highlight of ASA Colorado’s year. The work we do for the Collision members on the national level and in Washington is why many local members are a part of the Automotive Service Association of Colorado—and we are so proud to be a part of the national community.”

hard at every step to prevent insurers from diluting the meaning and intent of the law at the regulatory level. We succeeded, and the law’s implementation has taken the guesswork and hassle out of the process and prevents insurers from using cost cutting programs to unfairly settle claims. The total loss legislation was an enormous win for consumers, and ABARI is very proud to be part of this victory, especially in Rhode Island where most residents are still struggling to crawl out of a very difficult economy.” For the Long Island Auto Body Repairmen’s Association (LIABRA), 2014 was filled with opportunities for growth and supporting their membership. Executive Director Ed Kizenberger recalls, “we had several memorable items worth mentioning in 2014. First is our merger with the Auto Body Craftsmen’s Guild of NYC. This merger will allow us to support and represent all of downstate New York. Our membership now spans from the East end of Long Island to the western end of Staten Island. Also, our parts procurement bill, which was one of the first of its kind in the USA, came quite close to being voted into law. We hope to see it come to its full potential in

See Associations Look Back, Page 20

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Using Industry Statistics to Your Advantage with Mike Anderson by Victoria Antonelli, Online Editor

Statistics are a great way for any business, organization, or industry to figure out what areas need growth and improvement, and why. Mike Anderson of CollisionAdvice presented statistics helpful to every corner of the collision repair industry during his SCRS seminar at SEMA 2014.

The following industry statistics, both regional and national, were taken from Anderson’s PowerPoint. The original sources are credited in each section.

Studies by The Romans Group found: ● There are 13.3 million insured auto accidents annually ● Customers pay $3.2B (10.2% of total shop $) ● Insurers paid $28.2B ● Total repair revenue is $31.4B ● Up 2.2% from $30.7B in 2013

“A lot more people coming to your shops are paying out of their pocket,” said Anderson. “There are people in the industry looking to capitalize on that.”

Trends - Higher deductibles and more customer-pay work means shops are: ■ Offering no-interest financing ■ Offering 90 days same-as-cash ■ Suggesting gap insurance (www.4ubenefits.com) ■ Using tools to show how claim may impact rates ■ Offering good-better-best options

but up 3.1% from 2011 ● The 34,430 total does not include more than 6,300 dealership body shops, nor small shops without payroll

“Since 2011, we’ve been seeing an increase in shops and the number of people working in the collision re-

“According to a focus group study by 3M Automotive, the biggest complaint customers had was a lack of options,” said Anderson. “People want to feel like they have a part in the decision making. For example, a guy comes in with his 16-year-old who just crashed her car and needs the headlight fixed. Say, ‘we can fix it for $100, and it will still be safe and effective, but won’t look as good. The best option would cost $200.’”

Collision Shop Population Stats: (US Census Bureau, U.S. BLS, and Crash Network) ● Preliminary government data indicates 2014 will be third year in a row with growth in number of shops ● Still down from 5.7% peak in 2005,

in administration than ever before.”

‘Backyard’ Competition Stats: (U.S. BLS, CollisionWeek) ■ In 2011, 83,721 individuals reported wide variation in annual wages ■ Top painters average $70,420 compared to $25,700 for lowest 10% ■ Top body techs average $66,870 compared to $22,970 for lowest 10% ■ Top estimators average $83,990 compared to $32,390 for lowest 10%

Leasing Continues to Grow (Edmunds.com) ● Upside for shops: Leased vehicles tend to get repaired ● Potential downside for shops: Rising numbers of off-lease return vehicles in the coming years can drive down used car prices, which can drive up total losses

Mike Anderson of CollisionAdvice.com informs the packed seminar of industry statistics across the country

pair industry,” said Anderson. “The biggest area of increase is the office – we now have more people working

Labor Rates vs. Overall Inflation (Crash Network) ■ When looked at nationally, labor rates have not kept up with inflation. ■ Overall U.S. inflation 2006-2013 was 15.6%. ■ The national average rates for

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body/paint, frame and mechanical rose 14% or less during that period. ■ The national average rate for paint materials went up 19.7% from 20062013

Average Labor Hours per Claim: (Mitchell International) ● 2011: Avg. repair labor hours - 8.8, avg. removal of labor hours- 6.54, avg. refinish hours- 9.19 ● 2012: 8.78 hours, 6.85 hours and 9.23 hours ● 2013: 8.74 hours, 6.94 hours, and 9.25 hours ● 2014 (1Q): 8.31 hours, 6.94 hours, 9.13 hours Uninsured Drivers (Insurance Research Council)

■ All but one state (New Hampshire) requires drivers to have insurance ■ Percentage of uninsured motorists rises or falls with unemployment (so percentage has fallen since 2009) ■ About 29.7 million drivers (12.6%) of drivers nationally lack insurance, down from 14.9% in 2003

Inflation Comparison (Collision Week) ● Over the last 12 months, price of auto insurance and body work increased above the rate of inflation ● And since 2009, body work has risen 13.11%, slightly ahead of the overall inflation rate of 12.65% during that period ● But auto insurance costs have risen considerably higher, up 24.53% since 2009

Anderson says insurance companies need “service, speed, and accuracy” from body shops, in order to be as effective as possible. “Body shops should give extraordinary service, fix the car fast with quality, which is possible with a team system, allowing for more hands on deck and be accurate - know when the car is going to be returned to the customer, and stick with that time.”

The Romans Group studies show: ■ Of the largest 68 MSOs, almost 28% are in the West, and almost 26% are in the Southeast ■ The Northeast has the lowest MSO representation (just 5.6%) ■ Of the largest 68, more than half (39) do business in only one state

The 68 MSOs with annual sales over $20 million: (The Romans Group) ● Processed 15.5% of the $31.4 billion in collision revenue (up from 14.7% the prior year) ● When combined with four largest franchise branded consolidators, they processed 19% of all collision revenue ● Had sales of about $4.9 billion in 2013 (up $400 million from 2012 ● Have annual average sales of $3.5 million per location ● The top 10 MSOs include four dealerowned and six independent MSOs

CCC information services answers the question, “Why aren’t MSOs adding DRPs as much as they did 2000-2009?” ■ As larger insurers gain market share, more claims are going through fewer DRPs ■ One major insurer replaced traditional DRP by placing adjusters in shops, reducing many shops’ DRP counts by one ■ Some insurers are allowing more shops to write and upload an initial estimate even if not part of the insurer’s formal DRP program ■ During recession, drop in claims may have allowed insurers to process higher percentage of claims through staff appraisers rather than through DRP shops ■ Some of the “regional MSOs” with higher DRP counts may have expanded across state lines, shifting them into “national MSOs” and thus leading to reduction in the average DRP count for regional MSOs

“I think DRPs have made body shops lazy,” said Anderson. “What happens is once they’re certified by the DRPs, they stop worrying about servicing the customer, building that rapport, and marking their business, and then when things don’t work right and the DRP wants possession, the body shop gets all mad. At the end of the day, we need to take responsibility.” If you’re not happy with the way your shop is performing, Anderson says, “take responsibility – it’s not ‘we’ it’s ‘I;’ what can I do differently as a shop owner to impact my community and the industry?”

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Continued from Cover

Community Christmas

munity minded,” said Margaret. “Our community has supported us 100 percent in all of our endeavors, so we try to give back as often as possible.” The shop’s finances, office management, public relations, and “you name it” are handled by Margaret. Her son, Tim, who co-owns the shop took over as president after David passed away. Margaret’s husband and daughter-in-law are also employees. The family’s seventh annual Cookies and Cocoa event, which took place on December 4, has raised $3,800 in cash donations so far, as well as 41 bikes and barrels of coats and toys. “We bought 36 of the bikes, and then our friends contributed the other five,” said Margaret. “I buy the coats from Rothschild; they give me an 85 percent discount for the event.” This year, Godfrey Women’s Club made all the cookies for Cookies and Cocoa, while in past years, Margaret and her two granddaughters, Taylor, 11, and Lily, 8 were in charge of baking. “[Godfrey Women’s Club] is a group of local women who do a lot of Continued from Page 16

Associations Look Back

For many associations, no memories from 2014 can usurp memories of some of the events they hosted. Luz Rubio, Executive Director of ASA-AZ, cites the Phoenix Chapter’s Board retreat in August as being extremely memorable since it was the first time the retreat has been held in over a decade. Rubio states, “it was a great experience. All members contributed to the development of the plan for the year and agreed to reconvene in 2015.” For John Williams, Executive Vice President of the Independent Damage Appraisers Association (IADA), his most memorable association-related experience of 2014 was “the success of our 46th Vehicle Repair Conference in Baltimore, MD. Our conference was well attended, and speakers were outstanding; it was a great educational experience!” Similarly, “for the Texas Independent Automotive Association (TIAA), the most memorable event was the 2014 Texas Tire & Automotive EXPO. It was memorable because it was the first joint

good in the community,” said Margaret. “We are friends with all the ladies, so one of the members asked if she could make the cookies this year, which saved me a lot of work.”

Margaret’s granddaughters, Taylor and Lily Freer, pose in front of the spread of cookies before the crowd comes

The traditional holiday season isn’t the only time the Freers spread Christmas cheer. For the past five summers, they have raised money for the Community Christmas in December with a Christmas in July event. “It all started when Taylor wanted to donate her piggy bank to Community Christmas,” said Margaret. “I suggested they start a lemonade or Kool-Aid stand instead.” convention/EXPO of the Texas Tire Dealers and the Texas Automotive Collision/Repair organizations, and it was very successful. This first event set the stage for a great future alliance between the two industries,” says Chuck Space, Executive Director of the TIAA. ASA-Northwest also enjoyed a successful event in 2014 with their annual Automotive Training Expo (ATE) where Executive Director Jeff Lovell recounts, “we had over 900 attendees with 600 going through our training program; the Expo was sold out, and most of the training seminars were filled to capacity. Our first ATE had only 173 attendees going through the training, so it was a very special time for ASA-Northwest to see all of our efforts, which started seven years ago, come to fruition with such a successful ATE.” Overall, 2014 was a very productive year for the collision repair industry, and hopefully, 2015 will be even better, thanks to the efforts of these and many other associations. We look forward to continuing to provide you with all of the association news in 2015 also. Happy holidays! See you in 2015!

