Southeastern April 2015 Issue by Autobody News

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Virginia Tennessee North Carolina South Carolina

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VOL. 6 ISSUE 2 APRIL 2015

Takata Responds to Pressure from NHTSA, Honda’s Consumer Education Campaign, Recyclers Respond

John Mosley, Owner of Clinton Body Shop, is Now Running for Mississippi Insurance Commissioner

The cascading number of vehicle recalls caused by defective Takata airbags has been making front page

Announcing his candidacy for Insurance Commissioner of Mississippi, John Mosley said one of his first priorities is to ensure everything is in place at his auto body shop in Clinton. That way, his business will run smoothly while he is on the campaign trial. The owner of Clinton Body Shop and recent President of the Mississippi Collision Repair Association, Mosley has been traveling across the state talking to groups ranging from rotary clubs to the Conservative Coalition of Mississippi. Mosley told Autobody News, “I decided to run for insurance commissioner because for many years now I’ve had to be the advocate for the consumer when it comes to getting proper repairs performed on their car, whether

by Victoria Antonelli, Online Editor

Photo Credit: 5newsonline.com

news from 2008 to the present day. During that time, automakers have recalled about 17 million vehicles with airbags that can rupture when deployed, producing fragments that can kill or seriously injure motorists. In the latest action, Honda has launched a multi-million dollar print, digital and radio advertising campaign on March 16 to urge Honda and Acura owners to check for open recalls and complete airbag inflator repairs. “The goals of this campaign are to save lives and prevent injuries,” said John Mendel, Executive Vice PresiSee Takata Takes Steps, Page 40

Plaintiffs’ Attorneys at Eaves Law Firm Encourage Shops to Share Stories About Alleged Steering

See Eaves Law Firm, Page 6

P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018

Auto body shops in 36 states are now part of the antitrust Multi District Lawsuit (MDL) in Florida. John Eaves Jr., the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, is encouraging shop owners across the country to share their stories about alleged steering and other insurance practices, regardless whether or not they are part of the lawsuit. Eaves Law Firm in Mississippi plans to use these experiences to help prepare affidavits for an injunction the firm is about to file. “This injunction is going to be asking the court to stop the insurance company’s steering practices

and other retaliatory practices,” he said. In March, Autobody News reported that Judge Gregory Presnell in Florida had dismissed a large portion of the lawsuit. “Since that has happened, we actually found out more information,” said Eaves. The law firm has been preparing the documentation to refile the claims that were dismissed without prejudice. When Autobody News spoke to Eaves, he said that Judge Presnell indicated that he wants more specifics in regards to the lawsuit. In response, Eaves Law Firm has been rewriting the lawsuits to include specific infor-

Change Service Requested

by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor

that’s an issue with the types of parts being used or procedures that an insurance company has denied.” He said the average John Mosley, Owner of Clinton consumer doesn’t Body Shop, is have a clear underrunning for standing of what MS Insurance his/her rights are. Commissioner Mosley said he has found there is a lack of transparency. “When I win this race and become Insurance Commissioner there’s going to be some transparency,” he said. Mosley said a law in Mississippi was introduced a few years ago that says the most insurance companies have to pay is the least amount they can have the work properly repaired See Mosley Running, Page 21

Gunder’s Auto Center Defeats Progressive’s Motion to Dismiss & Invoke Appraisal Clause

On February 23rd, 2015, the Honorable Judge Susan B. Flood of the County Court of the Tenth Judicial Circuit in and for Polk County denied Progressive Casualty Insurance Company’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Ray Gunder of Gunder’s Auto Center, acting on behalf of his customer and strike claim for attorney’s fees. Furthermore, the court denied the insurer’s efforts to invoke the Appraisal Clause as provided for in their policy contract. This is not the first time that Gunder, who is part of a large lawsuit involving 45 other repair shops in Central Florida, has spoken out against State Farm and other major insurance companies. In an article published by the Orlando Sentinel in August 2014, he stated, “This is a real safety issue. So many shops are forced to do shortcuts with the money that’s being paid, and

insurance companies end up free of liability. We’re just looking for enough money to fix the cars right, in a safe and efficient way.” Gunder added that he has seen many cars that were repaired improperly at other shops under insurer-imposed expense limits. One of those instances, discussed in the orlando Sentinel article, occurred after a 2007 Toyota Camry hybrid, owned by Joan Dick of Lake Wales, FL, got into a collision. Dick said, she had the car repaired first at a shop that is part of State Farm’s repair program. She said the car still shook violently on the road, so she took it to Gunder. His inspections indicated a cracked block and bent steering column, among other problems, Dick said in an interview. The car eventually had to be totaled. The lawsuit filed by Gunder at the end of February was on behalf of anSee Gunder v Progressive, Page 32

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

2 APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Google Compare Now Live in California

COLUMNISTS Attanasio - Four New Apps for Techs, Painters, Estimators and Service Advisors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Attanasio - Online Remarketing Gets Your Name Out There.....Again . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Chess - How Much Do You Know About 2015 Vehicle Technology and Trends? . 30 Luehr - Putting First Things First. . . . . . . . 32 Yoswick - ASA-MI and DRPs, Carstation.com, Right to Repair and Toby Chess’ Legal Threat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

NATIONAL $11M Award in Camry Unintended Acceleration Suit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 AASPI Responds to CNN Report . . . . . . . 53 ABRA Closes on Fourth Acquisition in Four Weeks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Assured Performance Introduces Insurer-Facing Certified Shop Locator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Auto Damange Experts Grand Opening in Portland, OR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Automechanika Comes to Chicago. . . . . . 50 Berkshire Hathaway Completes Van Tuyl Acquisition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 CAA Lobbyist Explains How Things Get Done at the California Capitol Building . 20 Caliber Auto Mechanics File CA Wage & Hour Class Action Suit . . . . . . . . . . . 14 CARSTAR Hosts Aluminum Program at Automechanika . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 CCC ONE® Repair Workflow Has Reached 5,000 Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 CO Police Devise Plan to Halt Hit-and-Runs with Body Shops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Collision Avoidance Sensor Market Expected to Reach $10B by 2020 . . . . 51 CREF to Highlight Collision Career Opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Engineer for NJ Dept. of Transportation Indicted for Falsifying Timesheets to Steal Overtime Pay . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Exeter, Maine Body Shop Roof Collapses, No One Injured. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 FL SkillsUSA Qualifiers Will Head to Nationals in KY June 22–26 . . . . . . . . . . 8 GEICO Philanthropic Awards $100,000 to CREF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Google Compare Now Live in California . . . 3 House of Kolor by Valspar Announces Multiple Wins at CA Car Shows . . . . . . 48 January Used Vehicle Prices Up Y-O-Y, M-to-M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Judge Dismisses Fraud, Racketeering Case Against Warren, MI, Shop Owner, “Evidence Not There”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 LORD Announces New Panel Bonding Adhesive Offering No Tack and No Odor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Martin Senour Announces Second Quarter Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Martin Senour Launches New Automotive Refinish Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Matrix, USC Brands Renew Partnership with “Counting Cars” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Mitchell Launches RepairCenter Hub, a Real Time Communication and Collaboration Platform . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Over 100 Dealerships Join Suit v TrueCar Buying Site Contending Deceptive Business Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Parker Auto Body's Owner Matt Parker Running for LA Insurance Commissioner . 9 Plaintiffs’ Attorneys at Eaves Law Firm Encourage Shops to Share Stories About Alleged Steering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 RARE PARTS’ Extreme Duty Pitman and Idler Arms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Record $13M Plus in Support to Collision School Programs Through CREF . . . . . 52 Record360 App Documents Damages in One Step, Saving Industry Members Time and Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Safety Groups Ask NHTSA for Collision Avoidance Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 SEM Products Hosts Refinish Distributors Alliance Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Service King Expands in Chicago, with Six Locations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 ShopRepTV: A Personalized TV Channel for Body Shops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Takata Responds to Pressure from NHTSA, Honda Launches Major Consumer Education Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Talent Monger Holds Collision Industry Job Fair in PA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Three-C Body Shops File Lawsuit Against At-Fault Driver Due to Insurer’s Underpayment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Transportation Secy Calls on Congress to Close Safety Gap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Urethane Supply Company Offers New Kenworth T800 Hood Repair Kit. . . . . . . 6 Urethane Supply Company Releases I-CAR Course® on Nitrogen Plastic Welding . . 18 Wedge Clamp Opens U.S. Office in Long Beach, CA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 WIN Acknowledges 2015 Corporate Sponsors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 WIN Member Sees Huge Opportunities in Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 WIN’s 2015 Most Influential Women in Collision Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Google launched a new auto insurance shopping website on March 5 known as Google Compare. When Autobody News talked to Google Spokesperson Joe Osborne, he said the website has launched in California and the plan is

to expand to other states throughout the year. The stand-alone website can be found at Google.com/compare and allows consumers to analyze auto insurance quotes. Osborne said the goal is to present the information to Google users in an intuitive, relevant and userfriendly way. According to the company’s website, a Google internal study found that, “...when it comes to buying car insurance, 80% of drivers think they’d find a better policy if they could compare more than two

providers.” There are currently 14 insurance partners that are part of Google Compare. These include Mercury Insurance, Metlife, The General Insurance, Infinity Auto Insurance, Titan Insurance, Stillwater, Dairyland Auto, CSE Insurance Group and six others. Google drew on its current advertising base to begin building a selection of companies to partner with. The billion dollar company launched a similar site for credit cards last year and Osborne said the company is continually improving the site to ensure it is as useful as possible. When searching for car insurance, the website has a questionnaire box that asks for information such as a consumer’s zip code, license number and make and model of vehicle. Once this information is inputted, the site shows the various price quotes from the insurance companies. “As Google Compare for car insurance rolls out to more states, we’ll also be introducing ratings and reviews, as well as local agent support for providers and agent networks,” according to Google’s official blog posted by Jerry Dischler, VP of Product Management, AdWords.

Publisher & Editor: Jeremy Hayhurst General Manager: Barbara Davies Assistant Editor: Stacey Phillips Online Editor: Victoria Antonelli Contributing Writers: Tom Franklin, John Yoswick, Janet Chaney, Toby Chess, David Brown, Rich Evans, Ed Attanasio, Chasidy Sisk, David Luehr Advertising Sales: Joe Momber, Sean Hartman, Bill Doyle, Norman Morano (800) 699-8251 Sales Assistant: Louise Tedesco Art Director: Rodolfo Garcia

Indexof Advertisers

REGIONAL 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division Incorporates Hire Our Heroes Program into Fayetteville Technical Community College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 ABRA Continues North Carolina Expansion . 4 AL Attorney General Accuses Elmore County Used Car Dealer of Defrauding Customers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Atlanta, GA to Host SCRS Week Events in April. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 CARSTAR Expands MSO Network in VA . . . 4 Gunder’s Auto Center Defeats Progressive’s Motion to Dismiss & Invoke Appraisal Clause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 I-CAR Atlanta Committee Extends Invite for 6th Annual Golf Tournament . . . . . . 10 John Mosley, Owner of Clinton Body Shop, is Now Running for Mississippi Insurance Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 North Carolina Continues to Have Lowest Car Insurance Rates in the South . . . . . . 6 Sisk - Exciting Changes Coming for 2015 SARC, Hosted by Seven State Associations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 TN Auto Supplier Adds 435 Jobs . . . . . . . 10

by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor

Allan Vigil Ford-Lincoln . . . . . . . . . . 37 Athens Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep-Ram. 24 Axalta Coating Services . . . . . . . . . . 2 BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 51 Car-Part.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 CarcoonAmerica Airflow Systems . 30 Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA). . . . . . . . . . . 41 Chicago Pneumatic Compressors . . 4 Chief Automotive. . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 19 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Coggin Deland Honda . . . . . . . . . . 47 Crown Automotive Group . . . . . . . . 45 Dent Magic Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 DJS Fabrications, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . 56 Equalizer Industries, Inc . . . . . . . . . 20 Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers FL, VA, GA, AL, MS. . . . . . . . . . . 43 GlobalJig North America . . . . . . . . . 5 GM Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . 53 Gus Machado Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Hendrick Automotive Group . . . . . . 13 Hendrick BMW/MINI . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Hendrick Honda Bradenton . . . . . . 26 Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27, 28-29 Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers. . 55 Jon Hall Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Kernersville Chrysler-DodgeJeep-Ram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Kia Motors Wholesale Parts Dealers. 49

Serving Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and adjacent metro areas. Autobody News is a monthly publication for the autobody industry. Permission to reproduce in any form the material published in Autobody News must be obtained in writing from the publisher. ©2015 Adamantine Media LLC.

Autobody News

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

Lexus Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 48 Malco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Martech Services Company . . . . . . 16 Matrix System Automotive Finishes . 11 Mercedes-Benz Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 MINI Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 50 Mitsubishi Wholesale Parts Dealers . 52 MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 33 Nalley BMW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Performance Automall . . . . . . . . . . 31 Porsche Wholesale Parts Dealers . 46 Prime Supply, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Priority Honda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Pro-Spray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Radley Chevrolet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Replica Plastics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Rick Hendrick Dodge-ChryslerJeep-Ram. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 SATA Spray Equipment . . . . . . . . . 35 Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 21 Stateline Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram . 18 Subaru of Gwinnett . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 42 Tameron Hyundai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Toxic Toad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Urethane Supply Company . . . . . . 15 U.S. Chemical & Plastics . . . . . . . . 23 Valspar Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 3

CARSTAR Expands MSO Network in VA

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts announced on February 25 the addition of CARSTAR of Winchester, VA. CARSTAR of Winchester, which is owned by Alex Sowers and Chad Clovis, is now open at 3066 Shawnee Drive in Winchester, VA. The shop has been in business since 2004. Sowers and Clovis said they made the decision to join CARSTAR for the resources, training and industry expertise that the company offers a shop looking to grow and expand. “We are really happy to partner with CARSTAR,” said Clovis. “We fully believe that their proven production systems, industry experience and insurance relationships will be a big part of taking our facility to the next level in the coming years. It’s an exciting time for our team, customers and shop.” CARSTAR of Winchester is in a 12,000-square-foot facility equipped with the latest in collision repair technology, including CCC estimating software, Chief and Chisum branded frame machines, and a Garmat heated downdraft paint booth. The company offers domestic and foreign mechanical repair, paintless dent repair, and can provide towing and courtesy van services.

3M Automotive Aftermarket Division Incorporates Hire Our Heroes Program into Fayetteville Technical Community College The goal of the 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division’s (AAD) 3M Hire Our Heroes program is to provide tool grants and assistance to deserving military veterans through the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF). To accelerate that effort, 3M AAD has partnered with the CREF to support Fayetteville Technical Community College, located near the U.S. Army base at Ft. Bragg in Fayetteville, NC. “We are proud to be a supporter of the new collision repair training program and facility at Fayetteville Technical Community College,” said Dale Ross, U.S. Marketing Operations Manager at 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division. “With their focus on ensuring their graduates are ‘shop ready,’ and their close connection with Ft. Bragg, this fits well with our objective of the past three years to support our military veterans and their families through the 3M Hire Our Heroes program. Our military veterans deserve our support and the collision repair industry needs an infusion of new talent, and there are none better than those with the skills and training of

ABRA Continues North Carolina Expansion

ABRA Auto Body & Glass, a national damaged vehicle repair company, announced on February 20 that it acquired Triangle Auto Body in the Research Triangle Park neighborhood of Durham, North Carolina. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. It’s the second expansion for ABRA in two different markets in two weeks and comes less than six months after the company increased its collision and glass presence in North Carolina. ABRA’s repair center portfolio now stands at 265 in 20 states. Duane Rouse, ABRA’s President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We’re excited about this transaction and proud to have the opportunity to show customers in the Research Triangle Park community and throughout North Carolina our innovative service model. The market is thriving and we look forward to building on the success we’ve achieved in the region.” Tim Adelmann, ABRA’s Executive Vice President of Business Development said, “We’ve received tremendous support from the community and our insurance partners. This acquisition allows us to become a valued partner by showing cus-

tomers firsthand our operational excellence philosophy and superior processes that make us an industry leader.” ABRA plans to continue expanding in the months and years ahead as part of its national growth strategy. It is actively seeking new opportunities to acquire repair centers and integrate them into its industry-leading operating system. Interested parties in major markets should contact Scott Gerling, Vice President of Corporate Development (sgerling@abraauto.com or 763-585-6210). For franchise opportunities in small and midsize markets, contact Mark Wahlin, Vice President of Franchise Development/Relations (mwahlin@abraauto.com or 763585-6315). ABRA is committed to conducting business based on responsible practices including implementation of environmentally sustainable initiatives, health and safety, and a commitment to the communities in which it serves.

4 APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

our military veterans.” Not only can veterans interested in a career in collision repair apply for the 3M Hire Our Heroes scholarships, they can learn their skills using the innovative 3M tools, materials and solutions donated to the program. “These students are the future of our industry, and it is our job to provide the leading-edge training they need to succeed in repairing the advanced vehicles of tomorrow,” said Mark Algie, Business Development Manager, 3M AAD. “By providing them the latest tools and repair materials available, and teaching the correct standard operating procedures, we can help ensure the next generation of collision repair professionals are highly qualified and ready to go to work.” The facility features a 25,000 sq. ft. on-site production body shop administered by collision repair specialists. It includes a waterborne refinish system; waterborne-ready spray equipment and an aluminum clean room; squeeze type resistance welders (STRSW), smart MIG systems capable of steel, aluminum and silicon bronze welding, resistance dent pullers, plasma cutters, and nitrogen plastic welders; and two frame alignment systems.

The featured 3M products include the 3M™ Dynamic Mixing System, 3M™ PPS™ Paint Preparation System, 3M™ Accuspray™ Spray Gun, 3M™ Dirt Trap, 3M power tools and 3M™ Speedglas™ welding and personal safety equipment ensure the students have the best and the latest technology available to them. For information on the Fayetteville program, visit www.faytechcc.edu/public _service/i-car.aspx. The 3M Hire Our Heroes grants are available for qualifying returning veterans and family members. Grants may be used for tuition, school fees, tools, textbooks and equipment at qualifying technical schools. In 2013 and 2014, the 3M AAD donated $500,000 to hundreds of recipients through the program. For information and to apply, visit www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org. For information on the 3M Hire Our Heroes campaign, contact Ted Guck, 3M Automotive Aftermarket, at tcguck@mmm.com or visit: www.3mcollision.com/hire.

www.autobodynews.com CHECK IT OUT!

www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 5

North Carolina Continues to Have Lowest Car Insurance Rates in the South

When ranked by cost of annual car insurance against more than 80 cities in North Carolina, High Point falls right along the middle. ValuePenguin, a company that provides research and interactive tools on finances, recently released a study analyzing auto insurance quotes in 86 cities across the Tarheel State. Asheville has the lowest rate in the state, with an annual average of $609. The highest is Fayetteville, with an annual average of $840. High Point falls at No. 44 on the list, going from cheapest to most expensive, with an annual average rate of $707. The city’s next-door neighbor, Winston-Salem, is the thirdcheapest rate in the state at $631. Even the top five most-expensive cities in North Carolina are cheaper compared to the other states. North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin said the state continues to have the lowest average insurance premiums in the entire South. “And, we have between the sixth- and seventh-lowest in the entire country, with only states like Kansas and Nebraska and Idaho and Montana

and North Dakota and states like that having slightly lower rates than us,” he added. He pointed to a Nerd Wallet study done in February of 2014 that found six of the top 10 cities for cheap car insurance were in North Carolina. Five of those six were the top five on the list. NerdWallet is an online consumer tool used to compare rates of credit cards, banking, insurance and other services. Car insurance rates are determined by several factors, the most prominent ones being the driver’s record, where they live and the type and use of automobile, according to the North Carolina Department of Insurance. These factors and more determine the risk each applicant presents. The regional experiences of other drivers in the area also play a part in the rate, as well as road conditions, Goodwin said. He said apart from driving safely, one of the best ways to keep auto insurance rates low is to shop around at one of North Carolina’s 167 insurance companies that write automobile insurance and to look for good discounts.

