Western July 2016 Issue by Autobody News

Western Edition California Nevada Arizona Utah

YEARS

www.autobodynews.com ww ww.autobodynews.com

U.S. House Committee Holds Hearings on Career and Technical Education Act On May 18 the U.S. House Commit- serve those seeking to enter the techtee on Education and the Workforce nical workforce. Witnesses included: held a hearing titled, “Helping Stu- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. dents Succeed by Strengthening the Paul Tse, project manager, Shapiro & Duncan Inc. Carl D. Perkins Career and Jason Bates, manager, ToyTechnical Education Act.” ota Bodine Aluminum Inc. Reauthorized in 2006, Dr. Monty Sullivan, presithe Carl D. Perkins Act allodent, Louisiana Community cates federal grants to states and Technical College System for distribution to secondary Throughout the hearing, school districts and post-secthe witnesses and members ondary institutions. The purSen. Tim Kaine, recounted personal examples pose of the hearing was to D-VA examine the Carl D. Perkins of the value of local career and Act and others like it to determine technical education programs. They exwhat reforms should be made to best See U.S. House Hearings, Page 18

OEM Training Details for NACE | CARS Released

plimentary basis with the purchase of a conference or expo pass:

FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES: Introducing the allnew 2017 Chrysler Pacifica—This class will provide you with information relative to the technical specifications, metal strengths, and repair procedures. John Hughes, MOPAR Collision Repair Responsible Service Engineering, TSO, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles FORD MOTOR COMPANY: Ford FSee OEM Training, Page 20

Change Service Requested

P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018

NACE | CARS has announced the release of details for this year’s OEM programming. NACE | CARS 2016, taking place in Anaheim, CA August 9-13, will feature record involvement and expanded training from companies such as Audi, BMW, FCA, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, and more, who will provide information on their latest vehicles, materials and technology, how to address specific repairs, and on becoming a certified repair shop. Here is an overview of the training, which will be offered on a com-

VOL. 34 ISSUE 7 JULY 2016

MS and IN Lawsuits Alleging Steering and Price Fixing by Insurers Ordered Closed by Judge by Stacey Phillips

A Florida judge has closed two related lawsuits brought forth by body shops in Mississippi and Indiana against insurers for alleged steering and price fixing. On May 27, Middle District Judge Gregory Presnell dismissed the state claims in Capitol Body Shop, et al, v. State Farm, et al, with prejudice, meaning they cannot be refiled. Two weeks later, on June 10, he made a similar ruling in Indiana Auto Body Association, et al v. State Farm, et al. Both cases are part of the multidistrict lawsuit that involves more than 500 shops across the country. The 24 lawsuits filed were eventually consolidated for pretrial purposes. According to industry reports, collision repairers across the United States are watching with anticipation to find out the national implications

these recent rulings may have. A similar judgment was made in 2015 when Judge Presnell dismissed all claims in Florida’s A&E Auto Body et al, v. 21st Century et al, with prejudice. All three cases can be appealed to the Eleventh Circuit Court by Eaves Law Firm, the lead attorneys on the case. The Jackson, MS, law firm could not be reached for comment when Autobody News went to press this month. The body shops have accused insurance companies of violating the Sherman Antitrust Act and state laws “…by conspiring to suppress the amounts they are obligated to pay for automobile repairs,” according to court documents. Mississippi Case Capitol Body Shop, et al v. State Farm, et al. was the first of the 24 lawsuits filed. The court dismissed the claims in See MS and IN Lawsuits, Page 22

Ray Fisher of ASA-MI Addresses Changes to Motor Vehicle Service Repair Act, Governor Vetos Bill by Stacey Phillips

A controversial bill that would have restricted aftermarket parts vendors to sell only certain types of parts on newer vehicles to licensed repair facilities in Michigan was vetoed by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder in June. House Bill 4344 would have required body shops to use new or used OEM parts or certified aftermarket parts on vehicles during their original factory warranty period or five years, whichever is less, unless they received written permission from a customer to use non-certified parts. The 62-page bill updated the 1974 Michigan Motor Vehicle Service(s) and Repair Act. “I am unable to sign this bill because it overreaches in the limitation of aftermarket parts negatively impacting consumers and creating the po-

tential for negative consequences for Michigan’s automotive industry,” Snyder wrote in his veto letter. “As Michigan continues its comeback and continues to be a leader in promoting new technology in the automotive industry, it is imperative that we ensure all components of that industry can remain strong, including Michigan’s robust aftermarket parts industry. I am concerned about HB 4344’s effect on market competition for replacement parts on motor vehicles.” House Bill 4344 was first introduced March 12, 2015 by Rep. Peter Pettalia of Presque Isle, who co-owns an automotive mechanical repair facility in Alpena, MI. On February 10, 2016, the bill passed in the House 84-22 in favor of See MI Bill Veto, Page 34

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

2 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Contents

COLUMNS Attanasio - Body Shop Office Manager Racing Toward Her Dreams . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Attanasio - Grateful Illinois Body Shop Owner Ready to Give Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Luehr - Lean Problem Solving. . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Phillips - Massachusetts Collision Center Finds Multiple Benefits Hiring Students in Family Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Sisk - CREF Helps Next Generation of Collision Repairers Find Jobs . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Sisk - Most Decorated Olympic Gymnast Presents Keynote ‘Gold Medal Mindset’ at 2016 WIN Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Yoswick - Retro News: Erick Bickett, Progressive’s Concierge Program, Crash Prevention, Allstate Compliance . . . . . 46 NATIONAL 10 Students Awarded Grants to Attend SkillsUSA’s Conference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 ABRA Auto Body & Glass Donates $81,000

basis.” Winners of the 14th annual 2015 AutocheX™ Premier Achiever Awards come from the U.S. and include collision repair shops of all sizes. The recipients are being honored for consistently receiving high customer satisfaction scores as measured, either independently or as part of an insurance-sponsored repair program, by Mitchell’s AutocheX customer satisfaction solution. “We love being able to know how our customers feel about the repair process,” said Mike Cebollero of

Publisher & Editor: Jeremy Hayhurst General Manager: Barbara Davies Assistant Editor: Stacey Phillips Online Editor and Copywriter: Deana Cacus Contributing Writers: Tom Franklin, David Brown, John Yoswick, Janet Chaney, Toby Chess, Ed Attanasio, Chasidy Sisk, David Luehr, Stacey Phillips, Victoria Antonelli Advertising Sales: Joe Momber, Sean Hartman, Bill Doyle, Norman Morano (800) 699-8251 Office Manager: Louise Tedesco Content/Social Media Specialist: Cass Heckel

1-800EveryRim / Capital Original Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 AAPEX Trade Show . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Alfred Matthews Buick-GMCCadillac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . .74 Automotive ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 AutoNation Chrysler-Jeep-DodgeRam of North Phoenix . . . . . . . . .16 Axalta Coating Systems . . . . . . . . . . .5 Blackburn OEM Wheel Solutions . . .14 BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . .77 Bob Smith BMW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Bob Smith MINI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Capitol Subaru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Car-Part.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 CCC Information Systems . . . . . . . .11 Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) . . . . . . . . . . .47 Chief Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78 Colortone Automotive Paints . . . . . .26 Completes Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Del Grande Dealer Group . . . . . .12-13 Dent Magic Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Diamond Standard Parts . . . . . . . . .39 Downtown Motors of LA (Audi, VW, Porsche) . . . . . . . . . . .59 Eco Repair Systems of North America, LLC . . . . . . . . . . .38 ECS Automotive Concepts . . . . . . . .6 Elk Grove Toyota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 EMM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Enterprise Rent-A-Car . . . . . . . . . . .50 Equalizer Industries, Inc . . . . . . . . .55 First Auto Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . .63 Galpin Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 Glenn E. Thomas Dodge-ChryslerJeep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Global Finishing Solutions, LLC. . . .37 GM Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . .71 Herkules Equipment Corporation . .34 Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40-41 Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers . .70 Kearny Mesa Subaru-Hyundai . . . . .54

See AutocheX Awards, Page 26

Art Director: Rodolfo Garcia Serving California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. 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. ©2016 Adamantine Media LLC. Autobody News P.O. Box 1516, Carlsbad, CA 92018 (800) 699-8251 / (760) 603-3229 Fax www.autobodynews.com Email: news@autobodynews.com

Western

to CREF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 AkzoNobel Introduces New Color Software . . . 74 Auto Care Association Participates in Copyright Roundtables on Embedded Software and DMCA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Auto Claims — The High Cost of Keeping Pace with Technology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 AutoInc. Seeks Submissions for Top 10 Websites Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 BASF Glasurit, R-M Automotive Refinish Products Get Global GM Approval. . . . . . . . 28 Caliber Acquires Seven Collision Care Auto Body Centers in PA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Chief Introduces HD Collision Repair Line, Koala Bench From Globaljig® . . . . . . . . . . 28 CREF Launches Successful Pilot of Collision Student Resume Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Gordon Michael Joins Spanesi Americas . . . . 58 Greg Coccaro Sr. Passes Away at 66 . . . . . . . 79 Ken Garff Chevrolet Moves to Expanded Location in American Fork, UT . . . . . . . . . . 10 Labor Rates are the Foundation of Consumer Care & Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Maaco Aims to Have Shops in Every State As Aggressive Growth Continues . . . . . . . . 60 Martin Senour Launches New Industrial Maintenance Coatings DTM Acrylic Enamel . . 72 Mitchell Honors Industry’s Best Repair Shops with 14th Annual AutocheX™ Premier Achiever Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Moorhead MN Auto Body Shop Owner Says Insurance Agents Using Illegal Tactic . . . . . 38 MS and IN Lawsuits Alleging Steering and Price Fixing by Insurers Ordered Closed by Judge . . 1 National Science Foundation Offers Grant for Training Tomorrow’s Technicians . . . . . . . . 37 OEM Training Details for NACE | CARS Released . 1 Personal Safety Division Launches 3M Center for Respiratory Protection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 PPG Foundation Awards Student Scholarships . 79 PPG Introduces EC550 En-V® Ultra Gloss Clearcoat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Preparations Underway for Fall Automechanika Chicago Commitment to Training Events . . . 31 Ray Evernham Leads Preservation of Iconic American Graffiti Impala With Axalta Coatings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Ray Fisher of ASA-MI Addresses Changes to Motor Vehicle Service Repair Act, Governor Vetos Bill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Same Faces, New Company Name: Parts Director Highlights Benefits of Being Acquired by AutoNation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Sherwin-Williams Announces Partnership with CARSTAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Some Shops Hate Him, but Consumers Love Him: The Wreck Check Story . . . . . . . 70 Spanesi Americas Continues Expansion in Gulf States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Tennessee Steering Lawsuit Against Progressive Insurance Dismissed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 The Throw Away Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 U.S. Aftermarket to Grow at an Annual Rate (CAGR) of 3.7% through 2019 . . . . . . . . . . 61 U.S. House Committee Holds Hearings on Career and Technical Education Act . . . . . . . 1

Mitchell International has announced the recipients of the 2015 AutocheX™ Premier Achiever Awards, honoring top-performing collision repair shops throughout the U.S. for impeccable customer service. “The AutocheX Premier Achiever Awards’ winners exemplify the level of excellence all shops should aspire to,” said Paul Rosenstein, vice president of product management at Mitchell International. “Specifically, these repair shops have gone above and beyond to honor their commitment to their customers to deliver the industry’s best service on a daily

Indexof Advertisers

REGIONAL 75-Year-Old CA Technician Discusses Career, Why He’s in No Rush to Retire . . . . . . . . . . 26 Alleged Intoxicated Driver Hits Truck Sporting Anti-DUI Message, Pushes it into Body Shop Yard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Attanasio - New Collision Career Institute Launched for All the Right Reasons . . . . . . 62 Attanasio - Origins of the California Autobody Association as it Celebrates 50 Years . . . . . 16 Auto Data Direct Releases App to Help Tow Operators Comply with New CA Tow Law . . 14 AZ Automotive Glass Company Sued for Consumer Fraud. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Caliber Collision to Occupy $3.5M Industrial Building in San Marcos, CA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Chip Foose and KC Mathieu Demonstrate Spray Gun Duel at BASF Automotive Refinish Open House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 First Self-Driving Semi in U.S. Hits The Road —on top of Nevada’s Hoover Dam . . . . . . . . 4 Gerber Collision & Glass Opens New Repair Location in WA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Hailstorm Brings Work for Billings, MT Roofers, Auto Repair and Glass Shops . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Kent Van Oort of Federal-Mogul Motorparts Joins CAWA’s Manufacturers’ Advisory Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 NV Department of Motor Vehicles Inspects Auto Repair Businesses For Proper Permits . . . . 75 Oregon DMV Rules Make State Ripe for Fraud, Auto Theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 SCRS Open Invite to Two Special Tours in Anaheim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Sisk - ASA-AZ Tucson Chapter Hosts Student Awards Banquet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Students Win Big in Auto Tech Competition at UTI Rancho Cucamonga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 U.S. Congressman Derek Kilmer Visits Service King’s Tacoma Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 UTI Long Beach to Launch Infiniti Technical Training Academy in 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Volkswagen Group Opens Parts Distribution and Training Centers in CA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Mitchell Honors Industry’s Best Repair Shops with 14th Annual AutocheX™ Premier Achiever Awards

Kia Motors Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Larson Electronics, LLC . . . . . . . . . .17 Lusid Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Maita Subaru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Mark Kia-Mitsubishi . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Maserati of Marin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Mazda Wholesale Parts Dealers . . .72 McPeek Dodge of Anaheim . . . . . . .36 Mercedes-Benz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Miller Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 MINI Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . .76 Mitsubishi Wholesale Parts Dealers . .68 MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers . .45 Moss Bros. Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge . .23 NACE / CARS Trade Show . . . . . . .35 Nissan/Infiniti Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 O’Reilly Auto Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Orio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Polyvance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 PPG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Pro-Tech Collision Automotive . . . . .22 ProLine Tool & Supply . . . . . . . . . . .25 Puente Hills Subaru . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Riverside Kia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Riverside Metro VW-Honda-HyundaiNissan-Mazda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 SATA Dan-Am Company . . . . . . . . .29 Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30, 31 Shingle Springs Subaru . . . . . . . . . .61 Sierra Chevrolet-Honda-MazdaSubaru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers . . .69 Symach s.r.i. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 The Bay Area Automotive Group . . .33 Toyota Wholesale Parts Dealers . . .79 U-POL US . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Valley Auto Dismantlers Association, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Valspar Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75 Volvo Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . .79 Wedge Clamp Systems, Inc. . . . . . . .9

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 3

First Self-Driving Semi in U.S. Hits The Road—on top of Nevada’s Hoover Dam

Autonomous semi-truck driving officially arrived in Nevada on the night of May 5, and it did so on top of the curved concrete edge of Hoover Dam. Daimler chose the world-famous location to introduce its Freightliner Inspiration Truck, the world’s first licensed autonomous truck, according to reports at Autoblog.com.

On the same day, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval officially granted the first license for an autonomous commercial truck to operate on an open public highway in the United States to Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA). At the event, hosted by DTNA President & CEO Martin Daum, Gov. Sandoval took part in the inaugural trip of the Freightliner Inspiration Truck in autonomous mode with Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG Daimler Trucks & Buses, at the controls. “Nevada is proud to be making transportation history today by hosting the first U.S. public highway drive for a licensed autonomous commercial truck. The application of this innovative technology to one of America's most important industries will have a lasting impact on our state and help shape the New Nevada economy,” said Gov. Sandoval. “The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles has been closely monitoring the advancements being made in autonomous vehicle development and reviewed DTNA's safety, testing and training plans before granting permission for this demonstration of the Freightliner Inspiration Truck.” This is the first 18-wheel commercial vehicle to garner the designation (the state actually licensed two autonomous Freightliners), and the truck showed off its hands-free driving skill on top of the 80-year-old landmark. The truck, which is based on the Mercedes-Benz Future Truck 2025 that drove on the autobahn last year, was tested in Germany where, according to Daimler, it has covered more than 10,000 autonomous miles. Similar to the autopilot system in a passenger jet, Daimler’s Freightliner has “Highway Pilot,” which the truck driver engages. That’s how Daimler did it for the demonstration: A driver

pulled the truck onto the road atop the Hoover Dam, and the truck’s Highway Pilot took over. Daimler’s truck has front radars that see the road over 800 feet in front of it, another radar to detect cars merging in front of the truck, and stereo cameras that analyze road markings to communicate with the steering mechanism. It knows the rules of the road and will brake and accelerate based on posted speed limits for semi-trucks. Daimler cautioned in its announcement, “In terms of on-highway commercial trucks, it is incorrect to refer to a vehicle in autonomous mode as a ‘driverless truck.’ Drivers remain the boss in their vehicle because the technology ... requires the presence of a qualified truck driver with valid commercial driver’s license in the cab and on the gauges.” In addition, there are numerous maneuvers the truck cannot make on its own, such as passing and lane changes. Plus, if the Highway Pilot senses particularly adverse driving conditions, like bad weather, it will ask the human driver to take over. Though only licensed for one state, autonomous freight trucks could not come at a better time. Driving a semi is tiring and dangerous work. A 2012 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study noted that, in the U.S., “333,000 large trucks were involved in traffic crashes.” A 2009 Harvard School of medicine study on Drowsy Driving reported that “truck drivers are often chronically sleep deprived.” Those challenges may be leading to a dwindling number of commercial truck drivers. In 2014, the trucking industry reported nearly 35,000 unfilled jobs. Nevada was selected because it is one of four states, plus the District of Columbia, with laws regulating autonomous vehicle operation. Nevada legislation passed in 2011 and 2013 regulates the testing and operation of autonomous vehicles. The legislation includes commercial trucks and sets standards specifying the number of miles an autonomous vehicle must have been tested in certain conditions before it can be granted a license to be driven in Nevada. Daimler obtained a special permit from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles to operate the Freightliner Inspiration Truck on public roads near Las Vegas after supplying state officials with detailed information on the safety systems in the truck and the training program for the drivers. Smarter trucks that take some of the burden off commercial truck drivers and always follow the rules of the road could make the job of commercial truck driver more attractive again.

4 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Celphy Channels the Wright Bros.

Free Welding Seminars! Learn about the Latest Welding Certifications from ICAR Instructor Toby Chess

JULY 12th AND 14th SEMINAR TOPICS / TIMES 9am - 11am Pulse Aluminum Mig Welding as per Ford Aluminum F150 & Rivet Bonding 1pm - 3pm Mig Weld Brazing as per Honda, GM, Toyota, Collision Repair July 12 Location: Airgas 9010 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. San Diego, CA 92126 RSVP: Joe Maier Ph: 760-271-6635

July 14 Location: Matheson 2445 E. South St. Long Beach, CA 90605 RSVP: LLisa Horton Ph: 562-728-5500 562

Don’t Miss Out on this is g Free Training

d Seating is limited P Please RSVP To Chess Toby IInstructor

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 5

SCRS Open Invite to Two Special Tours in Anaheim

Gerber Collision & Glass Opens New Repair Location in WA

Wednesday, August 10, the Society of Collision Repair Specialist (SCRS) is inviting guest to a special reception

The Boyd Group Inc. (the “Boyd Group”) has announced the June 11 opening of a collision repair center in Airway Heights, WA, about nine miles west of Spokane. The center previously operated as City West Auto Body. “This new location complements our existing locations in the Spokane area and will allow us to serve new customers and our insurance partners west of the city,” said Tim O’Day, president and COO of the Boyd Group’s U.S. operations. “We look forward to becoming part of the community and are pleased that Larry Gilman will continue to manage this center, which has served the Spokane area for 15 years. He and his team are committed to providing the same professional and friendly service that is the signature of all Gerber locations.” The Boyd Group is continuously looking to add new collision repair locations to its existing network in Canada and the U.S. For more information, contact Kim Allen, director of business development, at (847) 410-6003.

and tour of the SEMA Garage in Anaheim, CA. The SEMA Garage is the industry’s premier product innovation center. Whether attendees are just into vehicles or manufacturing products,

Caliber Collision to Occupy $3.5M Industrial Building in San Marcos, CA by Lou Hirsh, San Diego Business Journal

Cross Development of Carrollton, Texas, has acquired a San Marcos industrial building for approximately $3.5 million, according to brokerage

185 Vallecitos De Oro, San Marcos

firm Lee & Associates. The property will be occupied by Caliber Collision, a nationwide provider of colli-

sion repair services. The seller of the 29,477-squarefoot property, at 185 Vallecitos De Oro, was Nelson Family Trust of San Marcos, represented by Lee & Associates’ Trent France, Isaac Little, Marko Dragovic and John Perrillo, and Don Grant of Cushman & Wakefield. The buyer was represented by Jason Reed of CBRE Group Inc. and Jeff Drew of Retail Insite. Brokers said the property consists of 12 percent office space and 88 percent warehouse space. According to CoStar Group and public data, the building was constructed on 1.79 acres in 1984. Thank you to San Diego Business Journal for reprint permission.

Advertise in our CLASSIFIED SECTION for $50 per column inch! Place an ad in our AUTOBODY MARKETPLACE section of Autobody News.

800-699-8251

ltedesco@autobodynews.com

6 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

tools or anything else for the industry, the SEMA Garage is a destination to see. SCRS wants to give those that are interested an all access tour to meet and greet industry leaders, learn a bit more about how the industry benefits from a resource like the garage, collaborate with groups like SCRS and SEMA, and to enjoy some food and beverage among friends. Launched in 2014, the 15,000 sq. ft. engineering facility features cutting-edge technology tools and equipment. Resources include a fully equipped CARB recognized emissions laboratory, FARO Edge ScanArm® HD laser scanner, a Fortus 450mc 3D printer by Stratasys, fully outfitted garage space complete with lifts and a wide assortment of hand and power tools, a full vehicle and product photo studio, and flexible space designed to accommodate industry guests in a variety of ways. In addition, the SEMA Garage has three full time engineers on staff to ensure members not only have the access to

high-tech equipment, but also the expertise to use it. Buses will be departing from the Anaheim Marriott and from the Don’s Garage Tour at 3:30pm.

https://vimeo.com/153394766 SCRS is also inviting guests to check out Don’s Garage in Anaheim, August 10. Everyone who has ever been to Don’s Garage has left with an experience they’ll never forget. Don and Ann Long have opened their doors to the industry for this special afternoon event. Buses leave the Anaheim Marriott at 1:00 PM (then either go on to the SEMA Garage tour or back to the Marriott)

www.autobodynews.com CHECK IT OUT!

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 7

Students Win Big in Auto Tech Competition at UTI Rancho Cucamonga

This spring, Universal Technical Institute (UTI) awarded six students from Upland High School and Monte Vista High School a total of $45,000 in scholarships for exemplary performance in a series of auto technician tests at the Top Tech Challenge event. The top three teams also received trophies and Snap On tools for their high

High school students work together to solve hands-on auto technician challenges at UTI’s Top Tech Challenge, an educational opportunity to win scholarship funds and industry tools

school’s shop class. In total, UTI Rancho Cucamonga hosted 12 teams from high schools in San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties to compete in diagnostic challenges, precision measuring, relay testing and written exams. Winning Teams included: 1st Place: Ryan Connor and Derek Klingensmith from Upland High School

• Awarded $10,000 each in scholarship tuition, Snap On tool box including tools (valued at $2,000) 2nd Place: Erick Palomares and Raul Barragan Jr. from Monte Vista High School in Moreno Valley • Awarded $7,500 each in scholarship tuition, tools (valued at $1,500) 3rd Place: Robert Flores and Shahid Rolaman from Upland High School • Awarded $5,000 each in scholarship tuition, tools (valued at $1,000) Top Tech Challenge is an event held at UTI campuses nationwide to connect with the technicians of tomorrow, provide a valuable education opportunity, and nurture positive relationships with school district representatives, counselors, and auto shop teachers. Every student who competed proved the value of hands-on learning and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) application for in-demand careers. An additional $1,000 in scholarship tuition was awarded to each team member that placed 4th to 10th in the competition. Other teams included students from Corona High School, Southwest High School, Bloomington High School, Canyon Springs High School, Centennial High School, and Torrey Pines High School.

8 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Kent Van Oort of Federal-Mogul Motorparts Joins CAWA’s Manufacturers’ Advisory Council

CAWA chairman of the board Greg Livingston of All Trade Tools has appointed Kent Van Oort of Federal-Mogul Motorparts to the Association’s Manufacturers’ Advisory Council (MAC). “Mr. Van Oort and FederalMogul Motorparts have been longtime supporters of CAWA, and we are pleased he will join our leadership team and get further involved in the Association,” said Livingston. Currently, Van Oort serves as the Regional Marketing Leader of the Western United States for Federal-Mogul Motorparts. In this role, he is responsible for defining and implementing regional marketing strategies, creating customer-focused marketing campaigns, and driving return on marketing investments to deliver financial results. Before joining Federal-Mogul Motorparts, Van Oort led the Automotive Aftermarket Integrated Marketing Group at Gates Corporation. Prior to Gates, he established the brand for Level 3 Communications, a global communications network optimized for Internet Protocol services. Van Oort’s career started in New

York City, developing advertising campaigns for AT&T, BMW, Chesebrough-Ponds, Coca-Cola, ESPN, MCI, Nestle, RJR Nabisco and the Seagram Beverage Company. He received a Bachelor of Journalism degree in advertising from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is a graduate of the Northwood University Aftermarket Leadership 2.0 program. CAWA is an automotive aftermarket trade association representing auto parts jobbers, retailers, warehouse distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives and program groups. The Association provides educational, legislative and business support to the industry and its membership.

SEARCH FOR US ON

LINKEDIN :

Autobody News

AZ Automotive Glass Company Sued for Consumer Fraud

Mark Brnovich, Attorney General of Arizona, has filed a consumer fraud lawsuit against A.J.’s Auto Glass, a Prescott Valley-based provider of windshield repair and replacement services. The company is accused of making soliciation calls to individuals listed on the National Do-Not-Call registry, either directly or through a third party solicitor. Brnovich’s complaint states that since at least 2014, A.J.’s has violated Arizona law regarding telephone solicitation by repeatedly contacting consumers who had previously told telemarketing representatives that they no longer wished to be contacted, including callers who were officially registered on the national Do-Not-Call list. The complaint requests that A.J.’s be prohibited from engaging in any future telephone solicitation activity. Additionally, the complaint calls for significant civil penalties against A.J.’s for violations of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act. This could result in an order to pay $1,000-10,000 for each willful violation of the law. The company could also be ordered to pay the State of Arizona for the costs of investigation and prosecution, including attorneys’ fees. Brnovich filed the complaint on June 10.

