Southeastern March 2016 Issue

Southeastern Edition Florida Georgia Alabama Mississippi

Virginia Tennessee North Carolina South Carolina

34

YEARS

www.autobodynews.com ww ww.autobodynews.com

Tornados in Florida and Mississippi Wreak Havoc On Feb. 15, suspected tornados tied to a vast storm system turned several homes to rubble in the northwest corner of Florida’s Panhandle and in Mississippi, according to wire reports.

Authorities say more than a dozen homes were destroyed in both states.

There were no immediate reports of any deaths or serious injuries from the reported tornadoes, though witnesses said one 94-year-old woman had to be pulled from debris in Florida.

One of three apparent twisters swept through Century, a rural town in the northwest Florida Panhandle, destroying or significantly damaging about 10 homes, Escambia County spokeswoman Joy Tsubooka said.

Donald Pugh was at home in Century when the funnel tore through his neighborhood of small woodframe houses and mobile homes, downing trees. Pugh told The Associated Press that he and other neighbors used a chain saw to free the 94-yearold woman, stuck under a twisted metal door and other debris of her home.

“It took us quite a while,” he said.

“She was telling us where she was and that she was OK,” Pugh added. The woman was taken to a hospital as a precaution, authorities said.

In Mississippi, windows were blown out of cars and two gymnasiums

National Autobody Research (NABR) launched VRS Labor Rate Surveys in two more states; Arkansas and New Mexico. The Arkansas and New Mexico VRS Labor Rate Surveys were both

lease, the VRS Labor Rate Survey will provide collision repairers in Arkansas and New Mexico with an independent, third-party, trusted survey of state-wide labor rate data. The VRS reports the

See SE Tornados, Page 55

National AutoBody Research Launches VRS Labor Rate Surveys in Arkansas and New Mexico

true, market-based rate ranges throughout the states of Arkansas and New Mexico, based on shops’ actual prices, not on one artificially defined, singleprevailing rate for all repairers.

See Labor Rate Survey, Page 21

Change Service Requested

P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018

15 total shops in Arkansas responding to date

sponsored by anonymous collision repairers in their respective states. The online survey is free for all Arkansas collision repair shops and can be found on the NABR website.

According to a NABR press re-

VOL. 7 ISSUE 1 MARCH 2016

Historic Meeting Planned to Discuss Proposed Senate Bill to Cap Labor Rates in Mississippi

by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor

For the first time in history, Mississippi body shops will sit down with representatives from the insurance coalition in that state to discuss the issues surrounding labor rates. This is in response to Mississippi State Senator Videt Carmichael’s recent introduction of Senate Bill 2187.

If passed, the bill would prohibit collision repair shops from charging labor rates higher than the national average. It also stipulates that shops that seek to charge above the average must have the approval of the Commissioner of Insurance.

John Morgan Hughes, the executive director of the Mississippi Collision Repair Association (MCRA), reached out to association members in

early February requesting they contact their legislators in opposition to the bill. Within 72 hours of that call to action, the MCRA met with Carmichael who proposed setting up a meeting to discuss the issues and work out an equitable solution for both sides.

“This is the first time in Mississippi that has ever happened,” said Hughes, who has a background in governmental affairs and lobbying.

“He [Carmichael] has agreed to work out a compromise with us. We think this is really positive.”

When Autobody News went to print this month, the meeting was expected to take place in late February/early March.

The ASA, which opposes House Bill 2187, also encouraged MissisSee Bill Would Cap Rates, Page 43

FTCC to Expand Auto Collision Repair Program Into Unused School Building in Spring Lake, NC Fayetteville Technical Community College and the Cumberland County school system may soon be trading spaces for some of their programs, according to reports by Catherine Pritchard in Fayetteville Observer.

One move is certain: FTCC will expand its flourishing auto-collision repair program into an unused public school building in Spring Lake in early March.

FTCC officials told the board of trustees Tuesday that the college will use the former Mae Rudd Williams school on N.C. 210 to teach beginning classes in collision repair. That will free up space for higher-level classes at the college’s high-tech collision repair center in Fayetteville’s Military Business Park off Santa Fe Drive.

The collision repair classes in Spring Lake will start March 8.

Larry Keen, FTCC’s president, said there’s a waiting list of students for the 18-month-old collision pro-

gram. The additional site means the college can open the popular program to more students. He said it will also be “a great addition” to Spring Lake.

The building once housed an elementary school, then an alternative high school. It has been unused in recent years.

It’s one of two public school properties being eyed for FTCC programs.

If school officials agree, the college will move its adult education program next fall to the Pauline Jones school downtown, which now is home to an alternative program for troubled middle-school students.

FTCC officials said the move would be one of several that would take place at the two educational systems. For example, the alternative program would move from Pauline Jones to the Camden Road site that’s now home to Howard Health and Life Sciences High School; and the Howard See FTCC Expands, Page 59

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

2 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Contents

COLUMNISTS Attanasio - Best Marketing Techniques to Recruit Top Employees . . . . . . . . . . 62 Attanasio - Iowa Shop Owner is 100 Percent All-in with Community Service . . . . . . . 34 Attanasio - Oldest Shop on the East Coast Keeps Family Legacy Alive. . . . . . . . . . 28 Attanasio - Say Hello to Our Little Friend— El Niño! Strongest One Yet Expected this Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Chess - Kool Tools from SEMA 2015 . . . . 46 Luehr - Why Winners Win (Deliberate Practice) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Phillips - Body Shop Owner & President of ABARI Shares Insight about Legislation the Association Helped Pass . . . . . . . . 38 Phillips - Collision Shop Benefits from Improved Cycle Time, CSI and Closing Ratio After Joining CARSTAR Network . 22 Phillips - Female Shop Owner in NY Says Success is Due to Being Prepared & Connecting With Customers. . . . . . . . . 54 Phillips - General Manager of Jost Garage in New Jersey Says Running a Successful Shop Requires Staying Up With Latest in Training & Technology . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Yoswick - Attorney Presses Shops to Take the Steps They Can to Help Prevent Workplace Violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

NATIONAL 2016 Midwest Auto Body Trade Show Breaks Records, New Format Brings More Vendors, More Attendees . . . . . . . . . . . 56 3M Calendar Fundraiser Raises $100,000 in January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 AASP/NJ Releases Seminar Agenda for 39th Annual NORTHEAST™ Trade Show . . . 30 ALI Lowers Price of Online Lift Safety Training Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 ASA Announces Partnership With eMarketing Sherpas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 ASA Training for Service Repair Professionals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Assured Performance Launches OEM Repair Procedure Compliance App . . . . 63 AudaExplore and ABRA Extend Strategic Relationship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Auto Parts Dealer in ME Faces More Scam Claims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Axalta Develops Speed Light Hand-Held Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 BASF Presents Winner of 2016 Fight Club of Automotive Design at Middlecott Sketchbattle in Detroit, MI . . . . . . . . . . 51 Bumpersmith 2.0 Combines Welder & Work Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 CAPA Elects 8 Leaders to Its Technical Committee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 CREF Announces New Designation Program to Help Students Prepare for Employment . 66 Darryl Hollenbeck Claims 2016 AMBR Award With His PPG-Painted Roadster. . 68 eMarketing Sherpas is CASPER’s Preferred Provider. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Exhibit Space Selling Out for NACE | CARS 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Fix Auto USA Announces 100th Franchise Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Gas Monkey Garage Selects Evercoat Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Google's Autonomous Tech is Considered Driver Under Federal Law, NHTSA Says. . 4 Iowa ‘Roadside Birth’ Couple Has Healthy Baby Boy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 National AutoBody Research Launches VRS Labor Rate Surveys in Arkansas and New Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 New Name in Plastic Repair: Same Products, Same Company . . . . . . . . . . 15 NHTSA Hosts Vehicle Cybersecurity Roundtable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 PARTS ACT Patent Controversy Continues in Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Professional Parts Group’s Chris Northup Elected to CAPA’s Board of Directors . . 67 Progressive Says Nearly 9,000 Hours of Productivity Lost in More Than 190 Crashes in Denver Each Day . . . . . . . . 55 SCRS Notifies Members of Collision Repair Petition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Service King Continues Veteran Hiring Initiative. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Takata Air-Bag Recall Expanded as 10th Death Reported . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 The Parable of the Crippled Mare: Loss-Of-Use Now Recoverable in Texas Total Loss Auto Cases . . . . . . . . 26 U.K. Insurers Examining Autonomous Car Policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Vibac Aims for An Even More Productive 2016 with the Release of New Automotive Tapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

A baby was born outside of Iowa Auto Rebuilders. Credit: KWWL

Taryn Naill delivered her own baby while her boyfriend drove, and eventually pulled over to Iowa Auto Rebuilders to wait for paramedics.

Twenty-four hours later, Tyler Hall and Taryn Naill returned to the same shop, this time to express their gratitude to the crew for letting them

use their parking lot, and to introduce them to the shops youngest-ever visitor, baby Tylyn Clay.

“You know, I never expected this to ever happen in our parking lot, and I don't think it will again, but who knows, we’re always here to help!” said Dick Merron with Iowa Auto Rebuilders.

“I was thinking, please don’t let us be that person to have a baby in the car, but sure enough, we did,” said Tyler Hall, laughing.

Of course the fast and furious delivery wasn’t planned; the couple had everything set up with a midwife at the hospital.

But Taryn and Tylyn are healthy, and that’s what's important.

“We’re going to go home and rest I suppose, and introduce Tylyn to the cats,” said Taryn Naill.

Naill says riding in the car will always be different now, and that's not such a bad thing.

Thank you KWWL for reprint permission.

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 Office Manager: Louise Tedesco Sales/Research Associate: Cass Heckel Art Director: Rodolfo Garcia

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. ©2016 Adamantine Media LLC.

Abaris Training Resources, Inc. . . . 28 Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 68 Axalta Coating Services . . . . . . . . . . 5 BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 67 Car-Part.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 CarcoonAmerica Airflow Systems . 55 Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA). . . . . . . . . . . 45 Chief Automotive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Coggin Deland Honda . . . . . . . . . . 44 Crown Automotive Group . . . . . . . . 33 Dent Magic Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Diamond Standard Parts . . . . . . . . 13 Eco Repair Systems of North America, LLC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 EMM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Equalizer Industries, Inc . . . . . . . . . 46 Eurovac, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Everett Chevrolet-Buick-GMCadillac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 FBS Distribution Co., Inc. . . . . . . . . 31 Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 65 Fortune International Realty . . . . . . . 4 GM Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . 61 Gus Machado Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Hendrick Automotive Group . . . . . . 72 Hendrick BMW/MINI . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Hendrick Dodge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Herkules Equipment Corporation. . 32 Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35, 36-37 Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers. . 60 Jon Hall Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Kernersville Chrysler-DodgeJeep-Ram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Kia Motors America, Inc.. . . . . . . . . 29 Kia Motors Wholesale Parts Dealers. 57

Larson Electronics, LLC.. . . . . . . . . 16 Lexus Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 64 LKQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Lusid Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Mercedes-Benz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Mercedes-Benz Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 MINI Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 66 Mirka USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Mobile Environmental Solutions, LLC. 27 MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 41 Nalley BMW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Nissan of Richmond . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 O’Brien Hyundai-Subaru-Mazda . . 47 O’Reilly Auto Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Orio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Polyvance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Porsche Wholesale Parts Dealers . 62 PPG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Radley Chevrolet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Reliable Automotive Equipment . . . 21 Rick Case Automotive Group . . . . . 12 Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Naples. . . 34 Rick Hendrick Dodge-ChryslerJeep-Ram. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Riverside Ford-Lincoln . . . . . . . . . . 50 Safety Regulation Strategies . . . . . 48 SATA Spray Equipment . . . . . . . . . 71 Subaru of Gwinnett . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 53 Tameron Hyundai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 U-POL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Unicure Spraybooths . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Valspar Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Vibac Tape Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Wesch Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Southeast

Yoswick - Jeff Silver, GAO Report and NHTSA, Avery v State Farm, EPA at CIC . . . . . . 60

As the sun came up over Highway 20 on the morning of Feb. 11, a new life was born...also on the highway.

An Iowa Falls couple was on their way to the hospital, but their little guy just couldn’t wait.

Indexof Advertisers

REGIONAL 1Collision Network Expands Into So. U.S. . . 8 A New Hope for Labor Rates: The Variable Rate System by National AutoBody Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 After 64 Years, Repairs Continue Rolling Into Anderson Shop in SC . . . . . . . . . . 16 AkzoNobel Awards Sustainability Challenge Grant, Reveals 2016 Distributors Council, Receives Recognition for Sustainability Excellence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Car Crash Victim in FL Says Insurance Company Approved Dangerous Repairs. . 8 Classic Collision Adds 16th Location in Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 FTCC to Expand Auto Collision Repair Program Into Unused School Building in Spring Lake, NC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 GCIA’s January Meeting Focused on Post-Repair Inspections & Consumer Awareness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Gerber Collision & Glass Opens Location in Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Historic Meeting Planned to Discuss Proposed Senate Bill to Cap Labor Rates in Mississippi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Hundreds of Potholes Being Repaired in TN . 11 Nashville’s Frist Center Hosts All-Star Assembly of Italian Sports Cars . . . . . . . 8 NC Shops Seek to Form New Association with Guidance from West Coast Industry Professional Jeff Franco. . . . . . . . . . . . 10 PDR Mobile Solutions Launches App for PDR in FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Service King Expands Southeast Presence with New Repair Facilities in FL, GA and VA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Announces Annual Vendor Awards. . . . . 6 Southern Automotive Repair Conference April 8 & 9 in MS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Spanesi Americas Distributors Across the Country Receive Awards and Recognition. 66 Tornados in Florida and Mississippi Wreak Havoc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 VA School Auto Program Nationally Accredited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Iowa ‘Roadside Birth’ Couple Has Healthy Baby Boy

by Olivia Mancino, KWWL

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

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 3

Google’s Autonomous Tech is Considered Driver Under Federal Law, NHTSA says

U.S. vehicle safety regulators have said the artificial intelligence system piloting a self-driving Google car could be considered the driver under federal law, a major step toward ultimately winning approval for autonomous vehicles on the roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told Google of its decision in a previously unreported Feb. 4 letter to the company posted on the agency’s website this week.

Google’s self-driving car unit on Nov. 12 submitted a proposed design for a self-driving car that has “no need for a human driver,” the letter to Google from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Chief Counsel Paul Hemmersbaugh said.

“NHTSA will interpret ‘driver’ in the context of Google’s described motor vehicle design as referring to the [self-driving system], and not to any of the vehicle occupants,” NHTSA’s letter said.

“We agree with Google its [selfdriving car] will not have a ‘driver’ in the traditional sense that vehicles have had drivers during the last more than one hundred years.”

Major automakers and technology companies such as Google are racing to develop and sell vehicles that can drive themselves at least part of the time.

All participants in the autonomous driving race complain that state and federal safety rules are impeding testing and eventual deployment of such vehicles. California has proposed draft rules requiring steering wheels and a licensed driver in all self-driving cars.

If the car’s artificial intelligence is the driver for legal purposes, then it clears the way for Google or automakers to design vehicle systems that communicate directly with the vehicle’s artificial pilot.

In its response to Google, the federal agency offered its most comprehensive map yet of the legal obstacles to putting fully autonomous vehicles on the road. It noted existing regulations requiring some auto safety equipment cannot be waived immediately, including requirements for braking systems activated by foot control.

“The next question is whether and how Google could certify that the [self-driving system] meets a standard

developed and designed to apply to a vehicle with a human driver,” NHTSA said.

Google is “still evaluating” NHTSA’s lengthy response, a company spokesperson said on Tuesday. Google executives have said they would likely partner with established automakers to build self-driving cars.

Google told NHTSA that the real danger is having auto safety features that could tempt humans to try to take control.

Google “expresses concern that providing human occupants of the vehicle with mechanisms to control things like steering, acceleration, braking... could be detrimental to safety because the human occupants could attempt to override the (self-driving system’s) decisions,” the NHTSA letter stated.

NHTSA’s Hemmersbaugh said federal regulations requiring equipment like steering wheels and brake pedals would have to be formally rewritten before Google could offer cars without those features.

For example, current federal rules require alerts on dashboards if tire pressure runs low. NHTSA said a test would need to be created that shows the vehicle computer is informed of the problem. NHTSA raised the question of whether humans in the vehicles should also be made aware.

In January, NHTSA said it may waive some vehicle safety rules to allow more driverless cars to operate on U.S. roads as part of a broader effort to speed up development of selfdriving vehicles.

NHTSA said then it would write guidelines for self-driving cars within six months. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said the administration may seek new legal authority to allow deployment of autonomous vehicles “in large numbers,” when they are deemed safe, the department said.

The process of rewriting federal regulations governing the design, placement and operation of vehicle controls could take months or years. The NHTSA counsel said Google could consider applying for exemptions for certain regulations, providing NHTSA with supporting documents.

See additional autonomous vehicle coverage page 24 this issue.

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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 5

Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Announces Annual Vendor Awards

Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes announced on February 3 its annual Associated Products Vendor Awards.

The announcement was made at a special reception for more than 300 suppliers, employees and V.I.P. guests at its national sales meeting held at the Caribe Royale Hotel in Orlando, FL. Associated Products suppliers honored at this year’s Vendor Awards included: ● DeVilbiss Automotive Refinishing – Sherwin-Williams Brand-of-the-Year ● Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Inc. – Sherwin-Williams Sales Excellence: U.S.

● SAS Safety Corp. – Sherwin-Williams Sales Excellence: Canada

● PPC, Inc. (Powers Paper Company) – Sherwin-Williams Operational Excellence “Our vendor partners are an intricate part in helping us demonstrate the

service excellence that our customers expect,” said Steve Spirko, director of Associated Products Marketing for Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes.

“The goal at our almost 200 branches is to meet the needs of our collision repair customer base around the country and bring them greater value.

“Our company-trained employees manage the entire supply chain from product development to delivery. A

Spirko noted how the SherwinWilliams controlled distribution strategy provides a real difference as it directly supplies its collision repair customers.

“No matter how many locations a customer may have, our direct distribution provides important standardized services—innovative products, training, delivery, consulting and centralized billing—and this drives consistency and cost-effective results. We want to be the one-stop-shop for the automotive repair and refinish industry and our stores make it easy for customers to come in and find, or have immediately delivered, the exact products and services they need to be profitable and productive.

“Our vendor partners are important to the ongoTop Row from left: Tim Schmidt - Adam Chafe - Scott ing service and attention to Minor - Rob Lynch - Steve Spirko - Jake Mussay. detail we provide all our Bottom Row: Andrea Perry – Dave Smith – Stephanie collision repair customers Drew – Jeff Bell – Roger Henry – Barry Holt whether they come straight Sherwin-Williams professional directly to the counter in one of our branches manages the collision repair shop and/or or through delivery to their shops.”

MSO account, facilitates application For information, visit www.shertraining, and provides on-site consulta- win-automotive.com or call 1-800tive services as necessary.”

SWULTRA (1-800-798-5872).

GCIA’s January Meeting Focused on Post-Repair Inspections & Consumer Awareness

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On Thursday, January 21, over 30 members of the Georgia Collision Industry Association (GCIA) gathered at the Wyndham Hotel in Atlanta, GA. Topics of discussion included the importance of accurate post-repair inspections as well as the need to create a consumer awareness video. Howard Batchelor, executive director of GCIA, sayid, “The meeting was very informative. There was a lot of communication, and attendees learned some beneficial and useful information that they can implement in their shops to improve their businesses.”

Richard Hixenbaugh of Collision Claim Associates was the guest speaker for the evening, and he discussed the need for establishing an accurate post-repair inspection facility at local shops. He also emphasized the importance of shops performing proper repairs, and he explained how to point customers in the right direction for diminished value claims.

GCIA is also evaluating the possibility of creating a consumer awareness video that shops can use to teach

customers about their rights after an accident. The association is researching how they can develop this tool which Batchelor believes will be useful for member shops. GCIA plans to create this video sometime this year.

Additionally, GCIA is exploring legislative issues, and association leadership met with Representative Howard Maxwell early in February to determine what help they can expect to receive with this initiative.

Batchelor is eager to work on some of the legal issues impacting GA shops, but he wants to ensure that any efforts undertaken will benefit shops, such as by increasing labor rates.

The association’s labor rate survey is available online year-round, and GCIA urges shops to update their rate information so they can release their annual update in upcoming months.

GCIA will hold their next meeting on Thursday, March 24, featuring Chuck Elliot from KPA who will cover OSHA/EPA regulations.

6 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Classic Collision Adds 16th Location in Georgia

Classic Collision Inc., a privatelyheld operator of collision repair facilities in Northern and Central Georgia, added a 16th location in the north Georgia market with the addition of its new Douglasville shop. Douglasville is located 25 miles West of Atlanta. Classic Collision is the largest local provider of auto body repair services in Georgia. Classic Collision’s Owner and President, Manfred Kammerer stated, “With Douglasville being our most recent addition we’re right on track to continue to grow our locations and volume of business over the next several years.” Classic Collision is rated by two top-tier insurers as being in the top 10 for customer satisfaction and cycle time. Classic Collision’s locations are in Atlanta (Buckhead and Brookhaven, Buford Highway), Alpharetta, Marietta (Airport Road and Cobb Parkway), Chamblee, Duluth (Gwinnett Place), Kennesaw, Lilburn- Stone Mountain, McDonough, Morrow, Rome, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Union City and now Douglasville.

For nformation, visit www .classiccollision.net.

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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 7

1Collision Network Expands Into Southern U.S.

The 1Collision Network announced the addition of CBS Collision, with two locations in Shreveport and Bossier, Louisiana. This marks the network’s entry into the Southern United States marketplace. CBS Collision CEO and Owner, Elissa Larremore, commented, “Key reasons we are excited to partner with 1Collision include their branding process, which allows CBS Collision to keep its well-established name in the community, and the new 1Collision Performance System, which will assist us in raising the ‘performance bar,’ and ensure our customers and insurance partners receive the very best in collision care.”

1Collision Network President Jim Keller said, “Elissa and her team of professionals pursue excellence in both quality repair and service, and we welcome them as network leaders as we expand into the Southern U.S.” The 1Collision Network is an organization of independent and dealer owned and operated collision repair businesses. For information, contact info@1Collision .net.

Nashville’s Frist Center Hosts All-Star Assembly of Italian Sports Cars Bellissima! The Italian Automotive Renaissance, 1945–1975 celebrates the visual dynamism and spirit of innovation characterizing Italian coachbuilt cars, concept cars, and motorcycles produced during the post–World War II economic revival. The exhibit will take place at the Frist Center in Nashville, TN from May 27 through October 9, 2016.

Returning to the Frist Center after the 2013 presentation of Sensuous Steel: Art Deco Automobiles, automotive authority and guest curator Ken Gross has chosen 19 automobiles and three motorcycles from private collections and museums that are among the finest examples of Italian automotive design, including vehicles by Alfa Romeo, Bizzarrini, Ducati, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lancia and Maserati.

With the ultra-rare Alfa Romeo BAT models 5, 7 and 9 from the 1950s and a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. Bellissima! illustrates five distinct themes: Berlinettas, Aerodynamics, Advanced Mid-engine Cars, Wedge-Shaped Automobiles and Custom Coachwork Designs for Italian and American Automakers.

The exhibition Macchine Italiane: A Tour of Italy’s Motoring Spirit, featuring more than three dozen vehi-

Car Crash Victim in FL Says Insurance Company Approved Dangerous Repairs

by Jackie Callaway, abcactionnews.com

A Lakeland, Florida car crash victim says she trusted the insurance company to steer her to a quality repair shop.

Now Sheila New says she’s scared to get behind the wheel of her own vehicle. Experts say she has a good reason to fear for her family’s safety.

Our I-Team has looked at this issue before: Insurance companies accused of steering car crash victims to their preferred shops. One major lawsuit says the practice leads to dangerous repairs.

A buckle in the roof, another in the rear frame and gaps where parts should be aligned. All point to a dangerous repair, according to Ray Gunder of Gunder’s Auto in Lakeland and two other experts we spoke with who examined the 2012 Dodge Challenger.

A compromised frame could lead to injury or worse. These experts say with a hard enough hit, another car would come into the passenger compartment. That is why New says she and her daughter will never get behind the wheel again.