Continued from Cover

Eaves Law Firm

mation from the auto body shops. Although Eaves said this was not their original intention, the Eaves team has been collecting information from the shops. “We’ve tried to give the judge enough detail and enough information so he can have the confidence to move forward,” he said. He also said that some of the lawsuits have been put on hold until the firm can best determine how the judge wants them filed. Then the other lawsuits can be filed in a similar manner. Each state’s lawsuit has a different deadline. Eaves and his team have also been focusing on answering the defendants’ move to dismiss the lawsuit.

There is a standing court date once a month, with the latest one held on March 6. Eaves said the purpose of that hearing was to speed up the process. “Thanks to the leadership of Judge Smith, who is the magistrate on the case, we discussed several ways to expedite the process.” Meanwhile, auto body shops are continuing to join the MDL, with 20 more being added the week prior to Autobody News going to press. Eaves said he wants the case to be the best it can be. “We’re working to ensure it is as comprehensive as possible and lays out all of the unfair trade practices and all of those things that have made it difficult for our shops to do their job,” he said. Auto body shops across the country that wish to share their stories should contact steve@eaveslaw.com.

Berkshire Hathaway Completes Van Tuyl Acquisition Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway completed its purchase of the Van Tuyl Group, the largest dealership acquisition in industry history. All aspects of the sale were finalized March 9. The new Berkshire Hathaway Automotive is the fifth-largest dealership

group in the US with over $9 billion in revenue and 81 independently operated dealerships with over 100 franchises in 10 states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas.

Urethane Supply Company Offers New Kenworth T800 Hood Repair Kit

Urethane Supply Company’s new Kenworth T800 hood repair kit addresses a common problem on the hood of this particular model truck.

Kenworth T800 hood repair kit

“The brackets for the hood guides at the back of the hood break the Metton plastic just about every time,” said Kurt Lammon, President of Urethane Supply Company, based in Alabama. “The only repair other than buying a brand-

Free

new hood requires about eight hours of labor and over $1,000 in parts.” Urethane Supply Company’s custom-designed repair kit bonds a cast aluminum plug into the “horseshoe” socket to make a much faster and much stronger repair than the original. Lammon said the installation time to repair both sides is less than an hour and the suggested User price for the kit is only $499.95. The Kenworth T800 hood repair kit comes complete with driver’s and passenger’s side aluminum repair plugs, steel bearing plates, two 2510 PlastiFix adhesive kits, and all necessary hardware. See more information about this new product at www.urethanesupply .com/New-Products/KEN-T800/. For further questions, contact Kurt Lammon at 800-633-3047.

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FL SkillsUSA Qualifiers Will Head to Nationals in KY June 22–26 by Victoria Antonelli, Online Editor

Since its founding in 1965, SkillsUSA has provided high school and college students from across the country with the opportunity to put their wide-array of talents to the test. More than 300,000 students and advisors join SkillsUSA annually, organized into more than 17,000 sections and 52 state and territorial associations. Combining alumni and lifetime membership, the total number impacted this year is more than 335,000. That’s 11.2 million people impacted in the last 50 years. Students in the automotive sector hone their skills into one of three specializations: automotive collision repair, automotive refinish, and automotive mechanical. Florida has six regional competitions. Up to eight students from each region can qualify at the state level, making 48 the maximum. However, according to collision repair contest chairman, Kirk Cook, usually around 25–40 automotive students advance to the semi-finals. Cook has overseen the competitions for the last three years. “The judges are industry professionals who are willing to devote time, energy and resources to the event,” he said. “We first look at the advisory board of the host

school to see what volunteers are there and reach out to others that have participated in the past...this includes collision repair owners, managers, technicians, and paint and equipment representatives. Time and energy is spent to assure the judges understand what is being measured in the event and all competitors are judged fairly.”

Automotive collision repair and automotive refinish students participating in the 2014 SkillsUSA competitions. Photo Credit: Kristen Felder - CollisionHub

Students in the collision repair group are judged on ASE type test on collision repair, welding, dent repair, and plastics repair, while the automotive refinish students are judged on ASE type test refinish repair, masking, and refinish panel project, Cook explained. Both groups are required to complete a series of interviews and estimate writing. The automotive mechanical stu-

8 APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

dents are judged on all areas of ASE certification, engines, transmissions, a vehicle’s drivability and many other factors that make a car tick, added automotive mechanical instructor, Michael Setzer. Setzer has taught at Sheridan Technical College in Hollywood, FL for 32 years, and has overseen the SkillsUSA competitions for 17. “On a technological level, every bit of the car is advancing, especially in regards to safety,” said Setzer. “The students are eager to learn and compete. They’re all looking to make a decent living at the other end once … the competitions are over with.” Six students, two from collision repair, two from automotive refinish, and two from mechanical automotive, are selected to compete at the national level. The finalists from each division are comprised of one high school student and one post-secondary student. “If you get into the [automotive field] you’re going to have a lifetime of learning ahead of you,” said Setzer. “You’re not going to learn it and then be able to sit back and live off what you’ve already learned. We prepare [the students] for that, and at the same time, we prepare them as best as we can for the real-life experiences they’re going to be facing the moment they go to work for someone.”

Setzer added, “My recommendation to anyone who hires a student right out of school is to put them with someone that they want them to be a duplicate of, because they’ll pick up the good habits and they’ll also pick up the bad.” The SkillsUSA Florida State Leadership and Skills Conference will be held in Lakeland, Florida at the Travis Career Center from April 26-29. The host school is the main sponsor for the event, according to Cook. “They are responsible to coordinate and conduct the event, while regional and state committees guide the specifics. I will be working with Travis Career Center to coordinate the refinish and collision events,” he said. “However it takes a tremendous amount of industry support to … provide the facility and consumable items, such as fenders, bumpers, paint, sandpaper, metal panels, and welders. Many businesses have stepped up … such as 3M, LKQ, PPG, and State Farm.” Cook added, “[SkillsUSA] is succession planning at its grass roots! It helps bring quality trained technicians into the collision repair business, and it helps schools focus on the core skills needed in the ... industry.” The SkillsUSA National Championships will be held from June 22-26 in Louisville, KY.

Parker Auto Body's Owner Matt Parker Running for LA Insurance Commissioner by Stacey Phillips

When Autobody News recently spoke to Matt Parker he was taking a break from the campaign trail in Louisiana and preparing for a fundraising event the following week. The owner of Parker Auto Body in West Monroe is running for Louisiana’s Insurance Commissioner. Before Parker announced his candidacy on March 2, his election team conducted a phone poll with 600 voters across the state. The intent was to get a pulse on the knowledge base of Louisiana’s resiMatt Parker, dents. Owner of Parker “The deeper we Auto Body, is dug the more we running for found that the polLA Insurance icy holders in LA Commissioner aren’t being treated fairly by their insurance companies,” Parker said. He also learned that insurance rates in LA are nearly double the national average for homeowners insurance and one of the highest in the nation for automobile insurance. “Nobody that we have talked to

likes what is happening and most of them have their own horror stories… where they have been taken advantage of by the insurance industry.” Parker, a Republican, said he never had political aspirations but decided to run for Insurance Commissioner to educate the people of LA and help make a difference in the industry. He has vowed not to take any money from insurance companies to fund his campaign. “I don’t feel you can regulate an industry if you’re taking money from them,” he said. Parker said he came from modest beginnings. “We didn’t have a lot but we had enough,” said the LA native. Once he realized he enjoyed doing auto body work, he tried to learn as much as he could. He decided to join the Air Force in 1978. “I looked at my orders and I saw England. I said, ‘man, we’re getting to go overseas,’ then I read a little further and saw Alexandria, LA. He served for four years and was stationed at England Airforce base in Alexandria, LA. When Parker left the military, he rented a couple of stalls and a mechanic shop in Monroe, LA. He applied for a bank loan to fund his business and was refused several times. However, Parker didn’t give up. After six months, the

loan officer finally told him that he was the most persistent person he had ever met and was going to give him a $100,000 loan. That money enabled Parker to purchase a building for Parker Auto Body. At one point he operated three locations but now has one big store. His daughter Amber is in charge of managing the books and Amber and his sonin-law Drew Randall help oversee both operations, his tire store and body shop. Parker’s youngest son Grant will soon be working in the family business as well. “If we don’t take this industry back, these kids won’t have a future,” said Parker. He said there are a lot of shops that feel the same way. “What needs to happen is these body shops need to step up. More and more of them are doing it but we’re still a long way from where we should be.” Parker said one way to get involved is by becoming part of the antitrust Multi District Lawsuit in Florida. The business owner joined the lawsuit in April 2014 after frustration with insurance companies dictating how to run his business. He traveled to Congress twice in 2014 to discuss the challenges body shops face protecting consumers while pro-

viding a safe repair, and recently appeared on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 show, which looked into auto insurance practices. “My job is to help make a difference and to expose this to the people of LA and hopefully around the country,” he said. Parker is also working with LA Senator Bob Kostelka to help pass legislation on the use of aftermarket parts. He said that until it is proven that aftermarket parts go through the same testing as OEM parts, “They should not be allowed to put them on the vehicle because it affects the timing of the airbag deployment. To me, it’s not an insurance issue, it’s a safety issue.” The election for the four-year term of Insurance Commissioner is on October 24, 2015. “Even if John Mosley and I don’t win, the people of Louisiana and Mississippi will be educated as to what these insurance companies are doing to them,” said Parker. “I think some changes will happen even if we don’t win but I’m planning on winning.” More information about his campaign is available on Facebook: Matt Parker Insurance Commissioner and www.mattparkerforlouisiana.com

www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 9

I-CAR Atlanta Committee Extends Invite for 6th Annual Golf Tournament by Chasidy Rae Sisk

The I-CAR Atlanta Committee will be holding their 6th annual Golf Tournament on Thursday, April 23 at The Golf Club at Bradshaw Farm, located in Woodstock, GA. Proceeds

from the event will benefit the Collision Repair Education Foundation. The event has been organized by David Kulkis, Lee Sullivan and Gerry Poirier. Poirier says, “last year, we had over 195 golfers from all parts of the collision industry, and we hope to see even more this year.” Registration costs $100 per

golfer, and teams of four will compete in 18 holes of golf. Registration fees also include golf balls, a cart, three drink tickets, participation in a putting contest, lunch, a reception dinner and a goody bag. The golf tournament will commence with a shotgun start at 11AM. Raffle and Mulligan packages will also be sold during the event. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for industry vendors interested in supporting CREF and the future of the collision repair industry. The I-CAR Atlanta Committee hosts their annual golf tournament to express appreciation to their industry business partners. Registrations are being accepted until March 23rd. Registration forms can be faxed to David Kulkis at 763-549-8552 or emailed to dkulkis@abraauto.com.

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SEM Products Hosts Refinish Distributors Alliance Meeting

The Refinish Distributors Alliance (RDA) held their February Board meeting at the SEM Products headquarters in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Those in attendance included CEO Steve Fussy and Vice President of Sales George Krul, along with the entire SEM team. Robert McKenzie Jr., Executive Director of RDA said, “It is opportunities like this that enhance partnerships and grow member participation with our supporting manufacturers. On behalf of the RDA board we would like to thank SEM for their hospitality.” RDA/IMPACT is the largest national group of refinish jobbers. RDA has 17 members, representing 185 locations. Members service more than 3,600 collision centers throughout the United States. RDA represents a crosssection of all major refinish brands and does over $455 million in sales as a group, comprising around 17% of the refinish business nationwide. To join RDA/IMPACT, contact Robert McKenzie, Jr. 731-217-9081 /robertemckenzie@me.com. For more info, visit impactcollisionsolutions.com or contact Melisa Jolls 908-251-5713/meljolls@earthlink .net.

TN Auto Supplier Adds 435 Jobs

Auto parts supplier Unipres USA Inc. will expand its Middle Tennessee facilities by adding new presses and create 435 new jobs over the next five years, officials told timesfreepress.com on February 24.

The Unipres USA facilities in Sumner County; just north of Nashville, TN.Photo Credit: Contributed Photo/Times Free Press

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development said that Unipres USA will renovate a storage warehouse at its facilities in Sumner County, north of Nashville, to fit assembly equipment and materials. Plans also include an addition to existing manufacturing facilities to house two new 2,500-ton transfer presses and one 600-ton blanking press, reported timesfreepress.com. The stamping, machining and assembly of metal parts for the main portions of automotive body structures are the primary focuses of Unipres USA. It also presses molded components and precision automatic transmission parts. Unipres USA currently employs more than 1,000 and has been in Portland, TN, since 1987.

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AL Attorney General Accuses Elmore County Used Car Dealer of Defrauding Customers

Attorney General Luther Strange has obtained a court order to stop an Elmore County, AL, used car dealer from continuing to defraud Alabama consumers and businesses. Elmore County Circuit Judge Sibley G. Reynolds granted the Attorney General’s request for a temporary restraining order and to seize the property of Quality Used Cars and its associate Preowned Automotive, operated by Claton and Connie Reeves since 2009. Also named in the Attorney General’s lawsuit are Monecia Brown, daughter of Claton and Connie Reeves, and Brown’s husband Christopher Robinson, for their actions as employees or agents of the dealer. The dealership is located at 6155 Elmore Road in Elmore, Alabama. A preliminary injunction hearing was set for March 5. “The State’s highest priority is ensuring no more parties are harmed by Quality’s business practices. If possible, the state also wishes to secure relief for those already victimized,” the attorney general said in his motion to the judge. He said the car dealers have been actively defrauding consumers, banks, credit unions and other car dealerships. The attorney general alleged that Quality “has a consistent practice of en-

tering into deals and failing to fulfill its end of the bargain. Quality has accepted vehicle trade-ins under the condition of paying off existing liens but then failed to do so. And it has then sold these very vehicles to other customers without disclosing the liens attached to them, while charging but not remitting state sales taxes. Quality has acquired other vehicles via false pretenses and bad checks, which has led to credit unions, banks, and other car dealers losing tens of thousands. Finally, Quality has failed to obtain, let lapse, or had revoked such quality standards as a surety bond, a state business license, and from the Department of Revenue, its Dealer License and Designated Agent status. Thus, any deal Quality makes is corroded from the start.” In a civil complaint also filed with the court, Attorney General Strange accuses the car dealer of 18 counts of violating the Alabama Deceptive Trade Practices Act as well as a 19th count of a Department of Revenue violation. He gives examples of three particular fraudulent transactions: ♦ A woman traded in her Ford Ranger vehicle to purchase a car from Quality with the agreement that Quality would pay off her $3,900 lien on the Ford

Atlanta, GA, to Host SCRS Week Events in April

On Tuesday, April 7, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) will hold an Open Board Meeting from 3-5 p.m. at the Crown Plaza Ravina (hotel reservations phone 877270-1393) in Atlanta, GA. Everyone wishing to learn more about the association’s industry work is encouraged to attend. The two hour meeting will include updates from SCRS staff, committees and guests from our local affiliate associations outlining current and future work initiatives each group has undertaken on behalf of the membership. The open meeting will be immediately followed by SCRS’s annual election for open seats on the board of directors, promptly beginning at 5:15 p.m. The election is open to current designated voting representatives of SCRS member businesses. Members must be present to vote. To join as a member of SCRS to participate in the upcoming election, contact the association office at info@scrs.com. The election will fill four (4) open board seats, and candidates running for the seats will be announced shortly. On April 8, SCRS will be hosting a Repairer Roundtable meeting from 8:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. focused on

safety and preventative measures collision repairers should be taking as the vehicles and materials found in the repair process evolve. The morning will feature a panel and live audience discussion. SCRS has opened up this event to invite anyone in the industry that wishes to learn from and support initiatives that foster a better informed industry. At 11:15 a.m. on April 8, just prior to the start of the Collision Industry Conference (CIC), SCRS will host the annual Corporate Member & Industry Awards recognition lunch. Members of the industry are welcomed and encouraged to attend this event designed to recognize great work taking place in the industry. RSVP is absolutely required. There is no fee to attend any of the events, but SCRS does request you please RSVP for one or both, Repairer Roundtable and the Awards Luncheon (click on title for RSVP access or email info@scrs.com). Please register no later than Friday, April 3. SCRS events daily schedule: For more information about SCRS, or to join as a member, please visit www.scrs.com, call toll free 1877-841-0660 or email info@scrs .com.

12 APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Ranger. This is a standard practice for car dealers who accept a trade-in that has a lien. She began to get notices that her loan had not been paid, and over the next 22 months the car dealer only sporadically made payments in which the checks bounced, were late, or did not cover the payment amount. Not only did this damage the woman’s credit history, but the credit union filed a lawsuit against her. It was only after she reported the matter to the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, and the Reeves were threatened with arrest, that Quality finally paid off the loan nearly two years later. In addition to the harm caused to the consumer, Quality caused the credit union substantial administrative and legal costs to collect what was owed. ♦ Another woman paid $4,700 for the same Ford Ranger. Knowing there was the unpaid lien on the vehicle, Quality falsely represented that it had the title and that there was no lien. ♦ During her purchase of a vehicle from an Alabaster car dealer, Connie Reeves was asked for her regulatory license and her Alabama Sales Tax License. She claimed that she had left them in Elmore County, wrote a check for $16,200, and left with the car and its title. This check, and a subsequent

second check, bounced. At this time, they have not yet paid for the vehicle. In addition to the alleged violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Quality has paid no sales tax since 2012. The Attorney General’s complaint states that for “over 70 months Quality has sold multiple vehicles at retail and collected and underpaid at least $53,072.88 in sales tax, which it itemized on issued bills of sale. This sales tax, which consumers paid in addition to the price of their chosen vehicle, never made it to the (Revenue) Department.” Additional interest and penalties in the amount of $30,923 also is owed. It is noted that these figures are estimates based upon only those transactions which are known. The Revenue Department sent numerous notifications to Quality. “Quality has continued to sell vehicles and do business despite lacking nearly every required license or prerequisite for doing so,” the complaint alleged. Its Alabama Dealer License was revoked around August of 2014 and its status as “designated agent” was revoked in February of 2014. It has paid other authorized agents to use their credentials to reach the restricted access program used to process title applications. “In sum, Quality’s entire operation is unlawful.”