UTI Long Beach to Launch Infiniti Technical Training Academy in 2017

Universal Technical Institute has partnered with Infiniti in the United States to launch the Infiniti Technical Training Academy (ITTA). The new Infiniti ManufacturerSpecific Advanced Training program is the first of its kind to be offered by a career technical school on behalf of Infiniti USA and will be introduced at UTI’s newest campus in Long Beach, Calif., in 2017. The 18-week program was developed in partnership with Infiniti. ITTA will give graduates of UTI’s core Automotive Technology program who apply and are selected by Infiniti a bumperto-bumper education on Infiniti vehicles. The program will include some of the latest technology in web-based learning as well as high-tech, hands-on instruction in Infiniti vehicle diagnostics, maintenance and repairs, customer service, and dealership operations. Upon completion, ITTA graduates will hold Infiniti-specific credentials and will have completed up to 73 percent of the Infiniti Master Technician Certification standards. Upon employment with an Infiniti authorized dealer, an ITTA graduate could achieve Master-level Certification within 2 years. Tuition for ITTA will be paid by Infiniti in exchange for an employment

commitment with an Infiniti dealer upon graduation. In addition, graduates of the program will be able to receive assistance repaying their student loans for UTI’s Automotive Technology program. “Infiniti is pleased to work with UTI to offer a comprehensive technical training program for Infiniti technicians in the United States,” said Nat Mason, director of aftersales for Infiniti Americas. “As Infiniti continues to bring new innovations to the automotive industry, it’s important to ensure that we have a vibrant pipeline of talent to provide our retailers with trained, certified technicians who are at the top tier in their field.” “We are delighted that Infiniti has chosen UTI to be the provider of training for the next generation of Infiniti technicians,” said Chuck Barresi, senior vice president Of Customer Solutions, Universal Technical Institute. “As demand for transportation service technicians continues to grow, industry partners are increasingly working with UTI to create training programs that are specific to their needs. Demand for technicians and for Infiniti vehicles is particularly strong in California, so our state-of-the-industry campus in Long Beach is a perfect fit to launch ITTA,” he said. The U.S. Department of Labor reports there will be more than 1.2 million jobs in the diesel, automotive,

motorcycle and marine industries in the United States by the year 2024. To reach that total, the transportation industry will have to fill more than 37,000 technician job openings on average every year. Infiniti estimates that it will need to fill nearly 300 service technician positions this year alone. “At a time when the industry has such a strong and growing need for skilled, professional technicians, the new ITTA program is critical,” said Larry Hohl, Long Beach campus president. “It is designed around dealers’ specific needs and, with UTI’s state-ofthe-industry facilities and experienced instructors, we know we will deliver technicians with great training and skills who will be ready to perform the moment they step into an Infiniti dealership.” More information about Infiniti, its Total Ownership Experience® and its industry leading technologies can be found at InfinitiUSA.com. For the latest news on Infiniti, visit www.InfinitiNews .com. For more information abut UTI, visit www.uti.edu For information about UTI’s graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program and other important information, visit our website at www.uti.edu/disclosure

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 9

U.S. Congressman Derek Kilmer Visits Service King’s Tacoma Location

Service King Collision Repair Centers recently hosted U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) at its Tacoma, WA location. The visit, which featured key Service King leaders and onsite teammates, provided Kilmer with a firsthand look at Service King’s operations and investment in developing career paths for the next generation of the automotive repair workforce.

“From its public commitment to hire 500 veterans and military family members in five years to investing in the next generation of automotive technicians and operating a vibrant, growing business, Service King continues to provide great opportunities to folks in our region,” said Kilmer. “I look forward to the continued positive impact its team makes in the future.” According to the company, Service King is currently invested in sev-

eral recruiting and industry advocacy programs, including its Mission 2 Hire initiative, Apprentice Development Program, Service Advisor Internship program and more. The Mission 2 Hire initiative, launched in May 2015, resulted in the hiring of more than 100 military veterans and spouses within its first year. Service King officials have pledged to hire at least 500 veterans and spouses through the program in the next five years. “Service King and our teammates are honored to visit with a leader who shares our passion for promoting gainful career opportunities to Washington and nearby residents,” said Wesley McAlester, Service King market vice president. “Congressman Kilmer’s visit was a valuable experience for all of our teammates as we continue to build Service King into a beacon of opportunity for area residents.” Service King’s Apprentice Development Program is currently providing technicians with training experience at 16 locations across the U.S., including an ongoing program in Tacoma. For more information, visit www .ServiceKing.com

Ken Garff Chevrolet Moves to Expanded Location in American Fork, UT Ken Garff Automotive Group is relocating Ken Garff Chevrolet to a new location situated right off Interstate 15 (Exit 276), next to Ken

Garff Ford. The dealership opened to the public on May 30 and features an inventory of hundreds of new and used cars. The newly constructed Ken Garff Chevrolet is built on nine acres of land with 57,000-square-feet of work area. This area contains 34 service bays and a 15-car service drive for faster and more convenient service repairs. The dealership also has a 20,000-square-foot body shop, which includes a full-service collision repair center. “The whole goal of this relocation is to make car shopping and maintenance a special experience for our customers,” said Terry Ivie, general manager of Ken Garff Chevrolet. “We listened to their feedback to en-

sure we continue to provide the best service possible.” Other amenities to the new location include a full refreshment zone, five outside charging stations, a 16-seat theater and a children’s play area to entertain customers who are waiting for service on their automobile. Customers can also get maintenance or repair rates by using the drive-thru estimate service. Customers interested in Chevrolet autos can visit the dealership at 1021 S. 500 E. St. For more information, contact Matt Jensen at (801) 257-3400 or visit www.kengarff.com.

TWITTER :

@autobodynews1

10 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Chip Foose and KC Mathieu Demonstrate Spray Gun Duel at BASF Automotive Refinish Open House

On June 7, Chris Toomey, BASF senior vice president, Coatings Solutions North America, welcomed guests and hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for BASF’s new Houston competence center alongside members of the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce and real estate developer Trammel Crow. The highlight of the open house was the appearance of automotive designers Chip Foose, owner of Foose Design, and KC Mathieu, previously featured on Discovery Channel’s hit series Fast N’ Loud.

“Our new competence center in the Southwest illustrates our commitment, not only to the automotive refin-

ish market, but also to our distributors and collision repair shops in the area,” said Toomey. “It’s great to have Chip and KC here to highlight their commitment to Glasurit® and R-M®. We’re honored that top designers and restorers exclusively use BASF paint systems.” BASF opened the 13,000 square foot building in March. According to the company, the center includes the latest in virtual and in-person training facilities, state-of-the-art spray booths and market-leading application equipment to enable next generation training for all job functions in the collision repair industry. Caption: Chip Foose and KC Mathieu prepare For more information, visit for a spray gun duel at the BASF Houston www.basf.com. Competence Center Open House

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 11

DEL GRANDE DEALER GROUP San Jose main distribution center with remote distribution centers in Sunnyvale, Fremont and Concord! Capitol Buick GMC Russ or Paul

Capitol Mazda Ralph or Mike

DIRECT

FAX

DIRECT

FAX

408.445.2400

408.445.7205

408.723.8808

408.723.0814

CapitolBuickParts@dgdg.com

CapitolMazdaParts@dgdg.com

Capitol Chevrolet Stan, David or Humberto DIRECT

FAX

408.266.0826

408.266.0823

CapitolChevroletParts@dgdg.com

Capitol FIAT Tim or Dave DIRECT

FAX

408.979.3166

408.265.9507

CapitolFiatParts@dgdg.com

Capitol Hyundai Mario or Ben DIRECT

FAX

408.445.4741

408.445.2455

CapitolHyundaiParts@dgdg.com

Capitol Kia Aidan or Lupe

Project100™ is “Our Commitment to Provide 100% Customer Satisfaction to 100% of Our Customers, 100% of the Time!”

Del Grande Dealer Group is a repeat San Jose Mercury News Top Work Place award winner.

Capitol Subaru Alex, Drake or Miguel

DIRECT

FAX

DIRECT

FAX

408.265.5100

408.266.1586

408.723.1300

408.723.9519

CapitolKiaParts@dgdg.com

CapitolSubaruParts@dgdg.com

12 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

DGDG Collision Parts Center The largest family-owned automotive group in the bay area. Speak with any of our wholesale parts professionals and you will see what everyone is talking about. From up to date inventories tailored to your specific needs, to multi-level product support to get you through a job start to finish, we will go out of our way to exceed your expectations.

Capitol Volkswagen Tim, Dave or Francisco DIRECT

FAX

408.979.3164

408.265.9507

CapitolVolkswagenParts@dgdg.com

Nissan Sunnyvale Kim or Armando

GENUINE SERVICE & PARTS

DIRECT

FAX

408.470.4150

408.737.1774

NissanSunnyvaleParts@dgdg.com

Fremont CDJR Jack or Mike DIRECT

FAX

510.656.9300

510.656.8704

FremontCDJRParts@dgdg.com

Concord Mazda Dave, Gus or Rigo DIRECT

FAX

925.326.3070

952.969.7764

ConcordMazdaParts@dgdg.com

Capitol Ford Hubert, Geno or Hood Streamlined charge account set up good for all DGDG dealerships.

Quick, efficient treatment of all your vehicles that need to go through our service departments, including special vendor discounts.

DIRECT

FAX

408.445.6380

408.445.6385

CapitolFordParts@dgdg.com

Oak Tree Mazda Julian or Manny DIRECT

FAX

408.553.6325

408.248.9886

OakTreeMazdaParts@dgdg.com

All DGDG dealers are now participating in PartsTrader. www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 13

Auto Data Direct Releases App to Help Tow Operators Comply With New CA Towing Law

Auto Data Direct, Inc., (ADD) has launched DropClaim.com, a secure, paperless compliance tool for California tow operators and businesses taking possession of towed vehicles. In January 2016, new state requirements became effective as a result of passage of California Assembly Bill 1222. The new law requires specific documentation and record keeping between a tow company and any business such as a dealership, body shop, or mechanic that takes possession of a towed vehicle. DropClaim.com (patent pending) is a web-based mobile app that allows affected industries to comply with the new law using their laptop, smartphone, or desktop computer while securely protecting any private information included in the transfer of a vehicle. “ADD is constantly looking at legislation affecting the industries we serve,” said Jim Taylor, C.E.O. “Our focus since the company was founded in 1999 is to provide effective solutions to both industry and government to comply with regulations at the state and federal level.” Taylor said that when AB 1222 was signed into law, his team began looking for a way to address the tow industry’s

number one concern of having to transfer a wre-cker operator’s driver’s license number to the claimant. “Not only were we able to develop a process of encrypting that protected information, we can now offer a paperless and secure system for both the tow (Drop) company, and the receiver of the vehicle (Claim) which archives the transaction electronically.” The new law specifically requires tow operators to document information about each vehicle towed, the towing company, the tow truck driver, and the drop-off location. Businesses receiving the vehicle must affirm receipt of each vehicle and maintain the documentation once the vehicle is claimed. Willful violation of the new law can result in a fine of up to $2,500, up to three months in jail, or both. DropClaim.com offers the tow or wrecker company a secure process to protect personal data, the ability to populate the required information in a ‘drop document’ automatically, and create an Express Claim code that is transferred to the claimant by scanning a QR code with a smart phone. For more information, visit www .Drop Claim.com.

14 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Alleged Intoxicated Driver Hits Truck Sporting AntiDUI Message, Pushes it into Body Shop Yard by Whitney M. Woodworth, Statesman Journal

A couple of months ago, an SUV missed the turn at Pringle and Hoyt in southeast Salem, OR, and plowed

A driver charged with DUI drove through a fence at Pringle and Hoyt streets SR in Salem. Credit: Special to the Statesman Journal

through the fence at Carzntrux Collision Repair, wrecking four vehicles. Shop owner Denis Lafferty, who has coped with a few similar crashes through the years, decided he’d finally had enough. Lafferty painted the phrase “Don’t Drink & Drive!” onto the bed of a demolished truck and faced in toward the street as his version of both a public service announcement and a

warning to drivers. It wasn’t enough. Early Saturday morning, the driver of a red truck missed the turn, plowed through the chain-link fence and smashed right into the back end of Lafferty’s white “Don’t Drink & Drive!” warning truck. “This driver managed to land his vehicle right on top of it,” Lafferty said. Salem fire and police crews responded to the crash, and a Salem police officer cited the driver, identified in the crash report as Eric Clifford Jones, 46, of Monmouth, with DUI. According to court records, Jones was convicted of fleeing a police officer, reckless driving and reckless endangerment in Clackamas County in 2014 and just had his driver’s license reinstated in March. Lafferty said his landlord has contacted the city about reinforcing the spot and replacing the lonely arrow sign warning drivers of the curve with more arrows and a guardrail. We thank the StatesmanJournal.com for reprint permission.

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 15

Western Associations

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

Origins of the California Autobody Association as it Celebrates 50 Years with Ed Attanasio

The California Autobody Association (CAA) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year after serving the collision repair industry in the Golden State since 1966. This non-profit trade asso-

Art D’Angelo, Sr. (third from left) worked as a 3M sales representative for many years before purchasing an existing paint company with two stores. He was the CAA’s first president and many consider him the founder as well

ciation consists of more than 1,000 individual and independent businesses within the automobile collision repair industry. Its mission is to enable the auto body industry to survive and

prosper by helping its members to produce a quality repair for the consumer at a fair price for a reasonable profit. Many people know the name and the acronym (CAA), but how many people working at body shops right now in California know anything about the genesis and early years of this organization? Sadly, most of the people who know about the inception of the CAA are no longer alive to tell their stories. Fortunately, several of their descendants know the history and are willing to share it. One of those history-gatherers is Art D’Angelo, the son of Art D’Angelo, Sr., who is considered to be the Godfather of the CAA. Although D’Angelo, Sr. never owned a body shop or worked in one, he was in a prime position to bring together shop owners who were feuding big time in the early and mid-1960s. D’Angelos Automotive and In-

16 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

dustrial Coatings, with its headquarters in Oxnard, CA, was started in 1956 by D’Angelo, Sr. who began his

Art D’Angelo, the son of Art D’Angelo, Sr. holds the plaque his father received from the CAA membership to honor him as the first president of the organization

career in the industry as a 3M Sales Representative. Art started with two locations in Glendale and Van Nuys,

CA when he purchased Acme Color Service and then changed the name to D’Angelos and Sons in 1965. Art D’Angelo remembers his father’s colorful anecdotes about the early formative years of the CAA. “Back in those days, the insurance companies would have a damaged car towed to one shop and then invite other shops to go there and write an estimate. It’s hard to believe, but that’s how they did it.” This method logically led to animosity between the competing shops and also caused other drama, according to D’Angelo. “First off, they started poaching away each other’s employees and that made it worse. Then, if another shop got the job and they had to come and take the vehicle out of the first shop... Man, that got ugly.” Once, a shop owner (whose name is being withheld for obvious reasons) decided that he was tired of watching cars being removed from his shop. “It was a Cadillac as I recall, and the other

shop was coming to tow it out when he took a sledgehammer and did a lot more additional damage to the car,” D’Angelo said. “’Now, have some fun fixing that one’, he told the tow truck driver. When the other shop saw all the new damage to the vehicle, the situation obviously started to escalate.” As a paint jobber and a 3M rep before that, D’Angelo, Sr. was in a prime position to act as a moderator and a peacemaker between competing shops, his son explained. “My father was calling on all the shops, so he started to see the conflicts firsthand,” D’Angelo said. “He began talking to the shop owners and telling them that the other owners weren’t really bad people.’You’re going to have to figure out a way to work with these guys, because otherwise the insurance companies will let you fight it out’ he told them.” Slowly but surely, the owners started listening to D’Angelo, Sr., which eventually led to the very first meeting of the Glendale Autobody Association, according to D’Angelo. “It was at Foxy’s Restaurant in Glendale, and my father had to actually do a seating plan, because everyone thought these guys might get into fisticuffs.

That’s how much they disliked each other!” That meeting went well and that’s how the Glendale Autobody Association was born. “The Glendale chapter eventually became the CAA,” he said.

The owner of Bistagne Brothers Body Shop, Chuck Bistagne remembers great stories from his Uncle George about the early years of the CAA

“Some shop owners in the Long Beach area soon started their own chapter and then the South Bay followed and it just grew from there.” Another current body shop owner whose uncle was one of the first members of the Glendale Autobody Association is Chuck Bistagne, owner of Bistagne Brothers Body Shop in Glendale. Founded in 1946 by Brothers Tom and George Bistagne, the shop

has survived everything, including those early feuding years. “Glendale and Long Beach were the originators, and that’s why the CAA exists now,” Bistagne said. “My Uncle George got involved right at the beginning. In the early 1970s, the shop owners up in San Francisco opened their own chapter and that’s why CAA started to form. They wanted an umbrella organization to manage the chapters and give them a statewide presence. The first shop owners who joined are the pioneers in this industry in California. By figuring out a way to work together and act professionally, the shops were able to flourish and succeed in a business that was changing dramatically.” To attract body shop owners to that first meeting, D’Angelo, Sr. decided to provide a little entertainment, Bistagne said. “Art got a film of that year’s Indianapolis 500, and that got the people there. Back then, they did not broadcast the race on TV, so it was a smart move.” Those initial meetings also helped body shop owners in many ways, Bistagne said. “These guys compared notes, which was excellent. They learned how to write solid estimates and how to work better with the insurance companies in order to get paid.

Up until then, they were all in the dark about these things, but by sharing information, the industry in California became stronger overall.” That first chapter needed some strong leadership, and Art D’Angelo, Sr. was the man with the plan, according to Bistagne. “Art was the perfect person for the role, because the body shop owners did not see him as a competitor,” he explained. “To work with all of these owners and find some common ground that they could build on was brilliant, and that is why every shop in the state should credit Art D’Angelo, Sr. for being the founder of the CAA.” One of the first things shop owners figured out was how to to get past the practice of doing estimates at other area shops. “There were a few shops that said no way—we’re not going into another body shop to make an estimate,” Bistagne said. “Some others figured out a way to keep the cars in their shops, by basically rigging the bids. The invading shop agreed to make sure that their estimate was a little higher, so that they would not get the car. I believe that this eventually led to the advent of the insurance staff appraiser, so that the insurers at least could know what was going on with these estimates.”

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 17

Volkswagen Group Opens Parts Distribution and Training Centers in CA

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWGoA) has announced the grand opening of its new $6.8 million Pacific Northwest Parts Distribution Center (PDC) in Rocklin, CA. The company also confirmed that it will invest an estimated $4.5 million to open a new training center in Eastvale, CA, just outside of Los Angeles. These facilities, which represent an estimated $11.3 million investment, are part of the company’s strategy to invest more than $7 billion in North America through 2019. “The new parts distribution center and upcoming training center in California is a testament to Volkswagen Group of America’s continued investment and commitment to the U.S market, our customers, and dealers,” said Hinrich J. Woebcken, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. “The company remains focused on these types of strategic investments that will enable long-term growth in the United States.”

Pacific Northwest Parts/Distribution Center The newly-expanded facility in Rocklin completes a U.S. network of seven Volkswagen Group parts distribution facilities across the United States. The

Continued from Cover

U.S. House Hearings

plained how quality training benefits not only the students, but their community and the specific industry overall. “Toyota’s direct and indirect employment needs in the U.S. are significant,” Bates said. “In fact, they are much like other large-scale, engineering-based and advanced manufacturing companies in the United States. Consequently, Toyota faces formidable challenges arising from our country’s skills gap. “By ‘skills gap,’ I mean the mismatch between the demands of a rapidly changing workplace and the shortfalls in the academic preparations that young people have acquired in high school and college. For example, the job of a maintenance technician at Toyota Bodine is very different today than it was 15 years ago. In the past, a technician likely focused on just one craft, say electrical. Today, that technician is expected to perform multiple tasks such as electrical, fluid power and mechanical. In the 10 years my plant has been operational, we were never at 100

143,000 square-foot facility holds 40,000 automotive service part numbers and approximately $13 million in inventory, with distribution to 94 Volkswagen and Audi dealers across six states in the Pacific Northwest and Northern California. “The new Rocklin facility plays a vital role in our commitment to providing quality service to our customers and dealer network in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest,” said Jan Bures, executive vice president group after sales and services, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. “We are especially excited to increase our presence in California, a priority market for both Volkswagen and Audi brands.” VWGoA took possession of the building in June 2015 and began shipping parts to dealers in April 2016. The facility is now fully operational. This seventh VWGoA PDC in the United States will enable improved efficiency in Volkswagen and Audi service parts deliveries and employ 30-plus people. This is the second VWGoA PDC in California, with another 310,000 squarefoot facility in Los Angeles. Eastvale Training Center

percent employment in this job category—that is until now, thanks to the collaborations we have with the local education system.” The members of the committee echoed the witnesses’ concerns. In his opening statement, Rep. John Kline, chairman, R-Minn., said, “This is an important conversation to have now because an anemic economy has made good-paying jobs hard to come by… For young people entering this kind of job market, having the right skills and experience is essential. Career and technical education programs can provide these critical tools, and we have to ensure federal support for these programs is delivered in the most efficient and effective manner possible. The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry. See www.ASAshop.org or call (817) 514-2900.

18 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

The company also announced that it will invest an estimated $4.5 million to create a state-of-the-art training facility at the Goodman Commerce Center in Eastvale. The new Center will house Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche training facilities for the purposes of technical, collision repair and sales training. This is the first training facility to support all three brands and is expected to open in the first quarter of 2017. According to the company, Volkswagen Group has committed more than $7 billion in North America between 2015 and 2019. These new additions to Volkswagen Group’s California presence are among seven locations where the company operates in the state. Other sites include the Volkswagen Group of America Electronic Research Laboratory in Silicon Valley, a regional sales operations office in Woodland Hills, and the Test Center California in Oxnard.

TWITTER :

@autobodynews1

Caliber Acquires 7 PA-based Collision Care Auto Body Centers

Seven Collision Care Auto Body Centers in the Philadelphia area have been acquired by Caliber Collision Centers. The acquisition adds Val Fichera, Collision Care’s CEO and Body Shop Business’ 2015 MSO Collision Repair Executive of the Year, along with his highly-skilled six-sigma management staff to the Caliber team, and immediately gives Caliber a significant presence in and around Philadelphia. “It’s exciting to take the next step with the Collision Care organization. When I took over the business more than 20 years ago we were just one shop. I’ve been aggressive and we have grown rapidly since. Our whole team is looking forward to having even more success with the resources Caliber brings,” said Fichera who is joining the Caliber Collision team as the Northeast Director for PA, NJ and NY. The Collision Care acquisition represents the most recent sale of high-profile collision repair industry companies by FOCUS, including Keenan Auto Body, B&R Auto Body, Gladwin Paints, Kayfield Automotive Paint, Aquia Auto Parts and others.

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 19

Continued from Cover

OEM Training

Series Repair Information & Introducing the 2017 F-Series Super Duty—Join in on the discussion about Ford’s aluminum-body truck lineup. This repairability presentation will include specifics about the F-150 and the 2017 F-Series Super Duty, including Ford-approved repair procedures and a Q&A session for technicians to speak personally with Ford service engineers. Gerry Bonnani, Service Engineer, Paint and Body Repair, Ford Motor Company

AUDI OF AMERICA: Introducing the 2017 Audi Q7 Hybrid - Learn the material construction and repair methodology of the new 2017 Audi Q7 Hybrid. Mark Allen, Collision Programs and Workshop Equipment Specialist, Audi of America

AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.: 2016 Honda Pilot and Civic body technology and Honda’s Pro First Certified Collision Repair Facility Program - Learn about Honda’s latest collision industry support activities

and accomplishments. This class will include an overview of body technology on the 2016 Honda Pilot and Civic and the ProFirst Certified Collision Repair Facility Program. Gary Ledoux, Assistant National Manager, Collision Parts Marketing, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Chris Tobie, Collision Business Specialist, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

GENERAL MOTORS: Focus on the customer and the importance of a safe repair & overview of Cadillac CT6 Repair Procedures - With a wide range of repair challenges facing the industry GM is focused on helping bodyshops access information to make quality, safe repairs. This class will cover “what’s new” at GM along with how to access new repair information. GM will also discuss the repair procedures for the all new aluminum unibody Cadillac CT6. John Eck, Manager, Wholesale Dealer Channel, General Motors

TOYOTA MOTOR SALES: Work Smarter. Not Harder. New Skills For Repair Challenges! - James Meyer will demonstrate how Toyota’s Fix it Right the First Time philosophy pays off. Hence our claim that Toyota Col-

20 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

lision Repair & Refinish doesn’t cost, it pays. This will be accomplished through a presentation on a typical non-structural/structural repair challenge, in which some repairers might guess at the right thing to do instead of planning the repair using skill and information resources learned during instructor-led training. James Meyer, Technical Training Administrator, Sr., Toyota Motor Sales

SERVICE READY: HONDA - Join Honda’s Valerie Sullivan and her team as they show service repair shops how to be Service Ready for their brand. From Service information, Scan Tools, Key and immobilizer codes learn what is available and how you can utilize these resources to make your shop more successful when servicing American Honda vehicles. Valerie Sullivan, Parts & Service Communications, American Honda Motor Co “The support and participation of

Free

the car manufacturers is significant to the show’s development. Although NACE | CARS received support in the past, the industry has never before experienced this level of OEM involvement. Service and repair professionals will benefit from attending and learning directly from the car manufacturers on how to repair the cars of today and tomorrow,” said Dan Risley, ASA president and executive director. According to NACE, “No other event offers this level and diversity of repair training while bringing together all facets of the automotive industry like NACE | CARS. Targeting business owners, management and technicians, this conference and exposition brings together all market segments for the latest and most comprehensive repair solutions, services, education, products and technology.” For more information, visit www .NACEexpo.com or www.CARSevent .com.

4x Monthly E-Newsletter E-Newsletter

www.autobodynews.com

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 21

Continued from Cover

MS and IN Lawsuits

the Mississippi case on February 27, 2015 and the plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint. They alleged violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act, state law claims for tortious interference with business relations, quantum meruit, and a violation of Mississippi Code. In 2015, Magistrate Judge Thomas Smith was asked by Judge Presnell to prepare a Report and Recommendation on whether or not the lawsuits’ should be allowed to move forward. Except for four tortious interference claims, Judge Smith recommended that the state law claims be dismissed with prejudice in the Mississippi lawsuit. However, on May 27, Judge Presnell dismissed all of the state claims in the case. In regards to tortious interference, “…the plaintiffs contend that the defendants tortiously interfered with their prospective business relationships by ‘steering’ insureds who intended to have repairs performed by one of the plaintiffs of a competing shop,” court documents stated. According to Mississippi law, there are four elements to prove this claim: 1) The acts were intentional and willful; 2) The acts were calculated to cause damage to the plaintiffs in their lawful business; 3) The acts were done with the unlawful purpose of causing damage and loss, without right or justifiable cause on the part of the defendant (which constitutes malice); 4) Actual damage and loss resulted. According to court documents, Judge Smith determined that most were too vague and conclusory to state a claim. However, he did note in his Report and Recommendation four instances when the plaintiffs alleged that a defendant steered its insured away from a plaintiff’s shop and recommended that the claims not be dismissed. Judge Presnell disregarded this recommendation and dismissed the claim of tortious interference with prejudice. “To state a claim for tortious interference, the plaintiffs must allege that the acts were done with malice— that is, with the unlawful purpose of causing damage and loss,” said Presnell in court documents. “There are no allegations that these plaintiffs had complained about the payment ceilings set by the defendants, so punishment could not have been the driving

force behind the steering.” The plantiffs based their quantum meruit claim “… on the defendants’ refusal to pay what the plaintiffs believed to be the true market price for the repairs they performed,” according to court documents. Quantum Meruit refers to the reasonable amount to be paid for services when a contract doesn’t exist. In order to establish grounds for quantum meruit under Mississippi law, a prerequisite is a “claimant’s reasonable expectation of compensation.” In his Report and Recommendation, Judge Smith concluded that the plaintiffs knew the cost the defendant was willing to pay when performing a repair, so there couldn’t have been an expectation to be paid more. In regards to the statutory claim, the plaintiffs argued that according to Mississippi Code, insurers are prohibited from having vehicles be repaired at certain shops and are required to pay for a proper and fair repair of the insured’s vehicle. Planitiffs alleged that the defendants violated these obligations. “Judge Smith found that the statutory provision did not impose a duty upon insurers to pay the price of a ‘proper and fair repair’ and, in addition, it did not provide for a private right of action,” court documents stated. The Sherman Antitrust Acts were resolved by a different order.

