Collision Repair 19#2

CRISIS ALERT! A REPAIRER’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC!

PRAIRIE WISDOM

QUALITY ABOVE ALL ELSE

CSN OpenRoad Richmond Auto Body celebrates six decades on the front line of repairing!

SAAR’s Tom Bissonnette brings an industry all-star team to Saskatchewan!

HIGHVOLT JOLT Why you NEED to be EV ready

BITE INTO THE BIG APPLE This year’s NORTHEAST conference is too big to miss!

Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40841632 l 86 John Street, Thornhill, ON L3T 1Y2

PLUS: Elite Auto Body Solution’s Persuasive Positivity / Pandemic Responses Across the Industry / Understanding the Global Auto Market Meltdown / and MUCH, MUCH MORE!!

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CONTENTS

CRISIS ALERT! A REPAIRER’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC!

VOLUME 19, ISSUE 2 | APRIL 2020 PRAIRIE WISDOM

10

QUALITY ABOVE ALL ELSE

CSN OpenRoad Richmond Auto Body celebrates six decades on the front line of repairing!

SAAR’s Tom Bissonnette brings an industry all-star team to Saskatchewan!

HIGHVOLT JOLT Why you NEED to be EV ready

BITE INTO THE BIG APPLE This year’s NORTHEAST conference is too big to miss!

Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40841632 l 86 John Street, Thornhill, ON L3T 1Y2

PLUS: Elite Auto Body Solution’s Persuasive Positivity / Pandemic Responses Across the Industry / Understanding the Global Auto Market Meltdown / and MUCH, MUCH MORE!!

THE LOWE LEGACY Sixty years ago, Bob Lowe founded CSN OpenRoad Richmond Auto Body with a promise— that the business would put quality above everything else. Today, his son and grandchildren work together to keep Bob’s promise alive.

The Lowe family of CSN OpenRoad Richmond Auto Body.

64 DEPARTMENTS: PEOPLE ON THE MOVE | 08

Familiar faces take on unfamiliar titles!

REGIONAL NEWS | 70

Industry news from coast to coast!

TOWING NEWS | 86

News from inside the towing and recovery sector.

CarrXpert North America on the company’s all-in-one approach!

RECYCLING NEWS | 92

48

Cycling through auto recycling news!

FEATURES: BRAVE NEW WORLD | 66

Cybersecurity risks are growing—is your business prepared?

THE WINNING STREAK | 31

Collision Repair’s coronavirus watch⁠— how will it affect the aftermarket?

CSN North’s Autobody has snagged the award six yearsrunning—will they do it again?

GETTING DOWN TO DISINFECTION | 85

Your guide to disinfecting cars amid COVID-19.

COLLISION WITH CORONAVIRUS | 62

The automotive sector’s global collapse in detail.

TARGETED TACTICS | 96

Ontario recyclers get slammed in bylaw sting operations.

Mitchell International says the industry’s waves of electrification could shock collision repairers.

90

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 3

CONTENTS

28

EVENTS: YOUNG ACHIEVERS | 32

The Sam Piercey Foundation awards this year’s bursary winners.

SPRING FLING | 34

SAAR’s Spring Conference brings big names to Saskatchewan.

MOTORAMA MAYHEM | 38

Customs, classics and more on the show floor in Mississagua.

NORTHEAST TRADESHOW | 36

The show will go on—but in August.

Companies head to Centennial to scout the industry’s top talent.

44

COLUMNS: PUBLISHER’S PAGE | 06

Rising above the bleak perspective.

By Darryl Simmons

Explore the 63-year career of Carl Amous Roush!

TRAINING | 51

Solving Ontario’s premium problem

By Andrew Shepherd

89

INSIDER TIPS | 53

Never stop chasing your business bettering goals.

By Chelsea Stebner IN MY ESTIMATION | 55

Why you shouldn’t rush estimates.

By Kelly Roberts Celebrating the life of aftermarket champion Cyril ‘Cy’ Russel.

WHO’S DRIVING | 57

Showing your employees you care.

By Jay Perry

94

ENGINE KNOX | 59

Estimation in pandemic

By Steve Knox

FORTY | 60

The true cost of travel to sublet.

By Forty, a Progressive Estimator Allwest Auto Parts’ GM Steve Cox gets serious about the risks of findng narcotics in vehicles.

THE LAST WORD | 98

Our health is in your hands.

By Gideon Scanlon

HAVE YOUR SAY.

YOUR ONLINE SOURCE

We welcome your comments on anything you see in Collision Repair magazine. Send your feedback to editor@collisionrepairmag.com.

Canada’s collision repair information resource. New articles and top news stories daily. Visit collisionrepairmag.com.

4 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

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PUBLISHER’S PAGE

THE UNBREAKABLE INDUSTRY In desperate times, repairers embrace the spirit-of-innovation

T

“We are finding ways to accommodate customers who are nervous about entering businesses,” Mack told Collision Repair. “We have let them know that they can leave their keys in a vehicle, and we will handle things from there.”

Just outside Sudbury, the majority of local auto parts businesses may have shuttered their doors to wait out the virus. While they may have left their clients to fend for themselves, Steve Walden and his team at Walden Automotive

Even as a veritable plague descends upon the world, the spirit-of-innovation—long been a hallmark of the Canadian collision industry—is being harnessed by facilities across the country. fury and might of coronavirus descends on auto repair technicians, we will not break. As business leaders, it isn’t just the microscopic fight to worry about. With fewer cars on the road, there will be fewer accidents. This is a business dependent on piecework. How can you hope to keep a workforce together when the number of pieces drops drastically? How can you prevent workers from moving to places that are getting the volume to sustain them?

Here, though, there is good cause for optimism. For one thing, we have faced desperate times before.

For another, this industry thrives on pressure.

Even as a veritable plague descends upon the world, the spirit-of-innovation—long been a hallmark of the Canadian collision industry—is being harnessed by facilities across the country.

Just look at the work being done by at Pyramid Collision Centre in Neepawa, Manitoba. Its manager, Adrienne Mack, was one of the first industry leaders to implement new services aimed at encouraging business through the crisis.

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER OREST TKACZUK orest@mediamatters.ca EDITORIAL DIRECTOR GIDEON SCANLON (905) 370-0101 gideon@mediamatters.ca ASSOCIATE EDITOR ALLISON ROGERS allison@mediamatters.ca

BY DARRYL SIMMONS

hese are certainly interesting times we live in.

A few weeks ago, the industry felt stable after a decade of disruptions. The biggest challenges of certification and insurer relations were in the rear-view. But then, just when you thought it was safe, the industry gets slammed into global crisis—a pandemic.

These certainly are interesting, even desperate times—but, thankfully, Canada’s repairers are ready for it. Even as the whole

PUBLISHER DARRYL SIMMONS publisher@collisionrepairmag.com

have not. They are providing anxious customers with everything they need to rely on their vehicle through the next few months—come hell or high water!

“Customers have been keen to make sure that they have done everything possible to prepare—including getting their vehicles ready.” says Walden, adding—with some discomfort—that the crisis, “has been good for the business, at least.”

In fact, I think we’ve all become so used to sudden, dramatic and precarious shifts in the business that the idea of adjusting to the social isolation era is just not enough to phase us!

For those businesses that are working to safely and efficiently keep operating through the period of isolation, though, remember to celebrate that spirit-of-innovation.

If you do, it just might linger within your business—into the brighter days that are sure to follow!

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ASSISTANT EDITOR ELIZABETH SARGEANT elizabeth@mediamatters.ca ART DIRECTOR YVONNE CORVERS yvonne@mediamatters.ca GRAPHIC DESIGN KATIE STEVENS katie@mediamatters.ca VP OF INDUSTRY RELATIONS & ADVERTISING GLORIA MANN (647) 998-5677 advertising@collisionrepairmag.com INTEGRATED BUSINESS SOLUTIONS ELLEN SMITH (416) 312-7446 ellen@mediamatters.ca INDUSTRY RELATIONS ASSISTANT WANJA MANN (647) 998-5677 advertising@collisionrepairmag.com DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER CASSIE DOYLE cassie@mediamatters.ca CONTRIBUTORS ANDREW SHEPHERD, CHELSEA STEBNER, FORTY; A PROGRESSIVE ESTIMATOR, JAY PERRY, KELLY ROBERTS, STEVE KNOX

SUBSCRIPTION One-year $39.95 / Two-year $64.99 Collision Repair™ magazine is published bimonthly, and is dedicated to serving the business interests of the collision repair industry. It is published by Media Matters Inc. Material in Collision Repair™ magazine may not be reproduced in any form without written consent from the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising and disclaims all responsibilities for claims or statements made by its advertisers or independent columnists. All facts, opinions and statements appearing in this publication have been compiled and included with the permission, though not necessarily the endorsement, of the editor, or of independent columnist contributors, and are in no way to be construed as those of the publisher, or as endorsements of them.

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Collision Repair magazine is published by Media Matters Inc., publishers of:

WHY IS CUSTOMER SERVICE IMPORTANT FOR YOUR BUSINESS? Customer service has always been an important component of the collision repair experience for insurance carriers. However now, this metric has even more weight than ever before as it can actually be a key performance indicator (KPI) for many carriers.

So how do you ensure your repair center has that positive reputation both online and within your community?

Manage Customer Expectations Communicating with the customer at various touch points allows you to catch any question or concerns early. This way, you can address them immediately during the repair process, and does not leave room for any uncertainty down the road. This also shows the customer you care.

Address Negative Experiences No facility is perfect, and sometimes mistakes happen. If it is a repair issue, use it as a learning to educate technicians on what went wrong and how to avoid the issue again. If it is a service issue, extending the gesture of a small gas or coffee gift card will go a long way.

Focus on the Entire Experience Customer service extends far beyond actual customer interactions, as first impressions are vital. Considering every aspect of the customers’ experience, like the cleanliness of the facility, parking availability and even if you offer coffee – it simply shows you care.

If you do not want to sell to a consolidator, but want operational support to enhance your customers’ experience, consider joining the CARSTAR family.

To see if CARSTAR is right for you, call 888-638-5062 or visit CARSTARfranchise.ca

NEWS

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE RICK YATES — DRIVEN BRANDS CANADA Rick Yates has been named as the vice president, insurance relations for Driven Brands Canada. In the new role, Yates will oversee the development, strategic engagement and growth of insurance relationships and partnerships in Canada. He will also lead insurance relations teams for CARSTAR Canada and Uniban Canada. A graduate of British Columbia’s Institute of Technology, Yates has spent many years in the glass industry and held key positions in the insurance sector, most recently as a franchise partner and corporate employee at CARSTAR.

JEAN-MARC LECLERC — HONDA CANADA Honda Canada has announced that Jean Marc Leclerc will serve as its new CEO. Current CEO Dave Gardner will move to a new position at Honda’s U.S. division. Leclerc joined the Honda team in 1995 and has recently served as Honda Canada’s senior vice-president of sales and marketing. During his time at Honda, Leclerc has served as assistant vice president of marketing, overseeing the brand’s auto show revamping efforts, as well as assistant vice president of Honda’s motorcycle division and vice president of the risk management officer.

JOSEPH MCCORRY — FINISHMASTER Uni-Select has announced the appointment Joseph E. McCorry to the position of president and chief operating officer of FinishMaster, effective March 30. McCorry is a seasoned executive that touts more than 25 years in the automotive industry. He most recently served as a board member, general manager and vice president of the global business unit at ZF AG—a global supplier of systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology—where he led the OES business and strategic development of the company.

ADAM PATERSON — NISSAN CANADA Adam Paterson, the current managing director of INFINITI Canada, will take over from Steve Rhind’s as the director of marketing for Nissan Canada, effective April 1. His new responsibilities as director of marketing will include the planning and implementation of all marketing communications and media for national, retail, digital, customer relationship management, sponsorships and auto shows. He will also be responsible for the product planning, and day-to-day market actions on Nissan products while reporting to Steve Milette, president of Nissan Canada.

8 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

Together, creating the future of care and repair.

3M Automotive Aftermarket Division 3M.ca/CollisionRepair 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division, 3M Canada, P.O. Box 5757, London, ON, N6A 4T1

|

1-800-364-3577

3M and 3M Science. Applied to Life. are trademarks of 3M. Used under license in Canada. Š 2019, 3M. All rights reserved.

COVER

The Lowe family at CSN OpenRoad Richmond Auto Body, in Richmond, British Columbia. From left to right: Scott, Emily, Megan, Bob and Randy Lowe.

THE LOWE LEGACY For 60 years, CSN OpenRoad Richmond Auto Body has put quality above all else

BY GIDEON SCANLON

A

s its owner and staff prepare to celebrate the business’s 60th anniversary, CSN OpenRoad Richmond Auto Body has never looked better. Both the current owner, Randy Lowe, and his father, founder Bob Lowe, have reason to be proud.

In every way, CSN OpenRoad Richmond Auto Body is at the forefront of the industry. As the flagship operation of a four-location MSO, the 4,400 square-metre (48,000 sq. ft.) facility is large enough to house 50 of the network’s 121 employees. It is filled with all of the state-ofthe-art equipment required to meet the needs of the 12 OEM certifications it has received. It has a long-standing formal relationship with a local dealership group. It has a large number of

customers built on a word-of-mouth reputation for providing excellent repairs.

More importantly, both men feel the business lives up to its motto—Quality above all else.

Not so long ago, however, things almost came to an abrupt end.

In 2006, as Vancouver underwent a massive urban development campaign to prepare the city for the 2010 Winter Olympics, the Government began expropriating property.

Unfortunately for Randy Lowe, CSN OpenRoad Richmond Auto Body sat right in the middle of one of these planned construction projects.

“I just remember we all felt a lot of stress about the situation,” Randy’s daughter Emily recalls.

10 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

“I can remember my parents having the employees to summer barbecues at their cabin. From that, I learned that your employees are your greatest asset. You need to treat them like family, and to earn their respect.”

—Randy Lowe

COVER

At 26, Bob Lowe founded the collision centre in 1960, when Randy was just a few months old.

In 2006, the business’s first location was expropriated by the Government.

“There was some thought that the business might simply close.”

“My dad was really concerned about what it would mean for his employees. I think that is why he refused to give up.”

Fortunately for the Lowes, a different solution presented itself to Randy.

Some months before the expropriation notice was issued, Randy had heard that OpenRoad, a dealership group located in Richmond, was considering entering into a formal partnership with an auto repair business.

Randy was intrigued, but had eventually set the idea aside because of his uncertainty about how a partnership would work. While it may seem as normal today, in 2006 partnerships

between auto repair facilities and dealerships were a relatively new concept. Being a pioneer held little appeal to Randy—the risk of failure seemed too high.

By the time of the expropriation, however, an appropriate lot located quite close to the OpenRoad show rooms, was available—and the dealers remained interested.

Randy knew it was the best chance he would have to keep his staff employed.

“In 2006, we went into partnership with OpenRoad,” says Randy. “And, to do it, we built one of the largest facilities in Canada.”

Constructing the new site was no small

undertaking. By the end of 2006, Randy’s family noticed how dedicated he had become to the project.

“My dad used to leave for work at 5:45 a.m. and get home around 7 p.m.,” recalls Megan, who was in her mid-teens during the construction of the new facility. “I don’t believe the company would have had the level of growth or success had my dad not been so dedicated.”

“I think he felt a huge debt of gratitude to the team-members. Many had given the business decades of hard work,” says Emily. “My dad felt he could get this done for them—so he did.”

Randy’s above-and-beyond approach with his colleagues was something he learned during his first two decades in the business—during which his father and mother, Joan, were in charge.

In Bob and Joan’s minds, it was clear that the key to lasting success was founded on building an atmosphere of mutual respect in your team.

“Bob was tough but fair. He demanded the best from his employees but was always quick to acknowledge a job well done,” recalls longtime CSN OpenRoad Richmond Auto Body employee Pat Morrison, who worked with

Bob from 1988 until his retirement in 1999.

“Staff were well-treated and, so, willing to go the extra mile—if that meant staying late to get a car finished or taking paperwork home to keep the cash flow on track.”

Like many employees, Pat’s work ethic provided her with the opportunity to move up the ladders at the facility. Hired on as a receptionist, Pat still serves in a vital role in the company’s

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 11

COVER

In 2006, Richmond Auto Body entered into a new partnership with OpenRoad, a local dealership group.

billing department. Her big break came as a direct result of Bob’s desire to ensure the business provided the highest quality of service.

“Over the years, the company grew, and it was decided that a computerized program for collision centres was needed,” says Pat. “There wasn’t one commercially available, so a retired computer tech patiently worked with my co-worker and me to fine tune one he had developed.”

Pat isn’t alone in her assessment of Bob’s management style.

Arvind Prasad, a painter, who was taken on by Bob as a practicum student in 1978, now serves as the senior automotive paint technician. Like Pat, Arvind also highlights how Bob—and the rest of the CSN OpenRoad Richmond team—played a key role in his own career development.

“CSN OpenRoad Richmond Auto Body supported and encouraged me to advance and grow with the company. I have learned a lot in the last 42 years, and built my career in this industry,” says Arvind Prasad. “The compassion from management has kept me here.”

But it wasn’t just Bob’s employees who he was able to inspire. His approach to running the business also influenced his son Randy.

“I can remember my parents having the employees to summer barbecues at their cabin,” says Randy. “From that, I learned that your employees are your greatest asset. You need to treat them like family, and to earn their respect.”

At 4,400 square metres (48,000 square feet) in size, CSN OpenRoad Richmond Auto Body is one of Canada’s largest auto repair facilities.

More than either of his elder brothers—both of whom worked for the business in their youth— Randy loved auto repair. At 15, he took a part-time role as a cleaner at his father’s business.

By the time he graduated from high school, Randy was working full-time. He hasn’t looked back.

“I took over in 1999,” says Randy. “My brothers had left the business, and my dad and mom retired.”

Randy took his parent’s lessons about bringing out the best in his employees to heart. During the change-over period, he did his best to

12 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

“Staff were welltreated and, so, willing to go the extra mile—if that meant staying late to get a car finished or taking paperwork home to keep the cash flow on track.”

—Pat Morrison

COVER

“We have found that investing in our staff and giving them the opportunities for growth when they are available has helped us all. They have become more successful, and their work allows the company to expand and grow.”—Megan Lowe ensure that the change in management would not sour the familial feeling in the workplace.

Long-time employee Richard Cote, who had been hired by Bob in 1989, says Randy’s efforts were a huge part of why so many long-serving employees remained with the business.

“I want to thank Randy Lowe for all of his support during all the years we have worked together. The reason I have stayed with this company for more than 30 years is because it’s a family business—and they have made me part of their family.”

Just as Bob and Joan taught Randy of the importance of building an atmosphere of familial respect with employees, Randy is eager to share the lesson with his own children—all of whom now work alongside him in the business.

Today, the younger Lowes have all recognized the role the familial atmosphere has played in the success of CSN OpenRoad Richmond Auto Body.

“Even with the growth of our company over the past 10-15 years, we have always tried to keep a family type of atmosphere,” says Scott, 30, who serves as the collision centre manager.

“Every employee is welcome to provide suggestions and share observations. We do our best to make them feel valued.”

His youngest sister, Megan, who works in the front-end of CSN OpenRoad Richmond Auto Body, agrees—and points out that investing in employees and treating them well isn’t just a matter of principle, but something that pays employers dividends as well.

“There’s a reason why the majority of our managers started off in entry-level positions in their twenties. We have found that investing in our staff and giving them the opportunities for growth when they are available has helped us all. They have become more successful, and their work allows the company to expand and grow.”

For Emily, who now serves as the head of human resources and OEM certifications, the lesson is of special importance.

“When we first started investing in OEM training programs, I wondered whether we would ever be able to get all the team-members to agree to participate in so much training. I also worried that the staff would get sick of working around colleagues training schedules—however familial we all feel,” she recalls.

“Now that I have been here a while, I realize why we have been able to make it work. In this work-family, we all believe in putting ‘quality above all else.’”

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 13

BUSINESS NEWS

TESLA FEVER California-based Tesla has gotten itself in hot water. After California’s Governor implemented a state-wide order for the state’s citizens to shelter in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Tesla chief Elon Musk said work would continue.

In emails, employees were told production would continue, but that workers could remain at home. “I will personally be at work, but that’s just me. Totally OK if you want to stay home for any reason,” the famously mercurial Musk wrote to employees.

Investors were not entirely turned-off by Musk’s bravado. On March 18, Tesla stock sunk to a recent low-point of around $361 U.S. It closed out the week at about $427.50 U.S. Recent investors have been the most hard-hit. Tesla stock reached its value zenith on February 18, when shares rose about $917 U.S. While the company’s value is less than half of its 2020 high, its current price is near the point it was at the beginning of the year–about $4.30 U.S. Tesla’s eccentric CEO Elon Musk plays with a toy rocket. Musk will work through the Coronavirus, but tells employees it is “Totally OK if you want to stay home for any reason.”

CRUDE CRUNCH In late March, crude oil prices dropped to US$24.01 a barrel–a low not seen since the 1990s. According to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, the price is being driven down by Saudi Arabia and Russia. Russia and Saudi Arabia have ramped-up production, despite the decreased opportunity for profit. In Canada, low prices are particularly disastrous for Alberta’s petroleum sector. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated that the situation would exacerbate the economic woes facing Canadians during the Coronavirus outbreak. “It’s a sector that has been particularly hard-hit and we will look for further help to be able to support people as they get through,” the PM said.

The impacts of the low gas prices may be felt just as strongly further east, where Canada’s green economy may struggle to gain increases in market share. With gas currently averaging below US$0.70 at the pump, drivers of new vehicles may be less inclined to purchase an EV or hybrid vehicle. Whether this impact will be seen may depend on the consumer’s mood after car dealerships resume normal operations.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls on the OPEC nations to end their petrol price war.

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KAR BEFORE THE HORSE? By mid-March KAR Auction Services saw a 50 percent drop in its share value over six months. In mid-September, the stock was trading above $25 U.S. By mid-March, it sat at just $12 U.S. In 2019, the auto salvage wholesaler sold close to 3.5 million vehicles and generated $2.8 billion in sales. One of its brands, Adesa, owns more than 70 auction sites across North America. While the lack of auto manufacturing parts coming from plants in Asia due to the coronavirus outbreak is expected to increase the price of auto salvage, which was already near record highs, investors may be concerned that KAR Auction Services is too reliant on international online business to realign its business in time to capitalize.

The business has emphasized the importance of its online sales platform, through which 80 percent of its transactions now rely on. It says its customers use it from 80 countries.

BUSINESS NEWS

TOYOTA’S TEA LEAVES

Toyota’s plant in Cambridge Ontario. The brand’s Ontario production facilities were shuttered for two weeks after the OEM predicted an 80 percent drop in sales during the Coronavirus pandemic.

While it is not yet known what effect governmental calls for social isolation will have on vehicle sales, the tea leaves are not optimistic for manufacturers. Toyota expects to see sales drop by 80 percent in Canada during the coronavirus pandemic. In response curb its domestic production by closing factories across Ontario for at least two weeks. The company wrote a letter to its 8,500 workers, stating, “This action is being taken due to the increasing social and economic impact of the COVID-19 virus.”

CARVANA CHARGES FORWARD

A Carvana vending machine.

While dealerships may be seeing mammoth declines in vehicle sales, one unusual vehicle merchant is reaping the rewards of not requiring any showrooms to operate. Carvana, which sells vehicles at fixed prices through massive vehicle vending machines, became a stock market darling in the ten days after news broke that it had reached a deal with Ally Financial. By late March, Carvana’s stock was driven up by more than 56 percent–from $29.35 U.S.-per-share to US$52.95. The rises follow significant losses seen across the automotive sector since mid-February. At its peak on February 20, Carvana was trading at more than US$110. In 2019, Carvana stock rose by more than 180 percent. The previous year also saw its stock price rise more than 70 percent over 2017 prices.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 15

INDUSTRY NEWS

PARTS PUSH-THROUGH

YOUNG LEADER LOOKOUT

The closure of the U.S./Canada border is not expected to affect the collision repair supply chain. On March 18, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said trade will remain open and it is “critical to maintain supply chains” that link the two countries. The concession to the automotive industry was added after the Federal Government consulted Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association president Flavio Volpe. The mutual agreement puts a temporary stop to all non-essential travel and that American citizens would no longer be permitted entry into Canada. Canadian citizens are still allowed to cross the border.