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Caliber Auto Mechanics File CA Wage & Hour Class Action Suit

A California labor law class action lawsuit has been filed against Caliber Collision by mechanics who allege they were not paid for all the hours they worked. Filed by lead plaintiff Samuel Castillo, the lawsuit alleges Caliber Bodyworks of Texas Inc., which operates the chain Caliber Collision, pays its mechanics on a piece-rate system for each task they perform, and that the workers are assigned piece-rate hours per tasks, regardless of the time it actually takes them to perform. Castillo claims he recorded the hours he worked, but Caliber only paid him under the piece-rate system. “As a result, defendants did not pay plaintiff for all hours worked at the minimum wage, as defendants failed to pay plaintiff for nonproductive hours, i.e., hours that he was not performing piece-rate work,” the complaint states. Further, the lawsuit contends that Castillo worked for Caliber from 2007 through to the end of January 2014, classed as a nonexempt technician under the piece-rate system. According to the suit, under Caliber’s pay system, if a task were assigned a value of 0.8 hours, the mechanic would be paid for 0.8 hours of work, regardless of whether the

task took 10 or 90 minutes to perform. According to the suit, the method Caliber uses of meeting their minimum wage obligations, dividing daily piecerate earnings by daily hours worked, violates California labor law. The suit also alleges Caliber paid Castillo nondiscretionary bonuses and other forms of compensation that aren’t excludable from the regular rate of pay. “Despite defendants’ payment of incentive pay to plaintiff, defendants failed to include all forms of incentive pay when calculating plaintiff’s regular rate of pay, thereby further causing plaintiff to be underpaid all of his required overtime wages,” the complaint states. Castillo alleges that he regularly worked in excess of eight hours per work day and over 40 hours each week, without receiving overtime compensation. Further, because the company only pays its workers in the piece-rate system, it also fails to maintain any compensation system for compensating rest periods. “As a result of defendants’ failure to pay all overtime and minimum wages, defendants maintained inaccurate payroll records and issued inaccurate wage statements to plaintiff,” the suit states.

Finally, the lawsuit contends that Caliber requires its mechanics to buy their own tools that are necessary to perform their job duties, without reimbursing the workers for the cost of the tools. California Labor Code section 2802 requires employers to indemnify employees against all “necessary” expenses, including the costs of tools needed to perform job duties. If the employer is already supplying the “necessary” equipment, there is no duty to reimburse for buying superior or superfluous equipment. The employment class action is seeking certification on behalf of classes of workers denied minimum wage, overtime hours, expense reimbursements and more. The plaintiff is represented by Paul K. Haines and Fletcher W. Schmidt of Boren Osher & Luftman LLP. The suit is Castillo et al. v. Caliber Bodyworks of Texas Inc. et al., case number BC572767, in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles.

CREF to Highlight Collision Career Opportunities

To help provide school counselors from around the country with collision industry and career opportunity information for their students, the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) will be exhibiting and presenting at the 2015 American School Counselor Association Annual Conference. The event will be held June 28July 1 in Phoenix, AZ. The Education Foundation will have a booth during the conference’s trade show and present during the “Career Tracks” section of the event. CREF Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode noted, “The Education Foundation has increased our efforts to communicate to school administration and counselors about the need to support their high school and college collision school programs and participating in this event is key to ensure that the collision industry is visible to this group.” For information about the American School Counselor Association, visit www.SchoolCounselor .org. Those interested in making a donation should contact Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at 847.463.5244 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.

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WIN’s 2015 Most Influential Women in Collision Repair

The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) announced this year’s honorees for the Most Influential Women (MIW) of the collision industry. ● Cheryl Boswell, CFO, DCR Systems LLC, Duluth, Georgia ● Lauren Fix, President, Automotive Aspects Inc., Lancaster, New York ● Lisa Siembab, Owner, CARSTAR Berlin, Berlin, Connecticut ● Ruth Weniger, CEO, Airbag Solutions LLC, Ivins, Utah “The nominees this year showcased a breadth of responsibilities,” stated Russell Long, President of Change Innovations, the company contracted to conduct the interviews and select the honorees. “Each year, women from different facets of the collision repair industry are selected for their passion and commitment to progressive and positive evolution of the industry,” stated Denise Caspersen, WIN chair. Established in 1999 by AkzoNobel, WIN acquired stewardship of the Most Influential Women program in 2013. When the WIN Educational Conference convenes in Baltimore, MD on May 4-6 the honorees will be celebrated during an awards dinner. For information, go to: www.womensindustrynetwork.com.

WIN Acknowledges 2015 Corporate Sponsors

The Women’s Industry Network (WIN®) recently announced their 2015 corporate sponsorships: Gold Sponsors ($10,000): AkzoNobel Coatings Inc. Axalta Coating Systems PPG Industries Inc. Silver Sponsors ($5,000): National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) The 3M Company Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc. Service King Collision Repair Centers State Farm Insurance Valspar Corporation Bronze Sponsors ($2,500): Allstate Insurance Company AudaExplore, a Solera Company Caliber Collision The Certified Automotive Parts Assoc. CARSTAR CCC Information Services Inc. FinishMaster Inc. Fix Auto USA GEICO Gerber Collision & Glass The Hertz Corporation MetLife Auto & Home Mitchell International Nationwide Safelite Solutions Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes

WIN Member Sees Huge Opportunities in Industry

As a college intern, Rosalie Tamburro supported sponsorship activities as well as learning and development for a major paint company. She found that the industry was filled with friendly, supportive professionals, and that the automotive industry peeked her interest. Upon graduation, Tamburro sought to continue her involvement by joining PPG Automotive Refinish as a Marketing Communications Specialist, based in their Strongsville, OH headquarters. Tamburro explained, “I was attracted to the automotive industry for two different reasons. One reason is credited to PPG, I knew after joining the team that this is where I was meant to be. In addition to the industry aligning Rosalie Tamburro with my interests, joined PPG Autothe culture and motive Refinish customers are exas Marketing ceptional. RefinCommunications ish is so diverse – Specialist from cutting-edge technology to the custom painter who can amaze with their creative talent, there’s always something to look for-

ward to.” After two years, Tamburro shifted in 2014 to a new role acting as a liaison to the Canadian market. Like many, Tamburro sees a huge opportunity for social media and other interactive marketing initiatives to be leveraged in the auto industry. “These platforms allow businesses to really engage with their customers in a whole new way. The technology and resources that are available to promote any business is something that offers endless opportunities.” Tamburro’s manager, Cristina Fronzaglia, encouraged her to get connected with those across the industry by joining and participating in the Women’s Industry Network (WIN). Tamburro has taken that advice, joining the Communications Committee and agreeing to take on the role of Scholarship Liaison within the first month of becoming a WIN member. “I am a member of WIN because I wanted to be part of a group that makes an impact in the industry.” Recently, she learned that one of her colleagues, Jessica Crowley, is actually a WIN Scholarship recipient from 2012. Thank you to WIN for providing this article to Autobody News magazine.

www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 15

National Associations

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

Exciting Changes Coming for 2015 SARC, Hosted by Seven State Associations with Chasidy Rae Sisk

On April 17 and 18, seven state collision repair industry associations will collaborate to host the 2015 Southern Automotive Repair Conference (SARC), organized by Blue Collar Collision. The event will be held again at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, MS. This year, the Auto Body Association of Texas (ABAT) has joined the six associations who’ve hosted in the past; the other hosts are the Alabama Automotive Repair Industry Society of Excellence (ALARISE), the Georgia Collision Industry Association (GCIA), the Florida Autobody Collision Alliance (FACA), the Louisiana Collision Industry Association (LaCIA), the Mississippi Collision Repair Association (MSCRA), and the Tennessee Collision Repair Association (TCRA). Each association will set up tables at the conference to disseminate information about their organizations and to help attendees and exhibitors benefit from SARC 2015. Registration for this year’s SARC will begin on Friday at 4PM with classes commencing at 5PM and the expo floor opening at 7PM. Exhibitions will continue Saturday from 7:30AM8PM when the conference concludes. Approximately 500 attendees are expected to participate in this year’s event, and over 40 exhibitors will be set up on the expo floor. Event Coordinator Georgia Thorson predicts, “SARC will be more organized, focused and energetic this year in order to provide a truly great event for both attendees and exhibitors. There is an excellent lineup of industry presenters, including keynote speaker, Mike Anderson.” Repeat attendees will notice many changes at this year’s SARC 2015. Unlike previous years when breakout sessions dominated the schedule, all classes are being held in one room with the only overlapping sessions being held on Friday night to give attendees two options during that time slot. Exhibitors’ booths will be set up along the room’s perimeter, and over eight hours have been allotted throughout the weekend for exhibitions which will be presented on the main stage. In addition to the registration fee being reduced this year, participants can now register online, which Thorson hopes will leads to accurate databases and a

“more stream-lined, more effective and more dynamic event.” Following registration on Friday, attendees will choose between two classes scheduled from 5-7PM. While Ron Perretta presents “Build a Great Culture and Future Work Force” in Camellia A, Assured Performance’s Mike Miller will host an “OEM Certification Presentation and Discussion” in Camellia B. From 7-9PM, participants can visit exhibitors’ booths in Magnolia, the main conference room, and indulge in a buffet-style reception dinner. From 7:30-9AM on Saturday, attendees can enjoy breakfast while getting to know the vendors exhibiting on the expo floor. Welcoming and Introductions begin at 9AM, followed by an Exhibitor Presentation and Drawing which concludes at 9:45AM. Next, Industry Updates will be provided by Aaron Schulenburg, Executive Director of SCRS. Participants will then enjoy networking opportunities during the short break preceding another Exhibitor Presentation and Drawing. Following a presentation on “EPA and OSHA Updates” provided by Brandon Thomas of GMG EnviroSafe, Jim McGrew from Precision Collision Center will share some secrets of his success as attendees “Hear from a Winning Shop!” Lunch and time with exhibitors are sandwiched between exhibitors presentations and drawings with things getting back down to business at 1:45PM with the event’s keynote speaker. For two and a half hour, SARC 2015 attendees will be privy to the insights of the event’s keynote speaker, Mike Anderson, of Collision Advice. Anderson’s knowledge and expertise make him one of the most highly sought speakers in the industry as he shares his motivational suggestions on cutting-edge management and operational techniques. The final educational seminar of SARC 2015 will be the Panel Discussion with Questions and Answers from 4:30-5:45PM which will be moderated by Robert McKenzie, Executive Director of the Refinish Distributors Alliance. Panelists include the following renowned industry experts: Mike Anderson of Collision Advice, Mike Miller of Assured Performance, Jim

16 APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

McGrew of Precision Collision Center, Tony Nethery of Blue Collar Collision and TCRA, Ron Perretta of Global Coaching and Consulting, SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg, and Brandon Thomas of GMG EnviroSafe. This year’s event will culminate with final announcements and a door prize drawing, preceding the last two hours of the night when attendees will have a chance to visit exhibitors. A buffet-style reception dinner will also be served at this time. Thorson expects, “this year will be exciting compared to the past. We’ve received huge interest from sponsors, and all the major paint companies will be there. Body shops are really interested, and we’re going to have more drawings and prizes than ever before. Everyone involved with planning the 2015 SARC is really enthusiastic and excited to see how everyone reacts to the changes this year.” SARC was developed and estab-

lished several years ago by Steve Plier of ALARISE and John Mosley of MSCRA. Both gentlemen are dedicated to providing shops in their areas and across the country with the necessary training and networking opportunities to improve the collision repair industry as a whole, and this desire led them to found SARC. Tickets are available for purchase online at SARC’s website for the low cost of $25 per person by credit card, or they can be purchased at the door for $30 (by cash or check only). Tickets admit the holder to the conference and exhibition area and to attend one of Friday night’s classes. Those who register online will also receive free drink tickets for Friday’s and Saturday’s receptions, a door prize entry, and a ticket to the luncheon on Saturday. To learn more about the conference or to register for the 2015 SARC, visit the event’s website at www.southern automotiverepairconference.com

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www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 17

Urethane Supply Company Releases I-CAR Course® on Nitrogen Plastic Welding

Nitrogen plastic welding, a technology first commercialized by Urethane Supply Company in 2006, has been growing in popularity over the years as shops look to keep more labor dollars in-house. Unfortunately, many shops that have purchased welders have not been able to take full advantage of their capabilities due to inadequate training or technician turnover. To address this need for training, Urethane Supply Company is announcing the availability of a new training course: PR-01 Introduction to Nitrogen Plastic Welding. This training is approved for ICAR credit hours and/or Knowledge Area recognition through the I-CAR Industry Training Alliance® program. The PR-01 Nitrogen Plastic Welding course is designed for delivery to up to three technicians in the customer’s shop. The training takes roughly three hours and focuses primarily on the hands-on skills necessary to repair bumpers. The learning objectives for the course are as follows: ● Identify different plastic types

● Explain the basic nitrogen welding process ● Properly operate the plastic welder ● Weld a tear to the edge of the bumper ● Repair a torn slot tab ● Repair a torn flange ● Repair a torn flexible hinge tab ● Repair a thermoset polyurethane (PUR) bumper

North American shops interested in scheduling this training must register online at www.urethanesupply .com/training. The cost of the course is $400 for up to three technicians. Once a reservation is made, Urethane Supply’s training manager will contact the shop’s representative and schedule an appointment. Questions? Contact Kurt Lammon at 800-633-3047

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18 APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Three-C Body Shops File Lawsuit Against At-Fault Driver Due to Insurer’s Underpayment

On behalf of their customer, Three C Body Shops filed suit against the atfault party due to their insurance company’s denials and underpayments. The complaint was filed in the Municipal Court of Franklin County in Ohio against Caleb Brickey due to Brickey’s insurer’s (Allstate Insurance Company) failure and refusal to provide a Three C Body Shop’s customer full payment for numerous reasonable and necessary charges for processes and materials. The issues stemmed from an auto accident in which the at-fault party, Brickey, was negligent and admitted liability for damages to Three C Body Shop’s customer’s 2005 Jeep Liberty. Three C’s submitted their estimate to the at-fault party’s insurer and after four supplemental attempts to attain the full and proper compensation, at the direction of their customer, Three C Body Shops proceeded with the recommended and proper repair. The final cost of the authorized repair was $5,687.83 and the at-fault party’s insurer, Allstate, tendered the underpayment of $3,585.43 towards the repair leaving a difference and deficit of $2,102.40 of which Three C Body Shop has incurred and is now seeking recovery on their own behalf.

The lawsuit seeks full payment to Three C’s of the difference plus costs, expenses, attorney fees, prejudgment and post judgment interest. Bob Juniper, second generation President and owner of Three C stated, “Up to now many repairers have found that to properly meet their customer’s needs and expectations it is necessary to make a proper and thorough repair and take an Assignment of Proceeds and through ensuing litigation, seek recovery against their customer’s own insurers by an assignment contract clause and a Power of Attorney signed by the customer. This matter involves a third-party claimant seeking recompense for the insurer’s denials and underpayments directly from the at-fault party. This process exposes the insurer’s poor behavior to their policyholder and places the at-fault party in a position of vulnerability and exposes them to liabilities. Liabilities they expected their own insurer to shield them from. Their failure to shield their policyholder may place the insurer in a position of potential breach of contract and other potential legal liabilities. Our hope is this exposure will cause for a positive change in insurer behaviors; regardless if a first or third party claim.”

www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 19

CAA Lobbyist Explains How Things Get Done at the California Capitol Building by Ed Attanasio

With the California Autobody Association’s (CAA) upcoming annual Legislative Day happening on April 14 in Sacramento, CA, body shop owners will once again converge at the State Capitol to meet with their legislators and discuss issues that affect the collision industry. As an attorney/lobbyist practicing for over two decades at the California State Capitol, Jack Molodanof is frequently asked: “Can one person really make a difference?” And his response is always an emphatic “Yes!” “Not only can one person make a difference, but one person can also make others change their perception of an issue,” Molodanof explained. “You have the power in that you have first-hand experience as it relates to issues that are most important to you. Let the lawmakers know how you feel about these issues. You must be heard to make a change.” To open every CAA Legislative Day, Molodanof briefs the members in attendance about the best ways to get results from their local legislators

and here are some of these:

Do Your Homework First First off, do you know the names of your local legislators? If not, it’s very easy to find out by going to www.legalifno.ca.gov. Learn about their backgrounds and maybe more importantly, learn how to pronounce their names. If you live in Santa Cruz and your assemblyman’s name is Mark Stone that’s no problem, but what about if you’re from San Luis Obispo and your assemblyman’s name is Katcho Achadjian? If and when you’re able to meet your legislator, mispronouncing their name is definitely not a great way to start any conversation. In addition, try to learn some other interesting things about your local legislators—including their political affiliations and the names of their key assistants, for example. It’s also very easy to sign up for their enewsletters and get on their mailing lists to keep updated about what they’re doing. By doing your research and due diligence, you’ll be ready to make a

favorable impression when you meet your local legislator, whether it’s at an organization-sponsored Legislative Day, a meet and greet event or a local fundraiser.

Open the Dialogue & Keep it Open After your initial interaction with your legislator, don’t back off or disappear into the mist. Write a thank you letter for that first meeting and keep the lines of communication open. Check in but don’t call weekly. If you don’t get a timely response, don’t be dissuaded, because these are busy people and just because they did not respond doesn’t mean they aren’t hearing your voice. By becoming a resource for your legislator on topics you’re familiar with, you can help your legislator on issues that impact the automotive repair industry and the collision repair industry specifically.