Indiana Case Following the dismissal of claims in the Indiana case on March 30, 2015, the plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint. They asserted two claims for alleged violations of the Sherman Act, state law claims for tortious interference with a business relationship, and quantum meruit. The Sherman Antitrust Act claims were previously dismissed, with prejudice. In Judge Smith’s Report and Recommendation, he stated that all of the plaintiff’s state law claims be dismissed with prejudice. After consideration, Judge Presnell concurred with his recommendation. Regarding tortious interference, the plaintiffs alleged that the defendants, “have repeatedly steered and attempted to steer customers who have either initiated or verbalized the intent to initiate a business relationship/ transaction with a plaintiff from the plaintiffs’ respective businesses through their repeated campaign of misrepresentation of facts, failure to verify facts damaging or tending to cause damage to the plantiffs’ business reputations be-

22 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

fore conveying the same to members of the public…implications of poor quality work, poor quality efficiency, poor business ethics and practices, and unreliability.” Under Indiana law, to prove a claim of tortious interference with a business relationship, there needs to be the following: 1) The existence of a valid business relationship; 2) of which the defendant knew; 3) in which the defendant intentionally and illegally interfered; 4) without justification; and 5) damage to the plaintiff resulting from the defendant’s interference. In his Report and Recommendation, Judge Smith concluded that the plaintiffs did not state a claim for tortious interference. According to court documents, he found that none of the four instances of steering cited by the plaintiffs were alleged to be successful. “As such, none of the plaintiffs had suffered a cognizable injury resulting from the interference, as required to state a claim under Indiana law.” The plaintiffs’ also alleged quantum meruit. According to court documents, “They complain that they have “performed valuable services and expended

material resources with the reasonable expectation of payment/compensation’ but that the defendants have refused to provide ‘full payment’ for those services and materials.” The three elements for a claim of quantum meruit, under Indiana law are: 1) a benefit conferred upon another at the express or implied request of this other party; 2) allowing the other party to retain the benefit without restitution would be unjust; and 3) the plaintiff expected payment. “As was the case within the Amended Complaint, Judge Smith found that the plaintiffs admit that they knew, ahead of time, how much the defendants intended to pay for each repair and therefore could not have had a reasonable expectation of receiving more than that amount,” court documents stated. “Similarly, Judge Smith again found that the plaintiffs had failed to allege that they had conferred benefits on the defendants, because the services and materials were provided to the defendants’ insureds rather than to the defendants themselves.” Autobody News will continue to report on developments with the multidistrict lawsuit(s).

Looking to fill ALL positions, experience required In Business for 20+ Years. We need quality workmanship for a busy, high-volume shop

HIRING THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS Body Men Oﬃce Assistant Frame Technician Produc on Manager Paint Prep Detail/Wash Ready to Hire! Just Give Us a Call or Inquire Within

Call: 818-362-7111 protech818@gmail.com 12201 San Fernando Road Sylmar, CA 91342

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 23

24 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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.

Western Associations

ASA-AZ Tucson Chapter Hosts Student Awards Banquet with Chasidy Rae Sisk

School. The Jim Click Automotive Team co-sponsored the event, where 16 students from mechanical and col-

On May 11, the Tucson Chapter of ASA-AZ hosted the 56th Annual Student Awards Banquet in the JTED Banquet Room at Santa Rita High

lision classes were recognized for excelling in their coursework. Students were sponsored by ASA member shops and industry vendors, and award recipients received a starter set of tools, valued at $500 each. According to Luz Rubio, executive director of ASA-AZ, “Parents and guests were invited, so we totaled over 100 individuals in attendance. At the dinner, each instructor shared highlights of why

the student was selected as their top student.” Recipients of the 2016 Outstanding Automotive Student Awards included Hector Peralta from Amphitheater High School, Daniel Colella of Andrada Polytechnic High School Vail, Taylor Esposito from Canyon Del Oro High School, Alan Borbon of Cholla High School, Steven Upton from Flowing Wells, Wayne Martin of JTED at Baboquivari, Zachary Morris of Marana High School, Terrance Morales from Mountain View High School, Matthew Luna of Pueblo High School, Johnathan M. Martinez from Rincon High School, Nathaniel Maupin from Sahuarita High School, Bobby Ingraham of Sahuaro High School TUSD, Adam Alcantar from Sunnyside High School, Anthony Rodriguez of Sunnyside High School, Fabian J.

Gutierrez from Tucson High School, and Andrea Ronquillo of Tucson High School.

During the event, four students planning to pursue an automotive career after high school were awarded $1000 scholarships. This year’s scholarship winners were Waylan Martin from JTED at Baboquivari High School, Daniel Matthew of Polytechnic High School, Matthew Luna of Pueblo High School, and Steven Upton from Flowing Wells High School.

SPECIAL LIFTING JOBS REQUIRE SPECIAL LIFTS.

IT’S REALLY THAT SIMPLE. • Designed to be used by one operator for fast, easy removal and installation of pick up boxes, toppers, car doors and hoods with no human lifting. • Superior rugged design is safe and simple engineered to save you time thus increasing productivity and proﬁts. • Safety system protects the product and operator at all times. • 100% Guarantee and Warranty on all Products.

• Patented lift tool w/superior load stability that requires no power or fuel and minimum maintenance. • Tilt the box upward for under box repairs, rust prooﬁng, customizing, restoration and painting. • Attachments available to perform diﬀerent lifting functions - can be switched and changed in seconds.

CALL TODAY FOR SPECIAL SALES PRICING WHILE INVENTORY IS AVAILABLE See us at

989-315-8033

NACE booth

Fax: 989-803-5992

Made in the USA

# 653

rparks@prolinetoolsupply.com www.prolinetoolsupply.com 210 Pigeon Rd., Bad Axe, MI 48413 www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 25

75-Year-Old CA Technician Discusses Career, Why He’s in No Rush to Retire by Victoria Antonelli

Otto Nikoleyczik began dabbling in the collision repair industry at the age of 13. He had just moved from Germany to Long Island, NY, to live with his aunt and uncle, who owned a body shop. After cancer took his uncle’s life in 1957, Nikoleyczik’s days were split between school and apprenticing at the family business. This continued until he went into the service after high school. Once Nikoleyczik returned from the naval reserves in 1961, he took over the four-man operation, which his aunt had been running. “Our house was in front and the shop was in the back,” said Nikoleyczik. “I was the owner until 1976, and by that point, I was married with five kids.” The close proximity between the house and the shop proved to be a hazard. When one of his sons accidentally lost part of his toe that year, Nikoleyczik decided to sell the business. “We then moved to Montana,” he said. “Figured it would be better for the kids, and it was.” Nikoleyczik and his family spent the next 26 years in Montana, where he worked as a combination man (someone who works on both the paint & the body of the vehicle). “I did everything on the vehicle; from the frame work to the body work to the paint work,” he said. “It’s the kind of thing where if you’re doing a job where you’re doing everything, you get a certain satisfaction; but it’s a little harder on you, too.” After Montana, he and his wife Continued from Page 3

AutocheX Awards

Sierra Auto Body in Grass Valley, CA. “ A collision is a big disruption to their lives. We try very hard to minimize the disruption to their daily routine while we repair their vehicles. It's nice to know through the AutocheX surveys that our process is working for our customers.” The Mitchell AutocheX program surveys customers from the 7,500 shops actively participating in the program. Customers are asked to rate their overall experience in terms of customer service and satisfaction

moved to Hawaii for five years. From then on, Nikoleyczik stuck to body work, and let the paint department handle the rest. “Our daughter was living in Hawaii,” said Nikoleyczik. “That was when we started following our kids around the country.”

on commission,” he explained. “When of plastics, and nowadays, a lot more you’re working on salary you don’t parts changing than repairs changing,” have to worry about getting the job he explained. “For a door you might done to get paid, so you have the ten- have previously repaired, you’re now dency to do more quality work.” probably going to replace the panel or Nikoleyczik added that quality put a used panel on, and when you conwork is what J P’s is known for. sider the labor involved, replacing it is “We complete the job at the high- usually the less costly option.” est standards - the paint and Nikoleyczik added that because the body work,” he said. vehicles nowadays have so many elecNikoleyczik plans to contrical parts in the front end, they total tinue working at J P’s for at out a lot faster. least another five years, espe“Modern technology brings part cially since he’s been in good prices up quite a bit,” he explained. health. “When a vehicle gets a front end hit “It’s the kind of thing and the air bag goes off, the electronic where as long as you like the parts - air conditioning units, cooling work you’re doing and you’re units - total out a lot faster. Years ago, able to do it, why stop?” he you could do a lot more repairs on the said. vehicles before that happened.” Otto Nikoleyczik, 75, poses in front of J P’s Paint and Nikoleyczik added that he Nikoleyczik also believes that the Body Works in Chico, CA likes the challenge presented industry today has stepped up to a Their next stop was Cheyenne, by new makes and models. higher level of repair and service. WY to live and work near their other “I enjoy taking cars apart and “Shops are more responsive to the daughter. putting them back together,” he said. customer,” he said, which he believes “We got to experience different “Every one is different, so you have to is an important improvement. states and different lifestyles,” said relearn every car every year.” To learn more about J P’s Paint and Nikoleyczik. Nikoleyczik said the industry has Body Works, or visit the shop, check After five years of dealing with a changed a lot in the last 30-40 years. them out on Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/ windy, cold climate, the couple made “There are a lot of electronics, a lot j-ps-paint-and-body-works-chico their final move to sunny Chico, CA, and you can probably guess why. “Our other daughter and her husband owned a business just north of Chico,” said Nikoleyczik. “I then got a job at J P’s Paint and Body Works and have been here ever since. This will probably be my last stop.” Paints, Materials & Supplies Out of all the shops he’s worked in, Nikoleyczik said he’s had the best experience at J P’s. rving Body Shops PBE Distributor Se “I like it because I’m a salary permotive Paints son; most collision repair jobs work with the Best Auto

among other experience-related questions. “With AutocheX, our customers are able to honestly and openly share their thoughts about their repair experience,” said Rosenstein. “The program serves as a neutral platform for our customers to voice any concerns and enables the body shop to identify customer service and experience shortcomings in a timely manner.” Since the program was launched in 2002, Mitchell has presented over 4,000 AutocheX Premier Achiever Awards to collision repair facilities.

For more information, visit www .mitchell.com.

26 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

lies since 1933 and Body Shop Supp

• Technical Service Specialists trained by BASF in Glasurit and R-M paint systems. • Colortone is an Authorized ColorSource Distributor for BASF Products

Colortone Automotive Paints 2420 Ripple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039

www.colortonepaints.com

(323) 661-1181 (323) 661-1103

Fax

(323) 660-1823

LIMCO ONYX

SUPREME

90 L i n e

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 27

Chief Introduces HD Collision Repair Line, Koala Bench From Globaljig®

Chief recently introduced Chief Heavy Duty, a product line designed to help heavy duty body shops improve technician ergonomics, shop efficiency, repair quality and cycle times. According to the company, the equipment also makes it possible to write more comprehensive estimates upfront and document repairs. The new Chief heavy duty product line includes: • New Centurion heavy duty frame rack • New Cam Scan HD photogrammetric measuring system • New Vulcan ADU adhesive debonding unit • New Chief heavy duty rivet gun • New Chief blind rivet attachment for PNP90 rivet gun • Rotary Lift Mach Series mobile column lifts • Chassis-Liner Heavy-Duty Trucker frame rack “Heavy duty collision repair shops face unique challenges stemming from the sheer size of the vehicles being re-

paired,” said Lee Daugherty, Chief global data product manager. “There are no OEM specifications to follow when straightening frames that can be 60 feet long or bringing multiple axles back into alignment. Squaring up a trailer that has rolled and repairing a cab that’s manufactured with a mix of steel, aluminum and other materials also can be tricky when relying on traditional measuring and repair tools. The new Chief heavy duty product line draws on our more than 40 years of collision repair experience to provide fleets, independent repair shops and dealers with modern equipment that is faster and easier to use, reduces the chance of technician injury, speeds up the repair process and makes it possible to meet the growing need to document repairs.” Additionally, Globaljig®, Presented by Chief®, recently introduced the Koala bench. According to Chief, although compact, the Koala bench is versatile enough to handle most of the

structural work that comes through a typical collision repair shop, including the center section holding required to repair the latest generation of vehicles. The Koala structural repair bench can be used as an install or work bay lift for easier vehicle tear down and reassembly, sheet metal repair, blueprinting operations, or for structural straightening and holding of parts for replacement. “For shops that don’t have a lot of space but do have high enough workflow to warrant an additional bench solution, Koala is a cost-effective investment in improved productivity,” said Bob Holland, director of collision sales in North and South America for Chief parent company Vehicle Service Group (VSG). “Koala has a small footprint and tremendous versatility—it will accommodate about 90 percent of the structural collision repair jobs at most body shops.” Koala has a drive-over height of just six inches and can raise vehicles

weighing up to 5,500 lbs. to an ergonomic working height up to five feet three inches. The removable 10-ton pulling post can be mounted anywhere around the Koala frame for 360-degree pulling, and can be shared between multiple benches. Extension plates on Koala’s sill clamps provide increased space between the bench and vehicle. According to Chief, “Koala is ideal for working on modern cars that need to be held in multiple locations during the repair. The optional double crossbeam/universal jig system makes Koala the smallest bench on the market to offer eight to 10-point center section holding, so it can handle even the hardest-hit unibody vehicles.” Additional Koala optional accessories include an upper body/suspension measuring system, bench cover plate, and a loading ramp package. The Koala repair system can be floor or pit mounted. For more information, visit http://www.chiefautomotive.com/.

General Motors paint engineering reviewed and approved BASF’s comprehensive standardized test process for its Glasurit and R-M automotive refinish materials. All products tested received approval into 2017. The ap-

proval process ensures the paint systems give the appearance, performance and durability comparable to the OEM factory finish. “Glasurit and R-M paint systems consistently provide the top quality finishes required by GM,” said

Jeff Wildman, BASF Manager of OEM and Industry Relations. “BASF has more OEM approvals than any other paint manufacturer.” BASF was also named a GM Supplier of the Year in March, which marks the 11th time

that they have received the award since 2002. Any collision center performing warranty work on GM vehicles must use GM approved refinish materials. For more information, visit basfrefinish.com

BASF Glasurit, R-M Automotive Refinish Products Get Global GM Approval

CALL YOUR NEAREST PROFESSIONAL DISMANTLER TODAY! Aaron’s Auto Group Sun Valley (818) 768-9999 www.aaronsautogroup.com

AAA Foreign Auto Parts Sun Valley (818) 504-3939 www.aaaautoparts.net/brochure.html

Atlanta Auto Salvage North Hollywood (818) 503-1414 www.salvage-parts.com/junk-yards/atlas-auto-parts-salvage-north-hollywood

A&J Auto Parts Sun Valley (818) 767-5061

Elite Auto Parts

Pyramid Auto Dismantling

Sun Valley (818) 767-0445

Sun Valley (818) 504-0050

Galaxy Used Auto Parts

Royal Auto Dismantling, Inc.

Sun Valley (818) 767-9494 www.galaxyusedautoparts.com

Sun Valley (818) 252-0060

H&G Auto Sun Valley (818) 504-0718

Pacoima (818) 899-2228 www.vadausedautoparts.org/members

Harout’s BMW MBZ

SVA Auto Wrecking

Sun Valley (800) 621-4484 www.harouts.com

L.A. World Auto Parts

Save On Auto Parts & Salvage

Sun Valley (818) 768-2526

Toyota World Auto Wrecking Sun Valley (818) 899-1865 www.toyotaworldautowrecking.com

AutoQuest Dismantling, Inc.

Sun Valley (818) 768-7278

Sun Valley (818) 767-0707 www.autoquestdismantling.com

Honda Foreign Auto Parts Salvage Sun Valley (818) 834-2000

Toyota Center Auto Dismantling

A & R Auto & Truck Dismantling Sun Valley (818) 897-2361

Junior’s Auto Parts

Sun Valley (818) 771-9200

Sun Valley (888) 775-1597 www.juniorsautoparts.com

Toyota Parts Only

Bells Auto Parts & Wrecking Sun Valley (818) 767-7197 www.bellsautoparts.com/index.html

Mega Auto Dismantling

Chase

MIX Auto Center Inc.

Sun Valley (818) 899-3033

Sun Valley (818) 768-9090 www.hondaacurausedparts.com/index.html

Sun Valley (818) 768-2525 www.mix-auto.net/home

Coast Auto Salvage

Prime Auto Parts and Salvage

Lancaster (661) 942-3737 www.coastautosalvage.com

North Hollywood (800) 518-8888 www.myprimeparts.com

North Hollywood (818) 765-0322 www.toyotapartsonly.com/index.html

Tri County Auto Dismantlers Santa Paula (877) 667-2787 www.tricountyautoparts.com

World Auto Parts Dismantling Glendale (888) 782-8781 www.worldautodismantling.com

VADA Celebrates 37 Years Representing Dismantling and Recycling Businesses in Antelope Valley, Glendale, San Fernando, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Santa Clarita Counties. 28 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 29

Tennessee Steering Lawsuit Against Progressive Insurance Dismissed tomers, Anne Crockett and Nicole Crosby. Both customers brought in their vehicles to be repaired following two separate accidents that occurred in June 2011. While repairing the vehicles, auto body technicians at Price’s identified additional repairs that were not on the original estimates written up by Progressive. The body shop requested that the supplemental repairs be approved. Despite repeated requests, the Plaintiff alleged that Progressive refused to pay for the charges, which were $693.01 for a 2007 Honda Accord and $927.04 for a 2010 Honda Civic LX. Crockett and Crosby both asked the body shop to file a claim on their behalf and the cases were eventually consolidated. Price’s sued for breach of contract, violations of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and tortious interference with business relationships in 2011. After the court ruled against Price’s Collision, the body shop appealed the case in November of that year. In 2013, the court dismissed the claim of TCPA. In court documents, Price’s Collision claimed that “…the Defen-

by Stacey Phillips

A lawsuit filed by a Tennessee body shop against Progressive Hawaii Insurance Corporation for alleged “steering” and underpayment of claims has been dismissed. In 2011, Price’s Collision Centers sued the insurance company for tortious interference of business relationships and breach of contract. A court date had been set for this fall. The case was dismissed in April with prejudice, which means it cannot be refiled. There was no reason given for the ruling, and William Ramsey of Neal & Harwell, the lead attorney for the Plaintiff, declined to comment on the case. Progressive Insurance also declined to comment. Each party will pay their own attorney fees and other costs related to the case. Based in Brentwood, Williamson County, TN, Price’s Collision Centers was established in 2000 and currently operates nine full-service collision center locations in Tennessee and Kentucky. Price’s Collision, owned by Bobby Price, originally filed the claim on behalf of two of its cus-

dant’s refusal to pay for the supplemental repairs is part of a broader campaign waged against the Plantiff’s business.” They further stated, “… in an effort to damage the Plaintiff’s business and ultimately drive the Plaintiff from the marketplace, the Defendant ‘steers’ customers away from the Plaintiff’s shop either by actively discouraging its customers from having repairs done at the Plaintiff’s shop and/or by discouraging customers from returning to the Plaintiff’s shop by refusing to pay for the total amount of the repair and leaving the customer ultimately responsible for the balance of the cost of the repair.” David Edwards, a former of employee of Progressive, provided a sworn affidavit in 2014. Edwards worked as an estimator, supervisor, network manager and expert process property damage specialist during the 17 years he was employed at the insurance company. His final job was as a managed repair representative, assisting in writing estimates in areas with high volume. In 2014, he worked exclusively with

The Radiator and Condenser Headquarters for Collision Centers

» » » »

See TN Lawsuit, Page 37

Announces:

2016 Third Quarter Training Schedule

Radiators A/C Condensers As a Tier 1 supplier to Toyota, Honda, GM and others, Denso offers true First Time Fit radiators and condensers to the repair industry

claimants or insureds who brought their vehicles to Price’s. “In my opinion, Progressive employees did intentionally steer insureds and claimants way from Price’s Collision Center,” Edwards said in the affidavit. “Progressive employees would do so by saying derogatory things about Price’s Collision Centers to the insureds and/or claimants. For example, Progressive employees would tell claimants or insureds that repairs at Price’s would take an inordinate amount of time, would cost too much, and would leave the insured potentially liable for the cost of a repair that was not ‘guaranteed.’ At the same time, the Progressive employees would be talking positively about network shops to induce the insured or claimant to bring his or her vehicle in network.” Edwards further stated that, “In instances where a Progressive insured or claimant would bring his or her car to Price’s despite the steering, Progressive routinely denied payment on supplements. Despite these supplements being for required repairs, Progressive regularly refused to pay for

All Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes training centers feature state-of-the-art teaching tools, such as iPads, to enhance the learning experience for today’s collision repair professionals. Explore our robust training programs in a variety of areas designed to improve productivity and profitability.

Free Daily Delivery by 30 Company Trucks Free California Overnight Shipping Four Los Angeles Warehouses Limited Lifetime Warranty on All Radiators & Condensers

Training Center

Reno Reno

Date

08/15/16 08/29/16

Training Course Description

Color Adjustment and Blending Painter Certification

10425 S. La Cienega Blvd. > Los Angeles, CA 90045

Mon-Fri 7:30 am-6:00 pm

Call our Cooling Specialists:

888.500.6557 Fax: 310.703.5752

www.completesplus.com 30 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

For more information about Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes courses, visit its training section at: www.sherwin-automotive.com/refinish/training-support or call 1-800-SWULTRA (1-800-798-5872).

Number of Days

3 3

Preparations Underway for Fall Automechanika Chicago Commitment to Training Events

Automechanika Chicago and its organizers Messe Frankfurt and UBM Americas | Automotive Group (formerly Advanstar Communications, Inc.) had more than 100 automotive professionals attend their inaugural single-day training program at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, MI. Preparations are underway for two fall events in cooperation with technical colleges in select markets to help support automotive repair professionals in the service repair and collision repair markets. According to Automechanika, the series of free training programs began in May as part of a new “Commitment To Training” initiative supported by the generosity of industry sponsors. Top instructors from both the mechanical and

collision repair industries presented their classes to full rooms. Automotive professionals from as far away as New York, New Hampshire, Illinois, Ohio, Virginia and Ontario, Canada attended the event. Attendees received certificates toward continuing education credits, including AMi and NATEF certifications. The facility hosted the inaugural event as part of the initiative aimed at training today’s automotive professionals while providing them with a network to learn from peers. “I’m very excited by the response to our first one-day training event,” said Pete Meier, director of training for UBM’s Automotive Group, which includes Motor Age and ABRN magazines. “The professionals who attended

G. Jerry Truglia of Technicians Service Training educates auto shop technicians about proper diagnostic techniques during May’s Automechanika Chicago Commitment to Training event at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Mich. Credit: PRNews Foto/UBM Americas)

the event really understand the need to continue learning about the changing technology and procedures needed to re-

pair vehicles today. I think they all took away lessons they can use immediately in their shops around the country.” Mike Rowe, a technician at H&I Expert Auto Care in Rochester Hills, MI, learned about the event through Motor Age Training and while studying to become ASE certified. “I want to be better at what I’m doing and have answers for questions from customers,” he said, adding he was excited to learn from Meier and his electrical and scope class. “I’ve seen him on YouTube, and seeing him in real life was a lot of fun and very informative.” Trainers for the sessions included Mike Anderson of Collision Advice; G. Jerry Truglia of ATTS and TST; Larry Montanez of P&L Consultants; Brad Mewes of Supplement, and Meier. In additional to his two educational sessions, Anderson presented an industry keynote during breakfast and representatives from the Advanced Transportation Center at Washtenaw Community College introduced attendees to the program that focuses on connected vehicles and the associated infrastructure. Attendees toured the facility following a catered lunch. The event at Washtenaw Community College was the first of three nocost live events scheduled for 2016. Events are scheduled for Oct. 15 at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, WI and Nov. 19 at Joliet Junior College in Joliet, IL. Details of the events will be available once registration begins later this summer. The Commitment to Training program is made possible by support from manufacturer sponsors Carquest Technical Institute, Delphi, Garmat USA, Abaris Training, Mitchell 1, PPG, Polyvance, Pico Technology, Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket, Mitchell International, Motor Age Training, Axalta and GFS. “We’re very fortunate to have the involvement of leading companies in the service repair and collision repair market as we continue our ongoing efforts to properly train shop owners, managers, technicians and educators,” said Jim Savas, vice president of UBM Americas, Automotive Group. “This program, in partnership with vocational colleges in Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin will feature instructors known for providing outstanding content that can help shops keep pace with changing vehicle technology.” The initiative culminates at Automechanika Chicago 2017, scheduled for July 26-29 in Chicago. For more information, visit http://automechanika .searchautoparts.com/commitment-totraining.

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 31

Shop Strategies

Stacey Phillips is the assistant editor at Autobody News magazine. She has more than 20 years of experience writing for a variety of publications. She can be reached at sphillips@autobodynews.com.

with Stacey Phillips - ASSISTANT EDITOR

Massachusetts Collision Center Finds Multiple Benefits Hiring Students in Family Business More than a decade ago, Cape Auto Collision Center in Plymouth, MA, began hiring co-op students from local technical high schools to help in the body shop. Kevin Gallerani, owner of Cape Auto, said it has become an important part of the family-run business. One of their co-op students, Fred Teed, qualified to compete in the national SkillsUSA competition held in

Kathy Chaves, customer care representative at Cape Auto Body, with Mark MacKinnon, service advisor

Louisville, KY, June 20-24 as Autobody News went to press.

We talked to Gallerani about the benefits he has found hiring students over the years as part of the co-op program.

Q: Cape Auto (the name) was esA:ily’stablished in 1952, but my fambody shop goes back much How did your family get started in the collision repair business?

further. My great grandfather was fixing crashed vehicles in the ‘30s under the name Alphonso’s Auto Body at the same location that my service department is currently in. We have a service department at 53 Samoset Street with 20 employees. The collision center, with 17 employees, is located at 115 Sandwich Street.

Can you tell us about the Q: co-op program and the benefits of having students working at

32 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

your business?

We have been involved with A: co-ops for at least 10 years. We have a co-op program at our collision

center and our service center every year. We use students from Plymouth

Cape Auto Body, located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, was established in 1952

South Technical School and Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School. The benefit of having students in the co-op program is that we get a chance to try them out and test their mechanical skills and their work ethics. We can then train and mold the

technicians to fix vehicles the way that we want and need them fixed. They learn what is expected at an early age.

How long do they usually work Q: at your business, and are any of them hired full time?

Usually, we have at least A: two students at each shop every year and sometimes they

don’t make it or they do not stay in the trade. I would say less than 20 percent actually make it. We are always looking for new employees as we grow, and that’s why we keep looking to the schools for students.

What advice can you give to Q: other shop owners who are considering using students?

