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Fighting for Safer Auto Repairs in Texas, ABAT Hosts Todd Tracy
national safety advocate and attorney Todd Tracy, the Auto Body AssociaThe fight for safety took a major step tion of Texas and leading auto body shop owners from around the state for forward on Oct. 24. Texas Watch was honored to join a wide-ranging conversation on how the insurance industry illegally steers consumers to insurancefriendly “repair” facilities, underestimates damage, refuses to pay for important safety scans and other necessary procedures, and suppresses labor rates all in the name of padding their bottom line. The consumer has a right to Burl Richards (l) discusses safe repairs with members by Staff, Texas Watch
of ABAT and Texas Watch
See Todd Tracy at ABAT, Page 12
Recruiting Firm Says Industry is Low-balling Texas Body & Paint Technicians with Salaries
Auto Body Paint Repair, a recruiting firm in the collision repair industry, says, “Recently, we spoke to over 30 candidates currently employed in the San Antonio and Austin, Texas markets. The average auto body and paint technician salary was only $48,000 per year with little or no benefits.” “San Antonio, Texas companies are willing to pay a minimum of $85,000 per year plus lucrative benefits just to hire that same highly skilled technician. This represents 77 percent more pay. Some even have additional performance bonuses, jumping annual pay up to $125,000 See Lowballing Salaries, Page 12
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The collision repair industry is lowballing many auto body and paint technicians in Texas and other states with salaries 77 percent lower than their same-skilled counterparts at competing collision repair and custom paint shops in the same city. Technicians don’t realize they are giving up tens of thousands of dollars per year in take-home pay, plus extra benefits. Often they have been working for the same small company for many years and don’t even realize how the automotive collision repair market pay structure has changed recently for growing companies. Laura Regan, hiring manager for
VOL. 35 ISSUE 12 DECEMBER 2017
Attorney Who Sued Texas Body Shop Urges Shops to Stand Up to Insurance Companies by John Yoswick
Shortly after gaining notoriety within the industry in 2013 for suing State
Texas attorney Todd Tracy told shops at SEMA in Las Vegas in November what they can do to avoid a suit like the one he brought against a shop for failure to follow OEM repair procedures
Farm over its mandated use of PartsTrader, Mississippi attorney John Eaves was speaking to shops during SEMA week in Las Vegas, recruiting participants for lawsuits against insurers that he said would revolution-
ize the industry. Four years later almost to the day, Texas attorney Todd Tracy told shops in a packed Las Vegas ballroom during this year’s SEMA that his recent $42 million lawsuit against a dealership body shop—and a subsequent related lawsuit against State Farm—also potentially marks the start of a profound shift for collision repairers. “This is a defining moment in your industry,” Tracy said. “You have a verdict that can change the industry.” Tracy was careful to point out that his goal isn’t to sue body shops for failure to follow OEM repair procedures, the basis of his legal victory against John Eagle Collision Center. Instead, like Eaves, Tracy has insurance companies in his legal crosshairs. See Stand Up, Page 22
Where Do OE Certification Programs Go Now, in a Post-John Eagle World? by Gary Ledoux
The John Eagle verdict that occurred back in October, and the $42M judgement for the plaintiffs, Matthew and Marcia Seebachan, who were severely injured in an incorrectly repaired Honda Fit was, no doubt, the biggest collision industry story of the year—if not the decade. Subsequently, shops have become acutely aware of the severe liability they open themselves up to when a repair is not performed according to OE procedures. Shops have a huge stake in this game. After all, when you come right down to it, the choice to follow OE procedures and a correct repair, or not, is solely up to the shop – the technician and shop owner or manager. But the OE’s have a big stake too. An OE’s brand is on the line at a cer-
tified shop. When a consumer sees an OE emblem attached to a shop’s office wall or on their website, they assume it is a quality shop and their car, the second largest investment they have, will be repaired correctly and safely. Consumers trust the OE brand – so the OE must be able to trust the shop. Unfortunately, there are so many other forces that drive the industry and may have an over-riding effect, even on those shops that are OE certified. On October 3, 2017, the day after the $42M verdict was rendered, the industry entered the post-John Eagle era. Times have changed. So where do we go from here? How does the industry make sure this doesn’t happen again? What role will the OE’s play? Will OE certification programs adapt and change with this paradigm shift? See Post John Eagle, Page 20
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2 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
COLUMNISTS Attanasio - 3M Hosts Reunion of 10 of the World’s Best Car Painters at SEMA . . . 38 Attanasio - WyoTech Launches Alumni Association at SEMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Body Shop Owners, Auto Service Consultant Present ‘Sales Training for Estimators’ at SEMA. . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Ledoux - Early Industry Pioneers Left Their Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Ledoux - In Reverse: Early Industry Pioneers Left Their Mark . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Phillips - Military Veteran Attributes Shop’s Success to Building Lifelong Relationships with Customers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Sisk - Auto Care Association Hosts First Legislative Summit in Five Years. . . . . . 28 Yoswick - Information Providers Made it Clear Five Years Ago Shops Can’t Opt-Out of Data Collection . . . . . . . . . . 32
NATIONAL 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division to Hold Silent Auction Featuring Custom-Painted Hoods . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Antelope, CA, Man Sentenced to Year in Prison for Selling Counterfeit Airbags . . 54 Auto Care Association Names Kirsten Zaremba New Senior Director, Marketing . 54 AWDA Presents Annual Awards Honoring Excellence in the Automotive Aftermarket Industry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Axalta Coating Systems New Products: Cromax EZ, Acquire Quantum EFX, and Cromax Chromapremier Pro Ultra Performance Primer Filler. . . . . . . . . . . 57 Caliber Collision Creates New Executive Roles to Accelerate Teammate & Client Satisfaction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Certified Collision Group™ Now Fifth-Largest Collision Repair Services Organization in U.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 CIC: New Vehicle Technologies Bringing Fresh Challenges for Collision Repairers . 4 CIF Extends Assistance to Victims of Puerto Rico and CA Natural Disasters . . 59 Collision Repair Market Is Projected To Be Around $246.78 Billion By 2022 . . . . . 44 Collision Repair Student Shares Dreams of Joining a Race Team, Building Own Car . . 9 Collision Safety Consultants Announces Newest Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Eleventh Circuit Restores Auto Body Shop Antitrust Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Fix Auto USA Announces Two New CA Locations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Gerber Collision & Glass Establishes a Presence in Tennessee . . . . . . . . . . . 53 GFS Now Offering Consulting Services for Improving Shop Throughput . . . . . . 52 GFS Partners with RollSeal to Offer Durable and Affordable Fabric Roll-Up Doors . . 50 Guidewire Software Announces Addition Of Enterprise As New Solution Alliance Partner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 I-CAR Honors Contributions to Collision Repair Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Learn from BASF Experts at SEMA 2017 . 58 I-CAR Honors Gene Scambray with Chairman’s Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Milton Unveils Modular, Auto-Draining Filter-Regulator-Lubricator Line . . . . . . 56 Mitchell Providing Collision Repair Industry Instant Access to Real-Time VIN-Specific Recall Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 More than $600,000 in School Grants through CREF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 NABC Receives Prestigious National Power of A—Summit Award . . . . . . . . 59 Nationwide Achieves I-CAR Insurance Gold Class Corporate Status . . . . . . . . 48 New I-CAR Hands-On Skills Development Courses Launched. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 New Metalux Platinum Primer Delivers Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Prominent Body Shop Owner’s Family Loses Five Homes in North Bay, CA, Fires . . . 33 Reports of AkzoNobel Approaching Axalta about Possible Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 SCRS Panel Tackles Major Topics at 2017 SEMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Second Annual “Insurer Report Card” Now Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Semi Crashes into Auto Body Repair Shop in Cicero, IL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Techs of Tomorrow: Former Student at IL Community College Dreams of Working for Major Paint Company . . . . . 3 Three Driven Brands Companies Named to Elite Franchising Times for Top 200 Ranking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Where Do OE Certification Programs Go Now, in a Post-John Eagle World? . . 1 WIN Announces Opening of Most Influential Women Nominations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 WIN Jumps in the Tank with Traci Brown. . 59 Wizards Products Introduces the ‘Wizard 12 Big Throw Mini’ Orbital Polisher . . . . . . 44 You Can Easily Trace a Car’s History, but Not Necessarily Their Parts . . . . . . 50
by Victoria Antonelli
Ricky Rosa of Aurora, IL, said he had never even changed his own oil before applying to the auto body program at Waubonsee Community College. “I needed a change in my life, so I did some research and found there was a desperate need for auto body technicians,” said the 30-year-old. Once Rosa started asking around about community colleges, he said he “heard nothing but wonderful things” about Andrew MacDonald, the collision repair instructor at Waubonsee. He enrolled in August 2016 and “happened to love it.” “It was all true,” Rosa said. “Andy took me from knowing nothing to being a solid auto body technician in a short amount of time.” “When Ricky first came to my class, he admittedly had never turned a wrench,” said MacDonald. “Yet he was inquisitive, attentive and very eager to learn.” MacDonald said that Rosa quickly
Ricky Rosa, former student at Waubonsee Community College in Illinois, dreams of someday working for a major paint company
became one of his most trusted students and his “go-to guy.” “He excelled in everything he was taught, and I knew he would think it through and try to figure things out before he would ask me,” said MacDonald. “In my class, he put a quarter
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 Sales Assistant: Randi Scholtes
A Few Old Shops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Ancira Volkswagen . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Audi South Austin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 51 AutoNation Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . 32 AutoNation Chrysler-Dodge-JeepRam NRH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 AutoNation Chrysler-Jeep-DodgeRam of North Phoenix. . . . . . . . . 27 Axalta Coating Systems . . . . . . . 5, 13 Bill Luke Chrysler-Dodge-JeepRam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 49 Bob Howard PDC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA). . . . . . . . . . . 19 Chapman Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 ChemSpec USA, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Chevyland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Classic BMW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Dallas Dodge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Dent Magic Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Don Carlton Auto Group . . . . . . . . . 36 ECS Automotive Concepts . . . . . . . 18 Equalizer Industries, Inc . . . . . . . . . 33 Finnegan Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge . . . . 2 Flatirons Subaru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 47 GM Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . 55
See Techs of Tomorrow, Page 16
Serving Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arkansas, Colorado, Arizona, Utah 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. ©2017 Adamantine Media LLC. Autobody News Box 1516, Carlsbad, CA 92018 (800) 699-8251 (760) 603-3229 Fax www.autobodynews.com editor@autobodynews.com
Southwest
REGIONAL ASA-CO Hosted Education Seminars in October . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Attorney Who Sued Texas Body Shop Urges Shops to Stand Up to Insurance Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 CARSTAR Joins Farmers Insurance Mountain Territory Agents Conference. . . . . . . . . 12 Fighting for Safer Auto Repairs in Texas, ABAT Hosts Todd Tracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Flooded Houston Cars already in San Antonio Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Laneys Collision Center in El Dorado, AR, Certified in New Kia Repair Program. . . 12 NM Crime Victim Takes Matters into Own Hands after Auto Body Shop Allegedly Stole Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Recruiting Firm Says Collision Repair Industry is Low-balling Texas Body Paint Technicians with Low Salaries . . . . 1 Sisk - ABAT Looks to Enhance Industry Standards, Starts with Consumer Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Sisk - NABR Introduces HABA to Variable Rate System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 State Farm & Body Pros Collision Donate 2008 Toyota Avalon to Family Promise of Greater Phoenix, AZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Texas Begins Revoking Titles for Dune Buggies, Sand Rails, other Kit Cars . . . 14 Vehicles Flooded by Harvey Await Fate at Insurance Processing Lots. . . . . . . . . . . 6
Indexof Advertisers
Contents
Techs of Tomorrow: Former Student at IL Community College Dreams of Working for Major Paint Company
Greeley Subaru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 GYS Welding USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Herkules Equipment Corporation. . . 6 Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30-31 Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers. . 56 Insta Finish Car Care . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Kia Motors Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Matrix Automotive Finishes. . . . . . . . 7 Mazda Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 57 Mike Calvert Toyota. . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Mitsubishi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 35 MWMtools.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 North Freeway Hyundai . . . . . . . . . 41 Polyvance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Ray Huffines Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . 37 SATA Dan-Am Company . . . . . . . . 11 South Pointe Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge. . 8 Spanesi Americas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Subaru of Little Rock . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 53 Toyota of Laredo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Toyota Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 52 Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Wizards Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Young Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 3
CIC: New Vehicle Technologies Bringing Fresh Challenges for Collision Repairers by John Yoswick
New challenges posed for collision repairers by increasingly complex vehicle technology were discussed during several presentations at the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) held in Las Vegas during SEMA week in early November. “I would challenge you, whether you are a repair facility [relying on] the dash light, or if you are an insurer that is still saying, ‘I’m not going to perform a post-scan because the light isn’t on.” There are very valid reasons why that light might not be on,” committee chairman Clint Marlow, an Allstate executive, said. Automakers at previous CIC meetings had outlined that not all of the hundreds of potential diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) that many vehicles track are even tied to a specific dash
Allstate’s Clint Marlow said shops and insurers shouldn’t decide not to conduct post-repair scanning based solely on a lack of dash lights being lit
light. But Marlow said dash lights also might not be triggered by temporary disruptions to a system’s functionality, such as the spray from a passing truck
Montana shop owner Matthew McDonnell said shops often need OEM training not only for their own employees, but in order to help train insurance adjusters and other shops in their market
momentarily disabling the lane-departure sensors and system. Having dash lights not continually coming on and off can help build consumer confidence in the systems, he said. But members of the committee in Las Vegas also noted that many DTCs found in a post-repair inspection may not be related to the claim or repair process. Matthew McDonnell, CEO of three Big Sky Collision shops in Montana, said he sees opportunity for shops and insurers to work together when such codes are found in a prerepair scan. That’s an opportunity for you [as a shop] to bring that information to
SCRS Panel Tackles Major Topics at 2017 SEMA by Ed Attanasio
What happens when two lawyers, an OEM and a former body shop owner talk about the hottest topics in the collision repair industry? Well, in this case, things got a little heated and the language became a little spicy, but in the end, the information offered was invaluable for those in attendance. On Nov. 2, at this year’s SEMA Show, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) presented a fourperson panel forum titled “The Hidden Dangers of Vehicle Technology, Improper Repair Methodology and Your Liabilities.” The panel, which was moderated by John Ellis, the managing director at Ellis & Associates, featured two attorneys—Todd Tracy of the Tracy Law Firm and
Erica Eversman of Vehicle Information Services, in addition to Mark Allen, collision programs director of Audi of America and Aaron Clark, a former collision repair facility owner
and the current VP Certification and Network Development at Assured Performance Network. The panel addressed an industry struggling to reconcile how to move forward when certain automotive manufacturer requirements are expected to be performed on every occasion, but
4 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
[the insurer] and say, ‘How would you like me to proceed with this,’” McDonnell said. “Because each case is going to be different, [so don’t] put the customer in the middle in the beginning. Maybe it’s an opportunity to win a customer over because together we’re going to go ahead and [handle the issue] anyway. We leave that in [the insurers’] ball court. That builds trust.” Virginia shop owner Barry Dorn said some vehicles have date and time stamps that help clarify which are claim-related and which are not. “That takes my opinion and your opinion and everyone’s opinion out. It is what it is,” Dorn said. Discussion throughout the meeting also emphasized the importance of vehicle scanning. McDonnell said a recent pre-repair scan during the blueprinting process in one of his shops included a recommendation to check a rear camera on the vehicle; upon close inspection, he said, it was determined the camera was damaged. “When would be the best time to find that out? After the car was delivered? Or during that disassembly?” McDonnell said, noting that finding it any later in the process could have impacted cycle time and customer satisfaction. But scanning has to be done hand-in-hand with checking the automaker repair procedures, Jake Rodenroth of asTech said during another CIC committee presentation. He said
he learned through OEM procedures that replacing the muffler on a BMW X5, for example, requires hooking up the vehicle to a scan tool. Similarly, Audi’s OEM procedures spell out that there are two windshield options for the 2016 A6, and the VIN alone will not indicate which is needed.
insurance claims positioning leans toward “case-by-case” approval. Participants were carefully vetted, and those with experience in facing liability and safety implications with performing repairs in today’s environment were chosen for the panel, according to SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg, who was delighted with the turnout and the quality of all of his panel discussions at this year’s SEMA. “I was so pleased to see so many fill the seats of the OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit, hungry for information and an exchange of ideas,” he said. “It was particularly noticeable as attendees were provided question cards to write out questions and comments that we delivered to the moderators during the event so they could integrate the audience feedback into
the panel discussion. The audience’s questions largely fueled the dialogue, filling every possible minute of the 90 and 120-minute sessions. The questions and comments were thoughtful, and steered the panelists on stage into some really interesting areas of conversation, and demonstrated the importance of connecting thought leaders and industry members. For me, it was just proof that the people in our industry, on both sides of the stage and microphone, are who truly make our events special.” The panel began when Ellis made opening remarks and posed the main question every collision professional in the room was waiting for. “As we move to total autonomy, how do we as the collision repair industry prepare ourselves for a world
Virginia shop owner Barry Dorn said automaker systems that time stamp diagnostic trouble codes make it easier to determine which are related to a claim or repair process
“It requires a visual inspection to determine which camera kit it has,” Rodenroth said. “So how would you know that if you don’t research the OEM procedures? In reality, you’d probably only find out at the end that you put the wrong windshield in the car. This is just one example of how the business is changing and that we cannot assume things.” Marlow said another area of agreement among the “Insurer-Repairer Relations Committee” has been the need for “a mechanism for the industry— See CIC: New Technology, Page 8
See SCRS Panel, Page 12
www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 5
Vehicles Flooded by Harvey Await Fate at Insurance Processing Lots by Aimee Breaux, The Eagle
Larry Field typically uses his drone to takes photos of real estate, but in October, he turned his attention to the Texas World Speedway after hearing that the closed race track—one of the
the speedway for weeks, and Field said he was curious to see how the property had transformed. “I was pretty surprised that they had filled the entire speedway and were starting to fill the outer areas, too,” the College Station resident said.
Aerial photos taken by drone and spread on social media catch the sea of hurricane-damaged cars at Texas World Speedway — likely at its peak, says Bill Mather, president and CEO of operations for the speedway. Credit: Larry Field Photography / www.larryfieldphotography.com
largest in the state—is now home to cars flooded by Hurricane Harvey. The thousands of cars on the speedway property are about 10 percent of the Harvey-flooded cars awaiting assessment by insurance companies. Tow trucks have been delivering vehicles to
An Eagle reporter was turned away at the track’s front gate in September after learning about the activity on the property. Field was not alone in curiosity. His images were posted Oct. 6 and quickly made the rounds on social
NM Crime Victim Takes Matters into Own Hands after Auto Body Shop Allegedly Stole Truck
by Kasia Gregorczyk, KOB 4 News
Many of us have been victims of crime. Few of us ever get our stuff back, but there are some who do by finding and taking it back on their own. For Mario Parillo, it started with a crash. “(I) pretty much fixed most of the truck myself. Then there was one portion of the truck (where) there was a tear; I couldn’t really fix it,” he said. “So I responded to an ad on Facebook (in) which they said he knew (where to get) cheap bodywork.” This is where things turned into an unfortunate series of events for Parillo. He said he took his truck to a body shop in Albuquerque’s South Valley, which KOB isn’t naming since the owners haven’t been charged with a crime. Parillo says a supposed mechanic he met with told him he needed some money up front to get the initial supplies. Parillo said he paid him $200. Days later, he said he returned to that body shop only to hear some-
thing surprising from the owner. “He basically told me, ‘You didn’t drop the vehicle off,’” he said. Parillo says he went back, this time with deputies from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department. “At that point, his attitude changed. He basically stated, ‘OK, he did drop it off, but it was with my employee and he did the deal with my employee,’” Parillo explained. After reporting his truck stolen and sharing his experience on social media, he got a lead that his truck was in Los Lunas. Parillo said he took matters into his own hands and tracked down the truck himself. And stole it right back. He’s smiling now, but Parillo realizes that his actions show the lengths victims of crime will go to when they’re fed up. He also said he had a warning for others: The cheaper deal isn’t always the better one.
We thank KOB 4 News for permission.