Stay Classy When talking to your legislators, obviously threatening them or suggesting a bribe is strictly taboo. Just as importantly, never mislead a legisla-

tor and don’t be pushy, even if you’re passionate about the issue. And don’t waste their valuable time—get in there, make your point and get out. Your legislator will respect your professional behavior and more likely remember you the next time. Also, it’s important to know each member of your legislator’s staff, because in many cases those are the people you’ll be meeting with, at least initially. They gather information and brief their legislator about issues and rely on their judgment, which means they can influence a decision with new information. Know the staff members’ titles (Chief of Staff, Committee Staff, Legislative Aide, etc.) and ask them questions, such as what they’re hearing from the opposition; do they have enough information to advise their legislator on the issue and/or does the legislator need to listen to more of their constituents before making a decision? And never talk down to a staff member or underestimate his/her power. If you get an aide or your side about an issue, you can get a lot done See California Lobbying, Page 54

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Continued from Cover

Mosley Running

for in the market area. One of Mosley’s goals is to push for new legislation to help define what a “proper repair” is. “We feel like it’s our duty to put that car back like it was five seconds before that accident. That’s what we’re training for; that’s why we’re certified.” However, after running his business for 35 years, he has found that insurance companies don’t always pay. This is one reason Mosley joined the antitrust Multi District Lawsuit in Florida, in which more than 500 shops are suing the nation’s largest insurance companies. “We’ve been pushed so hard by the insurance industry and are

to a point that we ask, ‘What do you do?’ The remedy should already be in place,” said Mosley. “I’m stepping up to try and do something.” Although Mosley doesn’t have a political background, he said that he has a good understanding of the issues and has surrounded himself with experts in the industry. He also hopes to work with the Mississippi governor to help repeal Obamacare. “I’m 100 percent against a federal mandate,” said Mosley. “I don’t like any forced mandate on a citizen, whether it’s State Farm, Parts Trader or especially the federal government trying to force their own health care system into place.” He said that, as an employer, he often stays up at night worrying about how his employees are going to pay

for their insurance and take care of their families. Some of his employees have seen their policies increase by 30 to 40 percent. “A working man shouldn’t be penalized to take up the slack of the insurance industry,” said Mosley. “I’m all about trying to help a person when they’re down but I’m more concerned with helping that person get on his feet and get a job and support himself rather than society supporting him.” As the second oldest of six boys and one girl, Mosley said he grew up in the auto repair industry. His father, George, was in the Marine Corp and used the GI bill in the late 1940s to attend technical school and learn auto body repair. Mosley recalls going to work with his dad and brothers every

Saturday and during the summer time to help at the Chevrolet dealership where his father worked. He started out taking the emblems off the fenders because it was easier to do with smaller hands; later he learned how to sand. By the time he was 15 years old, Mosley said he could paint a car. His favorite part working alongside his dad in the body shop was seeing how much pride his father took in his job. Mosley and his father opened Clinton Body Shop in 1980 with just three employees. It has now grown to nearly 30. “When we opened our shop the goal was simple: we’re going to do every job right,” said Mosley. “We’re going to treat everyone fair whether it’s an insurance company or a person. People like the way we treat customers, they like our approach.” Mosley’s 31-year-old son, Daniel, runs Mosley’s second location in Richland and said he is proud that his son has the same ideals. Mosley, a Republican, will need to beat the incumbent Insurance Commissioner, Mike Chaney, in the Republican primary election scheduled for August 4. Mosley has found that the community has been supportive of his decision to run and body shops have supported him through donations and fundraising events. “It makes me feel good that they’re willing to sacrifice a little bit to see me do this, because they know that I’m just doing it for the good of the people.” More information about his campaign is available on Facebook: John Mosley for Insurance Commissioner and on the web at www.friendsofjohn mosley.com

Auto Damange Experts Grand Opening in Portland, OR

Auto Damage Experts (ADE) Northwest office recently celebrated the grand opening of its re-modeled vehicle inspection facility. Invitees included collision repairers, legal professionals, insurers and others from the area. “We’re excited to share our recently remodeled facilities with others and allow them to gain a better understanding of the services we offer they and their clients, both locally and across the country” stated David Smith, VP of Operations. ADE’s Founder and President, Barrett Smith stated: “I’m excited and proud of David’s accomplishments in helping to develop ADE to the well known and nationally respected company it has become. www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 21

Shop and Product Showcase

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

Four New Apps for Techs, Painters, Estimators and Service Advisors with Ed Attanasio

Several years ago, Jim Young, 55 of Memphis, TN began a startup called My Business is a Wreck, a company he has described as a small team of passionate industry professionals delivering robust, reliable applications to the automotive industry. 35-year collision veteran Jim Young started My Business is a Wreck, a company that has created four applications that help body technicians, painters, estimators and service advisors to be more effective and productive. The company has developed four applications for different sectors of the automotive repair industry; iTechnician, iPainter, iEstimator and iAdvisorâ, to act as electronic assistants with the goal of helping them to do a better job and ultimately providing improved customer service. All four are currently available and free at the App Store for iPhones, iPads and Google android devices, according to Young. It’s fitting that every app he’s created starts with the letter ‘i’ because Young has put much of his heart and soul into each one. Employed for more than three decades as a body technician, service writer, shop manager, instructor, coach and consultant for BMW and Toyota in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, Young also owned his own shop, Young’s Collision in Memphis for several years. He has also been an I-CAR instructor for the past 15 years and is a business coach and

mentor for automotive-related businesses throughout North America. Young’s father, 88, is a former body tech and managed a Pontiac dealership for 17 years and that’s part of why his son developed these apps to help other collision professionals with daily tasks, he said. My dad told me to always think about the people who helped you along the way, because he said sales numbers are important, but in the end the ones who helped you will be the people you’ll remember. These apps can make peoples’ lives easier and that’s the main reason why I invented them. It’s truly a labor of love for Young and his new company. “I’ve invested approximately $10,000 into these apps without a dime in return, he explained. Eventually, I should be able to get some revenue from advertising, but in the meantime I’m more focused on getting these apps into the hands of the people who need them to make them more effective and productive.” Unveiled last November, Young first developed iTechnician, followed by iPainter, iEstimator and finally iAdvisor, an app that can be used in both mechanical and collision industries. “We’re covering pretty much every role that exists in a shop,” Young said. “We’ve heard back from users all over the world and currently we have people using them in 12 different countries, including Ireland, Saudi Arabia and Spain, to name a few.”

Martin Senour Launches New Automotive Refinish Website

The Martin Senour Company launched a new website to assist automotive jobber distributors, collision repair facilities, dealerships, fleet owners and refinishers, production shops, auto body builders and original equipment manufacturers. It can be accessed by visiting www.martinsenour-autopaint .com. The new website provides more connectivity for visitors in the following markets: collision repair, restoration & custom, fleet & commercial, industrial & manufacturing, and farm & agricultural. The new site features detail pages for each service and program

offered through Martin Senour. The new website also allows immediate access to the brand’s informational press releases, events and training class schedules, special NAPA ‘Body Shop Buys’ PB&E promotions and profiles of successful Martin Senour end users. In addition, the new website provides more robust technical and hands-on application data, all of which is also available for mobile devices. For information regarding Martin Senour or its paint products, visit the new website at www.martinsenour-auto paint.com or call 1-800-526-6704.

22 APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Convenience is obviously one of the key features of these apps, Young said. “Everything is in your pocket, so you don’t have to walk over to your laptop or iPad and stop what you’re doing. Before we released these apps into the market, we gave them to service directors, estimators, techs and painters all over the country, in order to get their feedback during the modeling stage. We started tweaking them almost instantly, to make them better and stronger. By telling us how they were using them, we were able to make them better. It was a valuable process, because they saw things we might not have discovered on our own.” Here’s a brief description of what each app can do: iTechnician: Enables users to log their assigned ROI numbers; record rates for flat rate technicians; track weekly or bi-weekly pay cycles; track paid and unpaid hours; calculate ex-

pected pay and record a weekly or biweekly work history report. iPainter: Enables users to establish and maintain a spray-out inventory; record favorite formulas and custom lists; create a verified paint variances list and do all of the same things offered on the iAdvisor and iEstimator apps to track jobs, calculate hours and calculate expected pay. iEstimator: Enables users to log customer information and ROI numbers; create a personal daily customer arrival and departure calendar and record important information, including a customer inventory form documenting all of the belongings left in vehicle; existing AM and FM radio pre-set stations; a vehicle old damage check-in form; a maintenance upselling opportunities form and a tires depth gauge form. iAdvisor: Enables users to perform all of the functions also featured on the iEstimator app.

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Engineer for NJ Dept. of Transportation Indicted for Falsifying Timesheets to Steal Overtime Pay Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced that a suspended engineer for the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) was indicted on February 27 by a state grand jury on official misconduct charges. Alkesh Desai, 62, of Bensalem, PA, allegedly falsified timesheets to steal $15,000 in overtime pay and using a state vehicle to make numerous personal trips to Philadelphia. He was charged in the indictment with conspiracy (2nd degree), two counts of official misconduct (2nd degree), theft by deception (3rd degree), tampering with public records or information (3rd degree), and falsifying records (4th degree). Desai is suspended from his job as a DOT engineer. He had been acting as the supervisor of the Drainage Bureau. The case was referred to the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau by the DOT Office of the Inspector General. A co-defendant, Harish Bhanderi, 53, of Newtown, PA, pleaded guilty on Jan. 9 to an accusation charging him with third-degree theft by deception, admitting that he and Desai fraudulently collected emergency overtime pay. As a result of his guilty plea, Bhanderi forfeited his job as manager of the DOT Roadway Maintenance,

Engineering and Operations Section. The state will recommend that he be sentenced to 364 days in the county jail as a condition of a term of probation. Bhanderi must pay restitution of $19,905 and is permanently barred from public employment in New Jersey.

Alkesh Desai and Harish Bhanderi have been charged with fraudulently collecting emergency overtime pay from the state of New Jersey. Photo Credit: NJ Department of Law & Public Safety

It is alleged that Desai and Bhanderi submitted timesheets indicating they were entitled to emergency overtime pay for responding after hours to emergency roadway incidents. In reality, they were not responding to emergencies after hours, but were simply driving their state vehicles past sites where emergencies had occurred days or even weeks earlier. It is al-

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leged that the two typically drove to the sites together. The state’s investigation revealed that Desai allegedly submitted 71 false overtime claims totaling $15,076 between June 2013 and June 2014. In addition, during the same one-year period, Desai allegedly used a state vehicle to make 96 trips to Philadelphia, sometimes making round trips to the city twice a day to drive his daughter to and from college. Personal use of a state vehicle is prohibited. “State workers have a duty to be responsible stewards of government resources, but Desai allegedly racked up the miles on his state-assigned vehicle while running personal errands and fraudulently milked overtime pay to the tune of $15,000,” said Acting Attorney General Hoffman. “We’re cracking down on this type of selfserving abuse of resources and theft of taxpayer dollars.” “We’re working closely with the DOT and other state agencies to enforce a culture of honesty and integrity in government where crimes like these simply won’t be tolerated,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “We urge anyone with information about this type of abuse to contact us confidentially, so those re-

sponsible can be aggressively investigated and prosecuted.” “The Department of Transportation does not tolerate waste, fraud or abuse of public dollars,” NJDOT Inspector General Johanna Barba Jones said. “Through the prompt action of our internal investigative team and our effective partnership with the Division of Criminal Justice, we promptly removed this cancerous influence before it could diminish the Department’s culture of integrity.” Acting Attorney General Hoffman and Director Honig noted that the Division of Criminal Justice has established a toll-free tip line 1-866TIPS-4CJ for the public to report corruption, financial crime and other illegal activities confidentially. Additionally, the public can log on to the Division of Criminal Justice webpage at www.njdcj.org to report suspected wrongdoing confidentially.

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www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 25

Media and Publicity for Shops Online Remarketing Gets Your Name Out There.....Again with Ed Attanasio

“Tell them once and then tell them again,” an old ad executive told me years ago, long before the Internet, web sites or applications existed. And it still pertains today, because although marketing and advertising change almost daily, the main concept behind branding is still the same. When it comes to branding, it’s still all about impressions and getting your message to the right audience. The goal is to brand your name into the customers’ psyche, so that when someone says “body shop” or “car accident” they think of you, immediately and even sub-consciously. When I think of burgers I think of In ‘N Out and when I think of nice cars, my mental Rolodex goes now to Tesla (used to be Mercedes). I don’t consciously do it, my brain does all the work—and that’s called effective branding. To make your name the go-to brand for collision repair in your area means you have to hammer away at your branding efforts all the time. Many body shops have gravitated away from things such as e-mail marketing, broadcast advertising and direct mail to put their money into online remarketing. So, what exactly is remarketing and how does it work? The world of online advertising is a whole new game, as marketing people get more sophisticated about the delivery of their branding messages. Remarketing allows you to show ads to consumers who have previously visited your website or used your mobile app. When people leave your website, remarketing helps you reconnect with them by showing relevant ads as they browse the web, use mobile apps, or do searches on Google, Bing, etc. The websites on which your ads will appear can be found by browsing through over 2 million websites and mobile apps that are part of the Google Display Network, for example. Automotive sites, insurance sites and sites belonging to popular companies in your region are ideal. Any company doing online marketing can assist you in designating websites that are affordable for your needs and are most likely to attract people who have previously visited your site. Pricing for remarketing ads revolves around automated bid strate-

gies like target CPA and ROAS. Realtime bidding calculates the optimal bid for the person viewing your ad, thereby helping you to win the ad auction with the best possible price. There’s no extra cost to use Google’s auction, because it’s totally based on what the market will bear. Web sites with heavy traffic may not be ideal for you, because they will cost you too much per impression. But, by using a strategy and sticking to it, such as choosing sites that are more targeted for your shop, you can get your price of each impression down to a very affordable level. Luke Middendorf, a Marketing Consultant at WSI Connect in Concord, CA, believes that dynamic remarketing offers a lot of options for any business that wants to push their brand online. “Remarketing is an ideal vehicle for the collision repair industry, because it keeps your name on the users’ computers or smart devices,” he explained. “We know from research that 96% of the time people visit a website and then don’t complete an action. With remarketing, we can track them once they’ve visited your site and then follow them as they go to other sites. We can more specifically targeted them and hopefully re-connect with them several times, if possible. We know they showed some level of interest in your company because they looked at your site, so remarketing keeps them in the loop and leverages your brand over and over again. It’s all about targeting and re-engaging your audience, because frequency is crucial.” David Moore, the owner of Collision Websites in Tulsa, OK sees definite value in remarketing for automotive repair companies, because branding is king in any service-related industry. “Obviously, getting your car fixed is not an impulse buy, like purchasing products such as clothing, electronics or food online,” Moore explained. “Remarketing is an ideal way to leverage your brand over and over again and it allows for fairly precise targeting. If you’re looking for women between the ages of 20-30, you can easily devise a plan to reach them. With remarketing, you already know that they have some

26 APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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

interest in your shop, because they’ve visited your site once or more in the past. You’re reemphasizing your message, so it’s more powerful than as if you’re trying to reach people for the first time. They know your name already, so in a way you’ve done half the work in advance.” There are several ways to remarket your shop online using remarketing techniques: ● Standard remarketing: Show ads to your past visitors as they browse through select websites you select.

● Dynamic remarketing: Show dynamic ads to past visitors with products and services they viewed on your website as they browse through sites you’ve selected.

● Remarketing for mobile apps: Show ads to people who have used your mobile app or mobile website as

they use other mobile apps or browse other mobile websites.

● Remarketing lists for search ads: Show ads to your past visitors as they do follow-up searches for what they need on Google, after leaving your website.

● Video remarketing: Show ads to people who have interacted with your videos or YouTube channel as they use YouTube and browse through videos, websites and apps you’ve designated. For companies that aren’t running sales or promotions and are simply trying to get their name out there on a regular basis, remarketing online is one of the best and newest ways to do it. Start with a small budget to test the waters and gauge the response, but if you’re doing any online marketing or advertising online, remarketing may be the ideal way to tell them once and then tell them again.

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What are crash parts? p Take a closer look. Your insurance coverage. g Choosing th he right bod dy sh hop. A All parts are not created equal. equal Co ollissio on 101. What’s a Great Info for Shops DRP and whyy sho sho ould I caare? re? Where Where d do o aairbag irbags come come ffro rom? m? C Counterfeit ounterfeit ai airbags - what you need to know. Take a closer look. What are crash parts? Your rights as a consumer. Your insuraance coverage. Ch hoosing the right body shop. Helpiin ng you through the colllision repair pro oce ess. Collision 101. What’s a DRP and d why should I care? Where do airbags co ome from? Counterfeit airbags - what you need to know. Take a closerr lookk. What are crash parts? Your righttss as a consumer. Your insurance cove erag ge. Choosing the right body shop. Whatt are crash parts? Your riights as a co onsumer. Your insurance coverage e. Choosing www.collision.honda.com th he righ ht bod dy sh hop. Alll paarts t are not created equal. Take a closse ser look. Collision 101. What’s a DRP and why w should I care? Where do airbag gs come from? Counterffeit airbags - wh hat you need to know. Take a closse er look. What are crash parts? Your rights t as a consumer. Your insurance coverage. Choosing the right body shop. o Helping you through the colliission repair process. Collision 101. What’ss a DRP and why should I care? Wh he ere do airbags come from? Counter feit airbags - what you need to know. Takke a closer look. W What hat are are crash crash parts parts? You ur rights as a consumer. Your insurance coverage. Choosing the right bo ody shop. What are www.airbagaware.com crash parts? Yourr rights as a consumer. Your insurance coverage. v Choosing the right body sh ho op. All parts are not created equal. Take a closer look. Collision 101. What’’ss a DRP and why should I care? Where do d airbags come from? Counterfeiitt airbags - what you need to know. Take a closer look. What are crash parts? Your rights as a consumer. Your insurance ccoverage. Choosing the right bod dy shop. Helping you through the collisio on repair process. Collision 101. Wh haat’ss a DRP and why shoulld I care? Where do airbags come from? Counterfe eiit aiirbags - what you ne eed to know. Take a closer look. What are crash p paarts?? Your righ hts as a consumer. Your in nsu urance coverage. www.crashrepairinfo.com Choosing C oos g tthe e rig gh g ht b body ody sshop. hop. Y Your our rights rights as as a cons consu consumer.. What at are crash parts? You ur in nsuran nce coverage. g Choo sing the right body sh hop. All parts Great Info for Consumers are not created equal. Helping you through the collision repair process. www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 27

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

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-7 mfranceschi@southhonda.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6 robertthomas@mmhonda.com

Nalley Honda

GEOR GIA FL O RI D A

AutoNation Honda Clearwater Cle a rwa t er

Ed Morse Honda

Carey Paul Honda

R i v i e ra Be a ch

S ne ll vi ll e

800-232-1098 561-844-8089

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

AutoNation Honda Hollywood

800-497-2294 407-395-7374

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 G re en a c re s

C l e r mo nt

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

Hendrick Honda Bradenton B ra de n to n

877-706-2021 941-752-2123 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-7; Sat 8-4 Kris.kitzman@hendrickauto.com

888-479-0695 561-966-5185

Hendrick Honda Daytona

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

800-953-4402 386-252-2301

D a y to n a Be ach

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

Honda Mall of Georgia

Un ion City

770-985-1444

866-362-8034 770-306-4646

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-6 gperkins@careypaul.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-7; Sat 8-5 hondawp@nalleycars.com

Ed Voyles Honda

Southern Motors Honda

M ar i e tta

Savann ah

800-334-3719 770-933-5870 Direct

888-785-8387 912-925-1444

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

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-5 angela@southern-motors.com

Gerald Jones Honda A ugus ta

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

Gwinnett Place Honda Dul uth

N O. CAR O LI NA

800-277-8836 678-957-5151

Apple Tree Honda

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

800-476-9411 828-684-4400

Ash ev ille

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

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

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

28 APRIL 2015 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

Burlington Honda

Vann York Automall

Bill Gatton Honda

B u r lin gt on

High Point

Br is to l

800-822-5108 336-584-3431

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

800-868-4118 423-652-9545

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6:00; Sat 8-1 parts@burlingtonhonda.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

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

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

Wolfchase Honda

Priority Honda

Ba r tle t t

Ches ap eake

800-982-7290 901-255-3780

757-213-0539

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

Hamp t on

Colonial Honda

757-838-1672

C he ste r

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

Piedmont Honda

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

A n de r so n

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

Duncanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

Valley Honda Stau n ton

800-277-0598 540-213-9016 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 9-5 bwimer@myvalleyhonda.com

West Broad Honda Rich m on d

800-446-0160 804-672-8811 Dept. Hours: M-Thu 7:30-6:30; Fri 7:30-6; Sat 8-3; Sun 11-3 wbhonda@aol.com

For more collision info, go to: collision.honda.com airbagaware.honda.com crashrepairinfo.com

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

NO . CARO LI NA

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

Priority Honda

VIRGINIA

800-564-9836 804-414-1960

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

Woodb rid g e

703-690-7777

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

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

800-849-5057 864-375-2082

Hendrick Honda Woodbridge

VIR GIN IA

V IR GIN I A

Hendrick Acura

Performance Acura

Crown Acura of Richmond

Ch a r lo t t e

C h ap e l H i l l

Ri chmo nd

Falls Ch u rch

800-768-6824 704-566-2288

888-788-7301 919-942-3191

800-523-4411 804-527-6865

800-550-5035 703-824-5785

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

Dept. Hours: M-Th 7-7; Fri 7-6; Sat 8-5 performanceparts@hendrickauto.com

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

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6:00; Sat 8-6; Sun 10-5 jimgraf@radleyauto.com

Leith Acura

Radley Acura

Karen Radley Acura

Ca r y

Wo o db ri dg e

800-868-0082 919-657-0460

800-355-2818 703-550-0205

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

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-3 coreythompson@radleyautogroup.com

www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 29

Hey Toby!

