Collision Repair 21#1 by Media Matters

STAND UP SPEAK OUT: WHO’S ATTENDING EVENTS IN 2022?

Volume 21, Number 1

BIG RIGS THE DETAILS OF HEAVY-DUTY COLLISION REPAIR

TOP ACCOMMODATIONS

SARI AND MARK DESCOTEAU MAKE CARSTAR PARKSVILLE SHINE—AND THEIR FATHER AL COULDN’T BE HAPPIER

PLUS: ROMANS REPORT ON THE COLLISION MARKETPLACE | TRENDS TO WATCH IN 2022 | THE SCOOP ON ALL-ELECTRIC VEHICLE SALES www.collisionrepairmag.com Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40841632 l 86 John Street, Thornhill, ON L3T 1Y2

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CONTENTS

VOLUME 21, ISSUE 1, 2022

ON THE COVER STAND UP SPEAK OUT: WHO’S ATTENDING EVENTS IN 2022?

Volume 21, Number 1

BIG RIGS THE DETAILS OF HEAVY-DUTY COLLISION REPAIR

TOP ACCOMMODATIONS

SARI AND MARK DESCOTEAU MAKE CARSTAR PARKSVILLE SHINE—AND THEIR FATHER AL COULDN’T BE HAPPIER

As owners of CARSTAR Parksville, Sari Smith and Mark Descosteau continue their father’s tradition of providing their B.C. community with hospitality-driven collision repair.

p.34

FEATURES

TEMPERATURE CHECK

BACK ON THE TABLE

ROMANS REPORT

TOP OF THEIR CLASS

Are operations finally back to normal? See for yourself in the collision industry outlook for 2022.

Ontario MP Brian Masse has introduced a Canadian Right to Repair bill—and it’s sure to impact your business.

Exclusive Canadian insights from the Romans Group’s annual outlook on the North American collision repair marketplace.

Get used to the names Chelsie Lesnoski and Cole Marten—you’ll be hearing lots more from these Canadian builders.

ISSUE 21#1 | COLLISION REPAIR

CONTENTS

p.42

Automotive coatings giants weigh in on persisting and incoming colour trends.

COLUMNS

PUBLISHER’S PAGE

TOM’S TALES

WHO’S DRIVING

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

by Darryl Simmons

by Tom Bissonnette

p.49

Kenton Schultz, president of Big Rig Collision and Paulo Santos, Centennial College’s chair of the Automotive and Motorcycle dept., break down heavy-duty collision repair.

DEPARTMENTS ON THE MOVE 08 PEOPLE Familiar faces in new places.

NEWS 80 RECYCLING The auto recycler news report.

NEWS NEWS 69 REGIONAL 81 TOWING Cross-Canada collision repair news. Total coverage of Canada’s tow truck industry.

by Jay Perry

by Nancy Rolland

VIEWS FROM THE WEST

AN INTRICATE WEB

LAST WORD

by Chelsea Stebner

by Venessa di Vito

by Allison Rogers

p.58

Is the in-person event as we know it a thing of the past? The collision repair industry weighs in.

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PUBLISHER’S PAGE

DUCKS IN A ROW The perfect time for planning is the present By DARRYL SIMMONS

nd not a minute too soon, 2021 is in our rear-view mirror. From all accounts it was a challenging time, but most repairers weathered the storm and are ready for the year ahead. Interesting times ahead for sure. But we’ve been warned before about “living in interesting times.”

Aside from the regular discussions about insurer rates, OEM certifications, ADAS, and supply chain problems, this coming year promises

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Orest Tkaczuk | orest@mediamatters.ca AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT MANAGER James Kerr | james@mediamatters.ca DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER Cassie Doyle | cassie@mediamatters.ca

technicians, and businesspeople. These are backgrounds with very different skill sets. The top leaders in our industry have at least a little bit of both. If your background is technical, then take this opportunity to polish up your business skills. No doubt you’re already running your business and running it well. I bet there’s still at least one thing you would still like to learn. You might not be able to get an MBA at night school,

AS AN INDUSTRY, WE’RE ALWAYS PREACHING THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING FOR TECHNICIANS AND PAINTERS, BUT THERE’S NO REASON EDUCATION SHOULD BE LIMITED TO THE BACK OF THE SHOP. ISN’T THERE SOMETHING YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO LEARN? a bit of a shock. A lot of shock. Just when you thought repairs would be easier and repeatable a whole new wave of electric cars is about to come into your shop. And there’s no time like the present to be prepared! The start of every new year is always a good time to plan for training and education. There’s never a bad time for training, but the new year always brings it to the top of my mind. Getting up to speed on electric cars is crucial, but it’s not the only thing. As an industry, we’re always preaching the importance of training for technicians and painters, but there’s no reason education should be limited to the back of the shop. Isn’t there something you’ve always wanted to learn? Now is the perfect time to get started. Shop owners and managers seem to fall into two distinct groups: former or current

