July 2018 Southeast Edition

36 YEARS

SOUTHEAST EDITIO N

AUTOBODY AL / FL / GA / MS / NC / SC / TN / VA / WV

AUTOBODYNEWS.COM

Vol. 9 / Issue 5 / July 2018

Senator: Trump Tariffs May Drive Off Alabama’s Auto Jobs

NY Body Shop Sues Insurance Company, Adjusters on Behalf of Clients

by Brad Harper, Montgomery Advertiser

by Stacey Phillips

Alabama Sen. Doug Jones said a proposal by President Donald Trump to place a 25 percent tariff on imported cars, trucks and auto parts could cause automotive plant workers to lose their jobs, especially in Alabama.

“I can’t just sit by while the president’s, I believe, shortsighted proposals threaten (jobs) in Alabama,” Jones said. “The proposal is going to hurt Alabama, plain and simple.”

In a letter sent June 7 to U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Jones joined Sen. Lamar Alexan-

Democrat Doug Jones won a special election for Senate in December, beating polarizing Republican nominee Roy Moore. Credit: Mickey Welsh, Advertiser See Trump Tariffs, Page 18

Body Shop To Move Into Former Office Depot Building in Greer, SC

by Melody Wright, Upstate Business Journal

Vacant for more than three years, the former Office Depot building in Greer, SC, will be revived at last.

While the building must be sig-

nificantly renovated, John Harris Body Shops is expected to bring life to the location late this year.

“Re-adapting the 21,000-squarefoot building is a win-win for Greer and John Harris Body Shops,” said John Parker of Broadstreet Partners. “Any time you can bring an abandoned building back to life, it dramatically helps the community.”

John Harris Body Shops hired the team of Parker and Ryan Koop of Broadstreet Partners, headquartered in Greenville, to See Body Shop To Move, Page 10

State Consumer Insurance Company, Inc., IANet Corporation and insurBarry’s Auto Body is part of an on- ance adjusters Gabe Deri, Louis going lawsuit filed on behalf of five Simo and Basit Irfan. of its customers for “violating genBarry’s Auto Body, co-owned eral business law §349 by engaging by Barry Crupi, Jr. and his sister in unfair claims practices.”

Michele, alleges that Tri-State provided only partial payment for the damage claims of customers’ vehicles to repair them back to their pre-accident condition as obligated under an insurance policy and New York State law.

The body shop is suing for a total of approximately Barry Crupi, Jr. and his sister Michele are co-owners of $500,000, which includes the body shop legal fees and treble (triple) The Staten Island, NY-based damages.

Prior to the repairs, Tri-State body shop originally filed the lawsuit in July of 2017 in the Supreme Court provided Barry’s Body Shop estiof the State of New York against TriSee Body Shop Sues, Page 24

Tap the Brakes on Rolling Out Unregulated Driverless Cars in FL

This is a public safety issue. Apparently, the corporate patrons of Crashes involving driverless cars have Florida’s driverless car legislative raised significant safety questions. In caucus see this as a public relations March, an Uber driverless problem. car struck and killed an AriThis technology carries zona pedestrian. The NTSB great promise to reduce trafsaid the system never enfic deaths, but we must gaged the brakes in spite of maintain critical safety stanseeing the victim six secdards to carefully develop onds before the crash. and safely deploy the concept.

People are justifiably Dale Swope The corporations want concerned.

An American Automobile Asso- deregulation of driverless cars. ciation (AAA) survey shows 73 percent of American drivers are too Their sales pitch for: afraid to ride in a driverless car—up from 63 percent in late 2017. The • A “pro-business and pro-auAAA survey also found the percent- tonomous regulatory climate” transage of millennial drivers too afraid to lates to lawmakers eliminating ride in a driverless car jumped from critical accountability and liability 49 percent to 64 percent since late laws.

2017.

See Driverless Cars in FL, Page 26

by Dale Swope, Florida Justice Association

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JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

Tesla Model 3 Declared by 96-Year-old Auto Veteran to be His Favorite Car Ever

CONTENTS Atlanta I-CAR Committee Raises Over $65,000 for CREF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Body Shop To Move Into Former Office Depot Building in Greer, SC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Boggs Body Revs Up Memories, Restores Dreams in Warrenton, VA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Caliber Collision Repairs Wheelchair-Accessible Car for Vet in NC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Florida, the Autonomous Vehicle Capital of North America? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Gerber Collision & Glass Opens 2 Repair Locations in Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 I-CAR Nashville Awards Student CREF Tool Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 IGONC Hosts 1st Regional Meeting in Durham, NC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Nashville I-CAR Events to Support Future Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Ray’s Auto Body in Knoxville, TN, Under New Ownership 47 Years Later . . . . . . . . . . 14 Regional Association Event Announcements: July 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Registration Is Open for 7th Annual MSO Symposium in Atlanta, GA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 SCACAR Brings Education to SC, Asks Shop Owners for Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Senator: Trump Tariffs May Drive Off Alabama’s Auto Jobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Tech-Ed Center Graduates Celebrate Job Offers With Signing Day in VA . . . . . . . . . . . 12 YANG Meets up in Atlanta During ACA Spring Leadership Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Autonomous Cars, Study Finds . . . . . . . . . . . 4 AMi Honors Class of 2018 at ASA Annual Business Meeting & Conference . . . . . . . . . 62 ASA Announces New 2018 Board of Directors. . 62 ASA National Announces Changes for ASA Midwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Authors of ‘The Secrets of America’s Greatest Body Shops’ Announce Audio Version . . . . . 65 Auto Body Students Refurbish Car for Food Service Worker in San Diego, CA . . . . . . . . . 66 Auto Care Association Hosts Successful Trade Mission to Costa Rica . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Beverly Rook-Twibell Acknowledged With 2018 WIN Cornerstone Award . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Carbone Auto Group To Open Collision Center in Utica, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Congressional Steps to Dismantle Federal Insurance Office Continue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Conspiracy To Murder Auto Shop Owner in CT. . 46 Families File Keyless System Lawsuits After Carbon Monoxide Deaths . . . . . . . . . . 68 HDDA Releases Web Resource Center . . . . . . . 51 How Will Autonomous Cars Impact Cities?. . . . 62

Attanasio - IL Body Shop Owner Creates Cajun Sauce, Uses as Marketing Tool . . . . . 52 Attanasio - Kickin’ Kolor Is All About Custom Colors, Valuable Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Attanasio - Shop Owner Creates Podcast to Connect With Shop Owners, Managers . . . . 38 Phillips - CA Body Shop’s Business Model Focuses on Heavier Collision Repair Work. . . 40 Phillips - PDR Experts Share Opportunities for Paintless Dent Repair in Collision Repair . . . 46 Sisk - ASA Partners With Bosch for 5th, Final Webinar: Recalibrating Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Sisk - YANG 2018 Leadership Conference Is Highest Rated Yet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Yoswick - 5 Years Ago, Shop Wanted to Choose Parts Systems Rather Than Face Insurer Mandates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Yoswick - Certification, Legislation Related to Non-OEM Parts Get Spotlighted at Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

You Money, Bring You More Work. . . . . . . . . 48 Insurance Hearing on Autonomous Vehicles’ Data Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Mike Anderson Presents 4th Webinar, Continues To Explore Nissan’s Website . . . . 56 Most Influential Women Celebrated at WIN 2018 Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Mother Goose Visits Mike’s Auto Body in San Ramon, CA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Board for 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 NABC, CREF Announce Winners of Chuck Sulkala Appreciation Scholarship . . . . . . . . 61 New CREF, Service King Grant Announced. . . . 57 NICB Releases Data on Animal-Related Insurance Losses, 91% Involve Deer . . . . . . 69 NTSB Issues Preliminary Report on Tesla X Model Crash in CA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 NY Body Shop Sues Insurance Company, Adjusters on Behalf of Clients . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Registration Open for Trade Mission to Chile . . 28 Rescue Equipment Manufacturers Join NABC to Expand First Responder Program . . . . . . 64 Safelite Group Acquires Richardson Auto Glass . 66 Tesla Model 3 Declared by 96-Year-old Auto Veteran to be His Favorite Car Ever . . . . . . . . 3 Tesla To Open Its Own Body Shops, Could Offer Same-Day Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Tesla-Approved Body Shop Highlights Model 3 Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Uber’s Self-Driving Vehicles Rely on Humans to Brake in Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 USHFS Discusses AVs’ Impact on Insurance . . 69

NATIONAL 3M, CREF Announce 3M Hire Our Heroes Fundraiser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 AAPEX 2018 Partners With 10 Organizations To Train Automotive Aftermarket Professionals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Americans Are Increasingly Afraid of

Walt Mordenti, age 96, lives in San Francisco. He picked up his red Model 3 (VIN 001388) at the Tesla Factory on Dec. 23, 2017, which possibly makes him the oldest Model 3 owner.

Mordenti was born in 1921 and began working on cars in 1935 when he needed to help support his family.

Since that time, he has driven nearly every make and model of Americanmade cars, and he tells everyone that his Model 3 is by far his favorite car.

Mordenti is a skilled car mechanic, renowned for his knowledge of Hudson automobiles. Some folks refer to him as Doc Hudson, and he was a racing legend in his own right.

Mordenti lived in Connecticut and

raced on the East Coast from the 1940s to the 1980s. He is probably best known as an owner/builder/mechanic, who also drove the tow truck and served as the pit crew, usually by himself.

In 1948, he bought a red Kurtis Kraft midget racer with a Ford V860 engine. On Feb. 27, 1957, Walt’s #78 Kurtis Kraft midget racer set the fastest time in the Flying Mile on the sands of Daytona Beach with a speed of 118.421 mph, beating the Offenhausers!

We thank Teslarati for reprint permission.

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How Your Shop’s Compliance Score Can Save

MSO Symposium Announces Advisory COLUMNISTS

by EVANNEX, Teslarati

VeriFacts Automotive Opens Collision Technology Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 WAC Moves Forward With New Officers, Future Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Why Choosing a Technical School Makes Sense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 WIN Elects New Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

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Publisher & Editor: Jeremy Hayhurst General Manager: Barbara Davies Contributing Writers: John Yoswick, Janet Chaney, Toby Chess, Ed Attanasio, Chasidy Sisk, David Luehr, Stacey Phillips, Victoria Antonelli, Gary Ledoux Advertising Sales: Joe Momber, Sean Hartman, Bill Doyle, Norman Morano (800) 699-8251 Office Manager: Louise Tedesco Digital Marketing Manager: Bill Pierce Art Director: Rodolfo Garcia Graphic Designer: Michelle Lucas Online and Web Content Editor: Rochelle Beckel Accounting Manager: Heather Priddy Editorial/Sales Assistant: Randi Scholtes

Serving Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, West 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. ©2018 Adamantine Media LLC.

AkzoNobel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . 59 AutobodyLaw.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Axalta Coating Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . 64 Carcoon America Airflow Systems. . . . . . . 41 CCC Information Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Celette, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Coggin Deland Honda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 DeBeer Refinish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Dent Magic Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Diamond Standard Parts, LLC . . . . . . . . . . 49 ECS Automotive Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 EMS Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Equalizer Industries, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 FI TIM SRL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . 56 GM Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Gus Machado Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 GYS Welding USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Hendrick Automotive Group. . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Hendrick Automotive Group of Charleston . 72 Hendrick BMW/MINI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Hendrick Honda Pompano Beach . . . . . . . . 8 Hendrick Kia Cary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Hendrick Kia Concord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31, 32-33 Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . 69 Jim Cogdill Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram . . . 22 Jon Hiester Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Kernersville Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram . . 35 Kia Motors Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . 63 Launch Tech USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Lexus Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . 68 Mercedes-Benz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17. 36-37 Mercedes-Benz Wholesale Parts Dealers . 60 MINI Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . 64 Mirka USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . 39 NACE-Automechanika Trade Show . . . . . . 23 O’Reilly Auto Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Original One Parts™. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Polyvance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Porsche Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . 68 PPG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 6 Radley Chevrolet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Reliable Automotive Equipment. . . . . . . . . 19 Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Naples . . . . . . . . 38 Rick Hendrick MOPAR Southeast Wholesalers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21 Riverside Ford-Lincoln . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Robaina Industries, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 SATA Dan-Am Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Smith Kia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Southside Kia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Spanesi Americas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . 65 Symach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Tameron Hyundai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 58 Wedge Clamp Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 West Broad Hyundai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

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

autobodynews.com / JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

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Insurance Hearing on Autonomous Vehicle’s Data Access

by Brittney Kohler, CitiesSpeak

On May 23, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on the impact of autonomous vehicles (AVs) on the future of insurance.

In light of the Senate’s American Vision for Safer Transportation through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies Act (AV START Act), this hearing brings another critical perspective on AVs. For cities, the hearing yielded two crucial takeaways on the issue’s policy future.

First, data access is not guaranteed in the AV START Act for the car owner or even the insurer, yet insurers are required by law to price by risk, making it critical to insurance companies. Second, the insurance sector expects shifts in how cars are insured and new risk models in order to evolve with AV technology.

Chairman Sean Duffy (R-WI) presided over a panel of witnesses who are directly involved in the growth of AV technology and its impacts on insurance. The panel was made up of David Carlson, a U.S.

manufacturing and automotive practice leader at Marsh and McLennan; Ryan Gammelgard, counsel to the public policy resource group at State Farm; Sam Geraci, the vice president of strategy for American Family Mutual Insurance Company; Ian Adams, assistant vice president at the R Street Institute; and Jack Gillis from the Consumer Federation of America.

The panel was teed up to answer important questions about the safe and effective rollout of AVs and what this new technology might change.

Panel members expressed that data—in particular, crash data—will be necessary in order to do their jobs and provide an accurate risk-based assessment of the vehicles for their policies. Gammelgard spoke of the importance of data for the insurance industry, for “by law [they] match price to risk” and if they are not given access to the data they “might not be able to do so.”

Adams echoed this concern, stating that “insurers will need to be able to access data related to autonomous See House AV Act, Page 27

Americans Are Increasingly Afraid of Autonomous Cars, Study Finds

by Lee DeVito, Detroit Metro Times

A new report from AAA found that an increasing number of Americans do not, for one, welcome our autonomous vehicle overlords.

The study follows a spate of high-profile accidents involving autonomous technology, including an autonomous Uber vehicle that killed

The Tesla Model S following its recovery from the crash scene near Williston, FL. Credit: National Transportation Safety Board, Wikimedia Creative Commons

a pedestrian in Tempe, AZ, earlier this year—the first reported fatal crash involving a self-driving vehicle and a pedestrian in the country.

According to AAA’s report, nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of American drivers say they would be too afraid to ride in a fully self-

Uber’s Self-Driving Vehicles Rely on Humans to Brake in Emergencies

cle behavior.” Additionally, the safety system is not designed to alert the veA preliminary government report on hicle’s operator.

The San Francisco-based techthe March fatal crash involving an Uber self-driving test vehicle and a nology company confirmed this findpedestrian in Tempe, AZ, showed ing.

The test vehicle involved in the that the vehicle’s manufacturer-installed automatic emergency braking incident, a modified 2017 Volvo XC90, was operating with its selfsystem was disabled at the time. driving system in computer control mode and had a vehicle safety operator inside it when the accident occurred. While the Volvo was factory-equipped with a collision avoidance function, in addition to functions for detecting driver alertness and road sign information, all advanced driver assistance functions were disabled when it The report by the National Transportation Safety Board was put into computer control (NTSB) found that Uber does not enable the automatic mode. braking feature while its test vehicles are under computer On the night of March control to “reduce the potential for erratic vehicle 18, the vehicle and its safety behavior.” Credit: NTSB/Wikimedia operator were traveling at The report by the National Trans- 43 mph. A pedestrian wearing dark portation Safety Board (NTSB) found clothes stepped into the roadway, that Uber does not enable the auto- about 360 feet south of the crosswalk. matic braking feature while its test ve- While the pedestrian was pushing a hicles are under computer control to bicycle, it did not have any safety re“reduce the potential for erratic vehi- flectors.

by Michaela Kwoka-Coleman, Auto Rental News

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JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

driving vehicle—an increase from 63 percent in 2017. And nearly twothirds (63 percent) report they would actually feel less safe sharing the road with a self-driving vehicle while walking or riding a bike.

Perhaps surprising, the study found that millennials—that supposedly tech-savvy, smartphoneaddicted and automobile-hating cohort—are the generation most distrustful of the new technology, with the percentage of millennial drivers who report being too afraid to ride in a fully self-driving vehicle increasing from 49 percent to 64 percent since 2017.

In 2016, Gov. Rick Snyder signed a package of bills into law that allowed for autonomous vehicles to share the roads with drivers in Michigan, among the most permissive of autonomous technology in the nation. Detroit’s Big Three automakers are all at work developing vehicles with autonomous technology.

We thank Detroit Metro Times for reprint permission.

steering wheel less than a second before impact and began braking less than a second after impact.

“The vehicle operator said in an NTSB interview that she had been monitoring the self-driving interface and that while her personal and business phones were in the vehicle, neither were in use until after the crash,” the report says.

Since the NTSB report is preliminary, it does not contain any probable cause for the accident.

After the initial accident, Uber indefinitely halted all self-driving vehicle testing across the country. On Uber self-driving system data playback from May 23, Uber revealed to its Arizona the fatal March 18 crash of an Uber test vehicle employees that it will be shuttering shows when, at 1.3 seconds before impact, the its autonomous vehicle test program system determined emergency braking was in the state, following mounting pubneeded to mitigate a collision. The yellow lic pressure. bands depict meters ahead of the vehicle, the In an email, an Uber executive orange lines show the center of mapped travel told employees that the company will lanes, the purple area shows the path of the be focusing on testing vehicles in vehicle and the green line depicts the center Pittsburg and San Francisco, but in a of that path. Credit: NTSB “much more limited way.”

Currently, Uber does not have report says, in part. “At 1.3 seconds before impact, the self-driving system the approval of the California Dedetermined that emergency braking partment of Motor Vehicles to test its autonomous cars in the state. was needed to mitigate a collision.”

We thank Auto Rental News for Data from the Volvo shows that the safety operator engaged with the reprint permission.

“As the vehicle and pedestrian paths converged, the self-driving system software classified the pedestrian as an unknown object, as a vehicle, and then as a bicycle with varying expectations of future travel path,” the

autobodynews.com / JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

5

YANG Meets up in Atlanta During ACA Spring Leadership Days

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On the evening of May 10, the Young Auto Care Network Group (YANG) held a Regional Meet-Up at the Hard Rock Cafe in Atlanta, GA.

Held in conjunction with the Auto Care Association’s Spring Leadership Days, the event was hosted by NAPA and attracted nearly 100 young industry professionals.

Sam Palmer, senior data analyst for the Genuine Parts Company, NAPA’s parent company, shared, “I thought the event was a great success! It was a great time to unwind and enjoy others in the industry. I know personally that the majority of my colleagues and some suppliers I work with already were there. It was enjoyable to exchange ideas of what we are working on while enjoying a

drink while mingling with the next generation of the automotive industry.”

Attendees enjoyed the networking opportunities that the event provided, allowing them to interact with suppliers and others in the industry who they normally would not see on a regular basis.

“Everyone I have talked to at GPC loved the event. We’ve all been talking about how great it was,” Palmer stated. “The purpose of any

More than 90 young industry professionals gathered in Atlanta, GA, to network with their peers

YANG Regional Meet-Up is to network and have fun doing it. This type of event allows industry professionals to create great connections and

Atlanta I-CAR Committee Raises Over $65,000 for CREF

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On April 25, the Atlanta I-CAR Committee hosted its ninth Annual Golf Tournament at the Golf Club at Bradshaw Farm in Woodstock, GA, with proceeds benefiting the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF).

More than 250 industry professionals attended, with 30 percent traveling from out of town.

This year’s event also attracted a variety of new sponsors.

According to Gerry Poirier, Chairman of the Atlanta I-CAR

AUTOBODY

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Committee, “It was a windy but sunny day, making for great golf weather. We raised over $65,000 for CREF at this year’s event, increasing our total raised to more than $375,000 over the past nine years.

“This year, we had our best Ball Drop ever with over 730 golf balls sold, so our onsite winner received $2,000, and the furthest from the hole winner for the ball drop purchased a ball online from Iowa and won $50.”

More than 50 raffle prizes were distributed. Each hole featured some sort of activity, ranging from food trucks to back massages, duck chipping and more.

Event sponsors received recognition in the form of mini hoods painted by local collision students.

Two local collision school instructors thanked participants and described how the funds raised aid their programs.

For more information, visit https://icaratlantagolf.weebly.com.

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UPDATED DAILY

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

build trust in a different way than they may feel comfortable doing during a formal conference, and NAPA’s involvement demonstrates our support in what YANG is all about and trying to accomplish.

“I am a unique circumstance where my company was the sponsor of the event, so I got the chance to socialize with my co-workers, directors and senior director in ways that I normally wouldn’t. We had a great moment at the end of the night where we realized AutoZone, O’Reilly’s and NAPA were all together having fun. It was funny at the time because we are rivals, but there in the middle of Atlanta, we were laughing about how ‘we’re ALL here together! Well, except Advance.’ I really believe that in order for the auto industry to really flourish, we need to work together as a dysfunctional family. We may bicker and think we are right over the other company, but at the end of the day, we are a family. Events like these [provide] a laid-back environment for us to build lasting industry connections.”

For more information about YANG, visit autocare.org/yang.

Gerber Collision & Glass Opens 2 Repair Locations in Georgia

The Boyd Group Inc. recently announced the May 25, 2018 opening of two collision repair centers in Marietta and Canton, the northern suburbs of Atlanta, GA.

The centers were previously operated as Cherokee Collision Centers and are situated approximately 16 miles apart. Both repair centers are located within two miles of the well-traveled Interstate 575. This highway serves the far northern suburbs of Atlanta, the ninth-largest metropolitan area in the United States.