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@yahoo.com

How Much Do You Know About 2015 Vehicle Technology and Trends? with Toby Chess

Hey Everyone, I am back and I hope you all are enjoying a great start to the new year. I recently gave the following test to the CIC audience in Palm Spring this past January and to an association group meeting. What was

amazing after giving the test, how many repairers and insurers did not know the correct answers. Out of 40 repairers, only one knew what R1234

yf was and this new refrigerant is found in over a dozen vehicles with more converting to this Freon. Not good at all. Take the test and see how well you and staff do with it. All these questions were taken from I-CAR’s

New 15 class* (Vehicle Technology and Trends 2015). There are no trick questions.

1. Estimator A states that a 2015 BMW with Head-up displays needs a special windshield. Estimator B states that a 2015 Mini Cooper with HUD needs a special windshield. Who is correct? A. Estimator A only B. Estimator B only C. Both Estimator A & B D. Neither Estimator 2. More 2015 vehicles are switching to the new R-1234-yf refrigerant. Estimator A states that there now retro fit kits for earlier vehicles equipped with R134 Estimator B states that Toyota is moving in the direction of R-1234-yf. Who is correct? A. Estimator A only B. Estimator B only C. Both Estimator A & B D. Neither Estimator

3. A 2015 Jeep Renegade front floor

panel is made of A. High Strength Low Alloy Steel B. Quiet Steel (Laminated) C. Advanced High Strength Steel D. Ultra-high Strength Steel

4. An estimate is being written on a 2015 Chrysler 200 to section the right front rail. All of the following statements are true except one. Which question is the exception? A. The left and right rail use different sectioning locations B. An open butt joint is used to section the rail C. Chrysler does not recommend weld thru primer D. Same sectioning procedure as the 2014 Jeep Cherokee

5. A Left front door on a 2015 Ford F150 is damaged. Estimator A states that the intrusion beam is made from Series 7 alu-

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30 APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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minum to prevent galvanic corrosion. Estimator B states that there is no outer door panel available at this time and new door is needed if the old panel is not repairable. Who is correct? A. Estimator A only B. Estimator B only C. Both Estimator A & B D. Neither Estimator

6. A 2015 Heavy duty GM truck is involved in a front end collision and the front portion of the frame is not repairable. Estimator A states the GM is now offering a front repair section that is similar to the one offered on the half ton pickup. Estimator B states the drive train still will need to be removed to replace the front repair section. Who is correct? A. Estimator A only B. Estimator B only C. Both Estimator A & B D. Neither Estimator

7. A 2015 Honda Accord is involved in a side impact collision and the outer rocker and rocker reinforcement need to be replaced. What pieces of equipment and or fastners are approved by

Honda? A. Any single or 3 phase spot welder & MIG brazing B. STRSW and MIG welding C. STRSW and Glue D. None of the above

8. A 2015 Honda Fit is involved in a front end collision. The left front rail is not repairable. A. Estimator A states that Honda now recommends weld thru primer between the mating surfaces. B. Estimator B states that Honda has a front rail section procedure. Who is correct? A. Estimator A only B. Estimator B only C. Both Estimator A & B D. Neither Estimator

9. A 2015 Honda Accord has a left front fender that needs to be replaced. The front door needs to be blended. The vehicle is equipped with Lane Watch. Estimator A states that camera will need to be reaimed and this procedure can only be done authorized Honda Dealer. Estimator B states that the mirror can be aimed with a laser attached to

the mirror and following the procedures outline in OEM service manual. Who is correct? A. Estimator A only B. Estimator B only C. Both Estimator A & B D. Neither Estimator

10. A 2015 Nissan Rogue is made from plastics and if it is damaged, it needs to be replaced. A. True B. False

11. A 2015 Ford F150 is being repaired from a side impact. A. Technician A states that the roof does not need to be replaced to install the B pillar reinforcement. B. Technician B states that the maximum temperature that can be applied is 425 degrees F, but the duration of heat is limited as per Ford’s repair manual. Who is correct? A. Estimator A only B. Estimator B only C. Both Estimator A & B D. Neither Estimator

3. D 4. B 5. D 6. A 7. D 8. C 9. D 10. A 11. A *Vehicle Technology and Trends 2015 provides information on upcoming vehicles and technology trends that will impact the repair processes, including structural design innovations, system changes and new materials and electronics throughout new and redesigned vehicles. The course also gives a glimpse into some of the aluminum-intensive vehicles coming to market that will require aluminum repair training.

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www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 31

Lean Operations

Putting First Things First with David Luehr

If you are anything like me you are probably wondering, “WOW, where has this year gone already!?”It’s amazing how quickly time can slip by and then you realize you haven’t really made the progress on the goals you have set for yourself or worse yet haven’t set aside the time to create goals in the first place. You no doubt have been very busy working in your shops, it is the “nature of the business.” That is what I want to talk to you about today. This supposed “nature of the business” might as well be called “doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result”… insanity right? It is indeed, but that is exactly what most of us do EVERY DAY. It upsets me to watch it, because I was guilty of inadequate time management for a large part of my body shop career. I constantly found myself attending to whatever situation screamed the loudest and while doing so, perpetuated even more problems to attend to. I was young and didn’t mind at the time, in fact I kind of prided myself on my ability to fight fires all day long and “make things happen.” The problem was I wasn’t making things happen at all. I was simply creating a vicious cycle of unnecessary activity that later on contributed to the loss of my business! In the early 1990s I was introduced to a book called The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. This book changed my life as it has the

Continued from Cover

Gunder v Progressive

other customer who executed a Durable Limited Power of Attorney, allowing Gunder to stand in his shoes for this litigation. The suit was necessitated by Progressive’s failure to pay for the reasonable and necessary costs to perform repairs to Gunder’s customer’s damaged vehicle. “Progressive tried hard to keep our legal action from going forward by invoking their bogus “appraisal clause” and motion for dismissal, stated Gunder after learning of the judge’s ruling. “I sat in that courtroom and

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

thousands or millions of others that have read it. There are two habits that are especially meaningful to me. Begin with the End in Mind and First Things First. Begin with the End in Mind is just as it sounds. You visualize your funeral. What will people say about you at your funeral? So by being clear on what you want to accomplish in life and what you stand for and want people to remember you for is pretty much what you need to get working on now. Before it’s too late! First Things First explains the time-management methods used to keep you on track towards the goals, values, and vision you have for your life. Only by truly knowing what it is you want in life (Begin with the End) and then setting goals and plans for achievement will you break the cycle of madness that many of us continue to struggle with. I have created a four quadrant time management matrix that is based on Covey’s work. Which quadrant do you find yourself spending the most time? The idea is that if you spend a lot more of your time pursuing activities in quadrant 2, you will be working on the right things and thereby reduce the activities that occur in quadrants 1 and 3. Avoid quadrant 4 altogether.

Quadrant 1 (Urgent and Important) ■ Pressing Problems ■ Expediting due to missed deadlines ■ Dealing with angry customers/ins. Co. watched our brilliant Attorney, Brent Geohagan, destroy Progressive’s legal counsel’s arguments and offer the Judge reasoning as to why our position was correct. The Judge agreed and rendered her decision in favor of our customer.” Gunder went on to say, “This ruling is huge as it allows us to proceed with the multiple lawsuits we currently have in process on behalf of other customers who have been shortchanged by this insurer as well as other insurers who have underpaid their policyholders.” The lawsuits seek full payment of the underpayments, plus costs, expenses, attorney fees, prejudgment and post judgment interest.

32 APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

■ Dealing with missing/wrong parts ■ Rework ■ Some phone calls ■ Some meetings ■ Stoppages in production

Quadrant 2 (Not Urgent, Important) ■ Calling customers ■ Documenting activities ■ Improvement projects ■ Relationship building ■ Some meetings ■ Problem prevention ■ Safety prevention ■ Planning ■ Damage analysis ■ Mirror matching ■ Updating system information ■ Inventory management

Quadrant 3 (Urgent, Not Important) ■ Interruptions ■ Some phone calls ■ Some emails ■ Some meetings

■ Some reports

Quadrant 4 (Not Urgent, Not Important) ■ Trivia & Busywork ■ Irrelevant emails ■ Some phone calls ■ Time wasters ■ Smoking ■ Playing on the internet

I implore you to read Stephen Covey’s book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People or even better is First Things First that really expands on this idea of prioritizing your life. Life is too damn short to be chasing your tail. It’s time to get to work on things that really matter. Read these books, or call me if you would like help organizing and helping you and your organization create the values, vision, and, goals necessary to live the fulfilling life that is truly possible. It is possible even in the collision repair industry!

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www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 33

ShopRepTV: A Personalized TV Channel for Body Shops by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor

During the summer of 2014, Frank Terlep recalls walking into a body shop lobby and noticing all of the paper, plaques and reviews strewn across the counter and taped on the walls and windows. Terlep, owner of Summit eMarketing Sherpas, wondered if it would make sense to digitize all of this information. (see more on Frank Terlep p. 36 this issue.) This led him to create ShopRepTV, an in-house sales, marketing and advertising platform specifically designed for auto body and repair shops. Terlep said the product allows a business to use HDTVs, PC monitors, laptops and/or tablets to present their online reviews, certifications, affiliations and partnerships, as well as share videos, labor rates special offers and much more. “It is basically like a shop’s own personalized TV channel for their business,” said Terlep. Whether it is used in a shop’s lobby or estimating bays, he said that it will help shops better communicate with customers, reduce perceived wait times, improve customer service, reinforce the shop’s brand and increase exposure to a shop’s special promotions and additional services. After creating a test version, Terlep introduced ShopRepTV at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, NV in November 2014. He had no idea what the reaction would be and said he was pleased to hear the positive feedback. Although there are dozens of digital signage companies, Terlep said this product is different. ShopRepTV is preformatted with content so shops can pick and choose what they want to present to their customers. It can also be customized for each body shop. “We have this product we think is valuable to the business,” said Terlep, who has worked with body shops for the last 30 years. “We think it’s some-

thing that most collision centers are going to use in the future.” Terlep said his company, based in Poway, CA, specializes in helping shops retain more customers, revenue

Star ratings, promotions and customer reviews are just some of the choices that can be included on ShopRepTV

and profit through digital sales, marketing and advertising. Over the last few months, Terlep asked some of his previous customers to test ShopRepTV in their shops. The goal was to find out if they are gaining value from presenting information to their customers in this way. Barry Reddick, owner of Collision PRO in Helena, Montana, has tested ShopRepTV over the last few months. The monitor is set up on his lobby counter and Reddick said he has found that a lot of people are watching it, especially the videos and commercials. The body shop has showcased their certifications and star rating, as well as information about their relationships with insurance companies and DRPs. “I think it gives them a little more insight into the business,” said Reddick. “In one spot you can really showcase the inside of your business with photos or slides.” Terlep said ShopRepTV is rela-

ABRA Closes on Fourth Acquisition in Four Weeks

ABRA Auto Body & Glass announced on Feb. 27 it acquired Crash1 Off Alpine Collision Center in Rockford, IL. It is ABRA’s fourth deal in three states in less than a month. The company said the move signals it is hitting its growth stride as it executes an aggressive national strategy to increase its national footprint. In less than a year, ABRA’s repair center portfolio in Illinois has grown to

tively easy to set up. First, the company will install Google Chromcast, which allows any computer to connect wirelessly to a TV. This will allow ShopRepTV to run on the monitor. The

32 centers and its nationwide footprint now stands at 266 in 20 states. Duane Rouse, ABRA’s President and CEO, said, “We are always looking for opportunities to grow and demonstrate to new communities and insurance partners our innovative service model. We’re thrilled with the success we’ve achieved and plan to continue to build on it in the Midwest and across the country.”

34 APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

company is currently in the process of partnering with Best Buy to set up a complete turnkey solution for shops. After spending time studying other industries with similar products,

Terlep said, “We think it will be a very affordable solution for the shops.” Whether a business has two stores or 300, it has the ability to control the content at each location from a single computer. “We will continue to enhance the content, which will give the shops more capabilities and more options to present to the consumer,” said Terlep. The plan is to offer ShopRepTV in North America as a monthly subscription for $59. An annual subscription will also be available for a discount. Customers who are considering signing up receive a 30-day trial to see how it will work at their business. Terlep said he would also like to introduce an interactive kiosk and mobile app version of the technology this summer for customers. “Ultimately we think that the shops that really care about the appearance of their lobby are going to love it,” said Terlep. “Over the past 30 years shops have moved their estimating, frame measurements, shop management, accounting and production management into the digital age, ShopRepTV can now help shop shops move their lobby into the digital age.”

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www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 35

—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.

Historical Snapshot

ASA-MI and DRPs, Carstation.com, Right to Repair and Toby Chess’ Legal Threat with John Yoswick

sons Travelers discontinued its direct 20 years ago in the collision repair repair program in Montana last fall, as industry (April 1995) Tucked into a referendum on the balof the insurer’s effort to “ensure with Chasidy Raepart Sisk lot in Michigan last November was a regulatory requirements and customer provision that would have allowed an service expectations are met.” insurer to establish a direct repair program only if all repair facilities meet- 15 years ago in the collision repair ing the insurer’s criteria are allowed industry (April 2000) Nine months after its first panel disto participate in the program. with was Chasidy Sisk on “e-commerce,” a second But the provision part of Rae a cussion larger referendum on renewal of the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) state’s no-fault insurance regulations, panel convened on the same issue. “At that time, parts and e-comand opponents of no-fault insurance merce in our industry was just an successfully defeated the measure. The Automotive Service Associ- idea,” Russ Thrall, chairman of the ation of Michigan now hopes to attach CIC Electronic Commerce Committee with Chasidy Raesaid Sisk of last July’s panel. “There were the DRP provision from the unsuccessful ballot measure to one of sev- a lot of people working on it, but it reeral other bills making their way ally wasn’t happening to a large exthrough the state’s legislature in 1995. tent. Today, the situation is drastically – As reported in Spray Dust Mag- different.” The panel at CIC in Kansas City, azine. The legislation was never passed in Michigan, butChasidy a similar bill with RaeMO, Siskin April included representatives was passed in Montana in 2009. Some of three organizations currently or soon believe that law was among the rea- using the internet to allow shops, in-

Associations Assembling

surers and vendors to conduct business. Frank Terlep of CarStation.com, said his company has determined that the cost for a shop to order one part using current methods is between $2.50 and

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In April of 2000, Frank Terlep was a vice president at CarStation.com, an early electronic parts ordering hub that, like many “dotcom” start-up companies of that era, did not survive much more than two years. He is now CEO of Summit eMarketing Sherpas

$10; automatic parts ordering via the internet can not only reduce errors but also cut these administrative costs by at least half.

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Terlep said online parts ordering would require the shop to do little more than prepare a computerized estimate. “Instead of printing out that document and faxing it [to parts suppliers], once you upload that estimate to an e-business hub, we communicate it automatically to the vendors you’ve chosen,” Terlep said. “You’re not going through the printing; you’re not faxing it to multiple vendors. We want to integrate the procedure into the existing workflow.” Shop owners on the panel and in the CIC audience raised some concerns about online parts ordering, questioning whether it may be another step toward direct purchase of parts by insurers and raising privacy issues. “I certainly have a problem with giving every dealership all that [customer] information [from the estimate], because I don’t want that dealership selling my customer a new car just because he got in a wreck,” California

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shop owner Kevin Caldwell said. “Information is valuable. Who owns the information is a bigger question.” – As reported in Autobody News. Carstation.com, like many of the “dotcom” start-up companies of that era, did not survive; by early 2001 it had laid off staff, closed offices and sold rights to its technology to another company. Terlep is now the CEO of Summit eMarketing Sherpas, a body shop marketing firm focusing on use of social media and technology. Caldwell is now a senior claim service consultant with Allstate Insurance.

10 years ago in the collision repair industry (April 2005) U.S. Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) predicted passage in 2005 of federal “Right to Repair” legislation (the “Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act”) during remarks to more than 250 people at the Aftermarket Legislative Summit. Wearing a “Support the Right to Repair Act” button, Barton urged summit attendees to follow-up on their experience in Washington, D.C. by meeting with their elected officials in their home district, reinforcing the value of grass-roots advocacy. Barton’s remarks preceded the attendees’

200 appointments with legislators and key staff from 37 states. “Everyone at the summit was energized by the encouraging words from Rep. Barton, the bill’s sponsor and chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee,” said Kathleen Schmitz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), a key backer of the “Right to Repair” bill. “There is truly a sense that momentum and support for our legislation is growing. – As reported in Parts & People. The federal “Right to Repair” legislation, designed to ensure independent shops have access to the same OEM repair information as dealership shops, was never passed, although the AAIA (now the “Auto Care Association”) pushed for it for nearly a decade after Rep. Barton predicted its imminent approval by Congress. A state version of “Right to Repair” was enacted in Massachusetts in 2012. Although long critical of any volunteer agreement with automakers, the AAIA in 2014 signed just such a voluntary agreement with the automakers to suspend efforts to pass the legislation in exchange for the automakers agreeing to extend the

terms of the Massachusetts law nationwide.

5 years ago in the collision repair industry (April 2010) Just hours before industry trainer Toby Chess was to make another presentation about non-OEM bumper and structural parts at last week’s Collision Industry Conference (CIC) in Atlanta, Chess said he was threatened with a lawsuit if he did so. He declined to reveal who threatened the legal action, but said because he had not had a chance to consult with an attorney, he chose to forego making his presentation at the meeting. In presentations at the last two CIC meetings, Chess showed potential problems with a number of non-OEM bumper parts, including apparent significant differences in the material and structure of the parts. In one presentation last November, Chess used a firefighter’s extrication saw to show how much easier it was to cut through the metal used to make a non-OEM bumper bar being sold as a replacement for an OEM part made from ultra-highstrength steel. That has led at least four insurers to pull back from the use of such parts;

it has also led parts suppliers to develop tracking and recall programs for the parts, and to the launch of several testing and certification programs for such parts. Chess was clearly frustrated by the threat of legal action against him, saying he never portrayed the demonstrations as scientific research but merely as a way to “bring light” to a potential problem. “I was asked last month why I did this,” Chess said. “I said that I don’t work for insurance companies, I don’t work for parts companies, I don’t work for body shops. I work for the consumer. I’m a trainer. I teach. So I have no vested stake in this. I thought it was necessary to say these things.” – As reported in CRASH Network (www.CrashNetwork.com), April 19, 2010. Although Chess chose a different topic for his presentation at the next CIC in 2010, the non-OEM structural parts issues he had raised still got plenty of attention. Ford reported on testing the automaker did comparing nonOEM bumper beams, bumper brackets, and radiator core supports to the corresponding Ford parts, finding differences in spot welds and the types, thicknesses and weights of the materials used.