I would recommend that all A: shops look to trade schools for See Hiring Students, Page 37

THE BAY AREA AUTOMOTIVE GROUP We Encompass The Bay GENUINE SERVICE & PARTS

Team Volkswagen

Parts Dept. 510-300-2732 Hours: M-F 8-6 / Sat 9-4

Serramonte Volkswagen

Parts Dept. 650-746-3000 Hours: M-F 8-6 / Sat 9-4

25115 Mission Blvd., Hayward CA 94544

711 Serramonte Blvd., Colma, CA 94014

Stevens Creek Kia

Parts Dept. 408-533-1500 Hours: M-F 8-5 3566 Stevens Creek Blvd., San Jose, CA 95117

Serramonte Subaru

Parts Dept. 510.403.2525 Hours: M-F 7:30-6 / Sat 8-4:30 39800 Balentine Dr., Newark, CA 94560

Hayward Nissan

Fremont Mazda

Parts Dept. 650-550-3700 Hours: M-F 8-6 / Sat 9-4 707 Serramonte Blvd., Colma, CA 94014

Parts Dept. 510-372-2800 Hours: M-F 7:30-6 / Sat 9-4 24644 Mission Blvd., Hayward, CA 94544 www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 33

“The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicates that some structural parts, such as bumpers, do impact a consumer’s safety. However, the Instithe amended bill and was sent to the tute also points out that some parts, Senate. The bill was unanimously such as fenders, grills, door skins, voted out of the Senate subcommittee bumper covers, etc. are primarily coswith the understanding that modificametic and ‘are irrelevant to crash tions to the bill were necessary for safety.’ This bill doesn’t sufficiently compromise. The amendments were delineate between the two types of made and voted on in the Senate with parts, thereby limiting the use of safe, a 33-4 vote in favor of the amended bill high-quality aftermarket parts deand returned to the House. signed specifically for particOn May 31, Rep. Petular vehicles.” talia reintroduced an amendIn his veto letter, Snyder ment to the bill that provided also voiced concern that HB the opportunity for the vehi4344 would negatively affect cle owner to authorize in auto insurance prices in writing the use of non-certiMichigan. “Requiring OEM fied aftermarket parts during parts when a perfectly suitRay Fisher a repair. The House then able and safe aftermarket part file photo voted on the bill with 86-23 in is available at a lower price favor and sent to the Senate for conwill result in higher costs to insurers; currence to the changes, which did higher costs which will be passed on to occur. It also received an affirmative consumers in the form of increased vote of 33-3 the next day with one Senpremiums, deductibles, or both,” he ator being absent. said. “Those increased costs would be The following amendment was directly attributable to artificially limadded to House Bill 4344: iting competition by requiring OEM If a motor vehicle repair facility parts when less expensive aftermarket that is subject to this act replaces a parts are available.” major component part described in The Auto Care Association section 2A(A)(iii) to (xiv) during the (ACA) issued a press release on June 3 term of the vehicle manufacturer’s voicing the association’s concerns over original warranty, or during the first 5 the bill being passed and urged memyears of the vehicle manufacturer’s bers in Michigan to contact the goveroriginal warranty, whichever is less, nor’s office and request that he veto the the motor vehicle repair facility shall bill. replace the major component part, and ACA said the new restrictions a person that is an owner or operator of using “major component parts” only the motor vehicle repair facility shall apply to sheet metal and body parts. ensure that the major component part “The Auto Care Association is exis replaced with 1 of the following: tremely concerned with the bill au(A) A new original equipment thor’s intent to restrict the vehicle manufacturer part; repair community’s access to the broad (B) A used or a recycled original range of non-OEM parts,” ACA wrote equipment manufacturer part; in the press release. “Based on this lan(C) A part that meets any appliguage, it would not be difficult for vecable federal motor vehicle safety stanhicle manufacturers to lobby to extend dards established under 49 CFR 571, these requirements to many other afand meets the standards for parts rectermarket parts, as we have seen atognized as OEM comparable quality as tempted in other states. Such action verified by the Certified Automotive would provide a clear competitive adParts Association, NSF International, vantage for OEM parts over those or another nationally recognized autosources from the independent aftermotive parts testing agency. market.” (D) A part that does not meet The ACA applauded the goversubdivision (A), (B), or (C), if the fanor’s veto. “We had a tremendous efcility is directed by the owner of the fort from the industry to communicate motor vehicle in writing to install that directly with the governor’s office and part. I have to thank everyone who took the “On its face, this policy seems to time to personally write the governor,” be intended to protect consumers and said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO ensure vehicles are safely repaired. of ACA. “We worked hard to sit down That is a laudable goal,” Snyder wrote. with the stakeholders early on in this Continued from Cover

MI Bill Veto

34 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

process, but those efforts did not produce the compromise we were seeking, and we are very grateful that Governor Snyder had the astute ability to get to the heart of the matter and send this bill back to the legislature.”

Ray Fisher of ASA-MI Responds Autobody News spoke to Ray Fisher, executive director of ASA-Michigan, about House Bill 4344. Fisher has been on a mission to update the state law in order to ensure that all parts used in collision repairs are certified.

What is your reaction to GoverQ: nor Rick Snyder’s veto of HB 4344?

It is disappointing, but we reA: main optimistic and focused on our cause. There was a great deal of

misinformation that circulated that was never part of HB 4344 and created fear. I could spend time contesting various statements, but what good would that serve? The governor, by law, had only 14 days to respond or it became law, so his window of opportunity to be completely informed on the issue with so many other things going on was limited – keep in mind we have the Flint

water crisis and the challenges of the Detroit Public Schools needing his attention. Our objective remains that it is the right thing to do and we will continue forward with our goal accordingly. Can you give us some background about The Motor Vehicle Service Repair Act and how you became involved in helping to update it?

Michigan is one of multiple A: states that with a few exceptions, requires an automotive repair facility and its technicians to be registered/licensed under the Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Act (Act 300 of 1974). Technicians must also identify the specialties they employ. The act has had very few updates since its inception. Upon taking over as executive director of ASA-Michigan in January 2010, I began working with the secretary of state’s office to update the bill. Off and on for the previous 10 years it was discussed but really did not seem to get anywhere outside of a few meetings. We began with our collision and mechanical division committees here See MI Bill Veto, Page 50

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 35

Oregon DMV Rules Make State Ripe for Fraud, Auto Theft by Nick Budnick, Portland Tribune

Crystal Toner was aghast to find an empty carport outside her Southwest Portland condominium in March, her supposedly theft-proof Subaru missing. When she reported her car stolen, she received an even bigger surprise. Nearly two weeks earlier, her vehicle title had been transferred to someone else without her knowledge—fraudulently, according to police. Toner had unwittingly stumbled upon a section of Oregon law regulating vehicle ownership documents that, while unknown to many people, law enforcement officials have been concerned about for years. It’s easy for anyone to persuade the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles to sign off on transferring a car title, with little or no proof of ownership necessary. Oregon works on the honor system, with applicants certifying an ownership claim without having to provide the verified documentation necessary in other types of property foreclosures. Armed with an ill-gotten title forked over by Oregon DMV, it’s often possible to get a car dealer to issue you a key to a car that in reality you don’t own, law enforcement officials say. A more common scenario is that the DMV is persuaded to issue a title based on bogus information, one that’s then used to make a stolen car look legitimate while selling it at an auction. The same trick also is used to “wash” a title so it no longer warns potential purchasers that the car has been totaled or reconstructed. Members of Portland’s thriving auto-theft underworld and illegal tow truck industry are well aware of the soft spot in Oregon DMV consumer protections, and it is “common practice” for people to use bogus DMV-approved documents in an effort to trick the police, says Kevin Demer, a Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney who has handled high-profile cases involving auto theft and illegal tow trucks. While declining to comment on Toner’s case, Demer says if Oregon would adopt safeguards as other states have done, consumers would be better protected. Frank Scafidi, a former FBI agent who now works for the insurer-funded National Insurance Crime Bureau, says most state DMVs do more to verify

ownership when transferring titles. “I’m going to give up the NICB and move out to Oregon and start buying and selling cars,” he quips. “That sounds like the Wild West out there.” Toner, for her part, says she wants to share her story to warn consumers, noting that even after the theft was reported and her car located on a local used car lot—having been sold for $10,800 using the bogus title—it still could have been towed at any time, since the DMV wouldn’t give her the title back without a court order. It’s “amazing to me that this is allowed to exist,” Toner says of Oregon’s laws. “It is unjust beyond belief.” Larry Purdy, chief of investiga-

36 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

tions at Oregon DMV, says the agency is well aware that the title process is open to fraud, especially through the “possessory lien” or mechanic’s lien process. DMV essentially operates on the honor system, allowing anyone to claim title to a car as long as they certify they are owed money for services related to it—such as a tow truck company or an auto body shop. The person filing the claim must certify— sign a document stating—that they informed the owner via registered mail, then waited 30 days, allowing the owner to put in a claim before the vehicle is sold at an auction. “We understand that it’s a flawed process. There’s no doubt about that,”

Purdy says, conceding that people commonly lie on the lien form when they certify to have met DMV requirements. To fix things, he says the Oregon Legislature would need to pass a new law balancing the interests of legitimate businesses seeking to recover their losses, while not adding burdensome requirements that lead to higher taxes. We thank Portland Tribune for reprint permission for their article. To be continued in our August issues.

www.autobodynews.com C

National Science Foundation Offers Grant for Training Tomorrow’s Technicians Emphasizing the importance of advanced materials in automotive design, the National Science Foundation has awarded a Michigan community college $200,000 for lightweight vehicle manufacturing education. Awarded on May 10, the money will pay for Washtenaw Community College (WCC) curriculum related to making bodies-in-white and other auto parts out of lighter, stronger materials. The grant also will fund the addition of lightweighting as a consideration into a regional (Great Lakes) auto design challenge. The college is partnering with Wayne State University (WSU). The goal is to engage industry and educators in developing a talent pipeline and initial curriculum addressing the material properties as well as optimization and manufacturing processes associated with lightweight materials at the high school and community college levels to meet emerging industry needs for technicians in the manufacturing industry. A central element of this proposal involves the introduction of a new arrangement of course design and delivery. The manufacturing industry is shifting to a systems approach rather

than the traditional silo manufacturing practices. WCC will utilize this project to create a model for community college curriculum development utilizing this systems approach. The overview course will be multidisciplinary, project-based and designed around specific lightweight materials or categories of materials (aluminum alloys, plastics and polymers, carbon fiber composites, etc.) rather than focused on specific manufacturing disciplines. For each material or group of materials, the course will be arranged so that an overview of the material properties, applications, design for manufacturability, and manufacturing processes will be presented. As an introductory course, this will facilitate students identifying specific areas of interest in which to continue their studies. It will also provide a broader context for these students to build a systems approach into their study of advanced manufacturing or advanced transportation. A comprehensive evaluation is being developed to continuously enhance the project activities and provide opportunities for researching and evaluating the success of the project and its deliverables, as well as the sharing of best practices.

Continued from Page 32

Continued from Page 30

students. It is a lot more work than just hiring a technician off the street, but the value is much stronger. You train the technicians to learn your philosophy and expectations. Technicians get older every year, and you need to look to the schools for the technicians of the future.

supplemental repairs requested by Price’s and did so both to save money and to also discourage insureds and claimants from ever returning to Price’s.” Price’s Collision filed a similar complaint in 2014 against GEICO Insurance Company and Bob Taylor, a GEICO motor vehicle claims adjustor, for tortious interference with existing and prospective business relationships and slander. The parties have agreed to an order to attend mediation in 2016.

Hiring Students

How will co-op programs like Q: the ones you participate in help the industry?

It is very hard to find good qualA: ified employees in this trade. Most kids are pushed to go to college

by parents and guidance counselors, but we still need technicians in many service trades. Who will fix our cars in the future? The average age of a collision technician is 40 right now and it is rising because it is hard to find younger technicians in the trade. There are great jobs available, and vocational schools need to convince their new students of this. For more information, visit www .capeautorepairs.com or call (508) 7470316.

TN Lawsuit

To advertise call Advertising Sales at:

800-699-8251 e-mail:

advertising@autobodynews.com

www.autobodynews.com

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 37

Moorhead MN Auto Body Shop Owner Says Insurance Agents Using Illegal Tactic by Angie Wieck, Forum News Service

MOORHEAD, Minn. — The owner of Lloyd’s Auto Body in Moorhead is fed up with “steering” — when customers are advised, or coerced, by their insurance agent to use a preferred vendor after an accident. Steering is against the law in Minnesota, but Lloyd Van Raden says it still happens. He wants insurance policyholders to know they have the right to choose where their auto repairs are made. Insurance companies agree to refer clients to preferred shops through what is known as a Direct Repair Program. In exchange for referrals, these shops often agree to complete repairs at discounted prices determined by the insurer. Van Raden is opposed to DRPs because he said they can encourage shop owners to take shortcuts or use inferior parts. That’s why he says it’s important policyholders know they have a choice. “It is what it is and it’s always going to be. We’re never going to fix this, but we can try to let the public know they’ve got rights,” he said. Policyholder rights: Judell Anderson, executive director of the Al-

liance of Automotive Service Providers in Minnesota, said insurance companies doing business in the state are required to provide the following statement to

company cannot make further attempts to convince him or her to use a certain shop, Anderson said. The Minnesota Department of Commerce relies on tips from policyholders and repair shops to enforce the law. The department recently imposed a civil penalty of $150,000 against the Auto Club Group for failing to provide the required notification and using a number of steering tactics such as informing policyholders they may not receive a warranty for work performed by non-preferred Lloyd Van Raden uses a pneumatic tool to drill out a spot glass vendors. Laws against insurance weld on a truck body he is repairing at his shop, Lloyd’s steering do not exist in North Auto Body Inc., Wednesday, May 18, 2016, in Moorhead. Dakota. Credit: Dave Wallis, Forum News Source A preferred vendor relationpolicyholders once a claim is made: ship does not necessarily mean inferior “You have the legal right to parts or service. Anderson suggests choose a repair shop to fix your vehi- policyholders do the homework as they cle. Your policy will cover the reason- would before making any other major able cost of repairing a vehicle to its purchase. pre-accident condition no matter where “Check out reviews and that type you have repairs made. Have you se- of thing. Just because an insurance lected a repair shop or would you like company recommends a shop doesn’t a referral?” mean that shop is the only or the best If the policyholder replies that he shop to undertake those repairs,” she or she has selected one, the insurance said.

38 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

State Farm maintains a Select Service program, but spokesperson Holly Anderson said policyholders are informed they’re free to choose where repairs are made. “A vibrant, profitable auto collision repair industry is in the interest of State Farm. At the same time, we are advocates on behalf of our customers for reasonable repair costs,” Anderson said. “We believe repairer profitability and quality auto repairs that are reasonably priced can both be achieved.” Common phrases used to influence policyholders, provided by the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers in Minnesota:

▪ The shop you chose is not on our list.

▪ We can’t guarantee the repairs if your vehicle is repaired at the shop you chose.

▪ Your repairs could be delayed if you don’t use the shops on our list.

▪ You may be responsible for additional costs if repaired at the shop you chose. Thank you to Angie Wiecks and Forum News Source for reprint permission.

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 39

H ON DA C ALI F O RNI A

AutoNation Honda Roseville Ros ev ille

800-262-3201 916-783-5628 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5:30 autonationhondaparts@hotmail.com

Avery Greene Honda Vallejo

800-834-8886 707-551-3202 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 7:30-5 parts@averygreenemotors.com

Barber Honda Bakers field

661-396-4235 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5:30 bestchoice@barberhonda.com

First Honda Simi Valley

888-523-0698 805-584-6646 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7:30-5 hondaparts@firstautogroup.com

Galpin Honda Miss ion Hills

800-GO GALPIN 818-778-2005 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-5 blemen@galpin.com

Honda Cars of Corona Corona

800-557-3652 951-734-9045 Dept. Hours: M-Sat 7-5 terry.love@pscauto.com AC U RA C ALI F O RNI A

Acura of Fremont Fremon t

888-435-0504 510-431-2560 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-5 mike.ohare@acuraoffremont.com

Acura of Pleasanton Pleas ant on

888-985-6342 925-251-7126 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-6 mitch.cash@hendrickauto.com

Acura of Riverside Riv ersid e

888-701-0725 951-688-1500 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-8; Sat 7-5 Ricardo.pena@hendrickauto.com Mark.reed@hendrickauto.com Jason.torres@hendrickauto.com 40 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Please contact these dealers for your Honda or Acura Genuine parts needs. CA LIF OR N I A

CALI FO RNI A

C ALIF OR N IA

AR IZ O NA

Honda of Hollywood

Ocean Honda

South Bay Honda

Ho lly wo o d

S a nt a C r uz

M il pi ta s

Av ond ale

800-371-3719 323-466-3205

831-464-1800

877-475-1142 408-324-7460

800-350-6537 623-463-4380

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5 parts@southbayhonda.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-9; Sat 7-6 gluna@earnhardt.com

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

Honda of Oakland

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

Robertson Honda N o rt h H o l ly wo o d

University Honda

510-547-8047

800-508-3894 818-301-3511

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-8; Sat 7-6

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-5

800-585-8648 530-758-8770

Honda of Pasadena

San Francisco Honda

Dept. Hours: M-Sat 8-6; Sun 8-5 dfortier@uhdavis.com

Oa k la nd

P as ad e n a

S a n Fra nc i sco

800-433-0676 626-683-5880

415-913-5125

Davis

N EVAD A

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-4

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5 partsws@sfhonda.com

Findlay Honda

Kolbe Honda

Scott Robinson Honda

702-982-4260

R es ed a

800-735-1424 818-609-7441 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 7:30-5 carparts@kolbehonda.com

Larry Hopkins Honda Su n n y vale

408-720-0221 408-736-2608 Dept. Hours: M-Sat 8-5 parts1@hopkinsdirect.com

Metro Honda Mo n t c la ir

800-446-5697 909-625-8960 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 7:30-4 wholesaleparts@metrohonda.com

CA LIF OR N I A

AutoNation Acura of South Bay To r ra n c e

310-784-8680 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-5 iwashitas@autonation.com

Cerritos Acura Ce r r it o s

855-895-2678 562-207-0554 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-6 srandall@browningautogroup.com

Marin Acura C or t e Mad e ra

800-77-Acura 415-927-5350 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5:30; Sat 8-4 parts@marinacura.com

To rra nc e

310-371-8320

Selma Honda

888-234-4498 702-568-3531

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7:30-4:30 hondapartsmgr@selmaautomall.com

Sierra Honda Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-4 parts@sierracars.com

CALI FO RNI A

Og den

800-821-8797 801-627-6762 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6 smiles@kengarff.com

He nde r s on

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-5 fhhparts@findlayauto.com AR IZON A

Chapman Honda Tuc so n

M o n rov i a

800-322-8540 626-932-5614

Ken Garff Honda Ogden

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-5 fsanchez@findlayauto.com

Findlay Honda Henderson

Selma

U TAH

L a s Ve g as

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6:30; Sat 7-5 mluna@scottrobinson.com

800-717-3562 559-891-5111

Earnhardt Honda

800-461-6744 520-202-5770 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-4 robertevenson@chapmantucson.com

AR IZ ON A

U TAH

Metro Acura

Acura of Peoria

M o nt cl a ir

Pe o r i a

800-446-5697 909-625-8960

866-347-4507 623-792-2559

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30 wholesaleparts@metrohonda.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7-5 dcavanaugh@vtaig.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

Acura of Tempe

NE VAD A

Te mpe

Findlay Acura

866-455-6601 480-344-6703

H e nd e rs on

877-770-5873 702-982-4160 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-4 jmoore@findlayauto.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-5 acuraparts@acuraoftempe.com U TAH

Jody Wilkinson Acura S al t L a ke C it y

800-234-0875 801-323-0492 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 rick@jodywilkinson.com www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 41

Day Job/Night Job Body Shop Office Manager Racing Toward Her Dreams with Ed Attanasio

You might say she’s on a fast track, because Cynthia Torp, 26, surely doesn’t travel half-speed with anything she does. Whether it’s running the front office at Classic Autobody in Berkeley,

Cynthia Torp is the office manager at Classic Autobody in Berkeley, CA, her father’s shop, but when she is not coordinating ROIs and DRPs, she is going for the gold in the world of car racing

CA, or reef diving, riding dirt bikes, river fishing in Montana or hiking, she goes all-in 24/7. And now, this includes her latest passion: car racing!

With one eye on eventually taking over the family business at Classic Autobody, Torp enjoys learning the business from her father and her uncle. “They are great teachers, and the more I know, the more I like about this industry,” Torp said. “I came on here full-time about three years ago. This was never something I thought I would be doing, but I work with incredible people, so why not? I had some other things on my radar, but now I can see this as a career. I like fixing people’s cars and seeing their smiles when we show them their repaired vehicles.” Torp has helped the shop in many ways, such as designing their new website and getting them involved in social media. The 28-year-old shop run by her father Steve and uncle Chris has succeeded in a tough market, and today, they’re one of the oldest shops in the area. “My dad and my uncle have always stressed quality and customer service here, and that’s why we’ve

42 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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

done well,” Torp said. “I was a baby when they opened Classic, so I guess I’m a collision lifer, too. Now, we get

Cynthia will possibly be taking over the shop someday, but for now, she is enjoying life, and racing is a part of it

second-generation customers in here, and that’s definitely satisfying.” One of the other items on Torp’s radar is a possible future as a profes-

sional race car driver. Move over Danica Patrick, because Cynthia is in it to win it and thrilled about racing. “There is literally nothing like it,” she said. “Wow, it’s hard to describe the feeling I get out there on the track, but I know that this is something I really want to do as much as I can.” Racing is in her family’s blood, right alongside waterborne paint and clearcoat, Torp said. “My father and my uncle have been racing for a long time, and I started bugging them about racing a while back. But we didn’t have a vehicle to race in, so that was a problem. But by working with Spencer Trenery at Fantasy Junction, I was able to get a car to drive.” Fantasy Junction is a company in Emeryville, CA that collects and sells vintage vehicles, and after meeting Cynthia, they decided to loan her a Mazda Miata to drive at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, CA. “The shop sponsored me and the people at

Fantasy Junction helped me to get a car and I was ready to roll,” she said. “It was exciting because I anticipated this for a long time and it was finally here.” Before she could race, Torp had to pass a safety class at Thunderhill. Upon passing with flying colors, she was ready to start her engine and hit the track. “It is definitely a rush, and I was a little scared, but psyched, too. I know

Cynthia Torp realizes that she is a real rookie when it comes to racing, but even Danica Patrick had to start somewhere, right?

that I am a novice and it was all a little overwhelming. But pretty quickly, I became more comfortable in the car. I love everything about it. You’re sitting in that car at the start or chilling in the pit and your heart is racing. You have to control your breathing and then you

line up. When the start begins, I get into this Zen-like zone and then I’m ready to go. It’s a great feeling and a wonderful sensation!” In just her fourth race, Torp finally gained enough confidence to run against a field of other more experienced racers. “There were roughly 25 racers, but a few never got off the starting line, so I ended up finishing 10th out of a field of 22. Thunderhill is a three-mile track and I was going about 95 mph on the straightaways, so I realized I needed to learn the track fast.” When Torp isn’t driving on a track, she is a safe driver and proud of it. “My father taught me a long time ago that racing is for the track only. I don’t speed in my daily driving and will never be a reckless driver ever— on or off the track. I have seen a lot of cars that are all messed up due to unsafe driving and I don’t ever want to be there, that’s for sure.” What is around the next turn as Torp pursues a career as a professional racer? “Being in my 20’s means that I can take my time and learn the right way. I eventually want to race at Sears Point (Sonoma Raceway), so I will have to practice on that track to get better.”

10 Students Awarded Grants to Attend SkillsUSA’s Conference Ten state gold medalists will be attending the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville June 20-24 with support from contributions from the Troy Holm Memorial Fund. Created by PartsTrader in memory of collision industry member Troy Holm, the fund assists students with travel grants and other forms of assistance needed to attend the national event. The donation ensures the “best of the best” from around the country are represented at the national contest. The Fund is facilitated by the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF). The 10 student recipients and their schools include: Alex Akers - Oxford Hills Technical School (Norway, ME) Lyric Arms - Walla Walla Community College (Walla Walla, WA) Zane Butler - Greenville Tech College (Greenville, SC) Daniel Graber II - Lincoln College of Technology (Indianapolis, IN) Emit Hoyt - Oxford Hills Technical School (Norway, ME) Tyrell Kirk - Walla Walla Community College (Walla Walla, WA) Eden Gabrielle Mays Greenville Tech College (Greenville, SC) Kenneth Ocasio - Central Montco

Tech High School (Plymouth Meeting, PA) Dariel Saldana - Automotive Training Center (Warminster, PA) Shelby Woods - Southwestern Community College (Creston, IA) “PartsTrader congratulates these deserving state winners and wishes them continued success as they compete at the national SkillsUSA competition. Troy Holm was a passionate advocate for the collision industry, and there is no better way to honor him,” said Dustin Whitehead, national sales manager for PartsTrader. “The team at PartsTrader is proud to assist these state champions as they continue their pursuit of excellence in the collision repair industry.” Collision industry members are encouraged to contribute to the Troy Holm Memorial Fund to ensure that as many deserving collision and refinishing students can participate in next year’s national championships. Members interested in supporting this fund are asked to contact CREF director of development Brandon Eckenrode at (847) 463-5244.

www.autobodynews.com CHECK IT OUT!

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 43

Lean Operations

Lean Problem Solving

with David Luehr

For just a moment I would like you to imagine a world where finding problems is considered a good thing. I know this may sound strange, but it is exactly the behavior that is encouraged by companies that have adopted lean thinking. The problem with most of us is that we have been conditioned over the years to believe that problems found in our production systems are a bad thing, therefore we don’t want to deal with them so we will do whatever we can to quickly sweep problems under the rug. Let me be clear here. The production problems themselves are inherently bad, it is the discovery of the problems that is a good thing. After all you can’t fix it unless you know it’s broke, right? The “problem solving culture” is at the very core of great companies such as Toyota where a great deal of time and effort is spent to instill and reward the behaviors of exposing and solving problems every moment of every day. One of the many methods Toyota uses as a problem solving tool is what they call the Andon. Any moment when a critical problem is found on the assembly line at Toyota, any employee can pull what they call the “Andon Cord” and the entire assembly line will screech to a halt. A team of people will immediately scramble to the location of the discovered problem like they had just discovered a vein of gold or diamonds and begin the work of problem solving. It is amazing how much effort they put into problem solving to ensure that beginning from that crucial moment of discovery, Toyota will be a leaner and more enjoyable place to work. If only all of us in the collision repair industry could have this positive attitude towards dealing with problems. Now I know many of my readers may be thinking right about now, how does all this apply to a collision repair business? While you probably won’t be seeing many Andon Cords in body shops, there are actually a lot of things you can learn from the assembly line model as it relates to problem solving. The assembly line exposes problems and forces discipline. How do

David Luehr is the owner of Elite Body Shop Solutions, LLC, a collision business consulting firm based in Nashville, Tennessee. He is a 30 year veteran of the collision repair industry. David is an expert in Body Shop Operations and specializes in Lean, and Theory of Constraints methods. Email him at dluehr@msn.com

you think it would affect everyone’s behaviors and habits if you were running a shop that lined the cars up bumper to bumper and you were not allowed to work on the next car in line until the car you are working on is complete? Do you think the estimate would need to be completely accurate

and do you think all the correct parts would need to be on hand? You’re darn right! At most shops in this country you would have a mutiny on your hands if you tried this approach despite being the most efficient way to process a repair job! But if you could somehow manage to keep your team from quitting you would see that each problem is exposed so glaringly obvious it would stare you in the face every time the assembly line came to a halt. You would need to identify each problem quickly and then put measures in place so it would never happen again. In this environment, you would very quickly adopt a problem solving culture, because if you didn’t, you would quickly go out of business! So what do we do instead? We load up the shop with more work than we can efficiently process in order to “mask” the problems and inefficiencies. Technicians feel they need 4, 5, or more vehicles and stalls each in order to survive. As one repair order encounters a problem, they simply move on to the next vehicle and work on it until the problem from the first job is corrected and so on. The problems, usually called “supplements” are seen as a normal part of the business, so little or no attempt is made to permanently solve the problem. I believe Einstein called this “insanity?” The typical American shop turning around $200,000 a month will have a WIP Count (work in process) of be-

44 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

tween 40 and 45 repair jobs on the property on average in order to meet its sales goal. This is highly inefficient and causes cycle time to hover at or above 10 days and drives costs and chaos to be much higher than needed. The efficient lean shop that has been on a journey of problem solving for a while can produce the same $200,000 while maintaining a WIP Count of only 20 cars or less and produce the repair jobs at a lower cost with a cycle time of only 5-6 days! The best of the best shops put problem solving at the top of their priority list. You too can begin to expose problems if you put your mind to it. Here are a few tips to get you started.

● Hold weekly or month “Continuous Improvement” meeting to discuss problems and solutions with the entire staff. ● Hold quick problem solving team meetings whenever an opportunity

arises. (Like the Andon) ● Keep a journal in the assembly department to track problems as they occur. Use this information to make continuous improvements. ● Create safety with the team. Praise people for helping to expose problems. Discourage people from covering up problems. Remember, it’s okay to make mistakes, just don’t keep making the same mistakes over and over! ● Training and auditing. Quite often additional training will help in problem areas of the business. Once people are trained, occasional audits are a good idea to make sure processes are being followed. ● This may not work for every shop configuration, but I like to set up my shops with the vehicle damage facing the center aisle whenever possible in order to visually catch problems during production. As opposed to being hidden against the technicians wall and massive tool box.