The Automotive Industries Association (AIA) of Canada will announce its Young Leader of the Year award recipient at its next general meeting. The winning recipient will be invited to attend the 2020 AIA General Meeting. Candidates, who were forwarded to the AIA from the Canadian repair community, must be under the age of 45 and be involved with the AIA as a volunteer. The winner will be selected for their commitment to improving the position of the broader collision industry. AIA Canada’s General Meeting was initially scheduled for April 29 but will now be postponed amid the current health crisis.

SAAR SAYINGS

Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association, played a role in the Federal Government’s decision to ensure auto parts supply chains remained open, even as the Canadian-U.S. border stopped accepting most visitors from the U.S. into Canada.

RING, RING, RING AUTELEPHONE In early February, Autel has extended its hours of operation for tech support concerns.The tech support line will now be open for 12 hours daily?—from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST. Autel says, with the extended hours, West and East Coast shops open later will now have greater accessibility when speaking with a representative about tool registration and updates, diagnostic troubleshooting, ADAS calibration, TPMS and key programming procedures. Autel says its tech support team consists of experienced automotive mechanics and field technicians, many of whom speak English, Spanish and French. Previously, Autel’s tech support operated from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. Contact Autel’s tech support by phone at 855-288-3587, or by email at ussupport@autel.com.

Autel has extended its tech support hours to 9 a.m to 9 p.m. EST.

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In March, at the Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairer’s (SAAR) Spring Conference, Tom Julius, director of business development for Car-Part.com delivered a presentation highlighting how Car-Part’s Interchange Plus (CPI+) program has helped drive used parts usage in Saskatchewan. According to the presentation, used parts usage in Saskatchewan has jumped from four percent to more than 10 percent since the launch of CPI+ program in January 2019. From the start of January 2020 and through to March 11, Julius said 150 shops across the Prairie province have been installed with CPI+ Pro as an alternate part sourcing solution. According to Julius, CPI+ has 40 percent more parts with interchange than the industry standard.

While 160 parts have Hollander Interchange along with CPI+, 46 parts (29 percent of the results) conjured by the search offered exclusive CPI+. There are three categories covered by the program: full CPI+ with covered provided

by Car-Part; additional CPI+ coverage by Hollander for a certain year range, while CPI+ fills in coverage outside of that year range; and supplemental, which offers parts to specific manufacturers no longer covered by Hollander, such as Mitsubishis newer than 2009 and Mazdas newer than 2015.

Tom Julius, director of business development for Car-Part.com delivered a presentation on Car-Part’s Interchange Plus program at the March SAAR conference.

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INSURANCE NEWS

EYE-CATCHING CRASHES Being too flashy isn’t good for one’s health–or the health of one’s vehicle, a study has found. QuoteWizard, an end-to-end insurance solutions provider, has found that mini-vans and SUVs are the least accident-prone vehicles on the road, while mid-sized sports cars are the most. According to the report, which was produced by QuoteWizard analysts, and based on the business’s own proprietary data, ranked vehicles by their likelihood of being involved in accidents. While, by type, sports cars were the most accident-prone vehicles, exceptions to this trend were visible when the study broke down accidents by models. The most accident-prone model was the humble Hyundai Sonata sedan. The Jeep Patriot was also found to be particularly accident-prone, despite being an SUV.

INSURANCE INTRIGUE State lawmakers in Washington have passed a bill that would require insurers to cover OEM repair procedures or provide proof of their reasoning for not doing so. House Bill 2782 requires auto insurers to cover OEM procedures on vehicles insured under their policies. Washington repairers may be afforded some additional legal protection by the bill’s passage into law. Previously, across the U.S., not following OEM procedures had put repairers in legal jeopardy. While U.S. legal decisions have no bearing on Canadian law, their findings can be cited in court.

Passed in February, House Bill 2782 requires auto insurers to cover OEM procedures on vehicles insured under their policies.

18 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

A study from QuoteWizard found The most accident-prone vehicle was the humble Hyundai Sonata sedan.

INTACT INVESTMENT Major Canadian financial institutions have jumped at a special investment opportunity with Intact Insurance. TD Securities, BMO Capital Markets, CIBC Capital Markets, National Bank Financial, RBC Capital Markets and Scotiabank have reached a deal with Intact Financial Corporation to purchase 5 million non-cumulative class A shares at $25 each. The $125 million investment will yield 5.40% per annum, payable quarterly, as and when declared by the Intact boar of directors. The Series 9 Shares will not be redeemable prior to March 31, 2025. Over the past ten years, investors in Intact have seen their investments grow more than 3.9 times over. Investors have responded warmly, with Intact’s normal stock sitting at $151.79–a near-record price. The value of the investment will not grow–or fall–with other shares, as they are structured to pay out in a way more similar to high-yield bonds. The investment is indicative of the financial world’s belief that Intact is likely to continue to thrive in the next five years.

OEM NEWS

PLANTS PACK IT IN On March 18, Ford, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and General Motors announced that they would shut down all manufacturing sites in North America to counter the spread of Coronavirus. The OEMs said the earliest reopening date would be at the end of March, but it is now believed the closures will continue through the spring. The move was supported by Rory Gamble, president of the United Auto Workers Union.

Rory Gamble, president of the United Auto Workers Union.

COBALT FEELING BLUE Changes to the Tesla Model 3 battery’s chemistry are having knock-on effects on other industries. News that CATL, a Chinese battery manufacturer, will be supplying Tesla Model 3 with lithium iron phosphate batteries, rather than nickel-cobalt ones has shaken up the metals market. In the day after the news broke, the value of nickel dropped by about two percent in global markets. Its effects on cobalt prices remain unclear, but will almost certainly negative.

Named ‘cobalt’ after the German word for goblin, the metal was once considered a junk metal–which German-speaking miners considered to have been iron cursed by a capricious monster. Its value now is heavily dependent on its usefulness in high-tech applications. As the most popular EV model in the United States, about 400,000 Model 3s were sold with nickel-cobalt batteries. Each vehicle containing about 4 kg of cobalt, meaning the total amount of cobalt used in Tesla EVs is equivalent to about 1 percent of the world’s annual cobalt production. While the batteries contained nine times as much nickel as cobalt, about twenty times as much nickel is mined each year as cobalt.

INDUSTRIAL ACCEPTANCE Outrider, a Colorado start-up, has received $53 million U.S. in funding to further its autonomous vehicle development. Unlike many other start-ups, Outrider’s work is not consumer-oriented. Rather it works to provide electrified, autonomous vehicles capable of working in industrial settings. The company has developed a self-driving EV truck equipped with enough software to operate in industrial yards with the efficiency of a driven vehicle. Several major companies are running pilot projects with the vehicles.

The Tesla 3. The total amount of cobalt used in Tesla EVs was equivalent to about one percent of the world’s annual cobalt production.

SWITCHING IT UP

Outrider’s self-driving EV trucks are operating in industrial settings across the United States.

A future dominated by vehicle fleets is one step closer after the launch of an entry-level subscription car service. This week, Nissan launched Nissan Switch, a subscription service, in the U.S. Plans, which start at USD$699 per month plus a USD$495 one-time fee, provide subscribers with a vehicle rented for a maximum of 180 days, or 3,200 km–whichever is first. While Canadian collision repairers are unlikely to deal with OEM subscription vehicles until they are more widely available, Nissan’s new service does provide some insight into how repairs will be managed. According to Nissan, subscription vehicles are fully insured on a fleet insurance policy held by Nissan, but the subscriber has a $1,000 U.S. deductible (and a whopping $5,000 U.S. for the GT-R). Subscribers are liable for hail and flood damage. This appears to indicate that drivers, not Nissan, will be responsible for choosing where vehicles are repaired.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 21

OEM NEWS

WARRANTY REWRITE In a letter sent to drivers of its white cars, Toyota Canada announced a warranty enhancement program for owners of models painted in its blizzard pearl and super white colour schemes. Both designs, offered since 2008, have been known to peel off, leaving exposed base materials. The vehicles covered by the new warranty enhancement include 2010-2015 4Runners, 2008-2017 Camry HVs, 2008-2017 Camrys, Avalons and RAV4s, 2009-2018 Corollas, 2012-2015 Scion IQs and 2011-2015 Scion XBs. Lexus-branded GX470s from 2008-2009 are also covered. Adding additional coverage to the warranties is an unusual move for an auto manufacturers—especially for vehicles more than a decade old. Toyota, however, is known to be protective of its hard-fought reputation for reliability. When Toyota first became a major player in the North American auto sector in the 1970s, its vehicles were frequently derided as rust buckets. It was not until the 1980s that the brand managed to build-up its reputation for quality–after

Toyota Canada announced a warranty enhancement program for owners of models painted in its blizzard pearl and super white colour schemes, which are prone to peeling.

its engineers had become accustomed to designing vehicles capable of handling North America’s harsh winters and salted roads.

SHEARED SHIFT Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has confirmed it will be cutting production at its Canadian minivan plant, eliminating about 1,500 jobs as it wrestles with flattening demand for new vehicles. After nearly a year of extensions, FCA said it is cancelling the third shift at its Windsor, Ont. assembly plant, effective June 29.

The company is also phasing out the Dodge Grand Caravan, the output of which will cease at the end of May. Approximately 4,500 workers will remain in Windsor after the cuts. The plant will continue to build the Chrysler Pacifica, Pacifica Hybrid and Chrysler Voyager. According to FCA spokesperson Jodi Tinson, “the decision comes as the company works to align volumes with demand.” She said the company “will make every effort to place indefinitely laid-off hourly employees in open full-time positions as they become available based on seniority.” FCA first announced plans to eliminate the plant’s third shift in March 2019 but delayed the downsizing after outrage and disappointment from Unifor.

Unifor Local 444 has said it will continue to fight the shift loss.

Unifor Local 444 president, Dave Cassidy.

MAZDA’S MILESTONE Mazda is striving for stellar safety reputation—the brand recently claimed five Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) awards from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), beating out every other automaker. The 2020 Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback, CX-3 and CX-5 crossovers and Mazda 6 sedan all qualify for the TSP+ awards, while the three-row CX-9 snagged a Top Safety Pick award. A TPS+ award indicates a vehicle has received ‘good’ ratings in IIHS’s small and moderate overlap front crash tests, side-impact, roof strength and head restraint tests—but the list of qualifying criteria does not end there. While most vehicles today are able to earn ‘good’ scores on most crash tests, TSP+ award-winning vehicles must also have top-end ADAS scores and top-performing headlights.

The TSP+ award is the top safety billing the IIHS awards a vehicle, and the title stands above the Top Safety Pick (with no plus) moniker.

Mazda president Jeff Guyton

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TECHNOLOGY NEWS

MUSTANG MACH-E MISSES Pricing for Ford’s newest EV, the Mustang Mach-E was recently announced—though the highly anticipated vehicle does not qualify for Canada’s Federal EV rebate. The base price for the Mach-E is set at $50,495 prior to delivery and additional fees. In Canada, federal rebate-eligible vehicles must have six seats or fewer and a base-model trim with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of less than $45,000 —thus, the Mach-E misses the mark for the $5,000 rebate. The car will still qualify for provincial rebates in B.C. and Quebec, where owners can receive up to $3,000 and $8,000, respectively. The Mach-E is Ford’s answer to the waves of automaker electrification and features both a rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive version. It will be built in Mexico and will have a 480-kilometre range.

Ford’s Mustang Mach E will not qualify for federal EV rebates.

AUTONOMOUS APPREHENSION

MINING FOR MOTHER NATURE

Industry experts are concerned that, with the rise of autonomous vehicles, hackers could be launching more frequent small-scale attacks on cars with self-driving technologies.

While a massive, nation-sweeping attack is unlikely, smaller-scale attacks on connected cars are becoming a growing concern, says Josipa Petrunic, CEO of the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC). “The bigger concern would not be one virus taking us all down, but a whole host of viruses and a whole host of malicious attacks taking down a whole bunch of connected devices,” said Petrunic. Charles Eagan, chief technology officer at BlackBerry, said some organizations are already conducting vulnerability assessments on vehicles to make sure they are secure against cyberattacks. Eagan said Canada is pushing to create cybersecurity standards for internet-connected devices—including cars, adding that there is not a clear standard established yet. A 2018 Senate report on the future of automated vehicles said that, “without strong safeguards in place, cyberterrorists could take control of Canadian cars from halfway across the world.” It suggested Transport Canada “urgently develop vehicle safety guidelines for the design of automated and connected vehicles” and develop cybersecurity protocols for the transportation sector.

The Canadian government recently announced it will introduce tax write-offs for all-electric off-road vehicles and other automotive equipment in an effort to reduce carbon emissions in the country’s mining sector. The write-off will allow companies to expense the full cost of the equipment the year that it is put in use. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the surprise announcement at the annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada mining conference in Toronto. The types of available and eligible vehicles are set to expand each year, and the program specifies that the 100 percent write-off will be available for vehicles that will be used before 2024. It is expected to cost around $62 million over the next five years.

Charles Eagan, Chief technology officer at Blackberry.

24 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

THE BOSCH IN THE CLOUDS Diagnostics company Bosch initiated a partnership with Human Horizons, a mobility technologies company, to produce technology that connects electric-vehicle batteries with the cloud to extend battery life. The Battery in the Cloud service is being designed to improve the performance of EV battery life, charging efficiency, user experience and failure prediction. According to the company, Battery in the Cloud could enhance EV battery life by up to 20 percent, and 20 percent faster charging speeds.

Bosch headquarters in Germany. While today, the company is best known for its auto parts, until the mid-1940s, it was most famous for its manufacturing of parts for aeroplanes.

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

VOYAGE AVEC VOLTAGE French start-up EP Tender has an innovative solution for EV owners that want a little more battery capacity—but it may require them to add a little junk to their EV’s trunk. The company builds trailers for EVs providing an additional 60 kilowatt-hours of power—for reference, that could snag you around an extra 322 kilometres in driving distance.

French start-up EP Tender’s trailers allow EVs enough power to travel an extra 322 kilometres—about the distance between Toronto and North Bay.

ELECTRIC SLIDE

BOOSTED BATTERIES

At the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto more than 40 varieties of hybrid and fully-electric plug-in vehicles were displayed. These were just a small fraction of what consulting company McKinsey & Co. expects to be on the market soon. It says 400 fully electric models will hit the market globally by 2025, including 113 in 2020.

General Motors expects its battery costs to fall below the level analysts suggest would make EVs competitive with internal combustion vehicles, said the automaker as it previewed more than a dozen of its upcoming electric models. Through GM’s proprietary Ultium, batteries will cost less than $100 U.S. per kilowatt-hour, and allow for a driving range of up to 640 kilometres on a full charge, according to the automaker.

That’s roughly 50 percent more than the 416-kilometre range touted by the Chevrolet Volt. The Ultium batteries have large-format, stackable pouch-style cells for more flexibility, according to GM.

Guests at the 2020 Canadian International Auto Show just saw 40 of the estimated 113 EVs set to be released in 2020.

Automate your HD estimate To learn more, call 1-844-AUDATEX or email sales.canada@audatex.ca

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 25

BELIEVE IT OR NOT NEWS

CLOGGED CAUSEWAY Ontario’s Highway 401 had quite the clog when two trucks collided and unleashed thousands of rolls of toilet paper onto the busy roadway. The incident occurred near the Thousand Islands U.S. Bridge. One of the trucks hilariously happened to be carrying a lifetime supply of toilet paper rolls, which exploded onto the highway post-crash. Once the internet got a hold of the strange news, the puns started pouring in. “They’ll just have to roll with it,” joked one Twitter user. “This mess should be wiped up pretty quickly,” wrote another.

Highway 401 was even more clogged than usual after a transport truck toppled over in January.

LARGE AND IN CHARGE

EMOJI ROAD RAGE

After discovering an old military firetruck in a local wrecking yard, auto enthusiast Kirk Strawn had a wild idea–built the biggest Volkswagen Bus the world has ever seen. The massive masterpiece was built on the chassis of a 1963 military firetruck and is outfitted with two floors, 85 speakers and neon lights.

It stands at a whopping 13 ft. 2 in. and contains absolutely no VW parts. The Bus, affectionately named Walter, is exactly twice the size of an original VW Bus, which debuted in 1950.

Lawmakers in Vermont are currently engaged in a rigorous debate involving the state’s license plates—should it allow its motorists to request plates with emojis plastered on them?

Democratic representative Rebecca White introduced the draft bill in January and, if approved, could create a license plate that adds an emoji to the random numerical sequence assigned. Drivers would be allowed to choose from six pre-approved emojis—though the state has yet to reveal which six it has in mind.

If a Vermont draft bill is approved, the state’s plates could get a lot more mouthy.

TRANS-CANADA TOPPLE

Kirk Strawn’s giant VW bus is exactly twice the size of the original model.

26 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

A car hauler recently took a nasty tumble along the Trans-Canada Highway when it rolled over, taking the seven vehicles it was carrying for a rowdy ride. The incident occurred just west of Swift Current, Sask. and police blamed “large ice buildup” for the crash. The vehicle had hit an icy patch and came to rest in the middle of the two-lane highway. The semi was originally travelling east but, after hitting the icy terrain, it ended up facing west.

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partner and to have its ADAS calibration committed to including FCW and city-speed Hands-on system taught by its instructors. I-CAR is AEB asAutel’s standard equi p ment on thei r vehi c l e s Autel’s Hands-on Approach to ADAS Advertorial a renowned, non-profit collision industry effecti v e September 2022.

Vehi c l e s wi t h these Approach to ADAS Advertorial knowledge-base and teaching organization that systems are found to have fifty percent fewer provides collision repair training to more than front-to-rear crashes when compared with cars A sneak-peak at Autel’s Training without the systems. Stil it is not a colli- Academy, focused on ADAS calibration 14,000 individual businesses and more than 91,300 students annually. sion-free world and special attention is needed when servicing these vehicles.

Autel’s systems are designed for different users. Autel’s first generation ADAS calibra- Later this year, Autel will be rolling out Autel, a leading developer of automotive tion frame system is designed for collision, calendar-wide, full-day, ADAS training diagnostic scan tools, produces two ADAS windshield replacement and alignment shops classes in garage venues throughout North calibration systems, a standard frame and a that can dedicate space within their shop America. ADAS classes will also be available mobile frame system, that enable technicians for calibrations while the MA600 calibration at Autel’s New York-based headquarters. to efficiently calibrate cameras, Lidar, night vi- frame system is designed for mobile technision cameras and radar systems that send data cians. This portable, folding system can be to these increasingly popular safety systems. taken to other shops to perform calibrations. 175 CENTRAL AVENUE, SUITE 200 FARMINGDALE, NY 11735 Autel’s calibration systems include patterns, While each system aligns the vehicle with the • USSUPPORT@AUTEL.COM targets, radar and night vision calibration tools frame differently, the essence of the calibra- • 855-288-3587 and are used with the MaxiSYS ADAS software. tion process is the same.

• WWW.MAXISYSADAS.COM

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here are close to 60 million vehicles with some type of Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) on with the road today. dramatic here are close to 60 million vehicles some type This of Advanced rise has greatly accelerated the need for technicians, especially Driver Assistance System (ADAS) on the road today. This dramatic those in collision repair, to learn how calibrate ADAS-input devices rise has greatly accelerated theto need for technicians, especially such radar after they been replaced or reinstalled. thoseasincameras collisionand repair, to learn how have to calibrate ADAS-input devices such as cameras and radar after they have been replaced or reinstalled.

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Camera-dependent systems such as Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Around View Camera-dependent systems such as Lane Monitoring (AVM) and radar-based systems Departure Warning (LDW) and Around View such as Forward Warning (FCW), Monitoring (AVM)Collision and radar-based systems Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and such as Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) are just a few of Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and the systems becoming standard equipment Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) are just a fewonof lower-priced May 2018, backupon the systems vehicles. becomingInstandard equipment cameras became a federally feature lower-priced vehicles.

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TEL: 855.288.3587 • EMAIL: USSUPPORT@AUTEL.COM AUTEL.COM • MAXITPMS.COM • MAXISYSADAS.COM

and are used with the MaxiSYS ADAS software.

TEL: 855.288.3587 • EMAIL: USSUPPORT@AUTEL.COM AUTEL.COM • MAXITPMS.COM • MAXISYSADAS.COM TEL: 855.288.3587 EMAIL: • U.S. USSUPPORT@AUTEL.COM ©2020 AUTEL INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED AUTEL.COM • MAXITPMS.COM • MAXISYSADAS.COM

©2020 AUTEL U.S. INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

©2020 AUTEL U.S. INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

In addition to communicating with the ADAS modules and initiating calibration, Autel’s In addition to communicating with the ADAS ADAS software itself acts as a training guide modules and initiating calibration, Autel’s for setup of each calibration, with detailed ADAS software itself acts as a training guide illustrations for proper frame positioning, and for setup of each calibration, with detailed instructional videos enabling the technician to illustrations for proper frame positioning, and perform every step in the calibration process. instructional videos enabling the technician to The tablet displays the basic vehicle requireperform every step in the calibration process. ments to ensure consistent vehicle height The tablet displays the basic vehicle requiresuch as parking on a level ground, ensuring ments to ensure consistent vehicle height fuel and fluids are filled, and that the vehicle such as parking on a level ground, ensuring carries no additional cargo. Each procedure fuel and fluids are filled, and that the vehicle screen lists the tools needed including the carries no additional cargo. Each procedure correct vehicle-specific target or pattern part screen lists the tools needed including the number. The tablet displays exact OE-specific correct vehicle-specific target or pattern part measurements and easy-to-follow number. The tablet displays exact instructions.

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measurements and easy-to-follow instructions.

The tablet will prompt the technician to perform needed actions including an all-systems The tablet will prompt the technician to perPre-Scan to ensure the systems on the veform needed actionsallincluding an all-systems hicle are checked Pre-Scan to ensureforallfunctionality the systems regardless on the veof the site and the severity of the collision. hicle are checked for functionality regardless The Pre-Scan verify of thethe presence and of the site andacts the to severity collision. status of any ADAS module.

After repairs and The Pre-Scan acts to verify the presence and calibrations, the technician is prompted to run status of any ADAS module. After repairs and acalibrations, Post-Scan to document foristhe insurance the technician prompted to run company andtothe end-userfor allthe thatinsurance was done. a Post-Scan document

company and the end-user all that was done.

Autel has an in depth and ever-growing video library dedicated to instructing users in video the Autel has an in depth and ever-growing use of both calibration systems users and associated library dedicated to instructing in the tools to calibration perform allsystems the types of associated ADAS use ofand both and calibrations they can do including front coltools and to perform all the types of ADAS lision, around-view monitoring, rear collision calibrations they can do including front colcameras, night vision systems and on lision, around-view monitoring, rearradar collision domestic, Asianvision and European vehicle lines. cameras, night systems and radar on

domestic, Asian and European vehicle lines.

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Later this year, Autel will be rolling out calendar-wide, full-day, ADAS training Later this year, Autel will be rolling out classes in garage venues throughout North calendar-wide, full-day, ADAS training America. classes will also be available classes inADAS garage venues throughout North at Autel’s New York-based headquarters.

America. ADAS classes will also be available at Autel’s New York-based headquarters.

175 CENTRAL AVENUE, SUITE 200 FARMINGDALE, NY 11735 175 CENTRAL AVENUE, SUITE 200 •FARMINGDALE, USSUPPORT@AUTEL.COM NY 11735 • 855-288-3587 • USSUPPORT@AUTEL.COM • WWW.MAXISYSADAS.COM • 855-288-3587 • WWW.MAXISYSADAS.COM

TRAINING TIME

SCOUTING SUCCESS The auto repair industry is on the hunt for talent—and Centennial’s got it in droves

BY ALLISON ROGERS

Bramgate Automotive’ collision centre was also there to scan the Centennial scene.

Highland GM’s team was all smiles as they attracted new apprentices.

Carl Mohammed and Carina Martinez of Assured scoped the scene at Centennial for potential apprentices!

AWIN was there to win over some A1 talent.

The team from Coventry North Jaguar Land Rover was also scouting the talent pool.

T

he air was thick with ambition at Centennial College on March 4 during the eighth annual open house for the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association and autobody repair facilities, which gave aspiring apprentices the opportunity to explore the industry and network with potential employers.