After another car rammed the Dodge in the right rear side last year, New says GEICO steered her to one

of their preferred shops. Post repair, New noticed the buckling in the roof.

GEICO told us it is not related to their shop’s repair. The company suggested the vehicle had been in another accident. In an email a spokesperson stated, “Regarding the claims of additional damage to the frame rail, floor, quarter panel and the nonaligned parts, these items are consistent with a rear end impact to the vehicle... in fact, the shop that completed the repairs has photos of the vehicle during the course of repairs showing no buckles in the quarter panel or dents in the rear body panel.”

New insists she has not been in a second accident.

Two of three auto experts we consulted with for this story including Gunder’s Auto are part of a lawsuit filed against GEICO and other big name insurance companies. In all, 500 body shops in 36 states have filed suit over the steering of crash victims to preferred shops.

Now New has no choice but to file a claim with her own insurance or file a complaint with the state for mediation.

Thanks to abcactionsnews.com for permission to reprint this article.

8 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

cles, including cars, motorcycles and bicycles will be concurrently on display at Nashville’s Lane Motor Museum from May 26, 2016 through May 22, 2017. Following up on the success of their 2013 collaboration during the run of the Frist Center’s Sensuous Steel: Art Deco Automobiles, the Frist Center and Lane Motor Museum will once again offer reciprocal admission discounts.

Visitors to the Frist will receive 50 percent off all adult and senior ticket prices at the Lane by showing a Frist Center admission ticket through May 22, 2017.

Visitors to the Lane will receive the same discount offer at the Frist by showing an admission ticket from the Lane through October 9, 2016. Members of either the Frist or Lane will receive free admission at both museums when membership cards are presented.

On select Sundays during the run of Bellissima!, car clubs will be able to drive their collectible vehicles to the Frist Center and enter the Frist Center parking lot at 11:30 a.m. before it opens to the general public. (The building opens at noon.) At noon, car club members can enjoy their pre-ordered boxed lunches in the Frist Center’s

Rechter Room, and then be among the first visitors to see this one-of-a-kind exhibition when the galleries open at 1 p.m.

Car clubs wishing to reserve a Sunday are invited to contact Frist Center Scheduling Coordinator Emily Jenkins (615-744-3247 / ejenkins@ fristcenter.org) to make arrangements for the group’s lunches, tickets and discounted parking. Groups of 10–50: $25 per person. The price includes preordered box lunches and gallery admission for groups of 10 or more; limit one car club per Sunday.

Venue rental information can also be found on the Frist Center website at fristcenter.org/events.

Presenting sponsors are: Barbara, Jack, Sara, and Richard Bovender Platinum Sponsor: HCA Foundation on behalf of HCA and TriStar Health Supporting Sponsor: CHUBB Media Sponsor: Sports Car Digest.

The Frist Center for the Visual Arts is supported in part by the Metro Nashville Arts Commission, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

www.autobodynews.com CHECK IT OUT!

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 9

NC Shops Seek to Form New Association with Guidance from West Coast Industry Professional Jeff Franco

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

Shop owners in North Carolina have decided that it’s time to form a new association to represent the industry’s interests in their state.

For assistance, they reached out to Jeff Franco, former AZ Collision Craftsman’s Association State President and also a former Board member for the California Autobody Association’s Palm Springs Chapter. This new association, tentatively being called the North Carolina Auto Body Association (NCABA)until further notice, will meet for the first time on Thursday, February 25 at 6:30PM at Dave & Busters in Concord, NC. According to Franco, President of Elite Sales & Marketing Group based in Oceanside CA, 28 collision shops have responded to the meeting invitation, along with 14 Elite Sales & Marketing Group dealership parts managers, who will attend in support of the endeavor.

Although several attempts have been made to start an association in North Carolina, no associations are currently active. Franco and many shop owners he has spoken to agree “that they do need to all come together. I personally feel there should be an association in every state to give

industry professionals a voice.”

In order for NCABA to be formed successfully, Franco predicts that it will require “quite a bit of time and a lot of involvement from vendors and collision shops, as well as the shops’ commitment to the collision industry as a whole.”

Jeff Franco He also knows that there are obstacles to overcome with this initiative.

“The biggest challenge is how some shops see an association. Some see it as ‘Oh, not me as I’m a DRP, and I’m not taking a chance of losing this.’

The question that is asked by many shops is whether the association is being established to battle the insurance companies, but this is totally false! The objective is to work together as we are all in the same industry, whether it’s a nonDRP shop or a DRP shop.”

Helping everyone work together is the primary goal for NCABA. According to Franco, “Our company has always believed in the word TEAM: Together Everyone Accomplishes More. Consumer awareness along with education is the key here. I

10 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

don’t look at anything short-term. I have been, and continue to be very passionate about working with the consumers and insurance companies to make it fair for all involved. I would like to see NC as one of the largest associations in the US. Our company, Elite Sales & Marketing Group, along with every one of our employees and dealers, believe we can make a difference as a TEAM in every state in which we operate.”

Although Franco is located in California, his role with NCABA is to help the shops form the association, elect a board, set up guest speakers, and list the chapter as a 501-C trade organization.

Despite his distance, he has assured the shops involved that he is only a phone call away, and his company’s NC Territory Manager, Josh Kent, will stay involved to help the chapter build its membership base.

There are many benefits of belonging to a trade association.

Franco explained, “For the past 40 years, I have been involved in many associations, both new and old. I feel that belonging to an association allows the group to seek out special programs.

Each state association is different, but savings can sometimes exceed dues through special programs that the Board can put in effect for its members.”

Some of the discounts that associations can receive, and that Franco hopes NCABA will be able to acquire for its members, include liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, collection services, and environmental and hazardous material management.

Franco added, “Associations keep members informed about current events and legislation through monthly chapter newsletters, and associations also provide representation to give members a voice in legislation on bills and proposed laws. Most importantly, associations provide education, not only for members, but also to keep consumers up-to-date on their rights with monthly guest speakers from the collision repair industry.”

Those interested in attending NCABA’s preliminary meeting can RSVP to Josh Kent, Territory Manager for Elite Sales & Marketing Group, at 704-998-8553.

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Hundreds of Potholes Being Repaired in TN

by Jennifer Reyes, NewsChannel5 Network

Those with the Department of Metro Public Works in Nashville said they have repaired about 300 potholes in a week, and so far they’ve used 90 tons of asphalt to do it.

While there hasn’t been a specific area of concern, commuters did have issues with a pothole on Feb 3 reported on Interstate 65 South and Trinity Lane, an area managed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

According to a spokesperson, crews responded to the area around 1 a.m. and repaired it within hours. It took around 28 bags of mix to fix it.

“We treat potholes based on severity, and when we get a call about a pothole that is potentially damaging cars, we do send a crew out as quickly

Southern Automotive Repair Conference April 8 & 9 in MS

Registration is open for the Annual Southern Automotive Repair Conference. This two-day event will be held on April 8 and 9 at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, MS. Visit www.southernautomotiverepair conference.com to register and learn more.

The registration fee is $35 per person, which includes all access, food and beverages, bar and prize tickets. Attendees and exhibitors can register and pay online with a credit card using the above link through March 31. Optional registration is $40 cash/check at the door. The agenda and speaker list will soon be available online as well.

Those who book a room by March 11, will receive the SARC discounted rate at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, which is convenient to the Southern Automotive Repair Conference. Visit https:// aws.passkey.com/event/11360432/ owner/22426/home.

Space is currently being reserved for exhibitors. Sponsor/exhibitor forms are available online at the SARC website, including Registration Packet, Exhibitor Agreement and Exhibitor Packet.

as possible,” said Kathryn Shulte, spokesperson for TDOT. TDOT officials said they repaired roughly 300 potholes that week, but some drivers have already experienced damage to their vehicles.

Several auto body shop workers said they’ve been busy fixing the damage. One business owner said the best thing you can do to avoid further damage after hitting a pothole is to stop and inspect your vehicle.

“Sometimes you hit a pothole hard enough it’ll bend the rim or it will separate the tire, and lots of times you get a hard pull to the left or right then you know you have problems with your front end,” said Bobby Leggs, owner of Auto Repair Shop near Trinity Lane.

Thanks to NewsChannel 5 for reprint permission.

PDR Mobile Solutions Launches App for PDR in FL

On January 26, PDR Mobile Solutions, LLC launched PDR Mobile ‘Pro,’ an app for Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) estimating and business management.

PDR Mobile ‘Pro’ offers the same features as PDR Mobile ‘Basic’ with additions such as an estimating grid, integrated invoice and payment options, and active project sharing. With an estimating app engine, PDR Mobile ‘Pro’ users will experience damage assessments with an ‘All-In-1’ screen.

The PDR Mobile ‘Pro’ includes: ● Dynamic Estimating Grid ● One Click Invoice, Estimate and Quote Convenience ● Open Invoice Status ● Active Project Sharing ● Intuitive Navigation and Dashboard ● VIN Scan/Decoding ● Flexible Quoting ● Customizable Rate Matrix Integration ● Management of Multiple Quote ● Innovative Photo Acquisition Editing and Image Management On January 29, PDR Mobile Solutions demonstrated their PDR Mobile app at the 15th International Mobile Tech Auto Recon Expo (MTE) in Orlando, Florida.

For details, visit http://www.pdr mobile.com or call 1 (800) 940-3010.

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ltedesco@autobodynews.com www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 11

Service King Expands Southeast Presence with New Repair Facilities in FL, GA and VA

On Tuesday, Jan. 19, Service King Collision Repair Centers hosted more than 60 guests and local business partners for a hard-hat tour inside its future Tucker, GA repair center.

The 30,000 square-foot facility, scheduled to open for business in midFebruary, is set to provide area residents a collision repair center staffed with industry certified teammates and technicians that work directly with all major auto insurance providers.

“Our team was thrilled to open our doors and put on display the great progress we’ve made on Atlanta’s newest Service King Collision Repair Center,” said Scott Ward, Service King’s Regional vice president. “Service King teammates are anxious to open this facility and continue providing our neighbors and business partners superior repair service. This state-of-the art repair center enables us to continue delivering on that promise through providing access to greater resources and increased capacity for our customers and business partners. We’re looking forward to officially opening the Service King of Tucker soon.”

This will mark the company’s sixth location in the Atlanta market. The facility has the capacity to repair 300 vehicles per month.

On January 25, Service King continued expansion in the Fort Myers, FL market with the opening of its second facility in the area. The facility is located at 5631 8th St. in Lehigh Acres.

“The Service King family of repair centers is thrilled to continue our steady growth in the Fort Myers mar-

Service King’s hard hat tour in GA took place on January 19

ket,” said Ward. “The opening of our Lehigh Acres location enables Service King to extend its reach and greatly enhance our promise to provide the community superior collision repair service and a greater overall experience.”

The opening of the Lehigh Acres repair center signals the organization’s first new construction project of 2016.

The announcement comes just weeks after Service King continued its merger and acquisition growth plan through partnering with Detroit’s Autometric

U.K. Insurers Examining Autonomous Car Policies

The U.K.’s biggest auto insurers are mulling turning their industry upside down by shifting liability for accidents from drivers to automakers as a result of the arrival of driverless cars, according to reports by Wardsauto.com. Automated Driving Insurer Group, including 11 U.K. insurers and led by the Association of British Insurers and Thatcham Research, the insurance industry’s research arm, has formed a group to consider issues relating to automated driving, particularly concerning insurance and liability. Other issues include how to cope with vehicles at different levels of automation; how data from individual vehicles will be recorded and used to improve safety and clarify liability; whether changes to existing road-traffic laws are needed; and what those changes might be. ABI says with 94% of road accidents caused by human error, the development of increasingly automated vehicles has huge implications for road safety. ABI Director of General Insurance Policy James Dalton says the presence of driverless cars on U.K. roads would be lifechanging in many ways, and one of the business sectors likely to be most affected is insurance. “Contrary to what some people might expect, insurers are not standing in the way of this development but actively looking to support progress and innovation,” Dalton said in

a statement. “The developments we’ve seen towards increasingly autonomous vehicles are already reaping rewards—with autonomous emergency braking reducing collisions and injuries and helping to bring down insurance premiums.” Dalton said truly driverless cars have the potential to dramatically reduce deaths and injuries on the roads. “The role of motor insurance in such a future will be very different to what it is today, but insurance will be part of the picture,” he says. Thatcham Research CEO Peter Shaw says safety is paramount for both drivers and insurers. “Working with car manufacturers and insurers, we’ll be researching and testing systems, to provide insight and evaluation of the potential risks and benefits at each step of the way towards a world where cars can drive themselves,” Shaw said in a statement.

Reports indicate driverless cars are expected to dramatically reduce accidents, cutting insurance premiums up to 80% in 25 years’ time. Insurers could also find themselves dealing with vehicle manufacturers, rather than drivers, as responsibility for accidents moves to those who have designed driverless-car technology, forcing them to re-evaluate their business models. The U.K. government says it will amend traffic laws by 2018 to account for the rise of driverless or semiautonomous cars.

12 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Collision. Service King opened its first location in the Fort Myers area in January 2015 after merging with Jack’s Collision.

On February 5, Service King Collision Repair Centers® announced its partnership with local single-shop operator Precision Collision. The repair center is located at 7901 Kincannon Place in Lorton, VA. “Service King and its team align seamlessly with the staff vision and mission of Precision Collision,” said Precision Collision Owner Robert Plate. “That’s what makes our team so enthusiastic about this partnership.

Service King’s 40-year reputation of providing superior repair services coupled with the support of a national footprint provides our team and customers an unmatched foundation of resources to continue serving our customers. We’re thrilled about this next step in our journey.”

Service King will now provide customers and business partners with three repair centers across the greater D.C. area. Precision Collision has served the Lorton community since 1982 and currently boasts the capacity to repair 300 vehicles per month.

For more information, visit www .ServiceKing.com

ASA Training for Service Repair Professionals

The Automotive Service Association announced a series of regional training programs for technicians, service writers, managers and shop owners. The first event took place February 26 - 27 in Orlando, Florida, with the support of ASA Florida.

“We recognize the need and demand for high-quality technical and management training at a local level. Our goal is to bring training to those markets where there is a pent up demand and areas where ASA state affiliates want a program to support their members,” stated Dan Risley, ASA president.

Risley said ASA regional events will have at least five programs in 2016. In addition to Orlando, they will take place in Philadelphia, Chicago, Las Vegas (colocated with AAPEX, partnering with ASA), and Los Angeles.

“The programs will take place on Fridays (management training) and Saturdays (technical and service writer training), keeping shop downtime to a minimum while providing the most valuable and requested training for the region,” he said.

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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 13

14 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

New Name in Plastic Repair: Same Products, Same Company

There’s a new name in plastic repair – however, the company and the products have remained the same.

Urethane Supply Company, a pioneer in the field of automotive plastic repair since 1981, announced that it has changed the name of its business to “Polyvance.”

“The change in name reflects the progression that has occurred in automotive plastics since the company’s inception,” said Kurt Lammon, president of Polyvance.

The Alabama-based company will continue to produce its complete line of plastic repair and refinishing products including the following most popular ones: ■ the 6059-C Nitro Fuzer nitrogen plastic welding system;

■ the 3601 and 3611 Bumper & Cladding Coat Adhesion Primer; and

■ the 5700HT Mini Weld Model 7 airless plastic welder.

Established by Jim Sparks in 1981, the company was sold to Kurt and

Keith Lammon in 1995. After purchasing the company, the Lammons considered changing the name but soon realized the tremendous amount of work that it would require.

“Back in 1981, most of the bumper covers were actually made from urethane plastic,” said Kurt, the company’s

president. “Sparks came up with the original name because he supplied products required to repair urethane bumper covers.”

Since most bumper covers are now made from blends of polypropylene, Kurt said they decided to move forward with a name change.

“Urethane Supply Company was never a very fitting name for the company,” said Kurt “After all, we don’t supply urethane – we advance polymer repair.”

Almost daily people would call in asking to buy urethane foam, ure-

thane sheet stock or urethane to make skateboard wheels. “A name change was long overdue so we made the change to Polyvance because it really speaks to what we do.”

They have spent the past six months working on logistics. This included hiring a branding consultant who reviewed what the company focuses on and the direction they plan to take in the future.

The company’s official tagline is “Advancing Polymer Repair.” Kurt said Polyvance will still be devoted entirely to helping body shops profit from plastic repair and refinishing through its innovative products, which are all thoroughly tested, as well as training courses.

Currently, Polyvance offers an I-CAR® Industry Training Alliance® course on nitrogen plastic welding and Kurt said there are plans to more courses in 2016.

Polyvance products are available through paint, body and equipment distributors across North America.

For more information, contact Kurt Lammon at 800-633-3047 or visit: www.polyvance.com.

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Gerber Collision & Glass Opens Location in Georgia

The Boyd Group Inc. announced the opening on February 10 of a collision repair center in Conyers, Georgia, about 24 miles east of Atlanta.

The center is located close to the central business district of Conyers and the Interstate 20 highway.

“This new location increases our large market presence in the Atlanta area and adds service capability in the region east of the city,” said Tim O’Day, president and COO of the Boyd Group’s U.S. operations. “This will help us serve new customers and our insurance partners, while introducing Conyers to the Gerber brand of professional and friendly service.”

The Boyd Group is continuously looking to add new collision repair locations to its existing network in Canada and the U.S. Interested collision repair center owners are asked to contact Kim Allen, director of business development, at (847) 410-6003 or email kim.allen@ gerbercollision.com.

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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 15

After 64 Years, Repairs Continue Rolling Into Anderson, SC, Shop ship was right next door,” Moon recalled. “And a NAPA parts shop was Twin grandsons Max and Miller Moon within walking distance.” love to visit Steve Moon at the CMS The duties were often less valuGarage in South Carolina. able in the early 1960s than Moon Briefly. sees them in retrospect.

Within minutes, the energetic “Sometimes I hated it, because all three-year-olds are off to a more ex- my friends were playing after school citing room—the body shop. while I was working,” Steve Moon said. “Looking back now, I realize it was a blessing to be learning so much about a business when I was that young.”

The shop was also a learning center for Lee Moon, a Royston, Georgia, native who came to Anderson in 1946 after serving in the Army. Older brother Haskel, a gifted mechanic, was working at Charlie Ballentine’s Ford dealership at the time, and The Moon family — (from left) Jason Moon, helped Lee get a spot on the staff.

Steve Moon, Lee Moon and Travis Moon — at “That’s where I learned about the CMS Garage and Body Shop on South Main Street in Anderson. Lee started the garage and automobiles,” Lee Moon recalled. passed it on to his son Steve, who gets help from The job helped Lee and Haskel his sons Travis and Jason. Credit: Ken Ruinard build a strong relationship, as broth“They don’t want to sit in here ers and co-workers. When they rewith me,” Steve Moon said, showing a tired, they shared many hours golfing photo of the two toddlers trying to get and camping. Haskel, who was nine as close as possible to a quarterpanel years older than Lee, died in October under reconstruction. at age 98.

Steve Moon can relate. Born one “He was my best friend and year before his father helped start the brother,” Lee Moon said of Haskel, his CMS Garage & Body Shop in the spring across-the-street neighbor for 55 years. of 1952, Steve Moon never wanted to They modeled a family unity and be anywhere else. a spiritual bond that remains on dis“In my case, I think it was geplay daily at the garage, which in netic,” he said as he and his father 1968 relocated to a larger facility a talked shop history January 20. “For as few blocks south long as I can remember, there was no on Main Street. doubt in my mind about what I wanted Today, Steve to do. I’ve never wanted to do anything leads an 11-person but be in this business.” staff that includes Lee Moon, part of a trio that sons Jason, 38, and started the business 64 years ago, saw Travis, 37. it coming.

They’re part of a Steve Moon (left) “He grew into it,” Lee Moon said listens to his father, busy team that reLee Moon, who of his son, who took over the business pairs an average of started the CMS when Lee and late brother Haskel re20 cars a week. The Garage and Body tired on the same day in 1986, after shop—unusual in Shop in Anderson. more than 30 years on the job. “He’s its ability to offer Credit: Ken Ruinard been working in here since he was real both mechanical young, sweeping floors and picking and bodywork service—uses four modup parts.” ern tow vehicles.

Steve Moon was in the perfect spot “The Good Lord has blessed us,” for that. Serving as parts pickup man said Steve Moon. “I pray for this busiwas easy in the 1950s and ‘60s, when ness every morning, and God takes the garage and body shop at 800 S. care of it.”

Main St. in Anderson was surrounded He’s also convinced that God has by auto dealerships. taken care of a cancer problem diag“I was 12 years old and didn’t nosed two years ago, and that now have a driver’s license. But the Chevy makes him passionate about helping and Ford dealerships were right across the Kids Cancer Foundation by donatthe street, and the Oldsmobile dealering hair.

by Abe Hardesty, Independent Mail

16 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

That explains the pony tail and the long beard of recent months, which get plenty of heckling from his parents and friends.

While the family connection remains strong at the shop, much has changed since the early days. The sup-

(from left), Lee Moon and his brother Haskel Moon check the electrical circuit in Buck Fulp’s 1930 Ford Coupe race car in 1053. The bill for the work was $957.32. Credit: Photo courtesy of CMS Garage

ply of work was also high then, but Lee Moon couldn’t afford a staff of 11.

“Three of us put together $500 to get it started,” Lee Moon recalled.

“We needed every tool you can imagine, and Anderson Auto Parts let us buy those on credit.

“In just a few days, we had more business than we could handle,” Lee Moon recalls.

Leaning over a hood until 10 p.m. was routine, Lee Moon said.

“We had so many autos to repair, we didn’t have regular hours,” he said.

In that first year, Moon and others built a wrecker by mounting a boom on the back of a used pickup that was purchased from Tom Hughes’ well-drilling company.

And while far more cars are rolling on Anderson roads today, Lee Moon remembers busy days for his wrecker and mechanics.

“The bodies of the cars were good back then—the metal is not as thick now as the cars were in the 1940s,” he said. “Today, they make them lighter so that they get better gas mileage.”

Under the hood, Moon said, today’s vehicles are clearly superior.

“Back when I started, the motors weren’t durable,” he said. “You might go 30,000 miles in those 1940s Fords and need new rings and an overhaul.”

That helped accelerate a business that is still rolling, several thousand repairs later.

Thanks to the Independent Mail for reprint permission.

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 17

AkzoNobel Awards Sustainability Challenge Grant, Reveals 2016 Distributors Council, Receives Recognition for Sustainability Excellence AkzoNobel announced on January 26 the six outstanding students in its 2015 Sustainability Challenge Grant program.

In its second year, the program awarded $50,000 in grant funding to selected high schools and colleges with collision repair programs to advance continuous improvement and sustainable business principles.

The students were nominated by their instructors for exemplifying exceptional leadership, initiative and commitment. They led teams of students at their respective schools in developing a grant proposal based on an idea that would improve the school’s collision repair shop and how it interacts with the surrounding school, community, or environment.

The following students were honored: ● Hunter Brakefield, Applied Technology Center, Rock Hill, South Carolina ● Cesar Mercado, WallaWalla Community College, Walla Walla, Washington ● Angel Myers, Norwalk High School, Norwalk, California ● Cole Woods, Freedom High School, Freedom, Wisconsin ● Nicholas Shah, Thomas A. Edison High School, Jamaica, New York ● Evan Vail, Applied Technology Center, Rock Hill, South Carolina

“The goal of the Sustainability Challenge Grant is to inspire and challenge those who are preparing for a career in collision repair to seek out ways to improve the way our industry interacts with its community and environment,” said Doug Holmberg, business director for AkzoNobel’s Vehicle Refinishes business in North America. “These outstanding students represent the future of our industry and we are proud of their initiative to help find ways to improve processes, increase social capital and advance environmentally-friendly practices. We are pleased to recognize their achievement and leadership.”

Mark Dellinger, instructor at Applied Technology Center added, “As an educator, the Sustainability Challenge Grant has provided me with an opportunity to talk with my students about how to improve practices in our collision repair shop and how that knowledge can be applied in the real world.” He continued, “By creating teams to develop an idea for a grant proposal and implement that idea, the students have had an opportunity to hone their leadership, planning, and presentation skills.”

The grant is sponsored by AkzoNobel and administered by the Collision

Repair Education Foundation (CREF).

AkzoNobel’s Vehicle Refinishes also announced the members of its 2016 Distributor Council.