PUBLISHER Darryl Simmons publisher@collisionrepairmag.com

although it’s possible, but there are plenty of courses available on how to manage and motivate employees, make the most of social media and other essential topics. These are certain to help you, even if they’re not directly collision related. You’ll likely meet other businesspeople in your community and build relationships. That alone is worth the time. Education doesn’t have to be formal. Some of the best schooling available can come from your peers and suppliers. Most of them will be only too glad to share their knowledge with you. The best part? All you have to do is ask. This year will surely be filled with many challenges and opportunities. Preparing a plan, carrying out that plan and being able to adjust to unforeseen changes are some things to think about as we start a new year.

EDITOR Allison Rogers | allison@mediamatters.ca STAFF WRITERS Max Reid | max@mediamatters.ca Kate Ng | kate@mediamatters.ca ART DIRECTOR Yvonne Corvers | yvonne@mediamatters.ca VP OF INDUSTRY RELATIONS & ADVERTISING Gloria Mann 647.998.5677 | gd.mann@rogers.com DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Ellen Smith 416.312.7446 | ellen@mediamatters.ca INDUSTRY RELATIONS ASSISTANT Wanja Mann (647) 998-5677 wanjamann1@gmail.com CONTRIBUTORS Tom Bissonnette, Venessa di Vito, Jay Perry, Nancy Rolland, Chelsea Stebner,

SUBSCRIPTION Single edition $7.99 One-year $39.95 ( 6 issues) 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. PRINTED IN CANADA ISSN 1707-6072 CANADA POST CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL SALES PRODUCT AGREEMENT No. 40841632 RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED Send change of address notices and undeliverable copies to: 317 Reid St., Peterborough, ON K9J 3R2

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

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NEWS

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE AMIR FARROKH | SkillsCanada National Technical Committee for Autobody Repair Amir Farrokh, a technical trainer at Fix Network’s Blainville, Québec, training centre has been named the new chairman for the SkillsCanada National Technical Comittee for Autobody Repair. In the role, Farrokh will help to develop a testing framework for identifying talented autobody students and apprentices in provincial skill competitions before they go on to compete in the SkillsCanada National Competition. Farrokh has worked with SkillsCanada for a number of years, assisting in the process of recruiting judes and evaluating qualifications.

KELLY ROBERTS | BETAG Innovation BETAG nabbed a big fish in the Canadian collision industry recently, as Kelly Roberts announced that he has joined the team as a performance engineer for the repair solutions company. Roberts’ new role will see him working shoulder-to-shoulder with shop owners and technicians as an instructor of BETAG’s comprehensive outer panel repair training program.

GREG WING | Simplicity Car Care Simplicity Car Care has announced that Greg Wing, who previously served as Simplicity’s business development manager, will now act as the company’s director of sales for Canada. Having worked in the automotive industry since 2008, Wing joined Simplicity as a business development manager in January 2021 where he expanded Simplicity’s presence in Western Canada and integrated the first franchisee in British Columbia.

VINCE MATOZZO | CARSTAR Canada Vince Matozzo will now serve as the vice president of claims services for CARSTAR Canada, he announced January 18 via LinkedIn. Matozzo has been with CARSTAR Canada since 2010, when he joined the company as a national account manager. He has also served as senior manager of national sales and most recently represented CARSTAR Canada as its director of sales since 2019.

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INNOVATING AHEAD

The aftermarket business has remained largely resilient to the current challenges, and Sylvain Seguin, Fix Network’s Executive Vice President for Canada, is keen to create value for franchisees in the ‘new normal.’ Sylvain Seguin (left) and Steve Leal are keen to increase Fix Network’s footprint across Canada.