Students from Centennial College’s Autobody and Collision Damage Repairer program filled the room at Centennial’s Progress Ave. campus, prepped and primed for an afternoon of networking opportunities with notable names in collision repair.

Present at the show were several groups from across the GTA scouting to fill apprenticeship opportunities, including Assured Automotive, AWIN Advanced Auto Body Centre, Bramgate

The family-run Zanchin Automotive group was also in attendance.

Collision Centre, CSN Avenue, CSN 427 Auto Collision, Excellence Auto Collision, Fix Network Canada, Highland GM Chevrolet Buick GMC, MTB Transit Solutions, Ontario Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM, Performance Auto Group, Pfaff Auto Group, R Ferri Automotive and Simplicity Car Care, Tropicana Employment Centre and Weins Canada.

Assured Automotive was out scanning the scene for potential tech talent, said Carl Mohammed, Assured’s business development manager.

“As we are looking to grow our network in size, we can only do this if we have talented employees to help us reach this target,” he told Collision Repair. “The program at Centennial College creates students with the caliber of

28 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

talent which we are looking for – this is why so many other organizations look forward to these events hosted by Centennial.

“What we look for in a potential Apprentice is their knowledge of our company and the industry in general. Do they have a sense in what area of the collision repair process they gravitate toward; prep, paint, body work, etc.

Finally, we look to see how they engage us in a conversation. Given how repair processes are evolving, teamwork now plays even a bigger role in getting the job done–effective communication is key.”

According to Carina Martinez, Assured’s talent acquisition manager, Centennial’s talent pool proved “very strong.” Martinez was able to interact with students graduating this April— this year’s incoming group of apprentices—as well as students set to start their careers in April 2021.

For more information on Centennial’s Autobody and Collision Damage Repairer program, visit centennialcollege.ca.

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ON A READERS CHOICE ROLL At CSN North’s, customers and quality come first

The team at CSN North preaches quality repairs and workmanship—always.

BY ALLISON ROGERS

C

SN North’s is on a readers’ choice roll— the facility has won the award from the Annapolis Valley Harvester for six straight years, earning itself the title of ‘Best Auto Body Shop’ in its Nova Scotian community.

The shop first opened its doors in 1975 and has preached quality repairs and workmanship ever since. According to owner Fred North, it’s always had that same reputation around town.

“We’re known in the community as a top shop that always focuses on quality repairs and workmanship,” North told Collision Repair. “We have always invested in the latest equipment to complete quality repairs on

modern vehicles—from welding equipment to measuring systems.”

North says he typically sees around 25 vehicles cycle through the facility each week.

He also says it stays ahead of the curve by keeping in touch with the latest technology.

“Staying up to date with the most modern equipment and procedures out there is very important to us. That’s what we need to thrive nowadays,” said North. “Catering to our customers and giving them exceptional service is what we strive for at North’s.”

When asked if he thinks his shop will snag the award for a seventh straight year, North seemed optimistic.

North’s has claimed the award each year since it was introduced in 2014.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 31

SKILLED SCHOLARS

Catherine Mathewson won gold in the car painting segment at the 2019 Skills Ontario regional competition, as well as in the 2019 Skills Canada national competition. Nicole Sheetka and Carrie Long claimed silver and bronze, respectively.

CONTINUED COMMITMENT Sam Piercey Foundation announces annual bursary recipients

BY GIDEON SCANLON

T

he Sam Piercey Foundation recently announced the recipients of its annual bursaries.

The prizes are awarded to the winners of Skills Canada competitions to fund post-secondary training in the collision industry. This year’s awards were funded by Consolidated Dealers and Budds’ Collision.

Each of the winners receives an $800 bursary administered by Skills Canada, by way of the Sam Piercey Foundation.

“When the opportunity presented itself, we jumped at the chance to contribute on behalf of the CCS Network and Consolidated Dealers,” says Mike Beier, of Consolidated Dealers. “Sam was a friend, mentor and influence in the lives of many in our industry and we are proud to support his continued legacy through the Foundation.”

“The foundation and these bursaries demonstrate our continued commitment to developing new people and bringing them in to the industry. We are looking forward to many more years of supporting young talent in collision repair,” says JR Martino of the continued commitment from Budds’ Collision in Oakville, Ontario.

The foundation is named in honour of the late Sam Piercey, the co-owner of Budds’ Collision and Paint Services in Oakville, Ontario and a longtime columnist for Collision Repair. Both in-person and in his column, Point Blank, Piercey was a passionate advocate of the industry and its tradespeople.

The Sam Piercey Foundation is seeking provincial partnerships to fund bursaries in each of the other Canadian Provinces where the competitions are held.

In addition to the funds provided by the bursary partners named above the Foundation also raises funds at the annual pig roast held in December at Budds’ Collision in Oakville, Ontario. The date of this year’s BBQ hasn’t been announced yet. The event is open to everyone in the industry.

If you would like to be included on the invite list please email J.R. Martino at jrmartino@buddscollision.com.

For inquiries about the foundation or to fund a provincial bursary please email Bing Wong at bwong@hailrepair.ca.

To find out more, visit the Sam Piercey Foundation’s website at spfoundation.ca.

32 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

National Skills Competitions: Bursary funded by Consolidated Dealers and Budds’ Collision

Car Painting winners: • Post Secondary — Gold: Catherine Mathewson, Ont. • Secondary — Gold: Jas Dhillon, Alta.

Auto Body winners: • Post Secondary — Gold: Borden Ylioja, Sask.

• Secondary — Gold: Keegan Watkins-McIntyre, Man.

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EVENTS

SPRINGING INTO SUCCESS SAAR’s Spring Conference came to dominate

BY ALLISON ROGERS

T

he Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairers (SAAR) held its annual Spring Conference March 13-14, live-streaming the events live on its Facebook page for those concerns about the ongoing coronavirus health crisis.

This year’s spring fling held heavy emphasis on the industry’s advancing technologies and adapting to the widespread digitization of the automotive industry.

Featured speaker Mike Anderson, CEO of Collision Advice, kicked off the event on the Friday morning at 10 a.m.

Last year, Anderson addressed the SAAR Spring Conference crowd with a presentation focusing on the future of automotive repair. He told the audience that, to succeed in this industry’s current climate, shops need to look at where the industry is going and adapt accordingly.

This year, Anderson set the tone for the event by asking crowds if they wanted to succeed, or to “dominate” their markets.

Frank Terlep continued the theme as he took to the stage to elaborate on digitization as an industry disruptor.

“It’s not just about the collision industry now,” said Terlep. “It’s the entire automotive industry. The bodyshops are being disrupted,

34 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

the dealerships, the OEMs—it iss everyone.”

In his discussion, he covered how the digitalization of the automobile is changing modern repairs and how to adapt to new calibration and test drive environments and solutions.

“Unless you get your act together and invest in digitizing your business, you won’t succeed,” he scolded.

The action continued on Saturday, March 14, as Ciaran Downes presented an update on SGI’s Safe Quality Auto Repair Program.

Downes shared some concerning stats regarding SGI’s incoming regulations for bodyshops.

According to Downes’ data, only five percent of shops are set to qualify for Tier 2 certification and 15 percent for Tier 1 certification. A further 35 percent of shops have yet to apply for the OEM repair subscription altogether that’s around 75 to 80 prairie shops.

“Folks, this stuff doesn’t happen by osmosis,” said Tom Bissonnette, director for SAAR in

EVENTS

Photos courtesy of Karl Kirscheman of Spanesi America

his Spring Conference roundup email. “You must get engaged sooner rather than later. We are only one year from the new accreditation guidelines becoming compulsory and, if you do not meet them by Mar. 1, 2021, you drop to a $46-per-hour labour rate!”

Mike Gilliland, president of AutoHouse Technologies, also presented on Saturday, discussing the industry benchmarks that the company is tracking for the four western provinces. He explained that the key measurements shops need to focus right now are not cycle times, but touch-times.

“Shops have a lot of control over touch time,” he told the crowd. “The more we can keep our technician’s hands touching the vehicle, the better all other benchmarks like cycle times, gross profits and customer satisfaction will be. Too much ‘work in progress’ or poor internal processes are the major cause of poor touch time.”

Tom Julius from Car-Part Pro was present to deliver an explanation of what the company has done to significantly impact the use of

salvage parts in Saskatchewan. Essentially, he said used parts usage has gone up from around four percent to more than 10 percent since Car-Part’s program rolled out—and, with the pending parts shortage due to coronavirus, the company’s program could be a lifesaver, said SAAR representatives.

Dale Hawkins of Saskatchewan Polytechnic was also at the Spring Conference to share the news that the college has taken possession of its new Virtual Spray Machine that SAAR members and sponsors raised funds for.

Scott Nolin from Sask Apprenticeship continued on the theme of tech talks. His presentation featured a short report on the need to expand current apprenticeship training endeavours to accommodate new and emerging vehicle technologies.

He mentioned that any additional training will have to be industry-driven, and the process could take up to 18 months to initiate, adding that there will be more details in the coming months.

There were also some international visitors

at the Spring Fling. Betag’s Dave Flockhart travelled from the U.K. to address SAAR attendees in a panel discussion on advanced metal repair training.

Panellists spoke about their training experiences, sharing how they were able to quickly repair previously considered non-repairable panels using the Betag training and tools.

According to SAAR, Betag’s training has the potential to significantly improve shop touch times, improve gross profit, reduce cycle times, reduce total losses and improve overall customer satisfaction. The next training class is scheduled to take place from May 11 through May 15 in Saskatoon. If you are interested, please contact dir@s-a-a-r.com for details. SAAR encourages prairie repairers to mark their calendars for the organization’s Fall Conference, to be held on September 11 and 12 in Saskatoon.

According to Bisonnette, it’ll be an event you won’t want to miss—chock full of presentations from OEM representatives, a talk from Dave Luehr, founder of Elite Bodyshop Solutions, and a full-blown product trade show.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 35

UPCOMING EVENTS

New York, New York—it’s a wonderful town.

NORTH TO NORTHEAST Canadians prepare to take a bite out of the Big Apple at the NORTHEAST conference

BY GIDEON SCANLON

A

n adventurous bunch, Canada’s collision sector has long been drawn to the lights and action of the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, which is held in Las Vegas each November.

Fortunately for the industry’s many thrill-seekers, another U.S. industry show holds the promise of even more excitement—if not better weather.

If there is just one place in the United States more exciting than Las Vegas, it is the Big Apple.

And if there is one reason for Canadian repair professionals to go to New York, it is for NORTHEAST. Originally scheduled for March 20-23, the show was rescheduled amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and will be postponed to this summer.

From August 21-23,, thousands of collision industry professionals will gather at the Meadowlands Exposition Centre just outside of New York City for NORTHEAST, one of North America’s most popular collision industry conferences.

Hosted by the Alliance of Auto Service Providers of New Jersey, the event is an industry-specific convention expected to bring thousands of repairers to Secaucus, New Jersey, just five miles from Manhattan Island.

“NORTHEAST is an event tailored specifically to fit the needs and wants of today’s

36 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

SAVE THE DATE Key details about NORTHEAST 2020 NORTHEAST 2020 is happening March 20-22, 2020. Show hours are as follows:

Friday, August 21: 5pm – 10pm Saturday, August 22: 10am – 5pm Sunday, August 23: 10am – 3pm Meadowlands Exposition Centre 355 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, NJ 07094.

UPCOMING EVENTS

professionals,” the organizers promise. “[It is] geared toward fostering optimal success in the market, whether you are already a seasoned professional or are just starting out.”

While Canadians have traditionally been more likely to attend the more broadly focused SEMA Show in Las Vegas, North-ofthe-Border interest in NORTHEAST is at an all-time high.

It is not just its location that is generating this buzz—though it is conveniently located for many repairers living in Ontario and the more easterly provinces.

NORTHEAST, which first ran in 1978, has far more to offer Canada’s repair community.

Those who enjoy the opportunity to walk the tradeshow floor will enjoy 6,000 sq. m (60,000 sq. ft) of uninterrupted collision-oriented vendor booths.

Those seeking to hone their repair techniques can also attend a number of automotive repair industry training classes from I-CAR, MEA, AMI and ASE—for which tuition is required.

Many free courses will also be available.

Of course, the event will also include a number of panel discussions touching on the hot-button issues facing North American collision facilities, and speeches from some of the best-recognized thought- leaders in the collision sector.

In a co-presentation with Danny Grendingberg of DEG, Collision Advice’s Mike Anderson will discuss how to use vehicle owners manuals to educate insurers and customers about necessary repairs.

Quick facts about the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers/New Jersey (AASP/NJ), • T he AASP/NJ is the state’s largest association of collision and mechanical repairers, and is dedicated to the success of New Jersey’s automotive repairers • It was founded in 1963 to address the growing number of industry-wide concerns facing New Jersey’s auto repairing community • Today, the AASP/NJ provides the technical expertise, management information and resources necessary to help repairers succeed in today’s competitive automotive industry • The AASP/NJ is involved in SkillsUSA participation and funds related sponsorship • It also offers secondary and post-secondary outreach programs

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 37

EVENTS

AUTO LOVE IN A TIME OF CORONAVIRUS Motorama brings auto enthusiasts together in Mississagua

BY ALLISON ROGERS

G

uests at the sixth annual Motorama Custom Car and Motorsports Expo were treated to a veritable buffet of custom builds, classic masterpieces and celebrity guests.

Held at Mississauga’s International Centre, in Ontario, from March 13 to14, the event was originally scheduled for three days. The final day was cancelled after promoters decided it could help spread the COVID-19 virus.

Almost 400 vehicles filled the venue.

Hall 1 was packed with 28 vehicles, most of which had never been seen on display.

Hall 1B was dubbed the Inside Track Racing Zone Presented by Stoneridge Specialty Insurance. With more than a dozen booths presented by the region’s racing tracks and series, the Racing Zone also featured a stock car build and dozens of racing vehicles of all kinds in the Racers’ Corral.

Hall 2 played host to the majority of the show’s corporate displays as well as the bulk of the car club exhibits, the Pinty’s Stage and the new Truck-O-Rama feature, which was a very popular new addition to Motorama. Watch for this to grow in the future.

In Hall 3, Kristine Hill put together the fifth annual Spring Fever: Modified Cars & Culture

Grand Champion Presentation.

Builder Marc McCrae of Fast Company Canada (in red) accepts the $5,000 cheque and awards.

room. More than 80 tuners, modifieds and imports filled the room, which was sponsored

by Oakville’s Burning Rubber Tire & Speed.

And in Hall 4, Brandon Roberts—known as the co-promoter of the Jalopy Jam-Up—hosted Mayhem…in the Backroom, for the second year in a row. In addition to more than 60

38 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

traditional cars and rat rods, Mayhem hosted barbers, tattoo artists, pinstripe artists, vendors and bands. Suzie Major presented the second annual Miss Motorama Pinup Pageant, on the Saturday of the show.

On the Saturday morning of the show, judges identified the Canadian 10 finalists. These

EVENTS

Chad Martin’s truck, dubbed ‘Brutally Sexy’ was one of the featured vehicles. The vehicle, which started life as a ‘36 Chevy Sedan, is a 750 HP dually pickup. Martin hails from North Carolina. Show organizers originally saw the truck at last summer’s Syracuse Nationals.

Constance Nunes, co-star of the Netflix show Car Masters: Rust to Riches came from southern California to meet fans at Motorama.

Viv Agresti’s 1959 Corvette convertible was the Motorama Grand Champion Award winner.

Burlington, Ont. automotive artist Ron Gibbs had a booth at Motorama where he worked on his own pieces, displayed some of his past artworks and collaborated with some other artists on a Panel Jam.

vehicles were eligible for the Motorama Grand Champion Award and the $5,000 winner’s cheque.

Nine of the Canadian 10 finalists were located in Hall 1, which included many never-before-seen models, with the tenth was located in Hall 2.

In the end, a 1959 Corvette convertible, owned by Travis and Viv Agresti and built by Marc McCrae of Fast Company Canada, took the Grand Champion prize.

Featured guest Chip Foose, was unable to attend.

“We were extremely proud of the quality of vehicles and exhibits at the show. In the face of uncertainty and adversity, we did our best to put on an entertaining and safe show, for as long as we could,” show organizers told Collision Repair.

“We thank all the car owners, exhibitors, sponsors as well as our staff and volunteers for their efforts and understanding. We hope everyone’s families and friends get through this challenging time and we look forward to seeing everyone next March, at Motorama.”

More than a dozen car clubs were in attendance at the show.

Mike Harrison brought his vintage Monster Truck ‘Big, Bad & Bouncy’ to Motorama.

It was one of the first Monster Trucks ever built entirely in Canada.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 39

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

POSITIONS OF STRENGTH The size advantage is being flexed more than ever before

Fix Automotive Network president Steve Leal watches as Daryll O’Keefe, regional vice presidentOntario, cuts the ribbon at its new Ontario training centre.

BY GIDEON SCANLON

W

hile the debate may still rage in other areas of human achievement, in business, bigger is almost always better.

With a higher volume of capital available, a business’s leverage increases. By providing for cross-business costs in a unified manner, a large company or franchise with many individual outlets benefits does not need to spend as much as individual operators–at least on a per-location basis.

To some extent, exploiting the advantages of size has always been the practice of big networks in the collision sector. Over the past fifteen years, franchised repair facilities have either absorbed or outperformed the majority of mid-tier facilities in Canada.

High-performing independent facilities that had heavily invested in training and technology were, if not unaffected by, less

prone to losing out on market share to banner facilities.

In the suburbs and smaller cities within commuting distance from major metropolitan areas, these businesses have thrived—with or without banner membership.

As one owner of a top-tier independent put it in 2018, “I have joined a couple of different groups over the years, but the supposed advantages didn’t pan out.”

In the past two years, however, North America’s largest collision repair networks have made striking efforts to use size to move into the niches of these top-tier facilities with a previously unseen vigour.

In Canada, Driven Brands and the Fix Auto Network, the market leaders, have pursued strategies that have made it easier for their network members to secure access

40 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

to cutting-edge training, decrease parts costs and to become more appealing to both OEMs and auto insurers.

Both networks have invested in providing access to training opportunities to network members.

Just after acquiring the Carrossier ProColor network, Fix Auto Network officially opened a training centre in Milton, Ontario–one that will serve the FixAuto, NOVUS Glass and SpeedyAutoService brands. Later in 2019, it opened a second training facility in Quebec. A third location will open in Western Canada this year.

By that point, CARSTAR’s own cross-network training procedures were already a year old. In November 2018, the banner announced the creation of the then-revolutionary Carstar University Learning Platform. Its mandate was

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

Guests celebrate at the launch of the new Fix Auto training centre in the GTA.

Vincent Romans, founder of the Romans Group. According to its recent Profile of the Evolving U.S. and Canadian Collision Repair Marketplace in 2019, MLO independents, dealer-owned shops, and franchise network segment now constitute 30 percent of the number of locations and absorbs 77.7 percent of the industry’s revenue.

“The average revenue-per-location is considerably lower than the U.S., and severity for both repairable and total loss continues to hold steady with an upward trend bias for the immediate future.”

—The Romans Group to enable North American franchise partners to stay up-to-date on the latest vehicle repair technologies and procedures.

Now, the program provides 700 role-based learning modules. Currently, it boasts 2,000 staff members enrolled in the courses—more than half of its total staff.

At the same time, CARSTAR also added a training and education team at the corporate level, with the express purpose of identifying which areas of training would prepare network members to thrive in the collision repair sector. In fact, the platform focuses on providing training to help partners reach the requirements set by specific OEMs and DRPs. When CARSTAR University launched, its then-chief operations officer Dean Fisher said, “We are certifying our CARSTAR operations and insurance sales teams to deliver I-CAR training to our stores and also have made it mandatory for them to maintain a platinum-level certification.”

In both cases, the breadth of training these two enormous networks can provide to partners put them in an enviable position. At least one major competitor appears to be interested

in adopting a similar approach, investing in its existing technician development program.

The Boyd Group, which owns Gerber Collision and Glass and Assured Automotive, has recently announced initiatives designed to create cross-business advantages. These include a new, standardized recruitment processes and new hire on-boarding and orientation procedures.

At this point in the collision sector’s history, where OEMs and auto insurers are becoming increasingly involved in how repairs are performed, the big franchises’ investments in training appear to be designed to allow their franchise partners to walk a fine middle-ground.

According to the Romans Group’s Profile of the Evolving U.S. and Canadian Collision Repair Marketplace in 2019, bigger players are certainly doing something right.

The report found that MLO independents, dealer-owned shops, and franchise network segment now constitute 30 percent of the number of location and absorbs 77.7 percent of the industry’s revenue.

“We do see the combined ≥$10M MLO independent, dealer, banner, franchise network

segment revenue increasing at the expense of smaller operators,” the paper’s abstract states.

It also seems to suggest that larger facilities to increase their ability to leverage their size advantages.

“The average revenue-per-location is considerably lower than the U.S., and severity for both repairable and total loss continues to hold steady with an upward trend bias for the immediate future.”

As the big players find new ways to flex their size to their advantage—finding a niche suited to the smaller scale becomes a more and more difficult proposition.

While the advantages offered to the largest players in the collision industry are significant, all is not lost for smaller-scale competitors heavily invested in cutting-edge services.

Many of the advantages smaller scale businesses have over larger competitors relate to flexibility.

When it comes to training investments, small scale businesses are more likely to be able to manage sudden, unexpected shifts in what is expected of the marketplace.

Currently, both the Fix Network and CARSTAR have training programs reliant

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 41

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

“We are certifying our CARSTAR operations and insurance sales teams to deliver I-CAR training to our stores and also have made it mandatory for them to maintain a platinum-level certification.”— Dean Fisher on I-CAR’s curriculum. While the industry’s general faith in I-CAR is solid, should it ever be found to be lacking in some area or other, both banners could have to overhaul their training systems entirely.

A more likely scenario that might spell more trouble for large scale competitors rather than small-scale ones would be a sudden drop in the overall number of vehicles in need of repair.

As accident avoidance technologies become more and more ubiquitous, conceiving of a future where there are year-over-year drops of ten percent in the total number of vehicle accidents is not inconceivable.

In such a situation, major players would be vulnerable to becoming over-producers.

Scaling back operations in larger businesses

is much more difficult than scaling them up.

Of course, another game-changing situation is already affecting the automotive aftermarket—the Coronavirus. It is one that even major players admit will bring uncertainty to the market.

“Worldwide, we are all adjusting and adapting to daily changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the impact on our business thus far has not been material, this could change quickly,” said Boyd Group’s president, Tim O’Day. “The pandemic could also result in decreased demand for services, as well as interruptions to the supply chain, including temporary closure of supplier facilities. In fact, over the past few days, we have noted a weakening of demand, possibly from customers

42 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

deferring repairs to avoid exposure and the result of reduced miles driven and less road congestion as fewer people travel to schools , offices, sporting and other public events and places.”

Owners of top-tier independent outfits will find this to be cold comfort. The danger posed by banners and corporate locations moving into their niches is a clear and present danger. Perhaps it is best summed up by a recent job posting placed by staff at the Fix Auto Allen Expressway.

The posting asks for “experienced auto body repair tech” to apply for work in the north of the GTA, arguably Canada’s most densely packed region for top-tier auto repair facilities.

The clincher?

“125,000-$150,000 a year.”

REAL LIFE LEGACIES

Rosecrans Chevrolet in Hopkins, Missouri, was the last place Roush worked before moving on to start the Roush Bodyshop.

BACKYARD BODYSHOP Charles Amos Roush’s 63-year automotive career

BY ALLISON ROGERS

C

harles Amos Roush lived and breathed the bodyshop his entire career.

Perhaps this was fated. His initials are, after all, C.A.R. Roush, now 84 years old, spent more than 60 years active in the automotive industry, joining the trade in 1953 after finishing high school.

He began detailing and washing cars at Bill Buke Pontiac in Maryville, Missouri and was trained under one of the journeymen at the shop.

During his career, Roush worked for Rosecrans Chevrolet, a dealership in Hopkins, later moving on to work as the only repairman at Woodruff-Allison, a Ford dealership. The dealership was eventually closed and Roush decided to open a shop in his own backyard.

Roush opened his own shop right next door to his home, spending the rest of his career helming the ship at Roush Bodyshop.