6 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
media. Bill Mather, president and CEO of operations for Texas World Speedway, joked that drones over the speedway were like flies. The drones have likely captured photos of the Texas World Speedway activity at its peak, Mather said, noting vehicles are leaving the facility every day. Mark Hanna, a spokesman for the Insurance Council of Texas, said the flow of cars to holding facilities such as the Texas World Speedway has slowed down, too. The group estimates that owners of 90 percent of the flooded cars with comprehensive coverage already have gotten an insurance check. Mather said he’s unsure of how many cars are on the site, but the speedway agreed to hold around 33,000 cars awaiting processing. Based on the ICT estimates, that means just over 10 percent of Harvey-flooded vehicles with comprehensive insurance reside in College Station. “It’s quite crazy if you think about all the cars that were affected--all the families that were affected,” Mather said, adding that the number of vehicles coming through College Station “gives you an idea of the magnitude of the relief efforts that we
don’t feel the effects of from here.” The cars at Texas World Speedway will likely be gone by the end of February, Mather said. The lease agreement with Copart, the company overseeing operations, was for six months, with an option of a two- to three-month extension. The space is simply a “cold lot,” Mather said. Vehicles are not being scrapped; they are just using the speedway as a pit stop. From the speedway and other impromptu processing centers, the cars will head to auctions and scrap yards. Some may even head to Hollywood. Hanna said he had a call from someone with Sony Pictures looking for stationary cars to appear as extras in a new Marvel movie. “They could look brand new depending on the make and car they buy,” he said. “And there is every make and model out there.” While they’re in College Station, however, Mather asks that drone owners looking to capture photos ask first—he says it’s private property, after all, although he acknowledges that it’s a hard policy to enforce. We thank The Eagle for reprint permission.
www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 7
Continued from Page 4
CIC: New Technology
both insurers and repairers—to bubble up questions [to the automakers] about repair procedures, or to recommend changes to repair procedures as technologies evolve.” He said I-CAR is increasingly serving in that role. “Vehicle makers will take our feedback,” Jason Bartanen, director of industry technical relations for I-CAR, said at the CIC meeting. “We’ve had several instances where we’ve escalated issues to a vehicle manufacturer, laid out some ideas for improved repairability, and that’s been very well received.” He cited an example of a Honda CR-V for which Honda originally serviced the inner quarter panel only as a complete assembly. “That created a very intrusive repair, having to replace that inner quarter panel and inner wheel house even when there’s just damage to the wheel house area,” Bartanen said. “We had that exact type of damage on a vehicle: the lower part of the wheelhouse. We purchased the part, and noticed a
nice factory joint. We documented our repair process…and escalated that to Honda and got approval for that procedure. That’s just one example of how the vehicle manufacturers are listening and will take the feedback that
I-CAR’s Jason Bartanen said automakers have been receptive to his organization’s suggested improvements to OEM repair procedures
the industry has and will try to make improvements, when possible.” Montana shop owner McDonnell was also a participant in another panel discussion at CIC that, although focused on government regulation regarding autonomous vehicles, drifted into other related areas. McDonnell said that for shops, a key challenge to working on autonomous vehicles will be the same as working with any new See CIC: New Technology, Page 10
8 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
ASA-CO Hosted Education Seminars in October by Chasidy Rae Sisk
In October, ASA-CO hosted two educational seminars for industry professionals. According to ASA-CO Executive Director Julie Massaro, “These events went great and exceeded our
expectations in terms of attendees who all found the training to be very valuable. ASA-CO hosted these sessions in order to offer training to our community, because associations prove to be a great source of training classes geared to what the community needs.” On Oct. 16–17, Greg Marchand from the Service Sales Academy taught “Exceptional Customer Handling Skills” at Western Community College in Grand Junction, CO. Marchand shared best customer service practices that aid increasing customer satisfaction, improving customer retention and enhancing
profitability. The three-hour seminar also focused on connecting with every customer by providing higher levels of customer service and ensuring each vehicle is repaired properly the first time. On October 18–19, “Managing Your Shop Workflow: The Technician/Advisor Challenge” was taught by Marchand at Advance Auto Parts (CARQUEST) in Denver, CO. This presentation demonstrated how the relationship between the technician and the service advisor impacts the shop workflow which, in turn, is critical to enhanced technician productivity and high levels of customer satisfaction. Explaining the importance of effective communication and efficiency, Marchand explored how many challenges can be solved by improving mutual understanding of technicians’ and service advisors’ roles and responsibilities.
For more information on ASA-CO, visit asacolorado.org.
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Collision Repair Student Shares Dreams of Joining a Race Team, Building Own Car by Victoria Antonelli
Austin Townsend said he has been passionate about “everything automotive” for as long as he can remember. “It’s in my blood,” said the Austin, TX native, who now lives in greater Houston. Townsend said back in the day, his father won a trophy as a drag racer with his Camaro. “I have heard many exciting and memorable stories about him working on his cars from the time he got his license to drive,” shared Townsend. He added that it is his dream to be on a race team. “I have imagined possibly even being a rally car driver and at the very start of that is being able to build my own car,” Townsend said. The eighteen-year-old has already gotten a head start on his future, with the help of his father. “We recently purchased a fourdoor 1967 Chevy Bel Air and have been working on it together as a fatherson project,” Townsend said. He added that the “rare find,” which includes a 327 ci, 4 barrel Holley 600 carb, and Th350 power trans, is finished and available at a fair price. To expand his vehicle knowledge
even further, Townsend enrolled in the collision repair program at Kingwood Park High School his sophomore year.
Austin Townsend plans to continue his education and eventually work in an auto body shop after he graduates from Kingwood Park High School in 2018
“The motorcycle tin set has been my favorite project so far,” he said. “However, I was quite successful and pleased with the work I completed recently on an administrator’s vehicle.” Townsend said that for the latter
project, he was involved in the delegation of the work load as well as the actual repair and restoration, including paint work on the vehicle. The Kingwood Park High School senior also has received the following acknowledgments during his time in the program: ▪ 2014- CPR certification ▪ 2014- OSHA certification ▪ 2015- Sp2 certification ▪ 2015- 6H painter’s certification ▪ 2016- Sp2 certification ▪ 2017- Platinum I-CAR certification in non-structural and refinishing
“The challenges and triumphs I’ve experienced [since pursuing a career in automotive] are similar and include my personal work in attempting to restore my 1967 Chevy Bel Air,” he explained. “I was able to test out the skills and techniques learned in Automotive Basics and the Collision Repair and Refinishing curriculum within the program offered at Kingwood Park High School under Mr. Jeff Wilson’s instruction.” “Austin is a well rounded young technician that always strives to better himself. He has a true passion for the industry he so desperately wants to become part of,” said Jeff Wilson, collision repair instructor at King-
wood Park High School. “He also holds the position of Parliamentarian for our SkillsUSA chapter.” Although Townsend has not worked in an auto body shop yet, he said he is actively looking into doing so. “I am attempting to locate a shop in my area and be gainfully employed in this industry, which would give me much needed actual body shop experience,” he said. Townsend said he also plans to continue his automotive education after graduation in spring 2018. “I’m looking into attending Sam Tech, where I will concentrate on engine building, and the essentials of the race industry,” he added. Townsend said his other passion is music. “When I’m not working on the 1967 Chevy Bel Air, you will find me avidly focused on music, and guitar playing,” he said. “I have been playing electric guitar since roughly 2006.” Townsend said it’s difficult to judge whether he is more passionate about cars or music.
For more information on Kingwood Park High School, visit www.humble isd.net.
www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 9
Collision Safety Consultants Announces Newest Location
Billy Walkowiak, founder and CEO of Collison Safety Consultants, announced the opening of his sixth associate location, and the second one in Arizona. This will be the company’s sixth location, which includes Walkowiak’s first location in North Carolina. Collision Safety Consultants of Southeast Arizona will be located in Tuscon, AZ. Juan Aragon is the president and will lead the company. “The company will follow our corporate mission,” said Walkowiak. “They will do diminished value reports, perform post-collision repair inspections, total loss vehicle valuations, represent consumers under the appraisal clause and shops under the Assignment of Proceeds. They will be advocates working with shops, vehicle owners, attorneys and consumers. They will also help shops improve quality control by advising them and helping them locate and perform proper repair procedures. “I’m very excited about our rapid growth. We have three other associate locations planned to open in the next three months, [including] West Virginia, Florida and South Carolina.” For more information, visit collisionsafetyconsultants.us Continued from Page 8
CIC: New Technology
vehicle technology: training. He said training was his sole goal in pursuing Tesla shop certification for his business. “The return on that investment is: never,” McDonnell said, drawing laughter from CIC attendees. “But we want to know how to fix those cars. I think I represent a large pool of people out there that may not want [some] OEM certifications, but do want to know how to fix the cars.” His company needs that training for more than just his own employees, he said. “We’re not only training our folks, but we [end up] training adjusters because they don’t have this information available to them,” he said. “We might be training our market, too. Something we see that’s frustrating is when we’re fixing a vehicle using OEM procedures, and then [are told], ‘Well, the dealership doesn’t do that, and shouldn’t they have more information than you, because you’re just an independent?’” McDonnell said even if autonomous vehicles don’t cause acci-
State Farm & Body Pros Collision Donate 2008 Toyota Avalon to Family Promise of Greater Phoenix, AZ Recycled Rides is a unique program in which insurers—including State Farm—collision repairers, paint suppliers, parts vendors and others collaborate to repair and donate vehicles to deserving individuals and service organizations in local communities throughout the country.
Body Pros Owner Tony St. John; AZM Automotive owner Dale Ellison; Rohanna Akki with two daughters Melina & Sofia Lomwe; State Farm Agent Dondrell Swanson; Hamilton High School intern Benjamin M. Gerdik; Family Promise of Greater Phoenix Executive Director Ted Taylor
Most of us take transportation for granted. But for many people, routine activities such as going to work, taking kids to school, grocery shopping and medical visits are a challenge. A
dents, that won’t prevent the industry from needing the training to work on them. It will be decades before the majority of vehicles on the roads are autonomous, for example, and autonomous vehicles will be hit and damaged by non-autonomous vehicles during that transition. Hail storms, too, will result in the vehicles coming into shops. Panelist Wayne Weikel of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers said given that automakers will be accepting liability for accidents caused by their autonomous vehicles, the technology will mean other changes for shops. “There will be a need to document how the vehicle is being repaired, and to what standards,” he said. “How all that is going to be recorded and maintained…through the life of the vehicle…is something that hasn’t really been contemplated yet.”
John Yoswick, a freelance writer based in Portland, OR, who has been writing about the automotive industry since 1988, is also the editor of the weekly CRASH Network (www.CrashNetwork.com). He can be contacted by email at john@CrashNetwork.com.
10 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
catastrophic illness or unforeseen circumstance can suddenly change lives and, without transportation, make it difficult to get back on the road to stability. State Farm donated the vehicle, which was repaired as a volunteer effort by Body Pros Collision. Suppliers
Rohanna Akki with two daughters Melina & Sofia Lomwe
contribute to the effort by donating parts and materials. Since the program’s inception in 2007, members of the National Auto Body Council have donated nearly 1,000 Recycled Rides vehicles, and its ripple effect has positively impacted thousands more lives. State Farm has been a key con-
tributor to the Recycled Rides program since the beginning. National Auto Body Council members work in partnership with a wide variety of local nonprofit charitable organizations that identify deserving recipients—military veterans, single parents, homeless families and
Rohanna Akki with two daughters Melina & Sofia Lomwe; State Farm Agent Dondrell Swanson
others in need of basic transportation. Naomi Johnson, State Farm spokesperson, shared, “Recycled Rides, Body Pros Collision and State Farm worked together to provide new wheels to a family in need that Family Promise of Greater Phoenix identified. Our hope is that this makes the family’s daily activities easier.”
www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 11
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Lowballing Salaries
for a superstar individual.” Texas isn’t the only state with large metropolitan areas that have such a huge pay discrepancy. The same has been found in other reasonable cost of living states such as Florida, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado. “Where it affects technicians the most are in high cost of living cities such as San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago and areas of New York. Add in all those higher living costs, including rent, and some technicians are even more underpaid in these areas,” says Regan. More details on how auto body and paint technicians can check to see if they are getting rear-ended by a low salary from their current employer and why they would consider making a change are available at http://www .AutoBodyPaintRepair.com.
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CARSTAR Joins Farmers Insurance Mountain Territory Agents Conference
CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts has a significant presence in the Denver region, and works closely with the leading insurance carriers in the region to provide the highest quality repairs for their insurance
customers. The CARSTAR Colorado locations participated in the 2017 Farmers Insurance Mountain Territory Agents Conference in Blackhawk, CO, on Oct. 15 and 16. This is a unique conference designed and hosted by the insurance agents. Approximately 160 agents attended this year's conference. “We strive to deliver the highest quality repairs and excellent customer satisfaction to the customers of our insurance partners,” said Jeremy Robideau, Chairman, CARSTAR Colorado Business Group and owner of CARSTAR Kraftsmen Collision. “This was a great opportunity to further our relationship with Farmers Insurance and continue to build upon our performance metrics with them.”
talk,” so before this panel began, Ellis asked everyone to take “country roads” rather than use colorful language, and for most of the two hours, Tracy in which the vehicle is so much more obliged. than steel, a combustion engine and Here are some excerpts from the paint?” he said. “How do we train ourtwo-hour panel. selves and the next generation so that Attorney Erica Eversman of Vewe can fix these cars with a level of hicle Information Services was asked: competence that is equal or better than When asked what the danger of liathe OE manufacturers’ standards? bility is, what does it look like and how real is it? “Yes, liability is very, very real and potentially devastating for not just your business but personally as well, in some cases. As a shop, you’re obligated to be properly equipped to repair consumers’ vehicles in which they return back to the road ably and properly repaired. Proper and safe repair—that is a phrase I like to Panelists (l to r) Mark Allen, Audi; Erica Eversman, Vehicle use frequently, because that is Information Services; John Ellis, Ellis and Associates (moderator); Aaron Clark, former shop owner, and Todd your obligation. If you neglect Tracy, Tracy Law Firm to do a proper and safe repair, That is our challenge, our journey and you could end up in jail or have lost the point we all need to get to. So, your business because you destroyed what are we doing about it today?” someone. Or even worse, you can lose In a previous SCRS presentation your business altogether. I’m not trymade the day before, attorney Todd ing to be catastrophic, but this cannot Tracy used what is referred to as “salty See SCRS Panel, Page 14 Continued from Page 4
SCRS Panel
Laneys Collision Center in El Dorado, AR, Certified in New Kia Repair Program
by Staff, El Dorado News-Times
Laneys Collision Center, 916 E. Hillsboro in El Dorado, AR, announced it is now a member of the
Kia Recognized Collision Repair Facility Program, which launched nationwide Oct. 27 through a partnership with the Assured Performance Network. Laneys Collision Center is one of the first shops in the U.S. to participate in the new program. The certification provides Kia owners in south Arkansas with the assurance that Laneys Collision Center is properly equipped and its staff is properly trained to restore collision damage to Kia automobiles. Kia became the seventh automobile manufacturer to recognize
Laneys Collision Center as certified to properly repair the vehicles they manufacture, joining FCA (Chrysler), Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Honda/Acura, Hyundai and Nissan/Infiniti. “The cars being manufactured today are far more advanced than they were just a few short years ago,” said Laneys Collision Center co-owner Lane Griffin. “Just like your smartphone, your car has changed quite a bit. We are dedicated to keeping our company and our staff current with technology so we are able to properly repair the vehicles of today and tomorrow.”
We thank El Dorado News-Times for reprint permission.
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www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 13
Texas Begins Revoking Titles for Dune Buggies, Sand Rails, Other Kit Cars by Daniel Strohl, Hemmings Daily, a publication of Hemmings Motor News
While Texas state officials claim to be looking into the matter, the state’s DMV has outlawed any re-bodied vehicles and has started to revoke titles and registrations for dune buggies in the state, a move that has provoked Texan kit car enthusiasts to start lobbying the state to re-legalize the vehicles. As far back as 2013, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles put a halt to registrations of newly built dune buggies, grandfathering in previously built and registered dune buggies. While some owners of Volkswagenbased fiberglass-bodied beach cars reported success registering their kit cars under the donor vehicle’s identity, the state DMV in March 2015 adopted Texas Administrative Rule 217.3 (6), which explicitly made any vehicle “designed or determined by the department to be a dune buggy” ineligible for title “regardless of the vehicle’s previous title and/or registration.” The only other vehicles that, as a group, the Texas Administrative Code specifies as ineligible for title are race cars, off-road vehicles and flooded cars. Continued from Page 12
SCRS Panel
be said strongly enough. We have had too many non-professional repairers out there doing unsafe repairs that were influenced by the insurance companies, and that has to stop right now!” From Todd Tracy when asked about the John Eagle Collision civil case in which he represented a couple who was seriously injured due to a subpar repair: “A Dallas County jury just made a very resounding statement when 12 jurors with one voice and one verdict can change an industry to the tune of $42 million. A very well-respected $1 billion company in Texas that chose to get bullied by an insurance company and glue a roof on a Honda rather than put on the 108 welds that the OEM specifications directed them to do lost a lot of money because the couple was badly injured. The jury came back and said that if you’re going to make a business decision and let the insurance companies dictate safety to you, we’re going to make a business decision for you.” Mark Allen, collision programs
Since earlier this year, the Texas DMV has sent letters to dune buggy and sand rail owners in the state alerting them that their titles have been revoked and that the owners have to surrender the vehicle’s original title, windshield sticker and license plates
to the DMV. The letters note that the state considers dune buggies and sand rails “designed for off-road usage and may not be legally operated for use on Texas streets or public roadways.” Adam Shaivitz, a spokesman for the Texas DMV, said the decision to ban dune buggies came about “because many of these vehicles do not have key safety components or do not have a body at all. These vehicles, as manufactured, were not designed for on-road use. These vehicles, as modified from previously manufactured vehicles, also do not keep their onroad qualities.”
director of Audi of America, was asked: Where do you see the OEs going in regard to providing repairers with current and accurate data about repair procedures on today’s highly sophisticated cars? “From an Audi perspective, yes— we do have repair procedures and we’re German, so we’ve been doing them for a very long time. But with the complexity of these vehicles, [and] all of the new materials that are going in them, the amount of this data is growing and the demand on us is increasing. We see a need to provide this information to the consumer through a network of shops and connect that to the dealerships where those cars live, so that the consumer has a choice. That being said, if you look closely at the industry, other carmakers are starting programs that vary. Some are subscription-based and others provide special training much like our program. We feel that this is the right way to go with our business model and this is where we feel the industry is going. Realistically, as a repairer, the onus is on you and in the end, you’re responsible for the safety and well-being of the people whose cars you are fixing.” See SCRS Panel, Page 16
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While he said that the DMV is currently researching how other states regulate dune buggies, sand rails and other re-bodied vehicles, that process is in the early stages. Vincent Parisien, the president of the Manx Club, said that the title revocations and the ban on dune buggy registrations amount to discrimination without merit. “We’re not about making the streets more dangerous,” he said. “Our members are willing to go through all the same safety standards as other cars.” However, as Parisien pointed out, a number of Texan dune buggy enthusiasts have already resorted to selling their vehicles out of state, and others have parked their dune buggies fearing both the devaluation of their vehicles and the risk of facing legal trouble if they were to drive them on the streets. To counter the ban, he said Manx Club officials have contacted Texas State Representative Ed Thompson, who has already requested that the Texas DMV rescind its ban; the SEMA Action Network; and the Historic Vehicle Association, which added Bruce
Myers’ Old Red to the National Historic Vehicle Register in 2014. In addition, Faron Smith, founder of the Save the Texas Dune Buggy Facebook group, late last month started a GoFundMe campaign to raise enough money to hire a lobbyist to work on behalf of Texan dune buggy enthusiasts. That lobbyist, Ron Hinkle, has already worked to get the state of Texas to legalize the Polaris Slingshot, Smith wrote, and has agreed to take on the dune buggy case. While the dune buggy ban only directly affects Texas residents, Parisien said it has implications for dune buggy and other specialty vehicle owners across the country. “We definitely see this happening in other states,” he said. “If Texas deems this as the right way to operate, then other states will do so as well.” No other state in the country has a similar outright ban on dune buggies, though a number of them do refuse to issue titles or registration for sand rails. UPDATE: As of Nov. 7, the GoFundMe campaign surpassed its $6,000 goal and now stands at $6,110. We thank Hemmings Daily for reprint permission.
We’re Looking for a Few Old Shops! Do you think you have the oldest, continuously-operated body shop in your area? Would you like to see your shop’s colorful history in print? If so, we want to hear from you. A Autobody News and collision industry journalist Gary Ledoux are working on a joint project to find, and highlight the oldest continuously operated body shops in America. Some shops may have sstarted out in the early 1900’s as a blacksmith or carriage shop. Some may have started as a mechanical repair service at a parking garage in New York or San Francisco during the 1920’s, and then turned to body work. In the latter part of the 1940’s, many ex-servicemen started body shops with skills they learned working on GI trucks and equipment. There are so many unique and interesting stories out there that should be recorded and preserved for posterity. Each qualifying shop submitted will be highlighted in Ledoux’ forthcoming book; YesterWreck: The History of Collision Repair in America. The estimated publishing date is the first quarter of 2019. No book of this sort has ever been published for the collision industry. This is a unique opportunity to be part of something special. Ledoux will provide a signed, first-edition copy of the book, upon its publishing, to any shop whose photos are used in the book. In addition, Ledoux will contact one shop from each of the five regions served by Autobody News for a complete interview and a feature story to be run in that region’s edition of the magazine. What To Send If you think you have the oldest continuously-operated body shop in your state please send us: • Shop’s Name • Address / City State and Zip • Phone number • Email address • Current owner’s name • A brief history of the shop, most importantly what year the shop was founded. Include the month if you know it. • Two to three photos of the shop, especially from its earliest days with any recognizable persons identified. These could be a picture of the front of the building, a group shot of everyone that worked in the shop at the time, people working on cars in the shop, etc. All photos should be scanned as a JPG with a minimum of 300 DPI. (Please do not take a telephone picture of a photo. The quality of such a photo cannot be satisfactorily reproduced.) All people in the photos should be identified if possible. Please send all information via email to yesterwreck@yahoo.com. For any questions, please contact Gary Ledoux @ yesterwreck@yahoo.com
Flooded Houston Cars Already in San Antonio Area by April Molina, News 4 San Antonio
Texas has the highest number of flooded vehicles in the country, and they’re being sold—not just in the flood-ravaged areas of Houston, but somewhere in San Antonio—and it’s perfectly legal. “Bottom line, flood cars literally rot from the inside out,” says Chris Basso, Carfax Public Relations Manager. The tropical storm that followed Hurricane Harvey flooded entire coastal communities, including the city of Houston, and with it, hundreds of thousands of vehicles. “Some were flooded above their roof line, and we’re talking about not only salt water, but also toxic water,” Basso said. “The water is going to impact the mechanical systems, it’s going to short-cut the electrical systems and it’s even going to compromise your safety system, like your airbags and anti-lock brakes.” There is also potential for health issues. “Mold and bacteria build up in the soft parts of the car, especially the ventilation systems,” Basso said. Shane Vaughn owns a pre-purchase inspection business in Hous-
ton, and said his business has increased 5-fold since Harvey hit. “We’ve already found 63 flooddamaged vehicles that were being sold by dealerships in the Houston area— large and small dealerships,” Vaughn said. In the last couple months, they’ve smelled and seen it all: moist, musty carpet padding, soaked floorboards and rusted metal parts. Local auto inspector Joe Trejo said some of those cars have already made it to San Antonio. “What you can check for on the fire wall is water lines. Sometimes, if the vehicle is involved in an extensive flood, then the water will rise and you’ll actually see the dirt line from how high the water rose,” Trejo said. In the cabin, other than the obvious wet carpet, Trejo said the metal parts can be telling. “Any sort of rust or corrosion on the bolt heads is going to be a real strong indication that the vehicle was previously submerged in water,” Trejo said. Other obvious sources of flooding are sometimes found in the trunk. “You might notice some surface rust on these accessories that are present,” Trejo said.