here are few career moments as exciting—and these days, as challenging—as taking over the top job at a company or organization. And when you are asked to spearhead the Canadian operations of one of the fastest growing global businesses, it can be a daunting experience. As someone associated with the automotive aftermarket industry for the past 30 years, Sylvain Seguin has seen it all. When he was appointed as executive vice president Canada for Fix Network in September 2020, he knew that he had to hit the ground running and build on the vision of Fix Network’s President and CEO Steve Leal. One of the high-priority

tasks was to shepherd the network’s large aftermarket portfolio that includes Fix Auto, ProColor Collision, NOVUS Glass and Speedy Auto Service, and ensure that all operations were aligned to ensure its franchisees remained profitable. But this is where Sylvain showed his real strength as a leader. Taking what he learned from the previous years and with Steve’s active encouragement, he set about ensuring the shops were protected against the economic uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and that new shops were constantly added to the network. Tough times call for tough action. While Sylvain effectively managed the business, he was careful with expenses, so the

network was empowered to ride through the pandemic. “I am a big believer in agility,” Sylvain says. “The past two years presented its own risks and rewards to businesses everywhere, but we were never going to sit on the fence and watch them unfold. One of the first things that we did was to actively listen to our network, understand the gaps and how we can make a difference for our franchisees. We have been working hard to provide value to our franchisees and will continue to identify opportunities that lead to profitable growth.” Today, Sylvain is widely credited as the man who can make things happen

and for disrupting the aftermarket business. Along with a motivated team of seasoned aftermarket professionals, he drives all functions and operations in Canada, including sales, operations, business development and marketing. He is also accountable for establishing and maintaining long-term relationships with the network’s franchise strategic partners, insurers and distributors to enhance profitability and market position. Steve is confident that he has picked Sylvain as the right man for the job. “Fix Network is growing quickly, and I had been looking for the right person who shares my vision,” he points out. “We are keen to take our brands to as many new areas in Canada as possible and increase our market penetration in regions where we already have a presence. Sylvain and I have collaborated closely on many complex strategies in the past. Our chemistry works well, and I believe that’s very critical in running a large and complex network such as ours.” With Sylvain taking charge of Canada, Steve says he can now concentrate on the network’s global plans. “Typically, you can’t do everything you want to do, so you need to make some strategic choices,” he says. “This is where you begin to align the organization around a common vision for the future. Sylvain knows what the

business priorities are and is quick to identify profitable opportunities for our franchise partners.” “Despite the challenges of the current situation, we are determined to stay

“Despite the current challenges, we are determined to stay united as a group and demonstrate the importance of a network.” — Sylvain Seguin

united as a group and demonstrate the importance of a network,” Sylvain says. “This culture of collaboration saw us growing our presence significantly across Canada and entering new provinces such as Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island and Northwest Territories.” Sylvain is also a big believer in technology and digital transformation. “Fix Network is known as the disruptor in the aftermarket business,” he says. “We

are always exploring ways to change old beliefs and behaviours and are not afraid to look for ideas in the most unusual places. This agility reflects in our companywide culture where instant feedback and direct, unfiltered communication take priority. This mindset allows us to accelerate the pace of technology deployment not only in our franchise locations but also in our own operations.” Two of the major areas of excellence that Sylvain is pushing for are training and certification so that shops can be on top of their game. “We have developed a full curriculum of training for our franchisees’ employees that teaches them the latest in collision repair and automotive glass repair. In addition, our training centres in Canada ensure that our technicians are well-trained in the latest auto technologies and that their shops have the right tools and equipment to deliver and inspire the best quality repair experience for modern vehicles everywhere, for everyone,” he says. According to Sylvain, as the country tries to return to normal, Fix Network will continue to innovate its operations throughout the year, adopting lessons learned from the past and identifying profitable opportunities for its franchisees. “I would say we are just getting started,” he says.

INDUSTRY NEWS

STICKY SITUATIONS Buyer beware; reports have begun circulating that vehicle thieves have been “re-vinning” stolen vehicles to sell to unsuspecting customers. Insurers are taking note of a new trend prevailing among car thieves looking to turn a profit. Re-vinning involves removing the VIN (vehicle identification number) sticker from the front dash of the vehicle and replacing it with a similarlooking fake sticker. This trend was brought to light by Équité Association, a new company that has absorbed the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s (IBC) investigative services wing. Vice-president of investigative services at Équité Association, Bryan Gast delved into a number of rising theft trends in an interview on Tuesday, alongside the release of the association’s Top 10 Stolen Vehicles in Canada list. In Ontario, vehicle sellers legally need to provide a used vehicle information package that contains its history in the province.

According to the Équité AssociationThis year’s most stolen vehicle in Canada is the Ford F-series of pickup trucks, most often of the 2018 model year.

GOOD AS NEW With inventory shortages rampant throughout the auto industry, that old beater car you let your teenager drive is actually becoming quite the hot commodity as Canadian Black Book reports used vehicles have retained 64 percent their value over the past four years. According to senior vice president and general manager at Canadian Black Book, Yolanda Biswah, this is the highest and fastest progression of used vehicle prices ever. The previous high was 61.5 percent, set back in March 2021. The numbers are calculated in preparation for Canadian Black Book’s Best Retained Value awards.