Deena Poynter, Roush’s daughter, recalls his ‘tough love’ leadership approach—and how effective it was in driving inspiration among Roush’s employees.

“He’s a bit of a strict leader, but he has a huge heart. The way he teaches may be tough, but you’ll always learn something and you can always feel the love through it all,” she said.

With the bodyshop conveniently next door, Roush’s wife would often fix those working in the shop their lunch. They would gather around the table and share in camaraderie but, after the meal break was over, Roush would rise from the table and say, “Me and mine, it’s time to go,”—and all the journeymen would follow.

Roush has also passed his repairing legacies on along the way.

From local kids interested in pursuing trades careers, to passRoush was happy to take on a project he’d ing off some key auto repair skills never considered before—painting a plane. to his grandchildren, Roush has mentored many.

“He’s mentored a lot of people, Roush’s son even worked under his father “ said Deena. “There have been many young men in our area that he has trained in his shop in the bodyshop for a while.

When poor health forced him to close his and kept in contact with over the years, and two of them went on to have successful careers in shop, Roush was regretful to leave the industry.

Now, Roush has been retired for a little more autobody repair.

“He’s also had four of his grandchildren than one year. He remains active as ever in work in the shop over summers letting them the local community. Back when he ran the try their hands at the trade and working under bodyshop, Roush also served as a janitor at his church—now, years later, he serves as a their Grandpa,” said Deena.

44 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

REAL LIFE LEGACIES

“The finished product was beautiful,” said Roush’s daughter, Deena.

Q&A CHARLES AMOS ROUSH Repairman, business owner Year entered industry: 1953 Years active: 1953-2018 Facilities worked for: •R osecran Chevrolet in Hopkins, Missouri • Woodruff-Allison in Hopkins, Missouri • Roush Bodyshop in Hopkins, Missouri

church elder there; he’s just as respected in his local community as a he is in the automotive industry.

One of the more interesting projects Roush was involved with was painting an R-V 9 airplane.

His son-in-law, a dentist and private pilot, undertook a plane build several years ago and thought he could try his hand at the painting aspect. When he realized he was in over his head, he reached out to his father-in-law for help.

“We had to take it up to my dad’s shop in parts,” Deena told Collision Repair. “He had never painted an airplane before and had never

used the type of paint required, but he was happy to take on the new challenge. He did an absolutely amazing job—it looks beautiful.”

Even though it’s no longer a thriving business, Roush looks into his backyard, where the bodyshop still rests and remembers all the smashed-in fenders, banged-up side panels and mangled frames he pulled out while standing within its walls. He remembers all the times he got creative with striping techniques or handed the sprayer to a tech to see what his talents had to offer.

Thanks to Roush’s hard work in the bodyshop, his career will live on as a RealLife Legacy.

Memorable moments: Training his mentors along the way, including several grandsons and his son; painting a plane for his son-in-law in 2016 Inspiration along the way: Making a vehicle look new again; serving the local community with quality repairs; feeding his passion for cars What he’s up to: Now retired, Roush remains active in the local community as a church elder. He also recently painted a plane never having undertaken a project of that calibre before. He may be retired, but Roush remains busy as ever and tries to get into the shop when he can.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 45

COVID-19 COVERAGE

CRISIS MESSAGING

Companies launch support efforts COVID-19 pandemic

BY GIDEON SCANLON

A

s COVID-19 continues to grip the industry, key figures in the collision repair sector are sharing vital information with customers and consumers. Here are some of the wisest of the many words being shared on the subject—and a list of the actions that are backing them up.

AFTERMARKET INDUSTRIES ASSOCATION OF CANADA J.F. Champagne of AIA Canada: “It is important that the government recognize that the aftermarket is an essential service. The industry must remain open to support emergency vehicles, essential transportation services and those that will need to support the most vulnerable members of our community. If you become aware of local government forcing the closure of aftermarket businesses because they have been deemed non-essential, contact me immediately.”

• AIA Canada has launched a COVID-19 information page and is providing ongoing updates on its social media pages.

• AIA Canada consulted with several provincial governments and secured the sector’s essential service designation in Canada’s three most-populous provinces.

AXALTA Robert W. Bryant, Axalta’s president and CEO: “First and foremost, we are focused on protecting public health and the health and safety of our employees and customers, consistent with guidance issued by relevant authorities. Where possible, our employees are working remotely, and we have instituted global travel restrictions for all employees. We are taking steps to promote social distancing and have instituted robust on-site hygiene practices and restrictions on visits to our facilities. We are continuing to monitor the situation closely and will take further action as appropriate.”

• Given inherent uncertainty in the outlook for customer demand, Axalta is withdrawing previous financial guidance for 2020, which did not reflect the impact of the coronavirus.

• Management expects to provide updated guidance when it has more visibility into demand.

• Bryant confirmed that “The fundamentals of [Axalta’s] business remain strong.”

CARSTAR CARSTAR press release: “At CARSTAR, the safety of our customers and team members is always our first priority, and we are taking steps to protect the health and well-being of our team and customers. We have implemented a number of precautions based on the advice of the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization and other health authorities to minimize the risk of the transmission of COVID-19 for both team members and customers alike.”

• The banner said its stores’ hours may differ during this time.

COLOR COMPASS Color Compass press release: “The very rapid spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus has had a pervasive impact on our daily lives and how we all conduct our normal business operations,” said the company in a release. “The current situation is very fluid and changes rapidly, we wanted to reach out to inform you of the steps that we are taking to ensure everyone’s safety during this time. We have been diligently monitoring the guidelines from the Government of Canada, the World Health Organization, and the various Provincial and Municipal Governments in the markets in which conduct operations. First and foremost, the health and safety of our staff, customers, and the communities in which we serve is our highest priority.”

• The company says it is adhering to strict sanitation procedures.

46 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

COVID-19 COVERAGE

FIX NETWORK Fix Auto press release: “COVID-19 has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The situation is evolving daily, and we are following the updates closely. As an organization, the health and safety of our team, our network, our industry partners and our customers, continue to be a top priority.”

• Fix has restricted all business travel for staff. All scheduled meetings requiring air travel will now take place virtually.

SATA

SATA has your back amid the crisis—company reps even responded to an urgent request from Terry Cargo in Brantford, Ontario for RPS cups and some other low-stock necessities.

SHERWIN WILLIAMS

SATA Canada press release: “Unfortunately, we can’t repeat this one-off delivery, but we can get you spray guns, filtration, breathing equipment—even offer gun repair!”

• SATA Canada is ramping up its efforts amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, making special deliveries to its shops to assure their extra-prepped for the times ahead.

• In late March, SATA visited some of its customers to ensure they had everything they needed in the paint booth—and beyond. Company representatives even responded to an urgent request from Terry Cargo in Brantford, Ontario for RPS cups and some other low-stock necessities.

Sherwin Williams CEO John K. Morikis: “Over the last several weeks, we have taken numerous actions to support the health and safety of our employees. We continue to assess the global situation. In response to these changing circumstances, we have enhanced paid sick and/or family leave, approved temporary leaves of absence, implemented alternate and flexible work arrangements, implemented manufacturing and facility visitor screening protocols, split shifts at facilities, offered remote work options for non-essential on-site functions, implemented social distancing best practices, deployed enhanced cleaning procedures, and restricted international and domestic travel.”

CRISIS SUPPORT Other companies have launched support efforts for those on the front lines 3M • 3 M has doubled its global output of N95 respirators to a rate of more than 1.1 billion per year or nearly 100 million per month.

• In the United States, 3M is producing 35 million respirators per month; of these, more than 90 percent are now designated for healthcare workers, with the remaining deployed to other industries also critical in this pandemic, including energy, food and pharmaceutical companies.

• The company is also maximizing the production of a wide range of other products used in the COVID-19 response globally including hand sanitizers, disinfectants and filtration solutions as the pharmaceutical industry works to find a vaccine to fight the virus.

AUTOMOTIVE PARTS MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION “We need your help to bring industry together to collect one million masks for frontline workers,” said the association. “These masks will be available for direct distribution to public institutions and organizations operating on the frontlines: hospitals, clinics, shelters (homeless, women’s, youth). We’re calling on our network, and the entire #TeamCanada industrial community to support this effort.”

• The APMA is calling on its membership and the industry at large to participate in the One Million Mask Challenge.

• Businesses can participate by visiting APMA’s website and filling out the One Million Masks Challenge form.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 47

MARKET MELTDOWN

Investors look nervously on a stock board lit-up with losses. In late February, global markets plummeted due to fears the Coronavirus would harm supply networks. The auto sector and related industries were particularly brutally hit.

THE AUTO SECTOR COLLIDES WITH CORONAVIRUS On February 19, stock markets around the world posted significant losses, with the Dow and the Nasdaq dropping almost four-and-a-half percent in on day, and close to 10 percent over recent peaks.

BY GIDEON SCANLON

A

round the world, major stock exchanges have posted similarly brutal losses.

Even gold prices were down, posting a drop of almost two percent.

In Asia, the leading stock exchanges of Hong Kong, Japan and Korea are all down by more than three percent from recent highs.

In China, they are more than five percent underwater.

In Europe, losses were more brutal. Germany, France and the U.K. have all seen more than six percent of the value of stocks traded at their top exchanges evaporate. Share price drops among Europes most valued companies reached 12 percent.

In the U.S., things were worse still. The NASDAQ and Dow have both seen ten percent

dips on recent highs. Its own top businesses are also down by 12 percent. In Canada, things aren’t much better, with the TSX seeing a nine percent drop.

Across the world, the auto sector and auto parts sector has been particularly badly hit.

Honda and Toyota shares are both down by more than eight percent. Kia and Hyundai are both down by more than 12 percent.

Out West, GM and Ford have seen similar share dips.

Even the auto aftermarket has been rocked.

In fact, Canada’s own Magna International has seen concerns about the coronavirus affect its share price before the most recent global correction. From its 2020 high, its shares are down by 15 percent.

48 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

THE IDES OF MAGNA In Canada, the effects have been somewhat mitigated. While the TSX posted losses of more than two percent, the relatively limited reliance on Chinese manufacturers has actually curbed its general losses.

One Canadian auto parts company’s stock market slips may have served as a harbinger of the broader financial drop across global markets. Magna International, which had been forced to disrupt its operations in China, took a hit in late January. Magna International has seen its stock value drop from $71.7 on January 20, to $67.08 on January 31.

Since the broader collapse, Magna stock is trading just above the $60 threshold.

MARKET MELTDOWN

MAGNA CEO DONALD WALKER. Canadian auto parts giant Magna International saw concerns about its own reliance on globe-spanning supply networks diminish investor confidence weeks before the broader market correction.

BOMBARDIER CEO ALAIN M. BELLEMARE. In the wake of the crash, Bombardier was the highest-performing Canadian stock thanks to its lack of reliance on international trade networks. Later, it saw significant drops in value.

ROBERT BRYANT, AXALTA CEO.The price of Axalta’s stock dropped by more than 22 percent in two weeks.

In Canada, the effects have been somewhat mitigated. While the TSX posted losses of more than two percent, the relatively limited reliance on Chinese manufacturers has actually curbed its general losses.

Bombardier, which manufactures heavy transportation equipment within Canada, saw its value briefly buoyed on February 27, rising 2.5 percent–more than any other TSX stock.

This was erased on February 28. It is down about 13 percent from the week before.

Canadian companies more heavily invested in the United States have been particularly badly rocked by the recent market correction.

In the collision repair sector, the Boyd Income Fund, one of the TSX’s best-performers over the past decade, saw its shares drop by 14 percent in one week.

As the Canadian economy has struggled to match gains by the U.S. economy, Boyd had invested significantly in acquiring U.S. businesses. While a hot U.S. market and a low Canadian dollar helped bring in excellent returns, it is more vulnerable to fluctuations of the American market.

Auto paint providers have not been spared the stock value losses felt by other industries since the late February crash.

The price of Axalta’s stock has dropped by more than 22 percent in the two weeks following the correction, going from trading at $29.89 U.S. in late February to $23.25 U.S.

by March 5. The auto paint giant suffered more significant drops than other paint firms due to its heavy reliance on the vulnerable-looking auto sector.

Axalta investors are used to its roller-coaster-like stock value. In 2015 and 2017, it was trading above $36 U.S. In 2016 and 2018, it dipped below $23 U.S. After dropping in value by 14 percent f rom Febr u ar y 1 9 to Febr u ar y 2 8 , Sherwin-Williams stock experienced a brief rebound. By March 4, the price gained back all but three percent of its February 19 value. By March 6, the value had again begun to dip, wiping eight percent off of its value.

In its last quarterly report, Sherwin-Williams boasted earnings almost 150 percent higher than in Q4 of 2018.

With the stock now trading above $530 U.S., the recent dip is not of great concern.

At its 1980 IPO, the stock traded for just $0.88 U.S. Long-term investors in Sherwin-Williams have done very well by the stock. In its first decade of operation, its stock’s value grew more than ninefold. In its second decade, it grew twice over. It its third decade, it grew three times over. In the 2010s, its worth, once again, grew nine-times over.

After declining in value from $19.73 U.S. to $16.46 between November and the beginning of the recent global stock tumble on February 19, BASF has seen its stock plummet another 11 percent.

Investors have not had an easy ride over the past few years. Its fortunes have struggled since the 2008 financial crisis.

The stock’s value reached its historical Apex in January 2008. In June of 2008, its value dipped $37.40. In December, its value was below $8 U.S.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 49

TRAINING

LOOK WESTWARD Solving Ontario’s premium problem

BY ANDREW SHEPHERD

N

ews that auto insurance rates in Ontario are going up as much as 11 percent is surely daunting to the province’s drivers– Ontario already boasts the country’s secondhighest rates.

Perhaps a solution can be found by looking West?

Canada’s public insurance provinces are adopting ‘universal’ collision repair standards covering training, equipment and business operations. The objectives of the approach in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and B.C. (shortly) are first and foremost consumer safety – the incredible acceleration of vehicle technology including ADAS systems demands a higher level of shop capability and independent verification of that capability.

But there is no doubt that these Provincial governments have a keen eye on insurance premium containment.

As noted in a national industry publication recently, “ICBC, which has lost nearly $2.5 billion in the last two years, largely due to rising claims costs and legal fees, says savings will be found from improved performance along with faster processing of claims, faster repair cycle times and greater autonomy for high-performing suppliers.”

A new study by researchers from Temple and the Universities of Alabama and Wisconsin ties rising premiums to factors like the cost of repairing more advanced vehicles rather than heightened auto insurer profits.

So why isn’t Ontario following suit? The previous Liberal government had promised to lower auto insurance rates by an average of 15 percent by August 2015. However, the deadline passed and rates continued to rise for drivers.

The current Conservative government unveiled a sweeping plan to try and lower prices with little or no effect to date, and in fact, as above, insurance rates are rising. The Financial

There is no appetite in Ontario for an increase in centralized regulatory red tape – heaven forbid a Ministry of Collision Repair!

Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) announced in October of last year that it had approved insurance companies in the province to once again increase rates, marking the eighth-straight quarter that insurance companies have been given the green light to charge more for insurance in Ontario.

There is no appetite in Ontario for an increase in centralized regulatory red tape – heaven forbid a Ministry of Collision Repair! Clearly, an industry self-regulation model is the answer.

What might this look like? What aspects of the Western Canada models could be adopted?

• Not all shops should be required to be capable of addressing all repairs – Ontario could establish a two or three-tier minimum equipment standard covering cosmetic, mild and severe hits. At the same time, insurers must be required to verify that the shop conducting the work is capable of completing it safely and effectively. Repairers would then have a choice of how much equipment investment to make.

• On the other hand, all shops should have a thorough understanding of repair techniques and their implications for driver safety – all should be required to be I-CAR Gold Class recognized as this is the skill standard across

North America. Again, for most shops, this is not an expensive proposition.

• All shops should be required to adopt core business practices – conforming to health and safety standards, hiring licensed tradespeople, operating customer feedback programs, etc.

In terms of administration, all partners should be looking for the most efficient and least intrusive approach possible. This will likely have a multi-stakeholder oversight structure (including related government departments and industry representatives) and should use existing industry-driven verification and administration systems.

In that space, there a growing number of participants including proprietary vehicle manufacturer programs, third-party OE-based programs and AIA Canada’s Canadian Collision Industry Accreditation Program (CCIAP).

It is certainly possible to synchronize all of these under a new provincial approach – for example crediting shops that belong to one or more programs and which undergo audits from any source. This approach builds on existing infrastructure and follows the lead of industry as it drives toward increased performance and safety.

If the Ontario government is searching for an effective approach to increasing driver safety and reducing collision repair costs, industry self-regulation appears to be an immediate and available solution.

Andrew Shepherd is the executive director of I-CAR Canada, a non-profit organization that provides collision repair training and ongoing education. He can be reached at andrew.shepherd@aiacanada.com.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 51

WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER IT’S UP TO EVERY ONE OF US IN THE INDUSTRY TO DO WHAT WE CAN DO TODAY Let’s support our communities and the tireless efforts of first responders, health care workers, emergency personnel, support staff and all essential service providers. As we’re able, it’s our duty to keep them safe on the roads so they can continue their work on the front lines.

THANK YOU TO OUR FIX NETWORK FAMILY OF STRATEGIC PARTNERS. fixauto.com FA_CA_MediaMattersAd_20200331C

INSIDER TIPS

GOOD INTENTIONS Don’t drop the ball on bettering your business

BY CHELSEA STEBNER

W

hen the boss comes back from a conference and is ready to change the world.

Wait...I am that person these days…

However, I do remember being the employee and that happening. Everyone joked about it. Let’s be honest, we all still joke about it. Because that is what often happens.

You have taken the time out of the busyness of your day to day to finally fill your cup and look at your business from 25,000 feet instead of 1000, and you discover a million things that are ‘wrong’ or need fixing or opportunities to improve upon. You take notes like crazy, you circle and dog-ear certain pages or highlight the heck out of your notes. You take screenshots of the slides. While you’re in it, your brain is firing on all cylinders and it’s so exciting to imagine all the changes you’re going to make happen!

Then reality hits. You get back home. You open your email. You get to work and—bam!

You are sidelined by the day to day firefighting of running your business.

So, what’s a girl or guy to do? What are your go-to’s for ensuring that all of the amazing learning you’ve taken does not gather dust on your desk? Or that the cool idea you implement doesn’t fizzle out after two weeks?

One of my intentions for 2020 is to carve out time for specific projects. To hit ‘do not disturb’ on my phone and to block out my schedule and ask for uninterrupted time to focus. It’s pretty easy to set the intention but we all know the road to hell is paved with them. I guess saying it out loud, setting that intention to you, today, that I am going to invest in the time to make progress and positive change.

My first order of business is to review my notes. Better yet, if you have another team

Accountability, check-ins, timelines and sometimes a hard stop and redo are needed along the way. What are you going to do to hold yourself and your team to the task? member that joined you at the meeting – review and recap together. From there I’ll be picking my top two or three that hit closest to home. In my experience—and I have lots of learning left ahead of me—it’s definitely good to find one that’s a low hanging grape; you know, the one that you know can be implemented quickly, easily and is a prompt win for you and your team. Get your core team on board and sell it to them. Once they’ve bought in and set up a plan, delegate it, set up a timeline for implementation and success and get it into your calendar for follow up and trust your team for that success and move on.

Sounds simple right? How often does it fail at this point? If I’m being honest with myself, and you, it’s often here. It’s this buy-in, this encouragement and the plan and check in to succeed that falls off the rails.

Accountability, check-ins, timelines and sometimes a hard stop and redo are needed along the way. What are you going to do to hold yourself and your team to the task?

As a youngish leader without formal education in HR and leadership, I am most certainly learning leadership and implementation in a ‘trial by fire’ method.

I’m often second-guessing myself and asking mentors for feedback and advice. But as I grow, I think that one of the most important

things as leaders that we can do is to simply listen to our gut. To move forward, in business ownership and leadership, you’re often taking a leap of faith to get stuff done.

But planning for it, planning the steps, planning the execution and the buy-in from your team can and will help get all of us there with greater success.

So, check back with me in a few months to see how successful I’ve been in implementing a positive change or three for our team in 2020 and, if you want an accountability partner, drop me a line…I’d love to hear how you’re coming along with your goals and intentions for your business in 2020.

Chelsea Stebner is the co-owner and operator of Saskatoon, Sask.’s Parr Auto Body and a member of the CCIF Steering Committee. She can be reached at chelsea@parrautobody.com.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 53

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IN MY ESTIMATION

WRITE IT RIGHT…FROM THE START The hidden dangers of rushing through estimations

BY KELLY ROBERTS

I

n this industry, we too often get off to a bad start with our customers.

When they ask, “When is my car going to be ready?” we hear, “Please get me my car back as quickly as possible so I don’t have to deal with this anymore.”

By trying to provide clients with that answer they think they need as quickly as possible, the collision industry—too frequently—sets itself up for failure.

Industry consultants teach “don’t overpromise and under-deliver.” This is sage advice, yet, who is listening to it?

In far too many repair shops in Canada, we rush through a haphazard triage process in order to provide vague answers as quickly as possible. Why? I believe most, if not all shops do not agree with how this lack of process is the status quo—we all want better, and our collective clients deserve better.

As a result, our only-by-eye assessments tend to be performed under pressure in 10 minutes or less—only enough to determine the most obvious damage, and perhaps whether a temporary repair can be made to let the driver keep their car.

Unfortunately, these cursory inspections are dangerously insufficient. Modern automobiles are engineered to absorb impacts and spread them throughout a vehicle—meaning damage most always isn’t going to be apparent.

Sufficient would be keeping any vehicle for a time to allow a proper triage process. Enough time to properly assess mechanical, electronics (avionics), structural and suspension and safety systems.

When we don’t, we’re risking our business, our relationship with insurers and our customer’s lives.

It is a model being used by more and more top-tier repair facilities—and the reason is quite simple. The benefits of pleasing the customer in the short term are far outweighed by the benefits of correctly assessing the damage, planning all necessary parts and procedures and

Industry consultants teach “don’t overpromise and under-deliver.” This is sage advice, yet, who is listening to it? documenting them all properly—from the start.

On the front end, it may cause a customer some disappointment if not delivered legibly and intelligently. On the back end, it measurably speeds the entire repair process, reduces the amount of downtime required—and thus cuts overall repair costs.

In this industry, repairers tend to encounter undiscovered and undocumented damage in a high percentage of the vehicles they fix—damage missed in the original estimation.

It is news that no client—and no insurer— likes hearing.

It also causes procedural delays, and it wastes everybody’s time!

Had all the damage been appropriately assessed, all vehicle repairs would be scheduled much more tightly, capacity and throughput dramatically improved. It is profit 101.

It is, however, better than the alternative situation—allowing unsafe vehicles to go unregistered and uninspected to be driven down the roads. Some studies have found that, after thoroughly reviewing vehicles, the number with unsafe and undocumented hidden damage that is found on, is at least six-out of-10 vehicles leaving bodyshops “deemed” as safe to drive.

Of course, that isn’t just money being left on the table, that is unsafe vehicles being let on the road—and possible business-ending legal liability issues too.

Don’t get me wrong—in my long career of collision repairs, I fell into the same trap. I also had a ‘holy heck’ moment—not so long ago.

A Honda came into a shop where I was coaching, with what looked like light cosmetic damage to the front right side. It had a clean pre-scan, and no dash lights were reporting anything. When we looked under the front cover, however, I could see the driver’s side front impact sensor bracket had been disrupted—and the sensor fully compromised. I hate to think what could have happened if we’d let it roll onto the road.

It isn’t like auto insurers are really pushing us on this issue either.

In my conversations with insurers about the issues caused by rushing through initial assessments, they have all been hesitant to suggest that it is a pressing matter.

As more than one put it: “Nothing is going to change until someone is killed.”

Unfortunately, that standard isn’t one repairers should accept. For one thing, we face the most pressing legal risk—and, unlike auto insurers, very few repair facilities are likely to be able to recover from judgments in the tens-of-millions.

For another, there is no information available about whether or not missed repair procedures are killing people—or how often.

Lastly, I never want to be the mechanism of another person’s untimely end.

If, as traffic analysts say, a single driver tapping their brakes on a busy highway can cause a traffic jam, what havoc can thousands of vehicles with undetected damage wreak?