The Distributor Council is a legacy activity of Vehicle Refinishes that spans its 30-year history in North America.

Over this period of time, Vehicle Refinishes has looked to advisory bodies drawn from its distribution network to assist AkzoNobel in establishing frameworks for their business practices as well as provide inspiration for new polices, products and programs. Those advisory bodies have gone under various names; however, the purpose of the group remains to provide counsel.

Council Members are: ● Paul Fus – PF# Paint Supply: Wixom, Michigan ● Robbie Brinkley – C&D Auto Paint & Body: Thomasville, Georgia ● Doug Richau – Auto Color and Industrial Supply: St. Joseph, Minnesota ● Peter Kilkenny – Providence Lacquer & Supply Centre: Cranston, Rhode Island ● Layla Maus – Gladwyn Paint: Austin, Texas ● Kim Snyder – Body Parts Store, Inc.: Des Moines, Iowa ● Peter DeLuca – Industrial Finishes

& Systems, Inc.: Salt Lake City, Utah ● Don Treschak – Treschak Enterprises, Ltd.: Welland, Ontario “The council, comprised of eight representatives throughout North America, is a visible and proactive sign that AkzoNobel’s Vehicle Refinishes business in North America is dedicated to distribution as our primary method of going to market,” said Dave Recknagel, North America cstomer services manager. “As a result, we are constantly striving to innovate. This includes Go-To-Market business models which ensure that we are engaging, evolving and advancing practices and processes that enhance current relationships as well enable growth and expansion to create new.”

AkzoNobel's number one ranking on the 2015 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) has resulted in the award of an Industry Leader, Gold Class distinction for excellent sustainability performance. The recognition also includes a listing in the 2016 Sustainability Yearbook, which features the world’s most sustainable companies, as determined by their score in RobecoSAM’s annual Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA).

To learn more about AkzoNobel, visit www.akzonobel.com

VA School Auto Program Nationally Accredited

by Fauquier Now

The Fauquier County Public Schools automotive training program at Fauquier High School in VA has received accreditation by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation and The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.

Michael Stevens, a former Fauquier High School automotive student, competed in the Ford/AAA Auto Skills contest last year.

Credit: Fauquier County Public Schools

The school system’s program has been accredited in automotive body repair.

To achieve this coveted recognition, the school’s automotive training program underwent rigorous evaluation by NATEF. Nationally accepted standards of excellence in areas such as instruction,

facilities and equipment were used.

“This is great news for automotive-minded young people and their parents,” Donald Seyfer, former NATEF chair, said in a news release.

“Because this program increases cooperation between local education and industry leaders, it gives added assurance that Fauquier County graduates in the automotive training program will be employable entry-level technicians,” Seyfer said.

“As a result of the quality education provided at FHS, the motoring public will benefit since better repair technicians will join the work force,” he added.

Upon completion of the evaluation, NATEF recommended that Fauquier High School’s program be accredited by The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

ASE is a national non-profit organization which tests and certifies repair technicians, in addition to accrediting automotive training programs.

Craig Canard, who teaches automotive body repair at Fauquier High School, added, “During the past few months, we have worked closely with NATEF to make certain that our See HS Accreditation, Page 40

18 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 19

Vibac Aims for An Even More Productive 2016 with the Release of New Automotive Tapes Vibac Canada Inc., a global adhesive tape manufacturer, has all the backing necessary from both their products and the shops, to keep a strong hold on success for 2016.

& Product showcase, to see if the walk matched the talk.

“Everyone says their product is the best. I like to see for myself,” said co-owner John Sr. “As a shop owner I have to make sure everything works as perfectly as possible without redos, so it was a simple test to take a strip of tape along with the competitors and mask a van or trailer and just leave it outside in the summer weather. At 90 plus degrees, direct sunlight, rain, moisture, constant heating and cooling are going to deThe Vibac masking tape 313 yellow aiding in the collision stroy all but the very best repair process tapes. The weak ones break, After proving the potential of they sliver, and the glue transfers and Vibac’s masking tape 313 yellow in creates a mess that no shop wants to 2015, the Montreal-based company deal with.” introduced two new masking tapesAfter the “torture test,” he con204 orange and 314 blue - at the No- cluded that there was no glue or adhevember 2015 SEMA Show in Las sive transfer, and because of the lack Vegas. Both will hit the market at the of issues, the shop’s production “stays end of the first quarter of 2016. high.” John Sr. added that he was imAutobody News reached out to pressed with the way the masking tape Black Horse Body Shop in Plymouth 313 yellow stood up to the wet and Meeting, PA for the October 2015 Shop dry cycles in the paint booth, and that

20 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

he was able to remove it without any problems.

Rewind to the pre-NACE Shop & Product Showcase, published in June 2015. Autobody News reached out to Beyer Collision Center in Alexandra,

VA, to ask about their experience with Vibac products, and experienced a similar reaction.

Allen Andre, 53, body shop manager, said he gets a lot of high-end cars in his shop as he is located near Wash-

ington, D.C. Andre and his painter, Donnie Stemetski, adhere to the theory that masking tape is something you should be able to rely on and then forget about.

“If it works, it works and that’s the best review I can give you,” Andre said.

“The masking tape 313 yellow holds the paper down. We haven’t had one single comeback or re-paint with this tape. Switching to this product about 18 months ago has definitely been a smart move.”

With at least two prominent shops singing their praise of the masking tape 313 yellow, it’s safe to say the industry should be excited about the latest Vibac creations.

Vibac Marketing Manager, Lion Sedov, characterizes the three masking tapes as “good, better, and best” in the following order: masking tape 207 orange, masking tape 313 yellow, and masking tape 314 blue.

“Our yellow tape 313 is consid-

ered the best all-around tape for many different applications that the market demands” said Sedov. “The industry has a need for a variety of performance levels in masking tapes and Vibac is looking to fill the need by providing three different levels of product offerings with an extra punch in creating value to customers on all levels.”

The VIBAC Group has been making a wide variety of pressure sensitive tapes since the 1970s, specifically catering to most all automotive applications. In summer 2015, Vibac opened yet another new production facility for high performance masking tapes in Europe with the latest technological advancements.

For more information on Vibac products, visit www.vibacgroup.com or contact Marketing Manager Lion Sedov at (514) 640-0250, lion.sedov @vibac.com.

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Continued from Cover

Labor Rate Survey

“There is a significant problem with labor rates in the state of Arkansas,” said the state’s survey sponsor.

“The rates insurers pay are not only below the market price but also not sufficiently profitable for shops, who must continually invest in training, tools, equipment and certifications to repair today’s increasingly advanced vehicles. Finally, we have a solution in the VRS, an independent survey and complete technology to help shops price their labor profitably and prove through documentation what the real market labor rate is for any area in our state.”

Richard Valenzuela, CEO of NABR, added, “We’re very pleased to bring the VRS to Arkansas and to be working with a shop who cares enough to sponsor the survey for the good of all Arkansas shops, the collision repair industry, and for the ultimate care and safety of the consumer.”

“For years, collision repairers around the country and here in New Mexico have struggled to get paid what they’re worth for the work they

do,” said the state’s survey sponsor.

“The low rates insurers pay do not reflect real market prices, but we the shops have never been able to prove that. Now, with the VRS, we can. And the system also includes the pricing tools to help us set an educated, wellinformed labor rate, based on a variety of factors including our cost of doing business. Finally, we have a solution in the VRS, an independent survey and complete technology to help shops price their labor profitably and prove the real market rates.”

Valenzuela added, “We’re excited to bring the VRS to New Mexico and help repairers in that state get paid not only true market rates but sufficiently profitable rates. Ultimately, it is the consumer who benefits, because the right labor rates enable shops to invest in the people, training, tools, equipment, and certifications necessary to repair modern vehicles, which in turn helps ensure vehicles are repaired right and consumers are kept safe.”

New Mexico just began their Labor Rate Surveys and so a chart is not yet available.

Other states currently running the See Labor Rate Survey, Page 40

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Shop Strategies with Stacey Phillips - ASSISTANT EDITOR

Collision Shop Benefits from Improved Cycle Time, CSI and Closing Ratio After Joining CARSTAR Network Autobody News spoke to Steve Ranck at CARSTAR John Hine in California about the collision center’s decision to join the network in April 2015 and find out how it has benefited the business.

Steve Ranck, CARSTAR John Hine collision manager

John Hine Sr. established John Hine Pontiac in San Diego, CA in 1957 and the John Hine Mazda franchise in 1971. He received the Time Quality Dealer Award in 1991 and his son, John Hine Jr., accepted the same award in 1994.

Two years later, Hine, Sr. passed away at 91 years of age. “He believed in hard work, equality and fair treatment of both customers and employees,” said Ranck, CARSTAR John Hine’s collision service manager, who has worked there for 37 years. “His legacy is our dealership’s dedication to delivering complete customer satisfaction and employee goodwill. I know that the continued success of our dealership lies within every employee’s ability to deliver his/her personal best.”

The collision repair shop is located at John Hines Mazda, which is in Mission Valley, CA and run by John Hine, Jr., who had worked with his father since 1971.

Q:

What prompted the decision for John Hine Mazda to become a CARSTAR franchise in 2015?

Most insurance companies are A: now going to MSOs to do their business. I saw the trend moving that

way about a year and a half ago and we looked at it as an opportunity to get involved.

The way I used to get my business is that I’d meet an adjuster and their boss and then I’d join their program. Everything is done at the corporate level now.

We have shops right next to each other that are in the same industry. Years ago, I never used to see that. It’s strange because what happens is that people will come in and shop you to see what you are going to do with their deductible.

We currently have seven DRPs with different insurance companies. I didn’t lose any of those since joining CARSTAR.

What has the reaction been from Q: your employees and your customers?

It’s an exciting new process. We A: have 32 employees and a lot of them have been here a long time. I have

one employee who started with his dad as a helper 42 years ago. You worry about people when it comes to change.

Anytime you rock peoples’ world and change it around, it’s not always easy for them.

When we took on this change, we started keeping our team involved in all of the processes. We let them know what CARSTAR is all about, and what they were going to bring to the table. They really got onboard with the change. Since the change, the moral has improved greatly.

Kenny Bailey said the addition of parts carts has helped keep the dealership more organized

With our customers, we explain that we are still John Hine with the same employees we’ve had. Then we tell them why we took this opportunity. It has been a positive reaction. We give a lifetime warranty on our workmanship anyway.

Now that they see that we’re part of a larger organization it gives them a little more security. And our customers our just wowed by the way our shop looks.

Can you tell us about the CARbranding that you have Q: STAR

22 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

incorporated into your shop, which is part of the new look in shops across the country?

We’ve done a lot of CARSTAR branding and it was a fairly easy A: process. Our office was completely dif-

ferent before we joined CARSTAR. When an insurance company sends a client to a body shop, they want it to feel the same way, whether it’s in Texas or San Diego, so name recognition becomes important.

In addition to the fresh new paint and CARSTAR graphics, we also rebranded our 60-foot-tall sign that sits right on Interstate 8, where more than 350,000 cars pass each day.

The remodeled lobby has also had an impact on the customer experience.

Just seeing the CARSTAR “Relax, We’ll Take it from Here” slogan in the office seems to have a calming effect when a customer, who has just been in an accident, sits down with the service

writer to start talking about their repair.

To add to the professional look, all of our employees wear CARSTAR uniforms. They have even gone so far as to take it upon themselves to coordinate their dress. One week will be black shirts, the next week red. The appearance of the staff has added to the positive impact on the customer perception of the shop.

Also, the uniforms are different from the dealerships’ uniforms. We decided to pull ourselves away a little from the dealership, just to let people know we’re not just a Mazda body shop but that we work on all makes and models of vehicles.

What are some of the changes Q: that have taken place since joining CARSTAR?

We’ve taken advantage of CARA: STAR’s knowledge and experience to revamp our production area for

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 23

a better workflow. Going through CARSTAR’s tier process, our shop is a lot cleaner and more organized than what it used to be. For example, we purchased 25 parts carts, which have made a huge difference in shop efficiency.

There are no longer parts scattered on the ground. They are able to clean the entire floor every night. The change has been a complete 180 from what the shop used to look like. Not only have the carts made for a much cleaner production area, the end result has also made an impact on the way customers

disassembled for repair. It is an efficient process because you are trying to catch it at the beginning instead of at the end.

Our Area Director of Operations (ADO) manager, Mike Calens, comes in about once a month and helps us evaluate our shop. What CARSTAR does is help you put certain goals into place. If you want to be part of a DRP program, you have to be one of the top elite shops in the industry. They want you to reach a certain tier level. If an insurance company markets our shop to get more business,we need to have our cycle time, CSI and closing ratio in the right spot.

What are the benefits you’ve Q: experienced as a result of joining CARSTAR? When working at the same shop A: for 37 years, there is a tendency to do things the same way. You don’t

Javier Zamora, head painter at John Hines

perceive the the shop when they go in the back. We also noticed about a day and a half improvement in our cycle time just by making that change.

Another change was incorporating the DFR (dissemble for repair) process.

We always called it tear down – you take the car apart and write your estimate. DFR is more than just taking the car apart. Now, instead of taking the bumper off, we take everything off that bumper, including the clips, side maker lights, etc. We do this because we want to know at the beginning of the repair process everything that is wrong with the car instead of at the end. This has helped us tremendously by being more organized and improving our cycle time.

After visiting other CARSTAR Q: locations, what new processes have been added?

After talking to two other CARA: STAR locations in San Diego and the corporate store in Kansas, we

decided to add a second computer monitor so customers can see the actual estimate being built.

We also started mapping the car, which entails showing the damage on the windshield of cars with marker pens. The main advantage is that we bring it to the attention of everyone involved in the repair process so things aren’t being missed. Then the car is

see new ideas that much. By joining CARSTAR, getting involved in their Edge process and going through the three Cs – cycle time, CSI and closing ratio – it really fine tunes your store.

Edge performance stands for Education, Development, Growth, and excellence. It starts with working on your shop’s foundation and culture and then moves in operations, and the CARSTAR Lean process.

We did our research and talked to other CARSTAR locations. The first thing you do is ask ‘Did they bring you business?” I talked to two different CARSTARs and was told,’Steve, even if I don’t get one DRP, they are making me a better store.”

They come in with their procedures and work with you to get your numbers in the right position so you become more appealing to the insurance companies. When you have been in the same shop for so long sometimes you can get tunnel vision. You don’t see the big picture. Being with CARSTAR, they really looked at our procedures and said, ‘Steve, this is what we suggest.’ Then we tried them out and it works.

Have you encountered any chalQ: lenges and how have you addressed them?

When you have any change in A: your shop, you’re going to have some challenges to address. First

of all, you have to really look at the buy in from your employees. When

24 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

CARSTAR came in, they focused on our foundation first. They looked at our employees. When our ADO Mike first came in, he took the time to get to know the employees. Now when we implement something new, we do it together.

When you being to change and clean up your shop, your employees start to notice and say, ‘Wow, there is something going on here.”

are your upcoming goals Q: atWhatCARSTAR John Hine?

Our upcoming goal is to bring A: more jobs into our shop. We are still a relatively new CARSTAR shop,

but our goal is to be their flagship collision center in San Diego. We currently work on about 135-40 cars per month. We can handle a lot more than that.

I set up a goal board and every week I post what needs to be done that month. Then we can see how we are doing and track it. We’ve incorporated that recently and we’re finding that it brings everyone together so they are focused on the main goal of the shop.

We also have a production meeting twice a day. This is when all of our

employees meet and talk about what they have planned for the day.We keep the meetings under 10 minutes and all the Metal men and Painters attend

What is your advice to other shops considering joining an Q: MSO?

I’ve noticed over the years inA: surance companies are putting a lot of emphasis on MSOs. It makes it

easier for insurance companies to deal with one contact person for a large qroup of shops. But the main reason for joining is that they are going to make you a better shop. With the Edge performance platform and there support with human resources, marketing, insurance contacts, legal, they will be a great partner in your business.

Your leading source for SOUTHEASTERN Collision Repair News! southeastern.autobodynews.com

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 25

The Parable of the Crippled Mare: Loss-Of-Use Now Recoverable in Texas Total Loss Auto Cases

by Gary Wickert, Attorney-at-Law

Many years ago, a lawyer argued that the long-standing Texas rule prohibiting recovery of damages for loss of use of personal property, unless the property was a total loss or destroyed, was unfair. City of Canadian v. Guthrie, 87 S.W.2d 316 (Tex. Civ. App. 1932). His client’s one-eyed, underfed mare lived a simple life. One night, however, she was caught roaming the city streets in search of food and was placed in the city pound. Her owner failed to pay her board bill. Thus, she was put out of Gary Wickert her misery. As the Court of Appeals then put it, “when Panhandle Pete’s pistol popped, she petered, for which the pound-keeper paid Pete a pair of pesos.” Her owner protested her death and sued for damages, including $350 for the loss of her services in his occupation of hauling. The Court rejected that claim, holding that although “damages occasioned by the loss of the use and hire of an animal are recover-

able where the animal is injured, no such damages are recoverable for the total loss or death of an animal.” Rather, “the measure of damages in the case of a wrongful killing of an animal is its market value, if it has one, and if not, then its actual or intrinsic value, with interest.” That rule, the owner’s attorney argued, made it “cheaper to kill a mare in Texas than to cripple her.”

On January 8, 2016, the Texas Supreme Court in J & D Towing, LLC v.

American Alternative Insurance Corporation, 2016 WL 91201 (Tex. 2016), changed nearly a century of law and ruled for the first time that the owners of automobiles and other damaged personal property which are a total loss may recover loss-of-use damages. J & D Towing, LLC (J & D) owned only one tow truck, a 2002 Dodge 3500 purchased in April 2011 for $18,500. On December 29, 2011, the tow truck was rendered a total loss as a result of the negligence of the defendant. The defendant’s carrier offered to settle J & D’s property damage claim for $10,299.12 if J & D retained the truck or $16,715.61 if the carrier retained the truck. Believing the truck was worth between $19,

26 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

000 and $20,000 at the time of the accident, J & D refused to accept the settlement offer. On February 29, 2012, the defendant’s liability carrier settled with J & D for $25,000, the policy limits for property damage. Around March 8, 2012, J & D used that money to purchase another truck and resumed its business.

J & D then filed an underinsured motorist (UIM) claim with its own carrier, American Alternative Insurance Corporation (AAIC), requesting compensation for the loss-of-use of the truck. It claimed that the funds from the settlement with the defendant were insufficient to compensate for these damages, rendering the defendant an “underinsured” motorist. AAIC denied the claim and cancelled the policy. J & D thereafter sued AAIC to recover “any and all loss-of-use damages to which [it] may be entitled.” J & D presented to a jury various calculations of the loss-of-use damages J & D claimed it incurred between December 29, 2011 and March 8, 2012. Aggregating the totals of those calculations, J & D asked the jury to award loss-of-use damages in the sum of either $27,866.25 or

$29,416.25, with the difference being whether the jury awarded damages for a nine-week period or a ten-week period.

AAIC challenged the availability of loss-of-use damages in its motion for summary judgment arguing that the UIM policy only covers damages that J & D is “legally entitled” to recover from the defendant. Because Texas law did not permit recovery of loss-ofuse damages in total-loss cases, and because J & D’s vehicle was a total loss, J & D was not legally entitled to recover loss-of-use damages. The Trial Court denied both motions. At trial, the only question submitted to the jury concerned the proper amount of lossof-use damages. The jury awarded J & D $28,000. After the jury returned its verdict, the Trial Court held a brief hearing to determine the amount of the credit to which AAIC was entitled in light of the settlement with the defendant’s liability carrier. The Court concluded that J & D’s truck was worth $19,500 at the time of the accident and thus AAIC was entitled to a credit of $5,500 – the amount of the settlement that did not cover the value of the truck

but instead partially compensated J & D for its loss-of-use damages. The Trial Court entered judgment for J & D in the amount of $22,500 plus interest and court costs.

AAIC appealed with the issue being whether Texas law in total loss cases allowed recovery of loss-of-use damages. AAIC’s position was that Texas law has never allowed recovery of loss-of-use damages in total-loss cases. The Court of Appeals agreed, reversing the decision. The Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals, holding for the first time, that “the owner of personal property that has been totally destroyed may recover loss-of-use damages in addition to the fair market value of the property immediately before the injury.”

Until this decision, a person whose vehicle was totally destroyed could only recover the market value of the lost vehicle, while a person whose vehicle was repaired could also recover the loss-of-use of the vehicle.

Hanna v. Lott, 888 S.W.2d 132 (Tex. App. ? Tyler 1994, no writ); Pasadena State Bank v. Isaac, 228 S.W.2d 127 (Tex. 1950); Mondragon v. Austin, 954 S.W.2d 191 (Tex. Civ. App. ?

Austin 1997). One argument against

recovering for loss-of-use when the vehicle is a total loss is if the owner rents a vehicle for two weeks before buying a replacement vehicle, the insured is not really out anything that would justify his recovery of the reasonable rental value for the time it took to buy a new vehicle. The insured can buy a car that has two weeks fewer miles on it, and potentially is two weeks newer and would have a higher resale value. Rental prices generally exceed the depreciation value, but once you’ve crossed that line, it blurs a bright line test. A defendant would argue that he would be paying more than actual damages if liable for loss-of-use, because the plaintiff is getting the free use of a vehicle for two weeks. The law didn’t even make an exception when the owner could not secure financing and was therefore unable to replace the property. Hanna v. Lott, supra.

The Supreme Court in J & D Towing, LLC noted that a majority of jurisdictions within the United States permit loss-of-use damages in partial-destruction cases, but prohibit them in totalloss cases. However, the Court noted that case law and treatises have shifted away from the distinction, because the

owner of total-loss personal property may suffer loss-of-use damages to the same extent that the owner of repairable personal property, and that the distinction was “illogical.”

The Supreme Court didn’t specify whether the change in the law was prospective or retroactive in nature.

However, in Texas, the general rule is that you must read an opinion to see whether there is language in it that limits the applicability of the holding to subsequent cases. If you don’t see that sort of limitation, it is generally assumed that the case applies retroactively. For example, in Guillot v. Hix, a case involving when a cause of action for workers’ compensation subrogation accrues argued by Gary L. Wickert, the Supreme Court specifically stated: Our holding today may bar actions which have not been filed in reliance upon the rules established by our prior decisions. We therefore make our holding applicable only to injuries which occur today and hereafter. Injuries which occurred before today remain subject to the rules in Fidelity, Brandon, and Campbell. Guillot v.

Hix, 838 S.W.2d 230 (Tex. 1992).

The J & D Towing, LLC decision should apply retroactively to all pend-

ing losses or cases, not just prospectively, because this is not a change in prior law as declared by the Texas Supreme Court. Until now, only appellate courts have weighed in. This was the first time the Texas Supreme Court has ruled on the issue.

Thank you to the Claims Journal for permission to reprint this article.

Gary Wickert is an insurance trial lawyer and a partner with Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, S.C., and is regarded as one of the world’s leading experts on insurance subrogation. He is the author of several subrogation books and legal treatises and is a national and international speaker and lecturer on subrogation and motivational topics. He can be reached at gwickert@mwl-law.com.

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Oldest Shop on the East Coast Keeps Family Legacy Alive

by Ed Attanasio

Long before cars even existed, a family shop in Massachusetts was building and fixing carriages, back when the only horsepower available came from horses themselves. Founded in 1894 by Thomas A. and Martin Fitzpatrick, Fitzpatrick Brothers Collision Repair in Dorchester, MA is the oldest body shop east of the Mississippi.

Today, Fitzpatrick Brothers Collision Repair in Dorchester, MA is managed by (from left,) Harry, Neale and Frank Fitzpatrick

The business has always been family owned and operated and grew as the popularity in motorized vehicles exploded. In 1919, Thomas’s son Harrison joined the family business, followed by Thomas, his other son, in 1929. Harry and Frank, Harrison’s sons, joined the business in 1954 and 1956 respectively and finally, Harry’s son Neale began working full-time for the company in the late 1980s.

It seems like every shop with a history has one family member who chronicles it all, by saving photos and collecting stories over the years. In this case, it’s Frank Fitzpatrick, 75, who is the shop’s historian and proud to share it.

“Repairing horse-drawn wagons was a hard life long before things like severity and cycle times,” Frank said.

“They worked long hours and instead of body techs they had blacksmiths, wheelwrights and carpenters back then.