Basso recommends having an auto inspection if there’s any doubt about whether the car has been flooded, because even though a flooded, reconditioned vehicle legally has to come with a reconditioned title disclosing such information, there are no guarantees. “Once it gets into one of the buyer’s hands, they then can turn around and sell it, and oftentimes that’s where we see issues of title washing occur,” Basso said. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Carfax has opened up its flood database for free. Go to https://www .carfax.com/press/resources/floodedcars, and type in the VIN number to find out if the vehicle has been reported as flooded by insurance companies or repair shops. We thank News 4 San Antonio for reprint permission.
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Reports of AkzoNobel Approaching Axalta about Possible Merger by Autobody News Staff
According to recent news reports, AkzoNobel has approached Axalta Coating Systems regarding a merger.
Based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, AkzoNobel is a global paints and coatings company as well as a major producer of specialty chemicals. Axalta, headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, is a global coatings company dedicated to the development, manufacture and sale of liquid and powder coatings. According to industry sources, Axalta is considering the deal, but no decision has been made. Earlier this year, AkzoNobel was approached by PPG Industries regarding a takeover. In July, the Dutch paint and coatings maker announced it was looking at spinning off its specialty chemicals business.
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Todd Tracy at ABAT
a car that has been repaired properly and is safe for them and those around them on the road. But the end result of these insurance industry pressuretactics is a steady stream of vehicles that are ticking time bombs, and even rolling coffins. With the shoddy repairs buried under metal and paint, you and your family may not know that the job wasn’t done right until you are in a wreck and it is too late. We saw tragic evidence of this recently. The Seebachan couple was trapped in their car, suffering crushing injuries and major burns, when their Honda Fit catastrophically failed in a crash. Before it was sold to them, John Eagle Collision Center had essentially glued the roof onto the vehicle while repairing it instead of welding it according to manufacturer specifications. When the case recently went to trial, the jury found for the Seebachans and sent a strong message that safety should not be sacrificed. Todd Tracy represented the couple in court. He stated, “A Dallas Continued from Page 3
Techs of Tomorrow
panel and a door skin on a 2017 Toyota Sienna van, along with several other jobs.” Rosa said his favorite aspect of collision repair “by far” is painting. He also enjoys welding. “Plastic repair was definitely a challenge,” he added. Rosa said he prefers spending his time off with family over extracurricular activities. “I have five daughters, so they get all my extra time,” he added. Rosa completed the Advanced Auto Body program in June 2017. “Ricky is a good family man, a hard worker and a good friend,” said MacDonald. “All of these are values I would want in a son if I had one!” MacDonald recommended Rosa to
County jury has spoken in its $42 million damage verdict for defective auto body repair. The message is clear to auto insurance carriers in Texas. Get out of the repair business and quit bullying body shops into using unsafe re-
pairs that don’t meet manufacturer standards. I believe that collision repair businesses that choose to do it right by following the Original Equipment Manufacturer standards should receive immunity.” The Seebachan case is an example of how our civil justice system, entrusted to us by the Founders and enshrined in the Seventh Amendment of the Constitution, is supposed to work. Citizen jurors examine the evidence and guard the community by enforcing the rules and holding bad actors accountable. Accountability the owner of KB Collision & Customs in Sugar Grove, IL, where he currently works and is about to start an internship. “The internship is 240 hours and can be completed at an approved shop, or during your second semester at Waubonsee,” Rosa said. “But I think it’s important to be in the shop environment where the boss can make sure you’re always following safety rules, and that all jobs are [performed] to the highest quality and done right by car makers’ standards.” As for future plans, Rosa said he wants to just keep getting better at painting. “I would like to work for a paint company like PPG, or something similar, but I haven’t put much thought into it,” Rosa said.” There are a lot of avenues to go down.” To learn more about Waubonsee Community College, visit: waubonsee .edu/abr.
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makes all of us safer. Burl Richards, President of the Auto Body Association of Texas (ABAT), stated, “At ABAT, we are committed to safe and proper repairs. We appreciate that Texas Watch has provided a voice to get this safety information to the public.” Professional auto body shops that care about their customers and the public should not be subjected to pressure by the insurance industry to “cheap out” repairs. The job must be done right the first time so we are all protected. ABAT and professional auto body shops should be commended for leading the way. Texas Watch, and these groups and individuals, are committed to fighting for as long as it takes to see that insurance companies aren’t able to dictate dangerous repairs any longer. Money is on the line for the insurance industry, but lives hang in the balance for all of the rest of us. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and Texas Watch expects the insurance industry will fight tooth and nail. However, Texas Watch says, we are all committed to the fight. We thank Texas Watch for reprint permission.
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SCRS Panel
Aaron Clark, a former body shop owner, was asked: Are the OEs providing sufficient information to the market to make a safe and proper repair, and are we asking enough of them? “I think some are better than others, but the trend recently is that more and more shops are inquiring and building that information over time. Let’s face it, the OEMs are still learning too. There is always need for improvement, so the ones that are doing a good job should continue on that path, while the ones that are doing a poor job need to get better. But overall, the trend is moving in the right direction.”
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www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 17
Southwest Associations
Chasidy Rae Sisk is a freelance technical writer from Wilmington, Delaware, who writes on a variety of fields and subjects, and grew up in a family of NASCAR fans. She can be contacted at crsisk@chasidyraesisk.com.
ABAT Looks to Enhance Industry Standards, Starts with Consumer Education with Chasidy Rae Sisk
Following October’s $31.5 million verdict against John Eagle Collision Center in Dallas, the Auto Body Association of Texas (ABAT) began engaging in conversations about holding its members to a higher standard of safety, part of which includes consumer education. See related article
on cover this issue. ABAT Executive Director Jill Tuggle suggested, “We are in the early stages of this idea, but we definitely want to help make OEM procedures more accessible. We’ve also discussed having shops who join ABAT swear an oath to do their best, work for the customers, and look up every procedure. We’ve got to take the word ‘recommendation’ more seriously.” “Following those recommendations is important because the OEM spent millions on engineering for safety. They are the gold standard for how the car should be fixed—who could possibly know the vehicle better? Despite arguments that the OE recommendations are not ‘requirements,’ the jury proved they ARE requirements in their ruling. People want to argue the facts of the case, but all that matters is that the shop didn’t follow OEM procedures. Shops following OE recommendations are adhering to the best information available so they are protected from liability, and cannot be accused of negligence.” ABAT President Burl Richards added, “OEM recommendations are based on the manufacturer that built the vehicle. They spend millions of dollars and countless hours on research and testing. No one could know better than them how to repair a vehicle, and deviating from these recommendations can potentially put you out of business. Hopefully, they will learn that there are
potential life-threatening consequences of deviating from the OEM-recommended repair processes and procedures. Members have stated that this has been an eye-opening experience, and many of them have addressed this with their employees just to make sure that everyone understands the importance of following OEM procedures.” Although industry leaders have given warnings about the legal repercussions of shops’ actions for several years, Tuggle pointed out that the industry has not taken heed. Tuggle stressed, “It’s here. All shops have to follow OEM procedures going forward, and this definitely gives shops a stronger case to get paid for these procedures, but it’s hard to say if this will change the insurance industry’s perspective.” “How it impacts the insurance industry is yet to be seen. Some shops that were not following procedures will make changes and choose to repair vehicles based on the OEM’s recommendations, and others will continue to do business as usual, some in fear of alienating the insurance companies,” Richards agreed. “Hopefully, this puts every person who repairs a vehicle on notice that it is you who is ultimately responsible for the repairs—certainly not the insurance company. This has already brought a huge awareness to the industry, and hopefully, it will impact how every shop repairs a vehicle. “Anyone who has been in this business for an extended period of time has to be concerned [with] whether or not they have ever deviated from the OEM recommendations, whether on purpose or purely because the industry has changed tremendously over the last few years, and we were repairing vehicles the same way that we always have. I am not pointing the finger at anyone; I look at myself first, and I know that this issue has made me a better collision repair center. A lot of this information is only available to you if you are spending time, resources and money to look for it. Many of us are in our shops focused on the next repair, and it is time to get outside your box and educate not only yourself, but the customer and the industry.” Tuggle agrees that consumer
18 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
awareness is critical and that consumers must learn to understand that collision repair professionals are focused on safely repairing vehicles, which sometimes requires them to request procedures that insurers object to paying. Recognizing the need for consumer education, ABAT participated in a meeting at Attorney Todd Tracy’s office on Oct. 24, alongside John Kopriva, President of the Houston Auto Body Association (HABA) and representatives from Texas Watch, a consumer advocacy group focused on insurance matters that negatively impact consumers. “Texas Watch is interested in the difficulties shops face in order to properly repair vehicles due to insurance policies or laws,” Tuggle shared. “We are starting an initiative with them to educate consumers on what makes a good shop and what their rights are when they’re in an accident. People
need to know what’s going on.” Kopriva noted, “The meeting was very positive, and Todd Tracy is very consumer-oriented. He’s going to hold people accountable for doing the right thing.” Tuggle is confident that ABAT members will do the right thing, and plans to focus on attracting high caliber shops that truly care about consumer safety. “After all,” she stated, “ABAT’s mission is to create an environment of professionalism, respect, accountability, excellence, enthusiasm and the ability to collect fair and reasonable compensation for collision repairers who properly restore vehicles to their safe, pre-loss condition. The goal is for our website to be a tool consumers can use to find a safe shop that holds itself to the high standards ABAT feels are imperative to consumer safety.” For more information about ABAT, visit abat.us.
www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 19
Continued from Cover
Post John Eagle
To find out, Autobody News contacted several OE’s, an MSO executive, and an independent consultant to capture different perspectives. Because it is so soon after the verdict, and the OE’s may not have had ample time to digest it all and begin making plans (if any), to start the conversation, we suggested that post repair inspections by a third party be conducted periodically at all OE certified shops to ensure proper and safe repair. Here is what they said:
Toyota George Irving, Senior Manager for Wholesale Parts & Collision for Toyota Motor North America said, “Logistically it might be difficult for an OE to get post repair inspectors to every shop, for every repair, not to mention the cost… although the idea does have merit. Perhaps a more feasible approach would be to ensure that the repair procedures are delivered to the technician at the time of repair and a technology based validation is integrated with the repair procedures as a guide.
Honda Leigh Guarnieri, National Manager Collision Marketing for American Honda, made an enlightening comparison between the aircraft industry and auto industry: “Going to post repair inspections is a giant leap. Financially, this may not be feasible. Not only that, how do you inspect a car properly after it’s been completely repaired and closed? Most structural repairs are not visible at that point. And… the inspector has to be really knowledgeable. In the aircraft industry, when a plane is being repaired, a team of inspectors reviews each repair as it is completed. The technician cannot move on to the next operation until the inspectors sign-off on the prior operation. This way, you are sure that the plane won’t fail due to a faulty repair. This seems like it could be feasible.”
Audi Mark Allen, Collision Programs and Workshop Equipment Specialist for Audi and well-known industry veteran also made a comparison between the collision industry and the medical industry.
“Like the medical industry, people’s lives depend on a doctor, or in the case of a collision repair, a technician, performing a proper procedure using the correct tools, and equipment,” said Allen. “Every procedure must be done correctly every time but it’s not feasible to have a third party proctor every operation. “I am not sure that there are enough qualified post repair inspectors around to do this type of work for multiple OE’s. But let’s say we find enough to do periodic PRI’s at hundreds or thousands of shops around the country. You are only checking a few of the many repairs a shop does. Then, if you find something really wrong with a repair, what does the OE do? Who is going to have the conversation with a shop customer that their car that was in the process of being repaired may now be totaled? Who is responsible to bear the cost? There are many facets to be considered in what seems to be a simple answer.” Allen suggested that a better idea may be for a shop to meticulously document every step of every repair. Then, if an OE wanted to audit those, it could be done in a more efficient and costeffective manner. “Shops should be doing this anyway,” said Allen. “Good documentation could help insulate them from possible litigation if a later problem arises. That’s exactly what the medical field does.”
Assured Performance Assured Performance provides certified program administration for a number of OE’s including Nissan, FCA, Ford, Hyundai, Infinity and Kia. Scott Biggs, CEO of Assured Performance and long-time industry veteran already has counter measures in the works. He replied, “We know that proper repair is crucial. This is why we have recently launched two new programs; Shop Ops and OE-QC to help shops make better repairs. These tools are focused on: : 1) helping the shop document quality, 2) help the shop document and follow oem repair procedures, 3) help the shop and the technician document how they repaired the vehicle efficiently using a smart app. These programs are provided free to Assured Performance shops as an integral part of the certification program so that they can maintain their compliance and address the quality assurance challenges. The OEQC program both documents the way the vehicle was repaired and it also
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has a quality control checklist, as well as documentation for pre and post scan. We also believe that once we prove to the insurers it was in their best interest to support what we were doing, they too would join the effort to find ways to refocus on a quality repair and not low-cost provider. It is a false positive to believe that we can continue to grind shops to be low-cost providers and not substantially destroy quality. We can find efficiency that will save both sides billions if our focus is to find efficiency. However, we have to find common ground so that we are not constantly twisting the dials of the way a car is repaired so that it can be done more cheaply.”
P&L Consultants Industry icon, trainer, and consultant Larry Montanez, a partner in P&L Consultants LLC in New York offered the following:
Some of the OE certified programs do not address the repair. However, some do. These are what I call the real OEM Certification Programs generally referred to as the Certified Collision Repair Facility (CCRF), which would be
the European OE programs, such as Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, etc. All these OE’s restrict parts (except BMW), have assessments checks on the OEM parts, materials and information usage and require technicians to attend handson training classes annually, in addition to certain I-CAR training classes and ASE certifications. Audi, Jaguar, Land Rover and Mercedes require ISO 96062 welding certifications in addition to passing the I-CAR welding qualification test and Jaguar Land Rover require steel welding certification in MAG, Structural and MIG Brazing. Some of the other OE programs only check to see if a shop has the minimum proper equipment just to open a shop, which should be mandatory by every state licensing department. Many programs require I-CAR Gold Class training, but that doesn’t provide any real hands-on training. Assured Performance requires some training or Gold Class, but no hands-on training at all. Honda, Cadillac CT-6 and Tesla have excellent online training programs but drop the ball with no hands-on training requirements. Now the Chevrolet Corvette Z06/ZR-1 and Nissan GT-R have great
hands-on training programs, but no OEM support at all. Now this is not to say the CCRF shops are perfect, but they can be held to a higher standard of “you knew better and were trained for this” and the OEM is protected to an extent as far as “we provided, classroom, handson, on-line training and independent testing to ensure the facility technicians have the proper knowledge and skills to repair our vehicles.” Conversely, the way some of these OE certification programs are constructed, the OE’s are probably not protected in the event of another case like John Eagle. If the John Eagle shop was in fact Honda ProFirst Certified at the time they installed that roof panel, things might not have gone well for American Honda. Another place where the OE certification programs fail is to train the estimators about diagnosis and required procedures and what exactly the laws are as to vehicle repair. Meaning insurers have no say on repairs, nor does the opinion of an insurer trump the OE. Do I see post repair inspectors being used by the OE’s in the future? Sure I do, but they would have to be
qualified and trained inspectors, which we all know that almost no one wants to spend the money and time to be trained. Some of the current post repair inspectors know little to nothing about proper repair, most are relevant due to the poor quality of repairs produced that a layman can identify it. There would need to be extensive training and requirements to be a PRI technician. The OE’s also need to set up a program that requires CCRF’s to perform Department QC’s and Final QC’s. Many of the German CCRF Programs are now requiring the CCRF’s to Prerepair diagnostic scan and pre-repair measuring of the vehicle. More OE’s need to require this.
Caliber Collision Centers Caliber is one of the largest and fastest growing MSO’s with over 500 locations across the country. Many of their locations hold multiple OE certifications. Jeff Brewer is their Director of OE Certifications and keenly aware of what OE certifications mean, and the shop’s role as a certified facility. Here is what he had to say: Post repair inspection is certainly one idea. However, Dr. Edwards
Deming, the father of the quality movement, said you can’t force quality at the end of the production line. Quality has to be built into the production. In the shop, the quality process needs to start when the customer is first engaged and carry through the entire repair process. At Caliber, we have a ten-step quality process where each department manager is held accountable for what process their department performs. As the car moves through the shop, each manager must sign-off on their department’s work, before it goes to the next step. There is no point in doing good work on top of bad. Each vehicle repair is spot checked by the center manager. That said, a post repair inspection might not be a bad idea, just as a check. But, that leads to another question – where will the post repair inspectors come from? Many of the inspectors used today for the various OE programs come from the same pool of shops that need to be fixed. Some are conscientious and do a good job. Others walk through the job putting check marks in boxes. Inspecting is not a full time job for them. That said, the problem is not their
fault, nor is it the fault of the OE’s. Some of the OE certified programs were founded before the advent of the MSO. Subsequently, they cater more to the small, independent shop. Even the programs that came later were built on that same business model. They cater to small shops and a fragmented industry. An MSO has a different operating model and different needs. Twenty or more years ago, the same collision repair model could be applied to most cars out there because they were all constructed similarly with similar materials. Today so much is different. The same model car made by the same manufacturer can have a completely different repair procedures from one year to the next. The same is becoming true for certification programs. One size does not fit all any more… if it ever did. The real answer to better quality in the collision repair business is not the rules or requirements of any OE certification program, but in the culture of the industry. Technicians and shops have to want to make the right repair. And to get to that point, we all must address the inevitable question, See Post John Eagle, Page 27
www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 21
Continued from Cover
Stand Up
“By dictating improper vehicle repairs for decades, insurance companies have seriously injured and killed thousands of customers who were driving around in time bombs they didn’t know about,” Tracy said. “If you don’t think I’m on your side, folks, this…ought to tell you I am absolutely on your side.” Tracy shared many of the details of his lawsuit against John Eagle Collision on behalf of a Texas couple, Matthew and Marcia Seebachan. The Seebachans were driving their 2010 Honda Fit in late 2013 when another vehicle hydroplaned and crashed into the Honda. The Seebachans sustained severe injuries, including extensive burns after their vehicle’s gas tank ruptured and the car burst into flames. The suit began as a liability lawsuit against Honda, Tracy said, but after reviewing how the roof of the Honda Fit separated from the vehicle in the crash, it became clear that it had been previously repaired. “After handling 2,700 different cases against every vehicle manufacturer in the world, with the exception of Volvo…I said, ‘Something is wrong here,’” Tracy said. “I had never seen a roof do this. OEM roof panels don’t separate like this. The OEM frame members and rocker panels don’t collapse like this underneath the survival space where the occupants are sitting.” With more research, Tracy learned that a previous owner of the Honda Fit had it repaired at John Eagle for hail damage, and the shop had used adhesive bonding, rather than welds as called for by Honda, to attach the replacement roof. “I am a vehicle crashworthiness lawyer,” Tracy said. “I sue car manufacturers for a living. I don’t sue repair facilities. You guys are like me: You’re small businessmen. But when you guys [expletive] up my vehicle manufacturer defect case, I have to go after you.” He said the jury clearly understood that the shop’s use of adhesive rather than welds went against what both the automaker and 3M (the adhesive maker) called for. “And I refuse to call it ‘adhesive bonding,’” Tracy said. “We called it glue. No different than Elmer’s glue
that those jurors’ kindergarten children use in their art projects… It’s all about smoke and mirrors, what I do for a living, ladies and gentlemen. I don’t know [expletive] from shinola, like you guys do. But I can say it louder, and I’ve got a bigger megaphone, and I’ve got a big personality.” The lawsuit against State Farm, the insurer who paid for the hail damage repair to the Honda Fit, was the result of a deposition of the director of the John Eagle Collision Center, who indicated that an insurer can overrule OEM repair procedures based on payment practices. “Well, unfortunately, we’re guided by insurance,” the shop’s director said in the deposition. “So... if you brought your car into my shop, the insurance company’s going to dictate... how we’re going to repair your car.” But the insurer cannot trump the OEM procedures, can they, the director was asked. “Yes, they can,” he responded. “By not paying the bill.” Although Tracy said he’s not looking to sue additional shops, he offered a number of steps shops should take to protect themselves against lawsuits such as the one he brought against John Eagle Collision. First and foremost, he said, always follow OEM repair specifications. If there are no such procedures, document efforts you made to locate them, and keep your customer informed. “Never forget who your customer is,” Tracy said. “When they entrust you with their vehicle repairs, they are putting their lives and the lives of their loved ones in your hands.” Avoid language on your website or other marketing that overpromises what you can deliver, he suggested. He called the John Eagle Collision website “insane” in that it said the shop’s goal for repairs is to “achieve ‘better than new,’” and that the shop has what is needed “to restore the vehicle to its condition prior to the incident that caused the damage.” “Don’t tie yourself down to stupid [expletive] like this,” Tracy said. “If you have a website, make it vague. Make it ambiguous.” He said shops should never admit that “you’re letting insurance companies dictate how you’re repairing vehicles.” Better yet, he said, stop allowing that to happen. “If you take away one thing from
22 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
this talk, that is: Never put your company’s profit over your customer’s safety,” Tracy said. “That’s a good way to get your ass whipped. And that’s what happened [to the Texas shop].” Instead, he suggested, “Tell your customer in writing what the insurance company is doing, that you recommend against it because the vehicle will not be as safe in the event of an accident, and that their family or a future owner of the vehicle can be seriously injured or killed,” Tracy said. “Be a hero and stand up to the insurance companies and tell them and your customer in writing that the insurance company’s [suggested] repairs violate OEM repair specifications and will cause serious injury or death…if an accident occurs in the future, and that you will not repair the vehicle knowing you are placing someone’s life at risk.” If the customer won’t back you up, Tracy said, have them “sign off on your shop performing the insurance company’s repair so you can cover your ass.” Tracy didn’t sugarcoat the impact this could have on a shop’s business, acknowledging “you’ll lose some
money at first,” and “there’s going to be a few casualties along the way.” But he said if more than just the handful of shops currently standing up to insurers start doing so, the industry can change. “When you all give that insurance company that same piece of paper, and you put it to them like this, that your customer is going to die or be seriously injured or maimed, I don’t think they’re going to go take [that vehicle] down to the Service Kings or the Caliber Collisions,” Tracy said. “I don’t think they’re going to take it to the Julio Smith’s of the world.” Like Mississippi attorney Eaves did four years earlier, Tracy promised to “be a warrior” for the shops that stand with him against the insurers. “I will fight these [expletive],” he said. “If I can take on car manufacturers, I can assure you I can take on a [expletive] little company like State Farm or Allstate. John Yoswick, a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon, who has been writing about the automotive industry since 1988, is also the editor of the weekly CRASH Network (www.Crash Network.com). He can be contacted by email at john@CrashNetwork.com.