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Judge Dismisses Fraud, Racketeering Case Against Warren, MI, Shop Owner, “Evidence Not There” by Jameson Cook, The Macomb Daily

over?” In his opinion, Ausilio said he was “troubled by (the prosecution’s) reliance in making charging decisions based upon an obviously flawed, self-

A judge dismissed all the charges against a Warren body shop owner accused of defrauding customers and operating a criminal enterprise. Maher Waad, 29, of Shelby Township, was charged with six counts of false pretenses and one count of racketeering for his actions at his business, Marks One Collision, on Eight Mile Road. Judge James Maceroni said from the bench the case never should have made it to Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens. The ruling followed a half-hour of arguments in (l to r) Attorney Steve Haney, Maher Waad court and Maceroni’s review of legal and attorney Charles Busse embrace in a courthouse hallway minutes after all criminal briefs. charges against Waad, a Warren business “It’s (the evidence) simply not owner, are dismissed by Judge James there,” Maceroni said in brief comments Maceroni of Macomb County Circuit Court in from the bench. “This case should have Mount Clemens. Photo Credit: Jameson Cook, been dismissed at the preliminary exMacomb Daily Photo amination.” The decision brought a sense of exserving investigative report prepared for hilaration to Waad, who embraced his the MATS (Macomb Auto Theft Squad) attorneys, Steve Haney and Charles unit by an insurance company ... withBusse. out a full unbiased, and independent in“The truth came out,” a smiling vestigation.” Waad said. “I believed in God that the On the other hand, he also said he truth would come out.” was “stunned” by Waad’s business Waad said the charges, filed in fall practices. Haney, Waad’s attorney, has 2013, have significantly damaged but contended from the start of the case that not destroyed his multi-million dollar it was a mere civil “billing dispute” that business, which also includes a 200-car was unfairly made into a criminal case fleet rental company. by police as part of a vendetta by FarmFormer judge Dean Ausilio of ers Insurance against Waad for his fed37th District Court in Warren and Ceneral lawsuit against Farmers. ter was criticized by the judge, an asHaney called the case “an embarsistant prosecutor and Haney. Ausilio rassment to the county and a tremenhad criticized both the police and prosdous waste of taxpayer dollars.” ecution side as well as the defendant but Maceoni said the prosecution still ordered the case in December to failed to show that Waad had “specific advance to circuit court following a knowledge” of the alleged acts. probable cause hearing. Ausilio left ofFarmers and three other insurfice Dec. 31 after losing the November ance carriers were accused by Waad in election. federal court of steering customers “What is most troubling is the away from his shop for insurance opinion of the lower court,” Maceroni work, defamation and engaging in said. ethnic bias that included ethnic slurs “I’m so perplexed by this about Waad by insurance representa(Ausilio’s) decision,” Assistant Ma-Yourtives. Waad is of Arabic descent. Waad Register Email for Our comb Prosecutor Jean Cloud said in says he was called a “dirty Arab,” court among her arguments to main“sand n-----” and “crook.” The case is tain the charges. “How can a judge say pending. there is no evidence and yet bound it “If they can convict him of being a

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he said. Maceroni said the prosecution failed to show that Waad had “specific knowledge” of the alleged acts. Haney had noted that none of the four customers who testified at the preliminary examination dealt with Waad. Waad said that the allegations have prompted him to pay closer attention to transactions at his shop. He said he has hired more managers. Police in April 2014 seized about 70 vehicles, more than $100,000 in cash, checks, equipment and many boxes of business documents from the collision shop, car-rental lots in Warren and Oak Park, and his home. Only the collision shop raid led to charges. Waad spent $25,000 to get everything back, his attorneys said. The most serious charge against Waad was racketeering, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Cloud said the prosecutor’s office appellate division will review the case for a potential appeal.

dirty Arab and a crook, it will be a defense in the defamation suit,” Haney told Maceroni. MATS says Waad repaired vehicles to a lesser extent than required under written estimates that were negotiated between the shop and insurance company, saving it between several hundred dollars and nearly $4,000 per vehicle. The incidents occurred from April 2012 to June 2013. In some cases, some aspects of repair work was never done, and in other instances, after-market parts were used when original manufacturer equipment was required in the estimate, according to MATS. Haney countered that MATS has inflated the alleged over-charges and failed to give credit to Waad and Marks One for other work done or benefits to the vehicle owner to offset the shortcomings, such as a paying the customer’s deductible and/or providing a loaner vehicle. The law allows Waad’s shop the flexibility to come up with a variety of solutions, Haney said. “It’s exactly the same thing that happens every day in this county, in this state, with insurance companies,”

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Continued from Cover

Takata Takes Steps

dent of the Automobile Division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Honda hopes that this new consumer information campaign will bolster our existing and continuing efforts to reach our customers and maximize the vehicle repair completion rates associated with recalls to replace Takata airbag inflators. These ads are a strong call to action from our company designed to break through the clutter, grab the attention of customers driving affected vehicles, and urge that they get required repairs as soon as possible.” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced in a press release on February 25 that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has ordered Takata to preserve all air bag inflators removed through the recall process. The airbags will be used as evidence for both NHTSA’s investigation and private litigation cases. The order also ensures the regulators’ access to all data from the testing of those removed inflators. “This department is focused on protecting the American public from these defective air bags and at getting to the bottom of how they came to be included in millions of vehicles on U.S. roads,” Foxx said. “This preservation order will help us get the answers we need to accomplish those goals.” Foxx also announced that NHTSA will upgrade the Takata investigation to an engineering analysis, which will help determine the actual cause of the air bag failures, and what the next step will be. It will also establish whether Takata’s refusal to notify the agency of a safety defect violates federal safety laws or regulations. In 2014, five automakers— BMW, Chrysler, Ford, Honda and Mazda—launched national recalls for defective driver-side air bags after pressure from NHTSA. Those five, plus General Motors, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota, are recalling vehicles for defective passenger-side air bags in areas of consistently high absolute humidity, which is believed to be a factor in the ruptures. Most of the recalls are for various model years varying from 2000 to 2007, according to a Takata Corp. representative. Automakers have announced plans to form a testing association, and

private plaintiffs have sought access to inflators in federal court to conduct their own tests. NHTSA has also hired an outside expert on the use of propellants. “There is a strong public safety interest in ensuring that testing moves forward, and that NHTSA has access to all test data,” NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind said. “We have worked closely with attorneys for private plaintiffs to construct this order so that it protects plaintiffs’ legal rights while also supporting our efforts to protect public safety.”

Photo Credit: blog.caranddriver.com

On Feb. 20, the NHTSA began enforcing $14,000 a day in civil penalties against Takata for failure to respond to requests for information about more than 2.5 million pages of documents it has produced under NHTSA orders. On March 2, 2015, the Takata Corporation convened at a meeting in Michigan to discuss the Japanese airbag manufacturer’s next steps. Engineers from its automaker customers, including independent OEM association engineers, were updated on testing into the root cause of recent airbag inflator issues. The engineers were also provided with a presentation by an expert from Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute, which is supplying independent research to determine the root cause of the airbag inflator failures. Shigehisa Takada, Chairman & CEO of Takata, stated, “While the testing by Takata and research by the Fraunhofer Institute continues, and definitive conclusions have not yet been reached, the work so far has supported our initial analysis that age and long-term exposure over a period of many years to a climate of persistent heat and high absolute humidity are significant factors in the small number of inflators that have malfunctioned. Variability in vehicle makes and models is an additional factor indicated by the testing results thus far, and Takata also continues to consider variability in the inflator manufacturing process as a potential contributing factor.”

40 APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Takada added, “We are continuing testing and research and will continue to work openly and transparently with our OEM customers and to do everything we can to support the replacement of all the airbags covered by the automakers’ recalls and safety campaigns. The safety of the driving public is our number one priority and we are committed to do what it takes to achieve this.” Takata has dramatically increased the production of airbag replacement kits in support of automotive recalls and safety campaigns. The company has increased production capacity to 450,000 replacement kits per month, up from 350,000 in December, and expects to be producing approximately 900,000 kits per month by September 2015. The company remains confident that newer inflators and those not exposed to prolonged humidity and heat are safe. Takata also is working with other suppliers to further increase the availability of replacement kits for its automotive customers.

study found that 21 to 25 percent of the problems covered by recall notices between 2006 and 2010 remain un-repaired. There are 36 million cars on the road that have uncompleted recall work, according to Carfax. In October and November 2014, multiple lawsuits were filed across the country concerning Takata airbag recalls. The Law Offices of Jason Turchin in Ft. Lauderdale, FL announced in a press release on October 24, 2014 that a lawsuit had been filed on behalf of an accident victim allegedly injured by an exploding airbag. Nunez, a Miami Gardens, Florida resident, was driving her car when she was involved in an accident. As a result of the impact, her airbag deployed but a piece of metal allegedly shot through her airbag and struck her in her forehead, narrowly missing her eyes. The airbag that failed was allegedly designed and manufactured by Takata for use by Honda. The allegations against the airbag manufacturer include that Takata failed to properly design, test and manufacturer its airbag unit. It is also claimed that Honda breached several duties it owed to Nunez and the public in general.

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“The biggest concern we have is that a driver doesn’t know if his or her airbag is faulty until the moment of impact, and by then it is too late,” says Jason Turchin, lead attorney in the case. Turchin and his law firm are currently representing several other victims allegedly injured by defective airbags. On November 4, another class action complaint was filed in the Southern District of Florida that alleges Takata, Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and others “knew or should have known that the Takata air bags installed in millions of vehicles were defective.” The complaint seeks compensation for any consumer who purchased or leased a vehicle involved in the Takata airbag recall announced earlier that month. A third Takata airbag lawsuit was filed at the beginning of November in California by five individuals who either purchased or leased BMW, Honda and Toyota cars that plaintiffs claim are unsafe because of Takata airbags. The Takata airbag recall lawsuit alleges that Takata and other defendants “did not fully investigate or disclose the seriousness of the issue and in fact downplayed the widespread prevalence of the problem.” In November 2014, the Associ-

ated Press reported that at least four deaths in U.S. auto accidents have been tied to defective Takata airbags. Reuters reported earlier that month that Takata was targeted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The officials

Hiroshi Shimizu, senior vice president of global quality assurance at Japanese air bag maker Takata. Photo Credit: www.ideastream.org

were trying to determine if the Japanese company misled U.S. regulators about the number of defective air bags it sold to automakers. On November 22, the Law Offices of Jason Turchin announced in a press release that a fourth lawsuit had been filed in Florida on behalf of an accident victim injured by an exploding airbag. The lawsuit alleges that South Florida resident Claudia Jana was the

driver of a 2001 Honda Civic who was injured when the passenger airbag exploded after an accident and a piece of shrapnel caught fire and landed on her. The lawsuit also alleged that the passenger airbag unit also detached from the dashboard and propelled into the rear passenger seat of the vehicle. The airbag that failed was allegedly designed and manufactured by Takata for use by Honda. The allegations against the airbag manufacturer include that Takata failed to properly design, test and manufacturer its airbag unit. It also claimed that Honda breached several duties it owed to Jana and the public in general. “This is the second Honda Civic lawsuit involving a 2001 model and third airbag shrapnel injury claim that our office filed recently,” said Jason Turchin, lead attorney in the airbag lawsuit. Turchin hopes the lawsuit will get answers as to what is causing the airbag defects, and to compel production of safer airbags. “These airbag lawsuits are not just about money. We want answers,” added Turchin. December 1, 2014 was the deadline that the NHTSA set for Takata Corp. to respond to its request for doc-

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umentation and other information, according to the Detroit Free Press. The NHTSA said in a press release that it was “demanding” the automakers to provide the information to “compel Takata and the affected industry to be frank with not only NHTSA, but the American public” about when they discovered that the airbags were subject to rupturing, and why it was not reported sooner. The agency also ordered Takata to provide information on what type of propellant it uses in its inflators because Takata publicly stated it recently changed the chemical mix of its airbag inflator propellant in the newly designed inflators. By the deadline, Takata was also supposed to give the public a time frame for when safe inflators would be made, and when air bags would be replaced in the nationwide recall of 7.8 million vehicles. The airbag recall was initially limited to Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with above-average humidity. However, the recall went nationwide after cases were discovered in Arizona, California, Minnesota and North Carolina. Court documents indicate that plaintiffs in five class-action airbag

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lawsuits filed since October 2014 against Takata Corp. have asked a panel of federal judges to transfer the lawsuits to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. The plaintiffs also requested that the actions be consolidated for pretrial proceedings. According to the plaintiffs’ motion to the U.S. Judicial Panel of Multidistrict Litigation (JPML), the first class action lawsuit proceedings are further along than the four other classaction lawsuits pending in California and Michigan. On December 2, 2014, CNNMoney reported that Chrysler jumped on the recall train after the NHTSA ordered the manufacturer to start recalling its cars with the exploding Takata airbag inflators. The federal safety regulator was “extremely concerned” about the automaker’s “slow pace of the recall.” In its response to the NHTSA, Chrysler conducted a regional recall, and started contacting its customers on December 8, 2014. Chinese authorities stated on December 16, 2014 that Honda Motor Co. and its two joint ventures in China would recall 569,769 cars due to potentially defective air bags, Reuters reported.

The recalls in China were also implemented due to the risk that “fragmented shards” could fly from the deployed Takata airbags, potentially injuring or even killing motorists.

Photo Credit: www.baronandbudd.com

Vehicle regulators in the United States issued a warrant on January 29, 2015 for whistleblowers with knowledge “of possible defects or any wrongdoing” by Takata Corp. The NHTSA stated in a press release that it was urging potential informants to call its hotline at 1-888-327-4236, promising legal protection. “We encourage all individuals with information about the manufacture or testing of Takata air bag inflators, or

who have knowledge of possible defects or any wrongdoing by the company, to make this information available to NHTSA,” agency spokesman Gordon Trowbridge said. Six former Takata employees interviewed by Reuters said they were asked to hide or alter data that showed certain parts and materials did not meet Takata’s specifications or indicated potential issues with key components such as inflators and cushions. Two of these employees said they witnessed others hiding, altering or ignoring unfavorable test results. Company officials testified in 2014 at two U.S. congressional hearings, and the Japanese safety equipment maker remains the subject of at least two federal investigations, and the target of dozens of lawsuits. After being asked to comment on the whistleblowers, a representative of the airbag manufacturer said in a statement, “Takata has a deep commitment to honesty and integrity. Since our founding in 1933, we have worked tirelessly to develop innovative and highquality products that exceed our customers’ expectations, save lives and prevent injuries. Our number one priority is the safety of the traveling public.”

Most former Takata employees who spoke with Reuters did not want to be named while discussing incidents and situations of a sensitive nature. But they related similar or shared experiences at Takata facilities in Washington, Georgia, Michigan and North Carolina. Two former Takata employees, Mark Lillie and Michael Britton, have spoken to the New York Times, and Lillie also spoke to congressional investigators about their concerns with the safety of propellant manufactured in a Takata facility in Moses Lake, Washington. The propellant was used to create the gas that inflates air bags in case of a crash. In interviews with Reuters, Lillie, a chemical engineer who is now retired and living in New Mexico said he left the company before it began manufacturing a new, more volatile type of chemical propellant, ammonium nitrate. Lillie said some Takata engineers thought the material was not thoroughly tested to make sure it was safe. He left the company in 1999. “I literally said if we go forward with this, someone will be killed,” Lillie told Reuters. “I couldn’t in good faith pump this stuff out believing that

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it was unsafe to put in front of a passenger in a car.” Ammonium nitrate was the principal propellant chemical used in hundreds of millions of Takata inflators made since 2000, including those installed in more than 24 million cars recalled in the United States, Japan, China and other global markets. Britton described an incident in the late 1990s where a test batch of experimental propellant that had not been validated by Britton’s technical group was used without his knowledge in production. This occurred because the company was running out of approved material. Even though it had not been proven that the propellant would remain stable over the expected vehicle lifespan, it was still used in inflators that wound up in customers’ cars, Britton said. He added that he was not able to get the inflators recalled from the customer. Britton, in an email on January 29, 2015, said investigators from NHTSA and the Department of Justice have not contacted him. Lillie said on the same day that he has not been contacted by federal officials, either. Takata did not address specific

allegations made by Lillie, Britton or other former employees. On February 10, 2015, the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) announced the filing of a class action lawsuit against Takata Corp, relating to the massive recall of vehicles containing defective airbags manufactured by the Japanese company. The ARA brought the class action on behalf of those who operate professional automotive recycling facilities in the United States who have purchased for resale any of the vehicles containing un-deployed and allegedly defective airbags manufactured by Takata. The complaint alleges that Takata and the Auto Manufacturers misled Automotive Recyclers about the safety and reliability of the allegedly defective airbags. According to the complaint, Takata was aware of the airbag defect as far back as 2004 when it conducted ‘secret tests’ on several airbags. It also states that following the disclosure of the airbag defect, the Automotive Recyclers are not able to sell or trade these airbags because they are valueless. The ARA alleges that it and the Automotive Recyclers had an expecta-

Wedge Clamp Opens U.S. Office in Long Beach, CA

Canada-based Wedge Clamp Systems Inc. has a new US office and head of operations. Peter Allan became chief operating officer for the United States, with responsibility for sales and customer service of all Wedge Clamp products. These products include innovaPeter Allan, Wedge tive anchoring, a Clamp Chief Operat- pulling and measing Officer for the uring system, its United States NitroHeat nitrogen-based spraypaint system, and its new static-fighting Stat-Gun, which launches this spring in North America. Allan moved from his home in Sydney, Australia to assume duties at the company’s new office in Long Beach, CA. His background is in financial management and commercial property management. “My immediate goal is be to build brand awareness in California,” he said. “I also want to build a distribution network, initially in California and then into surrounding states, particularly Arizona and Nevada. There will be a lot of knocking on doors.”

Allan added, “I have always had a passion for cars. I once took a 1971 Mini engine apart and put it back together. I’m excited to have this opportunity to work in the automotive industry. I also spent most of this morning working as a body tech.” He laughed about a recent training session at one of the 37 Craftsman Collision shops in Western Canada, also owned by new Wedge Clamp owner Bill Hatswell. “Apparently I’m a natural.” Allan said sales have been steadily rising in China since the company opened its office and training facility in Suzhou, near Shanghai in 2012. “The typical shop’s limited square footage combined with the system’s moderate price point makes it the go-to system there,” he said. “Chinese bodyshops are saving both space and money.” He said Wedge Clamp has sold particularly well in its home territory of British Columbia. “We’re aiming for similar success in other parts of Canada and the United States,” says Allan. For information about Wedge Clamp and its products, phone 1-800615-9949, visit www.wedgeclamp .com or email info@wedgeclamp.com.