“With the addition of these two suburban locations, we further establish our strong presence in Georgia,” said Tim O’Day, President and COO of the Boyd Group.

“We look forward to achieving further operational synergies and providing excellent service to our customers and insurance partners from our locations across the state.”

autobodynews.com / JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

7

SCACAR Brings Education to SC, Asks Shop Owners for Support

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On May 18, the South Carolina Association of Collision and Auto Body Repair (SCACAR) provided an educational opportunity to local shops during its meeting at the River Center at Saluda Shoals in Columbia, SC. The meeting attracted around 50 industry professionals. SCACAR President Sarah Myers-Daniels explained why providing training is so important in the industry.

SCACAR’s May meeting attracted nearly 50 collision repair industry professionals eager to learn about ways to improve their businesses

“SCACAR is an association established to help provide information and knowledge to assist in safe and proper repairs for our consumers, to improve business practices, help everyone stay up to date on new technology and OE procedures and to share information on issues or ques-

tions regarding repairs and equipment,” Myers-Daniels said. “Technology in our industry is changing so rapidly that we all must stay up to date so vehicles are repaired safely and back to OE standards.”

The first of the meeting’s two speakers, Keith Manich from the Automotive Training Institute, presented “I Want to Get Paid for What is Necessary.”

Myers-Daniels recalled, “Keith was not talking about shops billing for items that are not performed, of course; he emphasized the importance of making sure we repair vehicles properly, to factory specifications, and discussed how shops can get paid for performing these required procedures.”

Next, Julie Stevens talked about the different types of social media, the frequency of each platform’s use and how they are used in “Spicing Up Your Online Presence.” Covering Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, LinkedIn and companies’ business websites, Stevens provided demographic information regarding how often various age groups access these sites on a daily basis.

According to Myers-Daniels, “This appears to be the new way to

advertise your business with all the technology changes.”

During the meeting, SCACAR also raffled off several prizes donated by vendors, including a multi-task welding system, Yeti cups, 8 Essential Skills for Collision Shop Success training and a domain free pass.

Julie Stevens taught SCACAR members to spice Up their online presence

Josh Kent, director of membership for SCACAR, encourages shops to get involved with the new association.

He noted, “A lot of shops requested we start an association in South Carolina, and since we met their demand, we really need those shops to join the association and participate in meetings to show their support. While we understand everyone

cannot make every single event, joining the association allows shops to support our goal of educating South Carolina body shops.

“We are neither anti-DRP nor are we biased—everyone in the association deserves and will have a voice! We simply want to help bring education to the many shops that are here in the Palmetto State, and in order to do this, we need their support. The industry has been shifting for a few years now, and as it keeps shifting, shops need to receive updated training on estimating, scanning, welding, proper procedures and OEM research. In order to do this, we have to bring professionals to our state with the requisite training to teach this information. I love being a part of both the North Carolina and South Carolina associations, and seeing the change that has come to the shops that take the time to get involved, [I see that] they truly have each other's backs, and that is the point of the SCACAR.” To join the association or to acquire more information about SCACAR and future meetings, visit SCACAR .com.

Caliber Collision Repairs Wheelchair-Accessible Car for Vet in NC

by Jason O. Boyd, News Channel 12

A Vietnam-era veteran who has dedicated his life to his country received a newly refurbished wheelchair-accessible vehicle on May 24.

Bruce Lockwood first served in the U.S. Air Force. He’s now a civilian career counselor with the Marines Transition Team at Camp Lejeune. He has muscular dystrophy and is wheelchair-bound. But because his disability is not service-related, he is not considered a disabled veteran and does not qualify for many support services.

The car was donated to thank Lockwood for his service as part of the National Auto Body Council’s 8

Recycled Rides Program. Collision industry companies team up to repair and donate vehicles to help individuals in need of reliable transportation. Lockwood’s vehicle was provided by GEICO and refurbished at Caliber Collision in Jacksonville, NC. “I’ve been [the] kind of person to where things kind of fall in between the cracks over my lifetime,” Lockwood said. “This is one of the first times that something has come to an ... answered prayer, I guess you could say.”

Over the past five years, Caliber Collision and its industry partners have teamed up to donate more than 200 vehicles to individuals in need of reliable transportation.

We thank News Channel 12 for reprint permission.

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9

Continued from Cover

Body Shop To Move

help select an Upstate site.

Headquartered in Columbia, the body shop expansion with its first Upstate location will include more than 20 full-time positions that will be sourced locally.

“We are excited to serve the community of Greer very soon,” said Zachary Taylor, CEO of John Harris Body Shops.

John Harris Body Shops has been family-owned for more than 40 years with locations in South Carolina and Georgia.

We thank Upstate Business Journal for reprint permission.

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

10

Florida, the Autonomous Vehicle Capital of North America?

by Christopher Emmanuel, Florida Chamber of Commerce; Naples Daily News

Almost overnight, Florida has arguably become the autonomous vehicle capital of North America. Just look at the headlines for the past three months.

Voyage, a self-driving taxi service, has begun service in The Villages in Central Florida, north of Orlando. Transdev is starting shuttle service in the new autonomous-only community of Babcock Ranch at the Lee-Charlotte county line. And last month, Ford announced that Miami will be the test bed for its latest delivery service.

While some may wonder why these sophisticated companies are choosing Florida, to the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Autonomous Florida program, the reasons are clear.

Four factors help explain why the Sunshine State is leading the pack.

First, we have a pro-business and pro-autonomous regulatory climate, championed by lawmakers like Gov. Rick Scott and state Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg.

While other states like California

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

have been increasing regulations on these businesses, Florida has rolled out the welcome mat. All too often, we do not give politicians credit where credit is due. Their efforts, alongside many other policymakers, have placed Florida in the driver’s seat for the coming driverless revolution.

Secondly, Florida has also constructively and properly implemented a statewide regulatory framework rather than relying on a patchwork of local government transportation regulations. Autonomous vehicles need a single statewide standard in the same ways that ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft did. Florida has that kind of standard.

Data is also playing a key role.

Autonomous vehicles will produce, analyze and use massive amounts of data. To prepare for this coming demand, the Florida Legislature passed a means for the deployment of small cell networks that can bring 5G connections using existing infrastructure.

These vehicles need both concrete and digital highways, and Florida has invested in both.

Finally, buy-in by state and local transportation professionals has been

essential. Look no further than the work of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and the agency’s plans for the Ultimate Urban Circulator, or U2C. Forward-thinking companies are excited to work with forwardthinking communities.

These things did not just happen on their own.

Policymakers, businesses and professionals have spent years preparing Florida for the next big thing in the global economy. It is exciting that the world is now taking notice.

To learn more about the intersection of Florida policy and autonomy, please visit www.autonomousflorida.com.

We thank Christopher Emmanuel, Florida Chamber of Commerce for reprint permission.

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Nashville I-CAR Events to Support Future Industry

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

The Nashville I-CAR Committee had a busy couple of days in mid-May when it hosted a golf outing and career fair.

According to Nashville I-CAR Committee Chair Kayla Clark, “We had a great turnout at both the Annual Golf Event and the CREF Career Fair. First and foremost, we appreciate the dedication of our industry partners that supported these events.

With over 140 golfers and several sponsors, our partners are going to make it easier to assist multiple middle Tennessee technical school programs. Also, the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) in Smyrna was a great host facility for the career fair. This event brought in around 200 students, all of which were able to interact with a room full of industry-leading companies.”

The Nashville I-CAR Committee held its Annual Golf Outing on Tuesday, May 15 at the Pine Creek Golf Course in Mt. Juliet, TN. Proceeds from the event benefit CREF and are reinvested into greater Nashville area high school and college collision school programs, in-

structors and students. The next day, the Nashville I-CAR Committee hosted a Nashville Area High School & College Transportation Career Fair at TCAT Murfreesboro in Smyrna, TN, in collaboration with CREF and the TechForce Foundation.

Clark shared, “One of the greatest things about this year’s event was hearing the excitement and passion in these students as you talked to them about the future of the automotive industry. Most of them realize that in 5–10 years, the landscape of our industry will look drastically different. The coolest part is that they’re ready for it and want to take it head on. It’s inspiring to listen to.

“Events like these are important because the students attending this career fair and benefitting from the dollars raised are the future of our industry. CREF, along with our local I-CAR Committee, does a phenomenal job of hosting these events and really investing in the long-term future of these students. Companies within the industry who partake in these events are giving themselves an advantage when these students have graduated and are looking for employment.”

I-CAR Nashville Awards Student CREF Tool Grants

This spring, through a grant and scholarship program with the Collision Repair Education Foundation, the Nashville I-CAR Committee is awarding three Tennessee College of Applied Technology Livingston

students with a $1,000 tool grant each and four Lincoln Tech students with a scholarship toward their postsecondary collision repair education.

This year’s recipients include two students studying at TCAT Livingston who will be awarded $1,000 tool grants.

• •

Jordan Rodgers Justus Lynn

“As Chairman for I-CAR Nashville Committee, I first and foremost want to thank our industry partners that support our Collision Repair Education Foundation events that

make these student tool grants possible. I am honored to be a part of a committee who strives for the improvement of Middle Tennessee technical schools and students,” said Kayla Clark, Chairman for the I-CAR Nashville Committee.

“The goal of our committee is to make sure that the students entering the industry are successful and have the tools and support they need, and one small way we can do that is through raising funds through the local events. Our committee looks forward to continuing our efforts in supporting these programs and watching the continued success of these recipients.”

Those interested in working with the Collision Repair Education Foundation to support secondary and post-secondary collision repair students, instructors and their school programs should contact CREF Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at 847-4635244 or Brandon.Eckenrode@edfoundation.org.

www.autobodynews.com

autobodynews.com / JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

11

Tech-Ed Center Graduates Celebrate Job Offers With Signing Day in VA cles at Clark Brothers Welding in April. Before that, she worked at LitCheyenne Keen attended car shows tle Caesar’s Pizza and McDonald’s. almost every other weekend with But when the opportunity opened for her dad growing up. And when he her to work with cars, she jumped on worked on engines or changed oil in it. the yard, she watched him and tried “I love it,” she said. “I couldn’t to learn. ask for anything better.”

“I wanted to follow in my dad’s Keen participated in the schoolfootsteps because I wanted to do to-work program while she was at something different, unlike most girls Botetourt Technical. She took classes out here,” she said. “He’s my role for close to two years before getting model.” her job at Clark Brothers. As part of the program, she goes to school at Lord Botetourt High School until 12:30 p.m. and then drives to work in Roanoke for the rest of the school day in lieu of classes at the technical center.

While at Botetourt Technical, she earned two certifications that she will now use at her job.

Cheyenne Keen (left) watches as David Clark, with Clark “It’s hard to go to school Brothers Welding, signs her full-time position document and then go to work,” Ketron during a “signing day” ceremony at BTEC on May 17. The ceremony was the first of what Principal Mike Ketron said. “It’s very impressive hopes to be an annual event. Credit: Heather Rousseau, that they’ve done such a good The Roanoke Times job and they’re being offered Keen studied auto service tech- full-time employment. Some of these nology for her first two years of high kids are making really good salaries, school before transferring to Bote- especially for an 18-year-old.” tourt Technical Education Center in Ketron saw the idea for the signFincastle, VA, to learn auto body tech- ing ceremony on Facebook from annology. And on May 17, she accepted other school. He said Botetourt a full-time job offer as a powder coater Technical has always had students with Clark Brothers Welding during a who get full-time jobs, but they’ve “signing day” ceremony at Botetourt never received any recognition for it.

Technical.

As a way to honor students in the school’s apprenticeship and school-to-work programs, Principal Mike Ketron created a ceremony modeled after signing days for high school athletes, during which they sign letters of intent to play at colleges and universities.

Mitchell Williamson (left) is welcomed to a full-time job with Thirteen students from Excel Trailer by Mike Ayers during a “signing day” ceremony the center’s welding, auto for graduates who were offered full-time positions prior to service and auto body pro- graduating. Credit: Heather Rousseau, The Roanoke Times grams signed letters of intent May 17 Now, he plans to make the ceremony to work full-time jobs after their high an annual event. school graduations. Some students Botetourt School Board membegan working at the companies as bers and county officials were early as last August and some as late present for the ceremony, as were as April, but all of them worked hard representatives from the eight difenough to get full-time offers, Ketron ferent companies hiring the gradusaid. ates, including Excel Trailer, Canatal Keen started working on vehi- Steel, Lawrence Companies and Preby Alison Graham, The Roanoke Times

12

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

cision Hydraulics.

Nicholas Stinnett, 18, attended Botetourt Technical for three years and is accepting a full-time offer with Magic City Ford in its collision center. He graduated May 21 from

with Magic City Ford starting in August 2017. He told Ketron in the beginning of the school year about his job and was placed in the apprenticeship program.

Ketron said Botetourt Technical is focused on workforce development, trying to prepare students for the skills they need to start working after high school. He said he’s focused on getting the firstyear students to the same level. He invited them to attend the ceremony May 17.

“I wanted to show them what they can do and to chalPrincipal Mike Ketron addresses the audience during a lenge them, so the bar has “signing day” on May 17 for graduates who have been offered full-time positions. The students are going into been set and the expectations welding, auto service and auto body with different local are there,” Ketron said, adcompanies. Credit: Heather Rousseau, The Roanoke Times dressing the first-year stuLord Botetourt High School and dents standing in the back of the room.

“And we know what you’re capable started full-time May 22.

Unlike the other students who of, so I want to challenge you to do were placed in apprenticeships by what these folks have done and to take the school, Stinnett found his own advantage of these opportunities.” job after his mother took her car in for repair. He applied, interviewed We thank The Roanoke Times for and was offered a part-time position reprint permission.

autobodynews.com / JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

13

Ray’s Auto Body in Knoxville, TN, Under New Ownership 47 Years Later

by Tyler Whetstone, Knoxville News Sentinel

For 47 years, Ray and Louise Shelton worked side-by-side running Ray’s Auto Body on Western Avenue in Knoxville, TN. For most of those 47 years, one or the other would greet customers—Ray from behind the counter or Louise from her perch at the desk in the corner of the lobby.

That’s how it was from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., five days a week.

The couple, co-owners of the business—which strictly does body work and paint jobs—sold their operation to longtime friend (and sometimes customer) James Bond earlier this year. In May, they spoke with the USA TODAY NETWORKTennessee about being in business for nearly 50 years.

Getting here and staying relevant Ray and Louise are both from the region, Southern Kentucky and West Tennessee respectively, but met at a restaurant in Sedalia, MO, where Louise was a waitress. Ray joked that he tipped her good. This December, they’ll celebrate 59 years of marriage.

After a short stint in Missouri

and eight years in California, the couple moved to Oak Ridge in 1968, where Ray was a partner in an auto body shop. Three years later, in 1971, they opened up Ray’s Auto Body on Texas Avenue, not far from where

(l to r) Ray Shelton, and his wife, Louise Shelton, center, recently sold Ray’s Auto Body, their body shop of 47 years, to James Bond. Credit: Brianna Paciorka/ News Sentinel

they would end up on Western Avenue in 1983 after road work caused them to relocate.

When they came to Knoxville, Western Avenue was two lanes.

Now, in front of their shop, because of turning lanes and road work, the road is nearly seven.

The thought of doing something

Carbone Auto Group To Open Collision Center in Utica, NY

paint booths, according to Carbone’s LinkedIn page—large enough for Carbone Auto Group announced tractor trailers and motor homes.

The fleet and commercial that it will celebrate the formal opening of its new collision center and sales department is housed in commercial fleet division building 1,700 square feet of the new building, allowing for offices and conference rooms in addition to a parking lot for the new and used vehicles that the location A rendering of new collision center and commercial fleet sells. division building for Carbone Auto Group when it was first Carbone Auto planned. Rendering credit: Carbone Group was founded on Wednesday, June 13, with the in 1929 and has remained a familyGreater Utica Chamber of Com- owned business, according to its LinkedIn page. It is now a division merce.

The ceremony will be held at of Lithia Motors, Inc. Carbone offers 15 different the company’s location at 5718 Horatio St. in North Utica, NY, at 5:30 franchises: BMW, Buick, Cadillac, p.m., according to a news release Chevrolet, GMC, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, from the chamber of commerce.

The collision center offers a Ram, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota. It variety of services such as glass re- has dealerships in Yorkville, North pair, paint jobs and dent repair. The Utica and Troy, NY, plus Benning22,000-square-foot building holds ton, VT. 25 bays, including prep deck, inspection and dustless prep areas, per We thank Business Journal News the release. It also features 40-foot Network for reprint permission.

by Catherine Leffert, Business Journal News Network

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JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

else never came up. Ray said he wanted to stick with what he knew and was good at. That and common courtesy kept them afloat across the decades, he said.

‘It’s like I told (James) when he bought it: If you charge for what you do and do for what you charge for, just do it right … I guess common sense would tell you (that),’ Ray said. ‘You actually treat people like you’d like to be treated.’

The Sheltons said they never felt the need to advertise in any major way; people just kept showing up, mainly by word-of-mouth and insurance companies. At the peak, they fixed 18–20 vehicles a week, they said.

‘I tell you what, as someone who dealt with them business-wise and as friends, it’s amazing how well they get along,’ Bond said. ‘I can tell you, to be as close as they are and do what they’ve done together as long as they have, it’s absolutely amazing. There’s no way I could’ve done it.’

Changing times For his part, Bond has been interested in the business for years—

since his days as an adjuster with Farm Bureau Insurance, which he did for 20 years. He said then, and now, Ray’s reputation was top-notch body work. It’s why he was adamant that the name stay the same.

‘First of all, it’s a name that just solidifies excellent work,’ he said.

‘This was the kind of business I wanted to own—just a solid business that does good work for people and helps people. That’s what Ray and Louise have done for their entire careers: help people. They take people who are in a bad situation and make them perfect again.’

As part of the agreement, all of the employees remained with the business when James took over this spring. Ray and Louise still stop by, usually once or twice a week.

The couple would like to travel and head out West at some point.

They’re a little more free from 7 a.m.

– 5 p.m. these days.

We thank Knoxville News Sentinel for reprint permission.

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autobodynews.com / JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

15

Boggs Body Revs Up Memories, Restores Dreams in Warrenton, VA

by Anita L. Sherman, Fauquier Times

It’s a hot afternoon in Warrenton, VA—even hotter if you are under the hood of a car or beneath the car itself.

Auto body shop bays tend to be that way. The equipment is noisy.

The air is dusty. The work is hard.

The hands of the body shop workers wielding the tools are greasy, their overalls gritty.

At Boggs Body, nestled in a hub of auto repair and restoration garages on South Fifth Street, owners James Boggs and Nick Papanicolas take a break. Their faces drip with sweat as they reach for bottles of water or pause to stand in front of a large, industrial fan.

Today, there are two cars in the bay. One is being painted a hot red, the other a hot blue.

“Our bread and butter is collision work,” says Boggs, a Fauquier native and a guy who has been working on cars for more than three decades.

Boggs chuckles.

“Yeah, I’ve been crawling around for years … look at my knees,” he says of his hard and calloused kneecaps, evidence of time spent kneeling on cement or scraps under a chassis.

But for Boggs, it’s a love affair with all things cars, going back to the days when he and his brothers worked on hot rods on the weekends, raced or went to car shows.

He started at Rick Hunt Ford in 1988, which led to a long stint with Warrenton Auto Service. But in July of 2011, he opened his own shop.

While healing bended fenders, damaged doors and electrical systems are their staples, restoring older cars is their passion.

“They’re my babies,” he says affectionately of the cars he has restored over the years. Much more than metal, these driving machines stir up memories and speak to a lifestyle that, if you aren’t into collectibles, you probably just don’t get.

One man who totally gets it is Rick Haines, a Fauquier businessman, regular customer and current owner of three vintage automobiles. With a 1967 Chevelle SS and a 1973 Plymouth Roadrunner at home, Haines didn’t hesitate to call

For Boggs, that final coat of paint is like the frosting on the cake.

“The paint really brings it alive … you’ve done the engine work, you’ve done the body work … but until the color goes on … it brings out its personality … it’s the key to the car’s character,” he says.

“This is how we roll,” smiles 29-year-old coowner Nick Papanicolas.

A 2008 Fauquier High School graduate, Papanicolas laughs, recalling he took only one auto mechanic’s class while in school.

“Everything I’ve learned, I’ve learned from James,” Papanicolas says. “It’s been Glynn Frazier and Nick Papanicolas work on a car at on-the-job training.”

Boggs Body in Warrenton, VA Credit: Randy Litzinger Working with Boggs since on Boggs Body when he looked to the beginning of their business venrestore his 1963 Impala SS. ture, Papanicolas takes pride in Owning a classic car is not with- working on the cars as well as hanout stress when you consider the in- dling the business/marketing part of surance, storage, maintenance and their company. protection required. But then there is While the younger partner, Pathe driving and enjoying part, which panicolas believes in old-fashioned usually outweighs everything else. values and offering customers solid Now, with his Impala sitting pretty please with a shiny coat of Dulux Volcanic Red paint, Haines turns on the engine and a smile crosses his face. In the left-bottom corner of the windshield sits a Boggs Body logo sticker. He is more than happy to let others know who brought this beauty back to life.

“They stripped it right down to the frame,” says Haines. “They are a nice bunch of guys and they do not cut corners … they are the finest.”

When asked how much he had [put] into this car, Haines replied, “About $40,000.”

Haines’ cars leave home for car shows or an occasional pleasure drive. As he revved up the engine, waved a friendly farewell and headed off, Haines clearly seemed pleased with his latest investment, the Volcanic Red glistening in the afternoon sun.

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JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

and trustworthy service.