20 JANUARY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

The idea for a lemonade stand took off, and turned into a full-blown fundraiser. The girls raised $2,500 the first year, $6,500 the third year, and a whopping $18,200 this past summer. “My granddaughters and their friends do everything – they wait on people, serve food, sell the raffles, etc., while we make 100 lbs of Sloppy Joe’s.” The yearly prize for the raffle winner is a trip to Disneyland. Margaret and the rest of the family at Freer Auto Body ask 50 of their friends to sell 20 raffle tickets for $10 a piece in order to reach $10,000. Over the years, Freer Auto Body has raised over $36,000 in cash donations, toys and clothes for Community Christmas, which is one of the many reasons the Godfrey Women’s Club awarded the shop a Golden Leaf in 2011. “We are the most respected body shop in the community,” Margaret said. Please call United Way’s Southwest Illinois Division at 618-258-9800 or visit HelpingPeople.org for more information.

Continued from Cover

Brighten the Holidays

hand with CitySquare this holiday season,” said CeeCee Evans Main Auto Body’s General Manager. “This collaboration makes perfect sense. Our location has been in the heart of Downtown Dallas for many years and this gives us an opportunity to help support our surrounding communities and the Dallas area as a hold.” The objectives of the toy drive are to help children in need experience the joy of Christmas, to nurture the development of children, to unite members of local communities in a common cause and to contribute to the future betterment of communities. The toy drive will run December 12 through December 23 at 4pm. They toys will be given out on December 24, by CitySquare to deserving kids and their families.

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Media and Publicity for Shops Your To-Do Marketing List for 2015 with Ed Attanasio

When body shop owners ask me how can we get started on marketing for our shop, I tell them to start off with baby steps and gradually build your efforts over time. Marketing for any business is like chopping down a huge tree and the average small company does not have the means or money to knock it down with one full swoop. Imagine that marketing is like a big old Redwood tree and you’re sitting there with a little pen knife, but if you keep hacking away at it, eventually you’ll see results. So, I came up with this list of five deliverables—things you can start doing tomorrow. Why just five? Because it’s better to do five things right, as opposed to 500 poorly. After you’ve successfully achieved these five things, come up with five more, but don’t try to do everything—advertising, public relations, online marketing, social media, etc.—all at once, because then you’re setting yourself up for failure. Make a list and work through it and delegate if you can and then re-group after say six months and assess what has worked and what hasn’t.

1) Get Closer to Your DRPS Strengthen the insurer relationships that you currently have while always looking for more, because you may be doing well currently, but what if a new shop (or an MSO) moves into your region and cuts into your workload? We’re all aware that this is the age of consolidation, so it’s more than likely that new players may enter your market at any time. If one or more of your DRPs is shaky for whatever reason, either shed them or figure out ways to re-energize them. Keep continually engaged with your insurance agents, through e-mail marketing, networking events, blogs, occasional drop-in visits and social media. Facebook and Instagram might not be appropriate for your DRPs, but LinkedIn is a perfect vehicle to keep your insurance partners in the loop. Have constant and open communication with insurers, and offer insurer services at your shop, such as hosting continuing education courses, for example. Some body shops have special sections on their web sites dedicated to their insurance partners. Many of these require passwords and some

shops ask their insurance agents to register before then can access these exclusive sections. On these pages, shops can offer valuable information for insurance agents and even maybe entertain them a little too. In some of these exclusive sections, insurance agents can keep abreast of their company’s cars in your shop and message the shop’s personnel, if needed.

2) Get Closer to Your Community Improve your shop’s image in the community by host local events like a summer barbecue, or sponsor organizations that are important to the people in your region. Don’t’ be another faceless company and start reaching out to the community and supporting charitable organizations if you can. Be sure to identify local charities that community members have a connection with and reach out to them. Giving refurbished vehicles to people in need is a big way to achieve this, because the local media loves these types of stories and you’re playing a positive role in your own backyard, which is huge. Too many shop owners are like groundhogs—they stick their heads out of their shop only occasionally and people in their community don’t get a chance to meet them or know them. A body shop’s image should be the same as a bank’s or a hospital’s—leverage the good things you do in the community and make yourself visible at events and other occasions. Check into your local chamber of commerce and start attending their business mixers, because if more people see you, it can only enhance your position in your region. If you’re out there and your competitors are not, there’s a distinct advantage there for obvious reasons. You want people to think about you when they get in an accident and one of the best ways to achieve this is by being seen and building a reputation for being a business that just isn’t into making a buck. 3) Get More Social Utilize social media more this year. Use Facebook, Twitter, Google + or Foursquare to get your message out there especially to the younger generation of customers. Research the newest forms of social media, but just don’t

22 JANUARY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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

many new bells and whistles available for even a very simple site, you can quickly keep up with the shop down the street and stand out online. We all know that the Yellow Pages are on the endangered list and more and more people are going to their laptops, smart phones, iPads and other devices to find businesses, including body shops. If a potential customer sees a dated web site with old-looking graphics and clunky navigation, they’re going to keep looking. It’s all about “image perceived, mission achieved” and making a good first impression. Having a shabby web site is like having an ugly waiting room or dirty bathrooms. So, if your site is outdated, make a point to get a new one in 2015.

jump in without determining if it’s right for you. There are a lot of shops out there trying to use certain types of social media that aren’t ideal for them. If you start a Google + account and then never post anything, that looks bad. Find 4-6 forms of social media and post items on them (pictures and videos are best) and stay with them for the duration. Post on a regular basis and don’t deviate, because hammering away at social media is the most effective way to do it. If a customer can see that you haven’t posted anything on Facebook in quite some time, for example, it can actually hurt your image more than you think.

4) Update Your Web Site I’m shocked whenever I see a big, very successful body shop with a web site that is obviously 5-7 years old. With all of the great new platforms and development tools out there, remodeling your web site can likely be much easier this time around. With so

5) Get a Blog! A decade ago, people didn’t take blogs seriously. They thought a blog was for amateur poets or quilting clubs, but those See Your To-Do Marketing List, Page 34

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www.autobodynews.com | JANUARY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 25

On Creative Marketing

Tom Franklin has been a sales and marketing consultant for fifty years. He has written numerous books and provides marketing solutions and services for many businesses. He can be reached at (323) 871-6862 or at tbfranklin@aol.com. See Tom’s columns at www.autobodynews.com under Columnists > Franklin

Commercial Customers—A Reliable Business Source with Thomas Franklin

Although there are still many more independent shops than franchise and multiple operator shops, many of the best DRPs and dealership deals often go to the well-funded group shops. This trend may increase, as vehicle manufacturers require expensive equipment, tooling and certification to work on their vehicles. To carve out a successful niche for an independent shop, in the past I’ve suggested a variety of options. One that I think gets too little attention is the commercial vehicle market. In the past I’ve assisted three different shops that at least partly specialized in commercial vehicles. One focused on government and police vehicles. Another put in an oversize frame machine and an expanded spray booth to accommodate slightly larger delivery trucks, and a third shop, a GM dealership shop, focused on companies with Chevrolet and GM business vehicles. All three enjoyed above average profits on their commercial business. When I inquired about the pros and cons of this business, I learned that many small businesses prefer not to place minor damage claims with their insurance companies. They’d rather self-pay the repairs. Also since small dents and dings were a regular occurrence with some companies, the shop would provide a monthly billing statement and enjoy a steady stream of income. The shop owner who provided much of its commercial business to the local police department, quickly learned that he would get more of that

business if he also provided minor engine maintenance, lubrication and brakes and times. One single dedicated bay sufficed for that business, which also turned out to be quite profitable. This added service also got him into other commercial accounts. Plunging into the world of commercial accounts requires a very different method of marketing from normal insured and dealership vehicle promotions. Marketing to this world is more similar to that of many other services. Since most areas have a multitude of small and medium business with anywhere from a couple of vehicles to an entire fleet (one pest control company had over 200 vehicles), building a database of prospects can be a first step. For example, lists of appliance repair companies, air conditioning and heating companies, plumbers, electricians, and handyman and painting service companies can be purchased from a list company or built from on-line listings. The following four steps might be one way to develop opportunities to meet with prospective commercial account principals. It assumes you have a competent phone solicitation person who can modify the script to fit the conversation as he or she goes along. 1. Exploratory phone call: Could I please speak to your (delivery) vehicle maintenance manager. (If not in) Can I leave a message? What is his/her name, please? May I also send a note? What is the exact spelling of his/her name? Do I have the correct address? (If none, get mailing address. (If provided by outside

Nissan Settles Class-Action Suit Claiming Faulty Brakes

Nissan North America has agreed to reimburse customers between $20 and $800 each to resolve a lawsuit alleging that defects in certain vehicles caused brakes to fail suddenly, according to court papers. The settlement agreement, filed on Dec. 5, would affect current or former owners of approximately 350,000 vehicles nationwide. They include 2004-08 Nissan Armadas, Infiniti QX56s or certain Nissan Titans, according to the court papers filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. If approved by U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton, the settle-

ment would resolve a 2011 lawsuit that claimed a problem with an electrical component would cause the brakes to fail without warning. Plaintiffs had sought reimbursement for monetary losses, including expenses incurred for replacement or repairs. It does not include claims for physical injuries.Under the agreement, Nissan would reimburse class members between $20 and $800, depending on a vehicle’s mileage. The court awarded $3.45M in legal fees and expenses for the plaintiffs’ lawyers. A Nissan spokesman declined to comment.