FIRST KIA • Same Day or Next Day Free Local Delivery TOLL FREE

855-485-9998

Direct: 805-306-1076 Fax: 805-306-1085

PARTS DEPT. M - F 7am - 6pm Sat 7:30am - 5pm

2081 First St., Simi Valley, CA 93065

FIRST NISSAN • 100+ Years Combined Parts Experience TOLL FREE

855-397-1744

Direct: 805-526-5007 Fax: 805-526-0979

PARTS DEPT. M - F 7am - 6pm Sat 7:30am - 5pm

2325 First St., Simi Valley, CA 93065

FIRST HONDA • $1M+ Inventory TOLL FREE

855-946-0290

Direct: 805-584-6646 Fax: 805-526-3329

PARTS DEPT. M - F 7am - 6pm Sat 7:30am - 5pm

2283 First St., Simi Valley, CA 93065

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 45

—John Yoswick is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon, who has a body shop in the family and has been writing about the automotive industry since 1988. He is the editor of the weekly CRASH Network (for a free 4-week trial subscription, visit www.CrashNetwork.com). Contact him by email at jyoswick@SpiritOne.com.

Historical Snapshot

Erick Bickett, Progressive’s Concierge Program, Crash Prevention, Allstate Compliance with John Yoswick

20 years ago in the collision repair industry (July 1996) Erick Bickett sees two possible scenarios for the future of electronic claims handling. Bickett, a California shop owner whose name has become synonymous with the effort to standardize how shops and insurers link their computer systems, explained the two scenarios to those attending the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) in Phoenix in July. In the first scenario, he said, insurers increasingly dictate which computerized estimating system that shops participating in its direct repair program (DRP) must use. To participate in multiple DRPs, shops will likely have to have two or even all three of the major estimating systems. Once the insurer chooses a system it will be difficult for that insurer to switch because that would also require the whole group of shops to switch. This lack of choice stifles improvements in

the computerized systems, and prices escalate. In the second scenario, the insurer uses the “network” of its choice to electronically send a standardized “assignment” to the shop. The shop uses its choice of estimating system, and uses

In 1996, California shop owner Erick Bickett was a key champion for the industry’s development and use of electronic standards for the communications among shops, insurers and vendors

the “network” of its choice to electronically send a standardized estimate to the insurer. Either side can switch esti-

MASERATI OF MARIN BREAKING NEW GROUND

Parts: 415-526-2166

ferraripartsfsf@ferrarisf.com

Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30-6 // Sat 8-5

Maserati of Marin Ferrari of San Francisco

620 Du Bois Street // San Rafael, CA 94901 46 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

mating or network vendors based on price and performance without interfering with their communication. Unfortunately, Bickett said, the industry seems headed more toward the first scenario than the second, but he hopes a demonstration of the second system now under way may help create the “market forces” needed to change the industry’s direction. Bickett estimates the cost of running all three estimating systems at about $18,600 a year for hardware, software and training; at a 7 percent pre-tax net profit, Bickett said, a shop would need $265,000 in sales just to cover these estimating system costs. That, he said, is going to drive even more shops out of the industry. “I think technology should be an enabler,” Bickett said. “It ought to enable people to do business better and more efficiently and to take better care of their customer. It shouldn’t be a disabler. It shouldn’t cause the loss of good

collision repairers who know how to fix cars and take care of customers.” Bickett said that under the second scenario, a shop’s annual estimating system costs would be about $6,500, and that the system would save insurers money as well. Most importantly, he said, it would give both sides more choice as to the systems and communication networks they use. State Farm Insurance and two collision repair shops are currently participating in a demonstration of this system, and Bickett said a report on the project should be completed later this year. – As reported in The Golden Eagle. Bickett has continued to champion the use of electronic communication standards developed by CIECA, the Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association, which was established based on the work and discussions at CIC. State Farm remains one of the few See July Retro News, Page 48

If You’re Looking for Maserati Parts, Call Us First! We offer fabulous service We guarantee the best price You will always be able to speak with live countermen Our staff are experienced, knowledgeable and courteous We will do whatever it takes to win and keep your business www.maseratimarin.com www.ferrarisanfrancisco.com

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 47

Continued from Page 46

July Retro News

insurers to allow its DRP network to use the estimating system of their choice; a 2016 survey found that more than onethird of shops have multiple estimating systems.

15 years ago in the collision repair industry (July 2001) By eliminating vehicle owners’ contact with shops, Progressive’s “Concierge” program may reduce the hassle for car owners, but it also eliminates any longterm marketing benefit for the repairers. Shops that pare of “Concierge” now truly have Progressive as their customer, not the vehicle owner. If Progressive is satisfied with the quality and the cost, the shops will continue to receive referrals. The vast majority of vehicle owners who opt for the “Concierge” program will not know which repair facility fixed their vehicle. Will they care? Progressive obviously believes not. The insurer holds that the higher level of hassle-free service far outweighs vehicle owners’ concerns regarding who actually performs the repairs. If vehicle owners really want

to know who repaired their cars, Progressive will tell them, but Progressive prefers to handle the entire process, to serve as the facilitator. In talking with shops participating in the “Concierge” test program, most have state little concern regarding the loss of customer contact and are highly satisfied with the program. Keeping their repair facilities filled is their most important concern. But this attitude is strikingly short-sighted. Ever shops with numerous direct repair program relationships and outstanding insurance company relationships keep a firm eye on individual vehicle owner satisfaction and communication for the longterm benefit for their businesses. Those who love Progressive generally cite the local claims manager as the reason. If this local insurance representative is reassigned, with the repairer be able to maintain their relationship with Progressive? Will they want to? If not, they could lose the “Concierge” referrals with no opportunity to secure a repeat customers from their prior work. – from an editorial by Russell Thrall, at that time the editor of Auto Body Repair News (ABRN).

10 years ago in the collision repair

industry (July 2006) “During the 1980s and 1990s, association and seminar leaders frequently pointed to changes in vehicle technology that were putting a dent in the collision repair market. Daytime running lights, the third brake light and antilock braking systems, they’d say, were among the key factors pulling accident frequency down. The industry then got a sort of reprieve for a number of years in terms of crash-prevention efforts. Automakers turned their focus largely to vehicle safety and occupant protection, including the explosive growth of airbag systems. The Internet boom also had the OEMs and eletronics firms focused on passenger information and entertainment systems. The bad news for the industry is that that is about to change – and change rather dramatically. Federal auto safety regulators – seeking to reverse a rise in highway deaths – are shifting their focus from mandates that help occupants survive crashes to technology that will help drivers avoid accidents altogether. Dr. Jeffrey Runge, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said in a speech before

the Society of Automotive Engineers that bolstering vehicle “crashworthiness” represents the past, and that “crash avoidance” is the future. “I’d like to begin to focus on the event before the crash,” Runge said. “We may have plateaued out in terms of crashworthiness.” – as reported in Autobody News, July 2016.

5 years ago in the collision repair industry (July 2011) Allstate has notified its direct repair shops in recent weeks that participation in the program now requires three specific mandates designed to improve cycle time and give Allstate customers “priority service.” “Good Hands” shops now must upload an estimate to Allstate within 24 hours of receipt of the vehicle, provide the customer with a guaranteed delivery date and assume all costs after that date if not met, and extend hours of operation to meet customers’ reasonable requests for drop-off or pick-up of vehicles. “Compliance with these items remains a core requirement for your participation in Allstate’s direct repair program,” Tracy Tramm, Allstate claim service manager, said in a video

ALFRED MATTHEWS THE BEST COLLISION REPAIR PARTS

FOR THE BEST FINISH.

• DEDICATED DED CATE WHOLESALE W OL SA E STA F STAFF

• PROMPT AND DEPENDABLE DELIVERY

• CONQUEST AFTERMARKET PRICE MATCHING

If you are within 50 miles of Modesto Call us first for all your parts needs!

Call our Parts Dept. Today!

48 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

209.549.4656

Fax 209.577.6860

Parts Hours: M-F: 8 AM - 6 PM / SAT: 8 AM - 4 PM 3807 McHenry Avenue, Modesto, CA 95356

to Allstate DRP shops. Allstate Corporation also announced that Joseph Lacher, president of the company’s residential and auto insurance business, was leaving the company effective immediately; no reason was given for his departure, just two years after he joined Allstate. The company has seen its auto insurance market share erode in 2009 and 2010 as GEICO and Progressive have gained ground on Allstate. – As reported in CRASH Network (www.CrashNetwork.com), July 25, 2011. Allstate’s market share has continued to decline, with GEICO passing Allstate in 2013 to become the secondlargest auto insurer in the country. Progressive has gained ground on Allstate but still trails slightly in terms of market share. A month after Lacher left Allstate, the Wall Street Journal reported that his departure may have been prompted by a decline in the insurer’s stock value, but also that he reportedly used less-than-flattering expletives in describing Allstate CEO Tom Wilson while having drinks with some top Allstate agents after a meeting in the weeks before his departure. Lacher last fall became CEO of Kemper Corp.

Same Faces, New Company Name: Former Allen Samuels Parts Director Talks about Benefits of Being Acquired by Autonation by Stacey Phillips

Nearly five months ago, AutoNation acquired Allen Samuels Auto Group, based in Waco, Texas. Since then, Andy Reed, a parts director for AutoNation and former employee of Allen Samuels, said there have been great benefits for both employees and customers. “It a good thing we were acquired by AutoNation,” said Reed, who began working at Allen Samuels in 1997 as a parts director at the company and holds that same position with AutoNation CDJR North Richland Hills and AutoNation Hyundai North Richland Hills. “There’s a huge team out there that helps us work closely with our other AutoNation dealerships as far as growing our wholesale business. We can reach out to them for resources and so forth.” Allen Samuels, founded in 1981, grew to include 1,000 employees with locations in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, Tyler, Ennis and Waco, Texas. AutoNation acquired its 12 stores and 31 franchises February 1, which included Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Mercedes-

Benz and Sprinter. Reed said they didn’t lose one employee through the conversion within the parts operation, and customers should notice no major changes. “It’s the same great service. We have the same friendly faces, same sales guys, the same wholesale team and delivery team, with all of the benefits that AutoNation brings as well,” he said. “If anything, there is improvement because we have the backing of a Fortune 500 company.” Established in 1996, AutoNation is America’s largest automotive retailer and part of the S&P 500 Index. The company is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and owns and operates more than 340 new vehicle franchises, representing 35 brands in 15 states. “AutoNation has sold over 10 million vehicles, the only auto retailer to achieve this milestone,” said Reed. “AutoNation seeks to be the best-run, most profitable automotive retailer in the nation.” The company’s products and services include new and used vehicles, automotive repair services (75 collision repair shops) and automo-

tive finance and insurance products. Reed said the transition to AutoNation entailed a lot of preparation, organization and a team effort. The entire dealership underwent a complete change, with new computers, printers, phones and systems. He said some of their goals include working together as a team with the other AutoNation stores to not only grow the business, but to offer a better product to help the collision industry with cycle time. “We are excited about being part of such an amazing and growing company,” said Reed. “This is such a wonderful opportunity for me and my department to continue to grow and expand with a company that has a strong vision for the future. AutoNation truly cares about our customers and its associates.”

INSTAGRAM :

@autobodynews

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 49

Continued from Page 34

MI Bill Veto

in Michigan, met with key personnel at the secretary of state’s office and also held meetings at a grass root level with some of the legislators, both in the House and Senate. We stayed focused on the issues and continued on our path. In 2014, a state representative had a constituent that had been taken advantage of in the Metro Detroit area and the representative was surprised about some of the “holes in the system” that had occurred over the past 40 years. Unfortunately, it took a victim to prioritize this task, but we were already there and working on things, so it began moving quickly.

When was House Bill 4344 inQ: troduced? A bill was first introduced in A: 2014, but it had little time for the 60 plus pages of revision. In the

spring of 2015, it was resurrected with the new term and the bill was introduced. It weathered multiple meetings, went through the sub-committee with a few changes and onto the House floor where it was delayed – basically because what has been deemed “controversy over aftermarket parts.” In a section of the rules from 1974, under the definitions of fraud and misrepresentation, the verbiage of “merchantability of parts” was used. Over the past decade or more, I was hearing more and more from the collision repair industry about the quality of some of the aftermarket parts they were being asked to use. Due to today’s vehicles having multiple airbag systems, seatbelt tensioners and other safety devices on their vehicles, I could no longer accept the vagueness of the term “merchantability of parts,” so I sought to define it and took props as I did – my job was to protect my independent repair facilities and they in turn, their customers!

What were some of the changes Q: incorporated into the bill? Keep in mind that this applies to A: mechanical and collision repair facilities here in Michigan, so many of

the changes were to update the law; a lot has changed in 42 years. Picture for a second a 1974 Chevrolet Impala and a 2016 Chevrolet Impala…I would say

the vehicles and technology have changed a little. Paraphrasing the law as it currently stands from 1974, anything $20 or more had to have a written estimate before work could be performed and if any additional work was needed, the work could not exceed $10 or 10% of the original cost, whichever was less. In 1974, we could buy and install a headlight for under $20! What changed were things not applicable back in 1974. Since 1974, we have all come up with “best practices” that may have us start with a “zero” dollar amount and providing a written estimate before any work is performed, but still, we needed to update the “what if” scenarios. I took in a chart with a calculation using the consumer price index (CPI) calculator and showed that $20 then was like $83 now. I wanted to get mechanical facilities to at least get their costs covered if they were to spend a little time using a scanner. The same holds true on the additional amounts. Unfortunately, we had to compromise logic during the process as I was seeking to raise it to $100, but the language as it is written in the bill allows for $50 or more, requiring a written estimate and then additional costs were increased to 10% or $50, whichever is less. There are quite a few changes that brought the rules over into law as well, taking “interpretation” out of the equation. It also has laid some groundwork for better use of technology as we move forward. A lot has been accomplished in the bill that doesn’t get talked about as much because of the addressing of the merchantability of parts.

What was the main intention of Q: being proactive and getting involved in this legislation?

Our focus was to make sure that A: these parts had a requirement before being put on our consumer’s

cars, our friend’s cars and our family’s cars. We NEVER introduced any legislation to the House or Senate at any given time that prevented aftermarket mechanical parts like some organizations have falsely published. We NEVER introduced legislation at any time that prevented the sale of any aftermarket parts nor any used/recycled parts; something that was also falsely published, emailed and communicated. However, what we did do and stayed focused on was requiring aftermarket parts to be certified by a national third-party entity that would be

50 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

able to say the parts are comparable to an OEM standard, hence certifying the part. As the bill evolved, we were quick to add language that clearly stated that recycled or used OEM parts could also be used. As the bill continued, many compromises were made but were never “good enough” to opposing parties, so we went as far as we were willing to bend. The final language is not what I had originally intended, but it was the best compromise while meeting the objective.

industry I represent.

and OEM parts?

What is the association’s posiQ: tion on this bill? As already mentioned, we preferred our original language reA: garding the use of aftermarket sheet

metal parts because we believe it was the right thing to do, but as compromise was required, we remain 100% supportive of this legislation as it is written.

What are the implications for What is the general consensus Q: collision repair shops in MichiQ: from collision repair shops in gan if the bill is passed? the state about the use of aftermarket

The collision repairer will finally see only quality parts coming through their door and in turn, reduce their liability significantly. Though I am not in agreement, the bill will also require the consumer to direct a repair facility in writing to use a noncertified aftermarket part during the vehicle manufacturer’s warranty period or a period of five years, whichever is less. This puts a great deal of responsibility and liability back on the consumer and off of the collision repair professional, which is still a win for the

Too often we forget the pressure A: these repair facilities are under when performing collision repair. They

have a customer who has gone through a tragic event disrupting their lives and is seeking almost instantaneous results; they have various tasks coming at them during the process; if they are part of a program, they are constantly being measured; and lastly they need to be competitive while remaining profitable. So, anytime their touch time increases, See MI Bill Veto, Page 58

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 51

The Throw Away Society by Mike Shesterkin

look at the beginning of the system: the production of automobiles. To build cars, one must have an assembly plant; building one takes a tremendous capital investment. Once committed, that sunk cost must be put to work building cars. OEMs must produce cars at a particular rate; otherwise, they run the risk of losing money fast. This is what begets the practice of rebates, wherein an OEM will heavily incentivize consumers to buy certain

be processed by nature and consuming energy at rates that are destroying the atmosphere are things we cannot continue doing forever. We need a new way of viewing the world; we need to move beyond what’s good for consumerism and find an answer that’s “restorative” – to society and to the environment. The answer is already here; it stands in marked contrast to the throwaway culture of today. It lies in the notion that

throwing them away. We have much work to do on the system of the automobile if we are to make progress and establish a sustainable existence. The collision repair industry can play a vital role in bringing about this transformation, but it will take leadership and focus. The industry needs an organization that will work across industry stakeholders to come up with the solutions that will foster its sustainable growth. This organization will lead everyone to seeing how it is repairing cars creates meaningful work for people and reduces environmental degradation. It’s that simple. Mike Shesterkin is the general manager of What’s Next, LLC, a practice that helps businesses achieve sustainability through the creation of triple bottom line value. Using proven models of continual improvement, What’s Next helps management teams develop strategies and implement action plans that build social capital, reduce negative environmental impact, and grow profitability. With more than 30 years of industry experience, Shesterkin has led

A Time magazine article published in 1955 extoled the idea of “throwaway living.” Back then, being able to simply throw stuff away, rather than cleaning it, was considered a welcomed aspect of modern, convenient living. Today, more than 50 years later, throwaway living has become second-nature to us; we rarely think about it. Our throwaway culture has its roots in the 1920s and 1930s, when mass production started to take off. “Over the last 10 to 15 years, total losses, as a Beginning at that time, concepts such as “planned obsolescence” and “perpercent of claims, has gone from around 9% ceived obsolescence” were woven to over 14%,” — Mike Shesterkin into the design and marketing of products. The idea was to create continued and on-going demand for stuff by de- vehicles; it’s those vehicles that are repairing things provides meaningful signing things to break down and fail, not moving that receive the highest in- work for people and reduces environor go out of style. These concepts centives. This translates into “pres- mental degradation. Many are calling form the basis of consumerism, the sure” to move new vehicles through this the “circular economy.” It’s being philosophy or worldview by which the system, from the assembly plant practiced in certain manufacturing secmuch of the world now sees things. into consumers’ hands. This pressure tors today. Caterpillar’s repair and reToday, we hardly give a thought also means there’s no incentive to de- manufacturing businesses are a good to getting rid of a cellular phone or TV sign cars to be repaired, because mak- example of it. when the next model is introduced. ing them easy to repair would mean What the collision repair industry When something we own breaks fewer consumers in the market for needs is a voice that will champion the See Throw Away Society, Page 55 down, or is no longer fashionable, we new cars. Why not simply throw the value of repairing vehicles, versus throw it away and buy the new model. vehicle away when it’s reached a cerWe rarely consider fixing something tain age, or has been in an accident? Parts Center Hours that’s broken, or resisting the urge to Of course, insurance providers Mon - Fri: 7:30am - 5:30pm stay in style and “keep-up with the have a huge stake in total losses too. 1100 N. Scottsdale Rd. Jones’s.” For them though, it’s just a matter of Scottsdale, AZ 85257 FAX 480-947-3009 480-425-5335 We have become so accustomed running formulas, assessing the salto throwing away stuff that vage market and figuring out the average American now what makes the most ecogenerates roughly 4.5 pounds nomic sense for their bottom of garbage each day, which is line. This shouldn’t come as up more than 66% from 1960. a surprise; after all, it’s just While there are a number of business. Those who bear the • Genuine Kia OEM Parts • Efficient Service on All Orders causal factors that have led to burden of this system are the • Fast & Free Delivery • Parts Specialists On Call this point, the fact remains consumers, many of whom Mike Shesterkin that the throwaway lifestyle is are forced to shell-out thouthe backdrop to the way we live. We sands when their cars are written-off don’t give it much thought. as total losses. Collision repair shops Consider the rising percentage of also suffer under this model, and so total economic losses – total losses for does the environment. short. Over the last 10 to 15 years, total Through mass production, autoGenuine Mitsubishi Parts are close at hand. Exceptional customer service, wide selection of in-stock parts and the experience losses, as a percent of claims, has gone mated assembly and increasingly lower necessary to ensure your repairs proceed smoothly and efficiently. from around 9% to over 14%. Analysts labor costs, we’ve managed to create indicate much of this is due to the age quite a world for ourselves. Some of the fleet; however, this doesn’t exwould argue this is a good thing; howplain the whole issue. Factors such as ever, when we consider what we actuclaim severity and repair complexity ally pay for it – in terms of lost jobs and also play a role. Total losses are a comenvironmental degradation – we have plex industry problem; a number of to ask ourselves if it’s actually worth it. things have led to their rise, but we No one would argue that consumerism cannot overlook the influence our has not brought tremendous good to Parts Center Hours Mark Mitsubishi throwaway culture – our way of lookmany people – it has. What’s becomMon - Fri: 7:30am - 5:30pm 6910 E. McDowell Rd ing at the world – has had on this issue. ing clear, though, is continually elimiScottsdale, AZ 85257 480-663-7553 FAX 480-663-7503 To understand this, we need to nating jobs, creating waste that cannot

Mark Kia

Parts You Need. People You Trust.

52 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 53

Grateful Illinois Body Shop Owner Ready to Give Back by Ed Attanasio

Jose Esquivel, the owner of Midwest Auto Body in Melrose, IL, entered the collision repair industry at the top— as an owner. Without any experience

Jose Esquivel, the owner of Midwest Auto Body in Melrose, IL has survived and thrived by working with family, embracing education and stressing customer service above all

except for working on his friends’ vehicles, Esquivel had to learn the intricacies of the body shop world fast. He was 24 and exiting the furniture busi-

ness to enter an industry where he knew the odds were stacked against him. Instead of being scared or letting naysayers dissuade him from pursuing his dream, Esquivel took on all of the challenges headfirst and with a smile. The timing was not ideal to open a shop, especially when you are a rookie in a competitive market, Esquivel explained. “We opened in 2007, and then here comes the recession. Some people thought I was bold, but I think others figured I was just crazy! Many small shops like us do not make it through their first year, so it was a little frightening to be honest. But by working hard and becoming better every day, we made it through that rocky period.” Now 33, Esquivel looks back and credits a supportive family for his success. “My father came into the business that first year and he was a great help,” he explained. “But he didn’t share my passion for this business, so he stepped away and is now semi-retired. When we first opened, my entire staff consisted of family members. I had my father and my two brothersin-law, Juan and Fernando, working

KEARNY MESA

PARTS DEPT. HOURS:

SUBARU

MON-FRI 7-6 / SAT 8-5

e. It ju st ma ke s se ns

here. Now Juan and Fernando work for other shops and they are I-CAR Platinum, so it has turned out to be a good career for both of them. Most everything they know was taught to them here and I am proud of them both.”

The crew at Midwest shares Esquivel’s philosophy of working hard but never forgetting to help the community as well

Working exclusively with family offered Esquivel many advantages in those early years. “There were some weeks where I could not make payroll, I have to admit it,” Esquivel said. “But because they were family, it was not as if they were going to quit or come knocking at my door. They trusted me, and of course, I felt the same, so having them working here gave me many benefits. It just made everything a lot easier, and now we

are doing very well, so payroll is never an issue.” Today, Midwest Auto Body employs six collision professionals, including George, another brother-in-law who runs the shop’s front office. With a 5,000-square-foot shop and another 3,000 for storage, they maintain one DRP and rely heavily on their reputation for honesty, quality and a family environment. “We are roughly 70% non-DRP and we’re repairing 50-55 cars every month,” Esquivel explained. “By not being totally dependent on the insurance companies, we built this business on referrals. We also have done some community service and we plan on doing a lot more in that regard.” One downside of not working with multiple DRPs is steering, something that Esquivel has said is a constant burr in his side. “We encounter it all the time,” he said. “They’re all doing it, but some are more obvious than others. A customer will bring a car here and everything is going along fine, until they call their insurance company. Then, someone comes here and tows or drives the vehicle away.” By handling this common scenario PARTS DEPT. HOURS:

KEARNY MESA

MON-FRI 7-6 / SAT 8-5

HYUNDAI YOUR SEARCH ENDS HERE.

THE RIGHT PART MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.

• WE HAVE WHOLESALE SPECIALISTS READY TO HELP ADVISE YOU ON ALL YOUR SUBARU GENUINE PARTS NEEDS • OFFERING FREE DELIVERY (M-F) AND COMPETITIVE DISCOUNTS

800.697.6818 858.300.3331 FAX

• WE HAVE WHOLESALE SPECIALISTS READY TO HELP ADVISE YOU ON ALL YOUR HYUNDAI GENUINE PARTS NEEDS • OFFERING FREE DELIVERY (M-F) AND COMPETITIVE DISCOUNTS

4797 CONVOY ST., SAN DIEGO, CA 92111

WWW.KEARNYMESASUBARU.COM/PARTS 54 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

800.697.6818 858.300.3331 FAX

WWW.KEARNYMESAHYUNDAI.COM/PARTS

4797 CONVOY ST., SAN DIEGO, CA 92111 CGUTH@KMHYUNDAISUBARU.COM

adroitly, Esquivel is able to retain most of his non-DRP customers and vanquish the evil steering specialists. “I tell the customers their rights and let them know that we’re honest and want to do a quality job on their vehicle,” he said. “I tell them that our repairs are always

Shop Foreman Jose Zumaya came onboard at Midwest Auto Body in 2011 and Esquivel calls him “my right hand man.”

guaranteed and we will give them a warranty for the vehicle, for as long as they own it. Once they can see that we’re more into doing a good job than making a lot of money, they relax and the car usually stays right here.” How was a 24-year-old able to learn the collision industry without

any previous training? “I went to every class I could—I-CAR, the classes sponsored by the paint companies and anything else I could find,” Esquivel said. “I had to learn every aspect of this business, because we had a small crew and we all had to multitask to succeed. We were all learning on the job, but we never compromised any repairs and that is why we’re still here and flourishing now, I believe.” To learn more about collision repair from a different perspective, Esquivel worked part-time for another body shop until Midwest Auto Body was up and turning a profit. “Yes, those were long days and I was basically married to this business for the first three years,” he said. “I would work at the other shop from 4:30 am to noon and then I would run right over to my shop. I would work there until the work was done, which meant until around midnight, in most cases.” Esquivel has always had a goal to help his community in the village of Melrose Park, a suburb of Chicago. He mentored and trained 30 young people at his shop to introduce them to collision repair a few years ago. “We started a mentoring apprentice-

ship program where the kids came here to the shop to learn the basics,” Esquivel said. “It was part of a program at my church where they help troubled youth, and out of the 30, one is a tech and three others work in some capacity in the automotive field.” To take his philanthropic efforts even further, Esquivel is planning to fix up his shop’s loaner and give it to a deserving member of the community. It is something he has been wanting to do for quite some time, he said. “Giving back is good for the soul and helps me to sleep well at night. My parents showed me that helping people is more important than all the money in the world. Now that we’re doing well and the cars keep coming in, this is the right time for us to step up and do the right thing.”

SEARCH FOR US ON

LINKEDIN :

Autobody News

Continued from Page 52

Throw Away Society

initiatives that have advanced the sustainability movement. Most recently, he has been working with AkzoNobel to advance triple bottom line initiatives within the collision repair industry. What’s Next is also a business in residence at the Green Garage, a triple bottom line co-working community located in Midtown Detroit, MI. What’s Next is working with the Green Garage community to launch “Lazarus Cars,” a business that will leverage economies of scale to repair and refurbish automobiles for use by those who would otherwise not be able to afford reliable transportation. For more information, contact Mike Shesterkin at 734-464-8353, mdshesterkin@gmail.com or visit: www.whatsnextllc.com.

www.autobodynews.com CHECK IT OUT!