“We want to take care of business … so that people leave here feeling good about the work we’ve done,” he says.

Word-of-mouth has brought Boggs Body continued business. For Papanicolas, his vision is to move more and more toward custom work.

With a quick and easy smile, Papanicolas is optimistic about the company’s future.

“We get a lot of referrals,” he says.

With two of their restored cars winning national titles—the Nissan Nationals in Savannah, GA, and Ford Nationals in Bristol, TN, and another possibly heading to SEMA, the mecca of car shows— restoring the classics is very much in vogue.

“Nothing sits idle in the automotive industry … things are changing all the time,” adds Boggs. “But the old ones—they won’t go away.

“They’re a labor of love.”

We thank Fauquier Times for reprint permission.

autobodynews.com / JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

17

NTSB Issues Preliminary Report on Tesla X Model Crash in CA

by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a preliminary report on the tragic Tesla Model X crash near Mountain View, CA, in March.

The NTSB’s preliminary report provided details about the circumstances leading up to the accident, as well as observations about the allelectric SUV’s battery pack five days after the crash.

According to the NTSB, preliminary recorded data revealed that the Tesla Model X had its autopilot engaged with traffic-aware cruise control set to 75 mph at the time of the accident. The vehicle collided into the crash attenuator, rotating it counterclockwise, removing the front part of the vehicle and causing subsequent collisions with a 2010 Mazda 3 and a 2017 Audi A4. The NTSB noted that the vehicle’s performance data revealed the following: • Autopilot was engaged on four separate occasions during the 32-minute trip. The driver-assist feature was engaged for the last 18 minutes and 55 seconds before the collision.

• During the 18 minute, 55-second period, the Model X provided two viContinued from Cover

Trump Tariffs

der, R-TN, in urging the administration to reconsider the plan.

The administration has targeted allies, including Canada and Mexico, in trying to reduce a trade deficit it considers a national security issue.

“We can assure you that reducing the size of our state’s automotive manufacturing base will not bolster our nation’s security,” the letter states.

In a media call June 7, Jones called the claim of national security concerns “mystifying.”

“We’re now looking at imposing tariffs on allies who are not cheating,” he said. “They’re not doing anything wrong … It really seems to be a lot of political messaging leading up to the midterms.”

The automotive industry employed nearly 40,000 people in Alabama last year, most of them working as part of a supply-and-assembly chain for foreign automakers such as Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz.

In January, Toyota and Honda announced a joint plant near Huntsville 18

sual and one auditory alert advising the driver to place his hands on the car’s steering wheel. The alerts were triggered more than 15 minutes prior to the accident.

• For the last six seconds before the collision, the Model X’s driver did not have his hands on the steering wheel.

The aftermath of the Tesla Model X’s fatal crash. Credit: S. Engleman/NTSB

• At eight seconds before the crash, the Model X was following a lead vehicle at about 65 mph. At seven seconds, the Model X began moving left while still following a lead vehicle. At four seconds, the Tesla was no longer following a car. At three seconds before the accident, the Model X’s speed increased from 62 mph to 70.8 mph.

The vehicle’s emergency braking and evasive steering did not engage.

• During the collision sequence, the Model X’s lithium-ion battery was

that will employ another 4,000, and in early June Hyundai announced a $388 million expansion of its Montgomery plant.

The Montgomery Advertiser reported more than a year ago that import tariffs could endanger those jobs at Alabama plants.

Automotive parts and components work their way through a complex web of interdependent plants throughout North America and may cross borders as many as eight times before being installed at assembly plants in the U.S., Canada or Mexico, according to a study by the nonprofit Center for Automotive Research.

Tariffs would escalate the price of each border crossing and put enormous pressure on companies to cut costs, potentially breaking down the entire supply chain.

CAR analyst Bernard Swiecki said last year that foreign automakers such as the ones in Alabama already have plants elsewhere and can simply move production overseas if the price gets too high.

The CAR study found that a 35 percent import tariff on light vehicles

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

breached, causing a fire. The flames were extinguished after the Mountain View Fire Department applied about 200 gallons of water and foam during a period of fewer than 10 minutes. In the afternoon, the battery emanated smoke and audible venting was heard, though no flames were observed.

• On March 28, five days after the accident, the Model X’s battery pack reignited. The San Mateo Fire Department extinguished the fire.

The NTSB noted in its preliminary report that it is continuing work with the California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Transportation in investigating the accident.

The NTSB stated that all aspects of the crash remain under investigation and that it intends to issue safety recommendations to prevent similar incidents from taking place.

Tesla and the NTSB initially worked together in investigating the fatal Model X accident. The electric car company and the safety board eventually parted ways, however, due to Tesla’s decision to release crash data before the NTSB’s investigation was complete. Among the information Tesla released was that the driver did not have his hands on the wheel dur-

and parts from Mexico alone would cost at least 31,000 American jobs.

That doesn’t include retaliatory tariffs and doesn’t approach the broader scope of the Trump administration’s current proposal.

Canada is Alabama’s largest export market, largely because of the cars made here.

Jones said he’s been in touch with all of the state’s auto manufacturers and “they’re very concerned” about the auto tariff proposal.

That plan and a recent tariff on imported steel and aluminum has spawned dire warnings from a bipartisan mix of business leaders and politicians, who fear a growing trade war. Sen. Bob Corker, R-TN, cosponsored a bill with seven other Republicans and four Democrats that would give Congress the power to approve or reject new tariffs.

We thank Montgomery Advertiser for reprint permission.

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ing the final six seconds leading up to the accident—information that has been reiterated in the NTSB’s preliminary report.

According to Tesla, it opted to withdraw from its party agreement with the NTSB because collaboration with the safety board prevented the public release of safety information until the investigation was finished.

People familiar with the matter, however, noted that the NTSB was the one that opted to terminate its collaboration with Tesla, according to a Bloomberg report.

In an update after the accident, Tesla highlighted that the absence of a crash attenuator---a highway safety device designed to absorb the impact of a collision—was already damaged when the Model X collided with the concrete barrier. In a statement to ABC7 News, Wil Huang, the brother of the ill-fated Model X driver, noted that a working crash attenuator would have saved his brother’s life. Later statements from CalTrans revealed that safety device had been left unrepaired for 11 days before the tragic Model X accident.

We thank Teslarati for reprint permission.

Mother Goose Visits Mike’s Auto Body in San Ramon, CA

by Ed Attanasio

With her little ones in tow, Mother Goose made a tour of Mike’s Auto Body in San Ramon, CA. She made certain that the work was of the highest quality and checked out their cycle time. Canadian geese are well-known for sticking around

northern California year-round because they love the great weather and respect top-notch collision repair. Mike’s Auto Body has been repairing cars to their pre-accident condition since 1972. Mike Rose and his family have built Mike’s Auto Body into a 16-shop organization with locations in Concord, Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood, Richmond, Fairfield, Napa, San Ramon, Fremont, Vallejo and now in Alameda.

Registration Is Open for 7th Annual MSO Symposium in Atlanta, GA

The MSO Symposium is the premier event for executives within the collision repair industry.

Last year’s event in Chicago hosted more than 300 industry executives from across North America for a half-day, where they gathered to discuss the impacts of various industry sectors and partners and emphasized best practices for growing within multi-shop operations. The 2018 program, held in conjunction with the NACE Automechanika show in Atlanta, GA, will take place Thursday, August 9 at 10 a.m. in the Georgia World Congress Center with a private reception immediately following. Attendees can expect to see topics like OE certifications, ADAS, next steps and “things to avoid” in the expansion process, talent development, insurance

AUTOBODY

matters and so much more. Back by popular demand are industry expert favorites Susanna Gotsch and Vincent Romans. These special guests will open up this year’s MSO Symposium with exclusive insight pertaining to the trending paths and current state of the industry.

Gotsch is an industry analyst and director at CCC. Romans is a managing partner & CEO at The Romans Group, LLC. *Please note qualifications to attend are in place. The MSO Symposium is exclusively attended by representatives from high-growth MSOs, owners of large independent repair shops, OE vehicle manufacturers, and property & casualty insurance company executives.

www.autobodynews.com

UPDATED DAILY

IGONC Hosts 1st Regional Meeting in Durham, NC

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On May 24, the Independent Garage Owners of North Carolina (IGONC) hosted its first Durham Regional Meeting at the Golden Corral in Durham, NC.

The event was planned in an effort to meet the association’s goal of visiting areas where it usually does not host chapter meetings to offer training and dinner.

IGONC Executive Director Bob Pulverenti shared, “Rick White of 180 Biz presented ‘KPI Key Performance Indicators’ to give business owners an idea of industry benchmarks they can use to track their numbers. The attendees responded very well. Rick is always great at helping our members learn how to increase their business.”

The purpose of these regional meetings, according to Pulverenti, is “to branch out into areas we normally might not reach and offer a full training class for garage owners and shop managers. It is important to keep up with training in order to keep your business successful. Just because someone is great with cars does not mean they have all the tools to run a business and make it as profitable as possible. Events like this make sure they get the support they need to be a success. The May events went well and we are currently considering where to visit on our next round of regional meetings.”

For more information on IGONC, visit www.igonc.com.

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Tips for Busy Body Shops with Stacey Phillips

Stacey Phillips is a freelance writer and editor for the automotive industry.

She has 20 years of experience writing for a variety of publications, and is co-author of “The Secrets of America’s Greatest Body Shops.”

She can be reached at sphillips.autobodynews@gmail.com.

PDR Experts Share Opportunities for Paintless Dent Repair in Collision Repair Over the next five to 10 years, more shops are going to rely on paintless dent repair (PDR) and it’s going to be a “must-do” to compete, according to Ryan Hampton, co-owner of The 300 Advantage.

“PDR has always been like a young stepbrother to the collision industry,” he said. “The more PDR companies separate themselves in the industry, the more technicians are reaching out for education and trying to prepare themselves for the growing trends and technology, such as scanning and electric vehicles, that have been taking off over the last several years.”

Ryan Hampton, Bill Park and Tony Frasher, owners of The 300 Advantage, discussed PDR during a Guild 21 podcast sponsored monthly

by VeriFacts Automotive. It was part two of a three-part podcast series on repair versus replace. The previous month, Kurt Lammon, president of Polyvance, and Scott McKernan, president of #1 Vinyl & Leather Repair, talked about plastic repair and interior parts. In the third podcast, Bryan Robaina, president of Robaina Direct, will discuss dent repairs on outer sheet metal and aluminum panels.

“We see a big opportunity for innovation in the industry,” said Park.

“Like Guild 21, we believe in smart repairs—fixing it right the first time.”

The business partners began looking at opportunities available in PDR methodology, bringing it to a broader market and building a business around it. That led them to establish The 300 Advantage, a Colorado-based company that has businesses in catastrophic hail management, accident and hail repair, Cat-Hail Insurance claims management and a platform technology firm to support the various entities and the market at large. This includes Smart Claims Services, Axiom Accident & Hail Repair and PDR Mobile Solutions/PDR Boss.

“The vision of the 300 group is to create a variety of businesses within the automotive smart repair industry

22

worldwide,” said Park.

During the Guild 21 podcast, George Avery, Avery Consulting LLC, led a discussion with Hampton, Park and Frasher about PDR repair, covering hail damage applications, what can be repaired using PDR, technician skills and estimating in relation to PDR.

more standardized when it comes to hail repair versus collision repair.

“It’s very rare you have an insurance adjuster with a PDR background,” he said. “On the hail side, an adjuster can go out and adjust a claim easily. They can see a panel has so many dents on it.”

Regarding new PDR tooling, Frasher said glue pulling has really advanced.

“Technicians are getting better at it. The more they PDR techniques allow technicians opportunities to minimize practice with it, the faster the number of steps necessary to perform a quality repair they get,” he said.

PDR is known as an affordable He added that glue can move a and quick method of removing dents lot of metal very quickly compared from the body of a vehicle without to a normal dent rod. disturbing the finish, which elimiWhen estimating for hail damnates the need for repainting the re- age, a PDR matrix is used, which is paired area. Generally used for hail a guide that outlines the vehicle’s damage, PDR can also be utilized panels. Park said although the matrix for a wide variety of minor repairs can add a lot of value, he cautions reon both aluminum and steel panels.

If there is paint damage, experts say that PDR might not be a good alternative; however, some technicians can use conventional paint and body methods, which is referred to as “push to paint.” For example, this method can be used on a hail-damaged roof, so it doesn’t need to be replaced.

Avery said PDR techniques provide technicians opportunities to minimize the number of steps necessary to perform a quality repair, which is in the best interest of the vehicle and the consumer.

“PDR as a first option will become the method of choice over time,” said Park. “Innovation and demand for speed will drive this. By using PDR, technicians are able to reduce the severity of damage at the dent level and potentially eliminate blend panels, which are huge cost savings.”

PDR technicians often use metal rods to push dents from the body panel’s underside. Glue-pulling tools that use a specialized tab can also be used to pull the dents out in inaccessible areas where rods can’t reach.

Frasher said the use of PDR is

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

pairers about the unintended consequences around being too stringent within the matrix.

“I think the matrix can lead an adjuster or somebody in the field to replace panels much faster than they necessarily need to,” he said. “I think there should be more awareness of doing the right thing for the car and understanding that sometimes you might have to look outside of the matrix.”

Hampton agreed. Overall, he said to step back from the matrix and do what is best for the car.

“Any time you can save the liability and the integrity of the vehicle, I think it’s always a smart decision to look at that first,” he said.

For those planning to do PDR work, Frasher stressed the importance of being familiar with corrosion protection and recommended See PDR Experts Share, Page 46

autobodynews.com / JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

23

Continued from Cover

Body Shop Sues

mates for each of the vehicles.

According to court documents, “… Tri-State used improper methods for calculating the number of hours required to repair the vehicles, including without limitation, refusing to pay for certain necessary repairs, refusing to allow for items which were recommended by the manufacturer guidelines and/or best practices and refusing to account for the published guidelines that are generally accepted within the automotive insurance repair industry.”

The documents also state that “… Tri-State arbitrarily set price caps on the amount it would pay per unit for labor costs to repair the vehicles,” and they were far below the market rate.

Barry’s Auto Body alleges in court documents that when preparing the estimates, “Tri-State insisted on using parts that are not Original Equipment Manufacturer parts (nonOEM), even when those parts are known to be of inferior quality to OEM parts and where the use of such non-OEM parts did not meet TriState’s contractual and legal obligations under the applicable policies and under New York State Insurance Law.” Six causes of action are mentioned in the lawsuit.

The first is Breach of Contract Against Defendant Tri-State. Barry’s Auto Body alleges that Tri-State did not provide enough funds (a sum of $53,905.67) to adequately restore the vehicles back to their condition prior to the accidents/occurrences.

The second cause of action is the Violation of General Business Law §349 Against Tri-State. “…TriState has continually engaged in unfair claims practices… including using inappropriate methods of determining the number of hours of labor, the arbitrary capping of labor rates, arbitrary capping of paint and materials, refusing to pay for body shop materials, and misleading consumers regarding the availability of other repair shops that would put the vehicle to its pre-loss condition for the amount of Tri-State’s estimate,” the lawsuit states.

The third cause of action is De24

ceptive Business Practices in Violation of General Business Law §349 against IANet Corp for allegedly acting in “bad faith” and “… changing adjusters’ estimates without inspection, setting arbitrary caps on price of certain tasks and otherwise interfering with the claims process…” according to court documents.

The last three causes of action are Tortious Interference With Business Relationship Against each of the adjusters. The lawsuit states that each of the adjusters interfered with the body shop’s contracts with its customers to repair the vehicles for “no legitimate purpose” and “acted maliciously” and with the sole purpose of harming the Plaintiff and its repair contracts.

The lawsuit is currently in the discovery phase and the next court date is scheduled for Jan. 9, 2019.

Autobody News reached out to Crupi, Jr. to learn more about the lawsuit and the issues collisions repairers should be aware of.

Q: A:

Why did you decide to file this lawsuit?

I filed this lawsuit among others because I will not have my customers, my business or its people pushed around. At Barry’s Auto Body, we believe in saving money where possible, but we will never compromise the quality of our work or the safety of our customers driving these automobiles in order to increase insurance company’s yearly profit margins.

Customers always lose when their vehicles are not repaired safely and properly. It puts the passengers at risk and it kills their resale value.

I also believe in my heart that it is more important today than ever before for auto body shops, and really any business that deals with insurance companies, to fight for what is right. This bully-like mentality many insurance companies use to suppress labor rates and push around shops into doing improper repairs truly hurts. We also allege this particular lawsuit has misconduct by numerous insurance adjusters and independent insurance adjusters on these claims.

With vehicles being more technologically advanced than ever before, improper repairs can throw off airbag timing and cause vehicles’

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

braking systems to malfunction as well.

Shops must now have the absolute best equipment to repair these vehicles properly. The days of using cheap machinery to save costs are over because today’s cars are constantly changing and require up-todate equipment.

There are also additional steps necessary to repair vehicles properly.

These procedures should never be compromised at the vehicle owner’s expense.

What would you like collision repairers to know about the lawsuit and these issues?

Q:

Insurance companies should not tell you how to repair a vehicle or how to run your business.

Recent lawsuits have shown that insurance companies are not the ones ultimately responsible for repairing vehicles properly. You, as the auto body shop, are 100 percent responsible for restoring these vehicles SAFELY and PROPERLY every time. You can and may be sued for not doing safe or proper repairs.

A:

Therefore, it is up to you to make sure you are being paid properly to restore these vehicles to their pre-accident condition. I repair every car as if my own son or family member were being put into this vehicle after the repairs are completed, and SO SHOULD YOU. The days of letting insurance companies push our shops around are done. Shops who succumb to the pressures of these insurance companies to “cut corners” or repair vehicles unsafely or improperly will always be in jeopardy of going out of business by a lawsuit for improper repairs or not having the finances available to run their businesses properly. In the beginning, it may feel that as a small business shop owner, you are David taking on Goliath. You may feel scared to death—like you have no way out in sight. If you are serious about being in this business for the long-term, it is important to do the research and push through all these fears for yourself, your employees, your customers and for what is right.

Messages to Tri-State Consumer Insurance Company were not returned.

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25

Tesla-Approved Body Shop Highlights Model 3 Repair

by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati

Tesla-certified body shop Autocraft Bodywerks based out of Austin, TX, showcased just how much work goes into repairing and restoring a damaged Tesla Model 3 in a time-lapse video posted to YouTube.

As seen in the video, workers of the body shop spent several days replacing the Model 3’s rear-quarter body panel that was damaged in an accident. According to Autocraft Bodywerks, the process of restoring a damaged Tesla back to showroom condition takes specialized training in aluminum welding and adhesive and mechanical joining technology used in the construction of Tesla vehicles.

These skillsets were highlighted in the company’s documentation of its recent Model 3 repair project, where the shop’s workers could be seen taking deliberate care in fitting, setting and painting a new body panel.

Tesla’s Model S and Model X are made almost entirely of aluminum. While aluminum has several advantages over steel, such as lighter weight, stellar absorption of energy during collisions and higher corrosion resistance, the material is also Continued from Cover

Driverless Cars in FL

• A “statewide regulatory framework” over local regulations means Tallahassee knows best when it comes to saying what kind of vehicles can operate in your neighborhood.

• “Opening up public roads, infrastructure, and communities to early adoption” of this technology is code for “Robots, start your engines.”

They want Florida to effectively subsidize automakers and tech companies with public roads used by our 20 million residents and 116 million visitors. Floridians carry all the risk, yet receive nothing in return—no commitment to build the vehicles here and no jobs created.

In Florida, we are on the cusp of an unregulated free-for-all for driverless cars. Already, driverless cars do not have to carry liability insurance in Florida. A driverless delivery truck (with a human passenger) could speed through a school zone 26

notoriously difficult to work with.

Thus, Tesla requires factory training and specialized equipment before a body shop can be certified for repairs and restoration. Repair costs for the company’s vehicles are expensive as well. A Model S owner from the Tesla Motors Club forum, for example, stated that a minor damage on his

vehicle’s rear passenger door was quoted $4,422 by a certified body shop. A picture of the damage can be viewed below.

It’s not just costly repairs that are giving Tesla owners difficulties, either. Tesla owners have also dealt with long wait times for their vehicles’ repair work to be completed, especially if body panels need to be replaced. Johnny, a Model S owner, for one, described his painful “repair nightmare” story in Teslarati’s forum,

with no accountability and hit a child without having to stop to help.

We must update our laws to be prepared for this technology.

California has some good laws the driverless car corporations hate.

In the Golden State, they have to report the number of miles the vehicles are driven on the state’s roads and the number of times human drivers—acting in a fail-safe role—took the wheel.

Thanks to this common sense transparency measure, we know in the 2017 reporting year, Mercedes Benz’s three test vehicles drove 1,087 miles with 842 disengagements—that’s a rate of one disengagement every 1.3 miles. General Motors/Cruise driverless cars showed 125,000 test miles during the period. While reporting zero disengagements, those vehicles were involved in 22 crashes—one crash for every 5,682 miles of testing.

These vehicles will be prime targets for hackers who have successfully infiltrated targets like the Pentagon, the Federal Reserve Bank and the Securities and ExSee Driverless Cars in FL, Page 28

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

stating that he had to wait months as the repair shop waited for parts to arrive from Tesla’s factory.

Repairing Tesla vehicles are set to improve soon, however. During Tesla’s 2018 Annual Shareholder Meeting, Elon Musk discussed the expansion of Tesla Service Centers and authorized body shops. Musk also stated that the company is in the process of creating Tesla body shop repair locations, which are expected to be ready by the end of June in several key locations across the United States.