With the rapid changes in technology over the past 100 years, however, we transitioned from a wagon repair shop to a technically-advanced collision repair center. In 1926, we were the first auto body repair shop to use spray guns.

Until that time, all cars and wagons were painted with a brush.”

The company’s focus has changed, but the mission has always been the same, Frank explained. “Over the years,

we have repaired fire engines, civil defense vehicles, police cars, and many different commercial fleets, including cranes and construction vehicles. In 1969, we revamped our business to concentrate on automobiles and small commercial vehicles. But, by doing quality repairs and concentrating on customer service, we’ve been able to survive in a tough industry.”

Stability has been important to the company’s success, according to Frank.

“We have not moved since 1894 and we’re proud to have stayed in the same neighborhood all these years and serving this same community. We are now fixing cars for people whose parents and grandparents have been bringing their cars here for decades. It’s a good feeling when you see a new customer with a last name we’re familiar with and it happens all the time.”

As a former president of the original Massachusetts Auto Body Operator’s Association in the ‘70s, Frank has been in a unique position to see the collision industry change in huge ways.

“Over the past twenty years, both technology and equipment have changed rapidly,” Frank said. “I am happy to say that it’s a much safer and healthier industry to work in now. We have kept up with these changes by adding new spray booths, welders, frame machines, and computers to ensure proper repairs to our

Fitzpatrick Brothers Collision Repair in Dorchester, MA is the oldest body shop east of the Mississippi, founded in 1894

customers’ vehicles. Through a Depression, two World Wars, and many other life-changing events, we have stuck to our philosophy of repairing cars properly, and sending our customers’ home happy.”

Rather than resting on their laurels and great reputation established over 122 years, the Fitzpatricks are always out there, trying to get better and growing. One of the niches they’ve developed over the decades is performing fleet work for large companies.

“It is a huge part of our business, because we can make more money than through our DRPS,” he said.

“With the fleets, we don’t have to wres-

28 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

called the Epiphany School,” Frank? said. “They had a location in another part of the city, but they needed a new facility, so they inquired about the property we owned across the street.

We had some discussions, but it didn’t look like it would work, because for one, they had no money.”

After much consideration and a few conversations between Frank and his brother, Harry decided what the heck— let’s just give them the land for their new school. “At first, my brother and I looked at each other and agreed ‘we’re nuts!’

But, after a while we said why In the 1950s, the shop grew at a steady rate, by pursuing not? What better tribute to our business from local fleets and changing with the times. grandfather than donating these Behind the truck is Harry Fitzpatrick three quarters of an acre to to name a few. Currently, the shop’s these amazing people? So, we donated it overall work breaks down this way— to them, a parcel worth about $360,000 65% commercial fleet work and 35% and we haven’t regretted it for a second.” insurance work—and delighted over it.

Founded in 1997, the Epiphany The Fitzpatrick family is 100% School is an independent, tuition-free dedicated to fixing cars, but they’re not middle school for children of economreluctant to help those in need. “About ically-disadvantaged families from 10 years ago, a couple people came to Boston neighborhoods. Serving apSee Oldest Shop, Page 40 the shop and told us about their school, tle with them on prices or quality, so they’re much easier to work with.” The shop works with large companies that have headquarters near their location, including Gillette, local utility companies and health-related companies, just

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 29

AASP/NJ Releases Seminar Agenda for 39th Annual NORTHEAST™ Trade Show

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

With the approach of the 39th Annual NORTHEAST Trade Show scheduled to take place March 18-20 at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, NJ, AASP/NJ has released the agenda for the event which includes 18 seminars and demos as well as over 130 exhibitors on the trade show floor. While every year features a variety of informative seminars, this year’s lineup features several industry favorites, including Mike Anderson, Larry Montanez, Tony Nethery and Judy Gatchell.

“There isn’t a show that can match the NORTHEAST show this side of the Mississippi,” said AASP/NJ President Jeff McDowell. “NORTHEAST is for repairers presented by repairers. The AASP/NJ Board works tirelessly to bring the best speakers and exhibitors to our region every year, and 2016 will surpass everything that has come before.

We couldn’t be more excited.”

Educational sessions at NORTHEAST 2016 will begin on Friday afternoon March 18 with “Building and Sustaining Standard Operating Procedures for Collision Repair,” presented

by Keith Manich of Automotive Training Institute at 1 p.m. and again at 3 p.m. This seminar will demonstrate the importance of keeping staff adequately informed of operational requirements, plus Manich will discuss the steps needed to create a structured production environment.

From 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, “AASP/NJ Presents: Advanced Material Repair in 2016 and Beyond,” will be presented by Reliable Automotive Equipment’s Dave Gruskos, Larry Montanez III of P & L Consultants and Doug Richman from Kaiser Aluminum on behalf of the Aluminum Association.

In covering everything repairers need to know when repairing advance materials, these three industry experts will discuss the properties of the materials, OEM-approved procedures, safety considerations, processes and equipment needed for these repairs, and more.

“Maximize Your Estimates” is a fee-based course that will be taught by John Niechwiadowicz of QLC, Inc. and Jerry McNee of Ultimate Collision Repair on Friday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and again on Saturday at 3:305:30 p.m. In the second annual install-

30 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

ment of this NORTHEAST estimating seminar, attendees will continue learning how to write complete and accurate estimates which capture all billable operations reasonably and realistically needed to repair a damaged vehicle.

From 5:30-6:30 p.m., “Effective Training for Shops” will be presented by Tony Nethery of BlueCollar Collision Training who will define what type of body shop training is required and which optional training provides the best investment. Nethery will repeat this discussion on Sunday at 1 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., General Motors’ Jim Mickle will discuss three important areas to repairing and replacing structural components on a vehicle in “GM Structural Repair” which will be facilitated by Flemington Car & Truck Country.

Mike Anderson of Collision Advice will present “Positioning Yourself in the Collision Repair Industry” from 7:30-9 p.m.; this seminar is sponsored

by Axalta Coating Systems. Anderson will offer a unique look at how collision repair facilities can overcome challenges by focusing on sales and marketing, production, accounting, finances and human resources. Atten-

dees will learn how to increase sales, how to retain employees, and how to develop and implement a successful apprenticeship program. Anderson will also cover which KPIs shops should monitor, and he will discuss the management tools available to collision repair facility owners and managers.

The last educational opportunity will be “Square One Systems,” presented by Sam and Richard Valenzuela of National AutoBody Research (NABR) at 8-9 p.m. with an encore performance on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Through their demonstrations of the Variance Rate System (VRS), NABR will teach attendees how the VRS can help them make more informed labor rate decisions, collect on more not-included procedures, and to actively and confidently respond to insurer tactics designed to keep prices low and avoid paying for not-included procedures.

On Saturday morning, March 19 at 8:30 a.m., there will be two feebased I-CAR training classes: “2015 Ford F-150 Structural Repair Training Course” (FOR06) will be taught

by Peter Fryzel, and Mike Bonsanto will present “Vehicle Tech-

nology and Trends 2016” (NEW16).

Both I-CAR courses will be held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Secaucus, located across the street from the Meadowlands Expo Center.

Saturday morning will also begin with Larry Montanez’s “Increase Profits, Lower Cycle Time/Supplements with Triage Estimating” from 8:30-10 a.m. This seminar will be facilitated by Metropolitan Car-o-Liner who will aid Montanez in explaining how triage blueprinting can increase estimate accuracy and lower cycle time. Montanez will also demonstrate proper repair procedures on a 2016 Honda, focusing particularly in Honda metallurgy and MIG brazing.

At 10AM-1:30 p.m., Aaron Clark of Assured Performance Network will moderate “Body Shop Certification and You: An OEM Panel Discussion.” During this two-session seminar, OEM representatives will be available to discuss getting started on an OEM certification program and what to do after being certified. Additional topics include equipment investments, training requirements, difference in aluminum and steel certifications, determining the right OEM program for your shop, and post-certification marketing.

On the trade show floor, Collision Hub’s Kristen Felder will moderate “Photo Estimating Comes to the Northeast” to explore the consequences of photo-only damage appraisals and how the insurance and collision repair industries feel about it. Also beginning at 10:30 a.m., “Competing with the Talking Car - Virtual Steering” will be presented by Steve Feltovich, manager of Business Consulting Services for Sherwin-Williams. Feltovich will explain the various emerging technologies and vehicle changes that will directly impact repairers and consumers, plus he will offer suggestions for using these technologies to maintain competitiveness within the collision repair industry.

Gerry Bonanni of Ford Motor Company will present examples of the new 2015 F-150’s improved repair elements in “2015 Ford F-150 Aluminum Repair Information” at 11:45 a.m. with a repeat presentation at 10 a.m. on Sunday. In “OEM Collision Repair Procedures v. Industry Standards: A 2016 Update” at 1 p.m., Larry Montanez will lead a discussion on what has and hasn’t changed in OEM repair standards and procedures since he last discussed this topic at NORTHEAST 2012.

From 2-3:30 p.m., Axalta Coating Systems will sponsor Mike Anderson’s “Who Pays for What? Survey Results.” Using quarterly surveys conducted by Collision Advice and the CRASH Network, Anderson will discuss how often shops are reimbursed for not-included operations from the top 10 insurance companies. Attendees will receive an introduction to the four negotiation questions, learn about raising awareness of not-included labor operations and materials, and discover how to use these results to negotiate with insurers and much more in this seminar by one of the industry’s favorite speakers.

At 2:30-3:30 p.m., Tony Nethery’s “Estimating Following OEM Guidelines” will explore the difference between “normal” repair processes and what is involved to follow OEMs’ methods for a “correct” repair. At 4 p.m., the final seminar at NORTHEAST 2016 will be “The Customer Encounter,” presented by Jody Gatchell of A & J Collision Repair. Gatchell will discuss the importance of being prepared for customer encounters in order to create a memorable beginning to the customer/business relationship.

NORTHEAST 2016 will also fea-

ture its renowned trade show with over 130 vendors registered to exhibit on the 60,000 square feet of floor space. Some of this year’s exhibitors include: 3M, Access Commercial Capital, Accudraft Paint Booth, AkzoNobel, Albert Kemperle, ASE, Assured Performance Network, Auto Body Distributing, Axalta Coating Systems, BASF, CCC Information Services, Chief Automotive, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, FinishMaster, ICAR, Indasa Abrasives, LKQ Corporation, Lusid Technologies, Mitchell International, PPG Automotive Refinish, Refinish Distributors Alliance, Sherwin-Williams, Spanesi Americas, Val-spar Automotive, VeriFacts Automotive and the Women’s Industry Network (WIN) who will be making its debut appearance at NORTHEAST. “This is, by far, the best NORTHEAST show ever: more education, more equipment and technology, more of everything an automotive repairer needs to succeed in the 21st century,” says AASP/NJ Secretary Thomas Greco, whose company, Greco Publishing, manages the show. “If you’re an automotive repairer, you need to be here.”

For the full NORTHEAST Educational Program schedule and to register, go to aaspnjnortheast.com.

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 31

PARTS ACT Patent Controversy Continues in Congress

by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor

During a legislative hearing on February 2, industry leaders testified on the PARTS Act, a controversial bill that would amend Title 35 of the U.S. Code to provide an exception from patent infringement for certain component parts of automobiles, including collision parts. Currently, a vehicle design patent lasts for 14 years. The PARTS Act would reduce that time to 30 months for repair parts.

The hearing addressed the costs and benefits of the current time restrictions on design patents for collision car parts.

Those in support of the act contend that the current law gives automakers a monopoly on the sale of repair parts and drives up prices for consumer.

Opponents of the PARTS Act say it would stifle innovation and lead to lower quality repairs, which could lead to unsafe repairs for consumers.

Subcommittee members listened to testimony from two witnesses in support of the PARTS Act: Pat Felder, owner of Felder’s Collision Parts in Baton Rouge, LA; and Jack Gillis, director of public affairs for the Consumer Federation of America.

Other witnesses testifying against

the passing of the act, included Kelly Burris, intellectual property attorney, Burris Law PLLC; and Dan Risley, the Automotive Service Association’s president and executive director.

Aaron Schulenburg, executive Director of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS), said the PARTS Act has been a recurring piece of legislation attempting to carve out exemptions in existing patent law and provide greater opportunity for offshore manufacturers to copy the design of manufacturer replacement parts.

“This isn’t about fostering innovation or competition, and it isn’t about consumer options; Consumers simply want what they had prior to a loss,” said Schulenburg.

“This bill is about protecting insurer and aftermarket corporate profits. The savings that are experienced from requiring consumers to accept alternative replacement parts do not represent significant savings to the consumer today, nor is there any assurance that further savings would be passed along by the insurers paying for the parts in at least 70 percent of repairs.”

He reasoned that advocates rely on data released by supporters to highlight the overall savings the use of aftermar-

Exhibit Space Selling Out for NACE | CARS 2016

The automotive collision and service repair industry is heading to Anaheim, CA this summer for NACE | CARS 2016, from August 9-13.

More than 8,000 attended last year’s event and related industry week events in Detroit, MI. Decision-makers and shop owners came from throughout the U.S. and 39 additional countries to find the latest tools and technology for their shops.

A great deal of excitement has surrounded this year’s move to Anaheim, and exhibit space is booking even more quickly than in years past.

Two-thirds of the NACE | CARS 2016 show floor was already booked as of February. Exhibitors have contracted for more than 40,000 square feet of exhibit space for the 2016 Expo. This more than 30 percent ahead of last year’s early space draw.

OEs such as Audi, BMW, Ford, GM, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan, and Toyota have committed to record sponsorships, training, and large exhibit spaces. Much of the OE training and demonstrations will be held on the show floor at no additional cost to attendees.

With the return of major suppliers including CCC, AutoZone,

PPG, Garmat, Celette, Enterprise, Car-O-Liner, NAPA, Akzo Nobel, Chief, AudaExplore, Global Finishing Solutions, LKQ, UniCure, ProSpot, and more, the vendor and supplier community is committing to the mission of ASA and its partners to grow an event for the industry, by the industry.

For information on booking exhibit space or sponsorships, contact Robert Martin at robertm@stonefortgroup.com or 832-646-0176.

Targeting business owners, management, and technicians, this conference and exposition brings together all market segments for the latest and repair solutions, services, education, products, and technology. NACE | CARS is a source of industry education, training, networking, and world-class exhibits for the automotive collision and service repair industry.

More information about NACE | CARS 2016 can be found at www .NACEexpo.com or www.CARS event.com. Please note, hotels are booking fast; make your plans soon!

www.autobodynews.com CHECK IT OUT!

32 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

ket parts represent, but fail to mention that by the same studies’ calculations, the impact on the individual consumer is merely $19–$24 per policy, per year.

“Furthermore, while the exemption would result in more non-original parts being made available sooner in the life cycle of the vehicle, the individual parts costs savings being touted by supporters may not factor in other potentially increased costs,” said Schulenburg.

“These include additional labor manipulating the part to fit like the original or reordering delays should the particular copy prove inadequate.”

No decision was made during the hearing, which was held in Washington D.C. by the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.

“It is our hope that the House Judiciary Committee will continue to recognize the negative impacts such special interest exemptions would have,” said Schulenburg.

PARTS stands for Promoting Automotive Repair, Trade, and Sales, and has been debated since 2012. It was reintroduced by Republicans Darrell Issa (R-CA), chairman of the subcommittee, and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) in February 2015. US. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Sheldon White-

house (D-RI) introduced the act in the Senate.

“The consumer has a reasonable expectation that there will be a competitive market for repair parts for their automobile. There certainly is for brake pads. Why wouldn’t there be for a bent fender?” Issa commented during the hearing. “A healthy aftermarket means more affordable parts for everyone.”

Ed Salamy, executive director of the Quality Parts Coalition, said the hearing was an important step to spark consideration in Congress.

“The Quality Parts Coalition’s sole mission is to get this pro-consumer legislation passed in Congress to protect consumers’ access to competitive replacement parts when repairing their cars after an accident,” according to a press release by the QPC. Following the hearing, Risley said, “A free and open marketplace does not entail enacting a law that states an aftermarket part is equal to an OEM part. This should be decided by the party making the purchase.”

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Richmond BMW Midlothian 12100 Midlothian Tpk Midlothian, VA 23113 Parts: (804) 897-2211

Crown Volvo 3604 West Wendover Greensboro, NC 27407 Parts: (877) 403-0828

Crown Honda of Southpoint 1001 Southpoint Auto Park Blvd.

Durham, NC 27713 Parts: (877) 326-8767

Crown Honda of Greensboro 3633 W. Wendover Ave Greensboro, NC 27407 Parts: (877) 403-0828

Crown Acura Richmond 8704 W. Broad St. Richmond, VA 23294 Parts: (800) 523-4411

Crown Acura 3908 W. Wendover Ave. Greensboro, NC 27407 Parts: (877) 403-0828

Crown BMW 3902 W. Wendover Ave. Greensboro, NC 27407 Parts: (877) 403-0828

Richmond BMW 8710 Broad St. Richmond, VA 23294 Parts: (800) 237-0130

BMW of Charlottesville 1295 Richmond Rd Charlottesville, VA 22911 Parts: (434) 245-4111

Crown MINI of Richmond

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8710 Broad St. Richmond, VA 23294 Parts: (800) 237-0130

©2013 MINI, a division of BMW of North America, LLC. The MINI name, model names and logo are registered trademarks.

Crown Ford of Fayetteville 256 Swain St. Fayetteville, NC 28303 Parts: (800) 682-5092 www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 33

Day Job/Night Job Iowa Shop Owner is 100 Percent All-in with Community Service with Ed Attanasio

by Ed Attanasio

Many body shop owners all over the country don’t hesitate to play important roles in their respective communities. Some are content to sponsor Little League teams and the local high schools, while others are willing to get even more involved. Steve Copeland, the owner of Copeland Auto Body in Hedrick, IA is one of the latter.

Steve Copeland (with wife Holly) isn’t afraid to play an integral role as a public servant and fill several capacities in his hometown of Hedrick, IA

They say that in any volunteerbased organization, 10 percent of the members do 80 percent of the work, whether it’s the Kiwanis or any form of local government. Many years ago, Steve Copeland decided to be that 10 percent. Today, he is Hedrick’s Fire Chief, the President of the District’s school board and also the former President of Hedrick’s flourishing Little League baseball program.

Copeland had absolutely no training or experience when he started on this journey into public service, but he now realizes that it is in his DNA and something he was driven to do. “My wife Holly says I’m a good decision maker and that’s why people pick me to play these roles, Copeland said. “I never started doing this in order to help or promote my business, but in some ways it has helped. By being involved in the community, I am visible and accessible, which I believe the people of Hedrick appreciate.”

1.53 square miles in size, Hedrick has a population of approximately 800, so if you don’t know Steve Cope-land, you probably just moved there. Copeland owns and operates two businesses— Copeland Auto Body and Copeland Towing & Recovery in nearby Sigourney, IA that also performs mechanical

work, but it all started in a roundabout way.

“I learned how to fix things on my grandfather’s farm,” he said. “We grew corn and soybeans and had some cattle.

When it comes to farm equipment, you can’t replace stuff, so you have to fix it.

Later, I got into race cars and when I was 15, I restored an old Impala. So, cars were always a big interest of mine, but I never figured that I would own a shop.”

Auto body repair wasn’t initially on Copeland’s radar. “I had a full-time job as a shift manager at at a large Iowabased grocery store,” he explained.

“My need to become an independent business owner finally got the best of me along with my love to fix things. I had been working on peoples’ cars on my days off, along with rebuilding some wrecked vehicles to sell. In 1994, I hired a painter and began my education at the school of Hard Knocks. We have now grown from a two-man body shop to a full service eight employee collision repair shop.”

Being a community leader can be either a plus or a minus when it comes to also being a business owner. “It can be good, but it can also cause conflicts with other people who may not agree with one of my decisions. There are folks in every community where they

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

then make decisions that will help us all? If you want to make a difference, you need to jump in and get things done, because otherwise they won’t.”

As the town’s Fire Chief, Copeland is on 24/7 call, even in the snow as he directs Hedrick’s volunteer crew

Copeland’s competition in Hedrick isn’t exactly fierce, to say the least.

“We’re the only body shop in town,

but we get cars here from as far as 40 miles away, because we’re in a rural part of the state. With 800 people living here, we often see the same vehicles coming through the door twice, even three times.”

Being Hedrick’s fire chief can occasionally impact Copeland’s cycle times, but most of his DRPs and customers don’t seem to mind. “We have 17 people on our 100 percent volunteer fire crew and when our pagers go off, we all need to respond. One of my employees is also a member, so sometimes we will end up being shorthanded at the shop. One day, a fire kept us out of the shop all day long, starting at around 10 am and we were busy at the time. I won’t lie to you— fighting some of these fires can take a toll on your body, but our attitude is whatever it takes, we’ll do it.”

Copeland’s involvement in Hedrick’s school board has paid off in an See Iowa Shop Owner, Page 40

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At Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Naples, Chase (left) and Tyler Copeland are football and track stars in Hedrick and outstanding students as well

get into office because they have an agenda or an axe to grind over some issue. I don’t do it for those reasons; I truly want to help the community and make it a better place to live and work.”

