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VOL. 1 ISSUE 5 JULY 2010
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The Georgia Collision Industry Association Georgia Governor Signs Texting Ban Compiles GA Labor Rates Through Surveys Georgia joins 27 other states in passing gional manager for PCI. “House Bill 23 The Georgia Collision Industry Association (GCIA) held its 4th Annual labor rates survey for Georgia in June. This was the first year the association utilized an online survey option as well as a phone method. Flat labor rates were collected for body work, paint jobs, mechanical jobs, frame work and materials from several different shops throughout the counties of Georgia. This year the GCIA took out a lot of their other questions pertaining to shop size and employee count and just concentrated on labor rate figures. The GCIA was very pleased with their choice to have an online survey this year according to Howard Batchelor, Executive Director of the GCIA. “The online survey made it that much easier for people, they could do it on their
own time,” said Batchelor. The information gathered from the 2010 GCIA Labor Rates survey was presented at the Richmond chapter of the Washington Metropolitan Auto Howard Batchelor Body Association (WMABA) meeting on June 17. The results from this survey will also be presented to the Georgia Insurance Commissioner’s Office for review. The hope is that this information will help body shops negotiate their labor rates fairly with insurance companies. See GCIA, Page 11
Kendrick Paint & Body Locations in Georgia and South Carolina are Now “GreenLink Shops” CCAR awarded Kendrick Paint & Body with their “GreenLink Shop” certification for its locations in Augusta and Martinez, Georgia and Aiken, South Carolina. The GreenLink Shop status, an extension of CCAR’s CCAR-GreenLink® Environmental Compliance Assistance Center and S/P2 (Safety and Pollution Prevention) E-learning Program, aims to promote consumer confidence in local automotive repair facilities’ environmental and safety techniques. Kendrick Paint & Body, which was founded in 1952, operates 3 facilities in Georgia and South Carolina, all of
which received this certification. “We are excited to be recognized as GreenLink Shops,” said Keith Brown, owner of Kendrick Paint & Body, “The feedback from customers and employees has been all positive, and we see the GreenLink Shop as a reward for our efforts to be environmentally responsible.” Kendrick’s Operations Manager David Clark said that one of the benefits of going through the GreenLink Shop Program was that the company and employees were able to learn how to dispose of any waste incurred in the See Kendrick, Page 5
laws banning drivers from sending text messages while driving. The governor signed House Bill 23 which prohibits young people under age 18 from texting or using cell phones while driving. He also signed Senate Bill 360 which prohibits drivers over 18 from texting. These bills become effective July 1, 2010. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 from crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver, and more than half a million were injured. Research also shows that the worst offenders are the youngest and least experienced drivers: men and women under 20 years of age. “These laws are a positive step forward in the effort to make our roadways safer,” said Micaela Isler southeast re-
aims to assist our least experienced drivers in Georgia to be as safe as possible by banning cell phone use. The use of cell phones while behind the wheel is a significant source of distraction, but it represents one of many distractions that can lead to a crash. By passing Senate Bill 360 Georgia is sending a strong message that all drivers have a responsibility to exercise good judgment in all of their driving activities. Although news media has focused attention on cell phone use and texting; navigation systems, eating and drinking as well as personal grooming can all serve as distractions that compromise road safety.” Georgia joins Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Vermont, Wisconsin and See Texting Ban, Page 9, see also p. 6
Allstate Ratchets Up Southern Region Recruiting for Second Straight Year Allstate Insurance Company appointed dozens of exclusive agents in the company’s Southern Region last year. Now, the company is ramping up its recruiting again – looking for at least 60 more Southern Region agency owners this year. In 2009, more than 50 new agents opened Allstate agencies across the Southern Region. This year, Allstate hopes to surpass that goal by focusing on professionals that may feel limited in their careers and are looking to start their own business in a recession resilient industry. “We see a significant opportunity in the current economy to attract mid-career, mid-level managers to own and operate their own business and represent Allstate,” said Jim Conlan, Allstate’s Southern Region recruiting director. “We’re working with business brokers and through our own recruiters to find professionals with financial or sales backgrounds, who are dedicated to customer service.” Candidates need a minimum of $50,000 of liquid capital to invest in their agency. Even with the hints of an economic recovery underway, some po-
tential applicants are unsure if now is the right time to invest money needed to open a small business. That’s why recruiters are focusing on the stability of investing in the Allstate brand. “Allstate is unique among all other insurers because its agents own the economic interest in their business,” said Conlan. “Allstate agents can sell the economic interest in their agency. No other branded insurer has this option.” Allstate’s Southern Region recruiting goals for 2010 are segmented by area across the states: State Approx. Tennessee Kentucky Arkansas Louisiana Mississippi
Recruiting Goal
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These target states and areas represent key consumer touch points in Allstate’s broader strategy to aggressively expand the provider’s auto insurance presence statewide, while staking a See Allstate, Page 9
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