At the end of the day, the risks posed by damaged vehicles may be unknowable. I am not sure that matters.

As collision repairers, we are legally obliged to provide customers with the expert assessment of vehicle safety and drivability based on our professional capacities. For businesses involved in DRPs, that isn’t just a moral obligation, it is also a contractual one.

We cannot give safe and accurate professional opinions without conducting proper and thorough assessments of damage.

Involved in the collision sector since 1989, Kelly Roberts is a vice president of sales at AirPro Diagnostics. During his career, in which he has been involved in many areas of the collision sector, team member, employee and owner/manager, Roberts been an advocate for the improvement of the collision repair industry and previously served on the Axalta National Business Council.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 55

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WHO’S DRIVING

CARING—PART TWO Showing is better than telling

BY JAY PERRY

I

n the last issue I wrote about caring. This is a big part of leadership and I want to relate a true story about how it works in real live business.

Less than a day or two after the release of Collision Repair’s last issue we were having a conversation with one of our client’s employee who is enrolled in the Ally Business Coaching Leadership Development Course.

She had missed a couple of sessions due to what was going on in her personal life.

She, like others, was dealing with additional pressures of balancing childcare needs with a schedule impacted by the current coronavirus shutdowns. Obviously, she was scrambling to make arrangements that are not unlike what most of you are dealing with as well.

She was also dealing with a family member being taken off life-support, as well as a very close friend being diagnosed with stage-4 breast cancer. There are other mitigating circumstances that make the situation even worse than what I have described, but I think you get the picture of how much stress that would cause anyone.

Where this story takes a turn for the better is that when she realized she was having a meltdown and work and her co-workers were bearing the brunt of this stress. She needed to get away from work to clear her head and deal with things.

When the big boss heard of what was going on, he immediately reached out to her.

Normally, he rarely interacted with her on a day-to-day basis—but did see her occasionally.

She was literally headed for the door, but he was insistent that he talk with her faceto-face before she left. She resisted and he

What impressed her was the fact that he would not let her leave until he told her to her face that she had his support and whatever she and her family needed for time to face these terrible realities—she could count on him.

She felt his care. She told us she would never consider leaving the company because she knew she had that caring leader.

continued to insist. He said he would make any concession that she needed—meeting on route, at her house—whatever would make it work but he absolutely must see her.

Now this fellow is no ordinary business owner—he is one of the busiest people I’ve ever met. He owns six multi-million-dollar, high paced service companies in one of the toughest industries in the world. Plus, he is acquiring another three locations.

Plus, he has a family with five kids, elderly parents and a large extended family; plus several hundred employees. He supports community, and he has other going business concerns with partners—he kind of considers them his hobby. This guy is busy!

Remember that this story was relayed to me by the woman. What impressed her was the fact that he would not let her leave until he told her to her face that she had his support and whatever she and her family needed for time to face these terrible realities—she

could count on him. She felt his care. She told us she would never consider leaving the company because she knew she had that caring leader. Further, she has a role-model in him as to how she develops herself into a leader in one of his companies.

So that’s what I mean when I asked, “Do you give a damn?” Are you willing to be that leader? I hope so, because that’s the way we stay the one who’s driving.

Jay Perry is the co-author of the book Success Manifesto with Brian Tracy and the founder of Ally Business Coaching, a process improvement and leadership development firm. He is also an education partner with California Coast University in Santa Ana, California. He can be reached at jayperryally@gmail.com.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 57

INDUSTRY-IN-ACTION

The Industry is Evolving.

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58 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

“As you might all understand, we are currently dealing with the travel ramifications brought on by the spread of Covid-19. In the spirit of keeping everyone safe, the Dave Smith Memorial Scholarship Presentation will be postponed until further notice.” — Beth Rutter

T

he presentation to celebrate the Dave Smith Memorial Scholarship was to be held April 2, but was postponed by the organizers due to the COVID-19 crisis.

In an email to supporters, Californian collision industry management consultant Beth Rutter said “As you might all understand, we are currently dealing with the travel ramifications brought on by the spread of Covid-19. In the spirit of keeping everyone safe, the Dave Smith Memorial Scholarship Presentation will be postponed until further notice. My

sincerest apologies for any inconvenience this has caused.”

Presented to the post-secondary gold medalist in car painting at Skills Canada National’s Competition, the award is named in honor of Akzo Nobel’s longtime country manager for Canada, Dave Smith.

Smith was a strong supporter of the CCIF, and sat on many volunteer boards to help build the image of the industry. Dave was always an ambassador for the industry, encouraging talent, process and engagement, among his other responsibilities.

ENGINE KNOX

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE Estimation in pandemic

BY STEVE KNOX

W

e are all facing a global pandemic.

Nobody asked for it, but it is what we got.

Part suppliers are beginning to have a breakdown in the supply chains. Factories are reducing hours or shutting down all together. Dealerships that we normally order our parts from are closed or short-staffed.

The question is, how do we deal with this?

Times like these create innovation.

In this business, every step in our facility’s repair process either moves us forward, or behind.

There are a thousand steps we take to get from point A to point Z in our process—and this is where the opportunity lays, and what we need to be especially mindful of right now.

Lately, I have had a strong focus on how our estimates are written.

If we overlook a part during the examination of a damaged vehicle, we stand to put the whole repair on hold. That can lead to back-ordered parts, reversals of the workflow and, ultimately, a huge hit on profitability.

Never has it been more important to pay attention to the details.

Given the turmoil in auto supply chains, if we miss a part on an estimate now, we can have multiple issues that lead to a significantly extended waiting period.

I like to have two people work together during a repair planning session. One person will disassemble, the other will write. Afterward, the two get together and discuss the written plan, ensuring they do not overlook anything.

An interesting development in the repair process is emerging sooner than we anticipated—photo-based estimating. I know a few people who have shied away from it due to the prospect of multiple supplements.

These multiple supplements can, potentially,

come out of the inability to see behind the panels in photos. Fortunately, our insurance partners are not holding this against us, as they understand it is a significant challenge that comes hand-in-hand with this new technology.

the volume your facility needs to not only survive, but thrive. As in every business, thriving means driving profitability.

We should never be ashamed of trying to collect a profit from the work we do. That profit goes into building our businesses.

Following OEM guidelines, documenting everything, and doing our best to reduce costs so the vehicle is not a total loss is a tight rope to walk.

However, if you can master this difficult balancing act, you can capture the volume your facility needs to not only survive, but thrive. As in every business, thriving means driving profitability.

The challenge we should actually all be aware of is the prospect of a car sitting in our yard waiting for more parts. Once a vehicle arrives, it is crucial to do a complete teardown right away. This way, if a photo estimate misses damage, the facility can capture it right away and order parts immediately. This is the only way to get ahead of the curve.

Another important area of focus on in our estimate writing is capturing technological advancements, as, lately, we have seen a major technological shift in the cars that we are fixing.

The high-tech parts we are replacing are expensive. After we replace parts, there is the need for recalibration. All of this—and more—affects our average price of repair.

This is why research and documentation are the best weapon for when it comes to repairing modern vehicles.

Following OEM guidelines, documenting everything, and doing our best to reduce costs so the vehicle is not a total loss is a tight rope to walk. However, if you can master this difficult balancing act, you can capture

As new technologies emerge, we need to embrace them. We do however need to be able to afford them. The only way that will happen is if we are profitable.

When this crisis is over, some things may never go back to the way they were—but some things will.

After the worldwide party, I hope to see neighbours talking in the streets again, and kids outside on their bikes and playing soccer and baseball together. I hope our work continues to get people’s lives back to their normal lives after accidents.

Beneficial changes to the collision repair process, however, I would like to stick around.

Steve Knox, general manager at CARSTAR Fredericton and CARSTAR Fredericton North, is an I-CAR instructor and a former member of the CCIF Steering Committee.

He can be reached at sknox@carstarfredericton.ca.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 59

FORTY

A FAIRER FORMULA Travel to sublet and the true cost of doing business

BY FORTY—A PROGRESSIVE ESTIMATOR

I

would like for Canada’s progressive collision sector workers to face-up to a problem that is affecting every shop in the country—whether or not it is realized.

This issue is taking away from the bottom line of businesses.

The issue? Travel to sublet.

Travel to sublet exists in two forms. The first is driving a vehicle to a sublet, and the second is towing to sublet.

I highly suggest towing both ways.

A travel to sublet involves the organization of two human resources and a company asset—the shuttle—that are entering the roadway with a vehicle which has most likely already been deemed unsafe for the insured to drive.

Why should you subject yourselves to the potential liability without any fair compensation?

The two vehicles and human resources are now the liability of your insurance policy.

Why would you put one of your own behind the wheel of a vehicle that does not have the SRS or ADAS system functioning properly? Why would you leave the opportunity for an upset customer to call you and ask why you allowed their vehicle to leave the building without their prior authorization?

How do you deal with the repairs when your 20-year-old detailer gets rear-ended and injured while delivering a customer’s $80,000.00 Mercedes? Who wants to make the phone call to that customer to explain what happened?

This whole scenario is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.

We are professionals at repairing vehicles, not at driving them to sublet vendors.

Nowhere in the curriculum for the 310B is any testing or teachings on how to drive to a dealer and back, free of charge.

If you decide to deliver the cars yourself, you should get reimbursed for your time.

The Solution A formula that respects that you are not in business to lose money. A formula that allows you to pay your men for the time and liability invested. But most importantly this is a solution to another one of the endless issues that our insurance partners consider to be “the cost of doing business.”

To the dealer once—(Google maps time X 4) +( 15 mins)) X 150 percent = travel to sublet To and from the dealer—(Google maps time X 8) +( 15 mins)) X 150 percent = travel to sublet

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Explained Google maps should be the base factor for in-seat travel time. Use this to start, if Google Maps suggests 12 minutes, then 12 minutes it is. This is a repeatable standard with small variance. This isn’t perfect, but it is somewhere to start.

The additional 15 minutes represents finding two people to do the delivery, build the plan of what car goes where, it allows time to warm up the vehicle if required and hand the keys to the correct service advisor once arriving.

It all takes time!

150 percent is the efficiency that we look to make while on the job. This is somewhere to start and we believe it to be fair.

Ex. 18 minutes to destination “X4” This allows two men to drive there and back. 18 minutes for two people = 32 Minutes one way. That is 64 minutes total in-seat time. Remember, you were doing this for free before!

“X8” This allows two men to drive there and back, twice. Once to drop off the car and once to pick it back up. 18 minutes for two people = 32 Minutes one way. That is 64 minutes total in-seat time. Remember, you were doing this for free before!

FORTY

Why would we accept a labour rate that is below where it should be and then do it for actual time as well?

Overhead costs are creeping higher and higher each day. We need to turn these cost centres around into an area that we make money again.

Remember that this is two people delivering a car to a sublet, then returning to the shop.

Picking up the vehicle at the end of the sublet calls for the second calculation to be used and added to the estimate. Why would we accept a labour rate that is below where it should be and then do it for actual time as well? Overhead costs are creeping higher and higher each day. We need to turn these cost centres around into an area that we make money again.

I am willing to bet that nobody reading this is “in the business to lose money.” Feel free to let me know if you are though!

If you were reimbursed by this calculation would you be willing to send your valuable human resources out into the streets? Would you still refuse to allow any potential liability to fall on

you and insist in a tow to and from sublet? I still believe that towing to and from is a reasonable substitute.

Never subjecting ourselves to the liability of driving a vehicle without reimbursement puts a new opportunity back in our court.

What do you think of this topic? I want to hear your thoughts. I want to hear your opinion on travel to sublet and so many more areas of this industry. Head to the Collisionrepairmag.com website and make a comment on this article.

Use the name anonymous if that makes you feel comfortable. Most importantly, add travel to sublet to your estimates immediately, and start to feel the power of what we can all achieve together as a unified front of progressive estimators.

Be calm, professional and ready to create the changes this industry requires.

If you enjoyed this article, please keep an eye on future content by ‘Forty,’ the Progressive Estimator of Canada. Also please drop a comment below the online article—I want to hear your feedback. I want to hear what issues you are experiencing. I want to hear what you think of my vision. Most importantly I want to create a unified front that works together to change this industry for the better.

Please email comments to forty@collisionrepairmag.com

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 61

HEALTH AND SAFETY

COLLISION WITH CORONAVIRUS COVID 19 has gripped the globe—and the automotive industry is not immune

BY ALLISON ROGERS

Between five and 15 percent of auto part products have already been affected in Southwestern Ontario on the tier one supplier side, said Mike Bilton, chairman of the Canadian of the Canadian Association of Mold Makers (CAMM).

W

hen China’s auto sector began to shut down in late January, Canada’s automotive parts manufacturers were among the first businesses to feel the pinch.

Three weeks before the global market drop related to concerns about the virus’s effect on supply chains affected most of the world’s stock exchanges, Canadian suppliers Magna International and Martinrea International were already dealing with dips in their share prices.

So far, time has not cured the wounds facing the auto parts manufacturers. It has festered.

“While many Chinese plants remain closed amid the outbreak, the ones still open are cuttingback on shifts and production,” says Mike Bilton, chairman of the Canadian Association of Mold Makers (CAMM)—and it’s starting to affect the North American supply chain.

“A lot of parts or subcomponents that are needing to be put onto the larger assemblies are

either not available or delayed,” says Bilton. “It’s forcing a lot of the tier ones to go out and take measures to find a different supplier, which is a cost in time and resources.”

On February 21, Magna said its operations in China were still running under capacity due to the outbreak, but it was too early to say what the long-term impact may be.

For the major Ontario providers, it is now clear that the damage is significant. Bilton estimates they have seen production drops between five and 15 percent.

The damage has not been confined to Canada’s heartland.

By March, all North American auto suppliers—not just the two Ontario giants— were scrambling to find new sources for parts that are delayed or unavailable in China due to quarantines, plant closures and lost productivity.

Of course, it isn’t just the parts sector that

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According to Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturer’s Association, says his organization is now exploring alternative plans for sourcing parts.

is underwater. Auto manufacturers are also feeling squeezed.

China boasts the world’s biggest automotive market—and Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus, is known as the nation’s ‘Motor City.’

The city is home to plants for General Motors, Honda, Nissan, Peugeot Group and Renault.

It is also the capital of Hubei province, which accounts for roughly 10 percent of the 23 million cars China produces annually.

Throughout February, China’s auto sales stood at a virtual standstill. In the first 16 days of the month, overall sales were down 92 percent, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). The CPCA said only 4,909 cars were sold in the nation during the first half of February.

The CPCA also issued a statement on Mar. 4 to confirm that overall auto sales fell 80 percent throughout the entire month of February.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Coronavirus infection checklist While testing is not yet available for many people displaying the symptoms of the Coronavirus, it is important to be able to recognize them whether or not the suspicion can be concern.

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, the most common side effects of the Coronavirus appear from two to 14 days of exposure.

• Fever • Cough • Shortness of breath The CDC also lists the following symptoms as signs that a person should seek immediate medical help.

•D ifficulty breathing or shortness of breath • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest • New confusion or inability to arouse • Bluish lips or face

COLLISION WITH CORONAVIRUS How to keep safe and in business through a global pandemic In the collision sector, the challenges are significant. Businesses that plan to continue operating throughout the worst of the pandemic should prepare.

The first step to preventing COVID-19 from spreading within auto repair facilities is simple.

Like any business with many people passing in-and-out of its waiting areas, it is of paramount importance that all areas are frequently sanitized, and that hands are washed.

While sanitizing stations may already be installed around your shop, adding more will never hurt— nor will signs reminding staff and visitors to make use of them.

2 European automakers have been reeling from effects since late February—British news outlet BBC even reported that Jaguar Land Rover’s supply chain system is so desperate it has been shipping crucial parts from China to the United Kingdom is suitcases to keep supplies flowing.

Ferrari also shut down two production facilities in Italy after running out of parts for assembly.

And, as the number of people infected with the virus increases, businesses are adding extended precautions to their lists of daily duties.

According to the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, members are already experiencing supply chain disruptions in Canada.

Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturer’s Association, says his organization is now exploring alternative plans for sourcing parts.

“We’ve tipped into our contingency planning— where can you re-source?” said Volpe.

1

Feeling queasy? Quarantine!

If any of your employees show flu-like symptoms—such as a nasty cough, fever or severe headache—you shouldn’t wait for things to get worse. Send them home with strict instructions to rest and recuperate.

Another simple precaution suggested by business owners is wearing gloves when inspecting customer vehicles.

3

As one owner pointed out, people tend to be far more comfortable sneezing and coughing in the comfort of their own vehicles—therefore, techs should be extra careful and wear protection when opening door handles, touching steering wheels or checking mileage during the estimation process.

And, if business does start to lag, consider some compromises.

Several shops are combating slow business amid the virus by offering customers the option of interacting with estimators via video chat or take photos of vehicle damage themselves.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 63

EXECUTIVE VISION

ALL-IN-ONE AND ONE-FOR-ALL CarrXpert’s GM for North America says when it comes to fixing cars, we’re ‘better together’

BY GIDEON SCANLON

F

or Quebec-based network CarrXpert, all-in-one automotive facilities are a move for the future.

CarrXpert is a network designed to offer a one-stop shop for all consumer repair needs—offering all-in-one service dealerships, including mechanical, autobody and towing services.

CarrXpert was launched in 2001 by the CCAQ. Until 2015, the company only operated within Quebec.

In 2015 the rights to operate outside Quebec were purchased from the CCAQ and CarrXpert North America was launched. The brand grew rapidly in Atlantic Canada and in the last 18 months has been aggressively focused on its expansion efforts in Manitoba and New York State.

Now, the CarrXpert brand operates in 180 collision repair centres in Quebec, more than 20 facilities in Atlantic Canada, over 20 in Manitoba and 10 in the United States.

David Lush is the general manager for CarrXpert’s North American efforts. He recently spoke with Collision Repair about the business’s operations outside Quebec.

Collision Repair: Could you tell us a bit about your role bringing CarrXpert to new markets outside of Quebec?

David Lush: I joined the company in 2017, two years after CarrXpert North America was launched. It presented a wealth of new markets. I’m responsible for shops all across the continent—but not the ones in Quebec.

We cater to car dealers—and aim to build consumer relationships with our business model. With CarrXpert, consumers can buy a car from a facility and receive regular service, autobody and towing needs from the same dealer owned business.

We strive to build a unique relationship

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EXECUTIVE VISION

“We strive to build a unique relationship between car dealers and consumers—one that we think the industry is lacking. We want our customers to be able to purchase a car from someone and be able to come back to the same place in the following months for an oil change and tire rotation, or if they suffer a collision.”—David Lush David Lush, General Manager CarrXpert

between car dealers and consumers—one that we think is unique. We want our customers to be able to purchase a car from someone and be able to come back to the same place in the coming months for an oil change and tire rotation, or if they suffer a collision. This way, our dealers can fulfill their obligation to complete quality warranty approved repairs.

They have an obligation to their customers to look after them throughout the ownership cycle. This also provides the consumer a certain amount of leverage—they can withhold future vehicle or service purchases if they aren’t happy with the service. It creates a unique relationship between car owner and car dealer.

CR: What is CarrXpert’s mission in the collision repair industry?

DL: I have an anecdote I use to explain.

It was a snowy morning in November, and I was sitting around a table with one of our dealers and some staff. They were about to return some vehicles and I noticed none of the cars had snow tires on them.

They’d been sitting here for about ten days, so I asked the dealership team why they hadn’t installed the snow tires during the repair. We came to realize—after much discussion—that the departments hadn’t been collaborating as much as they should have.

We believe we could have added to the value of the experience by installing the snow tires during the collision repair without slowing down the process in any way. Just a touch of collaboration was needed.

In a nutshell, what CarrXpert aims to do is maximize dealer potential. We want to ensure dealers are providing the most comprehensive service as possible to their customers. We like to say that the industry is better together. You can have a whole host of independent dealers

doing great things but, if you get 20 of them together in a room, think of the things they can problem-solve and achieve.

CR: What has CarrXpert been working on lately—what’s the company’s mission for 2020?

DL: Since the launch of CarrXpert North America, the company has done very well.

As car dealers start to recognize the importance of the collision repair industry, we’ve started to grow.

Our biggest growth markets right now are New York State and Manitoba. We’re trying to tackle expansion from a geographic perspective, from right to left—from Atlantic Canada and across.

We’ve learned that it’s easier to have a market strategy—or provincial strategy—rather than taking on the scattered approach. We’ve learned a lot over the last three years—when the shops are in a cluster together, the expansion is more effective.

In New York State, we’re partnering with the NYSADA and have stakes in the ground in Albany. We’re working on a market strategy for those dealers and expanding further in New York state.

We’re doing the same thing in Manitoba, but the MMDA is really leading the way on that project. We’re at 20 stores there and growing very, very quickly.

We had anticipated even more aggressive growth through February but, unfortunately the Coronavirus has put a damper on that.

We’ll come out of this fine, though—we’ve hit an ‘aha’ moment with our strategies in New York and Manitoba and are steadily moving forward there. It’s a solid team effort—we’re better together than we are individually.

CR: When did you start pursuing expansion in Manitoba and New York?

DL: We launched the New York project about a year ago and then put it on a hold—I think we had the wrong approach.

We revamped the whole project over the last year and relaunched it—and the phone has been ringing off the hook. In Manitoba, we signed 15 stores in the last two months.

CR: What other markets is the brand planning to tackle?

DL: We’re growing our Manitoba and New York markets until they are saturated. We have steady growth there, so we’re working on those projects first.

We’ve had preliminary discussions with other markets and interested dealer associations. There are levels of interest and some wait-and-see—they want to see the Manitoba program before making their final decisions.

But the interest is definitely there.

CR: Do you have any advice to businesses amid the pandemic?

DL: I think we are a vital industry—we need to keep people moving. Vehicles are essential amid the pandemic, to both your physical well-being in the event of an emergency, and your mental well-being.

I, for one, would go crazy if my car wasn’t still sitting in my driveway right now. People will still be on the road, but traffic—and business—will slow down.

We’ve heard a lot about customers coming in for backlog work—there may not be the crush of the door as per usual, but customers are still coming in.

Keep performing proper handwashing and safety procedures and be sure to thoroughly disinfect before returning the car.

I think we’re going to come out this changed—but maybe that’s okay.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 65

CYBERHACKING

ZERO HOUR Should collision facilities be investing in cybersecurity?

BY GIDEON SCANLON America’s Auto Auction Assistant vice president Matt Arias.

I

n a recently published a report published on JD Supra, The 20 top legal concerns facing the automotive sector, cybersecurity was ranked third. According to the authors, members of Foley’s Automotive Industry Team, auto manufacturers have not prepared policies to deal with the risk of vehicle computer hacking.

“Smart technology also increases the amount of personal information collected by the car, making strong data protection paramount,” the authors of The Top Legal Issues Facing the Automotive Industry in 2020 wrote. “Doing so entails robust policies

in connection with the design goals and use of the products.”

The article is hardly alone in advocating for an increase in awareness about the digital security issues facing vehicle owners.

“The increasing number of cloud-based applications in the automotive industry and technological advancements in the autonomous vehicle space is expected to create opportunities for the automotive cybersecurity market in the coming years,” the researchers behind the Automotive Cyber Security Market by Form, Global Forecast to 2025 wrote.

In an interview with Collision Repair,

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noted Canadian cybersecurity expert Justin Bull, explained that the automotive industry is particularly vulnerable to cybercrime because of its sluggishness in recognizing potential dangers.

“As cars became more computerized, there wasn’t too much thought put into the idea of cybersecurity,” Bull told Collision Repair. “The direct hacking of automobiles is a bursting field of research and a very serious field of research.”

Of course, for those businesses that did begin offering third-party auto cybersecurity services look likely to benefit from increas-

CYBERHACKING

“We often see consignors bringing vehicles to auctions that still contain the previous drivers’ personal information stored in their electronic systems.”

—Andrea Amico

Andrea Amico, founder of Privacy4Cars.

ingly cyber-aware OEMs. Some have also heavily invested in building up an awareness of the threats facing manufacturers.

According to a new study from Upstream Security, it could cost automakers $24 billion over the next five years. In fact, the security software provider has even documented 170 documented reported between 2010-2018.

“With every new service or connected entity, a new attack vector is born,” said Oded Yarkoni, Upstream’s head of marketing.