By serving his town in several capacities, Copeland has learned some invaluable lessons. “I tell people that we’re not going to agree on everything, because I will never be a yes man. Can’t we agree to disagree and

34 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 35

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

HO ND A AL AB A M A

FL O RIDA

FLOR ID A

GEO RG I A

Holman Honda of Ft. Lauderdale

Gwinnett Place Honda

F T. L A UDERDAL E

800-277-8836 678-957-5151

Freeway Honda

Classic Honda

B ir m in g h a m

O r l an do

800-987-0819 205-949-5460

888-893-4984 407-521-1115

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5 greg_thomas@freewayhondaal.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-4 parts@classichonda.com

Jerry Damson Honda

Coggin Deland Honda

Hu n ts vi lle

D e l an d

800-264-1739 256-382-3759

800-758-0007 386-626-1811

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

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

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7:30-4 robbutton@rickcase.com

Ed Morse Honda

South Motors Honda

FL O RI D A

AutoNation Honda Clearwater Cle a rwa t er

R i v i e ra Be a ch

800-232-1098 561-844-8089

888-792-7189 954-763-7157 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5:30 rguido@holmanauto.com

Rick Case Honda Davie

877-544-2249

M ia mi

888-418-3513 305-256-2240 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-7 mfranceschi@southhonda.com

888-205-2564 727-530-1173

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 7:30-5 tonyrocha@edmorse.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-5; Sun 10-3 santosr1@autonation.com

Headquarter Honda C l e r mo nt

Carey Paul Honda

AutoNation Honda Hollywood

800-497-2294 407-395-7374

770-985-1444

Ho lly wo o d

800-542-8121 954-964-8300 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-5; Sun 9-5 hernandeze@autonation.com

Braman Honda of Palm Beach

S ne ll vi ll e Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-6 gperkins@careypaul.com

Hendrick Honda Bradenton

Ed Voyles Honda

877-706-2021 941-752-2123

M ar i e tta

800-334-3719 770-933-5870 Direct

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-7; Sat 8-4 Kris.kitzman@hendrickauto.com

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

888-479-0695 561-966-5185

Hendrick Honda Daytona

Gerald Jones Honda

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

800-953-4402 386-252-2301

G re en a c re s

D a y to n a Be ach

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

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

Honda Mall of Georgia Bu f ord /G win net t

678-318-3155 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-5 cdunlap@penskeautomotive.com

Milton Martin Honda Gain esv ille

770-534-0086 678-989-5473 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6 robertthomas@mmhonda.com

Nalley Honda

GEOR GIA

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-7; Sat 8-5 pepe.guevara@headquarterhonda.com

B ra de n to n

Du lu t h

A ugus ta

800-733-2210 706-228-7040 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 tdunn@geraldjoneshonda.com

Un ion City

866-362-8034 770-306-4646 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-7; Sat 8-5 hondawp@nalleycars.com

Southern Motors Honda Savann ah

888-785-8387 912-925-1444 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-5 angela@southern-motors.com MI SS IS SI P P I

Patty Peck Honda Rid g elan d

800-748-8676 601-957-3400 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 pmartin@pattypeckhonda.com

AC U R A AL AB A M A

FL O RIDA

GEOR GIA

GE OR G I A

Jerry Damson Acura

Duval Acura

Jackson Acura

Hu n t svil le

Ja ck s o nvi ll e

Ro swe l l

Savann ah

800-264-1739 256-533-1345

800-352-2872 904-725-1149

877-622-2871 678-259-9500

800-347-0596 912-232-3222

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

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-5 Cecil.adams@duvalacura.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7:30-6 kmcmillan@jacksonacura.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-2 Tim.johnson@acuraofsavannah.com

Rick Case Acura

Nalley Acura

F o rt La u de rda l e

M ar i e tta

800-876-1150 954-377-7688

800-899-7278 770-422-3138

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

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-5 byoung@nalleycars.com

FL O RI D A

Acura of Orange Park J ack so n vi ll e

888-941-7278 904-777-1008 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-8; Sat 7-5; Sun 9-3 msweeney@acuraoforangepark.com

36 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Southern Motors Acura

N O . CA RO L IN A

Flow Acura Win st on -Salem

800-489-3534 336-761-3682 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-1 www.flowacura.com

NO . C AR O LI N A

NO . CAR OL INA

TEN NE SS EE

V IR GIN I A

Apple Tree Honda

Vann York Automall

Bill Gatton Honda

As he v ille

High Point

Br is to l

800-476-9411 828-684-4400

336-841-6200 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-3

800-868-4118 423-652-9545

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-4 appletreeparts@hotmail.com

Crown Honda Southpoint Du r ha m

855-893-8866 919-425-4711 Dept. Hours: M-Thu 7-11; Fri 7-6 Sat 7-5; Sun 11-5 www.southpointhonda.com

Hendrick Honda Ch a r lo t t e

800-277-7271 704-552-1149 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-5 rob.thomas@hendrickauto.com

Leith Honda Ra le ig h

800-868-6970 919-790-8228 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7:30-5 parts@leithhonda.com

McKenney-Salinas Honda G as t on ia

888-703-7109 704-824-8844 x 624 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30 parts@mshonda.com

Metro Honda I nd ian Trail

866-882-9542 704-220-1522 Dept. Hours: M-F 6:30-6:30; Sat 7-4 www.copytk.com

N O . CAR OL IN A

Hendrick Acura

SO . CAR OL INA

Breakaway Honda G re e n vi l l e

800-849-5056 864-234-6481 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-5 fmarshall@breakawayhonda.com

Midlands Honda C o l u m bi a

877-273-4442 803-691-8585

Hendrick Honda Woodbridge Woodb rid g e

703-690-7777

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-1 hondaparts@billgattonhonda.com

Dept. Hours: M-Fri 7-6 Sat 8-5; Sun 10-4

Wolfchase Honda

Valley Honda

Ba r tle t t

Stau n ton

800-982-7290 901-255-3780

800-277-0598 540-213-9016

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7 ekerr@wolfchasehonda.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 9-5 bwimer@myvalleyhonda.com

VIRGINIA

West Broad Honda

Colonial Honda

Rich m on d

C he ste r

800-446-0160 804-672-8811

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-4 www.copytk.com

800-564-9836 804-414-1960

Piedmont Honda

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-7; Sat 8-4 rreese@i95honda.com

Dept. Hours: M-Thu 7:30-6:30; Fri 7:30-6; Sat 8-3; Sun 11-3 wbhonda@aol.com

A n de r so n

800-849-5057 864-375-2082 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 swhite@piedmontcars.com TE NNES SEE

Airport Honda Alcoa

800-264-4721 865-970-7792 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6:30; Sat 7:30-5 parts@airporthonda.com

AutoNation Honda West Knoxville

Duncan’s Hokie Honda C hr is tia n burg

800-979-9110 540-381-3200 Dept. Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30-5:30 Sat 8:00-5:00 rthompson@duncanauto.net

Hall Honda Vi rgi ni a Bea ch

800-482-9606 757-431-4329 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-7; Sat 8-5 fox@hallauto.com

K n ox v i l l e

800-824-1301 865-218-5461 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6 rossd1@autonation.com

VI RG INIA

Karen Radley Acura

Ch a r lo t t e

Woo d br i dg e

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Shop Strategies Body Shop Owner & President of ABARI Shares Insight about Legislation the Association Helped Pass with Stacey Phillips - ASSISTANT EDITOR

John Petrarca founded Providence Auto Body in Rhode Island in 1982. He has been a member of the Auto Body Association of Rhode Island for 45 years and is the current president. Autobody News asked Petrarca about some of the key legislation the association has been involved with as well as what it is like to work in a family business.

plish this, we have had to educate our association, consumers and legislators.

As a result of our efforts, we have very consumer-friendly laws that are unique to Rhode Island.

has your primary focus been?

face notice to consumers of their ‘right to choose’ on all insurance id cards and appraisals, and it also must appear on auto body shop signage. We are the only state in the country that requires auto body technicians to be certified.

We require every vehicle with more than $2,500 of damage be inspected by a licensed auto damage appraiser. A vehicle 30 months or newer in age must be repaired with OEM parts unless the owner agrees to aftermarket parts in writing. The actual cash value (ACV)

Can you tell us about the antiQ: steering law ABARI helped promote?

of all total loss vehicles must be determined by the NADA or Kelly Blue Book retail value, and no vehicle can be deemed a total if the damage does

based upon usage rather than per hour.

Finally, Rhode Island has codified a labor rate survey requirement. Every insurer must conduct a labor rate sur-

How long have you been part We successfully lobbied for a Q: of the Auto Body Association A: very stringent anti-steering law, of Rhode Island (ABARI) and what which requires insurers to print a boldI have been a member of the A: Auto Body Association of Rhode Island for decades. I was origi-

nally a member in 1970. I am currently in my fifth term as president. Over the last 16 years, ABARI has worked tirelessly to professionalize our industry, protect consumers, support healthy competition, and advocate for fair and reasonable compensation from insurance companies. In order to accom-

38 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Providence Auto Body’s owner, John Petrarca, still operates the family-run business he established more than 30 years ago in Rhode Island

not exceed 75 percent of the value without the owner’s written consent.

Insurance companies must use one manual to appraise a vehicle in its entirety and must consider fair calculation of paint and material charges

vey and report its results to the Department of Business Regulation.

What is the other significant Q: piece of legislation that ABARI helped pass?

Continuing with ABARI’s focus A: on consumer rights, last year our legislature passed law requiring

auto body repair shops be designated as Class A or Class B. Class A shops must be certified by at least one motor vehicle manufacturer in aluminum repair; must have all technicians certified; and must give a lifetime warranty on all repairs. The new law also requires that each insurer conduct a separate and distinct labor rate survey for each classification.

Q: ofWhatfocus?is ABARI’s current area Currently, ABARI’s focus is A: educating its membership on the new requirements and assisting

shops as they gear up for the classification process. I am very excited about this new development because as with all of the legislation ABARI supports, this law protects consumers by giving them the information they need to make a proper and informed decision about their vehicle repair. It also forces shops to face reality… aluminum is here, hi-tech state-of-the-art technology is in the average vehicle on the road, and if you don’t stay cur-

rent, you’ll be out of business soon.

After your extensive experiQ: ence with ABARI, what advice can you offer to other associations?

Our association has been sucA: cessful because we have been united as a group, and we have always

focused on promoting legislation that protects consumers and gives them information they need to exercise their rights. Information is priceless, and ABARI’s philosophy has always been that an informed consumer is a step in the right direction. Neither industry (insurance and collision repair) is always correct, and associations should put as much focus on how they can improve their own industry, as they do on improving insurance regulation.

However, at the end of the day, just like in our own business, it comes down to our customers. Focusing on legislation that helps to ensure a safe and quality repair, and removes some of the obstacles and hassles encountered along the way have been a very successful strategy for ABARI over the years. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Associations need to stick together and be patient.

Can you tell us about your own Q: experience running Providence Auto Body?

I started in the auto body repair A: business 50 years ago. I have been passionate about cars and customer

service since then. Vehicles have changed significantly, but customers haven’t. I believe the key to our success is that we treat our customers like family. If I would not allow my children or grandchildren to drive in a vehicle, I won’t let my customers either. I was the first in the state to offer a Lifetime Guarantee on all repairs, and I believe that a business can achieve perfect customer service. As a result, we have thousands of loyal customers who trust our service and appreciate the hassle-free experience we provide. There are 50 dedicated employees, many of whom I have been fortunate enough to employ for more than two decades, who work hard every day to ensure that our production can keep up with demand.

Is your shop certified in alurepair?

Q: minum I have always believed in inA: vesting in state-of-the-art equip-

ment for the quality of the repair and for the speed of production. A year ago, we became the first auto body repair shop in Rhode Island to be certified in aluminum repair by Ford. We are in the process with other manufacturers who certify in aluminum and look forward to many exciting announcements in 2016.

What has your experience been like working in a family-owned Q: business?

We are a family business, which A: is as rewarding as it is challenging. My wife manages our office staff,

and our rental company, and we have been working together for over 30 years. My children grew up working in the business as young adults, and are now both attorneys with law offices next door. They continue on in the company as legal counsel. Taking legal advice from your children was not easy to handle at first, but I have learned to listen, and am grateful I am able to see my family everyday. Of course as with any family business, a unique set of challenges can be present when disagreements arise. However, See President of ABARI, Page 40

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 39

3M Calendar Fundraiser Raises $100,000 in January

The Hire Our Heroes Calendar fundraiser, coordinated through 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division (AAD) and the Collision Repair Education Foundation, started off the year on a strong note with over $100,000 raised in January.

The Hire Our Heroes program provides scholarships and tool grants to military veterans and their family members who are studying collision repair.

Repair facilities that donated $200 to the Foundation’s 3M Hire Our Heroes program received a patriotic calendar that contains offers worth approximately $1,800 in nocost 3M products, as well as a decal to show their support. Donations were accepted through February, with the goal of raising over $250,000 for the 3M Hire Our Heroes fund at the Education Foundation.

Since 2013, the Hire Our Heroes program has awarded scholarships and tool grants to over 150 military veterans and their family members who are studying collision repair.

To learn more, visit http://3M Collision.com/Hire-Our-Heroes.

Continued from Page 39

President of ABARI

after working together so many years, you realize how rare it is, and how lucky we are.

Is there anything additional you would like to share about the inQ: dustry in general?

Aside from my role in ABARI, I have been fighting for conA: sumer rights through my business for

decades. We have exposed shops that engage in shoddy repair work, and in unacceptable business practices, and 20 years ago I embarked upon an advertising campaign that began the process of educating consumers about Continued from Page 21

Labor Rate Survey

VRS Labor Rate Survey include Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Utah.

Any shop may request a free, no-

Continued from Page 18

HS Accreditation

program would meet strict industry standards, and now we are happy to join the ranks of the ASE accredited training programs. Our students will be assured of a quality education, and shop owners will be assured of getting quality job applicants.”

The program, which is open to students in all three high schools, includes a basic introduction course where students receive training in safety, Mig welding, trim and hardware, exterior panel repair, painting basics and more. The program also includes two more in-depth courses at FHS, which prepare students for ASE tests.

In the first, they receive training in painting and refinishing, fundamentals of collision repair, and damage analysis.

In the second, students combine classroom theory with hands-on techniques, studying brakes, lighting, starting and charging systems and air conditioning. Students participate in classroom activities and also practice skills in a lab environment.

Thank you to Fauquier Now for permission to reprint this story.

their right to choose their repair shop, the right to not use aftermarket parts on their new vehicle, etc … It is a wonderful feeling when you encounter people and they tell you, ‘Of course I know I have the right to choose, I listen to your commercials!’

An industry can be changed for the better one customer at a time, but patience and endurance are the keys to success.

John Petrarca can be reached at (401) 861-2211 or john@providence autobody.com.

For information about ABARI, call (401) 467-7575 or visit www .ABARI.net.

If you know of a shop that would like to share its “Shop Strategies,” contact Stacey Phillips at sphillips@ autobodynews.com. obligation demo of the VRS. To inquire about the VRS System, or to sponsor a VRS Labor Rate Survey in your state, Contact Sam Valenzuela, President, National AutoBody Research: 913-226-6550 / Sam@National AutoBody Research.com or visit their website www.NationalAutoBody Research.com

40 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Continued from Page 28

Continued from Page 34

proximately 90 students in grades 5-8, young adults in their graduate support program, and people with economically disadvantaged backgrounds from Boston, the Epiphany School is a nationally-acclaimed school.

The Fitzpatricks get to see the value of their donation literally every day, because this thriving school is only roughly 100 yards away from the shop. “The kids come over here all the time to do their cheers and sing for us,” Frank said. “Many of them say I want to work in your shop one day. It’s so satisfying seeing these kids improving their lives and getting set up for better lives.”

How does Frank Fitzpatrick think about an industry that has employed much of his family for more than a century? “It’s been a good run and I’m happy to see that it’s been handed off to another generation of Fitzpatricks,” he said. “We’re going to work as long as we can, but knowing that Neale is here and doing a great job makes it a little easier to think about.”

indirect way, because both of his sons, Chase and Tyler have turned out pretty well, according to their proud father.

“They both play football for the Pekin High School Panthers and they run track as well,” Copeland said. “They were part of a 4x2 relay team and they won the state title. They’re good students and they are getting great educations, so that is very satisfying.”

Will Steve’s sons enter the collision repair world when the time comes? “I don’t know, because it’s not an easy business to be in,” he explained. “My father tried to talk me out of getting into this industry, so I don’t want them to feel like they have to do this. One of them is into fixing the cars and the other one is good at the computer-side of things, so I think they will do a great job if they decide to take over.”

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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 41

A New Hope for Labor Rates: The Variable Rate System by National AutoBody Research Autobody News interviewed Sam Valenzuela, president of National AutoBody Research, about the importance of conducting labor rate surveys and the company’s Variable Rate System technology.

Can you tell us about National Q: AutoBody Research and the Variable Rate System?

about not-included procedures that insurance companies pay for. By enabling repairers to keep up with the increasing training, certifications, and equipment demands of the new technologies and materials associated with modern vehicles, the VRS supports the growth of the collision repairer and helps ensure the proper care and safety of the consumer.

National AutoBody Research What is the process NABR uses A: Q: (NABR) is an independent, to collect data and how does it third-party research, technology and ensure accuracy?

consulting company serving the collision repair industry. It is not owned by insurance companies, body shops or outside investors. NABR is working to restore the free market to labor rate pricing and to level the playing field for payment of non-included procedures.

NABR believes people should be paid what they are worth and be paid for the work they do. In response, NABR developed the Variable Rate System (VRS), an innovative and proven technology, to help collision repairers understand market-based labor rates and assist them to learn more

All VRS Labor Rate Surveys A: are conducted online, free and easily accessible and available 24/7 on

the National AutoBody Research website (http://www.nationalautobodyresearch.com/). The VRS survey is an accurate source available for marketbased labor rates for several reasons, including the survey’s validity, measurement of market labor rates, data integrity, continuous measurement, and reporting of a range of rates.

Among other criteria, a key component to a valid survey is that it is easily and equally accessible to all po-

42 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

tential survey respondents. This is true for the VRS survey but may not be true for other surveys.

The VRS survey asks for collision repairers’ posted labor rates (sometimes called door rates, or walkin rates). The VRS survey measures the true, market-based range of labor rate prices, and then reports those rates through the Variable Rate System.

Furthermore, as the industry’s only independent survey of labor rates nationwide, the VRS has no special interest in the survey resulting in a certain number. The survey is only interested in accurately representing the market prices for collision repair labor in any market. Therefore, the VRS uses a high standard for data integrity and does not leave out data, does not change data, and does not manipulate the survey results. The VRS produces a solid market report on labor rates that both repairers and insurers can agree on.

In addition, the VRS measures market prices continuously, not just once a year or even once every three to five years. Any time a shop changes

their rates for any reason, they can immediately report their new rates to the VRS, as many times as they want, whenever they want, to ensure the VRS always has the most current market rates available.

Lastly, the VRS reports a range of market labor rates in any geographic area, not just one rate. Just like different cars have different prices, and different insurance companies have different prices to insure those cars, shops are different too, and shops have different prices. In reality, in any market for products or services, there is an acceptable range of prices that make up the market, not one singular price for all products. The VRS reports this range, which is a truer, more accurate picture of market labor rate prices.

What is the importance of conQ: ducting labor rate surveys and how can my shop learn about market rates in our area of the country?

Revenue from labor can often A: represent about half of a shop’s total revenue; therefore, the labor rate

is critically important to the financial success and health of a collision repairer. Repairers have struggled to get paid what they’re worth, and current labor rates are often below true market prices, even lagging behind standard inflation rates.

In the Variable Rate System, finally the collision repair industry has a real solution to the problem of inaccurate labor rate surveys, which have plagued the industry for years.

To help both your shop and the industry, take five minutes to visit the NABR website and fill out the free VRS Labor Rate Survey for your state.

Even though the survey is an important starting point, it is only one small piece of the entire Variable Rate System, which comprises a full suite of online tools to help you understand market prices in your area, understand your cost of doing business, calculate the rates for your individual shop, and receive more not-included procedures and operations.

For more information on the VRS, visit the NABR website at: www.NationalAutoBodyResearch.com or contact Sam Valenzuela at sam@ nationalautobodyresearch.com.

Continued from Cover

Bill Would Cap Rates

sippi shops to contact their state legislators through the ASA’s website www.TakingTheHill.com and voice their opposition to the bill.

“This bill is an obvious attempt by the insurance industry to suppress labor rates and reduce their average severity,” said Dan Risley, ASA president and executive director. “Attempting to classify all collision shops as equal demonstrates a lack of understanding of the collision repair industry and the cost of running an actual business.”

Mississippi Code 83-11-501 currently states: “No insurer may require as a condition of payment of a claim that repairs to a damaged vehicle, including glass repairs or replacements, must be made by a particular contractor or motor vehicle repair shop; provided, however, the most an insurer shall be required to pay for the repair of the vehicle or repair or replacement of the glass is the lowest amount that such vehicle or glass could be properly and fairly repaired or replaced by a contractor or repair shop within a

reasonable geographical or trade area of the insured.”

The Senate bill would add the following: “In no event shall a motor vehicle repair shop charge labor rates above the average national rate charged for like-kind work, without the express approval of the Commissioner of Insurance.”

Hughes told Autobody News that six representatives from the MCRA and six representatives from the insurance coalition will attend the meeting. Each side will come to the table with eight or 10 issues and share their perspective on such issues as labor rates, regionalism, emerging technologies and the cost of capital investment to repair new vehicles.

“It’s a very different industry than it was 10 years ago or even 20–30 years ago, said Hughes. “We just want them to see what the financials look like from our side of the table. We also want to be good faith initiators and look at what they are facing. We think this is going to be a super productive meeting and we are really excited about it.”

Hughes said the problem with the national labor rate is who defines it.

“Not all shops are created equal,” he said. “My cost of operation could be

very different than your cost of operation because of the cost of employment, and the capital investments on type of vehicles that we work on. That’s very concerning for our members. From top to bottom it’s concerning for our small local guy and for some of our bigger metropolitan shops.”

Hughes said he often hears from shops that the forces they go up against are much larger than they are and they don’t feel like they can make a difference. He commended Mississippi shops for taking the time to contact 100 legislators in such a short time period, which resulted in a meeting that will benefit the entire industry. “When you get these calls to action, it’s so important for the local shops to participate and contact their local legislators,” he said.

For more information, contact John Morgan Hughes at jmhughes44 @gmail.com.

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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 43

Shop Strategies with Stacey Phillips - ASSISTANT EDITOR

General Manager of Jost Garage in New Jersey Says Running a Successful Shop Requires Staying Up With Latest in Training & Technology Autobody News talked to Barry Jost, Sr., general manager of Jost Garage in New Jersey, about the fourth-generation family business. Established

by Wesley Jost, Sr. in 1923, Jost Garage started as a Studebaker dealership in Long Island, New York.

After several moves, the Jost family settled in Wall Township. Wesley Sr. and his sons, Wesley Jr. and Robert Jost Sr., constructed a new garage.

Robert Sr. and his four sons, Bob, Billy, Barry and Bryan, have dedicated themselves to running the body shop and providing excellent service to customers. Now, the fourth-generation Barry Jr. is involved in the business as well.

advancements and driver assistance ad- vances. Metallurgy is a recent phenomenon in auto body repair. We now deal with all of the different strength steels, and of course aluminum. The last few years are all about lean processes, cycle times, parts correctness and complete disassembly. These are some of the new buzz words we hear today.

Can you tell us about Q: new technology that you have incorporated in your

shop and the benefit of staying up-to-date about new advancements in the industry?

A:

We have always done wheel alignments in-house with our Hunter alignment machine. We have four Chief E-Z Liner frame machines, two resistance welders by Pro-Spot as well as three down-draft spray booths.

Our latest addition has been the Matrix Wand. It’s a 3D measuring tool that was the bell of the ball at the SEMA show in Las Vegas this past year.

As a fourth-generation busiWhat are the benefits of using Q: ness, can you share some of the Q: the Matrix Wand in your shop? changes you have seen in the industry It provides us an accurate analyover the years?

A: sis of any damage, either uniDirect repair relationships are body or full frame. It will also pinpoint A: one of the first changes I re- any suspension damage or engine cramember when I graduated college in dle movement. It’s the most innovative

the late 1980s. Jost Garage has a large DRP conglomerate. It’s about 50 percent of our business.

Technology has come a long way as well with all of the Supplemental Restraint (SRS) systems, electronic

product we have seen in quite some time. You can now show proof of any type of structural damage to your insurance partners as well as speed up the tech in repairing a vehicle back to crash worthiness!

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44 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

How do you stay current with We use recycled anti-freeze and Q: A: training and how does it help recycle all of our fluids. We are with cycle time in your shop?

100 percent waterborne in our refinish

A:

department and are very proud of that.

We exceed the industry average in recycled parts usage. We also recycle all metals and cardboard, plus we are 90 percent paperless in our office!

Our current partnership with Sherwin-Williams and the professional staff, such as Steve Feltovich, have really helped us stay up-to-speed in this industry, which constantly evolves. We have attended multiple classes and seminars on all of the hot topics.

We are engaged in a 20 Group with Sherwin-Williams as well. We also stay active with I-CAR training for our own information as well as to stay in check with our insurance partners’ requirements. We have a state-of-theart mechanical facility that employees multiple ASE-certified techs.

Are there other changes you Q: have noticed in the industry?

CARFAX is changing the way A: repairs are being viewed. I’ve noticed that people are more concerned about the repair process since CARFAX has been put in place.

Barry Jost can be reached at (732) 681-0115.

If you know of a shop that would like to share its “Shop Strategies,” contact Stacey Phillips at sphillips@ autobodynews.com.

What are some of the ecoQ: friendly initiatives you have incorporated at Jost Garage?

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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 45

Hey Toby!

Kool Tools from SEMA 2015 with Toby Chess

Three years ago, Kye Yeung and I walked the floors of the 2012 SEMA show looking for new products that most of us never get a chance to see.

When we made a presentation at the Collision Industry Conference, the presentation became an instant hit among the audience. So, for the third year in a row, we walked the floor at SEMA 2015 looking for things that were unique and would make life in the body shop a little easier.

The products we chose to test were made by Dent Fix, GL Enterprises, and Spray Max, Infratech, WRD Glass Tools, Steck, Reliable Automotive Engineering, Collision Edge, Whistler, Time Shaver Tools and Kent Automotive.

It should be noted that we are not endorsing these products and there other manufactures that make similar items and you should take some time to search them out. We purchased all but two of the items and we checked them out before we presented at the

Toby Chess is an I-CAR program instructor, Training specialist, and former salvage yard operator.

Toby is universally known in the collision industry for his work with first responders and advocacy for body shops and consumers. He can be reached at tcspeedster@gmail.com

SCRS open board meeting and the Collision Industry Conference this January. There is also a video presentation which can be accessed at SCRS.com.