“We’re rapidly expanding service centers. Year over year, probably see a doubling of service center capacity for Tesla. We’re making major progress on the body shop front. This is quite a big deal. We’re creating Tesla body shop repair locations. We should have by the end of the month at least the top 10 metro areas in the U.S. being able to be serviced by a Tesla body shop. This will be a dramatic improvement in the cost and time of body repair,” Musk said.

This is not all, however, as Musk also noted that eventually, Tesla owners could soon experience the convenience of having same-day

body repair services. According to Musk, owners could expect an improvement in the time it takes approved body shops to repair vehicles.

“In fact, we think we might be able to do for a lot of them same-day body repair. It’s definitely possible. I think we want to aim for maybe some number of body repair to be sameday. Whereas if we go to a third party, best case is about a week, and some cases, it’s several weeks. We’re basically just taking our biggest service centers, adding an annex for body repair and pre-stocking the parts, so you don’t have to wait for the parts to come from the factory,” Musk said.

Tesla’s 2018 Annual Shareholder Meeting proved to be highly successful for the electric car and energy company. During the meeting, Musk and Tesla’s executives related several pieces of good news to shareholders, from upcoming free trials on Autopilot to the growth of Tesla Energy and positive updates on the Model 3 production line.

To view video visit: https:// www.teslarati.com/tesla-approvedbody-shop-model-3-repair-video/ We thank Teslarati for reprint permission.

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Continued from Page 4

House AV Act

vehicle operation if they hope to create products that meaningfully reflect risk.” Gammelgard added that while data “is critical for liability determinations,” it is also “important [to the public] in determining the safety and reliability of technology.”

Geraci also noted that “regulated review and validation of rates and coverage requires insurers to provide state insurance regulators with extensive levels of actuarially valid data on crashes [and] their frequency and severity,” which might prove impossible without access to the crash data in AVs. Geraci continued that there has been widespread data collection on human drivers and their accidents, and it should be the same for AVs now.

The data that insurers want is just the crash data, and would “not include private data or confidential business [proprietary] data,” Geraci said.

Currently in the AV START Act, there is no requirement that data of any kind from AVs will be shared, even for crash data. Gillis pointed out

that in the AV START Act—which would expand testing in order to get the technology into commercial use more quickly—”accident data is not being made available to the public, including insurers.”

Without such data, the insurers will be “left to guess [the levels of risk] or rely on the companies’ safety claims” added Gillis.

Gammelgard noted that “any attempt to include data access provisions [has been] met with great resistance.”

Gillis went on to say that it could be the role of the federal government to “ensure that crash data is made publicly available.”

Both Geraci and Gammelgard were supportive of the Inhofe amendment to the AV START Act that would create a Data Access Coalition to set up recommendations for a potential future data access structure. However, it would take two years to make recommendations even while AVs would continue to be put on the roads. Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA) asked the panel what steps are being taken to assess the safety of AVs before they are put on the road since they are “not required to submit safety as-

sessment letters to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” to which Geraci answered that the “[data is needed] to understand safety performance.” Rep. Sherman seemed open to the idea of the federal government having a role in ensuring that data, saying that “maybe Congress ought to help with requirements that you get that data.”

The second major takeaway from the hearing centered on the shifting landscape of the insurance market itself in response to AVs entering and taking over the automotive scene.

Gammelgard said that higher and higher levels of automation on the road “will necessitate changes in the types of policies offered” by insurance companies, particularly as vehicle ownership shifts from the individual to corporate level. David Carlson said that as the technologies advance, the “liability pendulum will shift from personal auto to commercial product liability.”

This means that companies will likely buy insurance policies on a fleet basis. Carlson said that “fleet coverages are likely to become admitted coverages subject to greater underwrit-

ing and rating security.” Such a shift from personal to commercial insurance begs the question of what individuals will do to protect themselves from risk. Some, such as Gammelgard, see personal mobility coverage rising— policies that “insure the person on every step of their day.”

As the hearing showed, AVs stand to revolutionize the transportation industry and the insurance guidelines for it. This technology could bring mobility to those who are traditionally restricted, such as the older Americans and those who have disabilities.

The experts at the hearing showed that part of a responsible rollout would address data sharing from AVs, and specifically, continuing to make safety data available to the public and insurance companies so that they can make accurate risk-based assessments. Congress still could include a more certain answer on data access in the AV START Act, and cities along with the insurance industry should be watching what this means for the future of our roads.

We thank CitiesSpeak for reprint permission.

autobodynews.com / JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

27

Tesla To Open Its Own Body Shops, Could Offer Same-Day Repair

by Fred Lambert, Electrek

After it was revealed that Tesla owners were experiencing excessive wait times at body shops after being in accidents, Tesla started working on several initiatives to address the

issue, including opening up its own “Tesla body shops.”

CEO Elon Musk now says that Tesla is about to open the first of those shops and that they could even potentially offer same-day repairs.

Musk made the comment during Tesla’s 2018 shareholder meeting June 5.

He said that Tesla should open Continued from 26

Driverless Cars in FL

change Commission. In comparison, a driverless car could be an easy target.

Instead of putting the pedal to the floor, it would be better to find out what went wrong in this spring’s fatal crashes, let engineers fix the problem so it never happens again and make sure appropriate safety requirements, incident reporting procedures and appropriate accountability measures are in place when someone else gets hurt or killed.

Following March’s deadly crash, Uber is closing its Arizona autonomous car operation. In an internal email to employees, the company reportedly said they “intend to drive in a much more limited way to test specific use cases” and will “continually hone the safety aspects of our soft-

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28

its first stores in the top 10 metro areas by the end of June.

The CEO expects that it will result in a drastic reduction in cost and time of repair, which has been a problem with Tesla’s current thirdparty repair shop system.

Some Tesla owners had been complaining about repair time after accidents for a long time, but it came back to the forefront of Tesla news last year.

It can sometimes take months for repairs to be completed.

Tesla placed the fault on its third-party body shops and the body shops are saying that it’s Tesla’s

ware and operating procedures.”

When Uber moved its driverless operation to Arizona, Gov. Doug Ducey boasted, “While California puts the brakes on innovation and change with more bureaucracy and more regulation, Arizona is paving the way for new technology and new businesses.”

Following the fatal accident where driverless software failed to engage the brakes and a pedestrian died, the governor’s message changed to, “As governor, my top priority is public safety.”

With lives at risk, safety should come first. Florida must be careful not to repeat Arizona’s mistakes.

Dale Swope is president of the Florida Justice Association and managing partner of Swope Rodante, P.A. in Tampa.

We thank Florida Justice Association for reprint permission.

AUTOBODY

www.autobodynews.com

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

fault because of delays of parts.

Last year, Tesla moved some of its training programs online and looked to certify more equipment in order to offer more options to shops.

The automaker said it was “adding 300 body shops to its network.”

Despite those initiatives, Tesla owners are still reporting some long wait times with third-party body shops after body damages.

Now, Tesla is trying to address the issue with its own body shops, which will also be annexed to Tesla’s existing service centers, and they will pre-stock some parts in order to achieve much faster repair times.

Electrek’s Take It’s one of Tesla’s biggest problems and like with most of Tesla’s issues, the automaker’s solution is to go inhouse.

I can’t wait to see how it will impact wait times, but if they are indeed stockpiling some of the most popular parts, it should certainly have a major impact.

We thank Electrek for reprint permission.

Registration Open for Trade Mission to Chile

The registration deadline is quickly approaching for companies interested in joining the Auto Care Association’s Trade Mission to Chile. The trade mission will take place on August 21–22, 2018, and the deadline to register is July 6.

Trade mission participants will enjoy customized one-on-one meetings with prospective partners and customers, hotel accommodations, local transportation, meals, interpreters, market overview briefing and a networking reception.

The trade mission is open to all companies in the industry, with qualifying companies eligible to receive a $1,500 offset of the trade mission package cost. Under the United States - Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA), 100 percent of U.S. consumer and industrial goods exports to the region are no longer subject to tariffs.

Previous trade missions to Latin American countries, organized by the Auto Care Association in collaboration with the U.S. Commercial Service, include Guatemala, Peru, Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

autobodynews.com / JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

29

National Associations with Chasidy Rae Sisk

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.

ASA Partners With Bosch for 5th, Final Webinar: Recalibrating Driver Assistance Systems On Wednesday, May 16, the Automotive Service Association (ASA) partnered with Bosch for the fifth and final webinar of their series on scanning: “Recalibrating Driver Assistance Systems: The Road to Repairing Autonomous Vehicles – Collision Avoidance System Recalibration.”

ASA Vice President Tony Molla began the webinar by welcoming attendees and thanking Bosch’s Doc Watson and Pat Pierce for their patience throughout the series. He reminded attendees that the webinar would focus on key procedures for

both collision and mechanical repair and that the tips provided also apply to other brands of scan tools.

Before starting the training video, Watson shared, “As a representative for Bosch, we’re happy to have as many attendees as we do today. This is a big topic in our industry, and whether you’re in collision [or] mechanical repair, it applies to all of us.”

The video began by looking at the ADAS systems being used today and defining a long list of enhanced features and technology that are integrated into modern vehicles. Bosch’s stance on scanning aligns with most OEMs’ position statements that support pre- and post-scans of vehicles to help identify potential collision and non-collision related DTCs. It also supports reporting all DTCs to the vehicle owner and the insurance company.

Discussing adaptive lighting systems that could have several sensors located in many different areas of the vehicle, Watson shared common locations and how to determine when calibration is necessary. He also discussed common locations for blind spot sensors that monitor the location of other vehicles that the driver cannot see. Calibration of this feature often includes removal of the sensor as well as removal of the bumper 30

cover to avoid damaging the mounting location.

Regarding forward radar sensors, it is important to monitor the forward distance of objects in front of the vehicle and to control the following distance because systems use this data when calibration is required. Park assist sensors—ultrasonic sensors located in the front and rear bumper covers—monitor the distance between the vehicles and other objects, and calibration or aiming may need to be done after removal of the bumper cover, removal of the sensor or an impact on or near the sensor.

Calibration of a steering angle sensor may be needed after airbag deployment, structural repairs or a wheel alignment. This is important because the steering angle sensor controls the lane keep assist, blind spot detection and adaptive lighting.

Watson continued to discuss the use of and when calibration is needed on the following: adaptive lighting systems (after suspension or structural repairs, headlight replacement or windshield replacement), blind spot sensors (removal of the sensor, removal of the bumper cover or damage to mounting locations) and forward radar sensors (after replacement of a forward radar sensor but possibly after removal of front bumper/grille, after front structural repairs, or after removal and installation of the forward radar unit).

Utilizing multiple cameras to provide a bird’s-eye view of the vehicle, the 360 degree camera view requires calibration of all the cameras after the replacement of any of the cameras. However, some OEMs may also require calibration when a side mirror, bumper cover or door is removed. Forward-facing cameras almost always require a calibration or aiming procedure after replacement, but aiming may also be required after removal of the windshield, rearview mirror or the camera itself.

“When vehicle repairs containing ADAS integration is done, there is a danger of misalignment, which can have a significant effect on the efficient functioning of the system,”

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

Watson said. “If the camera or sensors are out by even a few millimeters, it can mean the difference between a vehicle avoiding a collision or not. Dynamic ADAS calibration is carried out with the use of a hand-held device plugged directly into the car. Often, the vehicle manufacturer will stipulate specific parameters for calibration of their dynamic ADAS. Static ADAS calibration is carried out in a workshop environment on a level surface. This form of calibration requires specialized equipment. Each car manufacturer requires different calibration settings for their static ADAS.” Looking at the camera system, Watson demonstrated that the light reflecting off an object in front of a lens passes through the lens and is collected at a focal point before it passes to a charge coupled device (CCD), which then collects the light and sends

it to a capacitor which, in turn, sends it to the amplifier where it is converted to voltage. The voltage is then sent to the controller for calculation. The controller will use multiple recordings over a given time period to calculate distance and identify deviation from normal conditions based on location, speed and distance using an algorithm.

Watson used several illustrations and clips to demonstrate how this works, stressing “The whole idea of ADAS systems is to help avoid accidents. The system tries to aid the driver to prevent accidents.”

The webinar concluded with demonstrations of camera calibrations for several makes and models, focused on reasons to carry out the calibration, what conditions must be met before calibration, how to calibrate the camera and what types of test drives are necessary after caliSee ASA Partners, Page 35

autobodynews.com / JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

31

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

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33

Historical Snapshot with John Yoswick

—John Yoswick is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon, 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.

5 Years Ago, Shop Wanted to Choose Parts Systems Rather Than Face Insurer Mandates 20 Years Ago in the Collision Repair Industry (July 1998) I was recently told of a body shop doing more than $5 million in gross sales per year. It sounds like an impressive operation until you consider that this shop, heavy into direct repair programs (DRPs), has only a 4 percent profit margin. For all that’s involved in maintaining an auto body business—the customer-employee-insurance headaches, enormous outlays for tools, help and training, building and property payments, etc.—such a meager profit is an insult to business intelligence.

With most shops today making less than 5 percent profit (and that margin is steadily dropping) repairers who are also good businessmen are rare.

In 1998, Washington shop owner Dick Strom was a regular columnist in a number of industry trade publications, often espousing the view that DRPs would benefit insurers far more than shops or consumers

I’m reminded of the true story of several scientists who were dropped off in a remote region of Africa to make scientific reports. After going months with no human contact and with their food supplies depleted, they eventually discovered a patch of berries that look quite similar to an edible variety back home. In the following weeks, gorging themselves on these berries, they slowly became weaker and weaker until each man died. Analysis of the berries after the men’s bodies were found showed that they had absolutely no food value.

These men, confident that they were well-nourished while waiting out their rescue, actually were being weakened 34

and starved to death so slowly that they didn’t realize their mistake until it was too late.

I have to wonder about the great number of shops clamoring for pieces of the DRP berry pie. Why is it so hard for otherwise intelligent men and women to see the trap and the coming malnutrition and starvation that insurers will eventually bring upon us when DRPs have saturated the industry?

Body shops, now contentedly stuffed overfull with DRP berries, will eventually realize they’re starving to death, though by that time, they’ll be powerless to resist. All the work in the world, if it is of no profit, is still profitless.

– from an editorial by Dick Strom, at the time a shop owner in Washington state, published in The Golden Eagle. According to the shop’s website, Strom sold the business to his sons in 2010, and it “continues to thrive as a non-DRP shop” with 14 employees.

15 Years Ago in the Collision Repair Industry (July 2003) Third-party “desk auditors” faced some critics and tough questions during a panel discussion at the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) held in Hollywood, FL, in late July.

Representatives of three companies that offer insurers remote reviews of repair estimates discussed their companies’ histories, employee training and auditing practices. The three were asked, for example, whether they are compensated for their work based upon the amount by which they are able to reduce a shop’s estimate.

“We are compensated on a perfile basis, whether there are savings or not,” said John Gizzio of American Computer Estimating (ACE), a Pennsylvania-based desk review company that audits more than 10,000 claims each month. “We do not take part of the savings. And we do ... charge if there are no savings. We are compensated for every job that we do.”

Mike Price of the Georgiabased, 30-employee Audit Services,

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

Inc., also said his firm is paid on a perclaim, per-assignment basis. Mike Saliba, vice president of ComSearch’s Ready Review desk auditing service, said his company’s compensation is “based on a number of things, but savings is not one of them.”

Gizzio said that some of the savings they offer insurers is not just in reduction in the bottom line of repair estimates, but in reductions in cycle time, rental costs and direct expenses such as field adjusters.

All three of the companies say they are not using electronic systems that automatically flag certain items on estimates for review. Rather, the reviewer enters the estimate into the company’s chosen estimating system and checks it against the profile established by their insurer client. While those “profiles” cover such things as non-OEM and salvage parts use, all three of the companies say they do

not change “judgment” repair times.

“We do not adjust or change judgment items,” Price said. “We apply our client’s guidelines... When it comes to a judgment item, obviously we haven’t seen the damage.”

The other two companies represented on the panel concurred, and although the three represent a majority of the desk audit market, nearly every shop owner at CIC raised their hand when asked if they had had judgment times changed as part of desk audits.

“There are other companies that do this work,” Gizzio said. “We’re not representing them, just our own companies here today ... If you put down a five-hour repair, you get a five-hour repair.”

Price said he recommended that if a remote auditor changed judgment times, the shop should call the insurer involved.

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10 Years Ago in the Collision Repair Industry (July 2008) The Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG) has surpassed one of its first milestones by processing more than 500 inquiries in just over six months of operation. If the value of inquiries remains consistent, the first two quarters of the year indicate that the DEG will likely process more than 1,000 inquiries by the end of year on.

“Collision estimating data customers clearly turn to the DEG as their partner for submitting their firsthand-concerns to the information providers,” said DEG Joint Operating Committee Member Nick Kostakis.

– As reported in Collision Repair Industry INSIGHT. The DEG website (www.DEGweb.org) has now processed more than 8,600 inquiries.

5 Years Ago in the Collision Repair Industry (July 2013) At the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) held in Boston, some participants questioned why the CIC Parts Committee had not addressed certain

issues related to electronic parts procurement systems.

The committee is working to produce a matrix that it hopes will indicate differences in features and other aspects of the various systems.

In 2013, California shop owner Randy Stabler said shops should be allowed to choose which electronic parts sourcing / ordering systems are used based on features, rather than insurer mandates

But California shop owner Randy Stabler said understanding those differences won’t matter if shops are being required to use a particular system.

“Let the people who want to make a parts procurement engine build the best tool, and let the mar-

ketplace decide which one is the best, rather than being forced,” Stabler said.

Aaron Schulenburg of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) agreed.

“For more than a year now, this committee has been asked, at least by individuals of this body, for a very serious discussion about the entry-tomarket (of the systems),” he said. “It keeps being avoided, frankly. I think we really need to have that before we just ask how they work.”

CIC Chairman George Avery said the committee should continue its work on the matrix, but acknowledged that “it seems like we jumped ahead,” and that “it’s prudent that we facilitate the discussion that I think is being asked for.”

– As reported in CRASH Network (www.CrashNetwork.com), July 29, 2013.

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bration. Bosch calibration coverage includes FCA, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Toyota and Subaru, but the company is continuing to increase its coverage to include all makes and models requiring forward-facing cameras for dynamic and/or static calibration.

Preceding Bosch’s question-andanswer session, Watson concluded by thanking those who attended the series.

“We hope we have accomplished our goal of increasing your understanding of ADAS, its impact on the industry and how it impacts repairs and diagnostic procedures,” Watson said. “Our intent was to introduce and provide information and resources to support your understanding and interest in diagnosing and repairing systems, and we look forward to providing additional training sessions in the near future.”

All five Bosch webinars are available online for ASA members.

For more information about the association, visit www.asashop.org.

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37

Social Media for Shops

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

with Ed Attanasio

Shop Owner Creates Podcast to Connect With Shop Owners, Managers Ron Perretta has owned and operated Professionals Auto Body with two locations in Altoona and Dunkinsville, PA, since 1979.

He also owns Global Business Consultants, which advises collision repairers; Media One, which performs marketing and advertising services for body shops; a mechanical shop; a glass company; and a towing business.

He started his shop at age 19 and is always looking for new ways to expand and diversify his businesses.

Q: A:

Why do you have so many irons in the fire?

I have been talking to shops about that for the past 20 years and I always tell them that all shops should diversify, only because when things in one business can lag, having several working in conjunction to keep revenue coming in will help them during those lean times.

Q: A:

You recently created Body Shop Pioneers?

Yes, it’s a Facebook page and we also do a podcast with the same name. We reach out to shops around the country that have made a difference in the collision repair industry and/or are trying to do so.

With our podcast, we interview top people in the industry and discuss some of their achievements and how they’ve impacted the business. We talk about their roles; the whole concept is to get their messages out there so that shops all over the country can understand that they’re not the only ones who are going through the same hurdles that we have all encountered.

We also try to make the point that by sitting on the sidelines, changes will not occur. When they start looking at what their peers in the industry are

doing, it will hopefully motivate them to help create these changes that we badly need in this industry.

We also have another podcast that we produce called the Professionals Auto Body Community podcast that we use to communicate community messages. We have interviewed local law enforcement and people with other meaningful causes in the communities where we do business, and it’s been a valuable tool in that regard.

If you want to participate in Body Shop Pioneers, you have to qualify and it’s a fairly exclusive group. Is that correct?

Q:

Yes, you have to be either a body shop owner or a manager. We don’t accept technicians, painters, front office people or vendors, because we want to feature topics and subjects that apply directly to what owners and managers are interested in. It’s a small exclusive group right now, but it’s still a young project and we’re expecting it to grow rather quickly. It’s not going to be huge, but we expect it to grow significantly within the next one to two years. On our Professionals Auto Body Facebook page, for example, we’re currently approaching 15,000 people who like us and are active on the page. We have a pretty big base with consumers in our markets and the Body Shop Pioneers page [will grow in] the same way. In fact, just this week I had to decline 40 people who wanted to join Body Shop Pioneers because they’re not owners or managers. So it is already growing in popularity, but we have to keep it exclusive.

A:

Q:

So you have major names in the collision repair industry

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on your podcast and the members send you questions to ask them in advance?

That’s right. Next week we will have shop owner Ray Gunder on our show, a well-known name in the industry, and recently we had Gina Petrarca, an attorney whose father owns a shop in Rhode Island who is heavy in collision-related state legislation and a major player in the state. We will also have April Hernandez Stevens on our show soon. She is a body shop owner in Atlanta, GA, who won a large lawsuit a few years ago against State Farm.

A:

Q: A:

Why did you name it Body Shop Pioneers?

Because we want it to cater to those shops that want to be independent from their DRPs, the way

we do it here at Professionals. Years ago, we dropped all of our DRPs because we decided that we didn’t want to compromise our quality anymore.