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 55

Labor Rates are the Foundation of Consumer Care & Safety by Richard Valenzuela, CEO, NABR

We see higher repair standards and increasing investment requirements coming from both luxury and massmarket manufacturers. For example, starting with its new CT6 model, Cadillac recently launched its Cadillac Aluminum Repair Network, which included a $4,500 annual fee, a list of equipment requirements, additional training, and auditing to verify compe-

A new era has arrived in the collision repair industry, an era in which OEM requirements to repair their modern production vehicles continue to grow and grow faster, as these vehicles increasingly include new technologies, new manufacturing techniques, and a wide range of advanced materials. This may be good news for training firms, certification bodies, and equipment suppliers, but is there enough concern for collision repairers who find themselves in a quandary, caught in the middle between significant investments to meet these increasing requirements and present labor rate levels that are largely insufficient to cover both the necessary investments and earn a fair return? How are the shops Figure 1. Labor Rates Are The Foundation of Consumer going to pay for all this? Care & Safety National AutoBody Research (NABR) is very concerned about the present state of labor tency. Likewise, Honda is raising the rates, because we think the right labor bar with its ProFirst Collision Repair rates are the foundation of consumer Facility certification, requiring shops care and safety (See Figure 1). Withto successfully complete Honda speout healthy labor rates, collision recific training courses, have the correct pairers are not able to generate tools and equipment, maintain exactsufficient profits to reinvest in people ing facility standards and a customer and training, tooling and equipment, satisfaction system, get an annual inand facilities and certifications. Morespection, and pay the annual $2,700 over, limited resources can adversely fee. These increasing investments to impact their skill and ability to repair support increasing collision repair retoday’s vehicles properly. This in turn, quirements are not just coming from may seriously jeopardize consumer the Audis and Mercedes of the world care and safety, which is irrefutably but also from mass market brands unacceptable. such as GM, Ford, and Honda, among At the core of NABR’s mission is others. a focused effort to restore the free NABR agrees that OEM and market system for labor rate pricing in third-party certification programs are the collision repair industry. Our Vari- a good move for collision repair shops able Rate System (VRS) technology and technicians, but only if shops are can help auto body shops determine able to adjust labor rates to suffithe right labor rates for their individ- ciently profitable levels. NABR also ual shop, in order to generate suffi- concurs with one group of industry cient profitability to pay for these panelists involved in training, certifiincreasing costs required to repair cations, and equipment validation and modern vehicles. That labor rate is not verification who stressed that things in just one price for everybody, and we the industry were changing so quickly believe that there is no such thing as that it would be financial suicide not one prevailing labor rate in a market. to keep up-to-date with training and Instead, there is a range of acceptable equipment, as expensive as it could rates, segmented by a shop's location, be. But again, it will also be financial level of training, type of certifications, suicide to attempt to stay up-to-date investment in equipment and technol- without having the surplus capital to ogy and facilities, quality of work, and do so which is largely dependent on overall cost of doing business. sufficient labor rate revenue.

56 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

equipment, and facilities—is a fair, reasonable, and equitable solution to the settlement of claims. This win-win-win approach would benefit consumers, repairers and insurers. Insurers would reduce the significant friction costs between themselves and body shops experience every day across the U.S. Repairers would get paid the right rates, earning sufficient profits to enable them to reinvest to keep up with increasingly higher repair requirements. And consumers would get their vehicles repaired properly from a shop that is trained, equipped, and certified to do the repair. For all this to happen, we think insurers and collision repairers must take a fresh approach to the collision repair and claims settlement situation, adjust their motives and attitudes, and have a keen awareness that doing so will lead all three participants—insurer, repairer, and consumer—to come out as winners. Most notably, it will help ensure the proper care and safety of consumers and their families.

The Icing on the Cake – Inadequate Labor Rates Paid by Insurers To top it all off, even if shops are willing and able to make these investments, they still face a significant obstacle in getting insurers to pay qualified shops for all needed and proper repairs at the right labor rate. As an independent, unbiased third party, NABR questions insurers’ resistance in light of a wide range of premiums paid by their policyholders for auto collision coverage, especially for luxury vehicles.

NABR’s Goal: A Win-Win Paradigm for Labor Rates Taking a consumer centered perspective, NABR believes that crashed vehicle consumers have the right to a complete, safe, and proper repair at a fair price, and the right to be fully reimbursed for their loss. The shop owns the repair. The insurer owns the reimbursement. We believe that paying shops what they’re worth as defined by an objective standard—which could include items such as levels of training and types of certifications, tooling,

The right part makes the difference.

CE TS SOUR R A P A I YOUR K

Riverside KIA Call Us First For All Your Parts Needs • Genuine Kia OEM Parts • Same Day Delivery

• Efficient Service on All Orders • Fully Stocked Inventory

888.201.1888 951.509.1000 Fax: 951.688.7999 Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30m-6pm; Sat 8am-4pm 8100 Auto Drive • Riverside, CA 92504

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 57

Gordon Michael Joins Spanesi Americas

Spanesi Americas has announced perience includes Technical College that it is expanding its team to better Collision Repair Instructor, I-CAR serve its customers and the collision Tech Centre staff, and collision reindustry. pair technician. “We are extremely “I’m very pleased to be pleased to announce that joining the Spanesi organiGordon Michael has zation,” said Michael. “I joined the Spanesi team. am always willing to help Gordon will be providing out a fellow technician or our customers and distriboffer a easier way of doing utors with training and ina repair. I love learning and stallation support,” said sharing information about Gordon Michael Timothy Morgan, managnew technology and how it ing director of Spanesi Americas. “I fits into the collision industry. have previously worked with Gor- Spanesi is a leader in innovation and don and know that his education and technology, and with the complete training experience will help Spanesi product line that they offer, I’m lookto continue to support our customers ing forward to great things ahead.” as we continue to grow.” For more information, contact Bringing more than 30 years of Timothy Morgan at 224-SPANESI experience in the collision industry (772-6374) or tmorgan@spanesito Spanesi Americas, Gordon’s ex- americas.com. Continued from Page 50

MI Bill Veto

their parts procurement is stalled or their cycle time overall is affected, their production goes down and their profits

decrease and/or become a loss. One of the complaints we continue to hear is that some of these parts that probably shouldn’t even be available in the market are being requested for replacement on a 2015 vehicle, and in their gut they feel these parts won’t

Auto Care Association Participates in Copyright Roundtables on Embedded Software and DMCA

Aaron Lowe, senior vice president of regulatory and government affairs for the Auto Care Association, participated in a series of roundtables produced by the U.S. Copyright Office in Washington, D.C. on May

18-19. The roundtables were part of a study being undertaken by the office on copyright law and its relation to software-embedded consumer products as well as issues related to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Lowe discussed the growing use of software on late model vehicles and concerns that the vehicle manufacturers were adopting anticompetitive technological protection measures that prevent parts manufacturers, service facilities and consumers from accessing the software needed for repair and maintenance.

“The absence of clear guidance regarding interpretations of copyright defenses is having a chilling impact on companies developing replacement components, causing companies in the auto care industry to be concerned about extensive and disruptive litigation,” said Lowe. He further requested that the Copyright Office make a determination that DMCA does not prohibit circumvention of technological measures that are used by companies to prevent lawful repair under patent law of products whose operation is controlled by embedded software. Lowe told the Copyright Office that “a consumer who purchases a vehicle should own that car, including all of the software embedded in that vehicle. Therefore, consumers and those chosen by consumers to service those vehicles should have the freedom to access that software for purposes of lawful repair.” For more information, contact Aaron Lowe at aaron.lowe@autocare .org.

58 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Spanesi Americas Continues Expansion in Gulf States Spanesi Americas is continuing to expand its distribution and customer support across North America. A recent addition to Spanesi Americas is Complete Collision Equipment, Inc. who is providing distribution and customer support in the Gulf States, specifically the Houston, TX market as well as LA, MS, and AL. “We are very pleased to have Complete Collision Equipment join the Spanesi Americas team,” said Timothy Morgan, managing director of Spanesi Americas. “As we have continued to grow in sales and market share, we are also be growing our distribution and customer support teams to allow us to continuously exceed our customer’s expectations.” Led by Kyle Pinton, Complete Collision Equipment brings years of collision repair equipment experience

perform as they should, but were never tested to validate these concerns. I sometimes think that today we use the term “free market system” when all other debates fail, but we also have to understand that when it was identified as a free market system, we were also

to Spanesi and the Gulf States. “I have worked with Kyle in the past and I am very happy to have him back,” stated Morgan. “His vision and desire to provide exceptional customer support to the collision industry are great additions to our team, and within his first month with Spanesi Americas, he broke all ‘New Distributor’ sales records to date!” “I am very excited to be able to represent the complete line of Spanesi products,” said Pinton. “I see the superior quality and detail in the products along with the Spanesi Americas team to support the customer after the sale. My market has shown a positive reaction to the direction and changes our company has taken.” You can contact Kyle and Complete Collision Equipment at 228731-3092.

teaching “business ethics” in high school. Putting a five-year-old in a major league baseball game and saying “good luck” is not “fair competition”—these parts are the five-year-old and have no business being forced into the game!

Maita SUBARU

• Delivery to Greater Sacramento and Reno/Tahoe Areas • Highly experienced parts personnel • No N order too big or too small • Large Large late at model inventory www.maitasubaru.com

CAALLL US U TO ODAY DA D AY!

877.484.4870 87 8 77.484 870 916.484.4876 9 1 6 4 84 8 4 4 87 FAAXX: 916.484.4878 916 H Hours: ourss M M-F 7:30 am - 5:30 pm 2410 2 10 1 0 Auburn Aub Blvd. - Sacramento, CA 95821

OF DOWNTOWN LA When it Absolutely Must be Delivered on Time.

Phone

Call 213.748.4624 Fax Your Order

213.222.1278 üDedicated Wholesale Staﬀ üPrompt & Dependable Delivery Parts Hours Mon - Fri 7:30am-6:30pm s Sat 8:00am-4:00pm 1900 S. Figueroa St. , Los Angeles, CA 90007

Volkswagen of Downtown LA • Best Delivery Service (Twice Daily) to LA County • 8,000 Numbers in Stock • 750,000 Genuine VW Parts Inventory

TEL: 213-747-7246 • 213-747-7247 FAX: 213-222-1272 Parts Manager: Carlos L. Service Hours: Mon - Fri 7:30am - 6:30pm / Sat 8am - 4pm 1900 S. Figueroa St. • Los Angeles, CA 90007

For a fit that will impress.

Audi Genuine Parts

Best Delivery Service (Twice Daily) to LA County $750,000 in Audi Genuine Parts Inventory $8,000+ Parts in Stock

Audi of Downtown LA 1900 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90007 Tel: (888) 685-8751 Fax: (213) 222-1261 Call for Manny, Steve or Joe www.audiofdowntownla.com Service Hours: M–F, 7:30 – 6:30; Sat 8 - 4 www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 59

Maaco Says it Aims to Have Shops in Every State as Aggressive Growth Continues by Victoria Antonelli

On May 26, Autobody News reached out to Rob Cambruzzi, Vice President of Maaco Franchise Sales & Development at Driven Brands, Inc., to learn more about Maaco’s recent growth, future plans, and innovative customer service.

What are the driving forces beQ: hind Maaco’s rapid expansion? Driven Brands, which is the A: parent company of Maaco, was acquired by Roark Capital last April;

and if you don’t know Roark, they’re the crème de la crème of the private equity world for franchising. They have acquired more than 50 multi-location brands, which collectively generate north of $20 billion in system wide sales. With that amount of financial support and expertise, it has enabled us to leverage everything from better relationships to best practices, and everything in between. I think that joining the Roark Capital portfolio has introduced a lot of new people who may not have looked at the auto body

world as a potential investment. That’s the most significant change I’ve seen with the company since I started four and a half years ago.

of our business. We are continuously strengthening the third leg in our stool, through our growing insurance partnerships.

cosmetic collision brings in about 58% of business to shops. The historic Maaco model remains intact. We still work with single guys who are looking to get into the industry and own one shop. However, the multi-shop game has gotten to be very strong over the last two or three years, with the percentage of multi-shop operators in the chain raising from single digits in 2013, to 40% of the chain today. We’ve done a great job at taking advantage of areas in the market that are often passed over, like consumer sales and fleet maintenance. While we have had success leveraging our expertise in these areas, there always remains room for growth in other aspects

tomer’s deductible is; whether it’s $500-$1000. We’re providing them an opportunity to pay for their repair outof-pocket without having to make an insurance claim, worry about the increase in their rates and so forth. So, as of now, we do see more out-of-pocket payments. Maaco prides itself on being easy, affordable and reliable, regardless of whether you need out-of-pocket or insurance work completed. But we’re also proud to have developed great relationships in the insurance industry and those partnerships are growing.

Has the original Maaco model Do you find that Maaco cusQ: changed? If so, in what ways? Q: tomers usually go through insurance or pay out of pocket? At its core, Maaco is based on a A: term we use called “cosme-li- A: isOnethatofweourcanvaluetypically propositions sion” or cosmetic collision, which conget the sists of hits under $2,500. On average, job done for close to what the cus-

Out of the “three legs of the fleet, retail, and insurQ: stool”-

ance, which is growing the fastest?

The fleet piece is definitely A: growing the fastest. By the end of 2016, $100M in fleet work will be

provided to franchisees through our corporate partnerships with national accounts. That’s more than a 30% growth rate; and it has been occurring for the last three years in a row. There really isn’t any organized competitor that can offer our clients the same easy, affordable, reliable service that we are known for.

What is the customer service Q: like at Maaco? How do you stand out? We really prioritize marketA: ing; we spend close to $25M annually. Once we get the customer in the door, it’s very important to us that they have a great experience. What many may not realize is how important retail is to our business success. Since a lot of what we’re doing is selling retail, it needs to come across as an almost Apple-like experience.

Great Service.

Great Prices. Riverside Nissan

Riverside Volkswagen Competitive Parts Pricing!

Direct Line:

951.509.2125 951.509.2123 Fax

8330 Indiana Ave., Riverside, CA 92504

Riverside Honda We Use Collision Link!

FREE DELIVERY TO MOST OF THE INLAND EMPIRE

Mention this ad for a free gift!

D Direct Line:

951.509.6550 9 9951.509.6523 Fax 8330 Indiana Ave., Riverside, CA 92504

Hours: Mon-Fri. 7-7; Sat. 8-5 8330 Indiana Ave., Riverside, CA 92504

Riverside Hyundai Genuine OEM Parts!

Qualified Staff!

GENUINE SERVICE & PARTS

Riverside Mazda Huge Inventory!

Direct Line:

951.509.6574

951.509.6577

8330 Indiana Ave., Riverside, CA 92504

951.509.6575 Fax

60 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

951.509.6578 Fax

Transparency is important in the industry, especially for Maaco, so we like to keep the customer up-to-date throughout the entire repair process. In order to make that possible, we launched a new management system called OneMaaco, which integrates status updates for customers via text or email, easy-to-read estimates and automated customer reminders. The Maaco app was specifically created to complement the way Maaco franchisees run their shops by allowing customers to receive high-level estimates, find locations, and track the progress of their car. As we continue to evolve, our sales process does, as well. In the near future, a customer could walk into one of our centers and see a 60-inch TV that the salesperson will use to walk through our process, whether it’s for collision or paint services. The videos and other visual components of these digital boards provide user-friend details on our process and let customers see more on repairs that they are interested.

How do you keep your technicians up-to-date on the latest technology?

We have an online program A: called Maaco University that is available to all franchisees; we update

those materials constantly to include the latest in Maaco processes, OSHA regulations, etc. We’re also planning a tech expo in October in Charlotte, N.C. Vendors are joining us at the Charlotte Motor Speedway to display the latest technology.

Are there Maaco shops in every Q: state? Maaco is in all but two states. A: One of our value propositions, especially from the fleet side, is, if

you have a company in every city and every state, we can help to make sure the paints match for every fleet.

Q: areHowtheremanytotal?Maaco franchises We currently have 480 Maaco A: locations. This year, our goal is to hit the 500+ mark. We anticipate

growing that number to north of 500 within the next two months.

For more information, visit www.maaco franchise.com.

U.S. Aftermarket to Grow at an Annual Rate (CAGR) of 3.7% through 2019

The U.S. automotive aftermarket is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.7 percent through 2019, according to the “2016 Joint Channel Forecast Model” produced jointly by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) and the Auto Care Association. The 2016 Joint Channel Forecast Model also predicts that the total aftermarket sales will grow from $257.4 billion in 2015 to $296.3 billion in 2019, an increase of nearly $39 billion over the four-year period. “The forecast model demonstrates that despite strong new vehicle sales, moderating gas prices and improved miles driven are conditions conducive to continued steady growth,” said Bill Hanvey, Auto Care Association president and CEO. “Why? The average age of light vehicles—now up to 11.6 years--is the oldest ever, and the age mix of vehicles continues to favor older vehicles, creating a robust sweet spot for service and repair.” “The automotive aftermarket is a large and stable industry whose impressive growth, even through the Great Recession is forecasted to con-

tinue,” said Bill Long, president and chief operating officer, AASA. “The ‘Joint Channel Forecast Model’ is a valuable tool for all industry stakeholders in planning and positioning your business to capitalize on the opportunities ahead.” The market sizing and forecast is conducted on behalf of AASA and the Auto Care Association by IHS Automotive, an economic and market information firm. It is based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Economic Census, IMR and Polk data, and proprietary IHS Automotive’s economic analysis and forecasting models. The Joint Channel Forecast Model is available at the AASA website, www.aftermarketsuppliers.org, and in the Auto Care Association’s 2017 Digital Auto Care Factbook, available at www.autocare.org

SEARCH FOR US ON

LINKEDIN :

Autobody News

WHOLESALE’S OUR BUSINESS FOR YOUR BUSINESS • PROFESSIONAL AND KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF • FREE UPS GROUND FREIGHT • MENTION THIS AD FOR AN EXTRA 5% OFF • WE MATCH OR BEAT ALL COMPETITOR COUPONS • SERVING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR OVER 25 YEARS Hours: Mon-Fri 8 am - 5:30 pm / Sat 8 am - 5 pm www.shinglespringssubaru.com

SHINGLE SPRINGS

SUBARU

CALL US TODAY:

FAX:

530-676-0444

530-677-6528

4045 Wild Chaparral Dr. • Shingle Springs, CA 95682 www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 61

Western News

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

New Collision Career Institute Launched for All the Right Reasons with Ed Attanasio

To fill an enormous need for new collision professionals, Erick Bickett, CEO of FixAuto, and Charlie Robertson, a veteran automotive tech instructor, recently launched the Collision Career Institute (CCI) in Anaheim, CA. This new school will train its students in actual body shops and will be mentored by the shops’ management and personnel. Upon completing this 1.5–2 year program, CCI graduates will be ready for employment and won’t need to be retrained, according to Robertson, whom ABN sat down with recently.

What was the main reason beQ: hind the formation of the Collision Career Institute?

Well, it started mostly out of A: frustration on the part of shops that were running out of qualified peo-

ple. Shops have been poaching people from other shops for a long time in different degrees. But whenever we run into a big expansion by the MSOs, they start getting frantic. They have all these new contracts they need to fulfill and they don’t have the techs to perform the work. So it’s a business strategy for them. Poaching will never stop and the main problem is that the pool is small. So the only thing you can do to remedy the problem is to increase the size of the pool of available technicians, estimators and painters. At first, we were frustrated, but then we saw it as an opportunity, and that was the genesis of the Collision Career Institute. I’ve been an educator in this industry at the community college level for more than 22 years as an instructor at Cerritos College in Norwalk, CA. And the frustration that I was feeling was different from what was being felt in the industry. I felt that in training, we needed to be more focused on what the shops’ needs were and less focused on what the school needed.

You’re working with Erick Q: Bickett (FixAuto) to develop this program and combining your skill

sets to do some groundbreaking things with CCI. Please elaborate.

I’m obviously coming in from the educational side. We want to educate people better, faster and cheaper. And Erick was kind of approaching it similarly and had instituted his own fast track program at FixAuto. Soon, we realized that we were both frustrated about the current situation. So we decided to blend our two programs together. There are large educational institutions out there where, for $40,000, you can get a tech in two years. The problem is that you still have to stop and retrain them. So we tried to address most of the top ten concerns that the shops have in hiring somebody. They don’t want to invest in training someone if they’re just going to go out and move to the next MSO that’s going to offer them another fifty cents to a dollar more per hour. They want to make sure that if they invest in someone, they’re going to stay. So we address that in our program and provide incentives for the technicians to stay, with tool and bonus packages that they’ll receive after two years at the same shop.

You carefully screen every potential student prior to admission, is that correct?

Yes, because not everyone is ideal for every job in a body A: shop. The problem with most commu-

nity colleges is that they will graduate a student if they meet minimum standards. Shops really don’t care if you get an A, B, or C on something anymore. They really want to know that they can do the job and do it successfully and not cause any injuries. Similarly, in the industry, we want these trainees to hit the ground running. So they don’t move on to the next class until they’re finished and validated by a third-party that comes in—somebody that comes in independently and evaluates their skills. And so until they pass, they won’t move on. That’s a different focus. Everything else is always time-based or money-based, related to profit rather than to competency. So we focus on competency that is a departure from the norms out there.

I are approaching For someone looking to attend A: itYes,fromEricktwoanddifferent directions. Q: CCI, what are the steps?

62 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Once we have vetted the person A: and decided that they are a good candidate, we look for a shop in

the area that they’re willing to work in that wants to sponsor them and then we work out the agreements. Applicants go through a full series of assessments to asses their likelihood to succeed. Each job description that we train for has an ideal personality style that goes with it. There are certain people that you wouldn’t want to have in front of your customers. There are some people that you wouldn’t want to have in charge of putting a car back together. If they’re not detail-oriented, you probably don’t want to have them in charge of all the parts. We try to ferret all that out and we assess that person more discreetly and intensely than a community college is allowed to. There are certain questions that you can’t ask at a community college and it’s more of an open door policy. We accept everybody into every program

in a community college, but we don’t at CCI.

will CCI start accepting first students? Q: itsWhen Well, we’re still in the early A: stages and still running our beta program. We learned a lot from

the prototype. We went back and retooled it and modified it and cut it down from two years to a year and a half. We launched beta back in the fall and we’ve learned from those beta students and modified the program. We’ve tweaked it, and those changes in the system will come out in our August launch. We are currently recruiting both shops and students to participate. Our target areas for August are the Bay Area and Southern California. Then, we will reload every three months and be going full-speed by the fourth quarter of this year in other regions.

• Dedicated Wholesale Staff with Over 100 Years Experience • Large Inventory • Daily Local Deliveries

Parts 800-952-5307 Direct 916-405-4700 Fax 916-405-8045 Hours: Mon-Fri 7-7 • Sat 7-5

9640 W. Stockton Blvd. • Elk Grove, CA 95757

THESE DEALERS ARE GENUINE FORD PARTS WHOLESALE SPECIALISTS

Caruso Ford Lincoln LONG BEACH

800-353-7224 562-492-9452 Fax

www.carusoford.com parts@carusofordlincoln.com

Citrus Ford ONTARIO

909-390-0948 909-390-0982 Fax

scunningham@citrusmotors.com

Colley Ford GLENDORA

Wholesale Parts

800-253-3807 909-592-8577 Fax E-mail your orders parts@colleyford.com

Fairview Ford SAN BERNARDINO

Wholesale Direct

SO. CALIFORNIA

Future Ford of Clovis CLOVIS

800-350-2552 559-294-0816 Fax

Galpin Ford VAN NUYS

818-778-2005 818-778-2090 Fax

Kearny Pearson Ford SAN DIEGO

858-560-5033 800-635-6669 858-560-9648 Fax

Largest wholesaler in San Diego with 17 delivery trucks.

Palm Springs Motors CATHEDRAL CITY

909-386-0220 909-889-1741 Fax

760-328-7149 760-328-5092 Fax

RIVERSIDE

LA MESA

Fritts Ford

951-343-7556 951-687-3044 Fax wsparts@frittsford.com

Penske Ford

800-648-7431 619-668-7765 619-668-7719 Fax

Tuttle-Click Ford Lincoln Mercury IRVINE

949-472-5230 949-472-0327 Fax

Vista Ford Lincoln Mercury OXNARD

Wholesale Direct

805-983-4551 805-278-0554 Fax

Vista Ford Lincoln WOODLAND HILLS

818-710-9594 818-251-4339 Fax

www.vistaford.com Rabi_kadi@vistaauto.com

Worthington Ford LONG BEACH

800-622-4225 562-421-4033 562-496-1871 Fax

NEVADA

NO. CALIFORNIA

Serramonte Ford COLMA

Ford Country HENDERSON

650-301-7190

702-558-8100 702-566-7037 Fax

www.serramonteford.com

Friendly Ford

Wholesale Parts Dept. Phone Wholesale Parts Dept. Fax

www.fordcountrylv.com

650-301-7087

Sunnyvale Ford Lincoln Mercury

702-877-6546 702-870-6280 Fax

www.fordautodirect.com.com

702-796-2762 702-792-5370 Fax

LAS VEGAS

SUNNYVALE

408-738-1530 408-738-3125 Fax

The Ford Store of San Leandro SAN LEANDRO

800-690-6906 510-347-4160 Fax

Gaudin Ford LAS VEGAS

ARIZONA

AutoNation Ford Scottsdale

ARIZONA

Berge Ford MESA

480-497-7660 480-497-7581 Fax www.bergeford.com parts@bergeford.com

Earnhardt Ford CHANDLER

480-763-6233 480-783-4655 Fax www.earnhardtford.com

Sanderson Ford GLENDALE

800-367-3673 623-842-8762 623-842-8799 Fax www.sandersonparts.com

SCOTTSDALE

480-998-0652

tonyc@calworthington.com

Make us your one-stop shop today!

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 63

Hailstorm Brings Work for Billings, MT Roofers, Auto Repair and Glass Shops by Erik Olson, Billings Gazette

Jason Zapata launched his auto-body repair business in the wake of the 2014 hailstorm that pummeled Billings, and he’s gearing for the next big wave over the next few months. The 36-year-old Billings man owns Hail Team 6, a one-man repair shop that works with auto-body shops around town. Following the May 22 hailstorm that pounded the West End of Billings, he’s expecting a rush of business. During the last week of May, he worked on a new red Ford F-150 pickup with a cracked sunroof and quarter-sized dents all over the hood and door. Zapata did about $1,000 worth of work in his shop at 2120 Lampman Dr. using a method called paintless dent repair, where he pushes dents out from the inside to preserve the paint job. A Huntley native, Zapata has done repair work for 15 years nationwide. He’s repaired vehicles in California, Texas and other places after hailstorms there, gaining experience on different kinds of vehicles. This summer, however, Zapata said he plans to stay home. “We like the storms because that’s what our business is based on. We pray that no one gets injured, obviously. But it’s a great economic boom for any town that has them,” Zapata said.

Jason Zapata of Hail Team 6 shows some of the hail damage to a Ford F-150 from the storm at his shop on May 25. Credit: Casey Page / Gazette Staff

This most recent weekend storm swept through the West End and north along Airport Road and into the Rehberg Ranch subdivision, breaking windows and denting vehicles. Since then, phones have been ringing constantly for roofers, auto repair shops, glass installers and other contractors involved in storm cleanup. In 2014, contractors did $105 million of roofing, fencing and foundation work in Billings, most of which

was related to the hailstorm, according to the city’s building department. That storm also attracted hundreds of out-of-town storm chasers, who did roofing work and other repair.

Some homeowners are opting for smaller repairs to avoid filing additional claims, Martin said. Empire has about 50 employees, which is typical for the summer.

Hail covers the road on Laredo Place in West Billings. Credit: Bob Zellar/Gazette Staff

Many stayed for a few months, boosting revenue for local hotels, restaurants and bars. Some of those companies stayed in town and are continuing to compete with long-time roofers, said Jake Martin, vice president of Empire Roofing Inc., which his grandfather founded in the 1950s. “Healthy competition is always good. In our eyes, as long as they’re a legitimate company that does everything the right way… then we’re totally OK with that,” Martin said. “The good ones actually upped the whole level of professionalism. The bad ones, they hurt everyone else’s name,” he added. Martin said Empire has gotten a steady stream of calls since the storm. Many are repeat customers who used Empire during the last storm, or they were burned by a storm chaser the last time and want a local brand, he said. This storm hit a smaller swath of town and affected fewer people than in 2014, Martin said, but the damage is worse. Temperatures during hail storm were in the high 50s to low 60s, which hardened the roof shingles and made them more brittle, he said. “It actually fractured and put holes in shingles while before it bruised,” said Martin, who is also vice president of the Montana Roofing Association. Meanwhile, insurers have raised deductibles or dropped altogether homeowners who have filed multiple claims from past storms in the last five years.