Let’s look at our first item—Shunt Pliers from Dent Fix. See Fig 1.

freely through the copper/aluminum electrodes. When two or more pieces of steel are placed in the path of the electrons, the path is interrupted, resistance and pressure builds up and are released in the form of heat—a spot weld is formed. See Fig 2.

does not allow the electrons to pass through the metal. So, to create an electrical path, we use shunt pliers for the first weld. In the past, we used locking pliers to create the path but locking pliers were not designed to carry the current (amperage) that is being used today and it is possible to blow the pliers apart. I know this because it happened to both me and March Taylor. The shunt pliers have a large copper base and huge wire to handle the amps. The pliers allow the path of electricity and once the path is established, resistance forms at the

Fig 1

Over the years I have been looking for a set of shunt pliers, but these are the first ones that I found that I wanted to purchase. These pliers are a must for the weld-bonding process on today’s vehicles. During the spot welding process, the electrons flow

46 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Fig 2

The problem occurs when a barrier is placed between the pieces of metal such as E-coat or adhesive that

Fig 3

electrodes and produces a weld. When the second weld is performed the path travels through the first weld and resistance forms at the electrodes and the weld is created. See Fig 3.

be punched out. The smaller size allows for greater access in tight spaces.

8mm x 20mm Slot

Fig 4

Moving on to the next item, a finger sander from Dent Fix. Dent Fix has this small and easy to use finger sander. See Fig 4.

This compact sander is ideal for removing squeeze type resistance spot welds and removing the heads of rivets, in order that they may Fig 5

8 mm Plug Hole

Fig 6

Fig 5.

With MIG weld brazing, you need surface area and this punch creates an 8mm by 20mm slot. See Fig 6.

Another tool from Dent Fix is a LED work light. Fig 6a.

Fig 7

It has a magnet on the bottom, it is rechargeable, it has variable intensity and the most amazing thing is its brightness. See it in action on the SCRS web site.

The last item from Dent Fix is a safety product.

Fig 6a

Another tool is a slot punch from Dent Fix for MIG weld brazing. See

Question— How many of your

Fig 8

techs use two air fitting for a blower? See Fig 7.

This is a huge OSHA violation.

Dent Fix has an OSHA compliant blower that will fit into a pocket and it works extremely well. See Fig 8.

Fig 9

The next item is from GL Enterprises and it is called the GOOP Scoop.

See Fig 9.

Fig 10

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They come in two sizes and allow the tech and painter to get all of that expensive material out of the bottom of the container, reducing waste.

See Fig 10.

They can also be used to mix the plastic filler.

Another item from GL Enterprises is the Shinners. See Fig 11.

a pot life about 12 hours. We found an epoxy primer in a spray can. It is made

by Spray Max and it is extremely easy to use. See Fig 13.

It is a 2K system, in other words the spray can has the hardener in the bottom and through an internal mechanical device the hardener is mixed into the primer when sprayed.

When the can is shaken up it is ready to spray. It has a shelf life of 4 to 6 days depending on the weather. See Fig 14.

Fig 11

The kit comes with 50 pieces of plastic and there are two holes in the plastic that line up with pegs on the paddle. You apply the paint to the plastic and when the holes and black are covered, you take the sheet off the paddle and turn it over and now you have a clear coat/base coat panel that can be used to check for the correct color. Now you don’t need to add clear or wetting agent to the panel.

One step instead of two.

Fig 14

INFRATECH The next item is great tool to speed up the painting process, a short-wave infrared heater from Infratech. See Fig 15.

Fig 12

The closest primer that approaches the characteristics of OEM applied Ecoat is epoxy primer. It is a two component system, the primer and the hardener. See Fig 12.

I tell shops to put the gallon can on the mixing machine and each day have the painter add the hardener and make a small amount. I apply the epoxy primer with a small foam paint brush ($.60 Fig 13 from Home Depot) to areas that need seam sealer. It is dry in about 30 minutes. The primer has

Fig 15

Let’s take a look at the benefits of a short-wave heater. Short-wave infrared heats the substrate, not the surface. In other words, the short-wave light goes through the paint and heats up the metal and now the paint cures

48 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

from the bottom to the top. Short wave can heat so quickly that it’s possible cure primer in 15 minutes. This unit is portable and the heating unit is 18 inches long. It’s priced at less than $300. The head can be moved up or down and rotated 360 degrees.

It also has a timer.

The next product that can be used in conjuncFig 16 tion with the heat lamp is a high-build primer in a spray can from Kent Automotive. See Fig 16.

Kye uses this system in his shop for small body repairs. The body tech will spray the primer on (just for small areas) and heat it up with the short wave light. By the time the vehicle gets to the paint department, the primer is fully cured and ready for prep.

Moving on to our next item, a glass removal system from WRD Glass Tools. See Fig. 17.

This glass removal tool is unique in that it uses a special nylon rope and small battery-powered electric drill.

Fig 17

The rope is reusable and it does not chew up the rubber or damage the paint. See Fig 18.

Kye purchased the unit and has

Fig 18

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removed 3 rear glasses with the same rope. I put a video clip of the tool being used and this can be accessed from SCRS.com (see—Kool Tools from SEMA 2015). Next, we have a door skin tool for aluminum from Steck. See Fig 19.

Fig 22.

The next two companies have

Fig 22

Fig 19

The new all aluminum Ford 150 has a replacement door skin. A special rope hem flange is used to install the door skin and this is different than a steel hem flange. See Fig 20.

items that are used for estimating and quality control.

The first product is from Collision Edge. The Dent Viewer shows the amount of damage via a photograph.

See Fig 23.

It works in conjunction with the flash on the camera. Note the distor-

ing the extent of damage and panel blending tape.

The next estimating tool is from Whistler. See Fig 24. This tool can be used in tear down stage of repairs to determine the amount of damage in an enclosed rail or a backside of a panel that cannot be seen such as rocker panel reinforcement. In the quality control department, welds, repair and corrosion protection items can be inspected. This unit has a 4-foot extension, cables to hook it up to a computer, internal video and single picture capabilities. I used it recently to prove to an insurance adjuster that the body shop had glued the quarter panel as per BMW instructions instead of welding it.

The next item that both Kye and I thought really cool was from Time Shaver Tools. See Figs 25 & 26.

Fig 24 Fig 20

I folded the aluminum flat like the steel in the picture and then I applied a die check to a piece and the result was a crack along the entire radius. The “Skinner” which is attached to an air tool, is a two-step process. First you come in straight and then repeat the operation at a 45 degree angle and you will have a perfect rope hem flange.

Follow the enclosed directions and you will not have a problem.

In repairing today’s vehicles, panel gaps are extremely important factor for looks and safety. Reliable Automotive Equipment has a simple solution. See Fig 21.

tion on grid on the top picture. There are two sides, one for light colored vehicles and the other side for dark colored vehicles. The company also has magnetic measuring tapes for show-

The Worktop Kit has a table with an aluminum channel upright that atSee Kool Tools, Page 59

Fig 25

Fig 26

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The feeler gauges measure up to 6mm. Knowing the correct gap, the suction cup feeler gauges are set and mounted on steel or aluminum. See

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BASF Presents Winner of 2016 Fight Club of Automotive Design at Middlecott Sketchbattle in Detroit, MI Omar Gonzalez won the 2016 Middlecott Sketchbattle Experiment, pre-

sented by BASF. Introduced in 2012, the experiment is Detroit’s first-ever “Fight Club of Design,” an underground automotive industry event developed to identify emerging design talent.

The event coincides with the Detroit Auto Show, and is an automotive sketching competition where contestants battle for the championship.

Fourteen contestants competed under pressure, in front of an audience in a timed, three-round boxing themed setting.

Omar Gonzalez’s first round sketch featuring BASF Nightfall Blue a 150th anniversary color from South America

2016 Sketchbattle winner, Omar Gonzalez, with his championship belt

“Sketchbattle is an amazing event that enables emerging industry talent to shine. These artists and designers are the future of the automotive industry,” said Paul Czornij, technical

manager for the BASF Color Excel- each round of the competition. lence Group and Sketchbattle judge.

“The use of BASF colors in this Other judges included: Ralph year’s competition presented the conGilles, head of design, FCA - Global; testants with a unique design opportuBregt Ectors, global strategic design nity to convey their dreams in color in manager, Buick; and Kemal Curic, 30 minutes or less,” said Frank design manager, Ford Mustang.

Schwartz, co-owner and partner, Mid“It was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had, and I was extremely impressed by the audience and judges. It was a pleasure to sketch live for all of them. Middlecott Sketchbattle is a great platform for young designers to make connections inside the automotive industry,” said Gonzalez, a native of Mexico who recently graduated from Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon The 14 design competitors sketch at a table surrounded (UANL) in Monterrey, Mex- by hundreds of onlookers during the 2016 Middlecott ico in the Industrial Design Sketchbattle presented by BASF program.

Sketchers incorporated colors de- dlecott Sketchbattle. “The anniversary veloped by the BASF automotive color colors brought the designer’s passions excellence group to celebrate the com- to the forefront, and the judges had a pany’s 150 anniversary in 2015. Four very difficult time choosing a winner, colors were developed–—one for each although Omar’s consistency throughof BASF’s global regions–—Arjean out the evening helped bring him the Silver for North America, Nightfall award.”

Blue for South America, Solaric Green More information about the divifor Europe and Fresh Mint for Asia- sion is available at www.basf-coatings Pacific. A different color was used for .com

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Industry Insight with John Yoswick

—John Yoswick is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon, who has a body shop in the family and has been writing about the automotive industry since 1988.

He is the editor of the weekly CRASH Network (for a free 4-week trial subscription, visit www.CrashNetwork.com). Contact him by email at jyoswick@SpiritOne.com.

Attorney Presses Shops to Take the Steps They Can to Help Prevent Workplace Violence The mass shooting in San Bernardino, CA, in December in which a health department employee (along with his wife) shot and killed 14 of his co-workers at a holiday party occurred just 80 miles from business attorney Cory King’s law firm. So a month later when he was scheduled to discuss human resource issues at the quarterly Collision Industry Conference (CIC), King knew workplace violence was a logical if unpleasant topic on which to focus.

“It’s a new topic for CIC, but it’s an unfortunate reality of our society today,” King said.

He offered a number of steps employers can take in order to help avoid violence in the workplace. The first, he said, is a good written policy that prohibits fighting, verbal threats, threatening conduct, horseplay (arm-wrestling, strength contests, etc.) or the possession of any weapon or ammunition on company property.

“That has been a strict policy we have espoused even though I am a cardcarrying lifetime member of the NRA,” King said. “Typically, at least in the past, the best way to stay safe in a workplace has been to prohibit weapons in the workplace.”

Even horseplay, he said – “slapfights” or someone pretending to drive toward another employee with a car to scare them – can start out as fun but can escalate quickly.

Written Policy Is Not Enough The next step is consistent strict enforcement of that policy, he said. Make it clear both in the policy and in your interactions with employees that anyone found to have been engaged in any of those activities is subject to discipline, up to and including termination.

Such consistency includes not excusing the employee with a gun in his vehicle because you know he’s leaving for a hunting trip after work, King cited as an example.

“Or don’t just think: ‘Oh, that’s Johnny; he has to blow off steam every once in a while. We’re just going to let that go,’” King said. “If you’re being inconsistent in these policies, you’re not going to have credibility.”

Does that mean a no-weapons policy applies to company owners as well?

King said it does, but some companies have shifted to a policy that allows employees who are legally-authorized concealed-carry permit holders to carry firearms at work. The policy just needs to be consistent for owners and employees, and consistently-enforced.

But as he does each time he speaks at CIC, King cautioned that his presentations are not Cory King legal advice and that it’s always important to understand your particular state’s laws. In terms of this topic, for instance, he said some states that allow concealed or even open-carry of firearms now have laws prohibiting employers from having noweapon policies at the workplace.

Take Every Threat Seriously Another key step to working to prevent workplace violence, King said, is treating every threat seriously.

“It’s like being at the airport. You don’t joke about bombs when you’re going through the [security] line,” King said. “Same thing in your workplace. You take it seriously. You would rather make the mistake of embarrassing somebody than having someone end up dead on your watch.”

He said businesses also should work to establish a good relationship with local law enforcement to help ensure they respond if you make a “keepthe-peace” request.

“If you have a volatile employee, and you know that when you fire or discipline them, that they are going to have a problem with it, that they may get angry or violent, don’t wait for that to happen,” King counseled. “Call the police and say, ‘Look, we are terminating Johnny at 2 p.m. today. Johnny has a violent temper. We will take our appropriate precautions on our end to make sure we keep the situation calm, and we’re going to escort him from the premises, but just in case, can you have an officer onsite in case Johnny has a problem and it escalates?’ I’ve yet to hear of a local law enforcement agency that would not say, ‘Of course we will have someone there. Thank you for letting us know.’ They would

52 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

rather deal with that than have to deal with a really bad situation.”

If warranted, King said, a restraining order also can be obtained against a potential violent employee. Certain conditions have to be met in order to get a court to do this, however, he said. There has to be an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or harm to an individual, and the person must have immediate access to a weapon of some kind.

“You need to be willing to put that in a sworn declaration,” King said. “But if it’s bad enough that you are truly fearing for your life or the life of someone else, and that person has made threats directly or indirectly and has the ability to imminently carry out that threat, you can and should talk to a lawyer about your options for getting a restraining order.”

Such restraining orders will be served on the person by the local sheriff, he said, and usual involve confiscation of firearms by law enforcement until a hearing can held 21 days later.

Remain Vigilant Lastly, King said, the other step shop owners can take to help prevent workplace violence is what he called “situational awareness” or “constant vigilance.” He said shop owners should think about, for example, how well they control access to the building or property.

“Do you have 15 doors to the shop all of which are open all the time and anyone can just walk in from the back alley without you even knowing they are there,” King asked shop owners to consider.

“Always be aware of what’s going on in your shop,” he said. “Know how your employees are getting along. Find out if someone is being a bully or threatening people. Don’t let the first time this type of situation comes up be the first time you’ve given some serious thought about what it is you are going to do. You have an obligation to do so in order to protect your employees.”

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Shop Strategies with Stacey Phillips - ASSISTANT EDITOR

Female Shop Owner in NY Says Success is Due to Being Prepared & Connecting With Customers Autobody News spoke to Audra Fordin, owner of Great Bear Auto Repair in Flushing, New York about the body shop she has run since 1997. Fordin began working with her father at Great Bear at a young age and ultimately fell in love with the industry. She prides

Audra Fordin, owner/operator of Great Bear Auto Repair and Auto Body Shop in Flushing, NY

herself on running her shop differently than most, and said that a successful business requires being prepared and establishing a relationship with customers and the community.

cars, but it took some time to develop that skill. I found other ways to help in the meanwhile. Service writing and telemarketing come to mind.

I’m a big extrovert and love to meet new people. Talking to drivers is my favorite thing about this job. Chatting with customers has taught me more about the auto industry than market research ever could. Leading workshops is another favorite. It’s fun and fulfilling to help women understand how cars work.

changes have you seen in Q: theWhatindustry?

A: The auto industry changes fast. I remember working on carburetors and fuel injection. Now, engines are controlled by a computer. Auto bodies used to be made of steel and iron. Now it’s fiberglass and plastic. All of this happened within decades and bigger changes are coming. Today, we’ve got hybrid and electric cars, not to mention the upcoming rise of self-driving cars.

Can you please share the hisQ: tory of Great Bear?

Great Bear was established by A: my great grandfather in 1933.

This presents several problems.

A: First and foremost, it’s hard for He ran the business with his four sons.

Once upon a time, there was another mechanics to keep up with technology.

business called “Great Bear” that sold brake pads. My family loved the name and asked if we could use it. They said yes, so we did.

There used to be 72 Great Bear auto shops in the family franchise.

Today, there are about 10 left. They’re all individually owned, so I can’t speak for those businesses. Eight employees work at my shop. I’m the last of the Mohicans. No other Fordins own or operate an auto shop anymore. My dad ran my shop until I took over in 1997. Now he’s a snow bird, living in Florida. I was jealous during the recent blizzard!

How did you get started in the Q: business and what do you enjoy most?

I got started when I was super A: young. At age eight, I could help file papers. As soon as I learned to count, I could keep track of inventory. When I developed enough strength and dexterity, I started to use power tools. I was excited to repair

Within months of graduating trade school, significant changes could occur. Second, this gives an unfair advantage to mechanics who work with big car dealers. Automakers tend to monopolize information. Thank goodness for the Right to Repair Act. There are also organizations like I-CAR and ASA that offer training programs for mechanics.

I do my best to stay on top of the latest trends. In the mid ‘80s, check engine lights became a feature. My dad and I didn’t know what to do at first. I remember him shrugging and giving the cliche advice of, “Just put some black tape over it.” At this point, I decided to enroll in automotive trade school. I’ve also been certified with ASE, I-CAR, the NYS DMV, and other organizations. I expect the same from my staff. All of my mechanics have a minimum of two certifications, plus we hold mandatory training twice a year.

Q:

What is it like running the business as a woman business owner

54 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

in this industry and what advice do you have for others in a similar situation?

First, let me give newbies a pep A: talk. This is an awesome industry. Don’t let your friends or family dis-

courage you. People might be surprised you want to go into an industry known to be a boys’ club. That’s okay. I feel empowered when I help a driver get back on the road. Know the feeling?

Make no mistake. You will be judged and stereotyped. Men have doubted my expertise many times.

Once, a male driver didn’t trust my diagnosis, and asked to speak with a “real mechanic.” I found my janitor (a man) and told him exactly what to say. The customer trusted him without question.

You’ll also have to deal with defensive customers. Often, cars break down or malfunction due to neglect.

No one wants to believe they’re at fault. In reality, it’s hard to blame drivers. Marketing hasn’t done a great job

of educating the public about what it takes to keep a vehicle in good shape.

Here’s my advice: Brace yourself for negative situations. I’m not implying you should worry or stress out. Instead, consider the common objections you might hear from drivers. If you’re a female mechanic or business owner like me, there might be questions about your credentials. How will you handle them? Write down a response and say it out loud until you feel confident. Do the same for buyer objections. You’ll close more sales when you’re prepared to manage the situation.

What sets your collision repair Q: facility apart from others?

My shop is an extension of my A: home. The setting is quite cozy.

It invites people to relax and stay awhile.

I want people to feel comfortable. It comes down to remembering names, greeting people with a smile, and ad-

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dressing their concerns compassionately. We offer snacks and drinks (not alcoholic ones); plus, there are bar stools lined up at the counter, like in the sitcom Cheers. “Everybody knows your name.

And they’re always glad you came.”

We also prioritize driver’s education. For example, we’ve got a tire pressure gauge in the waiting room.

Customers are welcome to read the instructions, take it outside, and check their pressure while they wait.

Is there anything else you would Q: like to share with our readers in the collision repair industry?

In the Great Recession of 2008, A: my shop hit a sales slump. Lots of folks lost their jobs and didn’t have

a reason to drive. Others held onto their jobs, but took a bus or taxi to save money. Business wasn’t good. This is what inspired me to host auto awareness workshops for women. We taught them how to do basic repairs like polishing headlights, checking auto fluids, and changing bulbs and wiper blades. We collected donations from participants and local businesses. The proceeds covered the cost of repairs for single working moms.

I’m sharing this story because it illustrates the power of community.

People want to feel connected to the businesses they work with. Providing workshops (or any kind of educational event) is a great way to do that. If you can find a way to serve your community in a way that people notice, you’ll make a difference and drum up new business.

Audra Fordin is the CEO of Women Auto Know and owner/operator of Great Bear Auto Repair and Auto Body Shop in Flushing, NY. She is preparing to take her community workshops on the road. You can reach her at info@womenautoknow.com.

Continued from Cover

SE Tornados

and a library were damaged at a K-12 school in Wesson where children were in attendance when heavy thunderstorms and a possible tornado crossed at least 19 counties. No students were hurt, authorities said, adding at least 15 buildings and homes were reported damaged or destroyed.

Progressive Says Nearly 9,000 Hours of Productivity Lost in More Than 190 Crashes in Denver Each Day

Nearly 70,000 car accidents happen in the Denver, CO metropolitan area each year; thats more than 1,340 a week and 190 a day. And, while 43 percent of all claims handled by Progressive in the area are considered minor in terms of repair cost (causing less than $2,000 in damage to each vehicle), the time wasted and inconvenience caused are anything but minor.

About 40 percent of drivers involved in crashes report spending four or more days managing the process of getting their vehicles repaired. This means area drivers collectively lose nearly 9,000 hours of time; that’s more than three years managing the claims/repair process.

To help save drivers time, The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, announced on January 30 the opening of its first Service Center in the Denver area.

According to a company press release, drivers here can now receive a claims service that reduces the time each driver spends on the claims/repair process from four days to about 15 minutes. And the service is not limited to just Progressive Direct or

Drive Insurance customers. It’s also available to anyone involved in a claim with these customers.

If drivers choose to use the new Denver Service Center, according to a company press release, they can drop off the damaged vehicle and, in about 15 minutes, can leave in a rental car assured that a claims representative will handle the process from beginning to end. This includes overseeing the work that the body shop does, and that the repairs will be guaranteed.

Without this level of claims service, drivers have to spend several days doing everything themselves.

“The Service Center approach is simple and it works,” said Franklin Duru, Denver Service Center manager for Progressive.

The opening of the new Service Center at 6201 Broadway St. in Denver marks the 45th Progressive Service Center in the U.S. and the first in Colorado.

Th The Carcoon A W Features: tttur The T Th he C Carcoon Ca C arcoon America arco Amer Am A America eriiica ca Workstation W Workstation orkk ork ksttati kst ati tiion io i nF Fe F ea e eat atures: a tu es: tures: es

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2016 Midwest Auto Body Trade Show Breaks Records, New Format Brings More Vendors, More Attendees

by Janet Chaney, Special to Autobody News

work! This led into the Friday night welcome reception.

The inaugural Midwest Auto Body Trade Show welcome reception, featuring an I-CAR Silent Auction-A benefit for students, was another crowded industry room filled with great conversation.

Shop owner Brent Walker, who attended the event from Memphis, Missouri, said he enjoyed the crowd.

“It was all encompassing, you were always in the middle of collision in-

Almost 500 people filled the rooms on February 5 and 6 at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa at the 6th Annual Midwest Auto Body Trade Show.

The event, hosted by the Iowa Collision Repair Association, was expanded to two days and held on a Friday and Saturday this year. “We took a chance on a Saturday hoping to bring more technicians to the show and it worked,” said Dick Merron, president of the ICRA and trade show chairman. “We also brought more education and keynote speaker Mike Anderson.”

He said the new formula brought more vendors, more attendees and more success.

Everything kicked off Friday at 1 p.m., beginning with Mike Anderson’s “Write- Mike Anderson (l) was the keynote speaker and received It-Right, Best Estimating Prac- a standing ovation after his address tices” seminar. It was standing room dustry conversation, whether it was only for the five-and-a-half-hour event. you talking with someone, or listenWhen Anderson started the ing to other people around you; it just event, he asked for a raise of hands took over.” and asked, “How many people have The I-CAR Silent Auction connot been to one of my classes be- tinued Saturday throughout the trade fore?” There was a surprising num- show and net almost $7,000 for Iowa ber of hands that went up and those Student Education. people were in for an industry turboThree educational breakout sescharged session. sions Saturday morning gave options “The number of people who for attendees: I-CAR New 16, taught were new to this class and the trade by Scott Schuerman of State Farm show was great news,” said ICRA Insurance; Collision Diagnostic Executive Director, Janet Chaney. Services, Jake Rodenroth, pre“That means we are reaching more sented the new As Tech 2 scan tool; people in the industry.” and Tom McGee, Spanesi-America’s reported Industry Trends, ‘What The Collision Industry Needs To Know Today.”

Brent Walker attended Collision Diagnostic Services and Industry Trends, “This training was exceptional; it is a gift to those of us in the rural areas.” Walker should know; he recalls the days of the beginning of Community College Hood Refinish Competition. (l to r) SCRS in Kansas City. He Iowa Central Community College, Scott County Community would drive to KC, stay at College, DMACC and Indian Hills Community College Bill Wicklund’s home, and Anderson’s Write–It Right pro- work with John Loftus (SCRS Exgram was a great beginning for this ecutive Director), Lirel Holt, Bill day-and-a-half program. The closing Wicklund, Mel Hunke, Bob Jones, of the seminar was out in the parking Bill Eveland and others: the men lot watching Jake Rodenroth do a who developed the training and aslive demonstration of the AsTech2 sociation culture the industry follows Collision Diagnostics System at today.

56 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

After these successful morning sity.

Representative Nunn was pleased sessions, attendees migrated to the Midwest Auto Body Trade Show to meet with this industry, “When I flagship event, “There Is No Free started my campaign the very first Lunch.”