26 JANUARY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

source, ask for company that provides delivery vehicles) 2. To vehicle manager: Hello. I noticed that your company has company-owned vehicles. Do you do your own maintenance? (If so) Do you also repair damage to vehicle if they get in an accident or pick up minor dents or dings? (Usually they say NO) We would like to do some minor repair on one of your vehicles to show you the quality and speed of our work. (If large vehicles, indicate if we have an oversize frame machine and expanded spray booth to accommodate oversize vehicles). (If not doing their own maintenance) I assume, then, that you’re using an outside company to do your maintenance? (Usually YES) How many vehicles do you have? Would you consider an alternate outside service, if just for emergencies, when you need very fast service – or just to try an al-

ternate source? (IF not at this time) May I send you some information about our company? 3. Follow up the call by sending a letter and some literature. After a while, when you’re sure your letter has arrived, call again to see if he or she got it. Check again for an opportunity to perform some minor service to demonstrate what our shop can do – or to meet with the appropriate person. 4. Continue to send an update every month. Call again in a couple of months. Continue until they begin to respond positively and are willing to come in for at least a minor repair. Eventually this will work with many of them. Soliciting commercial business is very different from the usual collision repair marketing. Speed of repair is of the greatest importance. The company wants to get a disabled vehicle back on the road as soon as possible. If you can prove your shop can be the fastest, you’re likely to get the business.

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www.autobodynews.com | JANUARY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 27

Industry Looks to Plant DNA to Solve Scrap Metal Theft Retribution for Scrap Metal Thieves Arrives from Overseas by Victoria Antonelli, Online Editor

The thievery of aluminum, copper, and other scrap metals continues to haunt all corners of the international auto industry, despite a steady decline in prices since its peak in 2008 (nearly $500 a ton). Michael Cavanaugh, owner of J&D Auto Salvage in West Warwick, RI, is all too familiar with scrap metal burglary. “We used to have a list on a pad, and we could pick and choose which cars we were going to get, and which ones we’d send to the town over. Our truck would always come back with three to four cars a day. It never came back empty,” said Cavanaugh. “Now, for the past year, year-and-a-half, we’re lucky if we get three to four cars a week. It’s slim pickins’ now that everything has been scrapped.” Cavanaugh blames unlicensed scrap metal yards for his decline in business. He said that he and his wife have contacted the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation about the issue.

“I have emails going back to 2009,” said Cavanaugh. “The position that deals with these types of issues was left unfilled for 10 months, so the department said they would keep my complaints in a folder until they hired someone, but even when they did, I never heard back.”

Photo courtesy of Mitchell Miller, Director of Communications at Applied DNA Sciences in Stony Brook, NY

“I understand [Cavanaugh’s] frustration that there are unlicensed people out there. That’s why, give us more tips,” said Maria D’Alessandro —the Deputy Director of Securities, Commercial Licensing, and Racing and Athletics at the Rhode Island DBR— in an article written by wpri.com re-

porter–– Tim White. “We are acting on these tips.” Autobody News contacted the DBR for comment, but never heard back. Cavanaugh has noticed a change outside his auto salvage yard as well. “When you used to drive through a neighborhood, there would be junk cars in everyone’s yard,” he said. “Now there’s not a car to be found—your car breaks down on the side of the highway, after no more than a day somebody comes and grabs it for scrap.” Body shops have also felt the pain of scrap metal theft. Travis Dowling of Great Plains Auto Body in Nebraska said their shop on Emmet Street has been robbed three times. “The burglars sliced through cables, torched the key hole on one side of the building, and then cut the pad locks on the containers where the scrap metal is kept,” said Dowling. “Luckily, they stole the older scraps—aluminum hoods, containers and condensers—and not the newer ones that are worth more.” After the third break-in, Dowling contacted authorities, and the property

now has constant police surveillance after hours and on weekends. “It’s time-consuming and costly to have to replace the locks, chains, and make 12 new keys for the employees,” he added. Also in Nebraska, a man was arrested for stealing wheel rims from Ron’s Body Shop and scrap metal from Precise Fabrication and T.O. Haas Tired Company back in 2012. Rhory M. Ivy became a suspect after police found a receipt from Beatrice Scrap Processing Co. stating that he brought in 2,800 lbs of scrap metal, which is worth about $554, according to reports by the Beatrice Daily Sun. Authorities were then able to trace the scrap metal back to the three locations. At a body shop in Elizabeth, N.J., five male burglars tied up patrons and employees before pursuing catalytic converters and cash in April 2014. No injuries were reported, according to ABC Eyewitness News, New York. Unassuming vehicle owners have also experienced the aftershock of these crimes. Five catalytic converters

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were cut off of vehicles parked in Silver Lake, Los Angeles during a span of one week in June 2014, according to an article by eastsiderla.com. Police stated that on average, there is about one catalytic converter theft per week. A Silver Lake resident reported that his Honda Element sounded like a “jet engine” when he turned it on in the morning after parking in the street. Sure enough, the catalytic converter had been severed off. “Cat-Clamps” have become a popular solution, since most car alarms do not react to this type of intrusion because windows or doors are not being accessed. Another alternative to stopping scrap metal theft has “taken off” in the UK and other parts of Europe, and is making its way to America’s shores. Applied DNA Sciences, a biotech company in Stony Brook, NY, has found a way to synthesize plant DNA into, well, anything, and then track the object from there. “There are so many applications, it’s almost a problem,” said Tony Benson, managing director of ADNAS, who is based in London, England. “You dream it and it’s there, I don’t think we’ve found anything we can’t

apply it to, it’s that flexible.” The product, called SigNature DNA, has a complex characteristic, which allows for the endless possibilities. “The fluorophore within the product or liquid glows bright red under UV light, but cannot be seen at all under normal conditions,” said Benson. “Law enforcement is aware of

An example of the SigNature DNA in visible light vs. UV light. Photo courtesy of Mitchell Miller, Director of Communications at Applied DNA Sciences in Stony Brook, NY

this, so when they scan an item with a UV light and it turns red, they know it is one of our products and from there we can track where it came from and who stole it.” The product was initially developed to combat the rising number of armored car attacks in England. In 2006, there were 1,006 attacks on ar-

mored cars driving to and from banks with cash. The first deterrent—an ink spray that was released when the robber opened a cash box—didn’t stop them, according to Benson. “They would just wash the ink off the cash,” he said. “But once the plant DNA was synthesized into the cash boxes in 2008, attacks dropped by 75 percent—close to 100 criminals have been put away with a combined sentence of 500 years, thanks to DNA technology.” Today, car dealerships, body shops, insurers, vehicle manufactures, boat owners, electrical and railroad companies, and even homeowners in Europe use DNA technology to target scrap metal theft. “A car dealer can use the kit we sell on the interior of their car, like in the leather seats for example, or on the underbody,” added Benson. And the improvement is monumental. “We have seen an 85 percent reduction in crime in areas where we’ve applied the DNA to copper and other scrap metals,” said Benson. Benson feels that getting the word out about this product will help prevent crime from happening in the

first place, which is the ultimate goal. “Criminals understand DNA, they all watch CSI, and they know they’d be in trouble if they got caught with that, so it’s a fantastic deterrence.” Another popular product created by Applied DNA Sciences is SmokeCloak® DNA. “As soon as someone enters a building after hours, the fog triggers, and fills the whole place,” said Benson. “You can’t see your hand in front of you. It’s like you’re at a pop concert.” “I’ve experienced it—and you literally don’t know where you are—it’s like you’re in a plane upside down,” added Mitchell Miller, director of communications at ADNAS. The fog is filled with: you guessed it, DNA molecules that stick to the trespassers’ clothes, hair, and skin, and can fill warehouses that are 200,000 sq. ft. or bigger. “Europeans understand it and get what it does, and it’s starting to get traction in the US,” added Benson. “In fact, it could be bigger in the US—the main thing is, it works—people love it, insurers love it, car dealerships love it.” Original BMW Parts

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www.autobodynews.com | JANUARY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 29

Lean Operations

David Luehr is the owner of Elite Body Shop Solutions, LLC, a collision business consulting firm based in Nashville, Tennessee. He is a 30 year veteran of the collision repair industry. David is an expert in Body Shop Operations and specializes in Lean, and Theory of Constraints methods. Email him at dluehr@msn.com

Successful Change Using Modern Leadership with David Luehr

I have presented and written several articles recently where I have expressed my views on the new age of leadership. I have been openly critical about the outdated, Industrial Age leadership methods being used by leaders in many collision repair businesses. The reason I am so passionate about this subject is because it is at the very core of our continued success as a collision industry. The business leaders that first embrace modern leadership concepts will dominate the industry! Shop leaders continue to struggle implementing new systems for producing repair jobs faster and better. Lean systems are beginning to get a bad name. Technicians think that each new attempt at process change is just another “flavor of the month” and rarely if ever do they embrace the change initiatives. Why? I will give you my scaled down version of “why” containing two eye opening thoughts.

■ Why are you in business? ■ Why should the staff care? ■ Why are you in business?