TOP TRUCK/ SUV VALUE RETENTION

The top overall car brand for retaining value was Honda. Top truck or SUV was GMC, while the top luxury brand at retaining value was Porsche. Volkswagen came on top of zero-emission vehicles. The most improved winner was Kia.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

FAIR TRADES A new program from the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF) is aiming to uplift more female tradespeople into leadership roles in their industries. The CAF’s Supporting Women in Trades Conference (SWiT) is back on after a three-year hiatus and is introducing the “National Leadership Development Program for Women in the Skilled Trades”, to run during the event. The program aims to empower female tradespeople with skills and strategies that will give them a leg-up in the industry and ultimately help get more women into senior leadership positions. The program is being developed in partnership with the Office to Advance Women Apprentices and will be available to all tradeswomen including Indigenous peoples, LGBTQ2S+ individuals, immigrants, persons with disabilities and those from racialized groups.

The National Leadership Development Program for Women in the Skilled Trades is free of charge and is set to run over two days, from June 2-3 in St. John’s, N.L., during SWiT. For more information, email Shawn Watson at shawn@caf-fca.org.

THE DOS AND DON’TS Auto Techcelerators has posted a 146-page guide to its website on how a collision repair facility can open and operate an ADAS calibration business. Covering topics from business goals and objectives, facility and equipment requirements, pricing the services, scheduling and KPI’s, the “Opening & Operating an ADAS Calibration Business” guide from Auto Techcelerators spans 16 chapters and delves into the ways these calibration practices can be tied into the company’s CoPilot range of software. The guide can be downloaded at autotechcelerators.com.

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ISSUE 21#1 | COLLISION REPAIR

BUSINESS NEWS

GO FOR GLASS Driven Brands announced the expansion of its auto glass offering into the United States with its acquisition of Auto Glass Now (AGN). The company acquired AGN for approximately US$170 million on December 30, 2021. The acquisition makes Driven Brands one of largest auto glass service providers in North America, said the company in its press release. AGN will be reported in Driven Brands’ Paint, Collision, and Glass segment, adding over 75 companyoperated locations. Fiscal 2021 revenue for AGN is expected to be approximately US$85 million, and the business generates EBITDA margins of approximately 25 percent. Driven Brands first entered the glass business in Canada in 2019 and now operates over 300 glass locations in both the United States and Canada. According to Driven Brands, AGN has more than 20 years of experience in auto glass repair, replacement and calibration with more than 75 locations across the United States.

“Glass repairs are growing as a percentage of auto repairs and repair complexity is increasing due to the necessary calibration,” said Michael Macaluso, EVP of Driven Brands and Group President, Paint, Collision, and Glass. “Glass presents another exciting opportunity to leverage our proven playbook of consistent and repeatable growth to continue capturing market share.”

TESLA TOPS IT OFF Tesla was quite outspoken in 2021 regarding its million-vehicle delivery goal but, came just short of its mark. The electric vehicle manufacturer reported it delivered 936,172 vehicles in 2021—an 87 percent increase from last year. It delivered 308,000 of those cars amid Q4 2021, marking a 71 percent increase in Q4 deliveries from last year’s fourth-quarter. According to the release, the majority of vehicles delivered in Q4 were Model 3 sedans and Model Y hatchbacks. Wall Street analysts had anticipated about 266,000 vehicles to be delivered in Q4 2021, with about 855,000 predicted for the year.

PPG SETS THE PACE PPG has yet again been named official paint and finishing supplier of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. “PPG paints, coatings and specialty materials have been used throughout racing for decades, and now to have them be part of the future INDYCAR SERIES and IMS experience is an exciting opportunity. Our company’s purpose is to protect and beautify the world, and this partnership will provide opportunities to bring this to life in new and colourful ways.”

This multi-year agreement will also see the company present the PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying from May 21-22, as part of the Indianapolis 500 qualifying weekend.

IN WITH INSPECTORS Repairify has announced a partnership with One Guard Inspections, a Texas-based vehicle inspection company. One Guard Inspections was founded by Bryan Bledsoe II in 2012 and has grown into what Repairify considers the most advanced and streamlined vehicle inspection process on the market. Repairify president and chief business development officer, Tony Rimas, said “We are excited for Bryan Bledsoe II, founder and president of One Guard, and his entire team to join us. Bryan’s leadership ability, as well as his team’s insights and expertise, are highly valued additions to the Repairify team.