64 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Local glass shops are also busy fielding repair requests from hail damage. Ron Becker, owner of Becker’s Glass in downtown Billings, said he expects his biggest rush to come in the next few weeks after homeowners con-

sult with their insurance carriers. Beckers Glass sells and installs window panes and other types of glass found in the home. The shop has three employees, who are typically busy this time of year without a storm, Becker said. Over the next three weeks, workers will be measuring the spaces to install new panes before doing the work, and Becker expects a second wave of calls down the road. “More than likely, it will carry on for the rest of the summer,” Becker said last week. Zapata said he expects the same for Hail Team 6. He took some time off this holiday weekend but is planning for business to accelerate through the fall. Long-term, Zapata said he hopes to use the storm as a springboard to grow the business and avoid having to travel for work. He added that he’d like to start hiring employees and gain more direct customers. “Hail is insurance paid, and the profit margin is greater,” he said. We thank the Billings Gazette for reprint permission.

We are Distinctively Different. • Free Delivery • Prompt Service • Trained Staff

Parts Hours:

Monday-Friday 7 am - 6 pm / Saturday 8 am - 3 pm

parts@puentehillssubaru.com

tony@puentehillssubaru.com

Puente Hills Subaru Parts Dept.: (626) 322-2555 FAX: (626) 322-2600 17801 E. GALE AVE. – CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA 91748

ARIZONA Tempe Kia

Tempe (480) 603-2587

(480) 603-2597 Fax M-F 7am - 6pm Sat 8am - 3pm parts@tempekia.com www.tempekia.com

NO. CALIFORNIA Concord Kia

Concord (888) 811-3058

(925) 685-2952 Fax M-F 8am - 5:30pm Sat 9am - 1pm

Elk Grove Kia Elk Grove (916) 753-1040

(916) 753-1045 Fax M-F 7am - 7pm; Sat 7am - 4pm parts@elkgrovekia.com www.elkgrovekia.com

Michael Stead’s Hilltop Kia Richmond (510) 758-2227

(510) 758-8853 Fax

Momentum Kia Vallejo (707) 638-1825

(707) 554-2637 Fax M-F 8am - 5pm; Sat 8am - 3pm bvahl@momentumautogroup.com

Oakland Kia

Oakland (510) 267-0688

(510) 267-0622 Fax M-F 7:30am - 5:30pm Sat 8am - 4pm info@oaklandkia.com www.oaklandkia.com

SO. CALIFORNIA AllStar Kia

Pomona (909) 664-2200

(909) 455-9016 Fax M-F 8am - 6pm; Sat 8am - 2pm parts@allstarkia.net www.allstarkia.net

AllStar Kia

San Bernardino (909) 763-4755

(909) 763-4744 Fax M-F 8am - 6pm; Sat 8am - 2pm parts@allstarkia.net www.allstarkia.net

Car Pros Kia

Carson Toll Free (800) 553-0940 Parts Direct

(310) 221-9101

(310) 816-9811 Parts Fax #1 Wholesale Dealer Serving Southern California

Citrus Kia Ontario

(800) 583-7042 (909) 390-0948

Kirby Kia of Ventura

Ventura (805) 656-9212

(909) 390-0982 Fax scunningham@citrusmotors.com www.citrusmotors.com M - Sat 7am - 6pm Free Local Delivery Ask for Ike, Jimbo, Chris, Juan, Sean, Jeff Se Habla Español

(805) 644-0517 Fax M-F 7am - 6pm vzavala@kirbyautogroup.com www.kiaofventura.com

Simi Valley (888) 531-4785

(866) 888-3074 Fax parts@autogrp.com www.northcountykia.com M-F 7am - 6pm In San Diego Over 10 Years

First Kia

(805) 306-1085 Fax Free Local Delivery M-F 7am - 6pm; Sat 8am - 5pm Se Habla Español Ask for David or Julio

Kia of Alhambra Alhambra (626) 289-7803

(626) 289-8807 Fax kip@kiaofalhambra.com

Kia of Garden Grove

North County Kia Escondido (760) 945-9939

UTAH

Findlay Kia

St. George (435) 817-4245

(435) 634-1229 Fax M-F 8am - 6pm; Sat 8am - Noon

Garden Grove (888) 992-1850

(714) 823-4929 Fax M-F 7:30am - 6pm Sat 7:30am - 4pm pelledge@ggkia.com www.ggkia.com

Kia of Irvine

Irvine (855) 847-3592

(949) 777-2342 Fax

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 65

Auto Claims — The High Cost of Keeping Pace with Technology by Bob Juniper and Mike Orso

The auto body repair industry has changed over the past few years in ways that far outpace the changes of the previous 25 to 50 years. Gone are the days of the ‘easy’ car repair – the days when a shade tree mechanic could go to the junkyard, pick up the necessary salvage parts.

Higher Repair Costs The auto body trade is an investmentintensive industry. Investments must be made constantly in new technology, certification, and training. Body repair specialists require training and certification and they must constantly strive to keep their skills and training on the cutting edge to keep up with the everchanging technological and passenger safety improvements implemented by the automotive industry. All this training and certification requires investments of time, money and resources. In addition to having the necessary skilled worker ready to work on a vehicle, when a vehicle needs repair, technical information that is specific to that vehicle and the repair must be pur-

chased through long-term licensing or paid for by-the-hour. Then the information needs to be reviewed and processed as material updates are everevolving, meaning a technician can’t simply rely on what he learned last month, or even last week, about the technical details before beginning to repair the vehicle.

The expenses for training and obtaining the technical specifications for a particular vehicle occur even before repair on the vehicle can begin. Once repair begins, there is the cost of parts. New metal alloys add cost to the repair process. With the new technology of part imprinting, parts are being pro-

duced with VIN identification recognition making parts specific to a particular vehicle, not just a specific make or model as in years past. Such an imprinted part would be incompatible with another vehicle thereby making a salvage part useless, maybe even dangerous to use, in the repair. Gone are the days when we could buy a used headlight to cut costs. To properly repair a vehicle, more expensive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts must be used. Additionally, special internal corrosion coatings and foams must be used as sound protection products. And every structural repair requires special adhesives and welding. Then, once the repairs are complete, paint and repair products require sufficient drying and curing time in controlled environments using up- to-date technical information and specifications that vary by automaker and often by sub-models. Using vehicle- specific parts, installed by a trained professional, makes repairs much more expensive than in years past.

Higher Disposal Costs An expense area that hardly existed 25 years ago is the cost to properly dispose of damaged parts. Twenty five years ago, damaged parts removed from cars were hauled off to the junkyard or other disposal facility. That can’t always be done today. Various components in a damaged vehicle require special disposal – think about the various batteries, ballasts, and sensors in a car today – and reputable repair shops pay the requisite price to properly dispose of them. One area, for instance, that is often not considered is the cost to replace seatbelts. Most manufacturers require that seatbelts be replaced after a crash. These seatbelts often are considered hazardous and explosive waste that require special disposal, disposal which can be expensive. Some repair shops avoid this expense by not replacing seatbelts after a crash, thereby saving themselves money and avoiding the disposal process but possibly endangering the vehicle’s future occupants. Reputable shops follow manufacturer requirements and replace the seatbelts, thereby adding the cost of repairs and

Original BMW Parts

bmwusa.com

Dedicated Wholesale Staff Prompt & Dependable Delivery Knowledgeable and Enthusiastic Parts Team ORIGINAL BMW PARTS & ACCESSORIES BMW Trained Parts Advisors Competitive Wholesale Prices Large Inventory Of Original OEM Parts

Bob Smith BMW Hours: M-F 7am-6pm; Sat 8am-5pm 24500 Calabasas Rd. Calabasas, CA 91302

www.bobsmithbmw.com

818.346.3144 Parts Fax: 818.340.9455

Toll Free:

66 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

BOB SMITH MINI

Original MINI Parts

818-346-3144 Toll Free 818-340-9455 Fax BOBSMITHMINI.COM Hours: M-F 7am-6pm; Sat 8am-5pm 24500 Calabasas Rd. • Calabasas CA 91302 ©2013 MINI, a division of BMW of North America, LLC. The MINI name, model names and logo are registered trademarks.

the costs associated with disposal to the cost of repair of the more obvious vehicle damage. All these newer components and disposal requirements mean that repair of a damaged vehicle is not a haphazard event; it’s not an automatic, wholesale, chain-store, or while-you-wait, transaction. To properly repair a collision-damaged vehicle requires highly qualified personnel with continuing education and training utilizing specialized equipment. This situation results in costs that far exceed the costs and training of years past. And these costs must be properly addressed to protect the owners of vehicles, their passengers, the environment and the repair facility.

Saving Money/Cutting Costs — Paying the Consequences Insurance companies often seem anxious to save money where they can. In their attempts to do so, they sometimes seem to make short-sighted decisions that can impact them, and their customers, long-term. First is the impact of trying to save money on the costs of repairs. When insurers try to unrealistically control the pricing of repairs, it encourages all repair companies to cut corners to save

money – like not replacing seatbelts when the manufacturer of the vehicle requires it. This leads to shoddy and sometimes dangerous repair work.

Price Comparison of Replacement Side Mirrors YearMake/Model - Item - List price (2016):

turns out to be shoddy, they may find themselves losing customers to other insurers who don’t require that repair work be done in such ‘approved’ shops. The claims procedures and processes that were effective and efficient five, ten, or 15 years ago are not readily transferable to the vehicles on the road today.

Post Repair Inspections conducted across the country are revealing how corners cut in the repair process by such shops are perpetuating a new breed of repaired vehicles that reclassified after repair as total losses. And when an insurance company requires that repair work be done in an ‘approved’ shop whose workmanship

Another area where insurers may be making short-term money decisions with potential long-term consequences is in labor costs. Currently there is a 40-60% disparity between the labor rates insurers seek to pay for autobody repair and the cost of mechanical labor rates. Such a disparity may lead entry-level technicians and potential labor to look to other trades for a career. This could result in a shortage of qualified employees and

1995 Chevy Blazer - Side mirror, manual - $88.23 2001 Honda CRV - Side mirror, power - $287.58 2005 Ford 500 - Side mirror, power, with heat - $351.13 2012 GMC Yukon - Side mirror, power, folding, with turn signal $483.40 2016 Lexus GX 460 - Side mirror, power, turn signal, camera, blind spot monitoring - $1,105.01

qualified shops in the autobody industry in the future. And anytime there is a shortage of supply, costs will go up. Will there come a time when insurance companies will pay $250/hour to repair body- damaged cars? Ultimately, the insurance companies and the autobody repair industry pursue the same goal: a well- repaired, safe vehicle that a satisfied customer knows has been properly repaired. The task before us is to balance this goal with the realities of ever-changing vehicle technology, vehicle specific parts, expense controls and quality workmanship. Bob Juniper owns and operates Three-C Body Shops, Inc., based in central and southern Ohio. Three-C, family owned, was founded in 1956. Juniper and Three-C welcome the new opportunities brought about by the changing face of the auto repair industry as consolidation changes the auto repair market in Central Ohio. Mike Orso is president of Nick Orso’s Body Shop and Service Center in Syracuse, New York. Orso joined the family-run business in 1973. Orso served as president of New York State Auto Collision Technicians Association, Inc. (NYSACTA).

• Exceptional Service • Full-time Experienced Wholesale Specialists • Ready to Serve You • Genuine OEM Tires Hours:

• Extensive Inventory • Free Delivery • Dedicated Wholesale Parts Staff • Genuine OEM Tires Hours:

Hours:

• Open Saturdays • Serving all of San Gabriel Valley for over 30 Years • 5 Delivery Trucks • Genuine OEM Tires Hours:

Mon.-Fri. 7am - 6pm; Sat. 8am - 4pm

• Wide Delivery Area • Competitive Pricing • Ready to Serve You • Genuine OEM Tires

Parts Dept.:

626-249-0032

800-245-8509

626-359-8291

800-320-9065

Fax: 626-932-5660

www.sierraauto.com

parts@sierracars.com

CHEVROLET 1450 South Shamrock Ave. Monrovia, California 91016

MAZDA 735 East Central Ave. Monrovia, California 91016

SUBARU 1450 South Shamrock Ave. Monrovia, California 91016

HONDA 1450 South Shamrock Ave. Monrovia, California 91016

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 67

Most Decorated Olympic Gymnast Presents Keynote ‘Gold Medal Mindset’ at 2016 WIN Conference On the second day of WIN®’s 2016 Educational Conference in Tampa, Shannon Miller, Olympic Gymnastics Champion, delivered the event’s Keynote Address: “The Gold Medal Mindset.” Miller is the most decorated gymnast in American history, having won seven Olympic gold medals and been inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame twice. After beating cancer in 2011, Miller became a motivational speaker, and on May 3, she brought her brand of optimism and inspiration to WIN members who learned about her winning mindset. Reminiscing about her gymnastics career, Miller observed that it is easy to remember the good times, but it is just as important to recall the chal-

are today and where you want to be tomorrow. Very few successes just happen, and while dreams are necessary and fantastic, achieving them requires a specific plan involving SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based) goals. Dreams serve as motivation, while goals establish the steps necessary to reach the dream. Miller stressed that goals being specific is imperative to define what needs to be accomplished. She said, “Wrap your mind around exactly what you want to achieve and then figure out what you need to do to make it happen. If you don’t take the steps to make your dream a reality, it’ll always be just a dream.” When Miller suffered a knee injury in 1992, she had to decide whether to give up or to fight, and she

lenges. “Remember those troubles because it is those mistakes, those obstacles, which have taught us how important it is to keep trying and to get back up when we do fall. I learned that I could not succeed if I wasn’t willing to do the work and able to believe in myself that I could reach my goals. We can’t give up every time we reach a rough patch, not if we went to truly succeed. I learned that I have to analyze my mistakes so I can learn from them and move forward.” During her Olympic career, Miller often heard that she was too young, too old, too short or too weak, but she believes in using the power of past lessons to become more knowledgeable as she forges into the future. She says, “If you listen to everyone else, you’ll never win. You have to possess the will to succeed against all odds.” These lessons, which help in all aspects of life, make up what Miller calls “The Gold Medal Mindset” which she describes as “an attitude of going out and winning the day, no matter what life throws at you. What you do today matters. You must remain positive and commit yourself to excellence.” Setting goals is critical for successfully achieving your dreams as it helps close the gap between where you

is glad she chose to fight. She worked hard at practice each day so she could enjoy the competition. “I just wanted to live in that moment; I didn’t know about the scores or the medals. When you’re prepared, you have to just go for it, enjoy the moment, and have some fun.” Miller is grateful to her team, including her parents, coaches, doctors, teachers and fellow athletes, who was there to rally her during the bad days; however, she also stressed the need to contribute to the team. “You need to rely on your team to achieve your dreams. Utilize the amazing resources around you. Find out how to make more of a difference and work together to achieve your dreams.” Admitting that she lost the concept of teamwork after retiring from gymnastics, Miller stated that she rediscovered its importance when she was diagnosed with cancer. At first, she was overwhelmed by the fear of the unknown and the loss of control, she established knowledge of the steps needed to recover after her surgery, allowing her to move from a victim mentality back to her competitive nature. Miller’s belief that she could defeat cancer faltered after her first week of chemo, but her team of doctors, nurses, family and friends rallied

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

If you think you can’t, you won’t; if you can’t even see yourself achieving your goals in your own mind, you never will. — Shannon Miller

68 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

believing. If you think you can’t, you won’t; if you can’t even see yourself achieving your goals in your own mind, you never will. A negative attitude will prevent you from reaching your dreams, so you have to combat negative thoughts with positive ones, especially when you have a bad day.” Noting that a negative attitude will bring you down quicker than anything else, Miller finds power in seeing barriers as opportunities and focusing on solutions instead of problems. “Having a positive attitude is a choice you Seven-time Olympic Gold Champion Shannon Miller have to make each day, and shared her secrets to “The Gold Medal Mindset.” though it can be a challenge, it when you need it because that’s why makes you an asset, helping you dethey are there. This summer is the velop better relationships and inspiring twentieth anniversary of my Olympic those around you. Life is only as good wins and the five year anniversary of as you make it—choose to be positive!” being cancer free. If I can help just Although Miller was not the one woman focus on her health, that most talented gymnast, she believed means I’ve turned my experience with in hard work, always going above and cancer into something positive.” beyond her coach’s requirements. According to Miller, “Many suc“Work ethic is an essential ingredient cessful people rely on positive mental in the recipe for success. Each little images to reach their goals. Seeing is See Most Decorated, Page 75 around. She says, “I was inspired by their positive attitude and wanted to learn from their example. Your team matters; don’t be afraid to ask for help

Parts You Need. People You Trust.

Genuine Mitsubishi Replacement Crash Parts are close at hand from the following quality dealerships. ARIZONA

CALIFORNIA

Mark Mitsubishi

Glendale Mitsubishi

(623) 842-8915 Fax M-F 7:30-6:00 / Sat 8:00-2:00 glendaleparts@markmitsu.com

(818) 549-3850 Fax M-F 7:00-6:00 / Sat 8:00-4:00 parts@glendalemitsubishi.com

GLENDALE

623-842-8908 CALIFORNIA

San Bernardino Mitsubishi SAN BERNARDINO

909-884-7700

(909) 571-5483 Fax M-F 7:30-5 / Sat 7:30-5 parts@lovemitsubishiparts.com www.sbmitsu.com

GLENDALE

800-424-7884

Oakland Mitsubishi OAKLAND

510-267-0688

(510) 267-0622 Fax M-F 7:30-5:30 / Sat 8:00-4:00 info@oaklandmitsubishi.com

NO. CALIFORNIA

Marin Subaru

San Rafael (415) 257-4690 (415) 257-4684 Fax Mon.-Fri. 7:30-5:30; Sat. 8-4 marinmazdasubaru@yahoo.com www.marinsubaru.net

Shingle Springs Subaru Shingle Springs (530) 676-0444 (530) 677-6528 Fax www.shinglespringssubaru.com

Subaru of Santa Cruz Santa Cruz (888) 844-7131 (831) 420-1402 (831) 420-1923 Fax Mon.-Fri. 7:30-6; Sat. 8-5 parts@santacruzsubaru.com www.santacruzsubaru.com ARIZONA

AutoNation Subaru Scottsdale Scottsdale (480) 425-2950 (480) 425-2948 Fax Mon.-Fri. 7-6; Sat. 7-4

Camelback Subaru

The following dealerships are eager to serve your needs. Call your local Subaru collision parts specialist today! SO. CALIFORNIA

Galpin Subaru

Santa Clarita (818) 778-2005 (818) 778-2090 Fax

Kearny Mesa Subaru San Diego (800) 548-9124 (858) 300-3331 Fax Mon.-Fri. 7-6 cguth@kmhyundaisubaru.com www.kearnymesasubaru.com/parts

Puente Hills Subaru City of Industry (626) 322-2555 (626) 322-2600 Fax Mon.-Fri. 7-6; Sat. 8-3 parts@puentehillssubaru.com tony@puentehillssubaru.com

Sierra Subaru of Monrovia Monrovia (626) 359-8291 (626) 932-5660 Fax Mon.-Fri. 7-6; Sat. 8-4 parts@sierracars.com www.sierraauto.com

Subaru of Glendale Glendale (818) 550-1500 (818) 549-3850 Fax Mon.-Fri. 7-6; Sat. 8-4 parts@glendalemitsu.com www.subaruofglendale.net

NO. CALIFORNIA

Elk Grove Subaru Elk Grove (877) 475-0659 (916) 509-8559 Fax Mon.-Fri. 8-6 shawnh@elkgrovesubaru.com www.elkgrovesubaru.com

Maita Subaru

Sacramento (877) 484-4870 (916) 484-4876 (916) 484-4878 Fax Mon.-Fri. 7:30-5:30 www.maitasubaru.com

Phoenix (866) 641-9880 (602) 776-6407 Fax Mon.-Fri. 7-6; Sat. 8-4 wholesaleparts@camelbackdifference.com

Subaru Superstore of Chandler Chandler (877) 443-3239 (480) 268-2402 (480) 621-3805 Fax Mon.-Fri. 7-6; Sat. 7-5 subaruparts@shopsubaru.com www.shopsubaru.com

Subaru of San Bernardino

San Bernardino (909) 888-8686 (909) 571-5483 Fax Mon.-Fri. 7:30-6; Sat 7:30-5 parts@lovesubaruparts.com www.sbsubaru.com www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 69

Some Shops Hate Him, but Consumers Love Him: The Wreck Check Story by Ed Attanasio

If someone gets into a car accident, takes their vehicle to a shop, and then later discovers that they are the victim of a shoddy (and possibly unsafe) repair, what is their next step? What if that customer then takes the car back to the same shop and does not get any satisfaction? People all over the country are in this predicament every day, and that is why more and more disgruntled body shop customers are visiting one of 35 Wreck Check Car Scan Centers throughout the U.S. to find answers to their questions and remedy the associated issues. Wreck Check Car Scan Centers were founded in 1997 by Rocco J. Avellini while he owned Rocco’s Collision Center and the U.S. distributor for Cad-Scan in addition to selling 3D dimensioning equipment designed for the collision industry. “While the creators of this equipment designed it to assist the collision repair technician to ensure that the unibodies of damaged vehicles could be returned back to manufacturer’s specifications, I saw a different purpose for it,” Avellini explained. “As a result, I immediately announced on a few online collision discussion boards that I was starting a new industry, and I named it the PostRepair Industry.” In 2001, James Lynas, the developer of the original Wreck Check software, decided to leave the industry. When he transferred the Wreck Check company to Avellini, his first move was to revise the original Wreck Check diminishing value software to reflect the true loss of value to vehicles that have been involved in accidents. Since then, he has continued to market and sell the new Wreck Check Car Scan Center concept to consumers and body shops that are interested in becoming licensees. “We are simply giving the driving public the ability to get a second opinion for collision and mechanical repairs,” Avellini said. “In many cases, we assist our clients in having their vehicles re-repaired to a safe condition after receiving their assessments. Our clients continue to recover their diminishing value on these subpar repairs, which clearly illustrates that this is a problem in the collision repair industry in a big way.” To fulfill a need for more loca-

tions, Wreck Check Car Scan Centers is always in search of shops and other collision professionals that want to get involved, according to Avellini. “We want honest, experienced and knowl-

umentation they need to make their case. “Our Diminished Value Assessments are comprehensive and detailed, so no one can really argue with them,” Avellini said. “A Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge recently praised our assessments for being as good as gold. Now, the insurance companies realize that diminished value is owed and it is just a matter of documenting how much the recovery amount should be. We are the leader in determining diminishing value and our assessments are a testaWreck Check Car Scan Centers were founded in 1997 by ment to that. They have evolved Rocco J. Avellini. The company helps consumers who over the past 20 years and now get shoddy repairs from body shops nationwide they basically leave the insurers edgeable automotive professionals with no other option other than to pay who share our passion for assisting our clients.” consumers before, during and after “I have inspected over 20,000 vetheir automotive repairs and to ensure hicles in my collision, insurance and that their families are driving in a safe post-repair inspection life and the revehicle.” pairs, in my opinion, are actually not Avellini, 65, has worked in al- getting any better. Right after we most every aspect of the collision re- started going after shops for doing pair industry as an insurance adjuster poor work, we got a lot of media exand national property manager, equip- posure. At that time, I thought the inment sales rep and as the owner of a restoration company and his own body shop (Rocco’s Collision Center in southern California) for many years. When he found out about the Wreck Check software 23 years ago, he instantly saw the need for a company that protects consumers from improper collision repairs. An early adapter of the concept and a firm believer in what he is doing, Avellini works hard to recover money for his customers, he said. “I was one of the initial Wreck Check licensees in 1993 after witnessing firstSo. California hand that insurance companies initially stated that they don’t owe diHARDIN HYUNDAI Anaheim minishing value. But, once we can 1271 S. Auto Center Dr. show them our documentation, they will often pony up the money without 714-678-2049 negotiation. We have seen everything (714) 533-1355 FAX over the years, so we know what to www.hardinhyundai.com look for and we know how to win for the people we represent. Recently, two KEARNY MESA HYUNDAI of our clients recovered more than San Diego $25,000 in diminished value and more 4797 Convoy St. than $20,000 for losing the use of the 800-469-9731 vehicle for a significant period of (858) 300-3331 FAX time.” M-F 7am - 6pm; Sat 8am - 5pm When a consumer takes their vecguth@hyundaisubaru.com hicle to a Wreck Check Car Scan Cenwww.kearnymesahyundai.com ter, they get an in-depth inspection followed by all of the supporting doc-

70 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

surers would take steps to see that collision repairs would be completed in a safe and proper fashion. But it has turned out to be wishful thinking. I believe that in an ongoing attempt to control costs, the insurers are just creating new ways to achieve that, and ultimately, the repairers are left with the same liability. Repairers must remember that an insurer has no standing in the collision repair process and their only duty is to indemnify their insured and make them whole.” Avellini is not afraid of a little media, and Wreck Check Scan Car Centers may soon be the subject of a TV reality series, so stay tuned. With some body shop owners and insurance companies out there that are not exactly pleased with his work, does this street-smart New Yorker ever worry? “A few of my friends have warned me to watch my back,” he said. “I tell them, so be it—I’m not stopping, that’s for sure. At the end of the day, it all comes down to peoples’ safety, and that’s what keeps me doing what I’m doing.”

www.autobodynews.com CHECK IT OUT!

THE RIGHT PARTS ToCollision advertise Job ForcallYour Advertising Sales at: Visit these Genuine 800-699-8251 Hyundai Parts Dealers

e-mail:

Utah www.autobodynews.com

advertising@autobodynews.com

FINDLAY HYUNDAI Saint George 1405 S. Sunland Dr.

435-986-8835

(435) 986-8822 FAX

M-F 8am - 5pm; Sat 8am - Noon

Be Seen by Our Readers! CALL Advertising Sales at:

800-699-8251

advertising@autobodynews.com www.autobodynews.com

Ray Evernham Leads Preservation of Iconic American Graffiti Impala With Axalta Coatings For Ray Evernham, the 1958 Chevy Impala used in the film American Graffiti is the holy grail of hot rods, a car that inspired his life-long passion for cars. Now, after pursuing the car for most of his adult life and finally buying it, he faces an even bigger challenge: preserving it in its original movie condition for generations to come. Evernham has partnered with Axalta Coating Systems, a global manufacturer of liquid and powder coatings, to bring this piece of movie history and Americana back to life. The car will go through a tedious forensic preservation and be unveiled in Axalta’s booth #22391 at the 2016 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas during the first week of November. “For me, American Graffiti was an incredible movie about an exciting time in America,” said Evernham. “It brought back hot rods and rock and roll and launched the careers of dozens of stars. George Lucas did such an exacting job creating the set, building the cars and telling the story that you were truly transported back to a time when horsepower was king, you and your friends ruled the drive-in and the world was a simpler place.” American Graffiti, a film about

four long-time high-school friends set in Modesto, CA, in 1962, featured several classic cars throughout the movie, with the 1958 Chevy Impala being one of the most iconic. After it was used in the film, Mike

to its original movie condition,” noted Evernham. “It really is a forensic preservation. We have to take it apart piece by piece, catalog every piece and then repair those pieces. Every piece of chrome is being straightened

Famalette, only 17 at the time, purchased the car directly from Lucas Films for $285 in 1972. Famalette held onto the car from that time until 2015 when Evernham acquired it. “To save this car for future generations, we have to go back 42 years

and re-chromed. The emblems are being re-chromed. The nuts and bolts are being re-plated. The interior has been entirely dis-assembled and will be restored back to its movie condition. Everything we took off is going back in it. Even the tires are original

and the air in them came directly from the movie set.” The only element Evernham is replacing is the engine, which was destroyed long before he purchased the car. As seen in American Graffiti, the ‘58 Impala was equipped with a four-barrel 348, and three-speed manual transmission. Evernham found a 1960 327 Chevy engine with six-barrel Stromberg carburetor to power the classic machine. With partner Axalta Coating Systems, Evernham will replace the exact paint and pinstripes on the vehicle. “Paint technology has come a long way since 1958,” noted Harry Christman, North American Cromax® Brand Manager for Axalta. “Regardless, the paint scheme still represents the most recognizable aspect of this iconic car. Axalta’s goal with this restoration is to precisely match the original colors using Cromax® ChromaPremier® to preserve the vehicle’s heritage and protect this unique piece of history for years to come.” Evernham said the complexity of the restoration is daunting, and the time required will far exceed any project his team that has built, including award-winning, best-in-class cars for SEMA, Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and the Pinehurst d’Elegance.

