Southwest Edition Texas Oklahoma Louisiana New Mexico
29
YEARS
www.autobodynews.com ww ww.autobodynews.com
Bills Introduced in TX Require Full Disclosure About DRP Policies Texas Representative Craig Eiland introduced House Bill 2276 to the Texas House of Representatives on March 10; the bill is aimed at restricting insurers from limiting the parts, labor charges and repair shop the insured may choose to use. “An insurer may not directly or indirectly limit the insurer ‘s coverage under a policy covering damage to a motor vehicle by: (1) specifying the brand, type, kind, age, vendor, supplier, or condition of parts or products that may be used to repair the vehicle; [or] (2) specifying maximum labor charges for the repair of the vehicle; or (3) limiting the beneficiary of the
policy to selecting a repair person or facility to repair damage to the vehicle from a list provided to the beneficiary by the insurer,” the bill states. The bill also addresses full disclosure of an insurers repair policies and processes for claim payments through a direct repair facility and a non-direct repair facility to the insured. According to the bill insurers must also disclose to non-direct repair shops the processes and requirements to gain the DRP contract with that insurer. Eiland, who is Vice Chair of the House Insurance Committee, introSee TX DRP Bill, Page 16
Japan’s Quake, Tsunami Roils US Auto Industry as Yen surges, Auto parts’ prices likely to climb
If there was ever any doubt that the auto industry is now a completely global enterprise, Japan’s devastating quake, wave, and nuclear disaster is proving that no automaker can go it alone. One week after the devastating tsunami the situation is still critical
and most of Japan’s huge auto industry is teetering, costing the global industry hundreds of millions of dollars. ● On Thursday, March 17, American Honda Motor Co. Executive Vice President John Mendel sent a memo to U.S. Honda and Acura dealers saying the disaster in Japan will disrupt dealer orders into May. ● General Motors’ Shreveport, La, factory, which builds the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups, closed because it ran out of a Japanese part that it did not identify. GM said March 19 it is cutting unnecesSee Auto Tsunami, Page 33
VOL. 29 ISSUE 4 APRIL 2011
Rich Evans Fronts Speed’s TV Hit Car Warriors
Autobody News’ Custom Columnist Rich Evans (kneeling) and the red-shirted All Stars try to school a new blue-shirted Challenger team every week in Speed’s new TV hit Car Warriors. Hard knocks and hissy fits abound, and not just from the guys
Rich Evans’ Car Warriors Interview by Ed Attanasio is online at www.autobodynews.com, search ‘Car Warriors’
REGIONAL STORIES in this issue...
Caliber Collision Expands in Houston, TX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 4
New Bills in TX Aimed at Towing, Storage Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 6
NWLCRA Discusses I-CAR, EDRs, and OSHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 7
LA and TX Collision Industry Loses Key Players . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 16
Bates Custom and Collision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p .32
Houston Association Finalizes Labor Rate Surveys . . . . . . . . . . .p. 4
Texas Lawmakers Want to End Driver Surcharges . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 14
Oklahoma Wants to Punish Uninsured Motorists . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 9
NATIONAL ARTICLES in this issue...
Progressive's EDR Now in 32 States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 7
Groupon Helps Body Shops Drum Up Local Customers . . . . . . .p. 22
PreFab Ads Has New TV Spots for Body Shops . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 10
COLUMNS in this issue...
Insurance Insider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 18
Hey Toby—Staying out of Trouble with OSHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 26
Yoswick—Paint Complaints Don’t Have to Lose Customers . . . .p. 30
Danalevich—Shop Strategies for Savings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 34
Amaradio—Underqualified Repairers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 36
Rich Evans—Remaking a 41 Chevy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 37
Gonzo Weaver—Quick Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 21
Sisk—AASP/NJ’s Northeast™ 2011 Trade Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 41
Change Service Requested
P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
Presorted Standard US Postage PAID Ontario, Ca. Permit No. 1