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www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 23
In Reverse
Early Industry Pioneers Left Their Mark with Gary Ledoux
Even before there were cars on the road, a number of people created products, provided services or simply had inauspicious beginnings that, although may have seemed trivial at the time, had a profound and lasting effect on the industry. Even back then, they would influence the way the auto industry in general, and the collision repair industry in particular, works. Escaping the French revolution and leaving their printing business behind them, on Jan. 1, 1800, Pierre and his son Eleuthere Irenee (E.I.) arrived in America after a grueling 90-day voyage. Father and son eventually found their way to Bergen, NJ. Pierre wanted to engage in the elaborate scheme of international trade. E.I. took a more practical approach—the manufacture of gunpowder, something he was already familiar with and with which he was quite proficient. The chemistry and manufacture of gunpowder would lead to a multitude of products, not the least of which was paint—DuPont Refinish paint over 100 years later, thanks to the foresight of Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours and his son, E.I du Pont de Nemours. And then there was Henry, born Sept. 27, 1842. He would later be described in his company’s history as being “self-taught and self-propelled” and an “entrepreneur and inventor.” His formal education in his hometown of Baltimore, VT, ended at the young age of 13 when he began work in a general store. From there, he became a photographer and then moved to Cleveland, OH, where he became a clerk then a bookkeeper for Freeman & Kellogg dry goods. He then became a partner in the George Sprague Company, purveyors of groceries, and managed to save $2,000—quite a hefty sum in the mid-1860’s. The grocery business obviously gave young Henry a good income, but he wanted something more. Opportunities with a wholesale drug company, a bank and a wholesale paint company then presented themselves. Henry chose the paint company, not because it offered the most money initially, but because he thought it “gave the promise of a future greater than others.” Truer words were never spoken. Henry bought into and became a
Gary Ledoux is an industry veteran with 48 years’ experience in the automotive and OEM collision parts industry. His column appears exclusively in Autobody News. He can be reached at YesterWreck@yahoo.com
partner with Truman Dunham & Co., purveyors of paint ingredients. He learned all he could about the paint business, endeavoring to “bring a fine sense of order” to it. The partnership did not last long. By 1869, Henry discovered that his partners were more interested in producing linseed oil and he was more interested in paint. In 1870, Truman Dunham & Co. faded into history. Henry had a pal named Edward, born May 10, 1843 in Cleveland, OH. Edward attended Cleveland High School, graduating in 1859, and then went on to earn degrees at Hudson College. He also found time to serve in the 85th Volunteer Infantry of Ohio during the Civil War. On Feb. 3, 1870, Henry Sherwin and his pal Edward Williams decided to pool their resources, including $15,000 of Edward’s own money and Henry’s knowledge of paint, to start their own company, naming it after themselves— the Sherwin-Williams Company. But it wasn’t enough for early pioneers to create a quality paint for factory-finishing and refinishing cars. Factories and “shop men” had to have a way to get the paint onto the vehicle. Prior to 1926, automotive paint was applied with a brush in multiple coats with a lot of drying time in between; an extremely laborious and time-consuming job. There had to be a better way. In 1887, a maintenance supervisor for the Boston-based Marshall Field’s department stores was charged with painting the store’s basement walls white—miles and miles of basement walls on several different levels in several different stores. Painting by hand would take large crews weeks to accomplish. Seeking a faster way, the maintenance supervisor developed a spray apparatus with paint in a bucket pressurized by a hand pump. The paint sprayed out through a wand mechanism with a nozzle, not unlike a device used to spray weed killer today. It was a success. He would later go on to use his paint sprayer to paint many of the buildings at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The Exposition, on the scale of a world’s fair, was known as the Great White City, thanks in no small part to the maintenance supervisor’s invention. In 1919, he developed his first
24 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
air-powered spray gun as we know them today, and by 1926, the DuPont Company produced a spray-able lacquer called Duco, suitable for automotive refinishing. That maintenance supervisor’s name was Joseph Binks. But Mr. Binks was not alone—he had a little competition. In 1888, a doctor created an atomizer to spray medicine on his patients’ sore throats to help them heal faster. In 1907, his son, Thomas, expanded on the idea and created a hand-held, air-powered spray gun for paint. By blowing compressed air across the top of a siphon tube submerged in liquid, the gun could create a controllable pattern of material. The first spray guns were used primarily for furniture finishing but by 1926, they were used for automotive refinishing. That doctor’s name was Dr. Allen DeVilbiss. Most people reading this have probably owned or handled a Binks or DeVilbiss spray gun. Of course, body shops can’t work
on a collision-damaged car until or unless it arrives at the shop. And as we all know, sometimes, they are not drivable. That is where Ernie’s invention helps the industry. In 1916, Ernie helped a friend pull a car from a ditch in Chattanooga, TN. It was back-breaking work. They succeeded, but Ernie thought that there must be a better and easier way. He acquired a used 1913 Cadillac, removed the body behind the driver’s seat, attached an A-frame and a system of pulleys, and created the first wrecker. It was a great idea, but didn’t exactly work as planned. It wasn’t steady enough when trying to winch a car out of an odd spot. He needed a set of outrigger feet to keep the Cadillac from tipping over. After attaching the outriggers, and some boxes in which to carry tools, his tow truck was a success. So much so, he started making them for other people and thus, an inSee Industry Pioneers, Page 41
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Southwest 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.
NABR Introduces HABA to Variable Rate System On Thursday, Oct. 12, the Houston Auto Body Association (HABA) held a meeting at Mossy Nissan in Houston, featuring a presentation on the Variable Rate System (VRS) by Sam and Richard Valenzuela of National AutoBody Research (NABR).
According to HABA President John Kopriva, “We are excited to bring NABR to Houston to present their innovative VRS. They bring an independent, third-party perspective and unbiased system to the industry to help differentiate collision centers for fair and equitable labor rates and level the playing field for payment of notincluded operations.”
John Kopriva welcomes attendees to HABA’s meeting
Commencing at 6:30 p.m. with dinner, the meeting attracted more than 30 collision repair professionals. After welcoming everyone, Kopriva asked attendees to introduce themselves to their gathered peers. He announced that HABA’s January meeting will feature a seminar titled “Science of Risk, Unlocking the Mystery of the Total Loss Claims Process,” presented by Burl Richards, President of the Auto Body Association of Texas (ABAT) and Robert McDorman, Public Insurance Adjuster. Kopriva then introduced Sam and Richard Valenzuela, who explained
that NABR is an independent thirdparty company focusing on consumer care and safety, including the right to a quality repair at a fair price and the right to be reimbursed for their loss. Expressing his belief that fair labor rates are the foundation of consumer care and safety, Sam shared, “Shops need the right rates to be able to invest in training and equipment in order to keep consumers safe. We believe shops should get paid what they’re worth and for the work they do so they’re better able to repair cars correctly. “Labor rates are one of the most critical issues in this industry, and they are at the heart of health and prosperity for the collision repair industry. There is a clear link between labor rates and consumer safety.” Urging attendees to take the free survey at LaborRateSurvey.com, Sam explained that shops can use the information in the VRS to better understand competitive labor rates in their area. “The surveys provide data that acts as fuel for our powerful system,” Richard added, demonstrating how shops can search the database to see the market range of labor rates within a certain radius throughout an entire state or across the country. Although a common argument NABR encounters is “the insurance company won’t pay,” several insurers have contacted NABR expressing interest in using the VRS data to help determine the right rates to pay the right shops. “Insurance companies want good shops to receive good rates,” Richard claimed. “When the right rates are paid to the right shops, everyone wins because the consumer’s car is repaired right, the shop makes what it’s worth, and the insurer pays a reasonable, equitable labor rate.” The VRS collects and reports data from shops on their actual posted rates, rather than using DRP, fleet, or other discount rates shops have conceded to. The market survey function reports labor rate data in aggregate form while the shop locator tool provides information on the data entered by each shop, enabling shop owners to make
26 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
who claim “we don’t pay for that,” by providing evidence to the contrary. Kopriva pointed out, “Shops with more certifications and better trained technicians make a stronger argument—ask the insurance company why they are paying a higher rate for a less certified shop.” “NABR is working to prevent things that aren’t fair, equitable and right,” Richard promised. “Add data to the system, and we return value, making it possible for you to earn more money.” NABR’s Sam and Richard Valenzuela teach HABA Noting that market dymembers about their Variable Rate System namics such as supply and The VRS also offers a document demand also play a role in labor rates, Sam demonstrated how to use search that shows final documents on the VRS to understand what rates to what shops are receiving. This inforcharge to keep up with inflation by mation can be shared with customers utilizing the COLA calculator on the to demonstrate the procedures their inwebsite. The labor rate calculator surer has paid on other claims, or it can help shops determine the rates can be used to negotiate with adjusters business decisions based on objective data, and apples-to-apples comparison with their competition.
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rates of other shops that look like yours and use it in your negotiations with insurance companies,” Sam said. The VRS also gives the collision repair industry an opportunity to report their prices for working on luxury brands, as some shops have varying rates to earn an ROI on the investment in training and specialty equipment. Sam pointed out, “Insurance companies, manufacturers and service departments all have different prices for luxury vehicles. Why not collision repair shops?” Shops can also use the VRS to get paid for not-included procedures by using NABR’s presentation attracted more than 30 collision search tools to show adjusters repair industry professionals to HABA’s Oct. 12 meeting claims in which that specific shop. Then, the consumer gets a better insurer has paid for that procedure in repair.” the past. Explaining that the VRS can be Sam urged shops that receive payused to determine the right rates for an ment on typically not-included items individual shop, Sam showed atten- to submit documents for non-DRP dees how to search shops locally, transactions to Documents@National statewide and nationally to review AutoBodyResearch.com. “Help us rates posted by shops with similar cerhelp you!” tifications, training and equipment. Sam urged shops to update their “We believe that OEM certificasurveys on a regular basis to keep tions are the future of this industry, their profile current, and reminded and our tool enables you to see the them that they are the source of data, they need to charge to reach profit goals, generating a basic profit and loss statement. Sam stressed, “Small changes in labor rates and billable hours can have a big impact on your bottom line.” Richard added, “You fix cars well, and we’ll equip you with the data you need to get the revenue to be a better
so it’s up to the shops to submit an updated survey whenever anything in their profile changes. He admitted, “Shops may still need to stand their ground and contend for everything they need to complete a proper repair. The VRS isn’t a magic fix, but it’s a great enabler.” Encouraging everyone to take the survey, subscribe to the VRS and use it every day, Sam stated, “Insurers often pay more than what’s reported to estimating systems by adding line adjustments that you can see on the VRS effective rates. Insurance companies often do pay posted rates— they may pay it in other ways on the estimate or reimburse the customers directly. Active participation is the secret to success with the VRS.” The audience was very engaged throughout the interactive, dynamic meeting. Kopriva ended the meeting by noting, “It’s obvious what a great tool this is, but to be successful, it requires participation, just like our association.” Next, HABA will be holding a 2018 Planning Meeting in December. For more information on the association, visit www.habaonline.org.
Continued from Page 21
Post John Eagle
“What is the right thing to do for the consumer?” Another issue that kept coming up is how shops are paid by insurance companies. How is it that a shop that has little or no training, obsolete equipment and a poor facility gets paid the same as a shop that has invested thousands of dollars in training, equipment and facilities and qualifies as an OE certified shop? So… how can the industry best serve the customer and what change will evolve in a post-John Eagle world through the OE’s or otherwise? Stay tuned…
Your leading source for SOUTHWESTERN Collision Repair News! southwestern.autobodynews.com
www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 27
National Associations
Chasidy Rae Sisk is a freelance technical writer from Wilmington, Delaware, who writes on a variety of fields and subjects, and grew up in a family of NASCAR fans. She can be contacted at crsisk@chasidyraesisk.com.
Auto Care Association Hosts First Legislative Summit in Five Years with Chasidy Rae Sisk
by Chasidy Rae Sisk
On Oct. 3 and 4, the Auto Care Association stormed Washington, D.C. for its first Legislative Summit in five years. David Pinkham, Manager of Government Affairs for the Auto Care Association, shared, “We were incredibly pleased with how the Auto Care Legislative Summit turned out. Eighty industry professionals attended a total of 121 meetings with congressional offices, 36 of which were with the actual members of Congress. The response was very positive. Attendees we spoke with during and after the Legislative Summit found it to be not only educational from a professional standpoint, but rewarding on a personal level. Participating in the public policy process is something everyone should have the chance to experience. “Those who participated in the Summit were passionate about the issue topics and understood the importance of advocating on behalf of their company and the industry as a whole. The issues we chose to focus on included consumer ownership and access to wirelessly-transmitted vehicle data, protected access to copyrighted
tion Administrator of Vehicle Safety Research, Nat Beuse. “While the Auto Care Association has brought members to Capitol Hill numerous times in recent years, this
repaired at a fair price and in a short amount of time; however, that is only possible if there is an interconnected, competitive vehicle repair market. The issues that concern our industry,
The first day of the 2017 Legislative Summit focused on preparing attendees for the next day’s legislative meetings
was the first Auto Care Legislative Summit since 2012. With a new administration and numerous industryspecific issues garnering attention in Congress, we felt it was important to bring back a large-scale Capitol Hill event in order to reintroduce legislators to our industry and further engage our membership on the issues,” Pinkham stated. “While we hope to grow the total number of participants at future events, the impact our members had during their meetings on Capitol Hill far exceeded our expectations. Not only did our guys meet with more members of Congress than expected, but the issues we discussed happened to be top-of-mind for many offices, as autonomous vehicle legislation, which included an Small groups of automotive aftermarket industry amendment supported by our professionals meet with members of Congress on industry, was being marked up Oct. 4 to bring attention to the industry’s issues that very same day.” vehicle software by service providers The Auto Care Association held and replacement parts manufacturers, its 2017 Legislative Summit in order and comprehensive tax reform.” to bring attention to issues the indusThe first day of the Legislative try faces. Summit was dedicated to preparing atAccording to Pinkham, “With 4.6 tendees for the next day’s legislative million jobs nationwide and over $380 meeting, briefing them on the issues. billion in annual economic impact, we The day also included Bob Woodward’s are the largest U.S. industry no one Keynote Address and an overview of has heard about. When people take NHTSA’s autonomous vehicle guidtheir vehicle in for service, they exance presented by NHTSA’s Associapect to have the right parts installed or
28 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
including access to vehicle data and software, have to do with preserving that competitive marketplace for the
consumer. “The Auto Care Association is unique in that it represents the entire industry supply chain, from parts manufacturers to wholesale distributors to retailers and service facilities. Our members attend our events because they get exposure to other parts of the business, which in many cases are their customers. And when everyone has the same objective, as was the case with the Legislative Summit, the environment of collaboration and engagement is unmatched.” Although the Auto Care Association has not decided when it will hold its next Legislative Summit, the association does not intend to wait five years again because of the success of this year’s event. The association will continue to facilitate issue-specific meetings with smaller groups on Capitol Hill in the meantime. For more information on association, visit www.autocare.org.
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H OND A TEX AS
Bankston Honda L e w is v i ll e
800-344-8611 972-219-0021 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-5 www.bankstonhonda.com
Fiesta Honda S a n A n t on io
800-727-8705 210-340-0831 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-5 hondaparts@safiestahonda.com
Cleo Bay Honda K i ll e en
877-253-6229 254-699-2478 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 parts@cleobay.com
Honda Cars of McKinney M c K in n ey
972-569-4276 972-569-4222 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-5 Gene.chenault@hendrickauto.com
Honda of Frisco F ri s c o
866-442-2711 972-731-3176 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7:30-5:30 cedgar@mcdavid.com
AC U RA TEX AS
Autonation Acura Leag u e Cit y
800-749-6227 713-371-4700 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7-5 hoehns@autonation.com
David McDavid Acura Aus t in
800-575-3553 512-401-5976 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-5 jraygo@mcdavid.com
David McDavid Acura Plan o
972-964-6044 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-5 dgrajczyk@mcdavid.com
30 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
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TE XAS
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877-466-3272 214-328-3891
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Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6 srichardson@mcdavid.com
Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-5 darryldotsy@rustywallis.com
Dept. Hours: M-F 7-5:30 parts@superiorhonda.net
800-274-0985 303-415-1528 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-2 parts@fisherauto.com
Honda of San Marcos
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Walker Honda
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Au s t i n
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G re el e y
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Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30 hondaparts@walkerautomotive.com
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San Ma rco s
866-392-1313 512-392-1313 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 9-5 csmith@hondasanmarcos.com
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Kelly Grimsley Honda Od ess a
844-453-5594 432-334-6632 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-12 april@kellygrimsley.com
Russell & Smith Honda
Dept. Hours: M-Sat 7-6 hondaparts@doncarlton.com
Fowler Honda No r m a n
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Hou st on
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Fo r t Wo r t h
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Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 dlavigne@acurabr.com
Sterling McCall Acura
Walker Acura
Ho u st on
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713-596-2337 713-596-2338
800-359-8555 504-465-8555
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OK LAHO MA
Don Carlton Acura of Tulsa
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800-648-4488 303-442-1767
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Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-5 parts@flatironsimports.com
Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8:30-5 Jscott@garciacars.com
Fisher Honda
Mile High Honda D en v er
800-548-4730 303-369-7800 Dept. Hours: M-S 7-6 lhoover@autotree.net
AR IZON A
Chapman Honda Tu cs o n
800-461-6744 520-202-5770 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-4 carlkeefe@chapmantucson.com
Earnhardt Honda Av on da l e
800-350-6537 623-463-4380 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-9; Sat 7-6 gluna@earnhardt.com
C OL OR AD O
U TAH
Mile High Acura D e nv e r
800-548-4730 303-369-7800 Dept. Hours: M-S 7-6 lhoover@autotree.net
Pikes Peak Acura C ol o ra do S pr in gs
800-456-9568 719-955-1715 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-4 joe_benson@pikespeakacura.com
Jody Wilkinson Acura Salt Lake City
800-234-0875 801-323-0492 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 rick@jodywilkinson.com
Mike Hale Acura Murray
800-292-4595 801-263-0202 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 7:30-5 pgoold@mikehale.com
AR IZON A
Acura of Peoria Pe o r i a
866-347-4507 623-792-2559 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7-5 dcavanaugh@vtaig.com www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 31
Historical Snapshot
—John Yoswick is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon, who has a body shop in the family and has been writing about the automotive industry since 1988. He is the editor of the weekly CRASH Network (for a free 4-week trial subscription, visit www.CrashNetwork.com). Contact him by email at jyoswick@SpiritOne.com.
Information Providers Made it Clear Five Years Ago Shops Can’t Opt-Out of Data Collection with John Yoswick
20 years ago in the collision repair industry (Dedember 1997) Representatives of State Farm, USAA, Geico, Allstate, Farmers and Nationwide stated that their respective companies do not have plans to introduce preferred provider organization (PPO) type programs as an option for customers buying insurance policies for their vehicles. The Automotive Service Association Collision Division sought the statements to help identify any changes to the insurers positions concerning PPOs. A PPO-type program would likely allow a consumer the opportunity to buy a policy that offers substantial premium discounts. In exchange, at the time of purchasing the policy, the consumer would agree to certain conditions, such as the use of aftermarket parts and [allowing the insurer to decide] where to have their vehicle repaired in the event of an accident. “It’s not in State Farm’s planning,” State Farm’s Bill Hardt said. “The PPO might work in certain niche markets, but we’re too big.” Hardt’s personal opinion is that the customer would agree to use aftermarket parts up front, but after the wreck would change his mind. USAA’s Israel Yzaguirre said the company has no plans to incorporate PPO-type policies. “We think there’s no savings for us in terms of money or people with PPOs,” he said. “I would hate to see PPOs happen. They would just drive another wedge between the industry.” “I am unaware of Geico offering such an option at this time or over the next 12 months,” Geico representative Bill Mayer said. – As reported in Collision Expert. No major auto insurers have moved toward a PPO model in the 20 years since this was reported.
15 years ago in the collision repair industry (December 2002) Arizona Collision Craftsman Association (ACCA) members have selected their annual picks for the best insurance companies to deal with, and State Farm has come out on top for the second year in a row. ACCA member shops were asked,
“Do insurance companies’ overall policies, attitudes and payment processes focus on quality and timely repair for the customer.” The shops rated each insurer on a scale of 1 to 10.