This seemingly simple question completely stumps a vast majority of my clients. Why do you do what you do? Is the reason you get out of bed every day just to keep the bills paid or is there a grander more noble purpose to why you are managing or owning a collision repair business? The sad fact is that many of my clients forgot why they started their business to begin with. The harsh realities of daily business has changed the original why from what was once a why of great joy and passion to what is now mere survival. Have we forgotten how to dream? I have nothing against consolidators, but in many cases, MSO consolidation feeds on the lost dreams of independent owners. Can you see the connection? I can see it, because I have lived it, and seen it firsthand. What does this have to do with influence and getting people to do what you want? How does this affect your attempts at lasting change? It has everything to do with it! Values and vision are at the very foundation of every great organization. If you

don’t know the “WHY” how are you going to have a guiding vision in the first place? First you must deeply think about your why. Think about the dreams you had when you first opened your body shop or when you first became the manager of a shop. Find that passionate person inside of you and bring him back! What does your business model look and feel like in your dreams? In your dreams, is your shop the one everyone wants to come to work at? Are DRPs lining up at your door because your reputation is so amazing? Are your customers raving fans because you and your employees treat them with a level of excellence rarely seen in the industry? Are you and your staff enjoying your time at work? Thoughts like those I have mentioned are a distant dream for many, but it is also a pleasant reality for business owners that are willing to continue fighting when slapped in the face by reality, doubt, and fear! Once you have figured out and written down your why, it is time to shout it out to the world! It becomes the fabric of your business, the culture, and then you can begin to share the vision of the why with your employees. Only after you understand this can the next step be addressed.

Why Should the Staff Care? Industrial aged thinking views employee satisfaction and motivation primarily as a product of the almighty dollar. In Daniel Pink’s book, DRIVE, he states “The best use of money as a motivator is to pay people enough to take the issue of money off the table.” Daniel then goes on to say, “But once we’ve cleared the table, carrots and sticks can achieve precisely the opposite of their intended aims.” So to paraphrase Pink’s thoughts, paying people what they are worth is critical to fulfill their basic needs of living, but beyond that, throwing money at problems in an attempt to solve them usually doesn’t work. I believe that many of us still use this technique mainly because we don’t understand modern leadership skills. In my recent article “The Wrong Bonus Plan Can be Worse than None

30 JANUARY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

wisely spent just listening to your staff with your ego removed is huge to the development of a healthy change culture. Every shop has employees that mouth off and complain a lot, it is your job to find out what lies beneath the griping. Communication skills are paramount to all other leadership skills in my opinion and simply by being a better listener and making it safe for people to open up to you will make a huge difference over time.

at All” (see Auto Body News August 2014) I go into depth on why this is so. “There will never be an incentive program that can make up for the lack of proper management and leadership!”

3 fundamental leadership steps I believe there are 3 fundamental leadership steps to getting your people to follow you and your change initiatives. Obviously there is a lot more to leadership and influence skills than what I am giving you today, but if you can get these 3 right, you are well on your way!

2. Tie intrinsic values to key behaviors If you want to get your staff on board with your change initiatives, you must learn to tie your employees intrinsic values to key behaviors that will make your vision come to life! In other words, you have to know your people, what they value and think is important. Intrinsic value is another word for “what are you passionate about?”

1. Learn how to communicate with people In order to get people to openly communicate with you, you need to learn how to talk to people correctly. Modern leadership involves creating a safe environment for people to speak freely with each other and leaders. Time

See Successful Change, Page 34

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Continued from Cover

Four News Stories

no aluminum repair capabilities, that investment likely topped $50,000. Will that investment begin to pay off in 2015 for those shops and the 1,400 more independent shops Ford hopes to get certified this year? Just as Ford is rolling the dice to some degree in making such a significant change to its best-selling vehicle, shops too should probably be thinking long-term

about the investment needed to ramp up for aluminum repairs. One study predicts that even by the end of 2015, there may be only nine aluminum F150s a month needing repairs in most major markets. But other automakers are expected in 2015 to announce new aluminum vehicles coming. So while shops equipped to do aluminum work may see only a trickle of such work this year, they’re getting ready for what is likely more to come.

2. “(Shops are left in) the untenable position of either performing incomplete or substandard repairs and thus breaching their obligations to automotive owners to return vehicles to pre-accident condition, or performing labor and expending materials without proper compensation.” That’s the description used in almost 20 lawsuits filed by shops in 17 states in 2014, accusing insurance companies of conspiring to manipulate labor rates and other shop charges to reduce

Also Heard Around the Industry in 2014

“If they want to return a part, you need to tell them, ‘You bought this through PartsTrader; you need to return it through the system,’ so you get credit for the return. If they don’t want to return it through the system, then I hate to say it, but they are probably up to no good.” – PartsTrader’s Ken Weiss telling non-OEM parts distributors at a conference why the system will help vendors “avoid some of the games and will help bring down (parts) returns.” “We have most of the U.S. large cities or popu-

lation areas covered. We’re not targeting to be in all 50 states. We’ve got the vast majority of Americans covered for what we need to do from an insurance perspective.” – CARSTAR CEO David Byers on the company’s plans to work for growth in key markets (it now has about 440 franchises in 32 states) rather than specific states.

“We’re giving you guys a lot of instructions. Yet I could walk into three-quarters of shops in the country and they’re not doing it right.”

costs. The suits allege that State Farm is at the heart of an effort by the insurers to suppress labor rates, to coerce shops into accepting less than actual or market costs for materials, to refuse to pay for a list of required procedures, and to punish non-compliant shops through steering. The suits allege these actions constitute tortuous interference, unjust enrichment and violation of Sherman Act price-fixing and boycotting prohibitions. They seek un-

– Rick Leos of Toyota, expressing frustration with what he sees as the industry’s failure to use the OEM collision repair procedures that do exist. “The shop didn’t sell a rental coverage policy, and they didn’t profit from the sale of that policy.” – Aaron Schulenburg, executive director of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists, on why it’s unfair for an insurer to expect a shop to pay the cost of a rental vehicle if cycle time for a job exceeds an unrealistic formula adopted by the insurer.

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specified damages for lost revenue and damages suffered by the shops, and treble damages and attorneys’ fees for the Sherman Act violations. They also seek an injunction prohibiting the insurers from “directing, advising or otherwise suggesting that any person or firm do business or refuse to do business” with any of the named shops; from using boycott, coercion or flat rate manuals to establish or control repair shop pricing; and from requiring the shops to participate in any parts procurement program. As 2014 came to an end, most of the lawsuits were being consolidated into one U.S. District Kris Mayer Court in Florida, a court whose first decision on them in 2015 could be whether to dismiss them or allow them to continue. If they are not dismissed, the judicial process could easily extend not only through 2015 but on into 2016.

3. “There’s probably some disruption and some unintended consequences in this process.”

Within 24 hours of surprising almost everybody by announcing in November that General Motors was discontinuing the publication of traditional list prices for crash parts, GM’s Kris Mayer had clearly heard a lot about those disruptions and unintended consequences. In less than a week, GM backed off a December 1 launch of the change, pushing it back into sometime in early 2015. As described by GM, the new system means that parts prices will no longer be available within the estimating systems. Instead, shops will need to upload all estimates requiring prices for GM parts to MyPriceLink, which will then return the estimate back with current, competitive prices. Mayer said the prices returned by the system will be dynamic, based on “the market or a particular price and its competition.” Mayer said GM does not intend to “change margin structure for the people who are involved.” What happens in 2015 may depend a little on what the real reason was for GM delaying the launch. Publicly, GM said that “workflow pressures on outside parties have brought to light enhanced solutions and the in-

creased desire for integration opportunities,” necessitating the delay. In a memo to its dealers, GM said it had “uncovered a system issue that could negatively impact the performance of MyPriceLink across a number of industry work streams.” Some sources have said a major technology partner working with GM on the system pulled out based on push-back it received from shops and insurers. Jason Bartanen In any case, whatever GM decides about launch of the system, it definitely will be among the major news stories in 2015.

4. “We really want to put this information into technician’s hands.” I-CAR’s Jason Bartanen said the goal of I-CAR’s “Repairability Technical

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Support Portal,” launched back in August, is to get OEM repair procedures and vehicle information as close to technicians as the nearest computer, tablet or smartphone screen. The portal (http://rts.i-car.com) is a hybrid of both a guide to what procedures each automaker makes available (on their own websites) and increasingly a source for the actual procedures themselves. In late 2014, for example, the portal posted 51 collision repair instruction sheets from Ford for the new F-150. I-CAR promises to offer similar access to even more OEM information in 2015. The portal also enables a technician to submit an inquiry about OEM information he or she can’t locate, and the responses to those inquiries will be posted to the portal as well. That may make it an increasingly valuable resource in 2015 – and beyond.

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Continued from Page 30

Successful Change

Once you get to know your people at a deeper level, you can have conversations with them about why such and such change initiative is important not only to the company, but also to them. To illustrate this, imagine speaking to your body tech about the importance of thorough disassembly and why it is critical to the success of blueprinting. This body tech is often negatively vocal about the quality of the estimates that are being produced at your shop, and commonly complains about all the delays it causes for him. This problem does create a financial impact for him, but what really ticks him off is that every time he gets started on a vehicle, he runs into a supplement or parts issue, and has to stop again. Too many leaders would write him off as a chronic complainer and not act further on the matter. He values smooth continuous production and it is your job as a modern day leader to connect the dots for him as to specifically why the thorough disassembly will help eliminate his pain. You have then connected his

intrinsic values (smooth continuous production) to key behaviors (thorough disassembly.)