INSIST ON GENUINE GM PARTS Only Original Parts Protect The Vehicle’s Value.

CALL ANY OF THESE WHOLESALE WHOLE PARTS DEALERS BELOW. No. California

So. California

Alfred Matthews Buick GMC Cadillac

Dublin Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC

Rydell Automotive Group

Thorson Motor Center

209-549-4656

925-828-8251

818-832-1660

626-793-0454

M-F 8am - 6pm Sat 8am - 4pm

M-F 7am - 6pm Sat 8am - 4:30pm

M-F 6am - 7pm Sat 8am - 5pm nrparts@rydells.com

M-F 7:30am - 6pm Sat 8:30am - 2pm parts@thorsonmotorcenter.com

MODESTO

209-577-6860 Fax

Michael Stead’s Walnut Creek Cadillac

DUBLIN

925-829-2941 Fax

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

386-236-4754 Fax

PASADENA

626-795-6872 Fax

WALNUT CREEK

925-934-5022 925-934-0336 Fax

M-F 8am - 5:30pm Sat 8am - 4pm steadparts@gmail.com www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 71

ABRA Auto Body & Glass Donates $81,000 to CREF

ABRA Auto Body & Glass has announced that it has donated $81,000 to the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) to help support collision repair education programs, schools, and students.

Approximately $40,000 of the contribution will go to the Fayetteville Technical Community College in Fayetteville, NC to support efforts assisting military veterans and civilians transitioning into the collision repair industry. Approximately $11,000 of the contribution funded an ABRA-named student scholarship earlier this spring as well as ABRA’s participation in the Foundation’s career fairs around the country throughout the year.

According to the company, for more than two decades, ABRA has supported CREF to help build awareness of collision repair industry career opportunities within local schools and communities. ABRA’s chief people officer, David Kuhl, says the company is proud to support the foundation and committed to ensuring that students have the opportunity to create a rewarding career in an ever-growing industry. “It’s a great feeling knowing this donation will help play a part in the development and growth of our industry as well as support the advancement of students interested in a career in collision repair,” Kuhl said. Brandon Eckenrode, director of development for CREF, said, “We are truly grateful for the long-standing and significant support that ABRA has shown us over the years. Many of these activities would not be possible without the generosity of partners like ABRA Auto Body & Glass.” For more information about ABRA, visit www.abraauto.com/.

Martin Senour Launches New Industrial Maintenance Coatings DTM Acrylic Enamel

The Martin Senour Company has introduced its new Industrial Maintenance Coatings DTM Acrylic Enamel. It is a high gloss, 100% acrylic, waterborne, corrosion-resistant coating for light to moderate industrial use. Designed for new construction, equipment, or a variety of maintenance uses, Industrial Maintenance Coatings DTM Acrylic Enamel can be used directly over a variety of properly prepared substrates while offering a substantial protective coating. According to the company, the new coatings product (series IM110)

provides a number of features: it is a low VOC coating; offers good chemical and corrosion resistance; provides outstanding adhesion and moisture resistance; and is fast-drying with low odor characteristics. Suitable substrates for Industrial Maintenance Coatings DTM Acrylic Enamel include steel, iron, aluminum, galvanized steel, concrete, masonry, wood, zinc rich primers, cement board and fiber board. It is recommended for use on a number of applications including ornamental iron, tanks and cylinders, steel fabricated parts, industrial, construction and farm equipment, metal buildings, piping, hand rails and select marine structures. Available in 13 popular factory packaged colors (standard, safety and basic equipment), they dry to the touch in 15 to 30 minutes and are easy to apply with either brush or spray application. For more information regarding Martin Senour industrial maintenance coatings, visit www.martin senour-autopaint.com.

72 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Personal Safety Division Launches 3M Center for Respiratory Protection

3M™ Personal Safety Division has launched the 3M Center for Respiratory Protection, an online resource that can help companies navigate the requirements of an OSHA respiratory protection program. “When respirators are used in a workplace, OSHA requires companies to establish and maintain a written respiratory protection plan. A comprehensive and effective plan isn’t something that can be downloaded from the Internet. An effective program needs to be tailored to the individual needs of the users at each worksite,” said Scott Larson, respiratory protection technical services manager of 3M Personal Safety Division. “With the 3M Center for Respiratory Protection, 3M’s technical service specialists summarize key points that those responsible for worker health and safety need to know to help establish and maintain a successful respiratory protection program. The 3M Center for Respiratory Protection also provides the tools to help employers as they put a program in place.” 3M Center for Respiratory Protection outlines general steps to help guide users as they work to create and maintain a respiratory protection program. The eight steps include: • Exposure Assessment

• • • • • • •

Respiratory Selection Medical Evaluations Fit Testing Respirator Training Respirator Maintenance Program Evaluation Recordkeeping These steps are a summary of requirements and are based on the OSHA requirements; the 3M website provides articles, videos, tool kits, fast facts, and more, all created or curated by respiratory protection technical service specialists at 3M. “As health and safety professionals, we aim to provide professionals with respiratory protection knowledge and tools that they need to help protect themselves and their workers,” said Larson. “This new online resource provides an outlet for 3M to present valuable information, and a place that helps make it easier for our customers to select and use respiratory protection correctly. As we continue to help employers protect the respiratory health of their workers across the globe, the 3M Center for Respiratory Protection will prove to be a helpful way for us to disseminate information to those who are in need of it.” For more information, visit www .3m.com/respiratorycenter.

The Right Parts. A Perfect Fit.

Order Genuine Mazda Parts from these Parts Specialists in your area

SO. CALIFORNIA

Galpin Mazda Van Nuys

818-778-2005 Fax 818-778-2090 www.galpin.com

NO. CALIFORNIA

Mazda Vacaville Vacaville

707-222-4308

Fax 707-222-4309 M-F 7:30-5:30 info@mazdavacaville.com www.mazdavacaville.com

S. CALIFORNIA

NISSAN OF BAKERSFIELD BAKERSFIELD

888-402-6915 (661) 835-0389 Fax M-F 7-6, Sat. 8-5

www.nissanofbakersfield.com

Shift into Genuine Nissan and Infiniti OEM Parts

N. CALIFORNIA

FUTURE NISSAN ROSEVILLE

916-677-5251 (916) 786-0743 Fax M-Sat. 7:30-6

cbohanna@futurenissan.com www.futurenissanparts.com NEVADA

PARK PLACE INFINITI LAS VEGAS

Genuine Nissan and Infiniti OEM Wholesale Parts are superbly crafted to strict quality standards.

702-252-8100 (702) 248-4467 Fax M-F 7-6; Sat. 8-5

www.parkplaceinfinitiparts.com GENUINE SERVICE & PARTS

The following dealers proudly stock genuine parts for your Nissan or Infiniti repairs. ARIZONA

LARRY H. MILLER NISSAN MESA

480-655-4060 (480) 655-4068 Fax M-Sat. 8-6

Largest Inventory in Arizona jberry@lhmauto.com www.lhmnissanmesa.com S. CALIFORNIA

DOWNEY NISSAN DOWNEY

888-444-1355 (562) 334-1195 Fax Billy Smith - Parts Manager

S. CALIFORNIA

FIRST NISSAN SIMI VALLEY

855-397-1744 (805) 526-5007 Direct (805) 526-0979 Fax M-F 7-6, Sat. 7:30-5

METRO NISSAN INFINITI OF MONTCLAIR MONTCLAIR

800-243-5575 (909) 625-4087 Fax Ask for Rita or Steve Large inventory available

METRO NISSAN OF REDLANDS REDLANDS

888-505-9211 (909) 583-9021 Fax

M-F 7-6, Sat. 8-4 gkunze@metronissan.com www.metronissanredlands.com

MOSSY NISSAN NATIONAL CITY

800-300-7251

(619) 474-4347 Fax Largest Inventory in San Diego www.mossyparts.com

M-F 7-6, Sat. 7-5

www.downeynissan.com

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 73

AkzoNobel Introduces New Color Software

With its recently released MIXIT web application, AkzoNobel became the first vehicle refinishes paint supplier to provide real-time updates for color software as well as the first to support searching in Chinese.

AkzoNobel now offers a new color web application, MIXIT, a tool for bodyshops to find the color they want using a search function that fits all possible keywords in any language and includes suggestions. According to AkzoNobel, it is the ideal tool for customers using any of their leading vehicle refinishes brands, including Sikkens, Lesonal, Wanda, Sikkens Autocoat BT and U-TECH. “MIXIT is the first software of its kind to provide data updates in

real-time, with a simple, fast and intelligent search, making it the most accurate color retrieval tool available,” said Remco Maassen van den Brink, AkzoNobel’s Vehicle Refinishes marketing director. “It is also the first to support searching for car makes and model names in the Chinese language.” As a responsive web application, MIXIT has been designed to work on smartphones, tablets and PCs. Since its December launch, approximately 50% of users have accessed the application from a mobile device or tablet. The application analyzes user behavior to understand how customers can retrieve and match colors more efficiently. Every three weeks, AkzoNobel will use this information to release an updated version of the application in which functionality is added and improved. “With so many advantages for users globally, we are confident MIXIT will become the color retrieval tool of choice for all of our customers,” said Remco Maassen van den Brink. The application can be accessed at www.MIXITcloud.com.

CREF Launches Successful Pilot of Collision Student Resume Database To continue and enhance their efforts to help connect high school and college collision students with industry employers, the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) has announced the

successful launch of their high school and college online collision student resume database. According to CREF, as many collision students across the country do not have the ability to attend the foundation's physical career fair events, the collision student resume database was built and piloted to reach high school and college collision students who are seeking full-time, part-time, or internship industry positions. More than 200 students from around the country submitted their contact and resume information. The database will be provided to CREF's donors for follow-up and employment consideration. CREF director of development Brandon Eckenrode said, “We are very pleased with our initial pilot of

the collision student resume database and this will be an ongoing effort at the end of each school semester to gather the contact information for those students seeking industry employment. We will then be sharing this information with our donors as a thank you for their continued support as we work towards assisting collision school programs and their ability to graduate quality, productive, and efficient entry-level staff ready for employment.” At the end of each fall and spring semester, students seeking industry employment will have the opportunity to submit their information to the database. CREF will work towards tracking the number of students who are hired by the industry and anticipates greater student participation with the database in the future. Companies looking to gain access to the collision student resume database and join CREF in supporting high school and college collision school programs should contact Brandon Eckenrode at (847) 463-5244 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation .org.

PPG Introduces EC550 En-V® Ultra Gloss Clearcoat

The Automotive Refinish business unit of PPG has launched EC550 En-V® Ultra Gloss Clearcoat, a new clearcoat formulated specifically for use with ENVIROBASE® High Performance waterborne basecoat. According to PPG, the new clearcoat is designed for outstanding gloss and ease of use. It is intended for overalls and multi-panel applications and is the latest addition to the Envirobase High Performance clearcoat lineup. EC550 incorporates PPG’s advanced En-V resin technology that is used in EC530 En-V Performance

Clearcoat. “The technology contributes to a superior appearance thanks to exceptional gloss retention and excellent flow and leveling qualities—properties that are critical for delivering premium OEM-level finishes,” states PPG. EC550 utilizes the same hardener/reducer combination as EC530 En-V Performance Clearcoat with a simple 3:1:1 mix ratio. EC550 can be sprayed in all application conditions, including extreme temperatures and humidity, and no polishing is required. Additionally, EC550 En-V Ultra Gloss is compliant for all refinish markets in North America. “We’ve given EC550 En-V Ultra Gloss all the attributes PPG customers have asked for,” said Tim Jones, Automotive Refinish segment manager. “It’s production-friendly, easy to apply and yields an unmatched luxurious gloss. It’s exactly what a premium Envirobase High Performance clearcoat should be.” To learn more about the Envirobase High Performance brand and other Automotive Refinish products, call (800) 647-6050 or visit www.ppg refinish.com.

74 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Audi Genuine Parts

Become an Audi Genuine Parts Fan

Order Audi Genuine Parts from these select dealers.

So. California

Audi of Downtown LA Los Angeles 213.747.7248 213.222.1261 Fax Ask for Carlos or Fausto

Department of Motor Vehicles Inspects Auto Repair Businesses For Proper Permits

fine Tuesday against Tinoco, who was forced to close his garage bays until he files for the DMV permit. Jose Tinoco achieved a longtime dream “I better do this as soon as postwo months ago by opening an auto sible,” Tinoco said while holding his body repair shop just south of Nellis Air citation. “I might lose a lot of money Force Base. if we stay closed for too many days.” Tinoco’s Auto Body and more than 40 other garages were visited Tuesday by 20 investigators from the DMV’s compliance enforcement team, who canvassed the city as part of the agency’s fifth annual “Impact Day,” aimed at making sure the businesses are properly registered. “Usually, we hear that the business owners didn’t know that they Linda Vantilborg, left, a compliance investigator had to register with the with the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, DMV,” said Lori Billingsley, a issues a citation to Jose Tinoco for operating an DMV supervisory compliance inauto body shop without a license, Tuesday, May vestigator. 17, 2016, in Las Vegas. Credit: Benjamin Hager, “Part of this is consumer Las Vegas Review-Journal protection because licensed reThe business bearing his name pair shops must have a bond,” Billingswas permitted by the secretary of state’s ley said. “If there’s any liability, the office and Clark County, but Tinoco consumer would have some recourse said he didn’t realize he needed to be li- by filing against the bond.” censed by a third agency: the DepartThe surprise visits Tuesday rement of Motor Vehicles. sulted in $1,500 fines for business That slip-up resulted in a $1,500 owners who failed to file for DMV by Art Marroquin, © Las Vegas ReviewJournal

permits. Another $1,000 was tacked on for those who weren’t registered with the state or county. In comparison, repair garages can register with the DMV for $26 annually, while auto body shops pay $301 a year. In total, the DMV collected $148,000 in licensing fees in the past fiscal year. Under state law, the DMV is charged with regulating the auto repair industry in Nevada by fielding consumer complaints about scofflaw mechanics, DMV spokesman Kevin

Malone said. Statewide, there are 312 body shops registered with the DMV as of Tuesday, and 1,582 repair garages. “If you have an unlicensed business, the consumer has no recourse,” Malone said. “The business can take your money, do shoddy work and then disappear.”

Continued from Page 68

Most Decorated

effort adds up and makes a difference, and you never have to second guess the outcome when you’re committed to excellence because you’ve done everything possible to succeed. When you look at winners, what separates them is follow through, not talent or effort—they focus on winning every single day,” Miller emphasizes. Before exiting the stage to a standing ovation, Shannon Miller stated, “It’s important to keep moving in a positive direction every day. When you’re repairing a vehicle, it’s not just a car—it’s that person’s livelihood, where they spend time with family, and how they protect their loved ones... Or maybe it’s a dad taking his little girl to the gym so she can pursue her dream of winning an Olympic gold medal. Each time you commit yourself to excellence, you are creating a winning aspect for everyone.”

Thank you Las Vegas ReviewJournal, Inc. for permission to reprint this article.

www.autobodynews.com CHECK IT OUT!

SO. CALIFORNIA Galpin Volkswagen North Hills

818-778-2005

Fax: 818-778-2090

www.galpin.com Volkswagen of Downtown LA Los Angeles

213-747-7246 Fax: 213-222-1272 Ask for Carlos or Erasmo

Volkswagen of Murrieta Riverside County

951-894-4721

To advertise Fax: 951-894-6278 call Advertising Sales at:

michael.potter2@hendrickauto.com

800-699-8251 e-mail:

NO. CALIFORNIA advertising@autobodynews.com Dirito Bros. Walnut www.autobodynews.com Creek Volkswagen Walnut Creek

925-934-8459

Fax: 925-934-0786

parts@dirito.com Be Seen by Our Readers! CALL Advertising Sales at:

800-699-8251

advertising@autobodynews.com www.autobodynews.com www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 75

CREF Helps Next Generation of Collision Repairers Find Jobs Seattle, Phoenix, St. Louis, Nashville and Chicago. The Collision Repair Education FounAccording to Eckenrode, “High dation (CREF) hosted career fairs school and college collision students, across the country as part of their instructors and school administrators Cars, Careers and Celebrities initia- who attended said that the events were tive. The organization coordinated 10 eye-opening to how many different types of companies are interested in employing the students. Instead of ‘just hearing about the industry’ from their instructors, students are able to physically see and meet these companies.” CREF’s Cars, Careers and Celebrities initiative is designed to introduce industry employers to local collision students who will be seeking employment. Students have the opportuStudents meet with the various companies involved in nity to see the variety of inthe collision repair industry dustry companies interested career fairs this spring. Brandon Eck- in their future, distribute resumes to enrode, director of development for potential employers, view product CREF, said, “The events went great. demonstrations, and network with each We’ve received great feedback from other. both vendors and attending students, Eckenrode noted, “These events and students are getting hired at these are meant to serve several purposes. events.” They address the industry’s aging The fairs were held in Houston, workforce issue by helping to connect Indianapolis, Orlando, Dallas, Denver, students with industry employees, by Chasidy Rae Sisk

AutoInc. Seeks Submissions for Top 10 Websites Contest

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) and its official publication, AutoInc. magazine, are inviting all current ASA members to enter the magazine’s annual Top 10 Websites Contest.

ASA will publish reviews of the Top 10 sites in the November-December issue of AutoInc. Winners will be sent extra copies of the magazine to display in their waiting rooms. Addition-

ally, ASA is pleased to announce that all winners will receive $95 off their next membership renewal. According to ASA, a shop’s website is its best business tool to attract and retain customers; aside, of course, from the consistent quality of service.

“AutoInc.’s Top 10 Websites Contest is a great opportunity for us to recognize our members for their hard work with their single greatest marketing tool,” said Leona Dalavai Scott, director of marketing and communications for AutoInc. “With an increasing number of motorists finding repair shops through online searches on their mobile devices, shops understand that their websites must be top-notch to capture consumers.” ASA’s panel of judges will provide a uniform evaluation of each site’s specific features, including:

▪ Mobile-friendly and mobile-ready ▪ Technical ▪ Innovation ▪ Call to action ▪ Credibility ▪ First impression/visual design ▪ Social media presence ▪ Objective/purpose ▪ Consumer friendliness

The deadline for this year’s contest is July 15. To access the entry form and contest guidelines, visit http://www .autoinc.org/top-10-websites/

76 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

they serve as motivation for students entering their collision education by revealing the opportunities available after they graduate, and they showcase to school administrators that the multi-billion dollar collision repair industry cares about these students,

Students network with their peers

which demonstrates that investing in their collision programs is worthwhile.” Although the job fairs were a great initial success, CREF is planning improvements, such as electronic registration for students, expanding to new cities, and getting more companies, schools and students involved. The organization also hopes to engage more school administrators in

the future, and they are developing a better system for tracking which students are interviewed and hired during these events. CREF also credits and thanks the Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Phoenix I-CAR Volunteer Committees, as those groups took the lead in organizing the events. CREF will look to get additional I-CAR committees involved to schedule even more career fairs in the future. CREF has released its job fair schedule for Fall 2016 which includes Chicago on September 16; St. Louis on September 23; Boston on October 5; Atlanta on October 20; and Columbus, OH on November 16. They also plan to visit Minneapolis, but the date has not yet been determined. Eckenrode “encourages companies who are interested in participating in these events to reach out to the Education Foundation.” For more information, contact Brandon Eckenrode at (847) 463-5244 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation .org.

YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE AT THE FIRST REPAIR. Choose Original MINI Parts. Because you can’t repair your reputation.

These Dealers Below Are Original MINI Parts Distributors:

So. California

Bob Smith MINI Calabasas

888-215-7854 818-340-9455 Fax

Original BMW Parts

bmwusa.com

Original BMW Parts

bmwusa.com

North Cou

www.ncoun

(800) 564-

North Cou

www.ncoun

(800) 564-

Original Thought #78

YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE AT THE FIRST REPAIR. When you repair a BMW, use the parts that are identical to those used in Series production – and just as reliable. Choose Original BMW Parts and Accessories. Because you can’t repair your reputation.

NO. CALIFORNIA Niello BMW

Sacramento 916-486-1299

SO. CALIFORNIA BMW of Murrieta

Murrieta 888-805-2393 951-698-2086 Fax www.bmwofmurrieta.com

BMW of Palm Springs Palm Springs 760-324-8314

Bob Smith BMW

Calabasas 818-340-9640 818-340-9455 Fax parts@bobsmithbmw.com

Center BMW Sherman Oaks 818-990-9518

New Century BMW

Alhambra 626-576-2867 www.ncbmw.com

Sterling BMW Newport Beach 949-645-8729

www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 77

AUTOBODY MARKETPLACE uctible: $1,000 Ded pportunity?

Problem or O

omers We help your cust ged with easily mana nts e installment paym airs! r rep for deductibles o

n Collisio ial Financ es Servic

WHEELS AMERICA

Stop wasting valuable time looking for cardboard or cleaning mixing boards!

Nine Locations in the USA!

• Thousands of OEM Remanufactured Wheels in Stock 101 • Lifetime Guarantee • CNC Quality • Powder Coated

Clean Sheets®® Mixing Boards are used by thousands of repair shops to mix epoxies, body filler, fiberglass, plastics, gel, putty and touch-up paint. • Prevents costly reworks • Bonded on 3 sides • Non-absorbing, heavy-duty paper with grip for mixing • Pays for itself the first week you use them!

Clean Sheets® “The Original Patented Mixing Pad

Since 1988”

Call your local Jobber or: 800-365-1308 www.cleansheetsmfg.com

COLLISIONFINANCIALSERVICES.COM

888-4-FIX-RIM $109 to repair with this ad www.fixrim.com

AN GE L EO R A T S

Repair System

www.therailsaver.com

Auto Body Best Location in LA • 6,700 sq. ft. & Mechanic • Long Lease Shop $175,000 OBO

For Sale Call 818-679-7947

A must have for quick and easy repairs of side members and frame rails! þ Reduce Cycle Times þ Repair More Cars þ NO Heating Necessary

916-316-3642 info@therailsaver.com

Looking for Good Collision Personnel? •1,262 Collision Techs resumes online •1,295 Painters resumes online •1,177 Estimators & Mgs resumes online •11,256 Mechanical Tech resumes online

ACTautostaffing.com or 727-733-5600

www.autobodynews.com

The source for timely information that every body shop needs!

CHECK IT OUT! When all you need to do is move a vehicle, use:

> EASY TO USE <

SAVES YOU TIME AND MONEY

Go to www.forkliftwrecker.com and watch our video.

877.593.6959

Advertise in our CLASSIFIED SECTION CALLinch! 800-699-8251 for $50 per column FREE

Place an ad in our AUTOBODY MARKETPLACE Mail Subscription section of Autobody News. To advertise

call Advertising Sales at:

800-699-8251 800-699-8251 e-mail:

ltedesco@autobodynews.com

advertising@autobodynews.com

www.autobodynews.com

Free

4x Mon

Call or e-mail now for rates: 800-699-8251 or ltedesco@autobodynews.com

www.autobo

78 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Be Seen by Our Readers!

Free

4 Times

PPG Foundation Awards Student Scholarships

The PPG Foundation, working with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), recently awarded scholarships to four students who have demonstrated a career interest in automotive repair and refinish. The scholarships, worth $5,000 each, are awarded annually to full-time students attending a post-secondary school with a focus or degree program in collision repair. The funds may be used to assist the students with educational expenses such as tuition, books, tools and equipment. The winners of the 2016 PPG Foundation Scholarships are: Richard Arnold (Utah Valley University, Orem, UT), Julie Brain (College of Lake County, Grayslake, IL), BreaAnna Miller (Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID), and David Morales Brain (College of Lake County, Grayslake, IL). In addition, money was raised for the PPG MVP Industry Student Scholarship Fund during PPG’s 2015 Fall MVP Business Solutions Conference in Nashville, TN. The fund was able to award a $1,000 scholarship to Amanda Barefoot (Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville, NC). “PPG’s automotive refinish

business and the PPG Foundation continue to work closely with the Collision Repair Education Foundation to support future professionals and develop the educational facilities the collision industry requires,” said Domenic Brusco, PPG senior manager, industry relations, automotive refinish. “By taking an active role in the education of collision repair and refinish students across the country, we help grow a skilled workforce to meet the demand for highly competent technicians amid ever-evolving technology. We congratulate our 2016 scholarship recipients.” Industry members interested in working with CREF to support secondary and post-secondary collision repair students, instructors and school programs should contact Brandon Eckenrode, director of development, at (847) 463-5244 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation .org. For information on how to donate to programs supported by CREF, visit www.CollisionEducationFoundation .org. To learn more about PPG, visit www.ppg.com. To learn more about the PPG Foundation, visit www.ppg communities.com.

Greg Coccaro Sr. Passes Away at 66 Greg Coccaro Sr., a much admired and well-respected member of the collision community, succumbed to cancer on Memorial Day. In 1970, Coccaro founded North State Custom, a Mercedes, BMW and Tesla certified shop in Bedford Hills, NY. North State was known for quality and integrity, and also for a protracted lawsuit waged against Progressive Insurance. Many saw it as a selfless fight for the industry and independent repairers. Search “Coccaro” on Autobody News for more on the Progressive suit. Coccaro’s Facebook page contains tributes from his many friends and colleagues, including the following statement posted by North State: “The Automotive Industry has lost a great friend, mentor, and ally. Gregory Coccaro Sr. was a beloved father, grandfather, husband and friend who did what he could to help others. His courage, inspiration, and dedication has forever changed the Collision Industry. You will be dearly missed. RIP Gregory Coccaro. You will forever be in our Hearts!”

Sherwin-Williams Announces Partnership with CARSTAR

Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes has announced a newly expanded partnership with Driven Brands as an approved automotive coatings vendor to the U.S. segment of CARSTAR North America’s network in the United States. “We deeply value our relationship with Sherwin-Williams,” said Michael Macaluso, president of CARSTAR North America. “Sherwin-Williams is well known as a world leader in the coatings industry, and we look forward to leveraging its products, infrastructure, operational expertise, and local support for our hundreds of franchises.” Rob Lynch, senior vice president of Sherwin-Williams Automotive added, “We are proud to expand upon our long standing strategic partnership with Driven Brands, and to partner with the U.S. team at CARSTAR. Our direct service model provides the perfect venue to support franchisees in delivering consistent, predictable outcomes that their customers expect. CARSTAR is a powerful force in the collision industry and we are pleased to be one of its preferred partners.” For more information, visit www.sherwin-automotive.com.

volvo Genuine parts

THESE DEALERS are GENUINE WHOLESALE PARTS SPECIALISTS.

California

Elk Grove Toyota 916-405-4700 800-952-5307 ELK GROVE

916-405-8045 Fax M-F 7am-7pm; Sat 8am-5pm www.elkgrovetoyota.com

Right Part. Right Price. Right Now. So. California

Galpin Volvo

NAN NUYS 818-778-2005 818-778-2090 Fax www.galpin.com

Trust your order to the collision parts specialists at these fine Dealers www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 79

80 JULY 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com