“These attacks can be triggered from anywhere placing both drivers and passengers at risk. Issues range from safety critical vehicle

Canadian cybersecurity expert Justin Bull.

“As cars became more computerized, there wasn’t too much thought put into the idea of cybersecurity.

The direct hacking of automobiles is a bursting field of research and a very serious field of research.”

—Justin Bull

systems, to data center hacks on back-end servers, to identity theft in car sharing, and even privacy issues. The risk is immense.

Just one cyber-hack can cost an automaker $1.1 billion, while we are seeing that the cost for the industry as a whole could reach $24 billion by 2023.”

According to Yarkoni, the automotive world is becoming a hotbed for smart mobility. Advanced technologies such as connected cars, autonomous vehicles, ride-sharing services and aggregated transport of all kinds are adding different risks at an astonishing rate.

According to one report from Research and Markets, the auto cybersecurity market will grow to be worth $5.77 billion U.S. by 2025—up from $1.34 billion in 2018.

“The growth of automotive cybersecurity is driven by the increasing use of over-the-air updates for vehicle software in developed as well as developing countries.”

They aren’t alone in predicting big things for the formerly obscure area of the auto sector.

The legal concerns stemming from the cyber-hacking of vehicles do not belong to OEMs alone.

It is currently unclear whether a Canadian court would judge a collision facility to be partly liable if personal information were hacked from a vehicle in the business’s care.

But the dangers may not just be limited to data theft.

The risks posed by cybercriminals to the auto sector–and to collision repairers–may extend further than just to the possible exposure of client vehicle data.

“We’re finding situations where people can kill the steering wheel or remote control the brakes, which could cause an accident or

death,” said Bull.

In other areas of the automotive aftermarket, significant investments in cybersecurity are already being made.

Earlier this year, America’s Auto Auction, an independent auction group, announced it would offer a service to delete personal information to vehicle consignors, including OEMs banks and auto lenders, rental and business fleets, and dealers. The deletion process will be undertaken by Privacy4Cars, which has developed a mobile process designed to help erase personal information from vehicle systems.

“We often see consignors bringing vehicles to auctions that still contain the previous drivers’ personal information stored in their electronic systems,” said Andrea Amico, founder of Privacy4Cars. “Now, thanks to this relationship, consignors can rely on America’s Auto Auction to dispose of the personal information stored in their vehicles, whether it’s to be compliant with internal record disposal guidelines, to provide peace of mind to their customers, or to meet the requirements of privacy and security of connected devices laws in a growing list of States.”

Developed by a cybersecurity and vehicle privacy expert, Privacy4Cars provides visual step-by-step tutorials customized to quickly clear users’ personal information while building a compliance log.

“This is a manual process and there is nothing standard about the vehicles that are consigned,” said America’s Auto Auction Assistant vice president Matt Arias. “We realized we needed a consistent method to efficiently clear all of the information. In short, we needed this tool.”

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 67

EVENTS

SURVIVING WITH A SMILE Dave Luehr’s Positivity Summit shines a bright light in dark times

BY ALLISON ROGERS

1)

A

s the coronavirus rained doom and gloom on the North American automotive industry, Dave Luehr, founder of Elite Body Shop Solutions, decided he’d had enough of the gloomy news he was reading about. To help break the pessimistic news cycle, he had his company host a virtual Positivity Summit webinar.

“We want to bring light to how the collision repair industry can emerge from the pandemic even stronger than before,” Luehr told Collision Repair.

“In times like this, it can be hard to find positivity,” said Luehr. “And positivity does not mean burying your head in the sand and ignoring what’s going on.”

The summit was planned in less than a week—Luehr developed the idea after growing frustrated with the endless negative COVID-19 media coverage. He took to Facebook for some relief and was inspired by

a post from Indiana, U.S. shop owner Greg Lobsiger, who was calling for a more positive perspective amid the pandemic.

“That’s how the entire summit came to be,” he said. “While you watch, keep in mind that positivity ‘done right’ means facing the challenges and finding the opportunities contained within. As you view, take note of the ideas and thoughts that you can adapt to your shop and put them into practice.”

The four-hour webinar featured appearances from 12 leading collision industry figures, who discussed what approaches they are taking to stay afloat amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Greg Lobsiger, owner of Loren’s Body Shop in Bluffton, Illinois; Sheryl Driggers, owner of Universal Collision Center in Tallahassee, Florida; Tom Bissonnette of Parr Auto Body and director for the Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairers; Frank Rinaudo,

68 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

owner of Frank’s Accurate Auto Body in Slidell, Louisiana; Jeff Peevy, president of AMI; Doug Martin, general manager of Martin’s Body Shop in New Salisbury, Illinois; Randy Sattler, director of operations for Rydell Collision in Grand Forks, Nevada; Melanie Allan, vice president of Sales for Craftsman Collision; Mark Probst, owner of Probst Auto Body in Dieterich, Illinois; Michael Giarrizzo, president of DCR Systems Mentor; Brad Zara, president of Zara’s Collision Center in Springfield, Illinois and Matt McDonnell, owner of Big Sky Collision Network in Billings, Montana, all made appearances to discuss how their businesses were weathering the pandemic.

The presentation covered a wide range of topics, from safety measures to what shops should do in the event of slowdowns.

Greg Lobsiger, owner of Loren’s Body Shop in Bluffton, Illinois, was first up on the

EVENTS

“We want to bring light to how the collision repair industry can emerge from the pandemic even stronger than before.”

— Dave Luehr

2)

Summit to discuss how the pandemic has effective his rural business. He said he did not experience slowdowns until March and estimates his customer demand to have dwindled approximately 60 percent, due to fewer collisions and appointment cancellations.

Lobsiger said his employees are working on project lists amid slowdowns. Half the technicians on shift will work on repairs, while the others will chip away at project lists to keep the shop as productive as possible.

“We have time right now that we will never have again,” said Lobsiger. “We want to take advtange of this time and improve our ROIs.” Other shops also said they were doubling-down on their marketing efforts— 36 percent of Summit viewers said their marketing efforts have increased amid the pandemic.

Owners said they had changed their radio

3)

and print ads to fit current customer demand, and many were reaching out to local papers to learn about advertising opportunities. They also stressed staying active on social media to ensure customers know your business is still open and operating.

“Call around and make it known that your facility is practicing precautionary measures,” Sheryl Driggers told the Summit. “I always say we should cater to what our customers need. We can’t think of ourselves and panic in this time. Give the people what they need, and the success will follow.”

“We just need to just it day by day and keep a positive attitude,” said Driggers.

Luehr also gave a shout-out to Collision Repair during the Summit.

“Collision Repair magazine up in Canada—you guys rock!” he said.

You can watch a replay of the Positivity Summit at elitebodyshopsolutions.com.

1) Frank Renaudo, owner of Frank’s Accurate Auto Body, discussed how coronavirus has impacted business in Louisiana.

2) Middle, Greg Lobsiger, owner of Loren’s Body Shop in Bluffton, Illinois, was first up on the Summit to discuss how the pandemic has effective his rural business.

His business did not experience slowdowns until March.

3) Sheryl Driggers, owner of Universal Collision Center in Tallahassee, Florida says her business is focused on enhanced marketing and going above and beyond for the customer.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 69

REGIONAL NEWS | BRITISH COLUMBIA

EQUIPMENT UPLIFT

Lordco’s Ed Coates foundation recently donated a hoist and a metal lathe to two Maple Ridge high schools.

Maple Ridge Secondary and Samuel Robertson Technical School in Maple Ridge are getting a $25,000 boost to their automotive trades programs, courtesy of Lordco Auto Parts’ Ed Coates Memorial Foundation.

The foundation donated two pieces of equipment—an automotive hoist, which went to Maple Ridge Secondary, and a metal lathe to Samuel Robertson Technical. The brand-

new equipment is valued at about $25,000.

The foundation was established in memory of Lordco founder Ed Coates after his sudden passing in February 2014.

The trades programs at Maple Ridge and Samuel Robertson allow high school students to earn post-secondary credits, certifications and career skills prior to graduation. In financial assistance alone, the Ed Coates

provides more than $30,000 annually to students pursuing studies in automotive trades programs.

“We are so proud to be able to give back to our community and students with an interest in the automotive industry,” said Candace Gottschalk, Ed Coates’ daughter and vice-president of human resources at Lordco.

FUTURE FIXERS Students from secondary and post-secondary schools across British Columbia have been hard and work the last few weeks, showing off their trades skills at Skills Canada B.C.’s regional competitions.

On February 21, 240 competitors from 17 schools across northern Vancouver Island came together at Georges P. Vanier Secondary to compete in subjects ranging from welding and automotive to photography and web design—there was even a spaghetti bridge building contest for the junior crowd!

Paul Herman took home gold for his automotive skills, and Brody Laderoute came out on top in the welding competition.

Jackson Roy-Penzer scored gold for being a workplace safety whiz.

About 500 students from central Island region high schools and the Sunshine Coast arrived at Vancouver Island University (VIU) to test their skills in the 2020 Skills Canada regional competitions.

Automotive students from Brittania Secondary swept the podium in their segment, with all three of the podium spots occupied by the high school’s students.

On February 28, central Okanagan Valley students headed to Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus for yet another regional competition.

Further Skills Canada automotive competitions will be held on March 5 at University of the

About 500 students from central Island region high schools and the Sunshine Coast arrived at Vancouver Island University (VIU) to test their skills in the 2020 Skills Canada regional competitions.

Fraser Valley, Chilliwack; March 6 at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Cloverdale campus in Surrey; March 6 at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops; March 6 at Coast Mountain College, Terrace; and March 11 at the British Columbia Institute of Technology in Burnaby.

Each year, Skills Canada’s provincial branches hold several Olympic-style regional trade and technology competitions. The competitions hold two main purposes; first, to celebrate and reward students for excellence in their mastery of skilled trade and technology skills

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in a manner that directly involves the industry in evaluating student performance and that keeps training relevant to employers’ needs.

The second is to create an interactive and engaging environment for the thousands of young people who attend the competitions as spectators.

Unfortunately, this year’s regional winners will not get the chance to compete nationally; Skills Canada was forced to cancel the competition due to the coronavirus outbreak. It had been scheduled for May 27 through May 30 in Vancouver.

ALBERTA | REGIONAL NEWS

NO-FAULT FLIP An internal document from Alberta’s treasury board and finance department has recommended the province implement a no-fault insurance system to curb rising premium costs.

The report calls for a no-fault insurance system, wherein policyholders and their passengers are given compensation by their insurer without proof of fault following an accident.

However, it also means claimants cannot sue for pain and suffering from the auto insurance system. This system effectively replaces the right to seek recovery through the civil justice system for a benefits schedule.

The document was compiled by actuary firm J.S. Cheng and Partners and insurance consulting firm Cameron and Associates Insurance Consultants, in consultation with representatives from the province’s treasury board and finance department. The report was conducted as part of a claims and costs study requested in 2018.

According to the study, the root of Alberta’s insurance cost problems is the rising cost of settling injury claims in the province.

The report found that individuals wo have suffered one of the ‘top four’ injuries—namely

An internal document from Alberta’s treasury board and finance department has recommended the province implement a no-fault insurance system to curb rising premium costs.

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), concussions, temporomandibular joint injuries, and whiplash-associated disorder with chronic pain lasting more than six months—are “more likely to be represented by a lawyer,” and that the percentage of claims from individuals with one or more injuries has gradually increased from 16 percent in 2010 to 30 percent in 2016.

The study also revealed that, in 2017, pain and suffering comprised 57 percent of fees paid for bodily injury claims.

British Columbia’s ICBC recently announced similar changes to its system as it cut lawyers out of the courts and claims process. Though attorney general David Eby did not use the words ‘no fault’ during his speech, the Trial Lawyers Association of B.C. (TLABC) has declared that the province’s NDP government is indeed introducing a no-fault insurance scheme.

ICBC expected significant pushback from the TLABC, which has since released a statement.

“We are deeply disappointed and concerned that our public insurer is at grave risk of creating increasingly higher costs for insurance, unduly

burdening our most vulnerable citizens,” said the organization. “The rights of British Columbians, especially those who have been injured and are vulnerable, are at grave risk with today’s announcement.”

Last October, the province attempted to save money in a similar way—by limiting the number of expert reports allowed in auto insurance lawsuits. The plan was deemed unconstitutional, forcing the government to find other ways of cutting costs.

The new plan will bring the Pacific province in line with provincial insurance schemes like Manitoba Public Insurance and Saskatchewan Government Insurance—and, according to B.C., the savings to lawyer payouts will eventually make ICBC premiums some of the lowest in the country.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 71

REGIONAL NEWS | SASKATCHEWAN

LAZER FOCUS A charitable non-profit, the Friends of the Bowl Foundation, has named a children’s athletic awards ceremony after Saskatoon’s Lazer Autobody.

“Lazer Autobody thank you for generously supporting efforts to transform our city’s beloved sports complex into Western Canada’s PREMIER athletic park!” Friends of the Bowl wrote on Twitter and other social media channels. “We look forward rolling-out the details of the LAZER AUTOBODY SPIRIT OF SPORT AWARDS in the coming weeks!”

Friends of the Bowl aims to improve facilities and amenities within the Gordie Howe Sports Complex for the benefit of the residents of the Greater Saskatoon Area. For six decades, the Gordie Howe Sports Complex has been the athletic hub of Saskatchewan.

Set to run for at least five years, the Lazer Autobody Spirit of Sports awards will honour two baseball and two softball players–of any gender– its first year. In subsequent years, awards will also be received by young footballers.

“We had three young children when we founded our company,” says Jennifer Heroux,

Saskatoon’s Friends of the Bowl Foundation has named a children’s athletic award ceremony after Lazer Autobody.

who founded Lazer Auto Body with her husband, Bob Heroux, in 1987. “We know how much the opportunity to participate in sports and in the arts as children means to people–even once they have grown-up.”

Since being established in 1987, Lazer Autobody has been involved in efforts to give back to the people of Saskatoon and Saskatchewan. To date, it has also donated $102,500 to Nutrien Wonderhub, a children’s

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museum that aims to bridge the gap between school and play in order to foster a love of learning in young children.

Its relationship with the Friends of the Bowl Foundation began far more recently.

“One of our colleagues actually let us know about the work being done by the Foundation,” says Jennifer Heroux. “It’s is an amazing project we are thrilled to be a part of it.”

MANITOBA | REGIONAL NEWS

JINKIES! JEEPERS! The build Len Boschman is currently working on is sure to make you scream, “zoinks!”

Len, the owner of MacGregor, Manitoba’s Four Way Motors, is one of three Canadian participants in this year’s International RATical Rod Build Off Drive Off. Len’s had a 1961 Ford Econoline sitting on his property since 1996—and he’s converting the classic into the Scooby-Doo gang’s iconic Mystery Machine for the 2020 Build Off. Every year, the Build Off features Rat Rods that can only be described as works of art. There are two catches in the competition. First, builders only have nine months to build their vehicles—from January 1 to October 25. Second, the vehicles have to make the 1,500-mile (2,414 kilometre) trek from Speedyway Motors in Licoln, Nebraska, to the SEMA Show Las Vegas.

Four Way Motors has been home to the 1961 Ford Econoline Len is restoring since 1996—but before that, it operated on the Distinct Early Warning (DEW) Line spanning from Alaska to Greenland. The line was constructed on Canadian soil by U.S. authorities in the 1950s to detect any enemy bombers descending over the North Pole but was shut down in the 1980s.

The Econoline was the work vehicle of Len’s friend Dennis Williams. In 1996, Williams’ employers told him to scrap the vehicle in favour of a newer one. Instead, he chugged the van all the way to Four Way Motors, where it’s been ever since.

The build has made waves on social media, in local news, and among suppliers. Len says he’s been astounded by the support offered to him so far.

“BD Diesel has hopped on and given us a bunch of parts,” said Len. “And I just received confirmation that Axalta’s with us, too. Brett MacNeil from 3M was here a few weeks ago and said they’d help out, and Can Am Auto Glass is giving us all the glass for the build.

“NAPA has been supporting us from the get-go. Chris Kinghorn, regional vice president for NAPA Ontario sent us out the RADICAL tool line—the box, the cabinets, the jack stands, creepers, new floor jacks—everything!” said Len. Toyo Tires has also joined the team, providing the Mystery Machine’s dually tires.

Len’s had a 1961 Ford Econoline sitting at Four Way Motors since 1996⁠—and he’s converting the classic into the Scooby-Doo gang’s iconic Mystery Machine for the 2020 Build Off.

Since the Econoline was built without side doors, Len plans to open up the side panel and unveil a sort of working display rack for his sponsors. From the side panel, SEMA spectators will be able to view the engine and transmission.

Now, just over a third of the way through the nine-month timespan, Len is stunned by the support offered by not only his sponsors but the Canadian automotive community.

“Everybody has just come together amazingly. I cannot believe the reaction all of this is getting—it’s truly incredible. It’s like an automotive family, really.”

Stay tuned to Four Way Motors’ Facebook page for updates on the build, or visit his International RATical Rod Build Off Drive Off builder profile at rodrides.com/user/lenboschman.

Pro

Patent Pending

PartCart

Part #35950

• Flexible part holding cart

• Simple handtwist fasteners for quick & easy reconfiguration • Folds up for out-of-the-way storage

Len’s initial rendering for the build.

• Holds up to 400 lbs.

• Heavy-duty tight-mesh shelves

• 29”x 41”x 29” when configured full height

• Folding mast for two-side usage

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 73

REGIONAL NEWS | ONTARIO

ONTARIO BLUE IT The Ontario government has admitted its error and will be abandoning the new whiteon-blue license plate designs to return to the traditional blue-on-white design—with some minor changes.

On March 6, the Toronto Star reported that the newly revised plates will be revealed in the next few days. The newspaper did not cite a source, though it maintains the Ford government will completely replace the blue plates that have been the subject of much scrutiny due to their poor legibility in certain lighting conditions.

The newly-designed white plates will apparently look something like the traditional blue-on-white style used since 1973, the old “Yours to Discover” slogan will be replaced by the new “A Place to Grow” motto. Commercial plates will still bear the “Open for Business” slogan, as planned.

the new plates were nearly impossible to read at night, and days after house leader Paul Calandra announced that 3M Canada, which manufacturers the plates, would begin working on a “new enhanced license plate,” set to become available in the following weeks.

The Ontario government has admitted its error and will be abandoning the Approximately 71,000 new white-on-blue license plate designs to return to the traditional blueblue plates have been on-white design. distributed to motorists The new plates will also steer clear of the since February 1. These individuals will be raised numbers and letters that were featured mailed instructions on how to receive their on old plates after many complained the design replacements, and the traditional “Yours was prone to seeing its paint peel off. to Discover” blue-on-white plates will be The decision comes just weeks after a distributed until the revised plate is ready Kingston, Ontario police officer pointed out for issue.

FUNDING FEMALE FUTURES

The Canadian government is financially supporting Build a Dream, a Windsor, Ont. organization designed to encourage young women to explore careers in the trades.

The Canadian government has launched support for Build a Dream, a Windsor, Ont. organization designed to encourage young Canadians to explore careers in the trades.

Federal Minister of Labour Filomena Tassi announced $728,000 in funding to support Build A Dream’s Career Expansion Program, which aims to attract female high-school-age students to the skilled trades.

The project will receive the funds through

the Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness program.

As part of the two-year project, high-schoolaged women will benefit through career expos and exploratory workshops where they can ‘try a trade’ and have access to online resources where they can connect with professional skilled tradeswoman and explore supports to help them launch careers in the skilled trades.

Three million Canadians are currently

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employed in skilled trades, but only nine percent of Red Seal apprentices are women.

According to Nour Hachem-Fawaz, founder of Build a Dream, more than 10,000 students have attended the organization’s events since 2014.

“Build a Dream starts the journey early,” said Hachem-Fawaz. “If young women are making career-informed decisions, then they can lead their lives into high-paying jobs that are in demand and have security.”

ONTARIO | REGIONAL NEWS

RETRAIN AND REGROUP The Ontario government is investing $757,664 to help laid-off workers through a second job action centre in Oshawa, which will aim to provide services and supports for the 1,700 workers from independent parts supplier companies that were impacted by the closure at the Oshawa General Motors Assembly plant.

The new centre, in partnership with Unifor, connects workers with job and training opportunities, counselling services and workshops to help them improve their job search, resume writing and interview skills.

“We know this is a challenging time for many workers and families,” Monte McNaughton, Ontario’s minister of labour, training and skills development, said in a statement. “Our government stands with the people in Durham region, and we will continue to help those affected by the closure adjust and retrain so they can quickly rejoin the workforce.”

“Our union strongly supported situating the action centre within the Unifor Local 222 hall, which will provide our members with continued Unifor support and a comfortable and familiar environment in which to access

The new centre, in partnership with Unifor, connects workers with job and training opportunities, counselling services and workshops to help them improve their job search, resume writing and interview skills.

these vital services,” added Jerry Dias, Unifor’s national president.

The provincial government had aimed to host a job fair on April 22 at Oshawa’s Durham College, which would have aimed to connect

workers with local job opportunities.

In the fall of 2019, Ontario opened the first job action centre on the GM premises in Oshawa. That centre focuses on training for former GM employees.

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REGIONAL NEWS | ONTARIO

READY TO RETOOL On April 2, Ontario’s provincial government launched the Ontario Together Fund to encourage the province’s manufacturers to retool their operations for the current crisis.

The $50 million fund will “help businesses provide innovative solutions or retool their operations in order to manufacture essential medical supplies and equipment, including gowns, coveralls, masks, face shields, testing equipment and ventilators,” said a press release from the province.

The government will be looking for the most viable, innovative proposals that can quickly provide critical goods and services and the greatest benefit to the people of Ontario.

The one-time fund of $50 million is timelimited and will be available to companies and organizations across the province, so long as the business can manufacture medical equipment.

The province is also asking businesses for their most innovative ideas on aiding the province through the pandemic.

The province has worked with the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association to prompt the production of ventilators, and

the province recently ordered 10,000 of the machines from Brampton-based O-Two Medical Technologies.

Premier Doug Ford said the mass mobilization of government, businesses and people to slow the spread of COVID-19 is one of the most ambitious efforts undertaken by the province in generations.

On April 1, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said more than 3,000 companies nationwide have offered help toward retooling efforts, including Magna International, Martinrea and Linamar.

Ford also said the current state of Ontario is not too far off from that of countries like Spain and Italy, which have seen more than 110,000 confirmed cases of the virus as of April 2.

“We know a surge is coming,” Ford said somberly. “The hard truth is, right now, today, there is very little separating what we will face here in Ontario from the devastation we’ve seen in Italy and Spain. Thousands of lives are at stake. The actions we take today, what we do as a government and as a people, will determine what we face tomorrow.”

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According to Ford, the state of Ontario could not be too far off from that of Spain or Italy.

REGIONAL NEWS | QUEBEC

FUNDING FRENCH CANADIAN FLEETS Earth Day Canada and Quebec’s minister of Transport Chantal Rouleau recently revealed a program that makes it easier for fleet companies to transition to electric vehicles.

Through the Transition Wow program, Earth Day Canada and the Quebec government said it will offer support for fleet managers that take part in the program to transition cargo vans and SUVs into EV equivalents by offering needs assessments, vehicle maintenance services and installing nearby charging stations.

“Cargo vans and SUVs are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in Quebec.

Our goal with Transition Wow is to offer a quick and easy solution to this issue, which will accelerate the sector’s energy transition,” Pierre Lussier, director of Earth Day Canada said.

Earth Day Canada said its goal is to have

Through the Transition Wow program, Earth Day Canada and the Quebec government will offer support for fleet managers that take part in the program to transition cargo vans and SUVs into EV equivalents.

50 zero emission vans within the next three years. In 2018, the organization converted its first four refrigerated cargo vans and

SUVs in the country to electric vehicles in collaboration with IGA retailers. It wants to expand the program across the country.

AFTERMARKET AID Quebec Premier François Legault has deemed the province’s many collision repair facilities an essential service, able to remain open through the coronavirus crisis.

After ordering non-essential service to close for a period of at least three weeks, the Premier has put the decision to keep collision repair facility doors in the hands of owners.

Legault’s measures are in-step with the decisions of other provincial leaders, including Ontario’s Doug Ford.