3. Share the vision If you closely follow steps one and two and act with integrity while doing so, you will have built a foundation of trust and respect. This foundation may take months or maybe years to create, but it is this foundation that allows you to successfully share your why with your team. Your why, when connected to the intrinsic values of your people becomes a powerful culture. The vision of your why becomes the vision that your entire organization “lives.” You must paint this vision every day, so don’t be afraid to yell it from the roof tops, talk about your vision in your morning meetings, live it! Just don’t make the mistake of acting contrary to your vision. If your vision is to produce the highest quality collision repair work in your city, you better not turn a blind eye to even one poor quality repair job. Every time you turn a blind eye on your why or your vision, you quickly lose respect, and your integrity suffers. Having created a culture where everyone understands the vision,

Conviction of Saturn Ion Driver Thrown Out After 10 Years

As of Nov. 21, the GM compensation fund had approved 35 death claims, each of which carries a minimum payout of $1 million, and 44 injury claims. A Texas judge has overturned a 7-year-old negligent homicide conviction against a woman whose boyfriend died when her Saturn Ion—now known to have had a defective ignition switch— crashed, her lawyer said. Candice Anderson was cleared 10 years and nine days after the crash that killed 25-year-old Gene Mikale Erickson, who was in the passenger seat when the Ion drove off a rural county road and crashed into a tree. Anderson, who police determined to be intoxicated by illegal drugs, pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and was sentenced to five years of probation. After General Motors recalled 2.6 million Ions, Chevrolet Cobalts and other small cars for the ignition-switch problem in February and March, the prosecutors who charged Anderson and the state trooper who investigated the crash conceded that the new evidence means she likely was not to blame. Van Zandt County District Judge Teresa Drum, who originally sen-

tenced Anderson, agreed to throw out the conviction. “She lives in a small town, and her community thought she murdered someone that was held in high regard,” Anderson’s lawyer, Bob Hilliard, told Automotive News. “She was called a murderer to her face.” In addition to spending a decade thinking that she had killed her boyfriend, Anderson, who was 21 at the time of the crash, abandoned her ambitions of becoming a nurse because the felony conviction hindered her ability to apply for school and jobs, Hilliard said. “It’s overwhelming; it’s a range of emotions,” Anderson told The New York Times after the ruling. “I’m elated.”

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change initiatives such as those used in lean methods become much easier to pull off. If for example you want to implement a new Blueprint program, you gather your people, you explain why Blueprinting is important to the company’s vision. You connect the behaviors necessary for successful Blueprinting (such as thorough disassembly) to their intrinsic values (smooth continuous production, or whatever) and then you ask for their input on the best way to implement Blueprinting at your shop. (Buy-in)

Summary Clearly there is much more to becoming an Influence Master than what is written in this article, but as I have stated, if you can just master the techniques I have described in this article you will seriously be miles ahead of the vast majority of shops in this country. Go get ‘em!

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Continued from Page 22

Your To-Do Marketing List

days are long gone. Blogs are an ideal way to enhance your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) because Google indexes blog articles and will move your company’s name up the rankings by using a blog. It’s inexpensive to create a blog (using Word Press, for example) and linking it to your web site. There’s a lot going on at any busy shop, so ideas for articles are plentiful. Once you start looking around for blog article leads, you’ll see that there is a wealth of great things for you to write about. Did your shop recently win an award? Are you gearing up to work on aluminum vehicles? In what ways are you a green shop? A blog will keep people coming back to your web site, because blogs provide new, relevant information and by posting at least 2-4 times every month, there is always something fresh and new for your customers to read. Ed Attanasio 2005 Vallejo Street San Francisco, CA 94123 415.994.5335

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Historical Snapshot

—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.

CIC Says ‘No’ to ASA, Sheila Loftus Predicts, Multi Association Task Force, Labor Rates with John Yoswick

20 years ago in the collision repair industry (January 1995) Participants at the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) in San Diego in January voted to reject the Automotive Service Association’s offer to fund and administer future CIC meetings. While shop owners, suppliers and insurers at the meeting praised ASA’s offer, many also said they felt ASA’s resources could be put to better use. “I would like to commend the leadership of ASA for being willing to look at benevolent programs on the part of the industry,” Mitchell’s Ted Hill said. “But CIC has gotten where it has with its present (funding) method. If we change it, would we be cheating ourselves from some other opportunity that ASA’s funds could go toward to benefit the industry?” ASA’s offer was presented to CIC by Bob Anderson, an Ohio shop owner and director of the ASA’s Collision Division. The proposal stated that ASA would use profits from the National Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) to fund its administration of CIC, eliminating the need for CIC participants to pay a per-meeting fee or annual sponsorship fee. “It would be an open-door policy for anyone who would like to attend,” Anderson said. “Many times, ASA has been criticized by those saying, ‘NACE makes some money; why don’t you do something for the industry?’ That is our intent here today. This is not an attempt by ASA to take control of CIC. We are not asking for any special considerations from this group by making this proposal. Our motives are sincere. It is merely to provide financial assistance to the industry.” CIC participants voiced several concerns with ASA’s proposal, including the possible perception of CIC if administered by ASA. “I honestly would be surprised if at any point in time this group decided to have any other group administrate it,” Jeff Hendler, a past CIC chairman and current administrator of CIC, said. “I don’t think Mitchell would like it if ADP or CCC made this proposal. I don’t think Ford would like it, if General Motors made this proposal. I don’t think ASA would like it if the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Asso-

ciation made the proposal. I think it’s – From an editorial in Hammer & ministration to direct repair shops. the most benevolent gesture I’ve heard Dolly by Sheila Loftus. Progressive in a long, long time. I’d just like to see has not owned body shops, but within 10 years ago in the collision repair the money funneled somewhere else.” two years of Loftus’ column, the insurer industry (January 2005) Anderson said ASA would be began piloting its “Concierge” service The three national collision repair assoopen to consider CIC proposciations have formed a “groundbreakals for use of ASA resources ing” joint taskforce as an off-shoot of and NACE profits. the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) to work on “macro issues related to the – As reported in Autobody way the [estimating] database compaNews. Now in its 31st year, CIC continues to be adminisnies operate.” tered by Hendler’s company. Although the Association of AutoASA’s profits from NACE motive Service Professionals (AASP), have presumably declined sigthe Automotive Service Association nificantly since its offer to CIC (ASA), and the Society of Collision Rein 1995. That year, NACE had pair Specialists (SCRS) pushed for for620 exhibiting companies and Bob Anderson presented the Automotive Service mation of the task force, the three 31,000 attendees; last year, Association’s 1995 offer to fund and administer the groups said it will be open to particiNACE had 6,500 attendees quarterly Collision Industry Conference (CIC) meetings, pants from other segments of the inan offer CIC declined and 180 exhibiting companies. dustry, including insurers. In announcing the proposal, SCRS centers. Allstate bought Sterling Collichairman Lou DiLisio said the tasksion Centers in 2001 and grew the chain 15 years ago in the collision repair until it sold it off last year. Virtually all force will not address concerns about a industry (January 2000) Now that we’ve seen one millennium auto insurers, however, have shifted specific labor time. Rather, the taskcome to a close, I’d like to have a crysforce will look at issues such as how significant portions of their claims adtal ball and be able to foresee what will happen in the next millennium. I’d even settle for being able to see about to the next 10 years. Or 50. Or 10. I’m afraid, though, that I, like most non-visionaries, will just have to see how things go. Even so, I’ll venture my own New Year’s list of predictions. Situation: The Baby Boomers are • Exceptional Customer Service aging. The collision repair industry is al• Prompt & Dependable Delivery ready struggling to replace the Boomers • Dedicated Wholesale Staff in the workplace, and the search for good help will only get more difficult in this millennium. I’d like to see our industry actively embrace works we haven’t pursued in the past: women, minorities, non-English speakers. Prediction: By 2005, women will represent 10 percent of business ownLargest ers in the collision repair industry, and Inventory the majority of workers in the industry in Central will be first- and second-generation Florida Americans. Situation: One collision repairer I know said he’d be happy to concentrate all his business on one insurer. So Saturday 8 - 1 in the future, will collision repair shops be appropriated by insurance company claims departments? Prediction: In 2008, you’ll see Fax: Parts Phone: the opening of Progressive Body Shop. And in 2009, you’ll se the closing of Progressive Body Shop.

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large-scale changes are made to the estimating databases and introduced into the industry. The creation of the taskforce comes in the wake of the ADP October (2004) situation in which paint labor times for about 150 vehicles were reduced. Such time reductions, whether made in error or not, are typically found by users only through trial and error, DiLisio said. The new taskforce may work toward a disclosure system for such changes. “The ADP issue caused problems across the industry for insurers, repairers and consumers,” DiLisio said. “To try to stop that from happening again, we’d like to sit down with the information providers and figure out a better way to make sure there’s full disclosure of any changes that come forward.” – As reported in Autobody News. The taskforce was active for about five years, during which time it successfully pushed the estimating system providers to add more information to the systems about such things as what types of metals are used in various parts of particular vehicles. It was less successful in pressing for such changes as automation of operations such as “feather, prime and block.” “We’re disappointed

in the lack of progress with some of the issues we’ve brought to the table,” DiLisio said in April of 2010.

5 years ago in the collision repair industry (January 2010) The Rhode Island Supreme Court will hear arguments on February 9 in the legal battle over a 2006 state law mandating that every insurer (with more than 1 percent market share) in Rhode Island conduct a labor rate survey. A state agency had said that under the law such surveys can be just one of a number of factors an insurer uses to determine a prevailing rate. But the Auto Body Association of Rhode Island sued the agency, and a lower court ruled in 2008 that the survey results must be “the sole determinant of the prevailing auto body labor rate.” The agency appealed that decision to the state’s Supreme Court. – As reported in CRASH Network (www.CrashNetwork.com), January 4, 2010. The Rhode Island Supreme Court later that year overturned the lower court’s ruling, saying that while the labor rate surveys must be conducted, they don’t have to be the sole determinant used by insurers in the state to determine a prevailing labor rate in a market.