We want other shops to know that they can be independent and don’t have to deal with the multiple obstacles that are often created by the insurance programs. I was a trainer for 17 years traveling all over the country for PPG, and out of the thousands of shops I met with, not one ever said that they enjoyed their DRPs. We want them to know that they have options and don’t have to be bullied around. If they don’t want to be run by a third-party, it’s possible and those that have shed their DRPs are what we call Body Shop Pioneers.

Some shops don’t think they have choices, but we want them to know that they can. That’s why we feature truly independent shops on our Facebook page and podcast.

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39

Shop Strategies with Stacey Phillips

Stacey Phillips is a freelance writer and editor for the automotive industry.

She has 20 years of experience writing for a variety of publications, and is co-author of “The Secrets of America’s Greatest Body Shops.”

She can be reached at sphillips.autobodynews@gmail.com.

CA Body Shop’s Business Model Focuses on Heavier Collision Repair Work Earlier this year, industry veteran David Caulfield opened Fix Auto Anaheim North in Anaheim, CA, using an innovative business model.

Caulfield has been in the collision repair industry since 1975, working every aspect of the trade from the bottom up.

In 1988, he opened his first body shop in Orange County, CA—East Hills Auto Collision—which eventually grew to include three locations and became part of the Fix Auto franchise. Last year, Caulfield sold his interest in the business and opened Fix Auto Anaheim North, a 23,500square-foot facility that focuses on heavier collision repair work.

Caulfield recently shared information with Autobody News about the processes he uses at Fix Auto Anaheim North—his specialized collision services facility—and his advice to collision repairers looking to

40

set themselves apart and be more profitable.

What prompted you to open Fix Auto Anaheim North and how have you differentiated your business?

Q:

After working in the industry for nearly 43 years, I really wanted to focus on things that I felt needed assistance in the industry where there were some trouble spots.

I decided to open Fix Auto Anaheim North to focus on reducing the risk and liability associated with heavier collision claims. I feel it will help reduce severity costs through parts price discounts and creative estimating and offer a more objective way to look at how a vehicle is repaired today versus the way our predecessors may have written an estimate on a car.

A:

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

and spending a few more minutes to match the colors, we’re finding that eight out of 10 of those that used to be blended in the past are reduced to two.

Another example is PDR (paintless dent repair). It has always been viewed that if the dent is small enough, we’ll PDR it. However, when we have a five- to six-hour dent where the paint isn’t damaged, we’ll PDR those as well. This saves the insurance company and conThe customer care area at Fix Auto Anaheim North sumer a lot of money. match the color. The practice of Can you tell us about the speblending panels increases severity, cialized process you use at the cycle time and the unwarranted removal of parts, yet to set yourself up shop and the benefits? for an additional buffing process.

Our system is different than This is costly to the shop, the insurer a traditional body shop. Typand unnecessarily invasive to the vehicle. Using technology correctly ically, when a vehicle comes into For example, a lot of metalliccolored panels are estimated with the assumption a blend is required to

Q: A:

the shop, a technician is responsible for the car key-to-key including a teardown, disassembly, reassembly, framework, mechanical, body, etc.

In our model, we have a technician assigned to each one of those skill sets. When a vehicle comes into our facility, a team will disassemble the car, then it will go to the next phase on the assembly line to the next technician and on through completion. Using this process, which is now part of our SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), we’ve been able to reduce cycle times by as much as 65–70 percent. That’s pretty significant. Our record right now on an average claim of $3,900 is 3.8 days.

We’re not saying that we’re better than other shops as far as somebody fixing a dent or welding. Our equipment is brand new and we’re using the latest technology in order to stay compliant with the manufacturers’ recommendations like other companies would have. What sets us apart is the way we do it and the order we do it in.

We don’t burden one technician to be responsible for the entire repair.

Instead, we’ve invested in specific

skills for each of our technicians. For example, we have disassembly, reassembly, mechanical, structural and frame, cutting, fitting and welding and metalsmithing departments.

In most shops, when someone fixes a dent, they call that person a body man, but the person who fixes a dent or works the metal in our shop has a department called metalsmithing. That way, he or she takes

get that car out and correct in the shortest period of time with the least invasive repair.

How has your background helped you institute the model used in the shop?

Q:

My background gave me the ability to understand what the next move needed to be. During part of my career, I worked in production shops where there were more disciplined practices and the assembly line was in use. Cars would move pretty seamlessly through a shop, resulting in a one- or two-day repair.

I decided to implement that methodology into the collision repair system and found it has been working The repair plant area at the 23,500-square-foot facility out pretty well. an objective view of the vehicle and makes decisions based on what the What did it entail to build a task is. If there is a large dent, it isn’t shop that focuses on heavier attacked with a grinder. The tech is collision? really studying it to make sure that it can be kept as small as possible and It took many years of experimake the best moves as possible to ence and a lot of planning as

A:

Q: A:

far as the layout of the facility and to set up a consistent production line.

With our model, a vehicle has no choice but to drive straight into the shop. Then it goes on to a track system and the car slides into its proper stalls. It helps you stay disciplined on the order of things.

We also built a team that understands the importance of perfecting one skill instead of multiple skills in order to meet the goals of the company. If you are a frame person, you are a specialist and expert in structural and frame. If you are in the welding department, you are an expert in cutting, fitting and welding and that’s your job; you don’t need to worry about any of the other skill sets in the facility. We just require you just do that job correctly and pass it off to the next person, so they have success.

We also have removed many of the traditional burdens a technician faces that cause loss of focus on the repair. Typically, body shop technicians are paid on commission. We are salary-based and pay hourly. Whether our employees fix a car or not, they are paid. Our model relies on having See Business Model, Page 53

autobodynews.com / JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

41

National Associations with Chasidy Rae Sisk

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.

YANG 2018 Leadership Conference Is Highest Rated Yet The Young Auto Care Network Group (YANG) hosted its 2018 Leadership Conference at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, GA, on May 11– 12 in conjunction with the Auto Care Association’s Spring Leadership Days.

According to YANG Liaison and ACA Manager of Government Affairs David Pinkham, “The event went incredibly well. It was our most well-attended and highestrated Leadership Conference to date.

We wanted to ramp up the content this year and provide an effective balance of industry education and professional development, both of which were accomplished.”

“Auto Care staff and the YANG Advisory Council were in agreement that this event blew our expectations

paced day and a day of engaging speakers with content that would be relevant to any young, driven professional. The networking opportunities also provided attendees a chance to make connections and talk about their experiences in the industry.

“The Auto Care Association prides itself on being able to bring professionals from across all sectors together to network and conduct important business. YANG’s events, especially the YANG Leadership Conference, are a great example of not only being able to bring people together, but putting them in a position to learn from one another and broaden their view of the industry.

conference attendees. After a networking break, Ryan Jenkins discussed “Next Generation Leadership: Keys to Working Across a Multi-Generational Workforce” before the conference concluded with “How To Be a Leader,” presented by Scott LeProhon, executive vice president of Global Procurement for Genuine Parts Company.

“The purpose of the YANG’s 2018 Leadership Conference attracted many Leadership Conference was attendees who rated this year’s event the best to date to offer quality leadership “Future Trends: The Next Big Indus- training and networking to the auto try Issues.” After a brief networking care industry’s top under [age]-40 break, attendees participated in a performers, and we feel we met the Communicating with Influence work- goal,” Pinkham said. “YANG hopes shop. The day ended with an ACPAC to build off this year’s success and host a conference next year that surReception and dinner.

Saturday’s sessions began with a passes this one. We’ve officially Rapid Fire Session and Round Table raised the bar so the pressure is on to Discussions, which were led by five keep the content fresh and exciting.” discussed “Our Industry: A Year in Review.” Afterward, Jim Dykstra, CEO of Dytech Auto Group, covered

Scott LeProhon of Genuine Parts Company presented “How to be a Leader.”

The vast majority of Leadership Conference attendees we surveyed found the event to be both enjoyable and worth their while.”

The conference began on May 11 at 1 p.m. with a Welcome Address, followed by a keynote presentation ti-

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out of the water,” said JC Washbish, director of marketing for the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance and YANG vice chair. “It was a fast42

tled “The Master of the Tornado” by Michael Hoffman, president of Igniting Performance. Next, Amy Antenora, editor of aftermarketNews,

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43

Industry Insight with John Yoswick

—John Yoswick is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon, 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.

Certification, Legislation Related to Non-OEM Parts Get Spotlighted at Convention Speakers representing insurers and will be well-positioned for the funon-OEM parts manufacturers, dis- ture,” he said. “I think those [that] tributors and certifiers offered a vari- are not, those who are just saying, ety of perspectives from the podium ‘I’m just going to … do what I’ve alat the recent Automotive Body Parts ways done,’ at some point the [car Association (ABPA) annual conven- population] that they’ll have availtion. able to repair is going to shrink.”

Patrick Burnett, who leads maReturning to the subject of certerial damage operations for Nation- tification, Bob Frayer of NSF Inwide Insurance, told non-OEM parts ternational said his organization is industry representatives at the event launching certification of non-OEM that alternative parts played radiator supports. He also a significant role in the alurged the aftermarket parts most 700,000 estimates for industry to ensure that nonthe insurer’s auto claims last OEM parts such as bumper year. covers allow for the proper “I won’t get into exact functioning of proximity numbers, but I will tell you sensors and rearview camalmost half of the part dollars eras.

Bob Frayer that we wrote came from al“It’s one thing to design ternative parts,” Burnett said. a bumper cover that fits the vehicle.

He said that as a financial organ- It’s another thing to design a bumper ization, the cost of those parts is im- cover that allows for the proper inportant. stallation of the proximity sensor, “But I’m almost more interested and making sure that proximity senin quality and how quickly you can sor works properly,” Frayer said. get that part where it needs to go and “It’s something that NSF is working how you work with repair facilities very hard to make sure happens.” and others to facilitate a good, solid He said 21 parts distributors repair,” he said. “For crash parts, we have earned NSF certification themlook for NSF- or CAPA-certified selves, a program NSF developed, parts, and NSF-certified distributors Frayer said, in part to ensure distribto deliver those crash parts. To us utors are actually delivering certithat’s very important. It’s important fied parts when shops order certified to know the quality of what’s going parts. on our estimates and what may be “That seems like a very comdelivered to those repair facilities as mon sense way of running a busithose parts go onto vehicles.” ness, but I can tell you in fact that’s Burnett was asked about his not the way business is always being view of the outlook for body shops. done,” Frayer said. “Many times, He said driver safety and assistance certified parts are ordered and that’s technology will continue to make re- not what’s delivered to the repair pairs more complex. shop. I think it was important for us “It’s going to change who’s able to recognize that, and make sure that to repair that car, who should be re- what’s ordered is what gets delivpairing that car,” he said. “It will ered. When a certified part gets orchange the make-up of the repair in- dered and a non-certified part gets dustry; I’m very confident of that.” delivered, I think that hurts all of us He acknowledged it will be in this room.” tough for smaller collision repair opAs he did at the ABPA confererations to keep up. ence a year earlier, Frayer worked to “The larger shops that are com- explain the difference between a mitted to the equipment, the training NSF-certified part and one bearing [and] the certification path and that the “NSF Registered Part” label. As have the money [and] the capital out- part of the full certification process, lay that it takes to make that happen Frayer said, NSF conducts audits of

44

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

the parts’ manufacturing facilities; these products … but at the end of that doesn’t happen for “NSF Regis- the day, what the market is saying is tered” parts. Certification also in- we don’t have an appetite for certifivolves “in-market testing of the cation.”

State and federal legislation reproducts being sold,”—not so with parts that are only registered. With lated to non-OEM parts was also on the agenda at the ABPA those parts, he said, NSF convention. A bill introonly validates “that the deduced in Iowa, for example, sign is the same as the OEM would prohibit insurers part and that it worked propfrom requiring a shop to use erly on the vehicle.” a specific parts vendor or Mirrors are among the procurement process, or parts commonly being “regfrom requiring the use of istered” rather than “certiRay Colas non-OEM crash parts for fied.”

“We’re doing this because for the repair of a vehicle 5 years old or certain part types, this is what the newer. Ray Colas, director of govmarket is asking for,” Frayer said, ernment affairs for LKQ Corporanot indicating whether by “mar- tion, told those at the ABPA ket” he was speaking of parts man- convention that the bill was introufacturers or parts buyers as not duced by a lawmaker who represents interested in the presumably more a district in which an LKQ facility is expensive certification process. “I located. Colas said that previously would love to be able to certify all See Spotlighted at Convention, Page 51

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45

Continued from Page 22

PDR Experts Share

keeping a can nearby while doing a repair.

Hampton said as far as scanning goes, any car that has been taken apart during the PDR process should have a pre- and post-scan.

“Industry-wide, we know everyone doesn’t do it, but it should really be done,” he said.

The Hotbox is a relatively new technology used for PDR that allows technicians to pull dents from the top side of the panel. This eliminates damaging the back side of the panel and larger dents can often be pulled faster.

“When the dents get larger, it’s 100 percent about technique,” said Frasher. “There are a few specialty tools, but more than anything it’s about understanding the old-school metal techniques.”

He said that is a main difference between hail and collision.

“With hail, for the most part, you are never on a dent for more than a couple of minutes,” he said. “How-

ever, for larger dents, it takes time and focus.”

In addition to using PDR for hail damage, body shops are now incorporating PDR into repairs. Avery said to use critical thinking to determine if it’s the right thing to do for the repair. Some shops are finding there are savings in doing what is called “push to repair.”

One advantage is the opportunity to push out the majority of a dent and not disturb the paint. As a result, the repaired area is minimized, which can avoid paint match issues and the expense of blending into adjacent panels.

“There are top savings in push to repair,” said Frasher.

If you have a large dent in the middle of a quarter panel, for example, and you’re welding pins on, then the entire repair zone grows. If it can be shrunk with glue pulling, then he said time and money can be saved.

“That’s one of the things that I feel is probably going to grow, but it’s difficult for an adjuster walking up to the car,” said Frasher. “He doesn’t know what the capability is going

to be for any specific shop to know if it is a viable option.”

Currently a bottleneck in shops, he said as PDR becomes more widely used, adjusters will be able to write up the estimate using PDR up front.

When hiring technicians, Avery asked the presenters how to best find a quality technician who can do PDR since they are often hard to locate and there is no certification offered.

“It’s a new industry,” said Hampton. “Although it has been around for 30-plus years, that’s still relatively new when you take into consideration that the trade itself is extremely artisan. The guys who can work on the big damage are extremely rare.”

He said there is no easy answer to finding an in-house or sublet technician and recommended talking to others in the industry, watching YouTube videos, researching on social media and checking online reviews.

“Body shops have some of the best eyes in the industry,” said Hampton. “They know what to look for, and you just have to do your

You’re Going To

Conspiracy To Murder Auto Shop Owner in CT

by Rich Kirby, Danbury Patch

Police in Bridgeport, CT, arrested four Danbury men after an investigation uncovered a plan to kill an auto shop owner there.

Jason “Hood” Scott, 35; Luis “Kermit” Mejias, 31; and Dominick “Dom” Gonzalez, 21, were charged with conspiracy to commit murder and are also held in lieu of $1 million bonds. Police charged the man who planned the hit, Luis “Pops” Mercado, 51, with conspiracy to commit murder and third-degree attempted

arson. He was being held in lieu of $1 million.

The men had been the focus of an ongoing Bridgeport PD investigation involving a dispute over $8,000 owed for a marijuana transaction between a group in Danbury and the owner of the body shop.

The Danbury group had arranged for a “hit” on the shop’s owner and the destruction of his shop.

We thank Danbury Patch for reprint permission.

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homework.”

When estimating collision work related to PDR, Hampton said if the collision damage is minor, PDR can be used. However, if the damage is more complex, most adjusters would write the estimate as a conventional repair unless the shop has a technician familiar with PDR and the technology needed.

“There is a common sense factor that comes in,” he said. “It’s no different than body work and determining how many hours it will take to fix a quarter panel.”

Currently, the technicians doing PDR on big dents are targeting the end customer and many times the work isn’t going through insurance.

For example, if it is an $800–$900 repair, some feel it’s not worth it to file a claim because it will probably increase insurance rates.

“The majority of those types of repairs are not done in shops today because of that reason,” said Hampton. “As more and more of those repairs get done and more people on all sides understand what can be done, I think that will change.”

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How Your Shop’s Compliance Score Can Save You Money, Bring You More Work Did you realize that the benefits of a good compliance credit score can help you in many ways, including having a better chance for vendor credit, increased negotiating power, lower worker’s comp rates, better employee retention, an absence of EPA/OSHA audits and fines and— get this—better insurance premiums? It’s true.

Owning and operating a body shop is becoming more and more expensive every day as salaries increase, training and equipment become costlier than ever and cars become more technologically sophisticated and complex. Even if you haven’t filed any insurance claims, insurance premiums still go up, and it becomes a never-ending cycle that can seriously affect your bottom line.

There are so many things to spend your hard-earned money on, and shop insurance isn’t likely at the top of that list.

But fear not, because there are several things that you can proactively pursue on a consistent basis that can help you improve the chances that your insurance increases won’t outpace your ability to run your business.

One of those extremely important factors is your compliance credit score, which you can get free of charge from a data analytics company called Recs Lock at www.fg2.us. Every shop in the country has one and is constantly being monitored by a wide range of companies, including the car manufacturers and insurance companies.

George Avery worked for State Farm as an internal consultant for 31 years and was the chairman for the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) for two years. He is a highly respected public spokesperson for the collision repair industry that makes presentations at a large number of industry conferences, including the upcoming Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association (CIECA) Symposium in Tampa, FL, Sept. 17–19.

He has extensive knowledge from both sides of the industry—insurance companies and collision repairers—because he grew up in the body shop world before working for State Farm. Avery sees multiple benefits for shops that can stay compliant and knows that insurers will value it on many levels.

48

“This data is now in the cloud and available to so many more entities, that all of a sudden repair facilities are being judged more carefully for the way they fix cars and the way they comply with literally every aspect of their business,” Avery said.”It’s being monitored in a completely different way now and insurance companies are more discerning and only consider shops that have better numbers in these areas. It’s for the benefit of the insurance industry, the collision repairers and ultimately the consumer as well.

Insurers want to know that they’re working with the best shops in their portfolio, and this data can make that happen.”

So, here are some ways to save money on your insurance premiums and protect yourself from having to dig deeply into your pockets as rates rise.

First, preserve your permit history by maintaining a strong regulatory compliance record. Your regulatory history is highly important to keeping your insurance premiums in check, so avoiding violations is significant.

Things can happen, so if you do get a violation, minimizing the impact is vital. The old days of getting the help of a safety consultant to minimize the severity of a violation are long gone, so avoiding them altogether in the first place is more vital than ever.

Another method to achieve this is to protect your credit as well, because it also directly correlates to your insurance rates. Insurance companies all over the country are now assigning risk scores to their current and potential customers based on things such as your years in business, permit history and credit scores. Insurance companies strongly believe that shops with poor credit scores will likely be less detailed with their regulatory documentation, so it’s all connected. In some states, this is not allowed, but many do, so consistently paying your bills on time is imperative to saving money on your insurance premiums.

Stay on top of your compliance all the time to avoid creating a poor track record that can seriously damage your insurance premiums. Getting cited or fined for any violation can cause your score to plummet, just like if you miss a mortgage or car

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

payment in the real credit world. Designate someone who is experienced and who you can trust to keep you in total compliance all the time and rely on them to keep your operation safe.

You can have a pristine record, but one misstep along the way can put you in a bad spot rather quickly.

Establishing a comprehensive written safety plan is also an ideal way to avoid problems down the road and will make your shop likely to be rewarded by insurance companies as a result. You would be surprised by how many top-notch shops don’t have a written safety manual.

Insurance companies are obviously extremely interested in reducing risk, so when they know that a shop has a plan that is carefully documented and adhered to, they will often reward it with lower insurance premiums.

In the end, running a compliant business that follows the rules will pay off on many levels. If you get great scores from your DRPs and have an outstanding Consumer Service Index, that is a great start. Shops that do the right things and are thor-

ough in every area of compliance logically don’t get fined and stay out of trouble. So, preserving your permit history is an important way to keep your shop’s insurance premiums in check. Some lose track of their permitting because they’re busy fixing cars and providing exemplary customer service, but that is a mistake that can seriously impact you in many ways.

Overall, if you implement these measures you may not significantly reduce your shop insurance premiums in a huge way, but collectively they can save you on your insurance overtime. If the funds are going into anyone’s pocket, why shouldn’t it be yours? Why give it to your insurer instead as opposed to buying that new piece of equipment that can help you repair cars better and more efficiently or give your better techs a bonus for their excellent work? Establishing and working hard to establish a good compliance score can enable you to save money and bring you new business along the way, so yes indeed—regulatory compliance really does matter!

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49

Why Choosing a Technical School Makes Sense

by Bill DeYoung, St. Pete Catalyst

America’s education system isn’t exactly a well-oiled machine, on any level. According to the Federal Reserve, more than $1.4 trillion in student loan debt remains outstanding—over $600 billion more than the sum total of our national credit card debt.

Higher education, of course, has never been cheap—and there are strong indicators that specialized course programs, training academies and technical schools can focus American students toward lucrative careers in ways that the traditional four-year public colleges don’t. Or can’t.

Credit: Pinellas Technical College

In all-important STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, 21st century education comes with many options. And they don’t all consume four years— or longer—and cost the nest egg.

Carl Lavender, who manages the Office of Workforce Innovation at Pinellas Technical College, has heard all sides of the argument.

“People say, ‘Hold on now, they’ll pay that student loan money back,’” Lavender explained. “Well, they haven’t found enough jobs to pay back those lump sums.

“The smart household knows when the child isn’t a four-year college child: ‘But my child needs to work, so let me give him or her something they can do right now.’ And that’s why technical colleges are incredibly important right now.”