Likely the province worst-hit by the epidemic, Quebec has 1112 likely infections, as of March 25—more than any other. Legault has been criticized for taking a lackadaisical approach to the epidemic.

Premier François Legault deemed repair facilities essential services and ordered all other non-essential services to close up shop for “at least three weeks” to help thwart the spread of the disease.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 77

REGIONAL NEWS | ATLANTIC

SOUTHWEST BY NORTHEAST Steele Auto Group, which has more than 40 dealerships and eight bodyshops in Eastern Canada, has expanded into the United States with the acquisition of Luling Chevrolet Buick GMC in Luling, Texas.

On February 25, the dealership group announced it had purchased the Texas facility, which is about 100 kilometres east of San Antonio. Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

This may be Steele Auto Group’s first rodeo in the United States market, but the company has plans for further expansion opportunities.

“While this is our first venture into the United States, our plan is to continue to seek out opportunities in the San AntonioAustin area in the near term,” said Rob Steele, CEO of Steele Auto. “We would like to create some critical mass in Texas and are open to opportunities in the U.S. that fit our acquisition criteria.”

Steele Auto has yet to say whether its expansion plan includes acquisitions of U.S. bodyshops.

Luling is a small city of 5,400 people, but Luling Chevrolet serves customers from the

Steele Auto Group is comprised of 41 dealerships, two Powerhouse Equipment stores and eight collision centres. The company is headquartered in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Greater San Antonio-Austin area. Carroll Barron, the longtime owner of Luling Chevrolet, said he wanted to thank his customers and employees for their loyalty over the years.

“We are confident the Steele team will continue to deliver quality customer service,” said Barron. “We’re impressed with their professionalism and their track record. They will be good for the dealership and for our part of Texas.”

In 2019, Steele Auto Group became the first Canadian dealership to be awarded the GM Canada Innovation award, which is given to

top-performing GM dealerships. According to Kim Day, president of Steele Auto Group, it plans to take the same innovation to Texas.

“As an example, we would intend to roll out real-time video updates from service technicians while customers’ vehicles are being repaired,” said Day. “We pride ourselves on creating new and innovative ways to enhance the experience for our customers.”

Steele Auto Group is comprised of 41 dealerships, two Powerhouse Equipment stores and eight collision centres. The company is headquartered in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

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PAINTER’S PERSPECTIVE Kirk Anderson shares how his past, shaped his future

F

rom a young age Kirk was always surrounded by some element of the collision repair industry. His dad owned a facility for many years, and his two brothers are licensed technicians.

Taking a food services co-op in high school, he initially pursued a career in the culinary arts. However, with his first child being a newborn, he knew he couldn’t balance his time between family and career path which, at this point demanded his focus lean toward work.

When he looked at alternate career options, he felt limited in scope, as he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

His parents, being as supportive as they are, persuaded him to join the family business.

After becoming a licensed technician, his dad suggested he learn the art of painting and for the last 18 years he hasn’t stopped.

Well, that’s not entirely true. During

this time, Kirk lost interest in painting.

Not because he didn’t enjoy it—it was the environment around him which didn’t make it ‘fun’ anymore.

Given his expertise, he easily attained a role with MAX Auto Supply as a paint representative. Other than day-to-day duties, he ran seminars, and shared his painting philosophy with others–“you have to get good, before you get fast... and understand your paint job is as only good as your prep work.”

One day, Kirk was trouble shooting issues with one of our paint booths

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at Brampton North and he ended up painting a few panels, while doing so, he got that ‘feeling’ again. Just like that, Kirk was taken back to a time where he was the master of a canvas, in this case a panel or two.

That evening, he shared this experience with his wife - wondering if he should go back to painting. To our benefit, his wife supported him. After a short meeting with Tony Raposo, he was layin’ down base at our North York location, now he works out of our Assured Markham location. One element which makes his experience different now, is the people who surround him.

They support him and vice versa –the strength of this relationship can clearly be seen in the morning huddle. Kirk does have aspirations of managing his own facility someday, but for now he is happy helping his team and sharing his skills, experience and philosophy.

RESTORATION REPORT

Hands On’s program aims to foster a one-on-one mentorship experience.

GETTING HANDS-ON IN SASKATCHEWAN Hands On Outreach and Development Centre connects with local youth through classic restorations

BY ALLISON ROGERS

O

ne Saskatchewan not-for-profit is sparking automotive interest through one-on-one mentorship and classic restorations.

It all started nine years ago, when Rick Langlais, founder of Saskatoon’s Hands On Outreach and Development Centre, approached Tom Bissonnette at Parr Auto Body to see if some of the children that frequented the program could stop by and learn a thing or two about automotive skills.

Bissonnette pointed to a couple of challenges with the original idea. The shop at Parr Auto Body is very busy and it could prove difficult to transport the kids from the inner city core out to Parr Auto Body’s facility. Parr Auto Body is located about 10 kilometers from Saskatoon’s downtown, in an east side business area. Instead, Bissonnette suggested that if Langlais could find a building downtown, he could see if there were volunteers willing to come down and work with the kids.

Over the course of the next year, Langlais found a property downtown, renovated it to

The not-for-profit organization also aims to give valuable life skills to the local youth.

house a shop area, got the necessary equipment donated and approached Bissonnette a second time.

Before starting the project, Langlais and Bissonette traveled to Vancouver to meet with

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Mark McKim and check out the Customs for Urban Teens (CUT) program. The CUT Program puts car enthusiasts side-by-side with young people to work on classic and custom car restorations.

RESTORATION REPORT

Of course, Hands On and Sask Polytech both hope to spark some interest in the trades along the way!

The kids really get a hands-on experience— with professional supervision, of course!

Langlais and Bissonette returned to Saskatoon with a vision of what was possible, and they set about finding a good car to re-build.

With the help of many donors and members of the Saskatoon Auto Body Association, the team raised money and recruited volunteers to work with the kids and rebuild the Nova.

“When we were introduced to them, we loved what they were doing,” said Paul Carter, Dean of Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s School of Transportation. “We offered up our large, state-of-the-art facility and one of our faculty members for their program.”

The partnership began about a year ago.

Once a week—sometimes twice—Sask Polytech faculty and local technicians volunteer their time to suit up to help the kids with their restoration. Through the program, local youth are given a safe, fun and creative activity for the after-school hours—keeping them out of harm’s way and teaching them valuable life lessons in the process.

The group is currently working its second build—a 1969 Mustang convertible—which it started under the guidance of Scott Kucharyshen, head of Sask Polytech’s Auto Body

Technician program in the fall of 2018.

According to Hands On, the Mustang’s original body was in rough shape, so the group practically had to begin from the ground up. A jig was constructed, and the kids began building the frame on top of it.

In the fall of 2019, a second evening was added to complete more work on the Mustang’s engine and powertrain. The crew removed the manual transmission—sold to a local buyer—in favour of an automatic version.

In early February, the Mustang’s floor was installed.

“It literally fell right in,” reads a restoration update. “Thanks to good parts, plenty of careful measuring and the kids’ hard work.”

Of course, Hands On Outreach and Sask Polytech both hope they can generate some interest in the trades and careers in autobody repair along the way.

“There are some students that stand out,” said Carter. “I hope to see some of them at the college in September.”

For more information on Hands On Outreach, visit handsonoutreach.ca.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 81

WELDING TECHNOLOGY

ALLOYED ADVICE The latest and greatest in welding technology

T

he introduction of new materials such as ultra-high-strength steels, aluminum and carbon fibre into modern vehicle designs means that welding has become far more complicated.

There are OEM-approved approaches to performing repairs on vehicles with these complicated materials. These methods include squeeze type resistance spot welders (STRSW), MIG/MAG Pulse Welders, rivet bonding and panel bonding. In some instances, all four methods can be used when repairing.

The use of resistance spot welders has been adapted by OEMs due to the introduction of ultra high strength steels. This allows the technician to bond ultra-high-strength-steel with minimal damage to the molecular structure.

In cases where the STRSW cannot be used, the OEM repair procedure will indicate to the technician what method of bonding is required, such as MIG/MAG pulse brazing.

When it comes to aluminum repairs, MIG/ MAG pulse welders must be used, as the high-frequency arc used by TIG welders can disturb the sensors in a vehicle. Regardless if the battery is connected or not, any part on a vehicle being repaired with a TIG welder can potentially lead to problems with the automobile’s on-board computers.

KNOW YOUR WELDING TERMS: Metal inert gas (MIG) is an arc welding process in which a continuous solid wire electrode is fed through a welding gun and into the weld pool, joining the two base materials together. Shielding gases are sent through the welding gun, protecting the weld pool from contamination.

When it comes to ultra-high-strength steels, MIG/MAG pulse brazing is rapidly becoming the accepted repair procedure as it reduces the total heat the steels are subjected to, protecting the materials’ molecular structure. The technique is able to maintain the structural integrity of the vehicle, which will ultimately better protect the vehicle’s occupants in the event of a collision.

Take a good look through the following pages for insight into the leading welding tools offered for the collision repair industry.

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Tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to channel the welding arc. The welding pool is protected from impurities with inert gas, typically argon. While MIG welders use continuous feeding wire, TIG requires the use of welding rods that are slowly fed into the weld puddle.

Resistance spot welding is a process in which contacting metal surface points are joined by the heat obtained from resistance to electric current.

It is a subset of electric resistance welding. The process uses two copper alloy electrodes to concentrate welding current into a small point, clamping together the bond, and sending a current through it to bond it. An immense amount of power can be delivered to the spot in as little as 1/100,000 of a second.

WELDING TECHNOLOGY

3680 Smart-Plus Resistance Spot Welder ARSLAN AUTOMOTIVE

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The TECNA Smart-Plus Resistance Spot Welder is Wi-Fi enabled and able to carry out remote diagnostics direct from the factory. User friendly and fully water-cooled, the 3680 uses smart-technology controlled by a microprocessor and is fully automatic without needing any operator input.

This welder also has less autonomous options, by selecting either Quick Mode or Full Mode for more control. Using top-of-the-line technology, it also has a USB port that downloads and stores all weld records and is approved for weld bonding. Meeting OEM standards and having an output power 14, 000 amps at cap, the 3680 Smart-Plus Resistance Spot Welder comes with many accessories and is easy to use.

The Nitroweld NW-650 is a complete plastic welding station with builtin temperature controllers, including nitrogen (N2) and compressed air selection. This unit can be used with an external nitrogen tank or a nitrogen generator. If used with a cylinder, the built-in selector allows the user to pre-heat and cool down with compressed air and only use the N2 supply for direct welding. NitroWeld’s super-heated nitrogen gas melts and bonds broken bumper skins, headlight tabs or plastic radiators with a repair that cools and dries in seconds. The unit allows you to repair original materials with the same material, to increase your success rate.

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Using continuous feedback information, Pro Spot’s i4s Smart Spot Welder quickly gathers and adjusts to the weld as its occurring, providing accurate & proper welds. The Smart Gun saves time by clearing alerts or changing parameters directly with the on-gun display screen and fingertip controls.

360 degree Arm Rotation provides more maneuverability where access is limited. Staying connected is easy with built-in Wifi to connect directly and quickly to access training videos, materials, and OEM procedures.

Polyvance has just released its 8000 series -- the latest line of plastic nitrogen welders. With patent-pending technology, the 8000 series welders are easy to use and maintain while allowing users to adjust to thin or thick plastic. The analog gauge makes it easy to set the flow of hot nitrogen gas. Suitable for all shops, the series comes with a removable hose and wiring assembly, making the replacement process easy and inexpensive. Polyvance was the first company to commercialize nitrogen plastic welding in 1981 and has been providing their customers with high-quality products ever since.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 83

WELDING TECHNOLOGY

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amh.ca

chiefautomotive.com

gysweldingusa.com

Featuring the high-frequency pulsed technology that is required by OEMs for certified collision repair programs, AMH presents its all-new UltraMIG 1250. The UltraMIG 1250 is specifically designed for a wide variety of applications including welding and brazing of aluminum, galvanized steel, stainless and high-strength steel. The unit is also fully compatible with the aluminium alloies 5554 & 4043.

Chief ’s three-phase MultiMig 621 can be used to weld and braze aluminum, galvanized sheet metal, stainless steel and high-strength steel.

Like all Chief MIG/MAG welders, it features the synergic-pulsed technologies required by most OEMs for aluminum welding. The unit has a double pulse feature that allows the weld to cool slightly during the low frequency operation. This is an important characteristic when welding vertically or overhead.

The Gyspot PTI Evolution meets the needs of high-strength steels (UHSS/boron), with a clamping force of 550daN with 8bars air pressure, and a welding current that can reach 14 500Amps. Its C clamp integrates a high-tech transformer and the machine also operates with 32 Amps to 40 Amps fuses only. Its operation is extremely easy thanks to the automatic welding parameters setting in automatic mode.

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INFOGRAPHIC

WELDING TECHNOLOGY

EXTRA MEASURES

DOS and DON’TS of Disinfecting Cars Amid COVID-19 In these trying times, added precautions need to be taken in the bodyshop -- meaning all vehicles should be thoroughly cleaned upon arrival to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

When washing down vehicles, DON’T use bleach or hydrogen peroxide, or ammonia based products if you plan on wiping down an LCD screen.

According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol solutions containing at least 70% alcohol should be effective at killing coronavirus. This means nearly every interior surface of a vehicle can be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol-based cleaners to avoid its spread.

DO use soap and water -- it’s a safer bet -but DON’T use too much water when wiping down fabric upholstery -- it could leave behind a musty smell, or encourage mould growth in the cushions.

Regardless of what cleaning products you use, a gentle touch is recommended. Wipe down and lather gently with a microfibre cloth -- rubbing too vigorously could remove the dye in some leathers.

Gloves and a face mask should be worn for maximum protection when desinfecting a vehicle.

EXPERTS RECOMMEND DISINFECTING HOTSPOTS IN VEHICLES. THIS INCLUDES: STEERING WHEEL

WINDOW CONTROLS

TURN SIGNALS

INDOOR/OUTDOOR HANDLES

DOOR LOCKS

DOOR ARMRESTS

ANY GRAB HANDLES

SHIFTER

WIPER CONTROLS

SEAT ADJUSTERS

“Just think about how many surfaces are touched in an average car trip,” said Jon Linkov of Consumer Reports’ automotive division. “Door handles inside and out, control knobs and buttons, the touchscreen -- even directional and wiper controls are touched virtually every time someone drives their vehicle.”

Stay tuned to Collision Repair for more tips on precautionary measures amid COVID-19

www.collisionrepairmag.com APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 85

TOWING NEWS

MARITIME RECOVERY A Nova Scotia towing professional, Chris Doucet, has provided the RCMP with vital assistance in its investigation of a dangerous hoax involving a vehicle driven into the sea.

On February 29, a red compact was driven over a wharf and into the Atlantic in Cape St Mary’s, N.S in the early evening. RCMP received reports that the incident was possibly the result of a collision, and likely to have been fatal.

“I was coming back from a trip when I got the call,” Chris Doucet told Collision Repair.

“I met with police at the wharf on Sunday morning.”

By that point, the police had become aware that the incident was likely to be a hoax. A video was released on social media showing a driver intentionally driving over the edge of the wharf in diving gear at the behest of cheering onlookers.

“The RCMP wasn’t too happy about the situation,” says Doucet. “The incident wasted a lot of people’s time.”

After online pranksters drove a vehicle off a Cape St. Mary pier, Nova Scotian towing professional Chris Doucet was tasked with recovering the vehicle from deep below the surface.

Police remained concerned that another person may have been in the vehicle. Police divers investigate the vehicle underwater, and secured the vehicle to the lift’s chain.

“It was about 20 feet [6.5 metres]deep. The first time we tried to bring it up, the crossbar broke,” Doucet recalls, “It was completely

ripped out.”

The second attempt was more successful, and Doucet’s boom truck was able to pull it out.

In the days following the incident, the RCMP has identified the people it believes to have been involved in the video.

“It w a s not t he smartest thing to have done with a Saturday night,” says Doucet. “I don’t know what they

were thinking.”

Doucet and an assistant involved in the operation were both thanked by the RCMP for their work.

“I do quite a bit of work with the RCMP,” says Doucet. “I’m reliable.”

A RHYMER’S REASONS Canadian towing social media platforms have seen a number of postings featuring a rapper discussing the dangers facing towing professionals in the road, and the string of arson attacks and shootings in the GTA. The songs are the creations of Jesse Hererra, a Dallas-based towing professional and former musician.

Last November, Herrera saw a former colleague and friend’s face appear on the news. The man had been shot 13 times while conducting a vehicle repossession.

A few weeks later, another friend, also a towing professional, called Herrera to let him know that he was conducting a risky roadside operation. A few minutes later, Herrera’s friend was struck and killed by a drunk driver.

“I didn’t want to just express myself with a post on Facebook. It didn’t feel right,” says Herrera.

A former musician, Hererra had left the music business to begin a new life as a towing professional in 2011. In the wake of the dual tragedies, Hererra felt that—by returning to music—he might be able to make a difference for the towing community.

“It had been a long time. I was 21 the last time I was in a studio—I am 34 now.”

His first song, My Brothers and Sisters,

Jesse Hererra, a Dallas-based towing professional and former musician, recently called for an end to the GTA’s towing-related violence.

directly addresses his feelings in the wake of the events in November, and was released over Facebook.

The piece ends with a simple request to listeners. “Slow down, and move over.”

The towing community embraced Hererra for his efforts. Towing social media platforms began to celebrate Hererra, and use the hashtag #towlivesmatter.

“The response was encouraging. I heard from people across the United States and around the word. People in the industry realize it is an important issue,” says Hererra.

In the months since, Hererra has released several more songs with a similar theme. He has also considered how best to explain the position of the tow community to people who aren’t involved in it.

“A lot of people don’t think about the tow life. Even when I entered the industry,

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I didn’t really recognize all the dangers we face on the roads. When I joined, I just did it,” says Hererra. “It wasn’t until my wife drove with me, and pointed out how crazy things were on the road, that I started to even consider it. A lot of people don’t understand that.”

The trick, Hererra says, is to spread a positive message.

“Too much music has a negative message. If you have a positive message, people are more likely to be influenced by it. The truth is that things could be better, and, even if just five people pass that message on because of the music, the effect will keep being passed forward.”

In another song, (Dumb ****) Tow Wars, Hererra directly addresses the situation facing GTA tow pros who have been victimized by a series of arson attacks and shootings.

Hererra says that Canadian towing professionals face similar challenges to those in the United States.

“Wherever we are, we should try to speak up, and pass the message on about towing safety.”

Hererra’s music can be found on his Facebook page. It was also recently put onto a YouTube channel.

The music contains some strong language.

TOWING NEWS

ASKED AND ANSWERED In February, a Saskatchewan towing professional Chris Kosty was taken aback by a sign on the back of a municipal snowplow.

It read: ‘Caution! New white noise backup alarm.’

“I was traveling behind one of these guys and then I noticed the sign. My first thought was ‘I think my truck has one of these too–it’s called the engine,” Kosty joked, before wondering if “this is what the city does when they want to cheap out on an actual backup alarm.

“There is probably actually something to this, but when I think of white noise, I think of the machine my wife has to help herself fall asleep that just creates a silent dull noise in the room like static or something,” says Kosty. “So, if you emanate that from a truck trying to back-up—to me, it seems like that isn’t getting anybody out of your way.”

So, what exactly are white-noise back-up alarms, and are they really as likely to send inattentive pedestrians off to sleep as they are to get them to notice the several tonnes of industrial equipment barreling toward them?

Since the 1970s, shrill back-up alarms have been widely used to prevent inattentively dawdling pedestrians from being mowed down by industrial equipment.

While they may save lives, they do not warm hearts. City officials frequently receive calls-of-complaints from residents annoyed by blaring alarms waking them in the middle of the night.

White noise back-up systems attempt to prevent this problem. Barrage people immediately behind a vehicle with sound best compared to TV static, they are virtually silent from just a few metres away from the vehicle.

They also claim to have one other key benefit over traditional systems–one that may make them safer than traditional systems. In areas with multiple alarms blaring, it can be quite difficult for pedestrians to identify where the alarms are coming from. In fact, even with one alarm, the high-frequency sounds are not easily used to infer which direction a slow-moving vehicle is coming from.

White noise systems offer a more elegant solution. My playing multiple frequencies at once, pedestrians are far more likely to turn in the right direction. Even people with earmuffs, headphones and some level of hearing loss can still identify the alarm sounds.

Installing back-up alarms is an inexpensive process, though wiring the systems to work in-sync with brake lights may require the services of an expert. Because many systems direct sound right behind a vehicle, not every model is appropriate for vehicles conducting towing operations. Systems designed to reach the back of a vehicle while it has a car hitched on do exist.

When Saskatchewan towing professional Chris Kosty saw a sign about white noise alarms on municipal snow plows, he was perplexed.

CANDID CAMERA Police in the Durham Region are asking members of the public for help to identify a suspect believed to have been involved in an arson attack on a tow truck.

In March, officers found a burning tow truck on Elizabeth Street, near Betts Road in Ajax, Ontario. Firefighters were able to put out the flames.

Police were able to grab a still image from security cameras showing a man believed to have been involved in the crime.

It is not known if the suspect is wanted in a series of other arson incidents targeting other tow truck drivers.

Three other tow trucks were reportedly set aflame in the Greater Golden Horseshoe this weekend, one in Aurora, and two in Richmond Hill.

The rash of tow truck attacks has been going on since late last year.

On December 21, three tow The security footage of the suspect. Police are requesting that members of the public share information about a man suspected trucks were set ablaze in Hamilof burning a tow truck. ton, with the crimes all reported to Hamilton Police in the same munity woke up to news that five tow trucks one-hour period. had been torched in North York, and two Then, on December 23, the towing com- more in Richmond Hill.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 87

TOWING

BUILDING TRUST

Tips for dealing with customer questions about repair facilities

BY GIDEON SCANLON

C

oncerned about your advice to clients being misconstrued?

When towing and recovery professionals are criticized, it is often because they are accused of pushing drivers to visit repair facilities with whom they have a kickback arrangement.

While not unheard of, not every recommendation provided is done so for financial reasons.

Even towing professionals with agreements with auto repair facilities may seek to provide sincere advice.

One good way for towing professionals to avoid accusations of taking advantage of drivers is to provide information that is true, and not about any particular facility.

Here are some talking points towing and recovery professionals may find to be worth keeping in mind.

What you can tell them: • It is their legal right to choose which collision repair facility, just as it is their right to choose whichever towing service they would like to service their vehicle.

• Insurance companies do provide recommendations to drivers about which repair facility would be appropriate to seek the services of.

• Insurance companies’ recommendations can be based on many factors, not all of them related to the quality-of-service the consumer receives.

• Partner businesses are usually chosen for

reputation, timeliness, quality-of-repairs, easeof-doing-business with the insurer and ability to perform repairs at a discount in return for access to higher volumes of business.

• While some auto insurers may describe repairs performed at non-recommended locations as being not guaranteed by the insurer, most auto repair providers do guarantee all procedures for the lifetime of a vehicle.

• Many vehicle manufacturers supply lists of auto repair facilities they have certified to repair their brands of vehicle based on their specified repair procedures.

• Many OEMs provide referrals to auto repair shops. These lists can be found online, or by contacting the OEM.

Brought to you by

UCE TIPS TO RED OVID-19 OC EXPOSURE T Assess your health

If you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath stay home and self-isolate.

Wash your hands

Before you start your day and as often as possible wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Limit sharing of pens

People tend to put these in their mouths or use them with unwashed hands. If you must share them make sure to sanitize well afterwards. Consider having extras or disposable ones for people to use that can be placed aside afterwards.

Disinfect, disinfect, disinfect!

Start the day right by making sure everything is wiped down with cleaner or soap and water.

Keep Lysol or other sanitisying wipes with you and wipe down your steering wheel, door handles, center console, etc. as often as possible. Don’t forget to wipe down any electronics such as phones and laptops as well.

Ask in advance

Practice social distancing

Sanitize all equipment

If possible, ask in advance if pick-ups have any recent travel history or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. This will allow you to assess the level of risk and if extra precautions are needed.

Limit contact with vehicle interiors

Try to keep the amount of time you are inside the vehicles you are towing to a minimum. Wear gloves and dispose of them before touching your own door handle or truck interior.