LKQ Renews $25,000 Contribution to CREF

LKQ Corporation, based in Poway, CA, renewed its $25,000 contribution to the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) to help with collision school tool/equipment and student scholarships. CREF Executive Director Clark Plucinski noted, “Now more than ever do collision school programs need the industry’s support in order to graduate qualified and properly trained students. LKQ’s renewed contribution allows CREF to work with the collision school programs on ensuring this takes place. Through parts donations, monetary donations, and having representation on our Board of Trustees, LKQ’s has displayed their strong commitment to assisting the future professionals of the collision industry. On behalf of the schools, students, and instructors that will benefit from this support, we thank LKQ for their continued support.” “A shortage of technicians, along with a shortage of funding for the technical schools, continues to be a major challenge for our industry. LKQ is proud to support CREF and is delighted to give back to the technical schools and students in our industry,” said Terry Fortner VP of Industry Relations and Market Development.

Allstate Gives $100,000 to Collision Repair Education

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Dropping Gas Prices and Strong Car Sales Could Create Manufacturer Problems by Jason Plautz, Nationaljournal.com

Plummeting gas prices have pushed car buyers away from smaller, greener cars and back into their traditional comfort zone: big SUVs and lightduty trucks. Amid robust sales last month, automakers saw consumers flock toward larger cars, while shunning traditional small cars. And although the strong sales are good news for carmakers right now, that could create problems later as the manufacturers work to meet tightening federal fuel economy standards. “It is a fact that sales of our most energy-efficient vehicles mirror gas prices,” said Gloria Bergquist, spokeswoman for the Auto Alliance, the lobbying arm for American carmakers. “When gas is more costly, sales of high-mileage vehicles rises too, and vice versa. While low energy prices offer good news for our customers, it makes the steep climb to [fuel economy] compliance even more challenging.” Thanks in part to dealers’ promotions and a rebounding economy, auto sales were strong in November, with Subaru and Chrysler both reporting 20 percent increases over the previous

month. General Motors, Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen all saw gains as well, as the industry is on track to finish with annual sales higher than in 2013.

Photo credit: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Those sales were largely driven by rebounding light-duty trucks and SUVs—the GMC truck brand was up 22.7 percent, the Jeep Cherokee rose 67 percent, and the Honda CR-V saw sales rise 38 percent. Toyota took a hit on its cars but stayed afloat thanks to increased sales of its 4Runner SUV (up 53.4 percent) and the Highlander crossover SUV (up 16.7 percent). The Washington Post has even anecdotally reported higher demand for the gas-guzzling Hummer on

used-car lots, years after General Motors killed off the massive car. Those sales increase as low gas prices make bulkier, heavier vehicles cheaper to drive: per-gallon prices dropped 23 cents in November and now sit at $2.76 a gallon, a four-year low, according to AAA. And that’s bad news for smaller cars. Toyota’s car sales overall were down 2.7 percent, the Ford Fusion fell 11 percent, the Nissan Altima fell 7 percent, and the Chevy Malibu lost 16.7 percent of sales. Even one of the flagship electric vehicles, Chevy’s plug-in hybrid Volt, saw sales drop to 1,336 units, a 30 percent dip from last month and a 16 percent decline compared to 2013 (some of that drop could be driven by consumers waiting for a new model to be released next year). The all-electric Nissan Leaf defied the odds and continued its strong performance—November sales of 2,687 were up 34 percent, and the model is on pace for its best year yet. “Consumers respond very quickly to the changes in the price of gas,” said

Michael Sivak of the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute. “Specifically, when the price of gas goes down, so does their interest in fuel-efficient vehicles. This is especially the case if the change in the price of gas is rapid, as was the case this fall.” Those market forces could present some problems as automakers strive to meet tougher Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards. The Obama administration set a fleetwide 54.5 mile per gallon limit by model year 2025, and automakers must meet a 35.4 mpg target in model year 2016. Although the standards allow a footprint approach that will keep automakers in line if they make their light trucks cleaner, to hit the fleetwide average automakers are counting on sales of their smaller, greener, more fuel-efficient models. Autobody News thanks the author and nationaljournal.com for permission to reprint this story.

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Judge Grants Permanent Injunction Against Connecticut Anti-Steering Auto Glass Law

Jenna Reed, writing in Glassbytes, has reported that the lawsuit filed by Safelite Group and Safelite Solutions against Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen and Thomas Leonardi, state insurance commissioner, over the state’s anti-steering law has reached a resolution. A Connecticut U.S. District Court judge has granted the parties’ joint motion for entry of final judgment, permanent injunction and stipulation of voluntary dismissal. “Plaintiffs and defendants have determined that their interests, and the interests of judicial economy would be served by the entry of a final judgment and permanent injunction with respect to section 38a354a(c)(2), joint waiver of all claims for attorneys’ fees or other costs or damages and voluntary dismissal of plaintiffs’ remaining claims …” attorneys write in their motion. “[N]o party shall assert, in this action or in any other or further action, any claim for monetary relief arising from the operation of 38a354a(c)(2), including but not limited to any claim for attorney’s fees, costs, expert fees or damages,” ac-

cording to the court document. An order granting the motion for judgment was signed by the judge. “Defendants, in their official capacities, their successors and all other persons in active or concert or participation with them are permanently enjoined from enforcing or attempting to enforce Section 38-354a(c)(2) of the Connecticut General Statutes,” the judge writes. “The parties have waived any right to appeal from this order,” she adds. The Second Circuit Court had ordered a preliminary injunction on First Amendment grounds that temporary halted enforcement of PA 1367—An Act Concerning Automotive Glass Work in September 2014. A permanent injunction has now gone into effect with the latest ruling by the U.S. District Court.

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Collision Avoidance Technology Could Drastically Change Repair Industry by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor

Recent research on collision avoidance technology found that an estimated 30 percent of collision repairs could be avoided when this type of equipment is fully adopted by car manufacturers, according to Carlisle & Company. This will not only affect drivers and save lives, but it will also influence the future of the auto repair industry. The Massachusetts-based company studied collision avoidance technology based on data from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), The Highway Loss Data Institute (HDLI) as well as their own company research. Carlisle & Company provides aftersales strategic guidance and tactical solutions for the major motor vehicle brands. “Collision avoidance technology is any application that helps drivers and their cars avoid obstacles and other factors that may cause a collision,” said David Carlisle, Chairman of the Board at Carlisle & Company. The company’s 2014 research specifically focused on the following four types of technologies that are the most common in new vehicles: forward collision, side view assistance, lane departure and adaptive headlights.

The Highway Loss Data Institute estimated that by 2020 approximately 20 percent of all registered vehicles will be built with forward collision warning systems. Carlisle & Company conducted their own research and found that approximately 40 percent of automobiles will be deployed with similar technology by 2022. When the technology is fully adopted, Carlisle said forward collision systems will result in 3,335,000 avoidable repairs (20%); side view assistance will result in 1,006,000 avoidable repairs (6%); lane departure systems will account for 336,000 avoidable repairs (2%); and adaptive headlights will equate to 362,00 avoidable repairs (2%). If these estimates hold true, Carlisle predicts a major impact to the auto repair industry. “At this point, 15 percent of all collision repair jobs will be avoided,” he said. This will not only affect OEMs, whose collision parts make up 35 to 40 percent of their parts revenue, but the independent repair shops as well. “While collision avoidance ultimately is a good thing as it will save lives, it will certainly force aftermarket facilities and repair shops to adapt to a new market in order to stay afloat,” said

Carlisle. “Just because you have collision avoidance sensors on your car, does not mean you’ll rid your life of an auto collision for good,” said Carlisle. “One of the major challenges is testing this technology on the open road,” he said. “Many of these systems can be challenged on a test track and come back with great results, but nothing is like the real road. The only way to make collision avoidance systems as safe as possible is to test them in as many real-world situations as possible.”

Collision Avoidance on the Road Used in automobiles since the early 1990s, some of the earliest equipment included backup cameras. Now collision avoidance features are rapidly making their way into new vehicles in all price ranges. Some of these include the Mobileye technology that detects other vehicles and objects using only a camera and software and is used by BMW AG, General Motors and Tesla Motors; Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist System and Mercedes’ Collision Prevention Assist Plus. Honda said it is focusing its efforts in regards to collision avoidance technology in three main areas: passive safety technology which mitigates injuries; active technology that may

Web-Est and Crash-WriteR Announce Closing of Acquisition Agreement

Web-Est, LLC and Crash-WriteR, Inc. jointly announced that the two companies closed an asset acquisition agreement. This agreement creates a “First-in-the-Space” national leader for the small- to mid-size independent collision repair shop market. The transaction will not, however, impact either company’s customer base nor their respective product offerings as they exist today. The combining of operational teams and resources is expected to create expanded, programmatic features that will translate into additional value for their customers. The combined companies will be operated under the newly created brand “Web-Est Global.” Once the transition is completed, Web-Est Global will continue to offer its core program, Web-Est Online Estimating platform, as well as “Crash-WriteR by Web-Est” as an offline/cloud product. By combining development teams, Web-Est and Crash-WriteR programmers will develop a new online estimating platform. This new platform will incorporate all of the most powerful features offered in both products and provide a more

powerful, mobile product designed specifically for the small to midsized, independent shops. Eric Seidel, Web-Est President and CEO commented, “We believe the new operation creates the single largest customer footprint serving the small to mid-size body shop market in North America for collision estimating products. We intend to leverage the economies of scale to build value for our customers and the small shop market as a whole.” Seidel continued, “The leadership at Crash-WriteR has demonstrated their commitment to their customers and product. This shows in their high level of customer loyalty; we are very excited to join forces.” “The Crash-writeR brand has a long-standing reputation for focusing on needs of the small independent shop; we see the same focus with the Web-Est brand,” stated Art Rezac, President and CEO of Crash-Writer. “Combining these two organizations will benefit both customer bases and serve as a launching pad for more value to this segment of the market,” Rezac continued. For more information, contact (888) 932-3780.