In 1997, Bill Mayer of State Farm said the company had no plans to offer consumers a PPO-type auto insurance policy
State Farm topped the list at 9.04, followed by Farmers (7.64), USAA (7.17), and The Hartford (7.13). Outside the top 10 were Geico (6.43), Travelers (6.4), Liberty Mutual (6.04), Allstate (5.4) and Progressive (5.14). – As reported in Autobody News. CRASH Network (www.crashnetwork .com) conducted a similar “Insurer Report Card” in late 2016, and out of 86 insurers graded by body shops, the insurers named above all ranked below 40 other insurers. USAA (#41), Travelers (#43) and State Farm (#47) were the only three with above average scores. The others were ranked between #65 and #76, with grades of C+ or C.
10 years ago in the collision repair industry (December 2007) NACE Chairman Darrell Amberson, president of Lehman’s Garage, a sixlocation business based in Bloomington, Minn., kicked off the 2007 event’s opening session with a speech offering his laundry list of the key issues he believes the industry needs to address. Amberson said the decrease in auto insurance claims and the increasing percentage of totals have helped fuel an “overcapacity” in the industry, with too many shops chasing too little work. That and a lack of unity in the industry have helped add to the imbalance in shop-insurer relationships, something Amberson said that some insurers have taken undue advantage of. The industry, he cited as one example, must have a more fair way of de-
32 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
termining fair and equitable rates, and that government involvement in such issues – as is being discussed in some states – may not be something either side finds as the best solution, Amberson said. – As reported in Autobody News. Amberson in 2012 became vice president of operations at LaMettry’s Collision, another MSO based in Minnesota. There is still some discussion of government involvement in labor rates; legislation under consideration in Massachusetts, for example, would require that a minimum labor rate be established by the Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner based on the average rates paid by insurers in surrounding states (Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont).
5 years ago in the collision repair industry (December 2012) Aaron Schulenburg of the Society of
2118 South Padre Island Drive Corpus Christi, TX 78416
Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) said the repairer associations that asked the information providers for an “opt-out option” for shops that don’t want their estimate data aggregated are disappointed with the negative responses they received. “Is there going to be a choice? Really, the answer is no,” Schulenburg said at the recent Collision Industry Conference. “You can either choose to use electronic estimating systems (to communicate with insurers) or you don’t. I don’t think it’s the answer that we wanted, but they answered the question.” He cited as one example of the concerns repairers have about the use of data a report published by Mitchell International on differences seen in bumper refinish costs. Schulenburg said some insurers used the report to urge field staff not to overpay on bumper refinish on certain vehicles. But Schulenburg said, the differences
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in the costs were more attributable to differences on estimates than on what was actually happening in shops. The data may seem to indicate that older vehicles need less time, he said, but it’s actually more an issue of appraisers not being as likely to allow procedures such as tinting and final sand and polish on estimates for older cars as they are on newer cars. The estimate data that Mitchell was touting as a trend, Schulenburg said, didn’t re-
In 2012, Greg Horn was with Mitchell International, and defended the company’s release of data that showed regional variations in billing for bumper refinishing
flect that those procedures are still being done on the older vehicles. But Greg Horn of Mitchell International said the report was actually
pointing out that additional bumper refinish operations such as tint and blend vary by geographic region. “So why are the body shop associations not reading that same report and saying, ‘Why are our brethren down in the Southeast or up in the Northeast getting this when it’s a valid operation, but we’re not in this area,’” Horn suggested. Audatex’s Rick Tuuri said his company and the other information providers cannot control how other companies use the data. “Your issue is not with the information. Your issue is with how the information is being used,” Tuuri suggested to the associations. “People use power tools for the wrong reason every day, and you don’t go to Black & Decker and complain that someone tried to pound a nail with your power drill and put a hole in their hand. It’s not Black & Decker’s fault.” As reported in CRASH Network (www.CrashNetwork.com), December 3, 2012. Schulenburg remains executive director of SCRS; Tuuri retired from Audatex in 2016; Horn in 2016 became national auto physical damage claims director at The Hartford.
Prominent Body Shop Owner’s Family Loses Five Homes in North Bay, CA, Fires by Ed Attanasio
On Oct. 9, five homes in Santa Rosa’s Fountaingrove community belonging to the family of the late Gene Crozat, founder of Santa Rosa-based MSO G&C Auto Body, burned to the ground in the North Bay, CA, fires.
The Crozat family will rebuild their homes but, for now, 13 of them are living in the same house. Credit: Jihan Cerda Photography
Sons Patrick, Josh and Shawn Crozat, as well as daughter Jamie Crozat-Keck, and their mother, Teri, lost their homes. Teri had just recently purchased a home in Fountaingrove to be near her children and grandchildren, but had yet to move into it when
it burned down. When the fires hit, several of the siblings were in Charlotte, NC, at a NASCAR race as guests of PPG. The phone rang at their hotel around 3 a.m. telling them that their homes were in imminent danger and that their mother and children were being evacuated immediately. By the time they landed in Oakland that afternoon, all of their homes were completely gone and the entire family was homeless. “I never imagined that this could happen to all of us like this, so we’re still in shock and trying to deal with the tragedy,” Shawn Crozat said. “Currently, 13 of us are living at my mother’s former home and staying positive. None of our shops were seriously threatened by the fire, so we will come back from this, but it’s a life-changer, that’s for sure.” Luckily, Teri was watching Shawn and Govinda’s children that evening. When a neighbor pounded on the door at 11:45, their oldest, 11year-old Maddie, answered. She woke See Family Loses 5 Homes, Page 46
www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 33
Shop Strategies
Stacey Phillips is a freelance writer and editor for the automotive industry. She has 20 years of experience writing for a variety of publications. She can be reached at sphillips.autobodynews@gmail.com.
with Stacey Phillips
Military Veteran Attributes Shop’s Success to Building Lifelong Relationships with Customers Before working in the collision repair business, Robert Castellano had a different career path—the United States Marine Corps. He enlisted on Sept. 10, 2001— the day before 9/11 when the towers were hit—and served for six years. During that time, he spent three years
ter and better every year! We expanded to our second shop across the street, where we do our assembling and detail the vehicles for delivery. We are currently at 10 employees strong and our focus is always on the customer. We do not work for the insurance companies—we work for the customer. Without the customer, neither us nor the insurance company would be in business.
How have you set your body Q: shop apart from others in Houston?
Co-owners of Brookston Body Shop in Houston, Texas: Robert Castellano (right) and his brother, Will
and nine months in Iraq and was promoted to sergeant. Later, he volunteered as a private security contractor working personnel security detail. As a combat veteran, he has been awarded the Combat Action ribbon and Presidential Unit Citation. With a passion for cars, Robert decided to join his brother, Will, at Brookston Body Shop, where they have run the shop as co-owners for the past decade in Houston, TX. “I just love cars and love helping people,” said Robert. “I guess that’s why I also volunteered to serve. I wanted to help people who could not help themselves.”
After leaving the United States Q: Marine Corps., how did you get involved working at the body shop?
I have been around the body A: shop business and cars since I was a kid. My father had a shop, and
that’s how my brother, Will, started in the business. Will opened a body shop in 2002, and I joined him in 2005 when I was getting out of the military. My purpose was to help expand the business. We were in an older neighborhood where the clientele was a little shady and always looking to cut corners. My brother told me to start looking for a new location, and I found the perfect place in the Heights area of Houston, Texas. We started operating there and have been doing bet-
What sets us apart from others A: in the industry—at least around our area—is that we are “old school.”
We love to interact with the clients and are available 24/7. Our customers deal with us directly and we strive to make sure that everything is perfect. We value our customers and do whatever it takes to accomplish the job, no matter how big or small. We go out of our way to make our customers happy and hope to make a lifelong relationship.
quits being a job.
With the shortage of techniQ: cians in the industry, what is your advice about hiring veterans?
I think hiring veterans is a good idea because they are used to A: structure, thinking outside the box, doing
more with less and usually have a good
Robert Castellano while serving in the United States Marine Corps. He is carrying a .50 caliber machine gun
work ethic. Arriving early is a big thing and failure is never an option. They are usually dedicated to their unit, which is
the equivalent of their working team. I’m sure you can find these qualities in the civilian world as well, but I think in the military you learn them at a really young age. Who would trust an 18-year-old to work on a $50 million jet or with the cryptography that is set on the radios for communication? In the corporate world, most people would not trust someone this age with running the coffee maker or copy machine. However, in the military an 18-year-old is entrusted with the life of his comrades and to make decisions that would keep the civilian population alive. We had an 18year-old Forward Observer. He is the guy calling in the airstrikes or artillery. If he made a mistake giving the pilots or artillery men the wrong coordinates, innocent civilians or even his comrades could have been killed. I think that’s a pretty massive responsibility for someone this age who cannot even drink beer yet. If a shop has the opportunity to hire a veteran, I highly recommend it.
• Toyota Star Elite Dealer • Free Delivery to All of Texas • Free Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue for Our Wholesale Customers Brookston Body Shop’s motto is “Where we meet most of our friends by accident.”
I think people are surprised because we were both young when we started the shop here in the Heights 10 years ago. I was in my late twenties, but at that time looked younger! My brother was about 32, but also looked like he was in his late twenties. Most of our customers seriously do become our friends and are known to just show up at the shop and hang out. That is why our motto is: “Where we meet most of our friends by accident.” I know a few people use that, but we really mean it! We are lucky to do what we have a passion for. When you love what you do for a living, it
34 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
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www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 35
Body Shop Owners, Auto Service Consultant Present ‘Sales Training for Estimators’ at SEMA by Rochelle Beckel
Several SEMA Show attendees gathered at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Nov. 3 for the Sales Training for Estimators information session, presented by Jim Saeli of Management Success, Kareem Abouzeid of Knockout Collision Repair and Dino Di Giulio of Body Best Collision Center. The presentation was part of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists Repairer Driven Education Sessions at the 2017 SEMA Show. The session opened with a discussion of a shop estimator’s job. It was stressed that estimators are responsible for bringing in a high volume of profitable, approved estimates into the shop, which requires the achievement of several key tasks. These tasks include bringing customers into the shop, maintaining customer satisfaction so that repair work is authorized and new customers come in via satisfied customers’ word-ofmouth promotion of the shop, writing complete repair estimates and working with insurance companies in a way that balances getting work approved while pleasing them enough to encourage customers back to the shop. Part of ensuring customer satisfaction is understanding that customers want the quickest solutions to their collision repair issues, even when those solutions are not truly in their best interest. Saeli said it is the estimator’s job to resist those requests to perform the fastest solution, and ensure that the time is taken to perform the necessary steps to perform a safe, proper repair. “The first step [to make this happen] is building trust,” Saeli said. “They do this by both listening and asking questions.” Saeli elaborated on the value of listening to the customer, explaining that customers like people who seem genuinely friendly and interested in them. This builds the trust and confidence shop owners want them to have in both the shop owner/estimator and the work the shop performs. Listening to customers’ questions will also help the estimator lead the conversation toward getting them to bring their car to the estimator’s shop. “If [the customer] has shopped around a little bit, they already know what questions to ask, or they will give out some information that can be really valuable [toward] figuring out what’s
going to help them, and help you get the job,” Abouzeid said. “They may say, ‘What’s really important is that I get OEM parts on the vehicle.’ That’s the kind of information that you can fish around for and ask for. If you’re
asking customers questions, as opposed to close-ended questions that could easily result in a response of “No.” An example they provided was asking customers whether they preferred to drop off their vehicle in the morning or after lunch, rather than simply asking whether they could bring in their vehicle that day. Another selling tactic they recommended was “the assumed close,” in which the estimator talks to customers as though they have already agreed to getting the work done. As an example, they said if a customer asked how long From L-R: Jim Saeli of Management Success, Kareem Abouzeid of Knockout Collision Repair and Dino Di Giulio a repair would take to comof Body Best Collision Center led a presentation on Sales plete, an appropriate response Training for Estimators on the last day of the 2017 SEMA would be “We can get it done Show in two days. Do you have a not paying attention and you just asvehicle you can use or would you sume you know what they want and rather I set you up with a rental?” need and what’s important to them, you If the customer responded that can spend a lot of time…versus really they did not have another vehicle, the listening to what they have to say. They estimator would then respond, “That’s give you the key to what it takes to pronot a problem. I’ll have a rental car vide them with what they need to make a good decision.” The presenters then discussed the importance of setting appointments with customers, saying that the majority of good customers will view appointments as commitments that they need to fulfill. Scheduling an appointment with the customer indicates that you likely did a good job talking to them on the phone, as most people will not agree to appointments with people with whom they do not feel comfort918-627-6457 Fax 888-550-7278 able. Member of the Tulsa Parts Connection They also advised against using technical terms with customers, emphasizing the importance of not confusing or misleading them. If customers do not understand what you’re talking about, they will probably start to dislike Excellent service you. Competitive pricing “The reality is, all [the customers] care about is a couple things: How 4905 S. Memorial Dr. long is it going to take, and how much Tulsa, OK 74145 of my deductible can you save me?” Parts Hours: Di Giulio said. “So you want to get Mon-Sat. 7:00am - 6pm those questions handled and out of the way first…We’re going to make [the Parts Manager: car] new, and it’s going to come with a Diane Finch lifetime transferable warranty… those acuraparts@doncarlton.com are the basics. So keep it simple.” The presenters emphasized the www.doncarltonacura.com importance of offering options when
36 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Don Carlton ACURA OF TULSA
here in 10 minutes,” and proceed to immediately get on the phone to arrange for a rental car. Next, the presenters went over the steps necessary to convince the potential customer to come into the shop. Those steps included caring for the customer, building communication (gathering information), educating the customer and setting an appointment, all while on the phone with the customer. Of course, in some cases, customers will fail to show up for their appointments. There are myriad reasons for this, but the presenters stressed the importance of always calling a customer as soon as possible when they don’t show up. “If they missed their appointment, they probably feel bad,” Abouzeid said. “They’re not very likely to show up at your shop after that, unless you call them and tell them it’s OK… there may be some other things they’re dealing with. If you call them… you’ll make it OK for them to reschedule, whereas otherwise, they may just go to the next place because now they’re See Sales Trainging SEMA, Page 45
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Two MSOs Team Up for North Bay, CA, Fire Relief by Ed Attanasio
Most of the time, Cook’s Collision and Mike’s Auto Body, two of the largest body shop chains in the Bay Area, are friendly competitors. But when the Napa, Sonoma and Santa Rosa communities called out for assistance after the North Bay fires that destroyed 3,500 structures and killed 40 people in October, both companies were more than willing to work together and help those in need. This collaboration illustrated that when tragedies occur, there are things more important than business. That is why Matthew Wood of Cook’s Collision decided to pick up the phone when news of the fire began to spread. “None of our employees in the fire areas lost their homes or were displaced, but many of them have family members or relatives who did,” Wood said. “We decided rather quickly that we wanted to do something significant and see if we could get some other companies to assist us in the effort, so that’s why we called the people at Mike’s Auto Body.” The Woods and the Roses go back many years, so when Matthew Wood
called Brennan Rose at Mike’s Auto Body to assist in the efforts, his answer was an emphatic yes. “Our families have been associated [with each other] for a long time, and we know that the Rose family does a lot of charity work, so we were confident that they’d step up and work
By calling out to employees, friends and customers, Cook’s Collision and Mike’s Auto Body delivered two large moving trucks and two pickup trucks full of supplies to the victims of the North Bay fires
with us,” Wood said. “Once they said okay, we started the collection and began looking for ways to transport the items to the fire drop-off areas.” In addition to collecting and categorizing all of the donations, transportation and logistics had to be considered,
Wood explained. “We were able to get two large moving trucks and two pickup trucks to do the job,” he said. “We took everything to our Fairfield location to repack it for the drop-off spots.” The items donated included blankets, canned food, pillows, socks, iPhone chargers and toiletries. They were dropped off at five different donation sites, primarily near Sonoma Raceway. Because many people who were impacted by the fire have pets, animal cages, water bowls and cat and small dog carriers were in high demand. “We could see some of the fires when we did our deliveries and the air quality was so bad [that] we had to wear masks,” Wood said. “It was satisfying to see that our donations were getting to the people who needed them, and that everyone worked as a team.” Local companies that joined Cook’s and Mike’s in their efforts included Martin Auto Color, which donated 7,000 3M dust masks, and Enterprise and Prism Logistics of Livermore, CA, which donated the two moving trucks. The Rose family responded to the call from Cook’s without hesitation,
and immediately rallied the troops to follow their company’s motto, “One Mission, One Team.” “The supplies we received for the Napa Fire recipients were completely overwhelming,” Ragen Rose said. “Thanks to all our vendors, partners, agents, employees, family and friends who got involved. So many people, including some of our customers, lost everything, so we felt like we had an obligation to help.” Once Mike’s was onboard, Customer Service Rep Bridgett Molino at Mike’s Auto Body posted Facebook ads and reached out to all of Mike’s managers to disseminate the information and begin the collections. With a tight deadline of Oct. 13, employees and customers at Mike’s and Cook’s knew that the clock was ticking. “We put out an announcement stating that in light of the ongoing fires that have impacted so many people in the North Bay, we reached out to the managers at all of our shops to help those devastated by this tragedy by collecting items at each of our shop locations,” Molino said. “Sincere thanks go to everyone for their See CA Fire Relief, Page 45
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SEMA Show Goes On
Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.
3M Hosts Reunion of 10 of the World’s Best Car Painters at SEMA with Ed Attanasio
in conjunction with the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit last summer. 3M invited leading automotive painters from around the world to come to Detroit to demonstrate their painting skills with the latest 3M solutions for vehicle painting, including the 3M™ PPS™ Series 2.0 Spray Cup System. The 10 leading painters who featured their amazing artwork on car hoods during the event included: Pablo Prado, KandynChrome, USA; Jacob Miles, Milestone Paint & Body, USA; Connie Manjavinos, PassionateInk, USA; Clay Hoberecht, Best Body Shop, USA; Justin Jimmo, Refinish Network, Canada; Carl-André The 3M booth at SEMA was busy all day, with Giroux, Canada; Danny Schramm, live demonstrations, celebrity appearances SchrammWerk, Germany; Christian and live interviews, including a visit by the Wilke, Germany; Carmine De Maria, legendary Richard Petty C.A.D. Custom, Australia and Shane 3M featured big names such as Wanjon, Exclusive Image Paint and Richard Petty, Chip Foose, Charley Body, USA. Canadian Painter Carl-André Hutton, the Ringbrothers, KC Mathieu, Kyle Morley, Ryan “Ryno” Giroux was thrilled to be involved in Templeton and Mark Oja to headline the 3M PPS World Cup in Detroit this the 3M Automotive Aftermarket Out- summer, and the reunion at SEMA door Showcase, while other events, made it even sweeter, he said. “These are some of the greatest such as a live wrap competition, took place at its booth on the convention painters in the world, so it’s an honor to be associated with these amazing floor. artists,” he said. “The hoods we created will be raising money for a much-needed charity, and that is a big deal for all of us.” 3M hosted a live wrap competition that attracted crowds to their booth throughout the show. Twelve teams consisting of two to four participants went head-to-head using their design skills with a combina(l to r) Steve Carney, Joe Alexander, Rio Torres and Carl tion of 3M Wrap Film Series Brewer won the 2017 3M 1080 Live Wrap Competition at 1080 and the 3M Design Line SEMA Knifeless Tape. Also taking place at the 3M “With so much talent under one D.E.M.O. trailer parked outside the roof at SEMA 2017, we wanted to crefront lot of the Las Vegas Convention ate an atmosphere where creative enCenter was the 3M and the Collision ergy from both contest participants Repair Education Foundation auction and attendees will produce very excitof custom-painted hoods designed by ing designs,” said Janelle Pizzi, prodleading painters from around the uct marketer for 3M Commercial world. The auction benefited the 3M Solutions Division. “The 3M 1080 Hire our Heroes program. Live Wrap Competition is a great opThe hoods were created during portunity for installers to show off the 2017 3M PPS World Cup, held their unique talents while using Wrap Every year, the 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division makes a major impression at the SEMA Show. This year, it pushed the envelope even more with a busy schedule packed with activities and celebrity appearances.
38 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Film Series 1080 and Knifeless Design Line Tape.” Team contestants had a chance to win some of the $32,000 in prize money and merchandise, including Wrap Film Series 1080. Additionally, the winning team gained major brag-
ging rights by having a photo of its design incorporated into the Knifeless Design Line Tape packaging. Congratulations to this year’s winning team, consisting of Steve Carney, Joe Alexander, Rio Torres and Carl Brewer.