ICRA President Dick Merron gave an association update recognizing the board of directors for their tireless efforts of putting together the Midwest Auto Body Trade Show. ICRA lobbyist, Scott Weiser, updated the group regarding current Iowa legisla- (l to r) Dick Merron, president of the ICRA, and Janet tion affecting the collision Chaney, stand with Chad Holamer and Zort Brown of repair industry. Weiser’s guid- DentSmart. Chad Holamer donated $500 to the ICRA to ance at the State Capital in fund a student scholarship program check I received was from an auto Des Moines, has led the Iowa Collision Repair Association to success and body shop-the very first!” he said. That recognition. was Altoona Auto Body, a member of This year, Weiser invited State the Iowa association.

After Iowa business, Anderson Representative, Assistant Majority Leader Zach Nunn, to speak to the delivered a keynote address, ‘Face assembly. Nunn represents the dis- Your Future’ and received a standing trict where the event was held and it ovation from this record-breaking was his first introduction to the col- crowd. Anderson hit the mark with all in the room. He spoke to the souls and lision industry. He is a new face to the Iowa political arena coming from hearts of everyone in the room with encouragement and strength, some a military background and currently See Midwest Trade Show, Page 59 a college professor at Drake UniverSee Midwest Trade Show, Page 42

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Lean Operations

Why Winners Win (Deliberate Practice) with David Luehr

There are two traits that I most commonly witness amongst the most successful collision business leaders I work with. First they tend to work with a coach or mentor and secondly they engage in what is called deliberate practice.

I was first introduced to the concept of deliberate practice not on the shop floor as you might expect, but instead on the tennis court. When I began playing tennis regularly just a few years ago I was completely hooked and would play and practice a lot, but felt my progress was slower than I would have liked. I was introduced to a coach that was unlike many of the other tennis professionals I had previously met.

I thought this guy hated me! There were times I hated him, but in just a few months got me out of my rut and soon I was beating players that had been playing tennis for twenty years or more! What was it that made me improve to the point that I was beating far more experienced players? It was the not the amount of practice that mattered, it was how I practiced that mattered!

This may come as good news to many of you that scientific research has proven that your natural born talent has much less to do with your success in life than many think. The real secret to success at any endeavor whether sport, business, music, or whatever lies in a person’s dedication to practicing the specific skills they have not yet mastered in a deliberate manner. This was great news to me as a tennis player, because trust me, I have very little natural athletic talent!

The bad news is that deliberate practice can be tough! I’ll come back to that in a minute.

I am sure many of my readers can relate to what I am about to say. In past years I have been amazed how I would hire a person to work in my shop that says they have been in the business for twenty years or more and they have absolutely no more skill than the guy working next to them that has only been working in the trade for five years!

What is up with that? For the most part, it is because in many trades it takes about 5 years to become proficient at your job, and then people take their foot

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

off the gas and coast. It is like learning to drive. A person first goes through a cognitive phase where they have to think about everything before they do it. “Okay now I have to press the gas pedal, and then turn on my turn signal etc.” You have to think about everything until it becomes a habit. Then a few years later you learn enough skills that you can drive the car all over town and without thinking about anything.

The problem then is that people become complacent and quit learning new advanced driving skills. This same driver that has now become comfortably proficient at driving is still a very long ways away from the skills that would be required to professionally drive a race car.

So back to the bad news. While my more experienced tennis opponents were still practicing the old skills they had already mastered because it’s fun, I was over on the next court over looking like an idiot and not having much fun trying to learn new skills that I was horrible at! But like the great Zig Ziglar famously said, “Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly until you learn to do it well.” Well I was quickly becoming the master of sucking at tennis! At least that is how it felt. For anyone to become truly great at anything, I am convinced that we have to learn to be okay at sucking at the things we have yet to master. The lessons I have learned from the tennis coach has translated into my business and my life in many enriching ways and it will yours too if you are willing to challenge yourself.

The journey to truly superior performance is neither for the faint of heart nor for the impatient. The development of genuine expertise requires struggle, sacrifice, and honest, often painful self-assessment. There are no shortcuts. In Malcolm Gladwell’s book titled, Outliers, he indicates that it takes as much as 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to be considered an expert in a particular field.

So how does one engage in deliberate practice and how does it translate to the automotive repair business? It is easier to know how to engage in deliberate practice when

58 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

we are talking about sports and music, but it is a little bit different when advancing your business skills.

I believe a great deal of the skills that I am considered an expert in was simply due to my own curiosity and drive to be the best. For example many of my clients consider me an expert in the use of CCC One’s estimating and management software.

What many of my clients don’t know is that I have spent many late nights discovering how to adapt this and other management systems to many different shop environments. I have made every mistake there is to make, tested various methods to perform many tasks in CCC One and I believe I still have more to learn! While some shop managers perform their daily duties and tasks exactly the same way every day, I perform every task with the intention of trying to do it better than the last time. Even if I am just doing the dishes! When it comes

to some skills, deliberate practice is simply performing the duties you already have, but changing your mental approach to always want to perform it better. I have often said that the curious will rule the world, perhaps this is why.

Here are a few business related skills that coaching combined with deliberate practice can greatly improve your chances of becoming the best in your field, or at least in your shop.

■ Holding crucial conversations and holding people accountable ■ How to sell a repair job to a stubborn client ■ How to sell an idea to a stubborn boss ■ How to speak with charisma in front of your staff or in front of crowd ■ Getting your people to buy into change initiatives ■ Analyzing financial statements and

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By developing new skills and working on those things that are sometimes uncomfortable, you can actually change your mental mapping for how you approach things in life. You could quickly find a new lease on life and begin to live a more fulfilling life or at least you may find yourself in a similar situation as me with my tennis game. Beating a lot of opponents, but still feeling like I suck! Perhaps I should change my mental approach and look at it in a more positive light?

Continued from Cover

FTCC Expands

Health program would move onto FTCC’s main campus on Hull Road.

David Brand, FTCC’s senior vice president for academic and student services, said the moves would serve a myriad of needs. The Pauline Jones site would allow the college to

Continued from Page 56

Midwest Trade Show

‘tough love’ and lots of kindness.

Over 70 vendors populated the

trade show floor, offering door prizes, product demonstrations and new information. The floor was buzzing and the booths were full of activity. Merron took the roving microphone to each booth and announced door prizes. Chad Holamer, owner of Dent Smart, announced a $500 donation to the Iowa Collision Repair Association to fund a student scholarship.

Custom bike builder Steve Bruggenwirth judged the Midwest Auto Body Trade Show Community College Refinish Competition

provide separate classrooms for different sorts of adult learners. The program has about 900 students, he said.

Keen said FTCC also expects to be a positive presence in the povertyridden downtown area.

Meanwhile, the move would make it even easier for Howard Health students to attend the FTCC courses they now take as part of their program combining high school and college

www.autobodynews.com CHECK IT OUT! classes. They’d move into space freed up when the adult education program moves and be taught by Cumberland County school and FTCC staff, depending on the type of course.

Brand said if the Cumberland school board approves the moves, they would be in effect next fall.

Keen said FTCC and the public school system work closely together all the time to find ways to help stu-

Kool Tools

Continued from Page 50

taches to a tool box (the one in the picture was purchased from Sears.) You can add custom hooks, trays, dispensers, can holders, etc. to meet your needs. The unit will organize your various departments and you will have a better control of your materials.

Well there you have it. Our selection of Kool Tools from SEMA 2015. Kye and I would like to thank everyone that gave us the technical support we needed on the products and a special thanks to Aaron Schulenberg, the Executive Director of SCRS and Kristen Felder of Collision Hub. dents and the community. “We have one of the best partnerships in the country,” he said.

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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.

Jeff Silver, GAO Report and NHTSA, Avery v State Farm, EPA at CIC with John Yoswick

20 years ago in the collision repair industry (March 1996) The name Jeff Silver is synonymous with I-CAR. As executive vice president, Jeff has spent the last 11 years of his life helping to build I-CAR into the premier technical training organization in the collision repair industry.

On his watch, Jeff has guided I-CAR into the international arena, forming coalitions with groups in Canada and New Zealand and opening talks with groups in the Far East. He recently decided to leave I-CAR and start his own collision repair business, but will remain with I-CAR for six months to help make his successor’s transition as smooth as possible. Jeff leaves big shoes to fill. He has done much to improve the collision repair industry, and we wish him well.

– From a March 1996 editorial in Auto Body Repair News (ABRN) by Tony Molla, at that time the editor-inchief of the magazine. Molla later spent 15 years with ASE, and last year became vice president on the Automotive Service Association national staff. Silver continues to operate his collision repair business, now a CARSTAR franchise in Mundelein, IL, with his wife Jeanne. This past November, he received the I-CAR Chairman’s Award, recognizing his decades of support for that organization.

15 years ago in the collision repair industry (March 2001) A report published by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) was a mixed bag for those hoping for more government oversight of non-OEM crash parts. While the report indicates that some non-OEM parts are “clearly different from their OEM counterparts,” it also said limited testing leaves it unclear whether such parts pose significant safety concerns.

“Although the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has the authority to regulate aftermarket crash parts, it has not determined that these parts pose a significant safety concern and therefore has not developed safety standards for them,” the report states.

The report also says that NHTSA should have an oversight program to

detect defects in non-OEM parts, but that “NHTSA’s ability to identify and recall unsafe aftermarket parts is limited” by its “database [which] hampers it from identifying trends in defects.”

The report clearly states, however, that the GAO “saw aftermarket crash parts that were clearly different from their OEM counterparts.”

“Obviously there is a need for NHTSA to gather significantly more information in order to look at the safety implications of these crash parts,” Congressman John Tierney (D.-Mass.), said of the study.

—As reported in The Golden Eagle. It’s unclear if NHTSA took further actions on the non-OEM parts issue, but the manufacturers, distributors and certifiers of non-OEM crash parts has subsequently stepped up tracking and other systems to assist in the recall of a non-OEM part, should one be deemed necessary.

10 years ago in the collision repair industry (March 2006) The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected the plaintiffs’ request to hear Avery v.

State Farm. Michael Avery and the other plaintiffs filed a petition for the court to hear the case on the basis that Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier should not have participated in the decision since State Farm contributed to his election campaign.

The U.S. Supreme Court said nothing about why it decided not to review the case.

—As reported in CRASH Network (www.CrashNetwork.com), March 12, 2006. In 1999, a court ruled in favor of Avery and other consumers in a class action lawsuit against State Farm over its use of non-OEM parts, awarding them more than $1 billion. In 2005, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned that verdict. Though a decade has past since that Illinois Supreme Court ruling, the decision is still making headlines. In 2011, Avery's lawyers petitioned the court to reconsider its Avery ruling given what they said was new evidence of the degree to which State Farm was involved in the 2004 election of Justice Karmeier to Illinois’ top court. Within a year of his election,

60 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Karmeier was among the Justices on the Court that voted to overturn the $1 billion judgment against State Farm. A lawsuit over that issue continues.

5 years ago in the collision repair industry (March 2011) An Environmental Protection Agency official, speaking at this month’s Collision Industry Conference (CIC), said that even though the deadline has passed for shops to comply with new federal refinish and paint stripping regulations (sometimes referred to as 6-H or NESHAP), any business that has not complied should not avoid doing so.

“Some folks think if they hang back and don’t submit the paperwork that somehow EPA isn’t going to know about them,” Deborah Craig, an EPA compliance officer said. “They don’t want to shine a light on themselves by submitting something late. Our recommendation is that you just move forward as quickly as possibly to come

into compliance. Give the regional EPA folks a call. Ask for help in filling out the forms. Talk to folks in your trade group for assistance. A lot of the paint suppliers have really been offering such excellent customer service by helping you comply.”

– As reported in CRASH Network (www.CrashNetwork.com), March 28, 2011. The federal air quality regulation imposed a number of requirements on body shops, including mandatory training related to the regulation for painters every five years at a minimum. So painters that underwent that training five years ago as the regulation went into effect—but who haven’t gone through the training again since that time—are due to take it again this year.

More information is available on the EPA website (http://www3.epa.gov/ collisionrepair/).

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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 61

Social Media for Shops Best Marketing Techniques to Recruit Top Employees with Ed Attanasio

It’s safe to say that every shop owner in the country is well aware of the enormous need for qualified collision repair professionals—from body technicians, painting technicians, estimators and even front office personnel.

With fewer technical school programs in our high schools and colleges and a lack of alternative training programs, we’re not currently creating enough new employees to accommodate the need.

With the continual efforts to shake the old “grease monkey” stereotype, and with more young people gravitating toward attending four-year colleges as opposed to technical or vocational schools, the collision repair industry is scrambling to find and retain good people.

This shortage of qualified technicians, for example, has led lead to higher wages, benefits and signing bonuses.

As a result, the market for good employees is turning ugly. Body shops are either stealing techs from each other or bringing in green people and trying to train them from the ground up. Some MSOs and mini-chains are trying to do something about it now, and most consumers aren’t aware of this dilemma yet. But, when they have to wait weeks for repairs and prices go up because there’s not enough people out there to fix cars, customers will suddenly be just as concerned as the body shop owners about the lack of good talent.

So, here are some suggestions outlining marketing techniques you might want to consider as you pursue top employees for your shop (or shops):

Connect to Your Local Schools For the larger MSOs that constantly need new people to fill their pipeline, working with local high schools, trade organizations and trade technical schools is almost essential. Concentrate on the schools in your backyard and also pinpoint several outside of your immediate area. Certain states are creating more collision professionals, such as Texas, Florida and California, where there are more technical schools and more automotive repair students who will soon be pursuing employment. Participate in mentoring programs, career fairs and other activities and programs that schools offer.

Setup an Employee Referral Program Human Resources departments at large corporations have extensive employee referral systems in place that are their bread and butter when it comes to finding and hiring top people. They offer generous bonuses, including all-expense paid vacations, tickets to concerts and sporting events, etc. for employees who refer their friends and associates. Instead of conducting “cattle calls” and interviewing hundreds of semi-qualified people, why not find top candidates through the connections your existing employees already have? You will quickly find out that good body techs hang out with other good body techs, and it’s the same with painters, estimators, etc.

Train New Employees Yourself If you want to do it right, why not control the process, including the training? Big MSOs like Service King now have a fully compensated 52-week training course developed to prepare incoming technicians for careers at Service King.

As part of this program, technicians receive daily on-the-job oversight and training, use a detailed curriculum and progress through a series of competency assessments and succession benchmarks.

Technicians are consistently awarded throughout the program and tutored by an assigned apprentice supervisor, to make certain that they’re ready for work when the training is complete. The theory is that if you train them your way, they will stay and be long-term happy employees.

Use Your Philanthropy and Community Service as a Recruiting Tool Shops involved in charity work don’t do it with the idea of landing top employees, but if they can leverage these efforts, why not? Top people will appreciate a business that helps others, and in many cases, it can lead to eventual employment. Everyone wants to have a purpose and make a decent living, but many people also respect a company that helps its community and does more than just fixing cars.

Use Social Media In this age of online social and professional networking, there is a very good

62 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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

chance that you and your employees are already connected to a wide range of potential candidates. Tap into this potential audience on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter to get the word out. By using as many online tools as you possibly can, you’ll be finding better job candidates at zero cost.

Make the Application Process Easy Some shops use software linked to their web sites, so that candidates can easily fill out online applications or submit resumes fast and drama-free while others use different sites to achieve the same results. If you can make the application and vetting process simple, logically more will apply. Top sites for recruiting and submitting applications and resumes include Simply Hired, Glassdoor and ZipRecruiter.

Always Be Recruiting (ABR) Many shops fill a specific need and then put the recruiting efforts on the

back burner, but that is a mistake for many reasons. Recruiting is ongoing and never slows down or stops. Just because you’re properly staffed today, what happens when another shop lures away a couple of your top techs?

That’s why you have to be recruiting all the time, especially if you have more than one location.

Devise a Specific Message People don’t like ambiguity, especially when their livelihoods are involved.

Applicants want the facts, not some fancy phrases like “We’re on the Cutting Edge” or “Ride Our Wave.” They want to know what the job’s requirements are, 6.41 the training required, the hours, the benefits and the pay. Remember that the inventory of good, qualified people out there is limited, so make sure your message is clear, complete and specific about what you’re looking for. So, devise a message that will attract top people while gaiting

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unqualified wannabes. It will save you time and money in the long run.

Respect Every Job Candidate Never disregard an unqualified job candidate, because you never know when that person may reach the point of employment, based on schooling, training or accumulated experience.

You also don’t know who this individual might know, so always treat job applicants with respect and leave them feeling good about themselves.

Do an Annual Hiring Open House Some ingenious marketing types at body shops have combined their customer appreciation event with an employment open house, thereby killing two birds with one stone. That way, it’s more affordable for you, and people can use the opportunity to submit resumes, meet with your managers, and even do an impromptu interview.

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Service King Continues Veteran Hiring Initiative

After launching its Mission 2 Hire initiative in May 2015, Service King Collision Repair Centers® dedicated a 30-second national radio spot during Westwood One’s coverage of Super Bowl 50 to its ongoing pledge of providing at least 500 jobs to the half million unemployed veterans in five years. The spot featured a first-person narrative told by U.S. Army Veteran Jeremiah Kuehl who was hired at Service King. Kuehl served 13 years in the Army, which included four tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan as a military police officer and rocket system repairer.

“Service King is both humbled and honored to be in a position to give back to the men and women that have courageously served our country,” said Chris Abraham, Service King CEO. The company, which operates more than 285 repair centers in 23 states across the U.S., is closing in on 100 successful hires.

Veterans and family members looking for career opportunities are encouraged to visit www.Mission2Hire .careers or www.ServiceKing.com.

www.autobodynews.com

Assured Performance Launches OEM Repair Procedure Compliance App

Assured Performance Network announced on January 20 they are launching an application program to document the use of OEM repair procedures for their network of certified shops. The Assured Performance OEM Repair Procedure Compliance App automatically transforms the shop’s estimate repair line information onto an interactive checklist and delivers it onto the technician’s hands via a smart phone, tablet or desktop.

Then, the technician can use the simple touch screen functionality and commands to take photos and provide other documentation as they follow OEM repair procedures in the proper repair of a vehicle.

According to a company press release, the program only takes technicians seconds to properly document the process followed for every repair.

The application also allows management to review and approve the technician’s documentation and see alerts when no documentation is provided.

All of the compliance documentation is linked to the original estimate and maintained electronically online in the shop’s dataSAFE as a permanent record. Documenting every repair

with visual proof of compliance provides critical documentation to limit liability exposure.

Aaron Clark, former MSO shop owner and Assured Performance vice president of technical compliance said, “This technology-driven solution provides a shop with exactly what they need to manage quality and compliance efficiently. Third-party spot checks may be performed by an untested, untrained, or uncertified individual and can leave huge holes in the documentation, lead to questionable liability coverage, and can be very expensive.”

Michael Quinn, executive VP of Assured Performance and also a former MSO shop owner, added, “Experts all agree that effective quality assurance and OEM procedure compliance must be built into the repair process. Now, our Certified shops have a cost effective tool to manage that.”

The application will be provided exclusively to Assured Performance certified shops. Assured Performance Promote your business will contact all of their certified shopswith and begin out thearticle program and an rolling exclusive featuring providing instructions. your products or services.

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Media and Publicity for Shops

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

Say Hello to Our Little Friend—El Niño! Strongest One Yet Expected this Year with Ed Attanasio

There are a handful of businesses out that he will have to adapt to get it done, there that praise bad weather and celewhich isn’t always easy. brate when the big one hits, while most “My thoughts are that with the of us cower in fear and Stacey prefer staying onset- Aof El Niño, customers will have with Phillips SSISTANT EDITOR home. Meteorologists, roofers, storm to wait longer for repairs until shops window companies, and, of course, can work them in, as we do not have body shops benefit when storms hit the ability to increase capacity on such any part of the country. short notice. Ramping up staff takes In the East there’s the snow; in the time, and with nearly full employment Midwest tornadoes and hail; and in the for collision technicians, shops can’t West there is El Niño—a predictable absorb much of the increase in volume. weather phenomenon that comes around At our shop, I don’t know how we will every 10–15 years, affecting weather keep up with the anticipated demand, patterns across the globe. It’s best known because adding a second shift is almost in the west because it’s driven by varying out of the question. In the old days, we water temperatures in in the Pacific. could gear up for bad weather, but now “El Niño” got its name in the 1800s it just means more cars in the queue. from Peruvian fishermen, who noticed We can work some overtime, but in the a mysterious warm current that would end it’s just more work that we need to appear around Christmas. They called it get done. But, work is work and this is the “little boy” or “Christ child,” but what we do, so come on, El Niño, we’ll people in the collision industry call it figure it out!”

“Our cash cow,” “El Dinero,” or “OverSal Pannazzo is a veteran of the intime.” dustry and has managed shops throughThe strongest El Niño yet is exout southern California for more than pected to drench the southern half of two decades. He experienced the 1998 United States this year, according to El Niño firsthand and saw the huge the National Oceanic and Atmospheric amount of work that resulted. But, things Association (NOAA). The meteorowere a little different back then. logical phenomenon will undoubtedly “In the ‘90s, we could benefit bring benefits for some industries, and more from bad weather and it wouldsetbacks for others. n’t impact our production like it does The big question is—how will it today, because the focus on performaffect the collision industry and if so, ance and customer satisfaction wasto what degree? n’t as crucial back then,” Pannazzo The last truly massive El Niño explained. “Now, with the insurance appeared in 1997–98 and was a major companies that are concentrating so boom for body shops throughout the much more on things like cycle times world. However it caused an esti- and which parts to use, things like El mated $35 billion in destruction and Niño are a little more difficult to ac23,000 deaths around the world. commodate.”

The old days of cramming as David Mello, the owner of Anderson Behel in Santa Clara, CA has a love/ many cars as you could into the shop hate relationship with bad weather. and pushing them out are long gone, “Well, aside from the obvious according to Pannazzo. glee that must be withheld for the sake “Today’s customers are more edof political correctness, El Niño is the ucated about our industry and that’s a best thing to happen to the collision big part of it. It’s actually made the inrepair industry,” Mello said. “There is dustry better overall, because now we nothing like unrelenting rainfall to have both the insurance companies bring our driving errors to the fore- and the customers watching us, gradfront! Limited visibility, fogged up ing us and gauging our performance windows, slippery roads and debris in on every repair,” he added. the road all add up to increased acciStaffing can also lead to other isdents and texting while driving always sues during a weather event such as El helps, too!”

Niño, or even the occasional earthMello appreciates the added work quake that hits southern California, that El Niño brings, but also realizes Pannazzo said.

Shop Strategies

64 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

“Good people are harder and harder to find today, so adding staff for El Niño for example, isn’t easy.

When you step up your production to meet the need, you have to have the right people in place, or that can make it even tougher to fix the added vehicles,” he added.

Pannazzo has developed some strategies to be ready when the weather changes for the worse.

“We have had some success doing pre-orders,” he explained. “We assess the damage, write the estimate and order the parts upfront. That way, when they bring the car in for the repair, it doesn’t take as long. We tell some customers that because of the weather, it may take a few more days for their car to be completed and almost everyone is fine with it, because we inform them in advance.”

Although El Niño can be challenging, Pannazzo also knows that it can bring added revenue to any shop if

it can handle the deluge of cars. “The types of damage we get from El Niño make for great repairs,” he said. “They normally involve hoods, roofs and trunks and come in at around $2,000 each, so if you can handle the volume, El Niño can end up being a good thing.”

Joe Currin is the owner of Dings & Dents in Campbell, CA. He has been performing Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) and minor other types of repairs for car dealerships and body shops for 25 years. In 1998, Currin had so much work from El Niño that it kept him busy for literally six months, he said.

“There was no much activity overall during that last El Niño that it was crazy and I did not get much sleep for quite awhile,” Currin said. “Falling tree branches that cause little fender benders and smaller dents are ideal for us obviously. My wife laughs at me when I cheer about the rain, because when I see it, it represents money for me and my business.”