Limit passengers

Only allow passangers to ride in your vehicle if absolutely necessary. Assess them for signs of illness and if possible ask that they wear gloves for the ride.

Whenever possible try to–keep at least 6 feet between you and other people. Consider paying at the pump for fuel, picking up food to go (or better yet packing a lunch). When interacting with clients try to avoid physical contact. Consider swapping your usual handshake for a polite head nod.

Be self-aware

Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible. If you must cough or sneeze do so into a tissue and then imediatly dispose of it and wash your hands. If none are available cough or sneeze into your elbow rather than your hands or the air.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK DURING THIS PANDEMIC! BE SAFE OUT THERE! 88 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

IN MEMORIAM

REMEMBERING CY RUSSELL, 1928-2020 Industry icon carved to aftermarket empires built on warm relationships

In March, former AIA Canada chair Cyril James “Cy” Russell, a long-time member of the automotive aftermarket in Canada, died in Winnipeg.

I

n March, former AIA Canada chair Cyril James “Cy” Russell, a longtime member of the Canadian automotive aftermarket, died in Winnipeg. The owner of Autoline Products was 91.

“I have lost a mentor and one of my best friends,” wrote Tony Zarillo, a former employee of Russell’s now serving as the manager of Inlet Equipment. “Mr. Russell did the impossible. He built a successful company and always found time to make everyone feel important and special. He was never to busy to take time for everyone and listen.”

“Mr. Russell did the impossible. He built a successful company and always found time to make everyone feel important and special.”

—Tony Zarillo

Born in 1928, Russell entered the automotive aftermarket in 1960 after being offered a position as office manager at Fort Ignition, an auto distributor created as a retail outlet for Wilson Auto Limited. He ascended the ranks at the business, eventually becoming the president and general manager of a company that had grown to 36 stores across the Prairies and northwestern Ontario.

Fort was sold to NAPA in 1994.

After the sale, Russell moved on to expand his ownership stake in AutoLine Products—the remanufacturer and distributor or carburetors,

distributors, fuel injectors and other products sold through outlets in Canada and the United States. Russell helmed AutoLine’s expansion and remained active in the business until recently.

It was during this period that Sharon Turner worked with Russell.

“I remember well all the fun we had in the office, often getting in a bit of trouble for chatting too much!” Turner wrote in a tribute. “I stopped in to see Mr. Russell back a few years ago at Autoline and it was like I just saw him yesterday.

He won’t be forgotten.”

Russell valued his industry relationships and fellow employees greatly, and always ensured that service was a priority for his customers. He would often stay at the office late, chipping away at his various goals or providing much-needed parts services to his customers.

In 1994, he served as AIA chairman after already working in various capacities at the divisional and national levels of the organization.

He later was the recipient of the AIA’s highest honour, the Distinguished Service award.

Russell was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Maizie. He leaves behind two children and nine grandchildren.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 89

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

SYSTEM SHOCK

Subaru has recently announced plans to offer a hybrid or electric variant of every model by the mid-2030s.

Canadian repair facilities require an EV tune-up, Mitchell Report shows

BY GIDEON SCANLON

C

ollision repairers who have not invested in preparing for the arrival of electric vehicles may be in for a shock.

According to Mitchell International’s Industry Trends Casualty Report for the first quarter of 2020, the difficulty of repairing electric vehicles–which make use of lightweight materials–is leading to a significant increase in the severity of repairs, and a reduction in consumers’ choice in provider.

“Not only must bodyshops keep in-step with the seemingly endless increases in the complexity of repairs but carriers are also being challenged with how to appropriately price premiums in an environment where repair costs are increasing but frequency has yet to begin a significant decline as many have predicted over the last five years.“ The report also shows that other areas of the broader automotive sector are increasingly prepared for the widespread arrival of EVs. “Automakers continue to push electrification into new segments of the industry, further intensifying the diversification that has driven the growth in sales over the past decade. Even late adopters of electronic vehicle industry trends like Subaru have recently announced plans to offer a hybrid or electric variant of every model by the mid-2030s and for hybrid and electric vehicles to account for 40 percent of their new vehicle sales by the year 2040.”

The report notes that automakers themselves are moving towards electrification at a rapid pace as well.

Mitchell’s report also highlights how governments have helped to ease the transition to

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“Not only must bodyshops keep in-step with the seemingly endless increases in the complexity of repairs but carriers are also being challenged with how to appropriately price premiums in an environment where repair costs are increasing but frequency has yet to begin a significant decline as many have predicted over the last five years.“— Mitchell International

Ryan Mandell, performance consulting director at Mitchell International, supervised the production of the Mitchell International’s Industry Trends Casualty Report, Q1 2020. He is a highly regarded analyst of the North American automotive aftermarket, and one of the most frequently invited presenters at Canadian Collision Industry Forum events.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

“The concept of ‘range anxiety’ or the fear of running out of electric charge while on the road is often viewed as the most significant barrier for consumers to overcome before seriously considering the purchase of an EV. A massive public spending commitment would go a long way toward breaking down this barrier.”

— Mitchell International

Electric Vehicle sales rose less quickly in 2018 than in 2019, but their continued rise in popularity means they are likely to disrupt the industry in the near-future.

electric vehicles with consumers by doubling the number of electric charging stations within the United States.

“The concept of ‘range anxiety’ or the fear of running out of electric charge while on the road is often viewed as the most significant barrier for consumers to overcome before seriously considering the purchase of an EV. A massive public spending commitment would go a long way toward breaking down this barrier.”

One of the most notable trends highlighted in the report was the fact that, while the electric vehicle segment did not soften, neither did the general public’s interest in them grow at

the hectic pace seen toward the end of the past decade.

“Electric Vehicle (EV) sales did not continue the fast-paced growth seen in 2018 with the release of Tesla’s Model 3, but expert and consumer sentiments are pointing toward a bright near-term future for this industry-disrupting segment,” the report says. “Deloitte’s recently released 2020 Global Automotive Consumer Study shows that of the U.S. consumers surveyed, 41 percent would prefer an alternative energy (non-internal combustion engine or ICE) vehicle for their next purchase. This figure is up from 29 percent in 2019 and 20 percent in 2018.”

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 91

RECYCLING NEWS

ADIEU OARA

Steve Fletcher, executive director of the Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association (OARA) has announced that the 2020 OARA Convention and Trade Show has been postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The convention was originally scheduled to run from March 26 through March 28, 2020, at the Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale but, due to the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring the virus a pandemic, the organization made the difficult decision to postpone the event to the fall of 2020.

An alternate date has not yet been confirmed, though OARA is working with the Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale to arrange new dates.

“Thank you to all who have communications with us to express your concerns, support and thoughts,” said Fletcher in an emailed statement. “All of these discussions and perspectives have been helpful and very much appreciated.”

The keynote speaker previously set to address the now-canceled Ontario Auto Recyclers Association Conference and Tradeshow has released a statement to Canada’s recycling community.

Mike Kunkel of Profit Team Consulting

“I cannot express how sorry we are that the OARA conference was postponed. No matter how painful it will be for everyone, the deferral of the conference, for the time being, was the absolute correct move to make for everyone,” wrote Mike Kunkel of Profit Team Consulting. “I wanted to take this chance to tell you that we have every intention of coming to the rescheduled show and will look forward to catching up with everyone at that point in time. I also wanted to let you know that OARA will be needing your support in the coming months. ” Kunkel, a long-time member of the auto parts industry and has been the owner of Profit Team Consulting for the last five years.

Alongside colleague Lee Worman, he was set to host a presentation called Sales School at the 2020 OARA conference.

“What we are going through is unprecedented and everyone is guessing as to what will happen. The one thing that is for certain is that the normal we operated in yesterday

will be different than the normal moving forward. We will notice many changes and unfortunately, there will be some of us who might not be able to or choose to not try and recover from whatever happens.”

In the statement, Kunkel also shared some advice for how auto recyclers could still improve their businesses during the Coronavirus crisis.

“The one thing that is for certain is that a number of people will find a way to prosper during these times or at a minimum position themselves for success in the future. Those will be the people who spend time working on their businesses instead of complaining about the business,” the statement said.

“Low unemployment has made it hard to attract good people. Our behavior now will determine if we keep our good people and potentially attract more of them because we do the right thing and our best to take care of each other.”

“The final note I would like to pass on it that we truly expect scrap metal to fall and overall volume of activity on the phones to suffer. That means that every phone call / request takes on even more importance. Work on your peoples closing skills to make sure we convert everything possible in case the phone traffic does go down. If we develop better closing skills now we will be able to grow sales faster when activity increases.”

Kunkel also confirmed his intention to address OARA, should the show be rescheduled.

CAR-PART CRANK-UP In March, at the Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairer’s (SAAR) Spring Conference saw Tom Julius, director of business development for Car-Part.com, deliver a presentation on how Car-Part’s Interchange Plus (CPI+) program has helped drive used parts usage in Saskatchewan.

According to the presentation, used parts usage in Saskatchewan has jumped from four percent to more than 10 percent since the launch of CPI+ program in January 2019.

From the start of January 2020 and through to March 11, Julius said 150 shops across the Prairie province have been installed with CPI+ Pro as an alternate part sourcing solution.

So far, 100 of the shops have been trained.

He provided a demonstration of the program during the SAAR presentation, using a 2014 Ford F-150—the most popular vehicle searched on Car-Part.com—as an example.

According to Julius, CPI+ has 40 percent more

parts with interchange than the industry standard. While 160 parts have Hollander Interchange along with CPI+, 46 parts (29 percent of the results) conjured by the search offered exclusive CPI+.

Julius also mentioned to SAAR attendees that, in CPI+’s first year of operation, the results have been stellar.

“In 2019, we launched CPI+ and, in its first year of operation, the marketplace quoted more than $250 million (CAD) of stock CPI+ parts,” the company told Collision Repair in February.

The company was driven to create CPI+ after recognizing that many of the parts buyers were searching for were lacking interchange.

The program is available to insurers and shops and it allows buyers to source more

92 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

Tom Julius, director of business development for Car-Part.com.

than 100 different alternative and recycled car parts, including engine, interior and body components.

There are three categories covered by the program: full CPI+ with covered provided

by Car-Part; additional CPI+ coverage by Hollander for a certain year range, while CPI+ fills in coverage outside of that year range; and supplemental, which offers parts to specific manufacturers no longer covered

by Hollander, such as Mitsubishis newer than 2009 and Mazdas newer than 2015.

RECYCLING NEWS

RECYCLING REQUIRED Dom Vetere, owner of Dom’s Auto Parts, says auto recyclers are absolutely an essential service to both the supply chain and the general public amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The OEM and aftermarket industries are having issues with parts supply,” says Vetere.

“As recyclers, we have those parts, and that enables us to supply both the mechanical and the bodyshop sides for repairs.

“I feel it’s important—it’s crucial that people still have the ability to travel, whether it be the medical personnel on the front lines or people simply shopping for their families,” Vetere told Collision Repair.

Recently, Vetere saw a man come into the shop in search of a car battery. The bat-

tery in his four-person family’s only vehicle was shot, and he was able to find a solution quickly by visiting Dom’s. The man replaced the battery—at a cheaper price—and now is secure in knowing he can get his family from point A to point B, if necessary.

Vetere says his facility has locked up its doors to control social distancing and sterilizes the office on a regular basis. It also has a pick-up area on-site and is offering parts delivery service for its customers.

“There will be business for us out there,” says Vetere. “Keep a balanced mindset; think about both sides—revenue and keeping your business running safely—until we get through this.”

Dom has helped customers secure parts while practicing proper safety procedures amid the pandemic.

DOOM AND BLOOM

Thorold Auto Parts recently donated flowers to Niagara General Hospital to show appreciation for the medical workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. On March 27, Frank Serravalle, owner and operator, and Ken Shorthouse, manager of the service department at Thorold Auto Parts, headed to Prins Grow, a local flower shop in Thorold, Ontario. There, Serravalle and Shorthouse order 125 bouquets of flowers to be delivered to nearby Niagara General Hospital, where front line medical workers continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic. “Thanks so much for all you have done,” said Thorold Auto Parts. “You men and women truly are heroes!” As of March 31, Ontario’s Niagara region had 34 confirmed cases of COVID-19, while the entirety of Canada had 7,448 cases.

On March 27, medical workers at Niagara General Hospital had their days brightened by a colourful delivery from Thorold Auto Parts.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 93

RECYCLING

WHEN YOU FIND FENTANYL… Advice from inside the industry

BY THERESA JACHNYCKY, ELIZABETH SARGEANT AND ALLISON ROGERS

B

y and large, most auto recyclers are well aware of the risks that come with handling hazardous materials in their workspace.

The Canadian Auto Recyclers Environmental Code (CAREC) makes it their mission to constantly warn recyclers of the many risks that come with exposure to oils, acids and active ingredients in the average workspace, in hopes of keeping workers safe. However, recent reports and stories circling the world of repair and auto recycling has revealed that there is a new substance anyone dealing with recovered cars should beware of. Narcotics.

Recent reports by Manitoba Public Insurance discovered that about one-in-five recovered stolen vehicles involved in a pilot study had tested positive for traces of illicit drugs including fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin.

“This is a very scary situation,” posted repairer Rob Boyce of Signature Motors online. “Some interesting things that we would not normally consider when repairing theft recoveries.”

It isn’t just collision repair facilities that face narcotic exposure risk. Auto recyclers may, in fact, be in even greater danger.

Allwest Auto Parts’ Steve Cox says Alberta’s vehicle inspection companies are finding residue from narcotics more frequently than the industry may think.

Cox, general manager at Edmonton’s Allwest Auto Parts, says the risk of auto recyclers running into illicit substances like fentanyl could be growing greater—and the industry could be unprepared for the dangers of the narcotics.

“By law, all theft recoveries in Alberta are tested,” Cox told Collision Repair. “The volume they’re currently finding is very high—it’s being found quite frequently.”

And, in the automotive industry, you’re automatically putting yourself at risk.

“If you’re getting into someone else’s vehicle, period, you’re putting yourself at risk,” said Steve. “Anyone could be using drugs, so we’re all susceptible.

Narcotics exposure can be a serious hazard to those working within vehicles every day.

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Unfortunately, it’s not hard to come in contact with them. Vapours from illegal drugs such as methamphetamine are able to cling to surfaces and form into crystals. From this, workers can ingest the material through their skin.

In addition to exposure through touch, recyclers and repairers alike can face exposure through inhalation, contact through the mouth, nasal passages, eyelids, and ingestion.

Brief skin contact with fentanyl is not expected to lead to toxic effects provided any visible contamination is immediately removed.

Immediate removal is necessary.

“As an auto recycler, though, you could be dealing with theft recoveries, which could introduce even further risk,” he said.

While Alberta’s theft recovered vehicles are always tested, and can be cleaned and cleared of dangerous substances, the cleansing process can cost upwards of $7,000, in some cases—a price that often exceeds the vehicle’s worth.

Some insurance companies will scrap these vehicles entirely, but others will sell them with ‘buyer beware’ labels, said Cox. If an employee does come into contact

RECYCLING

Steve Cox, general manager at Allwest Auto Parts.

Allwest Auto Parts was established in Edmonton in 1982.

with an opioid while on-site, Allwest Auto Parts has a Naloxone injection kit on hand and ready.

“I don’t think anybody really realizes how dangerous this could be,” said Cox. “I tell my team that they could be at risk in any vehicle—you never know what you’re getting into. There’s plenty of awareness among first responders, but since there aren’t a lot of reported cases on fentanyl exposure in the automotive industry, the awareness really isn’t there.”

Cox says there needs to be more discussion among public organizations and, for the industry, more consciousness and recognition.

“Always be cautious and wear gloves when entering a vehicle. Remember that it may not always be illicit substances like fentanyl, but there could be blood or other biohazards—there are lots out there.”

Start with the assumption that all substances found in and on vehicle interiors and upholstery are unknown and potentially hazardous.

SAFETY STEPS ASSESS THE RISKS Are there visible powders, or unidentifiable stains or smells? If so, call in the professionals.

Is there drug paraphernalia visible in the vehicle? If you see pipes, pacifiers, lollipops, small spoons, bags of candy or cut up drinking straws, call in the professionals

ASSUME THE WORST Always wear personal protective equipment such as a N95 mask, nitrile gloves, and goggles.

For less than the cost of a daily cup of coffee, performed routinely handwashing in conjunction with the use of nitrile gloves, masks and goggles will safeguard members of the industry from the ills of an unknown presence.

When it comes to hard-to-see places—under carpets, glovebox, compartments or the trunk—look first before putting your hands anywhere.

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 95

RECYCLING

In January, London, Ont. bylaw officers took part in a month-long blitz to crack down on sales of stolen goods. They charged five recycling businesses.

TARGETED TACTICS Southern Ontario bylaw officers are cracking down on salvage yards

BY ALLISON ROGERS

A

recycling business manager in London, Ont. was left “insulted” after an undercover bylaw officer charged his facility in a January sting operation.

Charlie Gelinas is the manager of Specialized Recycling, a business targeted by undercover officers as the city aimed to crack down on the illegal sale of stolen goods, particularly catalytic converters, which are being stolen from parked cars and quickly sold to recycling facilities for quick cash.

Gelinas said, back in January, a man wearing old track pants and sneakers pushing a shopping cart showed up at his door looking to sell a handful of materials. In his possession were a rotten fluorescent light, a piece of wire and a propane tank.

“When my scale guy asked him for his name, he lied about it,” Gelinas said of the disguised bylaw officer.

Specialized Recycling purchased the materials for five dollars, though Gelinas said they were worth half of that—his attendant paid the man double as an act of kindness, as the man seemed like he may be sleeping rough.

A week later, the man showed up at his business again and revealed he was a bylaw enforcement officer. He then issued a ticket

for purchasing the material without verifying the seller’s identity.

“I was completed disgusting that the city would besmirch itself by acting in such a fashion,” said Gelinas. “It should be beneath the dignity of our city officials to try and entrap small businesses by manufacturing charges.”

Facing a rise in scrap metal thefts in London, the city launched a month-long blitz that led to charges against five businesses for offences that included accepting scrap without verifying identification, failure to keep transaction records and operating without a business license.

Bylaw officials slapped the salvage yards with $350 fines but chose not to reveal the names of the businesses.

London poverty advocates are also questioning the tactics, saying the city’s actions were in poor taste and may have done more harm than good.

“I think it’s not just distasteful, but perpetuates a stigma,” said Chuck Lazenby, executive director of London’s Unity Project for Homelessness Relief. “It’s upsetting. It’s a poor tactic.”

Lazenby said what bothers her most in the context in which the undercover enforcement happened.

“I think it disproportionately targets the

96 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

people who are just looking for a couple of bucks to get through the day,” she said. “Why isn’t someone showing up with a catalytic converter? That would be more of the tactic I would expect if that were the concern.”

Another facility manager also spoke out against the city’s tactics.

At John Zubick’s Limited, one of the other five yards charged in the enforcement blitz, the undercover officer arrived with more than 80 pounds of metal goods, according to facility manager Luke Zubick.

“To me, it looked like a gentleman cleaning up his garage,” said Zubick. “We try not to judge here.”

The 80 pounds of metal included a few bike frames, an aluminum radiator and some tin—worth about six dollars, in all. Zubick said at first staff said no, but the man insisted.

“I told him this time only, we were going to make an exception,” he said. “I was trying to be nice and they’ve taught me not to be nice.”

Zubick said kindness bought his business a nearly $400 fine, along with a pledge to never sell to anyone without ID. “It’s a lesson for us,” he said. “We won’t take anything right now without a driver’s license, which unfortunately singles out a lot of people.”

RECYCLING

BUSINESS AS USUAL No change to how Ontario handles large batteries

BY ALLISON ROGERS

A

decision has come from Ontario’s Ministry of Environment to not include large automotive batteries, such as lead-acid and larger hybrid or EV batteries, in new battery regulations for Ontario.

Based on the feedback received by the provincial government, Ontario has removed all regulatory requirements for large batteries used for automotive applications, as these batteries are already managed through alternative collection and recycling channels.

It will also leave embedded batteries out of the stewardship scheme, as it plans to regulate these batteries through the electrical and electronic equipment regulation, which is still in the process of being finalized.

The province had been considering shifting toward a full producer responsibility framework for reduction, reuse and recycling of resources by

proposing two new regulations. The regulations would require producers to manage electrical and electronic equipment and EV batteries at the end-of-life stage in a “safe and environmentally sound manner,” according to the provincial government.

“There had been consultations regarding bringing large batteries into the extended producer responsibility world similar to scrap tires,” said Steve Fletcher, managing director of the Automotive Recyclers of Canada. “We argued, I believe successfully, that, because these items have value, it is extremely disruptive to treat them as waste and require an administrative burden with no improved environmental performance.”

EV batteries contain valuable metals and other precious materials that can be recovered, processed and reused.

EV batteries contain precious metals like cobalt, as well as nickel and aluminum.

A decision has come from Ontario’s Ministry of Environment to not include large automotive batteries in new battery regulations for Ontario

APRIL 2020 COLLISION REPAIR 97

LAST WORD

ADVERTISER INDEX COMPANY

PAGE

3M Automotive ........................9

OUR HEALTH IN YOUR HANDS Why repairers can—and will—make a difference

Arslan Automotive ............... 29 Assured..................................79

BY GIDEON SCANLON

Audatex | Solera ...................25 Autel ......................................27 Axalta ..................................100 BASF Corporation...................2 Car-Part.com ........................45 Carcone’s Auto Recycling.....85 Cardinal Couriers ....................8 CARSTAR Canada ..................7 Color Compass .....................44 Fix Auto Canada ...................54 Formula Honda .....................20 Impact....................................99 KIA ........................................ 52 Kwasny Spraypaint................72 Nitroheat ...............................91 Norton ...................................61 Opus .....................................23 Polyvance..............................75 PPG Canada ...........................5 ProSpot ................................ 56 SATA Canada ........................ 17 Sherwin-Williams...................32 Sia Pro...................................35 Simplicity .............................. 13 Spanesi ................................ 58 Steck .................................... 73 Symach ................................ 78 Thorold Auto Parts................76 Titanium Tools.......................71

I

n early March, the World Health Organization announced that the Coronavirus was no longer an epidemic. It had become a pandemic.

In their professional assessment, nowhere would be safe.

Shortly afterward, governments across the world announced plans that would not prevent the inspection from spreading so much as slow its progress to alleviate the stress on healthcare systems.

In Canada, the Federal Government appealed to each Canadian to take certain precautions for the good of us all. Our health and well-being is now in one another’s hands.

For business owners in Canada’s collision sector, that sense of personal responsibility is particularly heavy. With a duty of care toward customers, staff members and business partners, owners must make firm, clear decisions and ensure that staff members follow them.

Failure to act will have consequences.

Dozens of people visit the average auto repair business each and every day. Should a surface–like a doorknob or a front desk–be left uncleaned, a facility could easily become an infection nexus.

I can’t think of a group better suited to handle the burdens of command through this crisis. Many Canadian business owners have already shown their mettle.

In 2003, the Greater Toronto Area’s collision repair community was on the front lines of the SARS crisis. Like many customer-

facing businesses, auto repairers played a key role in making sure that the illness was contained.

Collison centres in Canada’s largest metropolitan area were among the first businesses to use ethyl-alcohol gel hand sanitizers. By-and-large, facilities helped normalize their placement throughout the public areas of a business.

Of course, a public health strategy done right is one that doesn’t make the history books. Following the SARS crisis, the public tended to laugh off the media coverage as overblown. Had business owners and public health officials not been as diligent, however, complaints would have been made about the lack-of-attention paid to the crisis.

This time, we know the disease won’t be prevented by our diligence. The crisis was already an epidemic before it had a chance to settle in on our shores.

Nevertheless, the fight will not be in vain.

For every day we can buy each vulnerable person, their chances of survival go up. We get them one day closer to a vaccine. We get our hospitals one more free bed.

When the dust finally settles, life for members of Canada’s collision community, and for citizens around the world, will get back to normal. Eventually, historians will write the history of the 2020 Coronavirus Outbreak.

I have no doubt that the efforts of Canada’s repair community will go entirely unmentioned.

Wurth.................................... 19

Gideon Scanlon is the editor of this issue of Collision Repair and the editorial director of Media Matters.

He can be reached at gideon@mediamatters.ca.

98 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

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