3M’s Automotive Aftermarket Division invited 10 leading painters for a reunion at SEMA after their participation in the 2017 3M PPS World Cup in Detroit this summer
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SEMA Show Goes On WyoTech Launches Alumni Association at SEMA with Ed Attanasio
After 50 years of educating next-generation mechanical and technical professionals, WyoTech launched its first alumni association at the 2017 SEMA Show to connect more than 64,000 graduates with ongoing career development opportunities, community involvement, volunteer engagement, mentorship programs and philanthropy. With a mission to provide jobs in the U.S. automotive, diesel, collision/refinishing, motorcycle and marine technology industries while creating a pipeline of future applicants, WyoTech’s new alumni organization was established to connect employers and hiring managers with highly skilled technicians and facilitate easy networking among alumni from its three campuses, according to John Hurd, AVP Strategic Relations for WyoTech. “Technical education is the answer to America’s widening skills gap and glut of unfilled positions,” Hurd said. “Through our new alumni association, we want to send the message that WyoTech graduates are uniquely qualified to enter some of the most indemand careers of the 21st century. At WyoTech, they learn what it takes to become a highly sought-after technician from master instructors. But their training doesn’t stop there. We’re dedicated to providing alumni with lifelong career development and a meaningful place to connect with others driven by their passion and ready to start or advance their careers.” The alumni association’s activities will commence in January 2018. WyoTech gave all of its alumni attending this year’s SEMA Show a sneak peek at some of the opportunities during a Nov. 1 networking event and supercar driving experience at Exotics Racing in Las Vegas. The networking event was free to all WyoTech alumni, who were also encouraged to stop by the WyoTech booth to enter a drawing to win one of 20 racing spots. While visiting WyoTech’s booth, alumni and other show attendees also got up-close looks at custom-built 1940 and 1956 Ford trucks, fabricated by alumni Bryan Fuller and Mikey
Brown, respectively. Bryan Fuller is a master builder, designer, TV personality and author of
mentor recommendations, event announcements, campus updates and more. Most importantly, the site will act
WyoTech’s booth at 2017 SEMA displayed re-built Ford trucks designed by Master Builders Bryan Fuller and Mikey Brown
how-to-build books through his own publishing company, Full-Bore Publishing. He is a host of the TV series “Caffeine and Octane”, which highlights the culture and community of the largest monthly gathering of auto enthusiasts in the USA. This TV series is currently in its second season on NBC Sports Network, previously on Velocity. In addition, Bryan is the coauthor of a series of how-to-build books, Full-Bore Welding and FullBore Sheet Metal, published by his own publishing company, Full-Bore Publishing. Bryan and the Fuller Moto team specialize in unique custom car and motorcycle builds and are wellknown for their shop motto, which is “Dream Big, Build Strong, Ride Hard!” According to its 2017 SEMA announcement, WyoTech’s new alumni association will be committed to representing its peers and professions to the industry and soliciting insight from companies that have hired graduates. In addition, it will provide invaluable trend data and real-world perspectives to assist WyoTech in tailoring programs to best prepare students for long-term career success. By joining the association, alumni will have full access to continually updated news feeds populated with features about graduates working in the field, job postings, career resources,
40 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.
as a virtual networking forum where alumni can expand their WyoTech connections and support one another in
professional growth. WyoTech’s burgeoning alumni association and its online channel will supplement its spectrum of postgraduate career services programs. Dedicated career services teams at each campus will guide current students and alumni to reach their professional goals by providing assistance in developing and distributing resumes, alerting qualified candidates about job listings that match their skills and goals, and organizing career fairs. Also in advance of the January 2018 start date for the alumni association, WyoTech is seeking nominations for the inaugural board of directors. Ideal candidates are graduates of WyoTech, leaders in their profession, committed volunteers, members of workforce boards or industry associations, and individuals who are passionate about the value of a WyoTech education.
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Continued from Page 24
New Federal Report Highlights Demand in the Skills Trade, Automotive
A surge of skilled automotive and diesel technicians is needed nationwide over the next decade, according to new employment projections recently released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). With its new 2016–2026 report, the BLS has more than tripled its 2014 estimate for the number of “new entrant” transportation technicians necessary to meet industry demand. The BLS now estimates more than 120,000 new technicians—on average—are needed each year in the coming decade to work as automotive and diesel technicians and in collision repair. By 2026, that equates to approximately 1.2 million new technicians nationwide. “The transportation industry leaders who employ our graduates consistently say they need more skilled, trained technicians—and now the demand we’re seeing on the ground is backed up by these new federal employment projections,” said Kim McWaters, president and CEO of Universal Technical Institute (UTI). “UTI is well-positioned to help meet this industry demand as the nation’s leading provider of training for students seeking careers as transportation technicians. Better still, our graduates are poised to benefit from the strong employment market for their skills and
training.” “One of the biggest challenges we face is in recruiting enough skilled technicians to meet the needs of our customers,” said Paul Neumann, Vice President of Human Resources for Penske Automotive Group. “This federal report should be a clarion call to students, parents and policymakers about the growing workforce opportunities across the skilled trades, especially in the high-tech service shops of the automotive and diesel industry.” According to the latest BLS data, between now and 2026, the transportation industry will require, on average, approximately 76,000 new automotive technicians, 28,000 diesel technicians and 17,000 collision repair technicians each year to fill new positions in the industry, or to replace technicians who leave the occupation due to retirement or other reasons. TechForce Foundation, a nonprofit corporation focused on helping solve the technician shortage, has identified a handful of primary factors driving increased demand for new transportation technicians, including: • A sustained cycle of economic growth, resulting in more demand for automotive and transportation services; • “Catch-up” demand due to the num-
Ancira Volkswagen
ber of technicians who left the industry during the Great Recession; • Workforce attrition as Baby Boomers reach retirement age; and • The increasingly complex nature of modern vehicles, which makes advanced training a must for new technicians. According to TechForce Foundation, meeting the workforce needs of the transportation industry requires a coordinated, concerted effort within the industry to educate Americans about the quality jobs available to technicians. Includes: shifting outdated, negative public perceptions toward work in skilled trades, and building a stronger employment pipeline among young students who have demonstrated an interest and aptitude for automotive and technicianrelated work. “It is going to take all of us working together to educate students and the general public about the great career opportunities in the skilled trades,” said McWaters. “UTI students graduate with strong job prospects and excellent opportunities to build a rewarding career in the transportation industry. We’re going to continue partnering with our automotive, diesel and other employer partners to help give this growing industry the trained, ready workforce it needs.”
Industry Pioneers
dustry of building and using tow / recovery trucks was born. As the auto industry grew, and the need for recovery work grew, so did Ernie’s business. He earned a worldwide reputation for quality products and innovation. He devised the first two-winch cable system so the recovery vehicle could be tied off to an anchoring object for heavy pulls. He developed a pivoting boom so cars could be recovered from an odd angle. At first, cars were “hooked” to the frame with a rather crude steel hook. Eventually, the company that Ernie founded developed a dolly that enabled a car to be completely lifted off the road in the event that a vehicle’s wheel was completely disabled. In the 1930s, winches that had been hand-cranked became powered by the truck’s transmission, greatly increasing the pulling power. Today, body shop owners see these trucks pulling cars into their shops every day. The next time you see one, think of Ernie with his 1913 Cadillac and say thanks to Ernest Holmes towing equipment.
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Wizards Products Introduces the ‘Wizard 12 Big Throw Mini’ Orbital Polisher
Wizards Products introduces The Wizard 12 Big Throw Mini, a 12 mm throw DA (dual action) orbital polisher, designed for use with 3” and 4” faced pads.
A perfect companion to The Wizard 21 Big Throw Polisher, now more detail is available in tight areas and style lines where the 6” pads won’t allow full access. The Big Throw Mini is much faster than traditional smaller orbitals because of its larger 12 mm orbit; also safer to use than a rotary polisher that can burn quickly if user is not experienced. The Wizard 12 Big Throw Mini is perfect for the professional body shop, detailer and DIY Motorcycle enthusiasts for easily removing swirls, buffer marks and imperfections with minimal skill or effort, and without
leaving nasty swirl marks or holograms. Features include: 12 mm orbit, soft start/locking trigger, 2,500 – 5,500 OPM with constant speed control, supported with speed dial 1-6 adjustment and a 5 meter (16’5”) rubber cord. Unit is supplied with a 3” backing plate that operates well with 3” or Wizards 4” faced pads, both included in the (recommended/optional) SSR12 Kit (Scratch and Swirl Removal Kit) part number: 99123. See the Big Throw Mini Polisher live at SEMA, booth #10723, North Hall. Available 10-31-17. Wizard 12 Big Throw Mini Part number: DAPM12 UPC: 6-06435 00012-9 $229.95 ● Large 12 mm orbit ● Low profile design ● High Performance ● Soft/Safe start ● Speed control 1-6 ● 2,500 – 5,500 OPM ● 16’5” rubber cord
For more information visit: Wizards Products.com.
Guidewire Software Announces Addition Of Enterprise As New Solution Alliance Partner
Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE: GWRE), a provider of software products to Property and Casualty insurers, today announced that Enterprise Rent-A-Car has joined Guidewire PartnerConnect™ as a Solution partner. Guidewire also announced Enterprise’s participation in the Ready for Guidewire accelerator validation program. Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s Automated Rental Management System (ARMS®) Web Application accelerator makes it easier and quicker for an insurance company using Guidewire ClaimCenter® to integrate with ARMS. The ARMS accelerator provides insurers access to over 13 rental solutions, from reservations to rental management and invoicing. From within ClaimCenter, insurers are connected to real-time repair information, with electronic data and repair status updates that flow directly from repair facility partners using the ARMS Automotive products. “Enterprise is dedicated to streamlining the rental process between insurance companies, collision centers, and our car rental
offices, helping insurers save on loss adjustment expenses,” said Mary Mahoney, vice president, Insurance Replacement Division for Enterprise. “Making our solutions Guidewire-ready will enable insurers to focus on the evolving needs of their business and allow for greater flexibility and efficiency in rental management for improved customer service.” “We are pleased to welcome Enterprise to the Guidewire PartnerConnect program as a Solution partner. We have worked with Enterprise for a number of years and are excited to expand our relationship with them. This comprehensive accelerator will make it easier and quicker for our mutual clients to integrate ClaimCenter with multiple Enterprise rental solutions, improving claims handling efficiency and enhancing policyholder customer experience,” said Neil Betteridge, vice president, Strategy, Guidewire Software.
www.autobodynews.com
44 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Automotive Collision Repair Market Is Projected To Be Around $246.78 Billion By 2022
In 2012, the global Automotive Collision Repair Market was valued around $163.39 billion and is anticipated to reach approximately $246.78 billion by 2022, while maintaining a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.78 percent during the forecast period. The automotive collision repair market involves the materials and repair services utilized for the reconstruction of an automotive after damage due to accident. Escalating road accidents and damages they caused to vehicles and the damage due to natural disasters are all unfortunate events driving the automotive collision repair industry growth. Additionally, technological innovations in automotive repair services and equipment, accident claims and insurance have contributed to the additional growth of the automotive collision repair industry. Coatings, paint, consumable and spare parts, amongst other components of automobiles, are the key materials utilized for automotive collision repairs. Coatings and paints are employed to conceal any
sort of dents and scratches on vehicles following the damage. A few of the coating and paint materials involve refinishing materials, colored paints and scratch resistant coatings. Resin materials and engine motor oil are amongst the key consumable products. Repair materials, mechanical parts, crash parts, and other tools are the spare parts. The global automotive collision repair market is expected to witness substantial growth, while registering a significant compound annual growth rate over the forecast period of 2012 to 2022, owed to rising concern for safety on the road and escalating strict automobile measures and rules. The global automotive collision repair market growth is directly linked to the expansion of the global automobile industry. Moreover, rising usage and production of electric and hybrid vehicles are determined to boost the application scope of automotive collision repair worldwide. Hence, with the rising sales and maturing of automobiles worldwide, the automotive collision repair demand is set to expand.
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(210) 681-4583 Fax M-F 7:30-6:00 #1 Volume Dealer in All of Texas. wlparts@lonestar-auto.com
Continued from Page 36
Sales Training SEMA
embarrassed and not as likely to come to your shop [because] they missed their appointment.” Next, the presenters discussed handling customers in the shop, which covered the importance of greeting the customer, having him/her fill out a customer information form, inspecting the vehicle with the customer, writing the estimate, reviewing the estimate while educating the customer as needed and getting the customer’s authorization to perform the work required for a proper repair. From there, the estimator should focus on listening for signs that the customer is ready to buy, which is typContinued from Page 37
CA Fire Relief
donations and support. We really appreciate your help and prayers for the victims impacted by these fires.” Dane Dearlove, Marketing Manager at Mike’s Auto Body, is proud of the fact that two large Multi-Shop Op-
ically indicated by questions about how long the repair will take, whether the repair can be started immediately, etc. However, there are common objections that shops face and should be prepared to respond to appropriately. The presenters said the first step to handling objections is to simply acknowledge them, which will help avoid making the customer feel wrong. Common objections discussed included “I need to talk to my insurance company,” “I need to talk to my spouse,” “I want to get other estimates,” and “That’s too much.” “If a customer does leave, and they did have to talk to their husband, I totally understand,” Di Giulio said. “[Regarding] anything financial, I always sit down with my spouse and go
erators (MSOs) were able to work together as a team to achieve this grassroots fire relief effort. “When tragedies happen, we feel as though we’re obligated to help, especially since we have a location in that area, such as Napa,” Dearlove said. “At this point, giving back is in our DNA through our annual Benevolence Program and other nonprofits we help, so
through it so I get that—so you want to acknowledge that. Here’s what I [say]: ‘Perfect. Is it OK if I call him or he calls me tomorrow in the morning before he goes to work?’ I try to set up another appointment to talk to him, and sometimes that works really well.” The presenters advised against arguing with prospective customers, and to instead educate them on what they need to know regarding their vehicle and to avoid making them feel like they’re being proven wrong. They also advised against speaking ill of any competition, as that will often backfire. Instead, they said to sell one’s own shop as the best shop without knocking the competitor. The presentation ended with a discussion on dealing with adjusters,
this was a logical progression of everything we do here at Mike’s Auto Body, and we’d like to thank the people at Cook’s Collision for calling us to be part of the effort.” In other news about the fire, Dino Di Giulio, owner of Body Best Collision Center in downtown Sonoma, didn’t have to evacuate his shop, but it was touch and go there for a while, he said.
which started with providing the estimate and ended with negotiating the estimate. They acknowledged that adjusters have to cut something off of the shop’s estimate as part of their job, while the shop needs to be paid enough to stay profitable, so it is best to provide an estimate that achieves that in order to stay on the path toward a mutually beneficial situation. “If you write a $5,000 estimate, and you think you want $5,000, you better write $5,500 or $6,000 because it’s going to be a negotiation,” Di Giulio said. “You’re going to give something. And once you start giving to these guys, they start to know that if that car goes to [your shop], there’s not going to be a fight. Now, they’re sending cars to my shop, and I’m not even in their program.”
“The smoke was coming over the hill and we could see flames, but we kept working with the help of respirators,” he said. “When the fire got within a quarter mile, we had to shut down for one day and things were scary for about a full week. Then one day, the big planes came in and started dumping retardant on the fires and we knew then that we were probably okay.”
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Continued from Page 33
Family Loses 5 Homes
Teri, gathered very few belongings, woke her younger brothers and they were able to get out of the house just in time, with the fires dangerously close. “She grabbed our passports and birth certificates and left everything else behind,” Shawn Crozat said. “We lost everything, but no one was hurt, which is of course the most important thing.” Always a leader when it comes to helping the 13 communities in which they do business, the Crozat family is distributing supplies to fire victims on an ongoing basis, Shawn Crozat explained. “We currently have a 22,000square-foot building dedicated to collecting, storing and sorting supplies and three full-time employees doing the work. We’ve always believed that if we are in a position to help others, we will do whatever we can,” Shawn Crozat said. G&C Auto Body’s Community Outreach Coordinator, Carlynn Tocchini, started working right after the fires and is still on the job, the com-
pany’s Outreach Program Director, Govinda Crozat, explained. “Carlynn has been amazing, reaching out to the Red Cross, the Marines and other local organizations to receive supplies from the shelters and then consolidating them and re-
distributing them out of a warehouse that was donated. This effort has brought a lot of people together and Carlynn has been a huge part of it,” Govinda Crozat said. Looking on the bright side of a tragedy, Govinda Crozat went for humor instead of tears. “I wanted a new house and Shawn didn’t want to move, so now we both get what we wanted,” she said. “It will take at least 18 months to rebuild, but we’ve lived here for seven years [and] our kids have grown up here, so we’re not going anywhere.”
New Metalux® Platinum Primer Delivers Performance ChemSpec USA has announced the introduction of its new METALUX® 9155 2K Platinum Filler Primer. With a high-build, this two-pack pre-
mium primer filler (surfacer) is ideal for automotive refinishing and new bodywork. 9155 offers fast dry times and excellent sanding characteristics while delivering a stable substrate for all refinishing essentials. METALUX® 9155 2K Platinum Filler Primer offers outstanding adhesion and durability. Featuring easy sanding and quick drying times, along with good color holdout and minimal shrinkage, this primer offers universal appeal to shops using the METALUX® System. Available in
one gallon cans. ChemSpec USA has manufactured a wide array of collision repair products for the Automotive, Fleet, OEM and Industrial Markets for more than 40 years. ChemSpec is now part of the Axalta Coating Systems family of brands and is dedicated to growing and strengthening relationships with customers in the USA and worldwide. Founded in 1976, ChemSpec USA, LLC., is a global manufacturer of premium coatings for the automotive refinish, fleet, OEM and industrial markets. Centrally located in Orrville, Ohio, the company features a broad range of brands including their METALUX® Premium Automotive Coatings, and MONTANA® BIG SKY® Quality Coatings for Auto, Fleet & Industrial and METACRYL® High Performance Topcoat System. For more information visit: www .chemspec paint.com.
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46 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Second Annual “Insurer Report Card” Now Open
Consumers and insurance companies are paying attention. So now it’s time to update the list of the Top 100 auto insurers around the country. The second annual “Insurer Report Card” is now open, providing a chance for collision repair professionals to grade the claims handling performance of auto insurers in their state. Like last year, the survey is not just focusing on the Top 10 national insurers. You’ll also be grading some of the smaller or regional carriers in your state as well. Nationally, the survey will be collecting data on more than 120 different insurers. This gives the industry a chance to let consumers know if, for example, there’s a smaller insurer that may not be running ads on TV all the time, but is really great at taking care of its customers. The Insurer Report Card, open only to collision repairers, can be completed in as little as three minutes (though you also have an opportunity to tell consumers what they should know about each insurer you grade), and all your personal information will remain absolutely confidential.
Shops that complete the Report Card and provide optional contact information will receive the results once they are compiled. (If you didn’t get the results of the first Insurer Report Card earlier this year, there’s a link at the end of this year’s survey to get that.) Please visit the following URL to fill out your report card: https:// www.crashnetwork.com/grade book. 1. The Insurer Report Card asks you to grade insurers you deal with from an ‘A+’ to an ‘F.’ The grade you give should reflect how well each insurer’s policies, attitude and payment practices help ensure quality repairs and customer service for motorists in your state. 2. The Report Card should be completed by the shop owner, manager or estimator with the most current experience interacting with insurers on a regular basis. Only one response per shop location.
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AWDA Presents Annual Awards Honoring Excellence in the Automotive Aftermarket Industry The Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), a community of the Auto Care Association, launched the general session of its 70th Annual Conference by recognizing the winners of its annual awards. The AWDA’s 70th Annual Conference took place from Oct. 28–Oct. 30 at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, coinciding with the annual AAPEX show, which also took place in the city. Each year, AWDA presents four awards highlighting the excellence of its recipients in the automotive warehouse distribution industry. This year, the Jack Creamer Leader of the Year Award, which acknowledges an aftermarket professional who has contributed to the industry in a unique and significant way, was presented to Bill Maggs, president and CEO of the National PRONTO Association, co-CEO of the Automotive Parts Services Group and co-CEO of 1 Parts Global Aftermarket Services. AWDA Board of Governors member and current executive vice president of global procurement of Genuine Parts Company, Scott LeP-
rohon, presented Thomas C. Gallagher, former president and CEO of Genuine Parts Company, with the Martin Fromm Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his unselfish commitment to, and high level of performance within, the motor vehicle aftermarket industry. The Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Award is given annually in memory of former AWDA Chairman Art Fisher, and grants scholarships to two students enrolled in the automotive aftermarket management program at Northwood University. This year, the NAPA/Genuine Parts LEAD Store Manager Training Program received the scholarship award in recognition of its outstanding commitment to education and training. The Pursuit of Excellence Award was given to Corey Bartlett, president and CEO, Automotive Parts Headquarters, Inc., St. Cloud, MN, in recognition of his excellence in business performance and the setting of high standards as an example for others to follow. To learn more about the AWDA annual awards and this year’s winners, visit: http://bit.ly/2zJFfTM
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www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 47
WIN Announces Opening of Most Influential Women Nominations
Women’s Industry Network (WIN®) announced that nominations for the prestigious Most Influential Women (MIW) awards opened Wednesday, Nov. 1 and will be accepted through Monday, Jan. 15, 2018.
The winners will be recognized at a gala held during the 2018 WIN Educational Conference, May 7–9, 2018 in Indianapolis, IN. Nominations of women working in any segment of the collision repair industry across the United States and Canada are welcomed. Once again, WIN has retained an independent consultant to interview those who have been nominated for the award and select the winners, so that WIN can remain un-
biased in the selection process. Marie Peevy, owner of Automotive Training Coordinators and MIW co-chair commented, “The MIW winners represent an amazing group of women who not only excel in their careers and community, but still find a successful balance by putting their families first.” The Most Influential Women program has recognized 88 women who have enriched the collision repair industry with their leadership, vision, and commitment to excellence. WIN acquired stewardship of the Most Influential Women program in 2013 and continues to evolve the program to align with WIN’s mission to “enhance the role of women in the industry.” The award recognizes women for their leadership in four areas: industry influence; professional accomplishments; mentoring and support for others in the collision repair industry; and for going beyond the requirements of their professional lives to give back to their communities. The 2018 nomination form can be found on the WIN website at www .womensindustrynetwork.com.