40 JANUARY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

help prevent accidents from happening; and connected and automated vehicles that could attempt to drastically reduce crashes and fatalities. “Honda is studying real world situations to develop vehicles with advanced collision protection and advanced safety and driver assistive technologies,” said Angie Nucci, Senior Environment and Safety Specialist for Honda Public Relations. Nucci said some of their technology includes the Acura Watch system available on the 2015 TLX and the Honda Sensing system on the 2015 Honda CRV Touring model. “Honda Sensing is an integrated camera and radar system to help detect vehicles and pedestrians in front of you,” she explained. This driver assist technology includes a Collision Mitigation Braking System, a Lane Keeping Assist System, Adaptive Cruise Control and Honda LaneWatch. Toyota Motor Corporation said it plans to launch new safety technologies in 2015 to help prevent or mitigate collisions across a wide range of vehicle speeds. They will be offered in two “Toyota Safety Sense” packages and rolled out across most passenger models in Japan, North America and Europe by the end of 2017. See Collision Avoidance, Page 44

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National Auto Body Council & Enterprise Rent-A-Car Partner with Progressive to Donate 117 Vehicles to Vets

Insurance Auto Auctions The 117 recipients were seand Copart. NABC mem- lected by local VFW chapters and ber repair facilities do- other veteran organizations with supnated time and resources port from VRC Investigations, a vetto repair the vehicles and eran-owned business. Vehicle titling Enterprise Rent-A-Car and registration processing was fadonated six months of in- cilitated by 1-800 Charity Cars surance for each of the which also donates its services for all 117 recipients. A number Recycled Rides events throughout of other NABC members the year. – paint, parts suppliers Since the inception of Recycled and service providers – Rides in 2007, NABC members have also contributed to the donated over 1,000 vehicles to deIn the largest, single-day car giveaway Color Guard and Pledge of Allegiance in Bridgeton, MO. nationwide project to serving individuals and nonprofit orever, members of the National Auto Photos courtesy of Progressive Insurance Body Council partnered with the Pro- families across the country with prac- thank and honor military gressive Group of Insurance Compa- tically brand-new vehicles on Veterans veterans. “Our congratulations nies, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Day, November 11. Spearheaded by Progressive In- to Progressive for its leaderothers in the collision industry to present 117 military veterans and their surance, the second annual Keys to ship role in rallying our inProgress is part of the Na- dustry to help our veterans,” tional Auto Body Council’s said Nick Notte, President Recycled Rides program, a of the National Auto Body collision industry-wide col- Council. “These gifts of laboration to repair and do- transportation will make a nate vehicles. The number of significant impact in the vehicles in this year’s Keys lives of these service men to Progress is nearly double and women who have sacrithe number from Progres- ficed much for our country. Former Army Spc Jerold C. of Glen Burnie, MD.Photos sive’s program last year. This grand-scale generosity courtesy of Progressive Insurance Most of the vehicles from so many of our memfor this year’s Keys to bers truly exemplifies the professional- ganizations. NABC estimates close to Progress were provided ism and integrity of our collision $4 million worth of vehicles will be Recipient Jeffrey Z. and his family at the Buffalo, NY donaby Progressive, as well as industry.” donated in 2014. tion event. Photos courtesy of Progressive Insurance

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Aluminum Repair Tips & Techniques in Preparation for Ford F-150 by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor

With Ford’s new F-150 soon to be on the road, collision repair shops across the country are preparing for its release. During an SCRS seminar at SEMA, Larry Montanez of P&L Consultants discussed some of the new procedures and techniques shops will need to learn in order to repair this aluminum-bodied truck. Based in New York, P&L Consultants offers training programs for the collision and insurance industries. “Our mission is to make sure that everybody in the collision repair industry can work together towards making sure the vehicle is prepared properly,” said the company’s coowner Montanez. “There’s truly only one standard, which is what the manufacturer puts out.” He advised shops to learn about the new requirements that will be necessary to repair aluminum and to refer to the manuals provided by the dealer. During the seminar Montanez discussed the training options available for those in the industry, including vocational technical schools, third-party vendors, OEM training and the highest level of training in the au-

tomotive field – OEM welding certification. In a room filled with collision repair shop owners and technicians, he gave an overview of the types of steel and aluminum currently being used to manufacture vehicles. As a Larry Montanez of certified collision P&L Consultants damage analyst and ISO certified aluminum welder, Montanez said, “It’s a different repair process with aluminum than it is with steel. Aluminum is not as forgiving.” Aluminum melts at a much lower temperature than steel, 1,200 degree F versus 2,732 F, which he said changes the repair procedures with a vehicle. He stressed the importance of keeping the aluminum heated at the proper range. “Not staying within the repair heating range will cause the properties of the aluminum alloys to be lost and can anneal the component,” said Montanez. “Annealing is the process of heating the aluminum to the point that it is permanently softened and cannot be returned to its original state.”

Ford Begins Building All-New F-150 Truck

Ford began building their all-new F150 truck as the first one rolled off the line on Nov. 11 at the historic Ford Rouge Center in Dearborn, Michigan. Interest in the new Ford F-150 has steadily grown since the truck was revealed in January at the 2014 North American International Auto Show. More than 225,000 truck enthusiasts submitted their contact information for updates about the

be proud of and our customers can depend on,” said Bill Ford, Executive Chairman, Ford Motor Company. He said both the historic Ford Rouge Center and the all-new Ford F150 are hallmarks of innovation. Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, Rouge has represented Henry Ford’s vision for lean, flexible and sustainable manufacturing. The 2015 F150 – the first mass-produced truck in its class featuring a high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body and bed. “The all-new F-150 is a showcase of innovation and class-leading capability for truck customers,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s President and CEO. “It underscores the The new Ford F-150 goes on sale in December in product excellence and innothe United States vation we are delivering in vehicle, and more than 250,000 cus- every part of our business as we actomers have built and priced their celerate our pace of progress toward own unique version of the all-new F- profitable growth.” F-150 is part of the Ford F-Se150 online – a record through 13 generations. The new model will be ries truck lineup. Now in its 66th year, the F-Series has been the best-selling in showrooms in December. “The all-new F-150 continues truck in America for 37 consecutive to advance my great-grandfather’s years and the best-selling vehicle in vision of building vehicles we can America for 32 consecutive years. 42 JANUARY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

After teaching more than 40 classes over the past year, Montanez has found that most of the dents on a vehicle can be removed at a temperature of 200 to 300 degrees using MAP gas. He said that temperature-heating indicators, such as heat monitoring strips or a digital non-contact thermometer, should be used for measurement. Aluminum doesn’t change color like steel; instead it will just disappear, he said. “You can’t heat shrink a panel like you can with steel.” Due to aluminum softening at elevated temperatures, Montanez explained it allows the deformed areas to be straightened more easily. “Aluminum can be as strong as steel in a much thinner area.” He highlighted some of the other advantages of aluminum, such as its durability, strength, corrosion resistance, weight, recyclability and availability. Unlike steel, aluminum can be heated multiple times provided that the temperature remains within the heating range. He noted that quenching the panel with water or compressed air should be avoided and the panel should be allowed to cool naturally. Otherwise, there is a risk of crystallizing the

panel, which can lead to cracking. Regarding the heating equipment used on aluminum, Montanez said there are several options available, including a MAP torch, an oxyacetylene torch, an induction heater and a heat gun. He recommended the MAP torch due to its ease of use but advised against using propane gas. “Propane gas can only be used on a panel that is painted,” said Montanez. “The problem with propane gas is it will apply moisture to bare aluminum and can cause corrosion.” When working with aluminum, he recommended allocating a certain area or room to avoid cross contamination with steel. Ideally, shops should have a designated set of hand and power tools as well as separate equipment such as sandpaper and saw blades. In addition, shops will need vacuum extractors and a fan in the room that is explosion-proof. More information about P&L’s aluminum repair workshop can be found by contacting Larry Montanez at P&L Consulting: 917-860-3588 or info@pnlestimology.com

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Sherwin-Williams “Media Center” Website Addition

Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes announced a new addition to its website – a Media Center. The Media Center can be accessed through the Fleet Refinish and Commercial Manufacturing portals of the website and will showcase the following features: ● Weekly Coating Maintenance Blog − Each week a blog will be posted detailing a topic related to the coatings industry. These posts will then be shared through the Sherwin-Williams Transportation Finishes social media accounts.

● Video Gallery − Provides easy access to all videos that are within the Sherwin-Williams Transportation Finishes YouTube Playlist. ● Product Flyers − All product information flyers related to the Genesis® and AIC™ product lines can be downloaded here. ● Case Studies − These profile articles highlight customer stories and in-depth research created by Sherwin-Williams. For direct access, visit: www.sherwin-automotive.com.

WI Driver Blames Beer-Battered Fish Fry for DUI

Authorities say a Wisconsin man suspected of his 10th drunken driving offense is blaming a Wisconsin tradition for his latest legal troubles. A criminal complaint filed in Adams County says 75-year-old John Przybyla told the deputy that stopped him that the reason he smelled like alcohol is because he had been at a fish fry and had eaten beer-battered fish. A complaint says the deputy had spotted Przybyla make a U-turn on Highway 13 in Dell Prairie last Oc-

tober, followed his vehicle and discovered he had a revoked license. He was taken to a hospital in Adams for a blood test. WSAW-TV reports Przybyla has previous conviction in Milwaukee, Adams, and Columbia counties dating back to 1995. A Jan. 21 preliminary hearing has been scheduled. Court records do not list a defense attorney.