It’s not your grandfather’s technical school any more, turning out aspiring beauticians and auto mechanics. Between its campuses in St. Petersburg and Clearwater, FL, PTC offers intensive courses—most take 50

a year or less—in computer systems and information technology, network support services, coding, pharmacy tech, web development, medical coding, record transcribing and administration, surgical technology and other crucial STEM-related careers.

These are in-demand careers.

“Between our two technical college campuses, we have 4,224 students enrolled,” Pinellas County School Superintendent Dr. Michael Grego said at an education roundtable in April. “We see 87 percent of these students graduate, and then we see 93 percent of our graduates placed into employment.”

The cost of the PTC education is considerably less than a four-year university tuition.

And the school’s success rate in industrial courses (welding, HVAC, electricity, automotive service technology, etc.) is impressive.

“It’s a smart conversation to discuss technical colleges as a forward-thinking workforce development plan,” Lavender said. “And there is this whole national movement regarding the craftsmen-slash-tradespeople that are retiring, and the need for prepared young people to step into those roles based upon the demand for the trades, of course, but also because the four-year degree isn’t the only path to take to self-defining work.”

Twenty-eight percent of PTC students enroll with full college degrees— even Masters and higher—eager to change or expand their experience.

“For those who’ve been working for a long time and are sick of the rat race—hey, go back to school, pick up certification in a trade and try a new career,” Lavender offered.

New construction, building maintenance and the repair of homes and offices are expected to drive demand for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

During his April talk, Grego also praised PTC’s medical assistance programs.

“PTC’s pharmacy technician and dental assisting graduates have placement rates above 98 percent,” he said.

“We have more job calls than grad-

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

than less-expensive alternatives to “real” colleges—are turning out skilled, viable, competitive members of the contemporary American workforce.

“It’s a whole different conversation now,” Lavender pointed out.

“What’s happening now is that the sociology major can’t find work: ‘Had I gone to school and gotten certified in welding, or in dot net computer programming, I’d be doing a whole lot better right now with my income.’

“So, to that person who might still say ‘Oh, the trade college? Too bad’ – no, I don’t think so. These are necessary jobs that make life better for people.”

We thank St. Pete Catalyst for reprint permission.

uates.

“There’s a huge demand for those who follow the allied health career path. Hospitals need these folks to be on staff and full-time. There are 70 million Boomers in America, and we’re approaching the time in our lives when we may have a prescription or two in our house …

“So you’re talking about a boom industry. Go to your local pharmacy and look behind that counter. To that end, our college produces pharmacy technicians who are absolutely necessary to hospitals, clinics and medical offices. Absolutely necessary.”

Established at PTC just a year ago, the Office of Workforce Innovation exists to plug students directly into the local workforce—filling one skills gap at a time.

“We help graduate people and help find them jobs,” Lavender explained. “We help get people certified to work in industry, and we help industry keep their workforce educated and connected.”

More and more, the country’s technical schools—so much more

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bringing the state representative in for a facility tour had helped raise his understanding of the issue, something Colas reminded the lawmaker about.

got themselves into,” Colas said.

“We had to educate them. It’s always good if we educate these members before somebody else does.”

(In an op-ed piece published in a Rhode Island newspaper in June after the convention, ABPA Executive Director Ed Salamy voiced opposition to proposed legislation in

“‘In all honesty,’ he told us, ‘I completely forgot about that,’” Colas said, noting that the lawmaker still has some concerns but said he would “remove the bill from consideration.”

Colas had similar assessments of lawmakers sponsoring bills in Illinois that would require the use of OEM repair specifications and procedures when estimating repairs and prohibit the use of non-OEM parts without the customer’s consent in writing.

“They did not realize what they

that state that would expand the state’s ban on the use of non-OEM parts to include vehicles up to 48 months old—from the current 30month ban. Calling the legislation anti-competitive, Salamy warned consumers that, “Put simply, these bills would take away your choice about how to repair your vehicle.”)

Sources say that during a portion of the ABPA convention closed to the media, a former U.S. Senator expressed optimism about the prospects for the “PARTS Act,” pro-

Continued from Page 44

Spotlighted at Convention

“They did not realize what they got themselves into, we had to educate them. It’s always good if we educate these members before somebody else does.” — Ray Colas

posed federal legislation that would slash the time that automakers can use design patents to prevent other companies from producing replacement crash parts from 14 years to just 30 months.

Mark Pryor, a former Senator from Arkansas who is now a partner with a legal and lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. that is representing the “Quality Parts Coalition,” said that group is pressing for a vote on the bill by a U.S. House committee before the mid-term elections in November.

But the legislation faces some big hurdles to overcome before this Congress ends. Even if passed by the committee, the bill would still need to be scheduled for a vote in the House, and there’s been no action on the Senate version of the legislation.

Two of the bills’ four primary sponsors (Republicans Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah and Rep. Darrell Issa of California) have announced their retirement from Congress this year, and most D.C. observers aren’t predicting a flurry of legislative activity in the final six months of the 115th Congress.

HDDA Releases Web Resource Center

Heavy Duty (HDDA), the only community that serves the entire heavy duty aftermarket supply chain, announced the release of a new web resource center dedicated to the progress of the development of heavy duty product data standards.

Included on standards.hdda.org are updates and highlights of the project status, downloadable information on product data standards, a calendar of product category data collection and a volunteer form to participate in the standards creation.

The resource center will serve as an integral part of the standards project, which will include the standardization of product information communication across more than 8,200 key components for 150 heavy duty vehicle systems.

This type of standardization will result in accurate part data for a more accurate product selection, lower return rates and increased customer service—all while maintaining manufacturer ownership of their product data.

autobodynews.com / JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

51

Day Job/Night Job

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

with Ed Attanasio

IL Body Shop Owner Creates Cajun Sauce, Uses as Marketing Tool Dave Dunn is not just a shop owner.

He is also a marketing guru, the owner of a training center and the founder of Gator Sauce, a culinary creation that he uses as a marketing tool that has people throughout Illinois salivating and pouring it on everything from gumbo all the way to scrambled eggs.

Dave Dunn, the owner of Dave’s Auto Body in Galesburg, IL, developed a product called Gator Sauce to attract customers and create a brand people will remember

In addition to having been the owner and operator of Dave’s Auto Body in Galesburg, IL, for the past 42 years, Dunn also owns Masters Educational Services, a consulting and market managing firm that teaches people how to increase their work output and market their businesses. He is 63, but will work indefinitely, he said, because he still loves the business and is always looking for new ways to make it even more exciting, including developing products like Gator Sauce.

Dunn dropped out of high school at age 16 and opened his own shop in Knoxville, IL, after working as a general manager at a car dealership for two and a half years.

“Working there was a great experience because I received a lot of mentoring and was exposed to new cars and coaching,” he said. “But then the place burned down, and that’s when I opened Dave’s Auto Body.”

By doing the important things right, Dunn was able to step away from his business in less than a 52

decade.

“At age 30, I was semi-retired and playing a lot of golf,” he said.

“Several articles appeared in local publications telling my story and people began calling me. They wanted to know how I was able to succeed while other owners were in their 60s and working 70 hours a week. That’s when I starting a consulting company that I did for 10 years.”

At age 40, he established Masters School of Auto Body Management. People would come to him rather than him traveling to them as a consultant.

“It took off like gangbusters and we’ve been doing it ever since,” Dunn said. “We now have our corporate headquarters here in Galesburg and we have students from all over the country. Now we teach management, leadership and marketing and have instructed more than 6,000 students within the last 22 years. We feature a basic four-day class and also have a wide range of other skills-based classes for things such as sales estimating, production management and marketing that are more specialized and average two to three days for both the dealership world, the independent body shop world and other industries as well.”

visit a body shop or get into an accident to go to one. So, how can a shop build an ongoing relationship with the consumer and give them a reason to actually enter the facility?

Dunn is a strong believer in what’s known as the “purple cow effect,” he said.

“If you drive by a bunch of black and white cows, that isn’t remarkable, but if you see a purple one, you’re likely to pull over and take a picture of it,” he said. “It makes a huge impression. Our Gator Sauce is our purple cow because people don’t expect a body shop to have a sauce and it is definitely an attention-getter.”

The sauce is purchased and relabeled through a company in Louisiana called Cajun Chef Sauces and is popular at local restaurants. The cost of providing it free to the public is approximately $20,000 annually, distrib-

uting 5,000 bottles of the product every year. Some shop owners must think Dunn is crazy, but it’s a marketing tool that has paid for itself many times over, he said.

Dunn’s sauce is now a big deal and has become a cult favorite throughout the county, he said.

“The Gator brand has led to other things within the Galesburg area under the group name of Gator Events,” he said. “It was developed to increase community involvement and has led to charitable events, including a benefit run and chef challenges where they create different recipes using the sauce. A few years ago, we did a Dave’s Gator Sauce Challenge where we closed a street here in the shopping district of Galesburg and turned it into a big street fair [that] 5,000 people attended.

“I joke about a lot of my marketing efforts and say that the best things

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Dunn gives the sauce away and calls it one of his best marketing ideas ever

Dunn realized long ago that the collision repair business is based on need rather than choice. Nobody wakes up in the morning yearning to

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I’ve done involve giving things away,” he said. “I have a registered trademark on something called Detail for Life, where we detail our customers’ cars four times a year after we fix them. We detail 500 cars every month out of our detailing shop in a town of roughly 30,000 people and many of them are paid customers.”

Dave’s Auto Body does $5.5 million in sales every year out of a small town, which is unusual. He credits much of it to his unique marketing concepts, including one that involves a palm tree outside his shop.

“It’s like the purple cow idea because palm trees don’t grow in Galesburg, but we have one here,” he said. “In California or Florida, that would obviously not be anything unusual, but here it’s an attention-getter and people want photos taken with it all the time.”

AUTOBODY

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Continued from Page 41

Business Model

technicians available in real time for any vehicle that comes their way.

That’s the investment we made.

Q: A:

What has your experience been like with Fix Auto?

Each Fix Auto is independently owned and operated. I’ve found that Fix Auto is a supporter of innovation. They are always encouraging the individual franchisees to raise the bar on whatever they do.

I regularly attend Fix Auto meetings. I think that anytime shops can get together, the owners can collaborate on what’s working for them and what’s not. Something new always seems to come out of that.

What is your advice to shops preparing for the future and being innovative?

Q:

If you’re tired of sitting at the table, wondering how you can best cure diminishing profits, in-

A:

creased cycle times and the increased risks associated with today’s vehicles, you really need to know the make-up of what you are bringing into your facility.

vehicles, the shop was designed and built to repair vehicles that were those 15 out of 100 cars that average about $5,500 a claim and have structural and/or welding and/or mechanical work needed related to the collision.

About 90 percent of our work is DRP-related. We opened February 5 of this year and we brought in $90,000 our first month and $151,000 our second.

Our goal is to repair about six of these heavier collision claims per day.

When you separate the heavier collision out of the Eddie Ruacho, a structural specialist, spot welds a vehicle mix of both heavy and light with a new replacement panel in the “cutting, fitting and repairs, there is a very proswelding” department perous business model to be After studying this for many had for both types. The larger repairs years, I believe that 15 out of 100 ve- can be done in five to seven days comhicles will require structural work, pared to the 20 or more that it currently welding or heavy mechanical. Once takes the industry today, and the lighter those cars are identified, they will hits in zero to three days; deeper diseventually end up in a specialized counts can be offered to both the inshop like ours and there’s an enor- surer and consumer. mous amount of profitability available and more seamless throughput. www.autobodynews.com Although we receive a variety of

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53

Product Innovation with Ed Attanasio

Kickin’ Kolor Is All About Custom Colors, Valuable Training Kickin’ Kolor in Davenport, IA, is the brainchild of Jim and Chris Hetzler, a store that was designed to help artists, body shops, painters, hot rodders, car rebuilders and hobbyists attain paint supplies and gain access to expert technical support and training.

With more than 45 years of knowledge and experience, the Hetzlers have become well-known for being a one-stop solution where cus-

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

store and ship it directly to them. So, as I developed my craft, we in- want something different or fancy, House of Kolor set us up with a pro- cluded custom paint into the mix as that’s a big part of what we’re doing,” gram that worked out really well for well because the rage back then was Chris said. “When they come here, us and our customer liked it immedi- painting vans, so all of that was thrown they can touch and feel the products ately. As we were rolling along, we together and it worked. and learn proper techniques, which is thought, ‘Why sell [not] only House very important and I believe of Kolor paint but other products too, we provide a special cussuch as sandpaper and fillers and all tomer experience for them of the other items that go along with that they really value.” the paint?’ So, we began to diversify The store is more of an our inventory and became a one-stop art gallery and museum than solution.” just simply a store, Chris exThe store’s inventory plained. began to grow after that and “We have a lot of Jim’s things started rolling along artwork here on the walls at an accelerated rate shortly and much of it is geared tothereafter. ward his airbrushing and Kickin’ Kolor is a destination store where customers come “We got together with pinstriping, so we’re not just to hang out and and attend classes to learn more about reps from Sherwin-Williams a paint store. We’re located things like pinstriping and airbrushing in our area that owns House in an old building made of of Kolor and decided to part“Now we’re a destination shop brick with open beam ceilings and ner up with Martin Senour, a offering all of it because it’s all inter- we believe it has a very comfortable Sherwin-Williams product,” connected. We named the company feel for the customers. People wanhe said. “Martin Senour was Kickin’ Kolor after the Shimrin2 der around and we have the mixing being sold through NAPA paint line was released because it en- bank here, so some customers will stores and put together a abled people to use the paint samples often hang out and it’s like more [of Chris and Jim Hetzler own and operate Kickin’ Kolor in Davenport, IA, where they have built a strong following with full line of paint, body and to create any custom color they a] mom-and-pop environment. Jim is artists, body shops, painters, hot rodders, care rebuilders equipment (PBE) items for wanted to formulate. They wanted well-known and they always want to and hobbyists who require products and training the collision repair industry, something completely one-off and discuss their projects with him as tomers can create amazing finishes home do-it-yourselfers and custom totally unique, so we were cocktail- well. We hold two pinstriping classes and graphics on vehicles all over the painters. We liked the idea of selling ing a lot of House of Kolor paint here every year with 15–20 students country and learn skills such as pin- their products.” with vibrant colors and pearls that and conduct one airbrushing class striping and airbrushing in a handsJim is a veteran of the custom speak for themselves. I let Sherwin- limited to eight students, both in a on classroom environment. paint world. People know his name Williams shepherd us in the direction classroom we have here. We’re also Jim is always looking for unique throughout the nation for his air- of the Martin Senour products, and going to be offering a hands-on that’s where it really took off. It’s been House of Kolor workshop that Jim paint colors, so when House of Kolor brushing and pinstriping skills. released its Shimrin2 paint line, he an exciting journey because will be conducting in his own paint took to it almost immediately, he said. we get neat projects to help booth very soon and people are al“I began being associated with people with all the time. In ready getting excited about that.”

House of Kolor about a decade ago fact, we recently used House “I’ve been teaching pinstriping when I won my first of four Prestiof Kolor samples to do pro- for 18 years and limit the class sizes gious Painter Awards from them back duction for Walmart to use to give everyone one-on-one instrucin 2007 for a 1939 Buick that was seon Apple iPhones and we’ve tion,” Jim said. “Eighty percent of lected for their annual car calendar,” been involved in providing these folks have never picked up a he said. “It’s a neat deal, especially unique colors for some vehi- pinstriping brush before, so we get a because you’re being honored along cles used in movies.” lot of new fresh talent coming here for with some of the leading painters in Jim’s wife, Chris, runs the classes. Many of them have the the industry.” the store and is extremely potential to do it professionally, so it’s Jim Hetzler is well-known for creating new and exciting That first award led to bigger knowledgeable about the exciting. All of the supplies are procolors for his customers and better things for the Hetzlers.

House of Kolor paint line, vided in the classes and they get to “So, we started up a sample serv“In the early ‘70s, I began pin- which gives Jim a lot of free time to take everything home with them, so ice at that time, spraying out samples striping and learned how to do letter- sell products and train people about they get to practice on their own to get for our customers,” Jim said. “Once ing by doing it,” he said. “Back in custom graphics, custom paint and better. One or two students from each they decided on a sample color, we those days, the real experts were not pinstriping. of my classes eventually end up becould mix their paint by using the really willing to share their secrets “When body shops get into coming professional pinstripers, unique color formula right here at our about pinstriping and hand lettering. some tape-outs and multi-colors and which is of course very satisfying.”

54

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55

Mike Anderson Presents 4th Webinar, Continues To Explore Nissan’s Website

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On Thursday, May 24, Mike Anderson of Collision Advice presented the fourth webinar in his Learn to Research, Research to Learn series.

This webinar was the first-ever second installation on an OEM’s website and focused on “Using Nissan/INFINITI Technology.” He was joined by Nissan/INFINITI’s Mark Zoba, Danny Uhis, Sarah Hicks, Sara Balog and Justin Miller. The webinar was created by Collision Advice in collaboration with Nissan/INFINITI, but Anderson also thanked CIECA for its contributions to the industry.

Anderson explained that he decided to host these webinars because his annual Who Pays for What surveys, conducted in conjunction with the Crash Network, led him to determine that shops are not researching OEM repair procedures 100 percent of the time as they should be. As a result of this finding, Collision Advice will be hosting a webinar with a different OEM each month to raise awareness of the resources each OEM offers to research repair procedures. Anderson plans to guide attendees on a step-by-step tour of each specific OEM’s website, including logging in, areas of the website and how to improve search results. He will also demonstrate how to research some common procedures needed by collision repairers, explore the differences between an OEM scan tool and aftermarket scan tool and investigate OEM parts information and support tools.

Anderson reiterated that there are two paid sites, nissan-techinfo.com and infiniti-techinfo.com, and that many documents on the site are only available through Internet Explorer and require the most recent version of Adobe Reader. He repeated information from last month’s webinar regarding how to access the site, what access costs and how to search the website effectively. (Details about this preliminary information can be found at https://autobodynews.com/index .php/industry-news/item/15365-mikeanderson-s-3rd-webinar-discussesnissan-infiniti-technology.html.)

The past webinar focused on the service manual, so during this webi56

nar Anderson turned to the other tabs on the website, beginning with the owner’s manual. He pointed out that Nissan specifies that the manual may be updated from time to time to provide the most accurate information currently available.

“If I really want to make sure I’m fixing a vehicle properly, I probably want to be cautious about using any third-party OEM repair procedure software because you don’t know if they have the latest and greatest,” he said. “But I know by going to Nissan or Infiniti’s website, I’ll always have the latest and greatest of information.

Nissan has a lot of great information just in the owner’s manual about safe and proper repairs.”

Anderson resumed pointing out valuable information in the owner’s manual and noted that pretensioners cannot be used after activation.

“When a consumer looks for a body shop, they are looking for trust, empathy and direction,” he said. “A great way to gain the customer’s trust when they come into my body shop is to pull up a copy of the owner’s manual, showing them that Nissan says pretensioners cannot be used after activation, and asking if they were wearing their seat belt.”

The navigation system section of the owner’s manual provides an overview on how the navigation system works from an owner’s perspective, but there is still valuable information for collision repairers to understand how the system works and be certain they are running the correct tests. Anderson also briefly discussed the quick reference guide, which repairers would rarely use unless the customer came back with an issue and needed help remembering how a comfort feature functions.

There’s very limited information in the towing guide, but there are some precautions on transporting a vehicle that could be beneficial to share with whoever tows the vehicle.

Moving on to the service and maintenance guide, Anderson pulled up the 2018 GTR guide to demonstrate.

“I found this section very helpful, especially if you are repairing a GTR,” he said. “It is not uncommon for owners of a GTR to take their vehicle to the ‘track’ as it is a high-per-

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

formance vehicle. Nissan has some very specific items to inspect before and after a driving event. If a GTR ends up in your shop, it is critical we have a conversation with the vehicle owner about some of these inspections!”

Anderson praised Nissan for its promotion of its certified shop throughout the manuals located on the website, touting them as the professionals best equipped to repair their vehicles. The service and maintenance guide also directly addresses the importance of using original OEM parts. Under additional maintenance items, Nissan provides very specific instructions about the tire and wheel reference marks, making it imperative to inspect these marks after an accident to see if the tire slipped.

Looking at the warranty information booklet, Anderson suggested this could be valuable to point out to the vehicle owner. Exploring the material, he identified that “this warranty does not cover damage, failures or corrosion resulting from or caused

by installation of non-Nissan-approved accessories or components” and recommended shops that feel strongly about using OEM parts thoroughly review this information.

Nissan also provides a guide for first responders that can be provided to local first responder departments to ensure they are familiar with these concerns. A diagram in this section identifies high-strength steel through color-coding. The dismantling guide addresses precautions that a technician should take before beginning repairs on any EV or hybrid vehicles, covering equipment and materials needed.

Directed toward consumers, the roadside assistance guide provides education on items such as jump starts, flat tires and other roadside assistance. This could be helpful for repairers to use to coach customers with problems remotely. Anderson provided overviews of the body builder’s guide and training materials and explored a Tech Talk magazine article to demonstrate the importance of scanning.

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“Ladies and gentlemen, that’s why we have to use OEM repair procedures and that’s why we have to use the Nissan/INFINITI scan tool,” Anderson stated. “It’s critical that you research OEM repair procedures, no matter which part you are removing.”

Having found some additional valuable information in the service manual since last month’s webinar, Anderson looked at using the website as a resource to better understand clips and fasteners used in this manufacturer’s vehicles, windshield glass repair and “damage diagnosis,” which specifies where the crush zones are located.

Nissan requires pre- and post-repair scans with an approved scan tool.