Nationwide Achieves I-CAR Insurance Gold Class Corporate Status I-CAR® has awarded Insurance Gold Class® business recognition at the corporate level to Nationwide, an achievement that places Nationwide in the vanguard of insurers that are committed to enhancing the quality of auto collision repairs. To achieve Insurance Gold Class status, Nationwide’s appraiser staff was encouraged to fulfill the Platinum Auto Physical Damage Appraiser (APDA) training requirements in ICAR’s Professional Development Program (PDP). Nationwide set a goal to become I-CAR Insurance Gold Class by the end of 2017 and, due to its strong commitment to developing an effective learning environment, the company achieved Gold Class four months ahead of schedule. By becoming a corporate Gold Class organization, Nationwide is actively confirming that its associates understand the proper techniques and procedures necessary to ensure that complete, safe and quality repairs are made for its customers. “I-CAR is pleased to recognize Nationwide’s commitment to becoming a corporate Gold Class organization,” said Brad Gutcher, I-CAR’s
manager, segment development - insurance. “With the technical complexity of today’s vehicles, training has become an increasingly critical element throughout the collision repair industry. Nationwide has had a longtime focus on serving customers and valuing employees, and we look forward to maintaining our strong partnership in the years ahead.” -CAR has now secured its 12th major insurance carrier to support the organization’s vision of connecting the collision repair industry with the information, knowledge and skills required to perform complete, safe and quality repairs for the ultimate benefit of the consumer. “We are excited to achieve this highly coveted industry standard,” said Dave Bano, Nationwide’s senior vice president and chief claims officer. “This distinction is especially significant because of I-CAR’s leadership position in providing knowledge and training to the collision repair industry. Nationwide is committed to investing in continuing education and training for our associates in order to benefit our members, and Gold Class is a perfect example of that dedication.”
Fix Auto USA Announces Two New CA Locations
Fix Auto USA continues its expansion with the addition of two California locations, bringing the total number of Fix Auto franchise locations to 119. Fix Auto Santa Maria, the first location in California’s Central Coast, is owned and operated by Hector Paz, who is recognized by insurance companies as being a consistently high performer in his market. “It’s truly an honor to have received and accepted an invitation to join such an elite organization,” stated Fix Auto Santa Maria Owner-Operator Hector Paz. “Now, I have the best of both worlds: my shop remains locally owned and operated by my family, and I have the support of a national brand that will allow me to thrive in a consolidating market. By far, this is definitely the best business decision I’ve ever made.” Fix Auto Sunnyvale, the 17th franchise location in Northern California and the 66th in California,
is owned and operated by Steve Springer and Mary Oliver, who also jointly operate Fix Auto Gilroy and Fix Auto San Jose. “When we made the decision to join Fix Auto USA, we knew that this was the best long-term solution for our business,” stated Fix Auto Sunnyvale Owner-Operator Steve Springer. “Since joining, our business is thriving like never before and I’ve been able to leverage Fix Auto USA’s platform to expand my operations to a third location, thereby extending our reach to more markets and customers.” “To see existing Franchise Partners expand their operations, like Steve and Mary, and to add new operators, like Hector, simply underscores our mission—providing a platform for independently owned and operated body shops to achieve long-term success,” said Fix Auto USA President and CEO Paul Gange. “We welcome both of them to the Fix Auto family.”
48 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
OKLAHOMA
TEXAS
Fowler Volkswagen Norman 877-737-6986 Fax: 405-310-3719 www.fowlervw.com
Ancira Volkswagen San Antonio 210-681-5050 Fax: 210-684-5303 M-F 7:30am-6pm; Sun 10am-2pm www.anciravolkswagen.com
COLORADO Larry H. Miller Volkswagen Lakewood 303-205-6260 Fax: 303-205-6291 M-F 7am-6pm; Sat 8am-5pm avigil@lhmauto.com
Caliber Collision Creates New Executive Roles to Accelerate Teammate & Client Satisfaction As an organization passionately focused on customer, teammate and client satisfaction, Caliber Collision, the largest collision repair company in the U.S., announced two promotions to the Executive Leadership Team effective November 1, 2017.
Promoted from Senior Vice President of Operations to Chief Talent Officer is David Goldstein, a 20year veteran of Caliber. A graduate of the UCLA Anderson Executive Program in 2015, David has more than 30 years of collision repair experience as he rapidly grew from a body technician to Center Manager to Senior Vice President overseeing more than 167 locations across California. “As a company dedicated to restoring the rhythm of lives, we focus on our teammates first who
represent the single most important asset in our growing organization. David’s leadership skills, proven operational expertise and ability to develop people will serve to further inspire and engage our teammates as he takes the reins of our overall talent management strategy”, said Steve Grimshaw, Caliber Collision Chief Executive Officer. “David’s promotion represents our continued commitment to have the best trained, most satisfied teammates in the industry.” Also promoted is Shawn Hezar, Senior Vice President – Strategic Accounts who will now serve as Chief Client Officer. Shawn will be responsible to ensure Caliber is exceeding the expectations of our strategic partners in the increasingly complicated collision repair industry. Shawn’s experience runs the gamut from operations to client services to OEM certifications. “With more than 30 years of hands-on experience in the collision repair industry, Shawn has grown to become the consummate leader of our strategic client relationships as we work to improve customer and client satisfaction across 527 Caliber locations”, added Grimshaw.
Both Mr. Goldstein and Mr. Hezar will report directly to Mr. Grimshaw. Caliber Collision Centers is the largest collision repair company in America with 527 I-CAR Gold Class Professional certified collision repair centers across 17 states. Caliber is consistently ranked among the highest customer satisfaction scores in the industry and backs all repair work with a written, lifetime warranty available at any of its 527 repair centers. For more information visit CaliberCollision.com.
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Original Thought #78
YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE AT THE FIRST REPAIR. TEXAS
BMW of Dallas
Dallas 800-245-7269 972-241-3953 Fax
BMW of Houston North Houston 888-215-7431 281-875-4021 Fax
BMW of San Antonio
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Three Driven Brands Companies Named to Elite Franchising Times for Top 200 Ranking
Three leading companies among the Driven Brands, Inc. family of automotive aftermarket franchise brands have been ranked in Franchise Times magazine’s Top 200, the most comprehensive ranking of the 500 largest U.S. franchise systems. Recognized by entrepreneurs and franchisors as a top competitive tool of measurement, the Franchise Times Top 200 placed CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts 108th on the list with more than 550 independently owned collision repair facilities. Meineke Car Care Centers was ranked 136th, with nearly 1,000 locations. Maaco Auto Painting and Collision Repair was 140th with more than 500 locations. Among top 10 automotive franchises, CARSTAR ranked fourth, Meineke was seventh and Maaco was eighth. “We have strengthened our operational and financial performance at these three dynamic companies, grown tremendously, integrated our operations and developed new cross-functional opportunities for all three brands,” said Dennis Elliott, Vice President of Development and Franchising, for Driven Brands.
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Albuquerque 800-642-2697 505-217-0289 Fax www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 49
You Can Easily Trace a Car’s History, but Not Necessarily Their Parts by Gordon Gibb, LawyersAndSettlements
Amongst the steady stream of media reports decrying the emerging issue of recycled airbag injuries and their relationship to recalled airbags inexplicably returned to circulation, is a television report produced by News 12 New Jersey (06/07/17). While injuries attributed to defective, originalequipment airbags have been an issue for some time, the emergence of recycled airbags that may have been the subject of a recall poses a safety risk to occupants, and a corresponding risk of lawsuit litigation against would-be defendants. The concern, in part, is founded upon the 69 million defective airbags that were subject to the widest global recall in automotive history. A lessexpensive propellant utilized by airbag manufacturer Takata, of Japan, was found to become unstable with age and in areas of high humidity. When the airbag is deployed, it does so with such force that the metal airbag casing is blown apart, sending shards of metal into the passenger compartment, seriously injuring occu-
pants. Many have not survived their injuries.
News 12 quoted Christopher J. Basso, of Carfax, about the issue. Scores of media outlets have sourced Basso for comments. Identified in his
said, in comments to News 12. The news outlet noted that recycled parts salvaged from other cars for a repair do not show up in a search based on a car’s unique VIN number. Thus, someone buying a used car that had seen a major repair may not be aware that a previously recalled airbag may have been salvaged from another vehicle and installed in the car they are buying. While every vehicle is in a database, and a car’s accident and repair history will be reflected in data that follows a vehicle throughout the
LinkedIn profile as the Public Relations Manager for Carfax since 2004, Basso is uniquely qualified to comment on airbag failure and the potential for airbag injuries. “Without the recycled airbags being properly checked, they can be put into cars almost anywhere,” Basso
course of its lifetime, the origins of used and salvaged parts are not. While a serial number of an airbag can be traced, a mechanic is required for that—and the consumer is out-ofpocket just to secure the information. While it is unlawful for a salvage yard to knowingly sell a used part that
“Without the recycled airbags being properly checked, they can be put into cars almost anywhere,” — Christopher J. Basso, Carfax
Mitchell Providing Collision Repair Industry Instant Access to Real-Time VIN-Specific Recall Data
Mitchell, a leading provider of technology, connectivity and information solutions to the Property & Casualty (P&C) claims and Collision Repair industries, has now integrated VINSpecific Recall Notices into its estimating solutions, providing real-time recall data directly from the manufacturer when the VIN is decoded.
Debbie Day, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Auto Physical Damage for Mitchell, says, “It is estimated that tens of millions of vehicles on the road today currently have open recalls, and there are many reasons why vehicle owners might not be aware that the vehicle they are driving has a safety system recall. As part of our commitment to proper and safe repairs within the automotive collision repair and claims industries, we are working closely with original equipment manufacturers
(OEMs) to give their customers and their repair facilities access to these and other important recall notifications.” To better enable its recall data to reach the collision industry market, Mazda is the first OEM to provide Mitchell access to its recall data, giving collision repair users of Mitchell Estimating/UltraMate estimating solutions instant notification of an open Mazda recall when the VIN is decoded. “As our vehicles age, many owners turn to independent repair and body shop facilities to have service work performed,” said Rob Milne, Director, Takata Action Team, Mazda North American Operations. “Our partnership with Mitchell enables us to increase the opportunity to inform Mazda owners that their vehicle is affected by an open safety recall.” Mitchell is currently in discussions with other OEMs to make sure this important safety data gets out to the market in a smart and efficient manner—every time a vehicle goes in for a repair.
50 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
has been recalled, many proprietors simply advocate that they didn’t know. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTHSA) is entrusted with educating salvage yards on the issue. However, there is no lasting enforcement. The rules are strictly voluntary. News 12 advocates that would-be buyers of a used car avoid purchasing a vehicle that has been saddled with a salvage title. Additionally, if a vehicle’s history suggests that an airbag had deployed, then it tells the individual about to purchase the vehicle that the airbag(s) had been replaced. The replacement airbag can be checked by a qualified mechanic in order to establish its origin and whether or not the replacement airbag had been subject to an airbag recall of defective airbags. Such information could cost a consumer upwards of a couple hundred dollars. Takata, meanwhile, is in the process of filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Law 360 (10/23/17) reports that late in the day on Oct. 22, Takata asked a federal judge in Delaware to See Not Their Parts, Page 57
GFS Partners with RollSeal to Offer Durable and Affordable Fabric Roll-Up Doors
Global Finishing Solutions® (GFS) has partnered with RollSeal™ Automated Door Systems to offer a space and cost-saving roll-up door
option for paint booths and other finishing equipment. Exclusive to GFS, RollSeal Doors can be installed easily at the booth’s entrance or exit, or positioned between bays in sideload booth systems. By eliminating the extra space needed for traditional swing or wing-style doors,
RollSeal Doors minimize the total equipment footprint and save valuable floor space. An alternative to traditional metal roll-up doors, RollSeal Doors save costs because they require less structural support. The unique, patented design features a triplelayered fabric door with an airtight seal to prevent overspray and heat from escaping the booth, and keep contaminants out of paint jobs. In addition to the lower upfront cost, RollSeal Doors cost less to maintain since the impact-resistant fabric can be repaired or replaced at a significantly lower cost. As with all of GFS’ equipment, RollSeal Doors are built in compliance with NFPA, UL/CUL and ETL/ETL-C safety standards, and can be safely used in paint spraying and curing applications.
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Audi dealers strive to make you an Audi Genuine Parts fan.
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Austin 888.703.4305 512.660.5388 Fax M-F 7am-6pm Sat 9am-5pm
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Moffitt Audi Bossier City 318.746.2175 318.746.3253 Fax M-F 8am-5:30pm Sat 8am-2pm parts@moffittautomotive.com www.moffittautomotive.com
Dallas 866.327.2318 214.438.0894 Fax M-F 7am-7pm Sat 9am-5pm
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Austin 512.219.3172 512.219.6214 Fax M-F 7am-6pm Sat 9am-4pm mmitchell@audinorthaustin.com www.audinorthaustin.com
Audi San Juan San Juan, TX 956.475.3801 956.475.3817 Fax M-F 8am-6pm Sat 8:30am-5pm davidh@audisanjuan.com www.audisanjuan.com
Cavender Audi San Antonio 210.681.3355 210.681.3085 Fax M-F 7am-7pm Sat 8am-5pm parts@cavenderaudi.com www.cavenderaudi.com
Audi Grapevine Dallas/Fort Worth 877.424.AUDI (2834) 817.553.2252/2258 M-F 7am-6pm Sat 8am-5pm sstallcup@audigrapevine.com cmartinez@audigrapevine.com www.audigrapevine.com
www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 51
Eleventh Circuit Restores Auto Body Shop Antitrust Case by Staff, Baker Donelson
On Sept. 7, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals handed a big victory to a class of auto body shops in Quality Auto Painting v. State Farm, et. al, reversing a lower court decision that had dismissed the auto body shops’ complaint for failure to state a claim. In a 2-1 decision, the court held that Middle District of Florida Senior Judge Gregory Presnell had acted too quickly in dismissing the plaintiffs’ complaint, finding that the plaintiffs had “supplied enough allegations” to “raise a reasonable expectation that discovery will reveal evidence of illegal agreement.” The Eleventh Circuit’s ruling is the first to consider a series of decisions by Judge Presnell that dismissed both Quality Auto and a group of similar cases (approximately 20 in all) that had all been consolidated before him by the Panel for Multidistrict Litigation, over the last two years. In Quality Auto, the auto body shop plaintiffs from Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey and Virginia alleged that the auto insurers, in their respective states, had agreed not to pay more than the “market rate” for repairs, which was pegged to the amount that State Farm
paid to those shops in its direct repair program (which did not include plaintiffs). Judge Presnell dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims, finding that the plaintiffs had failed to allege facts that suggested agreement rather than independent, but parallel, conduct. In reversing Judge Presnell’s decision, Circuit Judge Wilson, writing for the majority, began his analysis by acknowledging that, under the Supreme Court’s decision in Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007), a party claiming horizontal price fixing based on an inferred agreement “must show more than parallel conduct” because parallel conduct “falls short” by itself of the necessary requirements for pleading unlawful agreement. Typically referred to as “plus factors,” Judge Wilson identified two plus factors in the plaintiffs’ complaint that he concluded supported plaintiffs’ allegation of unlawful agreement—(1) the adoption of a uniform price despite variables that would ordinarily result in divergent prices and (2) uniform practices by the allegedly conspiring insurers with respect to the nature of the repairs. Finding that Judge Presnell had failed to give these allegations sufficient weight, Judge Wilson held that
“the body shops have consistently alleged parallel conduct and plus factors allowing an inference of an illegal agreement” and reversed the lower court decision on that basis. Circuit Judge Anderson, however, authored a spirited dissent that disagreed at almost every turn with Judge Wilson’s antitrust analysis, stating, “Binding case law indicates to me that the allegations of the complaints do not give rise to the necessary reasonable inference of agreement or conspiracy.” As to Judge Wilson’s first “plus factor”—a uniform price—Judge Anderson maintains that a uniform price only excludes the possibility of conscious parallelism if it is “secret” and “simultaneous” and that the complaints expressly allege that “the insurers conform to State Farm’s rate, whatever it may be” rather than agreeing on a rate in advance. This, Judge Anderson writes, is “textbook price leadership, a practice that we have repeatedly stated is insufficient to establish the existence of an agreement.” As to Judge Wilson’s second “plus factor”—uniform practices— Judge Anderson challenges it as well. While Judge Anderson acknowledges that uniform practices can be a plus
factor, he contends that the contention that the insurers engaged in common tactics is found in the auto body shops’ appellate brief, but not in their complaint, and that the allegations in the complaint seem to contradict it (“the majority’s analysis of its second plus factor suggests that the insurance companies’ tactics are highly uniform when even the complaint does not seem to believe that”). Accordingly, finding no support for either of the plus factors relied upon by the majority, Judge Anderson concludes by stating: “I submit that the majority’s analysis is inconsistent with Supreme Court and Eleventh Circuit precedent” and that he would affirm the dismissal of plaintiffs’ antitrust claims. Not surprisingly, given the significance of this MDL proceeding and the split decision by the Panel, the insurer defendants have requested rehearing en banc by the entire Eleventh Circuit. That request, filed on Sept.28, is currently pending. Accordingly, while the Panel decision constitutes a major victory for the auto body shops, it remains to be seen whether the decision will stand. Stay tuned. We thank Baker Donelson for reprint permission.
GFS Now Offering Consulting Services for Improving Shop Throughput
Global Finishing Solutions® (GFS), a world leader in innovation for paint booths and accelerated curing technologies, announced a partnership with Pat O’Neill to provide its customers with body shop workflow consulting services. “We are excited to introduce this new service offering to our customers to help them improve shop processes, properly incorporate REVO Systems into their workflow, decrease key-tokey time and improve insurance payout,” says Mick Ramis, vice president of automotive refinish sales for GFS. O’Neill, a prominent body shop owner and business partner of Bodyshop Revolution, has long been interested in emerging technologies and tools that body shops can use to improve their process flow and increase revenue. Over the past few years, infrared curing has proven itself as an effective way to speed up the curing process and significantly decrease shop lead time. Previously an advocate for Bodyshop Revolution’s Greentech Robots, O’Neill has since changed his endorsement to GFS’ REVO Accelerated Curing Systems. According to O’Neill, REVO Systems have fewer
points of failure, aren’t hindered by any proprietary booth requirements and offer better access to service and replacement parts. However, REVO Systems alone won’t eliminate every shop bottleneck. According to O’Neill, REVO Systems are a great start, but to get “the biggest bang for your buck,” you also need to implement the best processes around that equipment. O’Neill’s shop consultative services typically take place during the installation of new equipment to guarantee the best placement and most effective flow. His philosophy has four key strategies: consolidate departments to reduce time, eliminate estimating mistakes, decrease cure time and affect the shop’s culture and belief system. He and his team meet with the owners and key stakeholders of the shop, train the entire team on the new process and teach them how the equipment can be used most efficiently. When paired with proper body shop workflow, O’Neill believes that REVO Accelerated Curing Systems are the best, most cost-effective IR curing products in the industry today and can significantly improve shop throughput and increase profits.
52 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
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3m Automotive Aftermarket Division to Hold Silent Auction Featuring Custom-Painted Hoods ST. PAUL, MN (October 26, 2017) – 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division, along with the Collision Repair Education Foundation, are auctioning off custom-painted hoods designed by leading painters from around the world
to benefit the 3M Hire our Heroes program. The auction begins Friday, Oct. 27 and will run through the SEMA show in Las Vegas, which concludes Nov. 3. Bids on the hoods may be placed at the 3M PPS Hood Auction Site. The hoods were created during the 2017 3M PPS World Cup, held in conjunction with the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit this summer. 3M invited leading automotive painters from
around the world to come to Detroit and participate. They demonstrated their painting skills with the latest 3M solutions for vehicle painting, including the 3M™ PPS™ Series 2.0 Spray Cup System. The painters designed and painted the hoods to reflect their perspective on classic car culture. Also included in the auction are four patriotic themed hoods created by Ryan “Ryno” Templeton. These hoods will all be auctioned to benefit the 3M Hire Our Heroes program, which since 2013 has raised more than $825,000 for scholarships and tool grants for military veterans and their family members. Nearly 270 military veterans and their families have already received scholarships and grants, and many have graduated from school and are working in the collision repair industry. To bid, visit 3M PPS Hood Auction Site and register to participate. Registration is quick and easy. Then select the painter and hood on which to bid. Check back often to see how the bid is progressing. Hoods available for auction were created by the following painters:
• Pablo Prado, KandynChrome, USA • Jacob Miles, Milestone Paint & Body, USA • Connie Manjavinos, PassionateInk, USA • Clay Hoberecht, Best Body Shop, USA • Danny Schramm, SchrammWerk, Germany • Christian Wilke, Lackabilly, Germany • Carmine De Maria, C.A.D. Custom, Australia • Shane Wanjon, Exclusive Image Paint and Body, USA • Ryan “Ryno” Templeton, Blasted by Ryno, USA
“These painters all created spectacular designs and incredible paint work showcasing classic car culture and patriotism. Their works of art are certainly collectible, and this auction provides car lovers a chance to take home one of these creations and benefit a great cause at the same time,” said Dale Ross, U.S. Marketing Operations Manager, 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division. “It’s an honor to work with them, and collectively be able to help our military veterans and their families pursue a career in the collision repair industry.”
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Gerber Collision & Glass Establishes a Presence in Tennessee
The Boyd Group Inc. announced the October 27 acquisition of an MSO in Tennessee, consisting of nine collision repair centers located in the Nashville region. The MSO was founded in 1970 and previously operated as Auto Art Body Shop. “This is an important acquisition that provides an entry point into the Tennessee market, expands our reach to new customers, increases our geographical footprint for our insurance industry partners and also provides us with a new region from which to execute our growth strategy,” said Tim O’Day, President and COO of the Boyd Group. Danny Wallace and Twila Harris, who owned and managed the locations, will continue to lead their teams as part of the Gerber family. “We look forward to joining Gerber,” said Danny Wallace. “We can assure our customers that they will continue to receive the best service and the highest quality of repairs, using the latest innovations in processes and technology that Gerber is known for.”