44 APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

tion that Takata and the Auto Manufacturers would disclose known defects in a timely manner to abide federal, state and common law. The failure to properly disclose the defect caused the Automotive Recyclers to purchase vehicles containing the Takata airbags for amounts greater than their worth. “Right now, 49 states allow for the sale of recycled, non-deployed OEM airbags,” ARA CEO Michael E. Wilson told Autobody News. “New York is currently the only state in the country where professional automotive recyclers are unable to sell recycled, non-deployed OEM airbags.” Wilson added, “The Automotive Recyclers Association supports only the reutilization of the recycled nondeployed OEM airbag module. ARA has a protocol for the use of original equipment non-deployed airbags, ARAPro, which provides guidelines for the practice of removing an OEM non-deployed airbag, including rigorous inspection, documentation, storage, audit procedures.” As of March 2015, evidence shows that at least six motorists have been killed by defective Takata airbags.

CARSTAR Hosts Aluminum Program at Automechanika

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts is a sponsor of the inaugural Automechanika Chicago, being held April 24-26 at McCormick Place West in Chicago, IL. Automechanika Chicago is the tradeshow and training event designed specifically for automotive service and collision repair shop owners, technicians, distributors, jobbers and more. It will be the first year the European show has been held in the U.S. As part of its sponsorship, CARSTAR will host an education program on Saturday, April 25, live on the Collision Repair stage. It is entitled: Is Aluminum Repair Right for Your Business? Bob Keith, Senior Director-Operations Training, and Rick Miller, AVP of Operations, will discuss how to determine if aluminum repair is right for your business, and what you need to do get ready to repair. This class will cover an overview of aluminum repair, the current and future aluminum vehicles, the investment needed, how to determine your ROI and training your team. CARSTAR will also have an informational booth in the Repair and Maintenance section.

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Over 100 Dealerships Join Suit v TrueCar Buying Site Contending Deceptive Business Practices Bellavia Blatt & Crossett, PC, an automobile dealer law firm, has filed a mass action lawsuit in Federal Court for the Southern District of New York against TrueCar. The suit charges that the online car buying site engaged in deceptive business practices. The firm is urging additional non-TrueCar affiliated dealerships who have been injured financially by TrueCar’s actions to join in the suit. So far, 117 dealerships are part of the mass action. A second lawsuit, on behalf of TrueCar-affiliated dealers, will be filed in the coming weeks. The suit alleges that the dealers have been injured as the result of TrueCar’s misleading claims and have lost approximately 35 to 85 sales per year, meaning $432,000 to over $1,000,000 in

lost revenue, depending upon dealer sales volume. In addition, TrueCar’s actions have led to the reputations of TrueCar-affiliated dealerships being damaged by the public’s perception of the TrueCar business model and its alleged deceptive business practices. The firm is charging the online car buying site for false advertising in violation of the Lanham Act and unfair competition and deceptive trade practices under state statutes. “TrueCar advertises that their service provides a ‘no haggle experience’ with statements like ‘no negotiation’ and ‘no surprises,’ “ said Leonard Bellavia, Senior Partner. “Yet the buying experience is anything but that as it sets consumers up for disappointment. Our clients have invested

hundreds of millions of dollars to enhance the customer experience, which TrueCar has managed to undermine.” The firm is also representing 1,048 clients in a separate $350 million mass action lawsuit against CARFAX, seeking recovery of alleged substantial overcharges over six years—multiplied by three—in accordance with antitrust laws. The suit claims that CARFAX has illegally aligned itself with major players in the auto industry and abused its monopoly power, resulting in inferior vehicle history reports, exorbitant pricing and a marketing campaign designed to damage the reputation of auto dealers. Mr. Bellavia has represented numerous automobile franchise dealers nationwide against the major players in the U.S. au-

tomotive industry, including auto manufacturers—such as Chrysler, GM and Saab—as well as the U.S. government, arising out of the Chrysler bankruptcy wherein dealers were unjustly terminated without compensation. In response to TrueCar’s alleged violations, Bellavia Blatt is seeking $250,000,000 in damages, as well as injunctive relief compelling TrueCar to change its business model. “We urge other dealers who have been injured by TrueCar’s actions to join in this lawsuit,” Bellavia said. “We will prove that TrueCar’s business model is a bad one—not just for the consumers and dealers, but for the industry in general.” Call 516) 873-3000 or www.TrueJustice.DealerLaw.com.

Mitchell International has announced the release of RepairCenter Hub, the Property & Casualty industry’s first real-time communication and collaboration platform. With built-in privacy controls, RepairCenter Hub leverages powerful social communication methods to enable collaboration within one and among several repair facilities. “We are extremely excited about the release of RepairCenter Hub. We believe that effective communication is key to effi-

ciently processing repairs, reducing service costs and increasing customer satisfaction,” said Jim O’Leary, VP of Product Management. “With RepairCenter Hub, collision repairers can communicate and collaborate with staff all from one central location. Streamlined communications will lead to improved efficiency, reduction in errors and ultimately higher profits.” In addition to information sharing, RepairCenter Hub provides alerts and updates

that notify users when actions need to be taken. Users can subscribe to jobs and receive real-time notifications for visibility into the repair process. Through these alerts, shops no longer have to seek out information during the repair process, streamlining communication and enabling proactive business decisions. “RepairCenter Hub has been readily used by our repair facilities for the past few months,” said Robert Waline, CEO

of Herb’s Paint and Body. “Hub has helped streamline communication and collaboration among our staff. The ability to consolidate real-time communications and events into a single repair order thread saves us time and headache.” Hub will be rolled out to all shops in North America over the next couple of months as part of the RepairCenter platform for the collision repair industry. To learn more about RepairCenter, visit www.repaircenter.mitchell.com.

GEICO Philanthropic Awards $100,000 to CREF

Service King Expands in Chicago, with Six Locations

Mitchell Launches RepairCenter Hub, a Real Time Communication and Collaboration Platform

The GEICO Philanthropic Foundation has made a $100,000 donation to the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF). “GEICO is excited to make this contribution to the Collision Repair Education Foundation to aid its mission of supporting students and educational institutions that develop highly trained collision repair technicians to meet the changing needs of the industry,” said Ryan West, GEICO’s Vice President of Claims. CREF Executive Director Clark Plucinski noted, “GEICO has been a long-standing supporter and partner with the Collision Repair Education Foundation in recognizing the fact that collision school programs are in need of support in order to graduate properly trained students for industry employment. To receive this incredible donation to start off 2015 will bring our organization to another level, I cannot thank GEICO enough for the support, and would encourage other industry members to follow GEICO’s lead in working together with the Collision Repair Education Foundation.” For information visit www.GEICO.com. Or contact Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at 847-463-5244.

Service King Collision Repair Centers announced on March 2 continued expansion in Chicago, IL with the acquisition of Central Collision Centers. Service King now offers collision repair services at 13 locations in the Chicago metro area. The acquisition of Central Collision Centers, a multi-location operator of collision and auto glass repair with six area locations, officially closed Friday, February 27. “The partnership between Service King and Central Collision is a great step for both of our teams as we continue to expand our offering of highquality customer service and collision repair services throughout the Chicago market,” said Jerod Guerin, Service King Collision Repair Centers Regional Vice President. “Mike Caruso built a great team throughout all areas of the business, and we’re proud to bring our two teams together.” Service King now operates 229 facilities in 21 states across the country. Central Collision Centers serves customers in the communities of Tinley Park, Peotone, Mokena, New Lennox, Oak Forrest and Crete. The family-owned business first opened in Peotone in 1981.

46 APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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Exeter, Maine Body Shop Roof Collapses, No One Injured by Jason Schreiber, Union Leader

The owner of a local Maine auto body shop and service center is picking up the pieces after the roof of his shop collapsed under the weight of snow, causing major damage to the building, his equipment and a wrecker. “It was a real rugged building. I just never would have expected it,” said Brad Bissell, owner of Brad’s Auto Body and Service Center. No one was inside when the roof gave way around 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22 while Bissell was home in Alton. The 69 Main St. shop is usually closed on weekends, but sometimes workers who operate tow trucks are in and out, depending on calls. Bissell, who worked inside the shop just a few days ago, said he’s thankful no one was injured. “Nobody would have got out of that,” he said Monday, as he continued to assess the damage to the building, which remained roped off with yellow caution tape. Bissell said he never expected the roof to cave in because it had a steep pitch and was on the newest part of the building. Bissell said roofers recently checked his building and didn’t think the snow would be a problem on the portion that

collapsed. The section he was most concerned about, he said, was the part with a flat roof. “I’ve never had any problem with that roof. It used to melt off, slide off, whatever. Who ever thought a whole truss system would let go?” he said.

A roof collapse at Brad’s Auto Body and Service Center caused major damage on February 22. Photo Credit: Jason Schreiber/ Union Leader Correspondent

Building Inspector Doug Eastman said the office portion of the building and another work area weren’t damaged. The property has been up for sale, but the business is still in operation. “They lost a big section of the building. From the front it doesn’t look that unusual, but when you get to the back of the building, the whole thing just fell in,” Fire Chief Brian Comeau said. The collapse is the latest incident reported in southern New Hampshire fol-

Talent Monger Holds Collision Industry Job Fair in PA

lowing weeks of snow that has accumulated on roofs, causing some to weaken. On Monday, firefighters were called to a commercial building at 195 Water St. downtown, just after 8:30 a.m. to investigate a report of a possible roof collapse. Dr. Joseph Pearce, who owns Pearce Chiropractic, said he arrived at his office and found water damage and ceiling tiles that had fallen onto the floor. He said snow was shoveled off the roof last week, but there was still some on the roof. Pearce was worried that the roof might have collapsed, but after evaluating the building, Eastman and firefighters determined that it was a water problem and there was no structural damage. “We didn’t want to take any chances,” Pearce said. Eastman said it’s fortunate that the snow has been light and there has been no rain and warm weather to make the snow heavier. Ice dams have become a problem on most buildings, but he said the ice builds up mostly on eaves, and while that could lead to some water issues for homes and businesses, he said it shouldn’t cause roof collapses. Thank you to Union Leader for permission to reprint their article.

Talent Monger LLC will be holding a Collision Industry Job Fair for shops and technicians in the Western PA area on May 7. Talent Monger is a collision industry service launched in late 2014 to connect qualified employees with the collision shops looking to hire them. Co-founder Greg McVicker said he created Talent Monger after a decade of frustration trying to find and hire employees for his dealership collision center. Talent Monger is committed to connecting the industry through partnerships with trade schools, industry groups and job fairs. The job fair will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn at Southpointe, PA from 10 am to 2 pm on May 7. It will be free for students and technicians to attend, and free for shops to have a booth. Space is limited so McVicker recommends registering early. To register for the job fair, visit www.talentmonger.com or email info @thetalentmonger.com.

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Record360 App Documents Damages in One Step, Saving Industry Members Time and Money

Record360 aims to avoid those dilemmas by using a video foundaTwo former Enterprise Rent-A-Car ex- tion, versus still-life pictures or paper ecutives first came up with the idea for diagram vehicle condition reports. an app that captures the condition of a This feature records the state of the vehicle at the time of exchange back in vehicle upon arrival to the shop, car2013. rental company, or dealership. “Throughout our combined 35 “The app eliminates the use of years in the auto industry, Damon paperwork and improves workflow, Haber and I frequently came in contact while ultimately saving the shop [or with issues during property exchange,” business] money and improving cussaid co-founder Shane Skinner of Seat- tomer service,” said Skinner. tle, WA. “I noticed that the same probInstead of having to take photos, upload them to a computer, and then label which photos belong to which car, the app does it all in one step. Skinner explained that the inlems occurred not only with loaner formation is organized by the VIN vehicles, but with cars coming in and number, which is scanned at the beYourginning Emailoffor out of body shops thatRegister needed work the Our process. When the cusdone.” tomer returns to pick up his or her car, These “issues” usually spark from the VIN number is scanned again to a “he said, she said” debate over when pull up all of the vehicle’s informaand where a particular dent, scratch, or tion. scuff occurred. Did that crack in the “When using the video feature back left window happen during the ac- while walking around the vehicle, cident or in the body shop? Was that ablefor to take still images and note Register Youryou’re Email Our scratch on the hood there before the them with data points,” said Skinner. customer rented the car? Who should “You’re able to say, ‘Okay there’s a pay for it? dent there,’ then touch the screen, take by Victoria Antonelli, Online Editor

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House of Kolor by Valspar Announces Multiple Wins at CA Car Shows House of Kolor by Valspar announced that Greg Meyer received numerous wins at the Grand National Roadster Show and Sacramento Autorama. Meyer displayed a 1933 Chevy Custom Roadster “Admeyer” at both shows in January and February of

tured five awards, among them Outstanding Paint and Outstanding Street Rod. “I did not want to sacrifice anything with the Admeyer build. Our goal was an elegant, quality roadster with flowing lines and glowing paint. With that in mind, we had to have the best paint available, House of Kolor. Ben’s Custom Paint delivered an exceptional paint finish only available from House of Kolor,” said Meyer. Other winners featuring House of Kolor include John D’Agostino’s 1968 Buick Riviera, which took home the H.A. Bagdasar1933 Chevy Custom Roadster “Admeyer”displayed by ian– World’s Most BeauGreg Meyer tiful Custom and Bob 2015. This build was 13 years in the Bruhn’s 1965 American Motors Marmaking and featured House of Kolor lin with the Steve’s Auto Restoration Kandy Tangerine, painted by Ben Award. House of Kolor and Valspar AuConley of Ben’s Custom Paint, Oretomotive are on Facebook and Instagon City, OR. “Admeyer” was honored with gram. For information about House of Outstanding Paint in the America’s Kolor, visit www.houseofkolor .com. For additional information about Most Beautiful Roadster category at The Grand National Roadster Show. Valspar Automotive, visit: At Sacramento Autorama, Meyer cap- www.valsparauto.com. 48 APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

the still, and lock it into the record file for that document, all while still taking the video.” Skinner added that there is a patent pending on this feature. Todd Primo, service manager for Penske Automotive Group in Cerritos, CA, stated on the Record360 website, “We have been using Record360 to document our customers’ vehicles and been very satisfied with the results. We have virtually eliminated the problem of customers claiming damage while their vehicles are in for repair, seeing real savings in damage claims. Record360 has become an integral part of our process that is appreciated by our staff and our customers.” When Autobody News followed up with Primo, he said the dealership’s service advisors, who primarily use the app, gave it a 10 on a 1-10 scale; 10 being the easiest to use. He recommended that body shops download Record360, adding that he’s experienced nothing but success since Penske, Jaguar,Readers! Land Rover Be Seen by Our started using the app in July 2014. CALL Advertising Sales at: Another testimonial on the website, this one from Jennifer Carlson, general manager of Jucy Rentals North America, stated, “Record360 is enteradvertising@autobodynews.com prise ready; already used by leading rental asset management businesses.

Since implementing Record360 at all our North American locations, disputes over damage are a thing of the past, and we’re saving thousands on undocumented damage. Our employees and customers feel great about our documentation process.” The app hit the iOS market in June 2014 after nine months of development. On April 1, Android users will also be able download Record360, making it accessible on 95 percent of devices. It can be downloaded from the app website as well as the iTunes store for a licensing fee starting at $50 a month. “All the customers love it,” said Skinner. “The feedback so far has been great.” Those interested can check out the demo on the Record360 website.

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RARE PARTS’ Extreme Duty Pitman and Idler Arms

RARE PARTS INC has announced the EXTREME duty pitman and idler arms for 2001–2010 Chevrolet/GMC 2500 and 3500 trucks. “When your customer’s truck has our heavy duty tie rod assemblies installed, the next weak link becomes the pitman and idler arm. The new Extreme arms have been developed to fix that,” said Danny Burgess, President of Rare Parts, located in Stockton, CA. In 2013, the company redesigned its heavy-duty tie rod assemblies, originally designed for AM General. “After seeing the final result, we wanted to apply our design to address another problem with the 2500/3500 trucks and SUVs,” said Burgess. “Namely the weak idler and pitman arm, which are known to allow center link roll and fail prematurely.” Made in the United States, the oversized forged pitman arms are designed with a full ball stud that swivels to eliminate binding between the pitman arm and idler arm when mounted in the center link. It is also heat treated. The Pitman arm and idler arm are never perfectly parallel to each other when mounted. The idler frame bracket can be slightly tilted and the gear box can also be tilted in relationship to the idler frame bracket. For more information, call at 800-621-2005.

CCC ONE® Repair Workflow Has Reached 5,000 Users

CCC Information Services announced on March 12 that CCC ONE® Repair Workflow, a shop management solution available as a single application with repair estimating, has reached 5,000 users. “Our customers have been instrumental in the evolution of our shop management solution,” said Mark Fincher, Vice President, Market Solutions, CCC Information Services. “By taking advantage of the integrated feedback feature in CCC ONE Repair Workflow, users have been able to quickly and easily share input and suggestions about how to make the tool better. We want to thank our customers for their support in helping us create a workflow solution that broke the mold of traditional shop management systems. With the broad scale of industry adoption, we are well positioned to continue making ongoing investments in this platform.” CCC ONE Repair Workflow is a mobile-enabled solution that allows for intuitive and proactive shop management. The solution is differentiated by driving work to each role in the shop. Key features include resident estimating, production management and role-based dashboards and tasks to quickly identify exceptions. CCC ONE Repair Workflow is available for all popular mobile devices.

Automechanika Comes to Chicago by Chasidy Rae Sisk

The first Automechanika show in the U.S. will take place on April 24-26 at McCormick Place West in Chicago. The trade show, designed specifically for shop owners and technicians, focuses on three pillars: education, innovation and inspiration. Show Director Bridget Ferris says, “this is a unique opportunity for shop owners and technicians to get advanced training, discover new technologies and innovations, and see the latest products and services from more than 400 exhibiting companies on the show floor. In addition to training, many exhibitors have confirmed that they will be introducing new products to satisfy the innovation expectations of our attendees. We expect each attendee to leave the show inspired after visiting the many diverse exhibits and interactive feature areas showcasing everything from welding to painting techniques.” Automechanika Frankfurt has grown to become the world’s largest trade event for the automotive aftermarket industry, featuring over 4600 exhibitors and 140,000 international

buyers. Ferris states, “today, with a network of 15 events in 14 countries, the brand Automechanika offers exhibitors access to new markets around the world and has more than 16,000 loyal customers worldwide.” Messe Frankfurt’s decision to branch out into the U.S. was based on substantial research and communication with their customers who indicated a need for a trade show designed specifically for shop owners and technicians with an emphasis on a high-level educational program. According to Ferris, “the demand from our customer base, together with the opportunity to partner with the leading automotive aftermarket publication, UBM Advanstar, paved the way for this event to be launched.” Ferris continues, “we performed extensive research before deciding on a location to enter the U.S. market, and there were many compelling reasons that we believe Chicago is the ideal location. Of the 160,000 individual shops in the United States, 25% of them are within a 500 mile radius of Chicago, giving many shops the ability to drive to the show.