Under the Purchase Tools/Equipment tab, Anderson directed attendees on how they can purchase the Nissan Consult scan tool. The next page will grant users access to nissantechmate.com, which also contains guides to various tools and procedures.

Sharing some other interesting items he found on the Nissan/INFINITI website, Anderson discussed

rogue liftgate servicing, quarter glass, sandpaper requirements, paint codes, removing bumper covers and radar alignment procedures. Looking at some of the repair procedures specified in Nissan’s position statement on OEM vs. Aftermarket Scan Tools, Anderson asked, “How are you going to do this with an aftermarket scan tool? Sorry, but you can’t; these systems will not perform correctly if you don’t perform this calibration.”

Anderson proceeded to answer some of the questions that went unanswered during the first Nissan/INFINITI webinar. Topics included Nissan certification, one-time-useonly parts, blind spot monitor repairs and more.

As the webinar drew to a close, Anderson covered the steps to take when unable to find the information being sought: First, exhaust your search of the Service Manual, then submit a question to Ask I-CAR and provide a link. If I-CAR doesn’t know, certified collision centers can email: nnacollisionrepairnetwork@ nissan-usa.com. Shops that are not certified should complete the “Help Make This Service Manual Better”

form on the third page of the Service Manual. Nissan also offers its Identifix Hotline, a complimentary service to help shops identify procedures or help diagnose an issue. The hotline is open Monday–Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST at 1-855-828-4018 and is available to the entire industry.

Finally, Sara Balog from the Nissan Group of North America shared details and benefits of the Nissan/INFINITI certification program, including preferred part pricing, differentiating your shop, gaining new referral sources, effectively marketing your business, complimentary access to Nissan technical information and qualifying for other OE certifications. Shops can get started by visiting getnissancertified.com, getinfiniti certified.com or getgtrcertified.com.

The second Nissan webinar is available free of charge here. https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYJrrD4Tt0&index=4&list=PL1aFHg6 buULn0MyuhG5EkbYfAIyvR qkTG.

www.autobodynews.com

New CREF, Service King Grant Announced

The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) and Service King Collision Repair Centers recently announced the recipients of “The Service King Way Grant: In Honor of Mario Malacara”.

Malacara was a highly admired and respected 14-year Service King teammate who tragically passed away in December 2016.

The Service King Way Grant was created last year in memory of Malacara’s dedicated service, loyalty to the industry and the indelible impact he had on countless people during his career.

Sean Huurman, chief human resources officer at Service King Collision Repair Centers, said, “He embodied the values we have at Service King, referred to as The Service King Way.” This year’s recipients of the scholarship include Rysheek Cobb (UTI, Houston, TX), Raymond Nguyen (UTI, Houston, TX), Moises Merlos (Holmes High School, San Antonio, TX) and Julian Martinez (Holmes High School, San Antonio, TX).

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57

Auto Care Association Hosts Successful Trade Mission to Costa Rica

The Auto Care Association hosted a trade mission to Costa Rica on May 21–22 as part of the Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) award from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The association received the award to help the automotive industry increase exports to free trade agreement partners in Latin America.

Trade missions are business development opportunities to gain first-hand market information and one-on-one meetings with potential clients and partners. The association, in collaboration with the U.S. Commercial Service, has organized trade missions to Peru, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua in the past two years.

Trade mission delegates participated in personalized businessto-business matchmaking meetings with foreign industry executives, pre-screened to match companies’ specific business objectives. Delegates also had the opportunity to participate in a country briefing

and networking events.

“We have had great success in finding highly motivated individuals and locally established businesses to meet with us face-to-face and discuss acquiring our products,” said Santiago Estrada, international account executive, Warco Products.

“This adds more credence by being there, rather than just conference calls and emails. If you want to grow your business or industry outside of your comfort zone, act quickly.

Based on our experience, I highly recommend trying your best efforts to do the same by joining the Auto Care Association and participate in their trade mission program.”

The Auto Care Association will be hosting a trade mission to Chile on August 21–22, 2018. Qualifying firms are eligible for an offset of the trade mission costs.

For details about the Auto Care Association’s trade missions, visit www.autocare.org/trade-missions. For additional event information, contact Carolina Arregoces at carolina.arregoces@autocare.org, or 240-333-1037.

MSO Symposium Announces Advisory Board for 2018

The MSO Symposium, an exclusive and preeminent meeting for leadership in the collision repair industry, announced its 2018 Advisory Board following a meeting of industry executives, ASA staff and board members.

This year’s Advisory Board members include:

• Bruce Bares, Certified Collision, CEO - Master of Ceremony • Darrell Amberson, LaMettry’s Collision, President of Operations • Chris Abraham, Service King Collision Repair Centers, CEO • Tim Adelmann, ABRA Collision & Glass, President • Scott Benavidez, Mr. B’s Paint & Body Shop Inc., Owner • Paul Gange, Fix Auto, President & CEO • John Harris, John Harris Body Shops • Jim Keller, 1 Collision Network, President • Michael Macaluso, CARSTAR, President • David Mitchell, Car Guys Automotive, CEO • Ron Nagy, Nagy Collision Cen58

ters, President • Tim O’Day, The Boyd Group, President & COO • Vince Romans, The Romans Group, Managing Partner & CEO • Dave Roberts, FOCUS Investment Banking, LLC., Managing Director and Automotive Group Team Leader • Mark Sanders, Caliber Collision Centers, President & COO • Roy Schnepper, Butlers Collision, President • Marcy Tieger, Symphony Advisors, LLC., Managing Director • Russell Thrall III, CollisionWeek, Publisher & Editor-In-Chief • John Walcher, Veritas Advisors, Inc., President • Rick Wood, Cooks Collision, President & co-CEO

The 2018 MSO Symposium will take place during NACE Automechanika on Thursday, August 9, in Atlanta, GA, at the Georgia World Congress Center.

This year’s symposium will offer insight on the latest trends and developments in the collision repair industry, as well as discuss unique dialogue revolving around some of

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

Congressional Steps to Dismantle Federal Insurance Office Continue

The U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Financial Services passed a series of six bills designed to reduce federal regulations.

One of the bills, HR 3861, Federal Insurance Office Reform Act of 2017, introduced last year was part of the package approved by a vote of 36-21. The legislation dilutes the authority of the Federal Insurance Office (FIO), which is part of the U.S. Department of Treasury.

U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy, R-WI, introduced HR 3861 in 2017. The Automotive Service Association (ASA) supported the creation of the FIO in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. ASA opposes HR 3861. Many assumed that HR 3861 was dead for this session because the recently signed Dodd-Frank Act reform

package did not contain House language that would have eliminated FIO. ASA was successful in protecting FIO during the latest DoddFrank Act reform efforts. The committee’s current action is a similar attempt to curtail FIO’s impact on federal insurance regulation.

“We will need collision repairers to stand with us one more time this congressional session to protect a regulatory tool that is structured to help consumers and collision repairers,” said Scott Benavidez, AAM, ASA Collision Operations Committee director from Albuquerque, NM. “Congress was clear in recent weeks that FIO did not need reform, yet we are faced with an additional attempt to dismantle this useful federal agency.”

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the greatest challenges that large multi-shop organizations face. Attendees will benefit from the program’s knowledgeable speakers, presentations, networking opportunities and diverse panel discussions.

The MSO Symposium is the place for executives representing multi-shop operators (MSOs), along with single-location collision repair facilities with annual sales exceeding $3 million, to come together to discuss how these trends will impact their business and the industry. In addition, speakers and panelists will share their experiences and knowledge to provide this prominent sector of the collision repair industry insight as to how they facilitated their business’ growth and overcame obstacles on their path to success.

Registration for the MSO Symposium is now open at www.NACE Automechanika.com/mso.

The event is also open to property and casualty insurance company executives and OEM representatives.

For inquiries, please contact Jennie Lenk at JennieL@MSOSymposium .com, or Brian Nessen at BrianN@ MSOSymposium.com

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59

Insurance Hearing Shows Need for Autonomous Vehicles Data Access

by Brittney Kohler, CitiesSpeak

On May 23, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on the impact of autonomous vehicles (AVs) on the future of insurance.

In light of the Senate’s American Vision for Safer Transportation through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies Act (AV START Act), this hearing brings another critical perspective on AVs. For cities, the hearing yielded two crucial takeaways on the issue’s policy future.

First, data access is not guaranteed in the AV START Act for the car owner or even the insurer, yet insurers are required by law to price by risk, making it critical to insurance companies. Second, the insurance sector expects shifts in how cars are insured and new risk models in order to evolve with AV technology.

Chairman Sean Duffy (R-WI) presided over a panel of witnesses who are directly involved in the growth of AV technology and its impacts on insurance. The panel was made up of David Carlson, a U.S. manufacturing and automotive practice leader at Marsh and McLennan; Ryan Gammelgard, counsel to the public policy resource group at State Farm; Sam Geraci, the vice president of strategy for American Family Mutual Insurance Company; Ian Adams, assistant vice president at the R Street Institute; and Jack Gillis from the Consumer Federation of America.

The panel was teed up to answer important questions about the safe and effective rollout of AVs and what this new technology might change.

Panel members expressed that data—in particular, crash data— will be necessary in order to do their jobs and provide an accurate riskbased assessment of the vehicles for their policies. Gammelgard spoke of the importance of data for the insurance industry, for “by law [they] match price to risk” and if they are not given access to the data they “might not be able to do so.”

Adams echoed this concern, stating that “insurers will need to be able to access data related to autonomous vehicle operation if they hope to create products that meaningfully reflect risk.” Gammelgard added that while 60

data “is critical for liability determinations,” it is also “important [to the public] in determining the safety and reliability of technology.”

Geraci also noted that “regulated review and validation of rates and coverage requires insurers to provide state insurance regulators with extensive levels of actuarially valid data on crashes [and] their frequency and severity,” a task that might prove impossible without access to the crash data in AVs. Geraci continued that there has been widespread data collection on human drivers and their accidents, and it should be the same for AVs now.

The data that insurers want is just the crash data, and would “not include private data or confidential business [proprietary] data,” Geraci said.

Currently in the AV START Act, there is no requirement that data of any kind from AVs will be shared, even for crash data. Gillis pointed out that in the AV START Act—which would expand testing in order to get the technology into commercial use more quickly—”accident data is not being made available to the public, including insurers.”

Without such data, the insurers will be “left to guess [the levels of risk] or rely on the companies’ safety claims” added Gillis.

Gammelgard noted that “any attempt to include data access provisions [has been] met with great resistance.”

Gillis went on to say that it could be the role of the federal government to “ensure that crash data is made publicly available.”

Both Geraci and Gammelgard were supportive of the Inhofe amendment to the AV START Act that would create a Data Access Coalition to set up recommendations for a potential future data access structure. However, it would take two years to make recommendations even while AVs would continue to be put on the roads.

Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA) asked the panel what steps are being taken to assess the safety of AVs before they are put on the road since they are “not required to submit safety assessment letters to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” to which Geraci answered that the “[data is needed] to understand

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

safety performance.” Rep. Sherman seemed open to the idea of the federal government having a role in ensuring that data, saying that “maybe Congress ought to help with requirements that you get that data.”

The second major takeaway from the hearing centered on the shifting landscape of the insurance market itself in response to AVs entering and taking over the automotive scene. Gammelgard said that higher and higher levels of automation on the road “will necessitate changes in the types of policies offered” by insurance companies, particularly as vehicle ownership shifts from the individual to corporate level. David Carlson said that as the technologies advance, the “liability pendulum will shift from personal auto to commercial product liability.”

This means that companies will likely buy insurance policies on a fleet basis. Carlson said that “fleet coverages are likely to become admitted coverages subject to greater underwriting and rating security.” Such a shift from personal to commercial in-

surance begs the question of what individuals will do to protect themselves from risk. Some, such as Gammelgard, see personal mobility coverage rising— policies that “insure the person on every step of their day.”

As the hearing showed, AVs stand to revolutionize the transportation industry and the insurance guidelines for it. This technology could bring mobility to those who are traditionally restricted, such as the older Americans and those who have disabilities.

The experts at the hearing showed that part of a responsible rollout would address data sharing from AVs, and specifically, continuing to make safety data available to the public and insurance companies so that they can make accurate risk-based assessments. Congress still could include a more certain answer on data access in the AV START Act, and cities along with the insurance industry should be watching what this means for the future of our roads.

We thank CitiesSpeak for reprint permission.

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Regional Association Event Announcements: July 2018

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

ASA-MI Plans Golf Outing On July 9, ASA-MI will host its 33rd Annual Golf Outing at the Eagle Eye Golf Course in Bath, MI. The four-person scramble will feature a variety of contests and prizes, including longest putt, hole-in-one contests, straightest drive, closest to the pin and more. For more information about the golf outing, call 517-484-2950 or visit www.golfasa michigan.com.

Night at the Ball Park for IGONC’s Triangle Chapter The Triangle Chapter of the Independent Garage Owners of North Carolina (IGONC) will host its annual Night at the Ball Park on July 13. The group will attend a Durham Bulls Game. The $30 tickets include seats in an air-conditioned suite, food provided by IGO Wake unit and plenty of fun. For more information, contact Paul Morrow at morropaul3@aol.com or 919-2712674.

ASA-Midwest Is Seeking Courses for 2019 VISION Hi-Tech Training

and Expo The VISION Training Committee is seeking course proposals for the 2019 VISION Hi-Tech Training and Expo, to be held Feb. 28 through March 3, 2019 at the Overland Park Convention Center in Kansas City, KS. The group is seeking proposals for management, technical and heavy duty training courses, and the schedule will feature three, six and eight-hour sessions held in classroom, live-car and hands-on settings. The course submission form is available at submissions.visionkc.com. For additional information, contact Sheri Hamilton at 816-413-9800 or sheri@visionkc .com.

ASA-AZ to Host Tucson Automotive Roundable ASA-AZ’s Tucson Chapter will host an Automotive Roundtable on July 3, beginning at 6 p.m. The event will be held at the El Corral Restaurant in Tucson, AZ. This event provides an opportunity for members to share challenges and identify solutions with their peers.

For more information, visit www .asaaz.org.

NABC, CREF Announce Winners of Chuck Sulkala NABC Appreciation Scholarship

The Collision Repair Education Foundation and the National Auto Body Council (NABC) are proud to announce the recipient of the Chuck Sulkala NABC Appreciation Scholarship.

The Sulkala scholarship program honors NABC Founder and longtime Executive Director Chuck Sulkala, who retired earlier this year.

Sulkala is also a Trustee Emeriti of the foundation.

The 2018 Chuck Sulkala NABC Appreciation Scholarship recipient, Cody Bayless (Washburn Tech, Topeka, KS), will receive a $2,000 scholarship to fund his education in the collision industry. Bayless has participated in numerous activities, including Recycled Rides, SkillsUSA and Toys for Tots.

“It is an honor to have the Collision Repair Education Foundation give out the first of what we plan to be an annual scholarship in the name of a family that has given so much to this industry,” said Stacy Bartnik, who is a past chair of both the Foundation Board of Trustees and the National Auto Body Council. “Chuck is one of my mentors and has been an influence

on not only my career, but on those of many of us in the industry. This scholarship will help ensure that the Sulkala Family influence continues to help our industry into the future.”

How to donate to the Chuck Sulkala NABC Appreciation Scholarship Individuals and companies who wish to contribute to the Sulkala scholarship fund can: • Donate online on the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) website and select the Sulkala scholarship • Text SULKALA to 91999 • Mail check to CREF at 5125 Trillium Blvd., Hoffman Estates, IL 60192 • Contact Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at 847-4635244 Industry members interested in working together with the Collision Repair Education Foundation in supporting secondary and post-secondary collision repair students, instructors and their school programs should contact Eckenrode at 847463-5244 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ ed-foundation .org.

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61

AMi Honors Class of 2018 at ASA Annual Business Meeting & Conference

ager (AAM), Accredited Master Collision-Repair Estimator (AMCE) and Accredited Master Automotive Managers (AMAM) designations during the ceremony.

“It was an honor to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of this group of industry professionals during our graduation ceremony. We are excited to see the growth of AMi reflected in the number of graduates and the diversity of certifi2018 AMi Graduation at ASA Annual Conference cates and professional May 4 at the Walt Disney World designations being awarded,” said Swan & Dolphin Hotel and Resort AMi President Jeff Peevy, AMAM. AMi role-based designations in Orlando, FL. The formal graduation cere- highlight the growing role soft skills mony was part of the Automotive and business management education Service Association’s “Celebration play in the success of today’s autoof Excellence” award ceremony, motive repair business. Students which recognized individuals and focus on multiple core categories of organizations that have made sig- training and professional developnificant contributions to AMi, ASA ment: financial management, sales & and/or the automotive repair indus- marketing, operational management, HR and personnel development, IT try.

AMi recognized students earn- management, risk management and ing the Accredited Automotive Man- leadership.

The Automotive Management Institute (AMi), the industry’s leading provider of management education for automotive service and collision repair professionals, held its first graduation ceremony of 2018 on

WAC Moves Forward With New Officers, Future Plans

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

The members of Women in Automotive and Collision (WAC) met on May 15 at Gateway Motorsports in Madison, IL, to continue the group’s efforts to move the association forward and discuss recent successes.

According to WAC President Shelly Jones, “We started the meeting by going over the mission and the introductions with each participant by saying their name, business and time in the industry. There were a lot of great stories shared of growing up in the industry and why this group is important for the industry.

Several members have offered to donate dinner when we do not have a corporate dinner sponsor. Dinner for this meeting was donated by Secretary Peggy Vorwald, who shared her industry story with the group. We call this a member spotlight.”

WAC discussed plans to create the group’s official website and revealed its new table cloth for industry events. They also talked about recently attended events and which events they plan to attend in the future. Recently, WAC’s Sheena Wagner and Jess Crump set up a 62

table at the Rockwood Summit High School Biodiesel Car Show, where they talked to attendees about the career opportunities available in the automotive industry.

Thanks to Wagner’s efforts as sponsorship coordinator, WAC has been joined by several corporate sponsors, including Cooper Color Inc., American Family Insurance, Sikkens, LKQ Corporation and PPG. The group is grateful to these companies for supporting its mission.

In addition to maintaining WAC’s Facebook page, Social Media Manager Tricia Belz is developing a LinkedIn page for the group. During the meeting, WAC also announced that Sarah Young from Original One Parts will fill the role of marketing coordinator for the association.

Jones stated, “Sarah has already used her amazing graphic design talents to create forms and handouts for the group to use.”

Young shared her take on the meeting as well.

“It wasn’t a drag… pun intended!” she said. “As the group gathered at Gateway Motorsports Park, and after some open dialogue intro-

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

ASA Announces New 2018 Board of Directors

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) announced changes to its Board of Directors following its Annual Business Meeting May 2– 4 at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotel and Resort in Orlando, FL. ASA Chairman Roy Schnepper, AAM, Butler’s Collision, Roseville, MI, who is serving the second year of his two-year term, is looking forward to working with the new leadership team.

“As I look at our new leadership, I believe we have a strong team in place to help chart the association’s growth and progress on new initiatives as we move forward,” Schnepper said.

Members of the 2018 Board include: • Chairman: Roy Schnepper, AAM, Butler’s Collision, Roseville, MI • Chairman Elect: Bob Wills, AMAM, owner of Wills Auto Service in Battle Creek, MI, and the immediate past director of ASA’s Mechanical Division Operations Committee • Secretary/Treasurer: Fred Hules, AMAM, owner of Tech 1 Auto in

ductions, there would be small pauses to watch the drag cars do test runs.

Everyone is excited to know that we are trying to do something, specifically something that will help drive successful women in the industry and create awareness of opportunities with careers in the industry. It’s crucial for both the sponsors and the association to stay active and aware of each other’s existence. To be able to have support from both aspects helps continue the efforts of bringing more innovation and partnerships within the industry for a better outreach.”

For more information, visit WAC’s Facebook group at https://www .facebook.com/groups/wacstl/about.

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Peoria, AZ • General Director: Elissa Larremore, owner of CBS 1 Collision, based in Shreveport, LA • General Director: Todd Black, AMAM, owner of Unlimited Service, Bellingham, WA • Mechanical Division Director: Tom Piippo, AMAM, owner of Tri-County Motors, Rudyard, MI • Collision Division Director: Scott Benavidez, AAM, owner of Mr. B’s Paint & Body Shop, Albuquerque, NM • Immediate Past Chairman: Darrell Amberson, AMAM, owner of LaMettry’s Collision, Minneapolis, MN Dan Risley, ASA president/executive director, also serves on the ASA Board of Directors in an ex-officio capacity.

Retiring from the ASA Board of Directors is Ed Cushman, AMAM, C&H Auto, Spokane, WA. “ASA wants to thank Ed for his great service and commitment to the Board, to the association and, most of all, to its members, whom he always puts first. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” said Schnepper.

How Will Autonomous Cars Impact Cities?

National League of Cities (NLC), in partnership with the Bloomberg Aspen Initiative on Autonomous Vehicles, recently released a series of interactive future scenarios for autonomous vehicles.

These scenarios aim to help cities envision how autonomous technologies can improve life for residents by improving mobility, decreasing isolation and increasing the use of public space.

They will also help city leaders anticipate and plan for some of the risks that could include increasing congestion, lost revenue and new safety concerns.

More than 100 cities around the world have been mapped on the Global Atlas of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) in Cities as piloting AVs, or have committed to doing so in the near future. Around 40 cities in the U.S. are on that list.

The reports touch on the need for legislation to govern the rollout and operation of these new technologies, as well as further research on artificial intelligence, safety precautions and limitations.

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63

Rescue Equipment Manufacturers Join NABC to Expand First Responder Program

The National Auto Body Council (NABC) recently announced that its First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™) program is ready to kick into high gear with the addition of rescue tool manufacturers Hurst Jaws of Life and Genesis Rescue Systems providing instructors for NABC member-hosted extrication events nationwide.