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Mike Rose’s Auto Body Never Stops Giving Cars Away by Ed Attanasio

Mike Rose’s Auto Body presented a staff sergeant from Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, CA and his family with a Hyundai Sonata as part of a

driving his six-year-old son Brandon Pearson to the medical specialists he needs at Stanford and eight-year-old daughter Jenna Pearson to and from school. In addition, the Rose family gave the Pearson family one year of

Mike Rose’s Auto Body gave a completely refurbished Hyundai Sonata to Staff Sgt. Kyle Pearson a as part of their Benevolence presentation on Veterans Day. That’s Owner Mike Rose second from left

Benevolence presentation on Veterans Day, November 11 at the company’s Fairfield location. Thanks to this refurbished vehicle, it will be much easier for Staff Sgt. Kyle Pearson to get to and from his duty at Travis AFB, as well as

insurance coverage and a trunk full of gifts for the children. The Mike Rose’s Auto Body Benevolence program is a “community give back program” whose mission is to present cars to deserving individuals or organizations during the

holiday season. Everything is donated, including the cars, parts, paint, mechanical inspections, tires and one full year of insurance. The body and paint technicians at Mike Rose’s Auto Body donate their time and skills to turn these cars into “new” used vehicles. The collision repair company, with 13 locations in the East Bay, has been participating in the Benevolence Program for the last 13 years and with this year’s 42nd Anniversary, it has donated 46 cars to the community. Mike Rose’s Auto Body will be presenting six fully re-furbished vehicles to those in need this year, with a second presentation to take place at their Antioch location in January. This year, Mike Rose’s Auto Body partnered with the Vintage Valley Blue Star Moms of Solano County, Travis AFB and GEICO Insurance during Veteran’s Day. Owner Mike Rose still gets a thrill when he sees a car going to a deserving family, he said. “It has been so rewarding over the last 13 years presenting the cars to deserving families and single parents who are working to improve their skills and become independent. We feel very honored to be able to do this and we will continue to do this as long as I am still around.”

Continued from Page 40

Collision Avoidance

These include several of the company’s existing technologies such as the Pre-Collision System that helps prevent and mitigate collisions; Lane Departure Alert that helps prevent vehicles from departing from their lanes; and Automatic High Beam, helping to ensure optimal forward visibility during nighttime driving. In addition, there is an option for a millimeter-wave radar and camera that can detect pedestrians and Radar Cruise Control. “Toyota’s vision is of a world without traffic fatalities, and these advanced connected and automated vehicle technologies hold the potential to revolutionize automotive safety,” said Seigo Kuzumaki, Chief Safety Technology Officer Secretary for Toyota Motor Corporation. “We are committed to bringing advanced active safety systems to market as quickly as possible and will make them accessible to a broad range of drivers.” For more information about Carlisle & Company, visit: www.carlisle-co.com.

Manheim Reports Wholesale Used Vehicle Price Adjustments in Q3

Wholesale used vehicle values declined by just over 2 percent in the third quarter, as the market showed signs of returning to more normal levels after historically high prices earlier in the year. The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index, a measure of wholesale prices adjusted for mix, mileage and season, ended the third quarter at 121.4, a decline of 1.1 percent compared to a year ago, Manheim reported as it released the Index. After posting increases over the winter and early spring, used vehicle prices fell for five straight months through September. A boom in new car sales during the quarter resulted in more trade-ins and lease turn-ins in the quarter, which led to an increase in inventories and put downward pressure on prices. The price declines, however, took place as the market showed positive signs. Loan delinquencies and repossessions remained low. Certified pre-owned sales increased 20 percent in September, and showed a 10 percent rise year-to-date, as consumers evidenced strong demand for quality, late-model used vehicles. Lease penetration rates went up, a sign of satisfied customers. Dealers also closed out the quarter with higher retail unit sales in September, moving more vehicles as prices fell. “The decline in prices so far appears to be part of a healthy overall mar-

ket,” said Manheim Chief Economist Tom Webb. “Valuation adjustments enabled dealers not only to retail the large number of customer trade-ins and lease returns but also actively purchase from the growing supply of late-model vehicles available at auction. Dealers were able to turn their inventory more quickly because of the lower wholesale prices.” Third-quarter wholesale pricing for vehicle segments included: Compact Cars continued to be the weakest segment with prices ending the quarter down 3.4 percent compared to a year ago. Midsize Cars matched the overall market and experienced a 1.1 percent decline in values compared to a year ago. Luxury Cars fell 3 percent compared to a year ago. The multi-year decline in luxury cars appeared to be slowing in September. Pick-ups and Vans remained the strongest segment with prices up 6.5 percent for pick-ups and 1.5 percent for vans. Owners in this segment tend to hold onto their vehicles for longer than the average, keeping supplies tighter even as the overall market increases. SUV and CUV prices were down 1.5 percent to end the quarter compared to a year ago. Normally one of the stronger segments, SUV and CUV prices fell inline with the overall market.

44 JANUARY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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Toyota’s “Game-Changing” Recommended Repair Procedures Set to Launch in 2015 by Victoria Antonelli, Online Editor

At the 2014 SEMA Show, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. exhibited their updated collision repair estimating system, which can be accessed from every web browser on any device. Tens of thousands of collision industry professionals were introduced to Toyota Recommended Repair Procedures (TRRP)—a tool that provides repair specialists with instant access to all the information needed to restore vehicles to their pre-accident condition. In the first quarter of 2015, Toyota will begin their release of TRRP with coverage for 29 Toyota and Scion vehicles dating back to 2005. “This program is a game changer for the industry,” commented Rick Leos, Collision Program Developer, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. “By offering a solution that provides Toyota repair procedures, parts and technical information in one place, we help the industry by establishing a standardized approach to repair planning. Collision repair specialists will benefit from decreased cycle times, reduced supplements and greater overall work efficiency. It’s a win for our customers, repair experts and insurance companies alike.”

Toyota has integrated with Mitchell Estimating, which will be the online platform for repair shops and insurance carriers. Although Toyota is the first and only OEM currently providing Recommended Repair Procedures, the estimating platform is capable of writing an estimate on any vehicle in Mitchell’s database, according to Kenny Crumpler, Product Manager at Mitchell International.

and sub-models.” Toyota’s template-based program reduces the preparation of a repair plan from hours to a couple minutes, saving collision repair specialists’ time, while increasing the level of efficiency and accuracy at the front end of the repair process. Repairers no longer need to start from a blank sheet of paper; they begin with a detailed repair plan, and omit what isn’t needed rather than adding each operation individually. Additionally, TRRP includes recommendations on parts that manufacturers designate as non-reusable or one-time use, which by definition means they must be replaced rather than reused. “When you have 1.8 million claims a year, a The new Toyota Recommended Repair Procedures featured 500-shop network isn’t going to able to make a big in a web-based platform enough footprint,” said “All these years we’ve relied on Leos. “Ninety percent of our cars are insurance companies to guide us on fixed by the independent repair shops cars, and now it’s time for the OEMs to − we owe them this data, so they can push their data down to the street level have the documentation to get the job to get our cars fixed,” said Leos. “With done correctly and, most importantly, the technology nowadays you got to safely, for our customers,” said Leos, a have all the information... there’s no 25-year collision veteran who has way you’re going to have technicians been developing Recommended Reable to specialize in 30 OEM models pair Procedures since he entered the

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industry. Toyota’s long-term vision is to offer other OEMs the opportunity to leverage this patent-pending template technology, consequently shifting the industry paradigm to one with greater transparency and better access to factory-recommended repair procedures. As a result, OEMs will achieve a significant impact in maintaining the safety of their vehicles through greater visibility of the parts and procedures required to complete the repairs. “I hope this is the beginning of something that will catch fire,” said Crumpler. On November 4, Leos and Crumpler decided that the new template will be integrated into the legacy system, which they hope will make the transition to an upgraded platform smoother. TRRP is currently being tested at Beta certified Toyota locations. In an effort to broaden the reach of this template technology, it is being licensed under the name “OEM Recommended Procedures” to OEMs and data providers in the U.S. and internationally. To learn more about TRRP, contact Rick Leos, Collision Program Developer, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. at (310) 468-3111.

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PPG Redesigned Website for ADJUSTRITE PPG Industries launched a redesigned website for the ADJUSTRITE® Commercial Estimating System at www.adjustrite.com. The site features a refreshed look, user-friendly navigation and new information about the AdjustRite and AdjustRite Plus collision repair estimating systems. The website focuses on the two applications and details and compares their individual features and benefits. They are specifically designed for the commercial truck market and have been updated to coincide with the launch of the website. “The new website makes AdjustRite easier than ever to use,” said John Lewis, Manager of Programs

and Services for PPG’s commercial coatings group. “The database has been expanded, a variety of estimate solutions are available, and visitors can even sign up for a free trial to see which program best fits their requirements. We’re confident that our current customers will appreciate the site and system enhancements, and I think those just learning about AdjustRite will also be pleased.” While the AdjustRite system is updated regularly, enhancements introduced on the website include: ● online alternative parts solution with list prices for a variety of truck makes, models and parts;

● generic light-duty pickup truck database; and ● combined pricing solution that first checks for facility pricing, then checks for available global average pricing. The AdjustRite system is an estimating platform that uses truck model information, based on a database compiled from truck parts and repairs. It is suitable for insurance companies and claims adjusters, and also offers a claims management component. PPG said it is the first and only full-service application that takes into consideration the complete commercial truck claim process and the automated features of the systems reduce the time re-

quired to write an error-free professional repair estimate, eliminating the chance of miscalculation while improving overall cycle time and productivity. The AdjustRite estimating platform works on all Web-enabled computers, including mobile devices that meet system requirements. Estimates can be managed from the office, shop or in the field. The system is also EMScapable, enabling it to communicate with other shop management systems. It was developed by PPG’s commercial coatings group. For information, contact 800-647-6050 or visit www.ppgcommercialcoatings.com

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