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www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 53
Auto Care Association Names Kirsten Zaremba New Senior Director, Marketing The Auto Care Association has announced the addition of Kirsten Zaremba as senior director, marketing. Zaremba brings more than 20 years of auto industry knowledge to the role, having most recently served as the senior retail marketing manager at Volkswagen Group of America. In this newly created role, Zaremba will lead the marketing team’s strategic direction for marketing and sales efforts across all association properties, programs and products. As the senior director of marketing, Zaremba is focused on driving awareness of the Auto Care Association, growing the market for its products and services, and will be accountable for the digital product sales strategies. Zaremba will establish a new online marketing vision for the association that will be transformed into a coherent digital marketing strategy, aimed at increasing sales and growing market and sponsorship opportunities. During the nearly two decades Zaremba spent at Volkswagen, she served in several roles spanning across sales marketing, product launch and new car retail marketing. In her most recent role, she led traditional and
I-CAR Honors Contributions to Collision Repair Industry
I-CAR announced the winners of its annual I-CAR Awards, which recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to advancing technical education and professionalism in the collision repair industry. The winners were revealed on Nov. 1 at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino during the annual SEMA Show. The Russ Verona Award, which honors a business that actively promotes technical training and a positive image for the industry, was awarded to Car Crafters of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Car Crafters and owner Jim Guthrie were chosen for their ongoing commitment to training, their support of I-CAR and their work in the community. The Jeff Silver Award honoring an individual who demonstrates true passion for training and professional growth was awarded to Richie Webb of Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance. “I-CAR is proud to honor Jim Guthrie and Richie Webb for their significant contributions to the promotion of technical education and professionalism in the collision repair industry,” said John Van Alstyne, I-CAR CEO & President.
progressive media strategies, longterm strategy for marketing initiatives, competitive analysis and generating engagement across dealer networks, and local marketing asso-
ciations spanning the country. She was also responsible for spearheading and delivering a website and digital marketing solutions program to the dealer body, offering a menu of vendor choice while increasing the ability to view brand analytics and optimize campaigns nationally and locally. Zaremba’s time at Volkswagen steered the strategy and execution of advertising campaigns, including television, digital, social and collateral, to produce branded creative content with focused calls to action. This approach resulted in highly branded communications and scored an average of 20 points above industry norms in creative effective-
Antelope, CA, Man Sentenced to Year in Prison for Selling Counterfeit Airbags
ness metrics (including ad recognition, salience, involvement and persuasion) as recorded by Hall & Partners, a leading brand and communications research agency. Prior to her tenure at Volkswagen, Zaremba held positions at Tenneco and Federal-Mogul. At Tenneco, in her role as program marketing planner, she oversaw daily program administration and implementation of corporate marketing initiatives. During her time at Federal-Mogul, she was responsible for ongoing management of its North American aftermarket trade and consumer promotions, as well as the key external suppliers involved in program execution. “We are thrilled to have Kirsten join the Auto Care Association and bring her extensive knowledge of the auto industry to our marketing team,” said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association. “Her proven record of leadership in marketing strategy, management and implementation will help advance our stakeholder outreach and overall awareness of our products and services.”
Vitaliy Fedorchuk, 28, of Antelope, CA, was sentenced Oct. 4 by United States District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to one year and one day in prison and a $5,000 fine for an international scheme to sell counterfeit airbags via eBay and other internet sales sites, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, between June 23, 2014, and July 27, 2016, Fedorchuk offered for sale airbag modules, covers, and manufacturer emblems at his eBay online store, redbarnautoparts. Fedorchuk falsely advertised that the counterfeit airbags were original equipment from major automobile manufacturers such as Honda, Fiat, Chrysler, Nissan, Toyota, GMC and Ford. During the scheme, Fedorchuk sold hundreds of counterfeit airbags and obtained more than $95,000. Fedorchuk was ordered to pay $1,334 in restitution to identified victims in this case. This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rodriguez prosecuted the case.
New ICAR Hands-On Skills Development Courses Launched Two new courses were announced Oct. 23 as additions to the I-CAR Hands-On Skills Development lineup: Plastic Repair and Squeeze-Type Resistance Spot Welding. Further acting on the positive industry response to I-CAR’s HandsOn Skills Development curriculum launch in 2016, Plastic Repair and
Squeeze-Type Resistance Spot Welding join the previously introduced Rivet Bonding and MIG Brazing courses. All Hands-On Skills Development courses are specifically designed to provide collision repair technicians with cutting-edge techniques and skills that target today’s innovative vehicles. Plastic Repair Hands-On Skills Development is a four-hour course that will provide students the opportunity to perform a variety of plastic repairs in a hands-on environment. Students will use adhesives and vari-
54 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
ous welding options on actual bumper covers. After completing the course, students will be able to perform plastic repairs using adhesives, hot air and airless welding techniques using specific welding tools and other procedures. Squeeze-Type Resistance Spot Welding Hands-On Skills Development is a five-hour course that will provide students the opportunity to perform spot welds on a variety of metal thicknesses and with a variety of flange treatment techniques. Students will also learn the importance of proper planning and preparation to ensure safe welding. Following course completion, students will know how to properly set up a spot welder, spot weld on coupons of different metal thickness, and spot weld a prop using a variety of flange treatment techniques.
“I-CAR understands the changing needs of today’s vehicles, new attachment methods, and OEM-required procedures, which prompted the creation of the Hands-On Skills Development curriculum track last year,” said Josh McFarlin, I-CAR director of curriculum and product development. “Technicians and the industry need this type of hands-on, instructor-led training with adequate practice time in order to fully understand these complex repair procedures. I-CAR’s training programs have been developed to provide the most comprehensive instruction and critical skill development opportunities.” These new Hands-On Skills Development courses are available today. To learn more about the courses, visit www.i-car.com/handson. For information on I-CAR and the full training portfolio, visit the ICAR website at www.i-car.com.
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www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 55
Milton Unveils Modular, Auto-Draining Filter-Regulator-Lubricator Line The new EXELAIR by Milton line of FRLs (Filters Regulators Lubricators) maintains clean, dry air, consistent pressure, and lubricated pneumatic lines to improve performance and extend the life of air-powered tools and components. EXELAIR FRL Filters work to screen out moisture and contaminants like rust and pipe scale that can reduce airflow or damage downstream equipment like valves, cylinders and impact wrenches. Regulators keep lines at a constant and safe pressure to avoid overdriving tools and motors. And lubricators ensure a consistent and reliable oil supply that extends tool life. Auto-draining filters maintain the shop air system by automatically emptying moisture throughout the day as needed. The drain tube connection channels drain water safely away to avoid slipping hazards. EXELAIR’s premium bronze sintered filter elements are washable and provide a longer life in humid conditions than cheaper filter materials. “Milton’s slogan is ‘Simply Better Air’ and that’s just what our new line of EXELAIR FRLs provides – at a competitive price,” said Greg Carlson, President and CEO of Milton Industries. “Our FRLs are available individually or as pre-configured sets that are designed to work together bet-
ter while reducing the time and effort of looking up and coordinating the purchase of separate components.” The EXELAIR FRL line includes side-by-side duo and piggyback FRs, FRL trios and FR+Ls, as well as a variety of modular brackets and accessories
to customize the system. Available sizes range from 1/8” NPT miniature units up to 1” NPT high flow. Each configuration is designed to keep the vital shop air system running at peak efficiency by dramatically reducing the impact of contaminants in lines and tools. As an added feature, new color-
Certified Collision Group™ Now Fifth-Largest Collision Repair Services Organization in U.S.
Certified Collision Group (CCG), the OE Certification and KPI-focused solutions provider to the collision repair and insurance communities, announced the signing of more than 30 new locations since August, growth into 27 states and it now being the fifth-largest collision repair services operator in the U.S. “Each day we hear from our affiliates, strategic partners and the industry at large that we are in step with both the current and future needs of forwardthinking repairers and insurance carriers alike. CCG’s consistent monthly double-digit growth onboarding highperforming, OE-certified single-store and MSO operators keeps us firmly on pace to eclipse $1B in annualized repairs in the very near future,” stated Bruce Bares, CCG President and CEO. CCG provides the strongest performing, well branded, OE Certified, and succession-plan anchored independent collision repairers a sustainable platform that levels the playing field by providing proven business development and supply chain benefits. Now operating in 27 states, CCG is rapidly expanding, offering strategic partners and consumers the opportunity to leverage the power of more
than 1,000 OE certification badges within CCG’s highly differentiated national collision repair network. Bares stated, “CCG multi-channel efforts bring together OE Certified repairers with both consumers and insurance carriers who recognize the importance of matching today’s complex vehicles with repairer capabilities, driving our continued success. Simultaneously, expanding partnerships with the industry’s best providers and respective brands will continue to add value for affiliates, consumers and their b2b trading partners. By leveraging our expansive network’s supply chain and business development resources, CCG affiliates are realizing stronger bottom line performance while successfully utilizing the finest automotive products and services in the world. “Our commitment and abilities to truly help the industry’s top operators, while providing CCG constituents a network offering predictable consistency and more than 1,000 OE certification badges, are very humbling to us. With that in mind, we look forward to both recognizing and thanking our affiliates and strategic partners during our SEMA CCG Partner and Peer Appreciation event.”
56 DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
coded EXELAIR packaging “practically sells the product itself,” making self-service purchases easier by clearly explaining the function and benefits of each FRL, simplifying the decisionmaking process and reducing the retail staff’s sales and service time. EXELAIR by Milton FRLs are available at most automotive/heavyduty dealers, jobbers, farm & agricultural retailers, hardware stores, and industrial distributors. EXELAIR FRLs are also available online via the ecommerce divisions of Milton customers and Internet resellers. Milton Industries was founded as a family business in 1943 with a handful of products and a simple idea: “provide the highest quality products for our customers.” For over 70 years, Milton has been the pneumatic fittings and accessories of choice in the automotive, agricultural, construction, home, heavyduty and industrial workplace. Milton invented many industrystandard products, such as the M-Style® “I/M” KWIK® Change Coupler and Plug, Window Inflator Gage, Safety Blow Guns and the iconic Driveway Signal chimes and bell. Today, Milton makes over 1400 product SKU’s and continues to be a privately held company.
Reports of AkzoNobel Approaching Axalta about Possible Merger by Autobody News Staff
According to recent news reports, AkzoNobel has approached Axalta Coating Systems regarding a merger.
Based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, AkzoNobel is a global paints and coatings company as well as a major producer of specialty chemicals. Axalta, headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, is a global coatings company dedicated to the development, manufacture and sale of liquid and powder coatings. According to industry sources, Axalta is considering the deal, but no decision has been made. Earlier this year, AkzoNobel was approached by PPG Industries regarding a takeover. In July, the Dutch paint and coatings maker announced it was looking at spinning off its specialty chemicals business.
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Axalta Coating Systems New Products: Cromax EZ, Acquire Quantum EFX, and Cromax Chromapremier Pro Ultra Performance Primer Filler Axalta Coating Systems is a leading coatings supplier to OEMs, smaller traditional body shops and larger aftermarket refinish centers. Recently, Axalta announced information about these new products:
Cromax® EZ • Axalta is introducing Cromax® EZ to its well-established Cromax® line of waterborne and low-VOC solvent basecoats • Cromax® EZ is a low-VOC waterborne basecoat designed to spray wet-on-dry, much like traditional solvent-based paints • Because of its easy spray and blending characteristics, and the simplicity of its single mix ratio across all environmental conditions, this new paint offers many advantages for both small and high-volume shops, including easy training for new users • Cromax® EZ will launch with a huge library of colors that stretch back to 1997 • Cromax® EZ is compatible with almost all Cromax® undercoats and clearcoats Acquire™ Quantum EFX
• Axalta’s industry-leading spectrophotometer is designed to greatly speed up the color-matching process and make it more accurate • 3 years ago, Axalta introduced the Acquire™ Plus EFX, which was the first commercial instrument to measure both color and flake appearance coating data. The new Acquire™ Quantum EFX is the latest evolution with a smaller and more compact design to enable one-hand use • The Acquire™ Quantum EFX offers completely wireless communication with Axalta’s software and library of color formulas • The smaller 3/4-inch aperture requires a smaller sample area • Body shop refinishers can find an accurate color match even for complicated metallic, pearl and effect paint formulations using advanced optic technology • The Acquire™ Quantum EFX is also valuable for matching faded paint color is achieved • Although no computer screen will depict color 100 percent accurately, the Acquire™ Quantum EFX can be used to compare relative differences to achieve a match
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Cromax® Chromapremier® Pro Ultra Performance Primer Filler • This newly launched Cromax® 3600 Series Ultra Performance Primer Filler is ideal for bodyshops that want to significantly improve throughput • It can be applied without flash between coats • It has an impressive 20 to 40 minute air-drying performance • The cure can be significantly accelerated with IR and bake processing • It is easy to apply, and up to 4 coats can be applied with good vertical stability • The high quality and smooth flow provide an outstanding appearance after top coating • It has a simple 1:1 mixing ratio with Axalta’s 36305S Ultra Performance Primer Filler Activator • It works on any type of metal repair, and multiple repairs can be handled at the same time thanks to its quick air-drying performance • A Cromax® ValueShade® product, the primer filler is available in white (VS1), grey (VS4) and black (VS7) For more information, visit www.axalta .com.
I-CAR Honors Gene Scambray with Chairman’s Award
I-CAR has named Gene Scambray as the recipient of its 2017 Chairman’s Award. The award recognizes an individual or organization whose contributions to I-CAR have been significant or extraordinary. The Chairman’s Award recipient is selected by the Executive Committee of the ICAR International Board of Directors. Scambray has over 40 years of experience in the collision industry, including more than 20 years as director of industry relations at Copart. Prior to Copart, he was employed for 20-plus years with AAA Northern as a claims executive. “I have known Gene for over 25 years. He is a man who is fair and reasonable with his decisions and resolutions. said Ron Vincenzi, I-CAR Treasurer & Executive Committee member of the International Board of Directors. “I am thrilled to present this award to him as congratulations for all of his efforts in support of I-CAR and the collision repair industry.” The Chairman’s Award was presented on November 1, 2017 in conjunction with SEMA in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Continued from Page 50
Not Their Parts
extend its exclusive plan filing period by 90 days, “so the debtor can continue to oversee its highly complex plan that requires coordination of efforts in the United States, Japan and Canada,” Law360 said. A young woman from Las Vegas, Karina Dorado, is lucky to be alive after she sustained serious injuries to her trachea and vocal cords from a relatively mild front-end collision. When the airbag in her used Honda deployed, shards of metal were sent flying into her throat. The car she was driving had been given a salvage title under a previous owner. The replacement airbag was a Takata airbag that had been the subject of an airbag recall, but never addressed. The airbag was removed intact from a different car, and sold as a recycled airbag as part of the repair for the car Dorado was driving. Dorado and her family have filed an airbag failure lawsuit. We thank LawyersAndSettlements.com for reprint permission.
Semi Crashes into Auto Body Repair Shop in Cicero, IL by Lisa Marie Farver, Oak Park Patch
The driver of a semi truck lost control of the vehicle Oct. 15 and crashed into a car repair shop in Cicero, IL. Police say the tractor-trailer collided with another car before losing control of the truck on the rainy
Image via Cicero Police Department
street and hitting the building. The incident took place approximately 5:30 a.m. and caused extensive backups on Cicero Avenue. Photos from police show the cab of the semi plowing through a window in the front of an auto body repair shop, located at 1830 S. Cicero Avenue. According to Cicero Police, neither driver reported any injuries and no pedestrians were hurt. We thank Oak Park Patch for reprint permission.
www.autobodynews.com | DECEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 57
AUTOBODY MARKETPLACE VACANCY NOTICE - AUTO BODY TECHNICIAN Precision Auto body Design (1278 Lincoln Ave SW/Huron, SD) is currently looking for a professional trained in repairing damage to vehicles. Prior experience in auto body repair and refinishing preferred but would be willing to train the right individual. Modern 15,600 square foot, air-conditioned shop with the latest equipment .. down-draft bake booth, PPG waterborne paint, Chisum 5-tower frame rack, Chief laser-lock measuring system, and all the equipment needed to repair the aluminum F150. Top wages, retirement, health insurance, vacation, paid holidays, and sick leave.
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WIN Jumps in the Tank with Traci Brown by Chasidy Rae Sisk
At 2 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Oct. 25, the Women’s Industry Network (WIN) hosted an educational webinar titled “Jump in the Tank,” presented by body language and persuasion expert Traci Brown. Michelle Sullivan, co-chair of WIN’s Membership Committee, shared, “WIN’s Membership Committee hosted this webinar as part of our 2018 #ALLIN4WIN Membership Drive. We are excited to have Traci present this follow-up to the presentation she gave at this year’s WIN conference and to learn persuasive techniques and the success formula.” After being introduced by Sullivan, Brown began by noting, “It can be challenging to create things you want to happen, so we’re going to learn how to hear ‘yes’ more often.” Brown’s presentation focused on an anecdote about her opportunity to pitch a business investment to billionaires from ABC’s “Shark Tank” during the National Speakers Association Conference several years ago. She admitted, “I was so nervous. If I succeeded, I was on the road to riches, but if I failed, I’d be embarrassed in front of my peers. There
were no do-overs, so I had to use all I knew about persuasion and influence.” Noting that everyone has sharks in their life, whether the shark is a boss, co-worker, spouse, or so forth, Brown said, “Life would be easier to hear ‘yes’ from them. How different would life be if you could get those people to say yes? The key is to pay attention differently because people are telling you what they need—The signs are in front of you. Pay attention to the little things to make the big things happen!” Defining four main personality types, Brown stressed the importance of profiling the shark and personalizing your pitch by always asking, “How will people respond? What will they do next? Use what you see to shift the pitch to answer unspoken questions and fill unspoken needs. Persuasion is about understanding what happens next, and to do that, you need to realize people like people who are similar to them. Take time to reach people where they’re at and guess what’s going on in their minds in order to connect with them. “I grew so much from working with my shark. Understanding shark thinking helped me reach levels I never
thought possible in business. Anyone can use the same thought process to build their business, too. Successful people pay attention to every little detail. Don’t be afraid to jump in your shark tank. There’s always more information available, and if you use it right, there’s always a way to get to ‘yes!’” WIN hosted Brown’s webinar as part of the association’s #ALLIN4WIN 2018 Membership Drive. Anyone who joins WIN during the drive, which runs through Dec. 31, will receive membership for the remainder of 2017 along with their 2018 membership for the special rate of $109. Those who sign up during the drive will also be entered into a drawing for a chance to win paid registration to the 2018 WIN Educational Conference in Indianapolis, IN, from May 7–9, 2018, valued at $450. Sullivan noted, “As WIN enters its 12th year, I am thrilled to see the membership growth and program expansion. I want to encourage women and men to increase their professional network and become WIN members. WIN’s mission is to engage women in our industry through education, networking and sharing of resources.” For more information about WIN, visit: www.womensindustrynetwork .com.
More than $600,000 in School Grants through CREF The Collision Repair Education Foundation announced more than $600,000 in Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grants supported by donations from industry partners and local I-CAR committee fundraising activities. The Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grants will support 162 schools in 38 states with over 6,000 students enrolled in collision repair training programs and incorporates the Foundation’s Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark, launched in 2016. The grants will assist schools to advance to the next tier and further expand their program’s capabilities. “School collision programs are facing tremendous pressure on their budgets. It is difficult for many to maintain their program at current capabilities, no less increase their abilities to satisfy the industry’s current and future needs for its workforce,” said Melissa Marscin, Director of Operations/Administration for the Foundation. “The Makeover grant program is designed to help collision schools get the much needed tools, equipment and supplies they couldn’t get otherwise and increase their capabilities.”
NABC Receives Prestigious National Power of A— Summit Award
CIF Extends Assistance to Victims of Puerto Rico and CA Natural Disasters
recognition of the tremendous impact NABC’s Recycled Rides™ program has made to change and save thousands of lives across the country. The National Auto Body Council was one of six associations presented with the award at ASAE’s recent Power of A—Summit Award Dinner in Washington, DC. The award is given to associations that make exemplary commitments to creating a stronger America and world. According to ASAE, 149 nominations were submitted for this year’s award program, which was created to showcase how associations leverage their unique resources to solve problems, advance industry/professional
affected by the fires in California, as well as the Hurricane damage to Puerto Rico. CIF has raised funds that are being distributed directly to all industry professionals, including body techs, painters, CSRs, estimators, adjusters, paint distributors and all other professionals in the collective collision repair industry.
The National Auto Body Council (NABC) was honored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) with its highest award, the Power of A—Summit Award, in
performance, kick-start innovation and improve world conditions. “Through Recycled Rides, we have found a way to serve the folks who do not have transportation. They have shelter, they have a job and food, but they need transportation to get there.” said Chuck Sulkala, NABC Executive Director. “Recycled Rides involves every segment of the collision industry, whether it’s the insurer, repairer or vendor, many of whom do business with one another daily. When it comes to this program, everyone works together to make this successful. It is, frankly, the highlight of our industry.” Since the program’s inception 10 years ago, nearly 2,000 vehicles have been donated through Recycled Rides. “The success of Recycled Rides is a testament to the generosity and commitment of our NABC members and colleagues,” said Domenic Brusco, NABC Board Chairman. “We thank everyone in our industry who has sponsored and contributed their time, talent and resources as we continue to implement community service programs that exemplify the professionalism and integrity of collision industry professionals.”
The Collision Industry Foundation (CIF) announced on Oct. 23 that its current relief efforts to Hurricane Harvey and Irma victims would be extended to those
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“Our focus has widened as these other natural disasters have impacted more collision industry professionals beyond Hurricanes Harvey and Irma,” stated William Shaw, CIF Chair and PPG Director of Business Development. “We are prepared to help more thanks to the generous donations by the industry at large.” Those seeking aid or those wanting to make a tax-deductible donation can visit: http://www.collision industryfoundation.org “Our committee of volunteers contacts and vets those seeking aid and ensures that all donations are going directly to our fellow industry professionals,” stated Michael Quinn, CIF Relief Chair. “We have local ‘boots on the ground’ who are getting the word out and vetting individuals and repair facilities.”
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