50 APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Matrix, USC Brands Renew Partnership with “Counting Cars”

Quest Automotive Products, the manufacturer of Matrix and USC brand automotive repair products, paints and finishes, has renewed its partnership and support of the popular reality television series “Counting Cars.” The Matrix and USC brands have supported the show since its inaugural season in 2012. The show chronicles the repair projects undertaken by Danny “The Count” Koker, owner of Count’s Kustoms, a Las Vegas, NV, body and design shop that specializes in restoring and customizing classic cars and motorcycles. “Our support for Counting Cars has been a win-win for our brands and for Count’s Kustoms,” said Laura Yerkey, director of communications and marketing strategy for Quest. “The show connects with body shop owners and professional painters who are our customers, and it strikingly demonstrates the artistry that can be created with our Matrix paints and finishes.” Ryan Evans, the paint specialist on the show, said he is excited to be able to use USC and Matrix products again this season. “Our ability to make repairs, create custom colors and spray flawless

Danny Koker, AKA The Count, examines the finish on a new paintjob

finishes with USC and Matrix products is incomparable. We have very high standards, and the quality of their products doesn’t just meet those standards, it enhances them as well as the quality of our restorations.” Counting Cars airs every Tuesday on HISTORY at 9 p.m. EST/8 p.m. CST.

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Collision Avoidance Sensor Market Expected to Reach $10B by 2020 According to market research launched by Grand View Research, the Global Collision Avoidance Sensors Market Size was $3.22 billion in 2013 and will grow to $10.01 billion by 2020. The development of self-driving cars will support market growth during the forecast period. Updated ratings of safety agencies and incorporation of anti-collision sensors in mass-market models is expected to propel market growth over the next six years. Increasing awareness among consumers and extensive R&D by market players has fueled market growth. Collision avoidance sensors enable vehicles to carry out semi-autonomous and autonomous decision making. Rising need for security from consumers and governments is also expected to drive collision avoidance sensors market growth. Recent developments in sensor technology

are oriented towards making devices more sophisticated and augmenting them with various parts of an automobile. Anticollision sensors enable automotive OEMs to integrate more intelligence in order to achieve the goal of an autonomous car. Strict legal and regulatory standards have mandated inclusion of sensors in motor vehicles; this is further estimated to drive the collision avoidance sensors market. However, high cost of long-range radar and LiDAR-based sensors may restrain market growth as lowprice carmakers may abstain from adding onto the cost of vehicles. Further key findings from the study suggest: Radar-based sensors accounted for over 35% of the global market in 2013; the segment is further expected to gain market share over the forecast period.

Falling prices of radar have led to increased adoption of the technology by various automotive OEMs. Camerabased collision avoidance sensors are expected witness high growth, owing to government regulations mandating their incorporation into vehicles. Adaptive cruise control accounted for majority of the market share in 2013. Such systems rely on long-range radar sensors as well as medium and short range radar to automatically adjust the vehicle’s speed. Technological innovation may make their incorporation a standard in vehicles to counter the threat of accidents due to human error, which is the cause of 90% of all accidents according to a 2014 UN Road Safety Collaboration study. Europe is expected to continue being the market leader over the fore-

cast period; it accounted for over 30% of the market in 2013. Asia Pacific is expected to be a fast growing regional market over the forecast period due to low manufacturing costs and rising auto sales in the region. Key industry participants include Bosch, Continental, Delphi, Denso, Autoliv, TRW, etc. Major vendors differ on the basis of their pricing and system integration. Market players invest heavily in R&D to offer cost-effective and differentiated collision avoidance sensors to automotive OEMs and aftermarket. Get more information on Global Collision Avoidance Sensors Market or request for sample of this report: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/ industry-analysis/collision-sensorsmarket.

Several nonprofit safety groups have asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to mandate collision avoidance and mitigation braking systems for new heavy trucks and buses. The groups said in a Feb. 19 petition that a rule requiring the so called F-CAM technology would reduce crashes involving commercial vehicles weighing more

than 10,000 lbs. The petitioners included the Truck Safety Coalition, the Center for Auto Safety, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety and Road Safe America. “The petitioners have been involved in safety issues involving large trucks for many years and are convinced that FCAM technology has the potential to result in significant safety, economic and

societal benefits,” the Feb. 19 petition said. Forward Collision Warning generates a visual, audible or vibration alert for the driver in the event the driver’s vehicle comes within a predefined distance and closing rate with a vehicle traveling in front of it. In situations where the driver does not respond to the signals, collision mitigation braking automatically applies

through the electronic stability control system to reduce the impact speed or entirely prevent a collision. NHTSA recently completed an evaluation of F-CAM systems in medium and heavy commercial vehicles that “provides substantial support for this petition,” the safety groups said.

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Average wholesale used vehicle prices rose significantly in January on both a month-over-month and year-over-year basis, according to the latest Kontos Kommentary from ADESA Chief Economist Tom Kontos. According to Kontos, it‘s important to disaggregate averages and indexes in order to look at the underlying impact the supply of off-rental and off-lease vehicles is having on current-to-one-year-old models and three-year-old models, respectively. A somewhat different picture emerges here in that prices for these age segments did indeed take a hit in January, says Kontos. Auction “factory” sales were resumed for large inventories of off-rental program units that had been curtailed at year-end 2014, and growing numbers of vehicles leased approximately three years ago continue to reach maturity and enter online and in-lane remarketing channels. Strong retail demand, especially for CPO units, as well as moderate incentives, have partially offset these impacts for these age segments and the used vehicle market as a whole, says Kontos.

www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 51

Martin Senour Announces Second Quarter Training The Martin Senour Company announced its 2015 second quarter training schedule, with courses running from April 1– June 30. Training courses emphasize painter certification and maximizing shop profits, and will be held at Martin Senour training facilities nationwide. Martin Senour Automotive Finishes Director of Sales Jeff Hartl noted that the brand’s training sessions are designed to help shop owners, managers and technicians better execute environmentally-responsible practices, as well as improve their repair techniques and knowledge of today’s new innovative painting systems. In particular, Martin Senour professionals will teach the following course topics during the second quarter of 2015: ● VORTEX® Waterborne Painter Certification ● Estimating Solutions for Profit ● Color Adjustment and Blending ● Improving Workshop Efficiency ● Achieving Service Excellence ● Fleet FPG ● Jobber Level 1

A complete listing of the 2015 second quarter Martin Senour training schedule, course descriptions and training center locations is as follows:

Training Center Date Training Course Description Atlanta 4/27/2015 Jobber Level 1 (3 days) Atlanta 4/27/2015 Color Adjustment and Blending (3 days) Atlanta 5/4/2015 Fleet FPG (3 days) Atlanta 5/19/2015 Painter Certification (3 days) Atlanta 6/10/2015 Estimating Solutions for Profit (1 day) Atlanta 6/11/2015 Achieving Service Excellence (1/2 day) Atlanta 6/11/2015 Improving Workshop Efficiency (1 day) Burr Ridge 4/23/2015 Estimating Solutions for Profit (1 day) Burr Ridge 5/27/2015 Vortex® Waterborne Painter (3 days) Dallas 4/22/2015 Jobber Level 1 (3 days) Dallas 6/23/2015 Painter Certification (3 days) Philadelphia 4/20/2015 FLEET FGP (3 days) Philadelphia 4/23/2015 Estimating Solutions for Profit (1 day) Philadelphia 5/12/2015 Painter Certification (3 days) Philadelphia 5/18/2015 Vortex® Application and Color Simplicity (2 days)

Record $13M Plus in Support to Collision School Programs Through CREF

In 2014, the collision industry provided over $13 million in donations to high school and college collision school programs through the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF). Over $30 million has been provided since 2008 when the Education Foundation began its philanthropic focus of assisting collision school programs and the organization has seen a 4,300% increase in donations since the $300,000 was raised in 2008. In continuing its efforts to be a lean and responsible charitable organization, the Education Foundation was able to return over 90 cents of every dollar donated towards supporting the school programs, instructors and students in 2014. “The industry showed its true generosity again in 2014 as we are able to announce another record breaking year in support to the collision school programs,” said Clark Plucinski, CREF Executive Director. “To provide over $13 million in donations through a group of roughly 250 total donors this past year was truly awe-inspiring and the gratitude that these instructors and students displayed touches you deeply. We have heard from the industry that they are in desperate need of

properly trained entry-level graduates and we will continue to work towards that goal on behalf of the industry.” Terry Fortner, CREF Board of Trustees Chairman and LKQ Corp VP of Industry Relations and Market Development, noted, “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, staff and the collision school programs that we support nationwide, I would like to thank our 2014 donors in joining efforts to support the future professionals of the industry. Only through the industry coming together to help these collision school programs can we have a significant impact on ensuring that the students receive the best technical education possible with the end goal being their employment within the industry. I would also invite companies that aren’t currently supporting the CREF through monetary and/or inkind product donations to reach out to us and join our efforts in 2015.” For information about the CREF, visit CollisionEducationFoundation .org. Inter-industry organizations and individuals interested in supporting CREF should contact Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at Brandon.Eckenrode@edfoundation .org / 847.463.5244.

52 APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Philadelphia 5/20/2015 Estimating Solutions for Profit (1 day) Philadelphia 6/8/2015 Painter Certification (3 days) Philadelphia 6/11/2015 Pro//BASE™ Refinish System Painter (2 days) Philadelphia 6/15/2015 FLEET FGP (3 days) Reno 4/7/2015 Painter Certification (3 days) Reno 4/13/2015 Color Adjustment and Blending (3 days) Reno 5/18/2015 Jobber Level 1 (4 days) Reno 6/1/2015 Fleet FGP (3 days) Reno 6/15/2015 Jobber Level 1 (4 days) Reno 6/16/2015 Estimating Solutions For Profit (1 day) Reno 6/17/2015 Achieving Service Excellence (1/2 day) Reno 6/17/2015 Improving Workshop Efficiency (1/2 day) Reno 6/23/2015 Vortex® Waterborne Painter Certification (3 days) For information regarding the Martin Senour training or its paint products, visit the training section at martinsenourautopaint.com or call 1-800-526-6704.

Transportation Secy Calls on Congress to Close Safety Gap Consumer Reports is saying that if a new car is recalled for a safety problem, it’s illegal for a dealer to sell you that car until the issue has been fixed. However, no similar protection exists for a person who buys a recalled used car or rents a recalled car. Under current federal law, rental-car companies and used-car dealers are not required to fix a defect—or even tell you about a problem—before you drive the vehicle off the lot. This gap in safety law puts millions of Americans at risk, and it has had tragic consequences. In 2004 sisters Raechel and Jacqueline Houck of Santa Cruz, CA, were killed when the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser they had rented from Enterprise caught fire and crashed into an oncoming tractor-trailer. The car had been recalled the previous month because of the risk of fire from a leak in the power steering hose. But it was not repaired, and Enterprise kept renting it out. The defect led to the fatal crash. To address this serious problem Trans. Secy Foxx is calling on Congress to pass legislation that would prohibit rental-car companies and used-car dealers from renting or selling vehicles subject to a recall without first making the necessary fix.

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AASPI Responds to CNN Report AASPI President-Elect Mike Mattson stated that the February 11, 2015 CNN story on the use of used, aftermarket and re-manufactured parts and the steering of customers to insurance preferred shops, “was very true and ethical reporting but noted it’s not just State Farm or Progressive but 99% of the insurance industry pushes these practces.” Mattson who has owned a body shop for 36 years, noted that he has “seen the insurance industry take

more and more control over my business and the industry.” Mattson stated, “It’s our choice to accept or not accept the lower standards and repair practices Insurance companies require of us, but we have failed to educate our customers that they have a choice. The customer pays the premiums and has a choice to renew with their insurance coverage and no insurance carrier wants to lose a customer, just look how much they

spend in advertising to acquire that customer.” AASPI believes that the consolidators seem to have jumped on the bandwagon of lowering the standards as well in order to compete with shops that continue to accept poor repair methods and practices. These shops are cheating the customer and themselves as well. Mattson stated, “I keep hearing how the big players will put me out of business. I do not believe

that to be true. I have always survived and profited on good ethical business practices. Today is a good time to be in the collision repair business if you are prepared and being prepared means education in every aspect of every detail to complete a safe and profitable repair.”

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Continued from Page 20

California Lobbying

without walking the hallways of the Capitol or sending countless letters.

Focus, Focus, Focus When interacting with any legislator or its staff, stay on point and talk only about things that are directly related to the issues at hand. He or she doesn’t need to know your life story, so get to the facts quickly and make your case without dallying. If you can get past the first initial meeting, maybe you can get chummy with your legislator down the road. But never lose sight of

the fact that your #1 deliverable is getting your voice heard, clearly and succinctly on the issues that concern you.

Do It the ‘Write’ Way It’s great to contact your legislators via phone or in person, but writing to them is just as effective. When you write a personal letter or email to your legislator, they’re first off obligated to respond in a timely fashion. Secondly, it creates a record and documents your actions, so that later you can use them possibly as leverage. Make copies of your letters and send them to other body shops. By cc’ing them to your legislators, your message will have more impact and get more attention.

Get the Word Out Once you have your legislator’s ear, tell other body shops what you’re doing and what you’ve achieved. There are always a handful of shop owners out there who want to be heard and if your efforts will spark their desire to join in, it can only help. If you can get other legislators to listen to shop owners throughout the state, now you’ve taken it past your backyard and right to the steps of the Capitol. This is when real change can take place, when business owners work as a team for a better industry. Jack Molodanof is a California attorney and lobbyist who has distinguished himself in areas of automotive

legislative and regulatory law over the past 30 years. He’s the go-to lawyer/lobbyist in California for the automotive repair industry and represents several statewide automotive associations, including the California Autobody Association (CAA) and Automotive Service Councils of California (ASCCA). Molodanof also serves on the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Advisory Group, which provides input on BAR programs. For questions, contact Jack Molodanof at jack@mgrco.org.

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Assured Performance Introduces Insurer-Facing Certified Shop Locator

Assured Performance announced on February 27 the creation and launch of an insurer-facing Advanced Repair Capability (ARC) Certified Shop locator at: www.certifiedbodyshop.info. The site, developed and managed by Assured Performance, lists body shops that are Certified by Assured Performance and officially Certified-Recognized by the various participating auto manufacturers including Ford Motor Company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), Nissan North America, and several other auto manufacturers. Insurers will have a secure portal specifically designed to identify Certified-Recognized body shops that have the proper tools, equipment, training and facilities to repair their policyholder’s vehicles to manufacturer specifications for fit, finish, durability and safety. The launch concides with the introduction of aluminum alloy into mainstream vehicles such as the Ford F-150. The key aspect of this site is for insurers to accurately and efficiently identify various auto manufacturers’ Certified-Recognized shops capable of advanced repairs in each market area. The shop locator was specially designed for insurers and uses a search

capability driven by the following: ● year, make and model of the consumer’s vehicle; ● the shop's advanced material repair capability status; ● and/or the shop’s official OE Certification status. This is critical as new vehicles are introduced, not every shop will have the capabilities to repair each new model even though they may be qualified. This site helps insurers identify which shops are capable for which repairs. This new insurer-facing site is a complement to the consumer-facing websites Assured Performance manages and hosts including: www.autobodylocator.com and www.bodyshop locator.com. In addition, the participating automakers Certified-Recognized shop locators are integrated into their consumer-facing vehicle sales and service sites. All of the sites leverage the combined list of Certified-Recognized body shops. “With the mass introduction of aluminum alloy, and other advanced materials in the designs of the new vehicle models, it is critical to assist insurers with identifying the shops that have the technical ability,” explained Aaron Clark, VP of Technical Com-

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pliance. “We’ve already seen evidence of what can happen when an untrained and ill-equipped shop is selected.” “The goal of our insurer-facing Advanced Repair Capability Shop Locator is to create an accurate and efficient way for insurers to identify the shops that have proven they meet the requirements and passed an annual onsite inspection audit. Now, insurers can easily see who they are,” added CEO Scott Biggs, CEO. The ARC Certified shop locator is available to any insurer. Certification is open to shops that can meet the requirements. The Assured Performance criteria for “Certification-Recognition” are an accumulation of collision industry business standards and multiple OEM criteria focused on properly repairing the vehicle. Shops are able to become Certified by Assured Performance and simultaneously CertifiedRecognized by several of the largest auto manufacturers, through one technology-driven process, backed by onsite inspection audits at least annually. This approach saves shops fees and redundant equipment requirements. Once certified, shops receive signs, marketing tools, and listing on multiple shop locators and smart apps.

CO Police Devise Plan to Halt Hit-and-Runs with Body Shops

by Ryan Severance, The Pueblo Chieftain

The Pueblo Police Department in CO and local auto repair shops are teaming in an effort to help solve hitand-run crimes. The initiative—dubbed the Pueblo Auto Body Alert Program— resembles a program started by the Denver Police Department last year. It creates a partnership with automotive repair professionals to assist with identifying hit-and-run damaged vehicles, according to a release the police department sent out. Through the program, auto repair shops will receive email and/or fax transmissions from the police department traffic section/hit-and-run unit when they are investigating hitand-run accidents. Police will provide as much detailed information possible about the vehicle they are attempting to locate. Repair professionals can call the police department’s non-emergency number at 719-553-2502 or call the hitand-run unit directly at 719-553-2521 or 719-553-2536. They can also email puebloautobodyalert@pueblo.us. Thank you to The Pueblo Chieftain for permission to use this article.

LORD Announces New Panel Bonding Adhesive Offering No Tack and No Odor

LORD Corporation, maker of Fusor® Aftermarket Repair Adhesives, announced the availability of a new metal and plastic panel bonding adhesive offering no tack and no odor. According to Kevin Creegan, Sales Manager for LORD Fusor Aftermarket Repair Adhesives in U.S. and Canada, Fusor® 208B Panel Bonding Adhesive is a versatile epoxy-based metal and plastic panel bonding adhesive with no odor during application that also features a tack-free surface when cured. He noted Fusor 208B was developed in response to customer requests for an alternative to other epoxy panel bonding adhesives that, at best, offer only marginal corrosion protection. Suitable for panel, weld and rivet bonding of all steel or aluminum panels, the adhesive provides corrosion protection and strength. It’s curing and handling strength can be accelerated with heat. Applications include installation of large steel, aluminum and SMC/FRP body panels such as quarter panels, floor pans, rear body panels and roof skins. It has also proven to improve CSI weld through with squeeze type resistance spot welding. Fusor 208B has sag resistance and may be dispensed manually or with a pneumatic applicator.

“Years of research and development have been spent in perfecting Fusor 208B and I urge all body shop technicians to try it as it’s one of our best products,” said Creegan. “Test market results prove that customers prefer odor- and tack-free Fusor 208B over competing panel bonding adhesives because of its versatility in bonding, weld bonding and rivet bonding a wide variety of substrates.” Test locations revealed a need for the tack-free, no odor panel bonding adhesive. “I tested the new LORD Fusor 208B and cannot wait to add this new tack-free, no odor panel bonding adhesive to our arsenal,” said Mike (Higgy) Higgins of Bud Baer Collision in Washington, PA. “Ensuring no come-backs, Fusor 208B gives shops the opportunity to improve customer satisfaction,” said Doug Craig, LORD Technical Application Engineer. “Cyclical corrosion results show that Fusor 208B provides superior corrosion resistance over the leading epoxy panel bonding adhesive. It also provides a cohesive failure mode, which prohibits under bond corrosion and is backed by our lifetime guarantee.” To order, contact a Fusor distributor, call 1-800-234-FUSOR (3876) or visit Fusor.com

www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 55

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