NABC’s F.R.E.E. program is unique in that it provides first responders with hands-on practice specifically on late model vehicles equipped with today’s new car technology, including lighter weight, high-strength steels, sophisticated electronics and multiple airbag systems.

With the resources of Hurst Jaws of life and Genesis Rescue Systems, two of the largest manufacturers of rescue equipment in the U.S., NABC can now offer more opportunities for NABC members to host F.R.E.E. events and provide valuable extrication practice opportunities to hundreds more first responders nationwide.

To support the increased demand for F.R.E.E. events, State Farm has committed to providing the majority of the salvage vehicles for the pro-

road. It’s critical that first responders train on new model vehicles that are not always easy to acquire. NABC and the F.R.E.E. Program present an excellent opportunity to do just that.”

Shelby Howell, administrator of training, Genesis Rescue Systems, added, “Genesis Rescue Systems focuses on offering and participating in programs that help first responders stay safe and save lives. With a strong focus on research and development along with engineering, we achieve a goal of producing an entire line of equipment that is ergonomically friendly, quick to deploy and easy for rescuers JL Freed Honda hosted two NABC F.R.E.E. events, a to do their job. Assisting morning and afternoon session, to accommodate 80 the National Auto Body Philadelphia-area first responders. Vehicles were Council with their First Reprovided by State Farm with instruction and rescue sponder Emergency Extritools from Hurst Jaws of Life cation (F.R.E.E.) Program to first responders,” said Mike is a good fit for Genesis and a winCanon, director of rescue sales for win for all stakeholders, rescue perHurst Jaws of Life. “These new chal- sonnel [and] even more importantly, lenges include stronger and stronger crash victims.”

NABC’s F.R.E.E. program is ofultra high-strength steels, more pressurized airbag cylinders, and more fered to first responders at no charge hybrid and electric vehicles on the as a community service and hosted at gram with additional support from Allstate. Each event typically requires 3–4 vehicles for approximately 40 participating first responders to practice their cutting and extricating skills.

“Auto extrication presents increasingly complex rescue challenges

NABC repair shop facilities. The typical F.R.E.E. event consists of a onehour class instruction by rescue equipment experts, followed by three hours of hands-on extricating practice using the latest equipment on late-model vehicles staged to simulate crash scenes.

“Since the inception of NABC’s F.R.E.E. program, we have had high demand from our member shops eager to support their local first responder communities,” said George Avery, F.R.E.E. program manager.

“The hands-on practice is invaluable to help prevent further injury to the victim or to the first responders themselves. Knowing specifically where and how to efficiently cut and extricate can make the difference in saving precious minutes and lives as well as the safety of the first responders. We are thrilled to have Hurst and Genesis come on board to expand the reach of the F.R.E.E. program.”

For more information or to sign up to host a F.R.E.E. event, visit NationalAutoBodyCouncil.org or contact Avery at g.avery@NationalAutoBody Council.org.

WIN Elects New Board

The Women’s Industry Network’s (WIN®) mission is to support and enhance the role of women in the collision repair industry by promoting education, professional advancement and networking.

The following appointments were recently made: Chair, Michelle Sullivan, FinishMaster, Inc.; ViceChair, Jenny Anderson, Enterprise Holdings Inc.; Treasurer, Cheryl Boswell, DCR Systems, LLC; Secretary, Kathy Coffey, AkzoNobel Coatings, Inc.; and Immediate Past Chair, Petra Schroeder, Collisionista.

It was also confirmed that the following Board members will continue their service to the organization: Jaclyn Byers, State Farm Insurance; Yen Hoang, UYL Color Supply, Inc.; April Lausch, Faulkner Collision Center; Denise Kingstrom, BASF Corporation; Louisa Martone, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes; Kathy Mello, TGIF Body Shop, Inc.; Debbie Menz, Axalta Coatings Systems; Nina PedrazaZinna, I-CAR; Marie Peevy, Automotive Training Coordinators, LLC.; and Beverly Rook-Twibell, Safelite Solutions.

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Authors of ‘The Secrets of America’s Greatest Body Shops’ Announce Audio Version

Dave Luehr, the author of “The Secrets of America’s Greatest Body Shops,” announced on May 24 that the audio version of the highly acclaimed industry book will be available for purchase in June 2018.

He and his co-author, Stacey Phillips, released the paperback in April 2017 and followed up with a Kindle version later that year.

“I felt that the book was very well-received in the collision repair industry, and I could not be happier about that,” said Luehr. “However, understanding that many of those in the industry find it difficult to find the time to read, or just don’t like to read, we felt it necessary to make an audio version available.”

Throughout the book, the authors share insightful lessons along with real-world stories of actual collision repairers who have discovered the six secrets that have propelled them to a much higher

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level than their competitors.

Stay tuned for more information about the release date of the book and where it can be purchased. To schedule an interview with Luehr, visit: elitebodyshopso lutions.as.me/media.

With more than 30 years of expertise developing the profitability and efficiency of collision repair shops, Dave Luehr combines his decades as a body shop owner with his expertise gained at some of America’s leading collision repair organizations as founder of Elite Body Shop Solutions.

Stacey Phillips is the owner of Radiant Writing & Communications. She has more than 20 years of experience editing and writing for a wide range of businesses and industries.

For more information, email: info@ bodyshopsecrets.com

www.autobodynews.com

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Beverly Rook-Twibell Acknowledged With 2018 WIN Cornerstone Award

The Women’s Industry Network (WIN®) holds the contributions of its many volunteers in the highest regard.

2018 WIN Cornerstone Award winner Beverly Rook-Twibell (left) with Petra Schroeder, outgoing WIN Chair

Each year, the WIN Cornerstone Award recognizes the efforts of a board member whose actions and unique contributions demonstrate their commitment to the WIN mission and vision and set an example for others to follow.

During the 12th Annual WIN Educational Conference “Racing to Connect,” which was held in Indianapolis, IN, May 7–9, 2018, Beverly Rook-Twibell of Safelite

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Solutions was recognized as the 2018 recipient of this prestigious award by Petra Schroeder, outgoing WIN Chair.

“We are so fortunate that the WIN board has so much talent contributing to our success and completing our goals, so this was a difficult task for the WIN Chair.

Bev represents what a true cornerstone is. Always ready and prepared, she provides solid input and feedback,” said Schroeder. “Even with all her business commitments, she makes time to stay involved, active and accountable for WIN, especially with our young people in this industry. She was instrumental in refining processes for the scholarship committee. My admiration goes out to her when I see all the details she handles that make it seamless for the scholarship winners to attend the conference. Congratulations!”

To learn more about WIN programs or for information on becoming a member, please visit the WIN website at www.Womens IndustryNetwork.com.

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autobodynews.com / JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

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Most Influential Women Celebrated at WIN 2018 Conference

Women’s Industry Network (WIN®) conference attendees and other distinguished guests celebrated this year’s recipients of the Most Influential Women (MIW) award on May 8 during a ceremony held at the 2018 Educational Conference in Indianapolis, IN. The event provided a glimpse into the MIW program’s history, recognized past recipients of the award and honored the 2018 recipients.

The Most Influential Women award is given annually to women in the collision repair industry who exemplify qualities of business and

2018 Most Influential Women honorees

civic leadership, vision and commitment to excellence. The MIW program’s charter aligns with WIN’s mission to “enhance the role of women in the industry.” For 20 years, the award has recognized nearly 90 women for their professional accomplishments and for going beyond requirements of their positions to give back to their communities.

This year, guests honored the 2018 winners: Shelly Bickett, Fix Auto USA; Mary Mahoney, Enterprise Holdings, Inc.; Marie Peevy, Automotive Training Coordinators, LLC; and Petra Schroeder, Collisionista.

The evening was emceed

AAPEX 2018 Partners With 10 Organizations To Train Automotive Aftermarket Professionals

AAPEX 2018 is partnering with 10 leading organizations to deliver the most robust education program to date to ensure professionals stay ahead of the curve and facilitate their businesses’ growth in today’s high-tech automotive aftermarket industry.

With more than 50 sessions, the 2018 AAPEXedu program will focus on many of the key issues facing today’s automotive aftermarket professionals

AAPEX represents the $740 billion global automotive aftermarket industry and will take place Tuesday, Oct. 30 through Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas.

The 2018 AAPEXedu program will include expert-led training from the Auto Care Association, the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), AVI, IHS Markit, MERA - The Association for Sustain66

able Manufacturing, NARSA – the International Heat Transfer Association, Northwood University, the NPD Group and RLO Training.

In this year’s Mobility Garage, AVI also will offer underhood demonstrations and the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) will provide electric and alternative fuel vehicle demonstrations.

More than 50 AAPEXedu sessions will make up the 2018 program. While many are suitable for all automotive aftermarket audiences, the program also offers specific sessions designated for automotive service professionals and repair shops, parts suppliers, national service chains, manufacturers and professionals under 40.

The AAPEXedu sessions are organized in the following tracks: technology, industry trends, service professionals program, business management, import/export, heating/cooling, heavy duty, paint & body, and a young professionals program. To see 2018 AAPEXedu topics and a schedule, visit the AAPEX website at www.aapexshow.com.

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

by 2017 Most Influential Women Renee Ricciotti and Liz Stein.

“It was such a pleasure to celebrate with the MIW recipients. They are outstanding women who have made an amazing impact on this industry,” said Cheryl Boswell, cochair of the MIW Committee. “I would like to thank the MIW sponsors who made the celebration possible.”

This year’s MIW sponsors are as follows:

• MIW Vision Sponsor: Automotive Color & Supply Corp • MIW Leadership Sponsors: Audatex, a Solera Company; CCC Information Service Inc.; Enterprise Holdings, Inc.; and PPG Industries Inc. • MIW Supporter Sponsors: CSN Collision Centres, DCR Systems, The Doan Group, PPG Industries Inc. and Spanesi

Please join us in congratulating the 2018 Most Influential Women honorees! For MIW award details, criteria and nominations, please visit: https://thewomensindustrynetwork .siteym.com/page/MIW

Safelite Group Acquires Richardson Auto Glass

Safelite® Group, the nation’s leading vehicle glass services company and owner of Safelite® Solutions, has reached an agreement to acquire the assets of Richardson Auto Glass.

The transaction was completed on June 4. Richardson Auto Glass was founded in 1992 and grew to be a respected leader in the auto glass industry. The company now serves Dallas, TX, surrounding communities and east into Louisiana. Richardson is being sold to Safelite Group in order to enable its associates and clients to leverage Safelite’s operational systems, distribution network, global purchasing power, insurance and commercial relationships, and contact center operations. “The synergies with our businesses made this acquisition extremely attractive,” said Sean Queen, Richardson Auto Glass’ CEO. “Safelite’s focus on their people, innovation and service, as well as their leadership and outstanding reputation, nicely align with our philosophies.” With Safelite Group, the Richardson Auto Glass team will find a home with a 120year-old parent company, Belron®.

Auto Body Students Refurbish Car for Food Service Worker in San Diego, CA

by Marcella Lee, CBS 8

A Hoover High School food service worker has a new, reliable way to get to work, thanks in part to students at a San Diego, CA, high school.

Debra Davis received a car refurbished by students in an auto body technician program.

As the shiny white Mazda wrapped with a bright red bow rolled out of the paint bay at Morse High School, Davis couldn’t contain herself. She wore a look of sheer joy, shock and surprise at the sight of her new ride.

Once in the driver’s seat, Davis wasn’t quite sure how to even start her new car.

“I’m not used to a new car, ya’ll,” she said. “What do I do?”

For years, Davis had previously been driving a 1976 Chevy Malibu to and from Hoover High school, where she works as a food service worker.

“I feed the kids, I prepare the food, I talk to them, I stop them from fighting,” Davis said. “They don’t cuss. They have to respect,

and they call me ‘Aunt Debbie.’”

“Debbie comes to campus every single day with a smile on her face, ready to take on the day and serve our students,” said Jason Babineau at Hoover High. “So, to see this gift that so many people have been a part of in making it happen is a wonderful thing.”

Davis also drives across San Diego County to serve meals to homeless people and volunteer at nursing homes, which is why the charities Recycled Rides and Kids for Peace decided to gift her a new set of wheels.

“Thank you all so much, thank you all so much,” Davis said. “I’m looking for my reward in heaven and you all gave me a little bit here on Earth.”

Davis said she wants to thank students at Morse High School’s auto body shop who volunteered their time and talent to repair the dings and dents out of the 2014 recovered stolen vehicle, donated by State Farm.

We thank CBS 8 for reprint permission.

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autobodynews.com / JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

67

VeriFacts Automotive Opens Collision Technology Center

VeriFacts Automotive recently announced the opening of a new technology center located at 3202 Shannon St. in Santa Ana, CA. This investment furthers VeriFacts’ mission to “Fix it Right, Fix it Smart.”

VeriFacts expanded its footprint in April to include a vehicle workshop to facilitate the creation and presentation of hands-on collision repair clinics that promote safe and proper repairs. VeriFacts is also committed to studying ways to improve efficiencies that reduce the entire collision repair cycle. VeriFacts is now capable of providing in-house technical repair and equipment demonstrations to collision repairers, insurers and OEMs. VeriFacts is continually striving to discover innovative opportunities and new ways to leverage today’s technology to improve repair outcomes, reduce customer comebacks and elevate customer satisfaction. VeriFacts is developing technology offerings for collision repair that will help make sure every car is repaired correctly.

This new technology will allow VeriFacts to better support both its current and future programs.

Families File Keyless System Lawsuits After Carbon Monoxide Deaths

by Eric T. Chaffin, The Legal Examiner

In the mid-1990s, keyless ignition systems started to become available in luxury vehicles. Today, they are much more popular and are offered as standard or optional equipment in many models. They’re convenient and easy to use, as the driver can start the car without having to insert a physical key into the ignition. But the lack of a key is also allegedly creating some safety risks. According to recent reports from the New York Times and other media outlets, more than two dozen people have been killed from carbon monoxide poisoning after failing to shut off their vehicles with keyless ignitions.

An additional 45 have suffered injuries from carbon monoxide gas.

Mom and Son Suffer Symptoms From Carbon Monoxide After Leaving Car Running Keyless entry and ignition systems have no traditional key, but instead have only a push-button to unlock and start the car. The system works by sending an encoded signal to a receiver in the car. This signal then tells the car to unlock or start the engine.

The button also needs to be pushed

to stop the car engine, but this is the step that is sometimes easily missed in everyday life. AJC News reports that a busy Florida mom left her car running in the garage as she hurried to start a conference call. She stated she pushed the button to close the garage door and somehow didn’t remember to push the button to stop the car. The car continued to run, sending carbon dioxide into the home. The mother’s 13month-old son later woke up screaming after midnight, and when she went to pick him up, he went limp in her arms.

She got dizzy herself and ran out into the garage, where she saw that the taillights on her car were still on and the engine was still running.

Florida Man Found Dead From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning The Times reports that a 75-year-old Florida man drove his Toyota into his garage and went into the house with the wireless key fob, apparently believing the car was shut off. Twentynine hours later he was found dead, a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning. His son later told the Times that his father thought that ‘when he took the key with him when he left the car, the car would be off.’ All of the deaths

associated with carbon monoxide poisoning from keyless systems have been associated with vehicles being left running in a garage. Injuries have included brain damage and death.

Without a physical key to actually turn and remove, some users forget to push the button, particularly if the car’s engine is quieter, which is often the case in the newer model vehicles.

Several years ago, the Society of Automotive Engineers called for the implementation of alerts into the car to let the driver know the engine was still running. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed a federal regulation to require manufacturers to add these modifications, but nothing has been passed yet.

Families File Keyless System Lawsuits Some automakers are voluntarily making the change. Ford’s keyless vehicles will now turn off automatically after 30 minutes of idling if the key fob is not in the vehicle. Meanwhile, families who have suffered injuries or deaths are filing lawsuits against carmakers, claiming the companies knew about the risks and failed to take appropriate action. We thank The Legal Examiner for reprint permission.

3M, CREF Announce 3M Hire Our Heroes Fundraiser

Since 2013, the 3M Hire Our Heroes program has generated more than $1,065,500 that was used toward scholarships and tool grants for military veterans and their family members pursuing a career in the collision repair industry.

This year, donors have two ways to show their support and win: The “Show Your Support” campaign and the 3M Hire Our Heroes 500.

Show Your Support Campaign All donations of $200 or more made to the Collision Repair Edu68

cation Foundation, earmarked for the “3M Hire Our Heroes fund” made before August 30, 2018 will receive a full-size 3M Hire Our Heroes Flag designed by Chip Foose and be entered into a drawing for the following prizes:

● 1st Prize- Authentic Racing Helmet, autographed by 40 Cup drivers from the 2017 season, including Dale Earnhardt Jr. and NASCAR legend Richard Petty! ● 2nd Prize- Authentic Racing Helmet, autographed by 40 Cup drivers from the 2016 season, including Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon! ● 3rd Prize- NASCAR® Racing Experience for 4 people at a track near you! ● 4th Prize-NASCAR® Racing Experience for 4 people at a track near you! ● 5th Prize- NASCAR® Racing Experience for 4 people at a track near you! ● 6th Prize- Petty’s Garage Sign Autographed by “the King,” Richard Petty! ● 7th Prize- Patriotic hood designed by Ryan “Ryno” Templeton!

JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

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3M Automotive Aftermarket Division, along with the Collision Repair Education Foundation, have launched their 2018 fundraiser to help support programs to attract and support military veterans seeking a career in the collision repair industry.

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NICB Releases Data on Animal-Related Insurance Losses, 91% Involve Deer

by Lynn Walford, Auto Connected Car News

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) released a study on the number of animal-related insurance losses for the years 2014–2017.

The data is gleaned from insurance claims for losses that occurred in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. A total of 1,740,425 animal-related insurance claims were processed with 1,739,687 of them— 99.9 percent—involving vehicles.

The actual number of incidents is likely much higher since many drivers do not choose to carry coverage for that type of event.

About 640,000 of those claims specified one of the top five animals involved and over the four-year period, 91 percent of those claims involved deer.

While all animal-related claims went up 6 percent over the four-year period, those that specified a deer

was involved actually declined by 30 percent.

The top five animals involved in vehicle collisions were deer (584,165), raccoons (22,644), dogs (20,610), turkeys (7,289) and coyotes (6,023).

The top five states where these incidents occurred were: Pennsylvania (145,728), New York (115,670), Texas (105,036), Wisconsin (81,282) and North Carolina (79,252).

The top five cities for these encounters were: San Antonio (3,945), Austin, TX (2,452), New York (2,442), Pittsburgh (2,115) and Rochester, NY (1,929).

You can download the complete report here and an infographic here.

Animal-related losses are good

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USHFS Discusses AVs’ Impact on Insurance

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services’ Subcommittee on House and Insurance recently held a hearing titled “The Impact of Autonomous Vehicles on the Future of Insurance” on Capitol Hill.

Witnesses included Ryan D. Gammelgard, State Farm; Sam Geraci, American Family Mutual Insurance Company; Ian Adams, R Street Institute; and Jack Gillis, Consumer Federation of America The hearing focused on the impact new vehicle technologies will have on the insurance industry.

Senate Bill 1885, the AV START Act, has stalled in the Senate. U.S. Sen. James Inhofe, R-OK, was successful in attaching an amendment to SB 1885 that requires a federal stakeholder committee, housed at the NHTSA, to review data access and cyber security issues as they relate to autonomous vehicles.

If SB 1885 is approved, the HAV Data Access Advisory Committee will report back to Congress on these most important data access and cyber security issues.

ASA National Announces Changes for ASA Midwest

The RIGHT

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reason to make sure that you have adequate insurance and understand your coverage to protect against losses from these and other kinds of damagecausing incidents. The average animal crash claim amounted to about $4,000 in 2016 according to one major insurer. That would have amounted to nearly $1.8 billion in claims in 2016.

Anyone with information concerning insurance fraud or vehicle theft can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 800-TEL-NICB (800-835-6422), texting keyword “fraud” to TIP411 (847411) or submitting a form on NICB’s website. Or, download the NICB Fraud Tips app on your iPhone or Android device.

We thank Auto Connected Car News for reprint permission.

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ASA National announced changes to its regional affiliate ASA-Midwest.

ASA-Midwest, which is comprised of six states (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas and Oklahoma), will be restructured.

Arkansas and Oklahoma will no longer be part of ASA Midwest.

In addition, ASA-Midwest’s members will realize a reduction in their annual dues. The reduced administrative expense and a shift to a more virtual environment of meetings and member services is one of the many benefits resulting from these changes which will be effective October 1, 2018.

ASA National will announce a new executive director for ASAMidwest in the coming weeks. Dan Risley, ASA President stated, “The changes will allow us to better serve a broader base of members in these states and hopefully garner an increase in participation as we move to a more virtual means to communicate regularly amongst the board of directors, staff and membership.”

Recent legislation in these areas

surrounding safety inspection programs is a great example of the need for increased communication and representation.

“One example of the need for increased activity is that state vehicle safety inspections are continually under attack at a state level. Our goal is to strengthen our foothold at the state level as we believe legislation will be introduced again in the coming year,” said Bob Redding, ASA Washington D.C. representative. “We look forward to working with the other associations in these states to better support the collision and mechanical repair industries.”

Shop owners in Oklahoma or Arkansas who are interested in participating and assisting with the formation of a state association can contact Tony Molla, ASA Vice President, by email at tonym@asashop.org.

“We recognize the need for a strong state association in these areas and we are committed to making that a reality. State associations are the building blocks and foundation of ASA,” said Roy Schnepper, ASA Chairman.

autobodynews.com / JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS

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