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Takata Air-Bag Recall Expanded as 10th Death Reported Millions more vehicles are being recalled to replace defective Takata Corp. air bags as another death was linked to the devices that have been found to spray metal pieces into vehicles, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

Reports in Automotive News and the Detroit Free Press have detailed the two most recent recalls cover 5 million air bag inflators in cars made by Ford, Volkswagen AG, Honda Motor Co., Daimler AG, Audi AG, Mazda Motor Corp., Saab AB and BMW AG. NHTSA has been coordinating the largest-ever U.S. automotive action, which previously covered 23 million inflators in 19 million vehicles with Takata air bags.

The agency couldn’t immediately say how many additional vehicles would be recalled because some vehicles have multiple inflators and some may have been previously recalled. Owners can check on their vehicles at safercar.gov.

The driver of a 2006 Ford Motor Co. Ranger pickup died in December after the truck swerved off a road in South Carolina and hit an obstruction, the agency said in a call with reporters Friday. Agency investigators said that the Takata air-bag exploded, and the coroner had previously determined the

rupture contributed to the death, NHTSA spokesman Gordon Trowbridge said.

In addition to the 10 fatalities, nine of them in the U.S., about 100 people have been injured by Takata air bags.

Safety ‘Crisis’ “This is a massive safety crisis,” Trowbridge said. Ford said it has “very limited information” about the latest incident and is working with NHTSA to review the circumstances of the South Carolina death.

“We are saddened to hear about the driver’s death and offer our sincere condolences to the family of the driver,” Ford spokesman John Cavangany said in an e-mail. “We are working with the agency to review the available information, but we have very limited information at this point. If we find an issue with our vehicles, we take prompt action to address customer safety.”

Takata said it’s continuing to conduct tests and ramp up replacement kit production, and trying to raise consumer awareness of recalled vehicles.

The Japanese company also is in talks with rival air-bag maker Daicel Corp. on what a Daicel spokesman, Masahiko Hirokawa, described as “ways to ensure stable supply” of inflators. No decision has been made

about whether they will invest in a production joint venture, Hirokawa said. The proposed tie-up was earlier reported by the Nikkei newspaper.

The Nikkei also reported that Takata will separately seek aid from carmakers as recall costs mount, including getting them to cover some costs and easing pressure for discounts on parts.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the driver’s family,” said Robert Rendine, a U.S. spokesman for the Tokyo-based parts supplier. “We are cooperating fully with regulators and our automotive customers and continue to support all actions that advance vehicle safety.”

One of the two recalls NHTSA is ordering — to replace driver’s side air bags with similar inflators to the one involved in the latest fatal crash — involves vehicles made by Ford, Mazda, Audi, VW, Daimler and Saab, the agency said. Approximately 1 million inflators are included in the action.

The inflator had been involved in previous testing without experiencing a rupture, Trowbridge said. The agency isn’t sure why the pickup’s air bag exploded. The fatality means there’s a higher risk, meaning the agency “believes it’s appropriate to take aggressive

action,” he said.

Second Recall The second recall announced Friday, involving approximately 4 million inflators, involves vehicles made by Volkswagen, BMW, Honda and Mercedes-Benz, NHTSA said. This recall comes after testing on some similar inflators in already-recalled Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles showed additional ruptures.

The agency has said it will take years to complete all of the recalls, and it is prioritizing repairs in areas with high humidity levels, like the states around the Gulf of Mexico and Puerto Rico. Older vehicles and those needing new drivers-side air bags are also higher risk, Trowbridge said.

“The agency is using all the tools available to clean this mess up as quickly as possible,” Trowbridge said.

In November, Takata was fined a record $200 million over its missteps in handling the air-bag crisis. NHTSA found that Takata had been slow to report the defect and hid critical information from regulators and its automaker partners. Takata agreed to appoint an independent monitor to oversee its recalls and operate under the terms of a fiveyear consent decree.

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Spanesi Americas Distributors Across the Country Receive Awards and Recognition

Spanesi Americas recently recognized individual distributors for their 2015 contributions and accomplishments during its distributor sales and training meeting. Among those recognized was Texas Distributor Chad Neal of Paint Works in Tyler, Texas.

Steve Smith (right) from Automotive Collision Equipment - Florida accepts the 2015 Spanesi Americas Distributor “Rookie” of the Year Award

“We were very happy to recognize Chad Neal for his contributions and accomplishments during 2015 to the Spanesi organization,” said Timothy Morgan, managing director of Spanesi Americas. “Chad and his organization earned the Spanesi 2015 Top Distributor of the Year award for their sales accomplishments. Not only did Chad earn the top sales award, but he also was recognized for top sales during the second quarter, top sales during the fourth quarter, and most

improved distributor 2014-2015.”

In addition to these awards, Neal also won a sales contest for top sales during the sales period July 1 to December 31, 2015. As the winner of this sales contest, he was awarded a trip to Italy for two people.

California distributor Tim Williams from Williams Collision Equipment was recognized for top sales during the third quarter. “We are very fortunate to have Tim on the Spanesi team,” said Morgan. “Obtaining the top sales award during the third quarter is an accomplishment that shows the tremendous experience that Tim brings to his local market and Spanesi.”

During the meeting, Spanesi also recognized Florida distributor Steve Smith of Automotive Collision Equipment – Florida as “Distributor Rookie of the Year” and Great Lakes Sub-Distributor Karl Kirschenman of K2 Consulting Group as “Sub-Distributor Rookie of the Year.”

“Spanesi has continued to grow in both sales and in customer support during 2015. That growth is not possible without having a sales team that includes talented individuals like Steve Smith and Karl Kirschenman,” Morgan said.

CREF Announces New Designation Program to Help Students Prepare for Employment

The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) has created a new designation program called the “Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark.”

Under the new program developed by the foundation, schools will be classified into three tiers: Tier 1: Advanced, Tier 2: Proficient, or Tier 3: Developing. The designation will be determined by the foundation based upon information provided by schools about the capabilities of their program on the Collision Repair Education Makeover grant application, which is currently accepting applications.

The criteria for each level will focus around the number of hours of instruction, curriculum in place, along with what tools, equipment, and supplies a school uses to prepare their students for employment in the collision industry. If there is something that is missing, the grant application will allow a school to request that particular item.

The goal is to help every school acquire the resources to eventually achieve a Tier 1: Advanced school designation. School designations will be announced in July 2016, and the

Makeover grant recipients will be announced in November 2016.

Clark Plucinski, CREF executive director, said, “In June 2015, the Foundation Board of Trustees made the decision to adjust the foundation’s mission to focus not only on grants and donations, but also on bridging the employment gap. The new focus will be on getting the right grants/donations into each school to better prepare the students for entering the collision industry. This new designation program ties into the new focus and will better determine what items each school is in need of that will be ultimately benefit the students.”

If a school or business is interested in learning more about the Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark program or the Ultimate Collision Education Makeover grant, contact Melissa Marscin, director of grant programs, at Melissa.Marscin@edfoundation.org.

Gas Monkey Garage Selects Evercoat Products ITW Evercoat announced on January 26 that Gas Monkey Garage has selected Evercoat products to help them transform “ordinary cars into extraordinary rides.”

“Every day at Gas Monkey Garage we use innovative products from Evercoat to help with our amazing car transformations,” said Richard Rawlings, motor mastermind and owner of Gas

Monkey Garage. “From innovations like Rage Ultra body filler to Evercoat’s patented 4:1 Polyester Primers, Gas Monkey trusts Evercoat to deliver products that perform.”

“We are excited that Gas Monkey Garage trusts Evercoat products on their restoration masterpieces,” added Marvin Gillfillan, vice president and general manager of ITW Evercoat. “Richard Rawlings and the team at Gas Monkey Garage are car restoration visionaries and we are thrilled that our products meet their demanding needs.”

From left, Richard Rawlings, owner of Gas Monkey Garage, and Mike Coy

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Professional Parts Group’s Chris Northup Elected to CAPA’s Board of Directors

Chris Northup, CEO of Professional Parts Group, was elected to CAPA’s board of directors.

CAPA said Northup is one of the most well-known aftermarket parts executives in the country and has been involved in automotive aftermarket since 1983. He began his career with Keystone Automotive in Pomona, CA where his responsibilities included operations, sales management, strategic planning, marketing and brand development. The company expanded from a familyowned business with $12 million in annual revenues to a company with over 4,000 employees and annual revenues of over $725 million. Northup was a leader in the country’s adoption and subsequent improvement of aftermarket crash parts.

Northup regularly addresses various collision industry groups, legislative bodies and regulatory agencies on the future of the industry, the importance of quality products, and future distribution challenges. As a consultant, he has served a variety of insurance and industry clients. He is active in a number of automotive industry boards and committees and is past chairman of the Collision Industry Education Foundation. Northup is a 1981 graduate of the

University of La Verne.

“Chris brings an extraordinary amount of ‘hands-on’ knowledge and expertise to CAPA’s board. Few people know more about the aftermarket parts industry than Chris Northup and we’re thrilled to put that knowledge to work for CAPA. Chris is joining a board of outstanding industry leaders and will, no doubt, become an important part of CAPA’s efforts to protect the marketplace from poor quality parts. We’re honored to have him on board,” said Jack Gillis, CAPA’s executive director.

CAPA’s board includes: Tim Adelmann, ABRA, Inc. Bill Daly, Allstate Insurance Bill DeGrocco, GEICO Jack Gillis, CAPA Ben Kelley, Center for Auto Safety Chris Northup, Professional Parts Group Clark Plucinski, Collision Repair Education Foundation (Chair man ) Mike Schoonover, Schoonover Bodyworks Inc. Ben Steinman, Ben’s Auto Body Carol Waldron, State Farm Insuranc For information, contact debbie@CAPAcertified.org Original BMW Parts

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CAPA Elects 8 Leaders to Its Technical Committee

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The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) announced on February 1 the election of Alan Bush – ALD and Associates; Jim Fisher – PBSI-DS; Bob Guzdziol – K.S.I. Trading; Don Hill – State Farm; Jim Horner – USAA; Jim Miras – Micro Rim Corporation; Mark Sanders – Caliber Collision Centers; and Chad Sulkala – Allstate to CAPA’s Technical Committee.

“CAPA is absolutely privileged to have such a broad range of industry expertise represented on our Technical Committee,” said Debbie Klouser, director of operations for the non-profit association. “Their understanding of the issues facing the aftermarket parts industry and guidance with the program are extremely important to CAPA and those who depend on CAPA certification.”

“CAPA’s Technical Committee is one of a number of unique program features that make the CAPA standards unique,” said Jack Gillis, executive director of the association.

These new additions to the Technical Committee represent some of the most respected and important members of the collision industry and will enable CAPA to continue its position as the ‘gold standard’ when it comes

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by Tammy Wells, journaltribune.com

A Waterboro, ME, auto parts dealer arrested in January on charges that he scammed a buyer from Illinois on Craigslist may soon face more charges, as several people have since come forward to claim he scammed them as well.

Scott Depeter, 43, owner of Airport Auto Body on Main Street, was arrested January 22 and charged with theft by deception, according to York County Sheriff Bill King. When the news broke, King asked that anyone who felt they’d been scammed by Depeter contact the sheriff ’s office.

On Monday, January 25, King reported that eight people had contacted Sanford Regional Communications, which provides dispatch services for the sheriff ’s office.

“All report they were defrauded in some way by Scott, also known as Thomas, Depeter,” said Deputy Shawn Sanborn, who is investigating the Illinois case. “Complaints were distributed (for investigation) between the York County Sheriff ’s Office and Sanford Police Department, depending on where the offense was alleged to have taken place.”

Sanborn said additional complaints

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CAPA’s Technical Committee: ● Randall Bollander – Empire Auto Parts ● Alan Bush –ALD and Associates, LLC - (Vice-Chair) ● Jeff Chen – T.Y.G. Products, L.P. ● Bill Dornon – LKQ-Keystone ● Rod Enlow – RENLOW Auto Technical Consulting, Inc. (Chairman) ● Don Feeley – City Body & Frame ● Jim Fisher – PBSI-DS ● Bob Guzdziol – K.S.I. Trading ● Don Hill – State Farm Mutual Insurance Co. ● Jim Horner – USAA Insurance ● Jared Humphrey – Service King Collision Repair Centers ● Bob Keith – CARSTAR ● Jim Miras – Micro Rim Corporation ● Dan Risley – Automotive Services Association (ASA) ● Mark Sanders – Caliber Collision Centers ● Nick Scheid, LNS & Associates ● Michael Smith – GEICO Insurance ● Chad Sulkala – Allstate Insurance ● Richard Wang – Gordon Auto Body Parts Co., Ltd.

Auto Parts Dealer in ME Faces More Scam Claims

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to high-quality, safe and fairly-priced certified aftermarket parts.

were anticipated over the next few days.

The initial investigation began when an Illinois man contacted the sheriff ’s office and reported that he wired $300 to Depeter after answering an ad on Craigslist, but never received the auto parts he ordered.

The sheriff ’s office collected numerous text messages from the victim and confirmed that a wire transfer was made, King said.

“Depeter came up with excuse after excuse after excuse,” and “finally stopped responding to calls or emails from the Illinois man,” he said.

Depeter is free on $350 bail, and is scheduled to appear in court April 26 on the initial charge of theft by deception, a Class E misdemeanor.

King cautions that folks should be wary about paying for merchandise by wiring money, as it is untraceable.

As well, Craigslist advises users not to pay for items with money-wiring services, and to refrain from revealing bank account numbers and other financial information. The website states that “99 percent of scam attempts” can be avoided by dealing locally through face-to-face transactions.

Thanks to The Journal Tribune for permission to reprint this article.

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 67

NHTSA Hosts Vehicle Cybersecurity Roundtable

On January 19, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) brought together vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, technology companies, industry experts, security researchers and government agencies to discuss the industry’s development and adoption of vehicle cybersecurity standards.

The majority of the panelists agreed on the necessity of an industrywide set of minimum, verifiable cybersecurity standards. However, due to the continually changing nature of emerging technology, they also suggested that these standards could only serve as a baseline. As capabilities and threats develop, the best practices would need to be able to evolve at the same pace. The Society of Automotive Engineers’ (SAE) forthcoming cybersecurity standards were offered as a possible starting point, as well as contributions from the automakers Intelligence Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) that has been in operation since 2015.

One of the primary points of discussion was the issue of data access. The general consensus of the panelists was that most cyber vulnerabilities are caused by the vehicle owner. Some pointed out that this

ALI Lowers Price of Online Lift Safety Training Course

The Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) has lowered the price of its Lifting It Right online lift safety training course from $29 to $24 per person. The interactive course, hosted by NASCAR legends Richard and Kyle Petty, teaches vehicle lift operators how to properly use car and truck lifts in dealerships, independent shops, fleet maintenance garages, vocational schools and other facilities. ALI, the trade association focused on vehicle lift safety, introduced the online course in 2014 in cooperation with dealer services provider KPA. It is the latest evolution of Lifting It Right training ALI has offered in various formats for more than 25 years.

“We have been very happy with the success of the Lifting It Right online course over the last two years,” says R.W. “Bob” O’Gorman, ALI president. “This course has helped us train nearly 12,000 lift operators on proper lift use and maintenance procedures for safer workplaces. We noticed a spike in sales when we ran promotions to lower the course price by $5, so in the interests of making the program as affordable as possible for everyone, we have decided to lower the price to $24 in 2016.” For information, visit www.auto lift.org or call (607) 756-7775.

was an argument for vehicle manufacturers to have greater control over the vehicle software and hardware, as well as dictating who could access the data. Others contended that when a consumer purchases a car, this includes the right to access any and all data. This argument extended to vehicle repair, with several panelists making the case that aftermarket repairers be allowed to access and alter the vehicle’s data at the owner’s request.

A number of members of Congress have introduced vehicle cybersecurity legislation. Vehicle cybersecurity has been an issue discussed in the past several NACE | CARS programs sponsored by the Automotive Service Association (ASA) and is a significant part of the NACE | CARS 2016 program. ASA has hosted several automotive industry meetings related to new vehicle technologies and cybersecurity.

For more information, and to see the program’s full agenda, visit: http://www.nhtsa.gov/Research/Cras h+Avoidance/Agenda.

For information about ASA, visit www.ASAshop.org, or ASA’s legislative website www.TakingThe Hill.com.

Darryl Hollenbeck Claims 2016 AMBR Award With His PPG-Painted Roadster Acclaimed custom car builder and painter Darryl Hollenbeck won the 2016 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) award at the Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) held at the Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, CA January 29–31. It was the third time Hollenbeck has painted an AMBR winner, and the first time he captured the prize with his own car—a PPG-painted 1932 Ford highboy roadster.

Darryl Hollenbeck’s AMBR-winning ‘32 Ford Roadster

The GNRS started in 1950 and is the longest running indoor car show in the world, and the AMBR, a towering eight-foot-tall trophy, is considered the ultimate recognition for a roadster-style hot rod. This year a field of thirteen outstanding cars—built by the elites of the custom car world—competed for the prestigious award. In the end, the judges

named Darryl and Terri Hollenbeck’s classically-styled roadster the winner, giving Darryl another honor to add to his long list of accomplishments including AMBR wins in 2013 and 2005.

Hollenbeck and his colleagues Dan Webb and Cory Taulbert built the car at Vintage Color Studio, the custom shop Hollenbeck owns and operates in Concord, CA, and where he has been using PPG products exclusively for more than 25 years. Hollenbeck then painted the car himself. He came up with the roadster’s unique color, dubbed “Rotten Avocado Green,” applying a custom mix created with the PPG ENVIROBASE® High Performance waterborne paint system along with Single-Stage DCC9300 from the DELTRON® refinish system.

“Winning an AMBR is a dream; to win it with my own car, wow, I’m over the moon about that,” said Hollenbeck.

“As for the color, it is different. My wife wanted brown, I wanted green. Depending on the light, you see one color or the other—or both. The great thing was that the PPG paint was easy to work with. It gave us the chance to experiment, to really stretch our imaginations and come up with something cool.”

For information, visit www.ppg refinish.com or call (800) 647-6050.

SCRS Notifies Members of Collision Repair Petition

In February, 2015 CNN’s Anderson Cooper aired an episode that spotlighted lawsuits addressing industry tactics to steer customers and pressure repair decisions relative to parts and operations in a way that produces unsafe and unsatisfactory repairs. This special became highly discussed in the industry, and stimulated many to reach out to SCRS. During the last week of January 2016, a new petition began circulating among repair facilities that addresses many similar allegations, highlighting an event from 1963 when “US Attorney General Robert Kennedy sued the [insurance] industry to prevent them from forcing body shops to cut corners at the risk to public safety.” The petition pleads for the federal government to “enforce the 1963 Consent Decree for the safety of the American driving public.” The petition was seeking 100,000 signatures by February 24 and can be found at https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/enforce-safe-car-repairs-save-lives.

SCRS was not involved in the drafting. For information about SCRS, visit www.scrs.com, call 1-877-8410660 or email info@scrs.com.

68 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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Bumpersmith 2.0 Combines Welder & Work Station

Polyvance’s (formerly Urethane Supply Company), new 6071 Bumpersmith 2.0 offers a nitrogen plastic welding system combined with a foldout bumper workstation. Created by bumper repair guru David Smith, the Bumpersmith 2.0 improves on his original design with a more compact and versatile design, according to a company press release. Polyvance has merged with Bum-persmith to sell and support this new welder. The nitrogen welder features a switch in the handle to help conserve bottled nitrogen gas; only flowing nitrogen gas when needed. The analog control system features outlet pressure gauges and a flowmeter. As a workstation, the Bumpersmith 2.0 folds out to hold any size bumper, from Chevy Sonic to Chevy Tahoe. The bumper pads are notched, allowing both bumpers and headlights to be held down with the included bungee cords. When finished, the bumper pads and supports affix to the sides of the welder for compact storage. The Bumpersmith 2.0 is available for shipment from auto body jobbers or equipment distributors across North America. The suggested user price is $4,395. For information, call Kurt Lammon at 800-633-3047.

Axalta Develops Speed Light Hand-Held Device

Axalta Coating Systems has harnessed the power of light by developing a light source that the company said may forever change the way body shops achieve refinish perfection. Known as Speed Light, this hand-held device allows even the finest imperfections to be seen, according to a company press release.

The right lighting conditions are essential to every stage of the paint repair process. Speed Light’s diode bulbs, more commonly known as LEDs, save energy, last up to 60,000 hours and are cool to the touch. This technology offers clean, pure white light that is ideal for viewing and matching colors and helps body shop professionals detect imperfections, according to a company press release.

Speed Light can be used throughout the refinish process to help identify pre-paint defects like pinholes and sand scratches, compare color samples, check color matches and identify flake coarseness. It can also help refinishers spot post-repair issues like coverage and hiding.

To learn more about Axalta, visit www.axaltacoatingsystems.com

VIRGINIA Checkered Flag Volkswagen Virginia Beach

757-687-3465 Fax: 757-687-3415

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eMarketing Sherpas is CASPER’s Preferred Provider

ASA Announces Partnership With eMarketing Sherpas

On January 26, the Coalition of Automotive Service Providers (CASPER) and eMarketing Sherpas announced that eMarketing Sherpas has been selected as the association’s preferred consumer marketing solution provider.

According to CASPER, the selection of the Demand Engine, Review Engine and the Digital Lobby solutions will assist CASPER members implement and benefit from the widest range of digital based sales, marketing and customer service tools available to the auto service and auto body repair industries.

John Vanderschaaf, president of CASPER, said, “We are very excited to offer our members access to these powerful sales, marketing and customer service solutions. Our members are always looking for more and better ways to improve how they market their businesses, increase their sales and improve the way they service their customers. The Demand Engine, Review Engine and Digital Lobby systems from eMarketing Sherpas offers more options and solutions than any other company we have researched.”

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) and eMarketing Sherpas announced on Feb. 3 that the Demand Engine, Review Engine and Digital Lobby systems are now available to all ASA members. eMarketing Sherpas provides digital-based sales, marketing and customer-service solutions to automotive businesses. The company offers a suite of software products and services for body shops. Dan Risley, ASA’s president and executive director, said, “We are excited to offer our members access to these powerful solutions.”

The Demand Engine is a system that automates all aspects of a shop’s digital activity. Review Engine will manage shop’s online reputation, capture more online reviews, improve search-engine performance and increase online sales leads and referrals.

The Digital Lobby is a system that includes digital signage, menu board, kiosks and mobile apps.

For information, contact the ASA membership department at (817) 893-1109 or visit the ASA Marketplace at ASA.bizunite.com. The eMarketing Sherpas’ ASA member page is http://www.emarketingsherpas .com/ - !asa-members/obuez.

Fix Auto USA Announces 100th Franchise Location

AudaExplore and ABRA Extend Strategic Relationship

Fix Auto USA announced its 100th franchise location, a milestone in the growth of the independent, owneroperated collision repair brand.

Fix Auto said it launched its franchise model in 2011 in response to a collision repair landscape increasingly dominated by regional and national consolidators, and insurance carriers looking for a turnkey vehicle claims processing solution.

“Reaching this moment in a wildly competitive market is cause for celebration,” said Fix Auto President and COO, Paul Gange. “The entire Fix Auto Family played a role in this accomplishment and should be acknowledged for delivering unmatched value every day.”

“There’s no question that the brand continues to gain traction because we extend invitations only to operators who exhibit market-leading performance and are driven, passionate, and committed to their businesses,” stated Fix Auto Vice President of Network Development and Marketing, Armin Price. “Maintaining this philosophy as we move forward will reinforce our strong core of independent operators and position us for success in 2016 and beyond.”

AudaExplore announced Feb. 2 it signed an agreement to extend its strategic relationship with ABRA Auto Body & Glass.

Since 2010, ABRA has integrated AudaExplore’s Estimating, Central Review, and Consolidator Dispatch services into their operations.

The company said it has experienced increased efficiency, decreased cycle times, and an overall improvement in customer satisfaction. The latest renewal comes more than a year before the current agreement’s expiration.

“Repairing vehicles correctly and on-time is central to our mission of providing superior service to each of our clients,” said Ed Litman, ABRA’s vice president of procurement. “Securing our relationship with AudaExplore insures that our repair centers will have access to state-ofthe-art technology that supports that mission.”

Gordon Henderson, vice president of Collision Repair Solutions, AudaExplore, said, “By providing a system that’s highly accurate and connected, we can greatly reduce waste in claims processing activities and help increase overall profitability for customers like ABRA.”

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 69

AUTOBODY MARKETPLACE

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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 71

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72 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

M-F 7:30-6 • Sat 8-12