HIT THE BOOKS SEMA launched a new online education library to provide the automotive aftermarket with easy and affordable year-round access to experts and leaders. The organization said the new SEMA Virtual Education Portal at sema.org/ education includes a comprehensive collection of educational webinars and resources targeted to the automotive aftermarket. From technical details about advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and legislative and advocacy updates to best practices and tips on common business skills and behind-the-scenes conversations with industry leaders, celebrities and icons, the new SEMA Virtual Education Portal at sema.org/education includes a comprehensive collection of educational webinars and resources targeted to the automotive aftermarket. Employees of SEMA-member companies will have the distinct advantage of being able to access most education at no cost or at a discount, but all sessions are available regardless of SEMA membership status. SEMA Show education is free to everyone. New users will need to create a free individual user profile and log on to the system. 14

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TECHNOLOGY NEWS

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No more gaming on the go for Tesla drivers as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported the EV automaker has disabled the ability to play video games while vehicles are in motion. The NHTSA announced in late December it had opened a formal safety investigation to look into 580,000 Tesla vehicles sold since 2017 over the automaker’s decision to allow games to be played on the front center touchscreen. The evaluation covers various 2017 to 2022 Tesla Model 3, S, X, and Y vehicles equipped with the functionality “Passenger Play.” Tesla says that an over-theair update is on the way that will lock the Passenger Play feature when vehicles are in motion.

On December 16, a self-driving shuttle bus operating in Whitby, Ontario, collided with a tree, sending the operator to a nearby trauma centre with critical injuries. According to Durham Regional Police, the collision occurred around 4 p.m. along the Whitby Autonomous Vehicle Electric (WAVE) shuttle route, which circles a six-kilometre route near Whitby’s GO transit station. The shuttle operates at a speed of no more than 20 km/h and is equipped with a radar and 360-degree camera to scan for obstacles. At the time of the crash, the 23-year-old vehicle operator was the only passenger aboard. The cause of the crash is thus far unknown.

No more gaming on the go, says Tesla. The company will soon drop an over-the-air update to restrict the Passenger Play feature while the vehicle is in motion.

Whitby has halted its WAVE self-driving trials until a full investigation of the crash is completed. The City of Toronto has also ceased its trials with a similar shuttle bus.

SABOTAGED SLOTS

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A US$5 million lawsuit is being brought against BMW following reports that the cupholders in X7 models are prone to causing electrical damage, and in some cases leading to a faulty airbag deployment. In what sounds like a truly Final Destination-esque turn of events, it has been found that the X7 M50i’s cupholders are “not properly designed to hold cups filled with liquid,” according to the suit filed before Orange County District Court in California. Despite entirely defeating the point of a cupholder, this flaw leads to an even deeper concern in that when a drink leaks in the cupholder “the wires for the SRS (airbag) control module, which sits directly underneath the cup holder, get wet and are damaged.” According to the suit, even “condensation on the cup” is enough to cause electrical issues. Taking things from bad to worse, this damage can reportedly in turn cause airbags to deploy irregularly. A specific complaint identified in the suit recalled an incident where a small amount of a drink was “spilled onto the gearshift center console,” causing the vehicle to stall out in the left lane of the highway.

Volkswagen is launching a new version of its Front Assist ADAS system designed to help drivers avoid bicycle and pedestrian collisions. The newest version of Front Assist employs the forward-facing camera to help identify and distinguish cyclists and pedestrians from other objects, not just directly in front of the car, but those traveling alongside it as well. Volkswagen claims the new version of Front Assist can even detect people and cyclists ahead of the vehicle in darkness or dusk that the driver might have overlooked. If the system senses a pedestrian or cyclist could be in the vehicle’s path, Front Assist can activate the Forward Collison Warning system and, in some cases, provide Automatic Emergency Braking, said the automaker.

An excerpt from one customer complaint reads, “[Vehicle] goes into park and won’t shift into drive or reverse and dash says bring to dealer immediately. Car gets towed to BMW and tech tells me the liquid damaged a part under the gear shift…cost to fix $2,900.00 and not covered by warranty.”

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BEYOND THE BRAKE BARRIER If there were a gifted program for OEMs then Ford and Honda would be its newest members as the pair of automakers have reached their AEB goal ahead of schedule. The IIHS announced in late December that Ford and Honda had both managed to equip more than 95 percent of their vehicles with automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems, ahead of the Sept. 1, 2022 deadline agreed upon by the U.S. government and the 20 participating automakers. Not every automaker is hitting the mark in terms of AEB integration, however, as the IIHS’s report also called out General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Porsche and Stellantis for “lagging” behind their colleagues and equipping fewer than two-thirds of their vehicles with the lifesaving technology. Among the four, Jaguar Land Rover made the most progress, rising from zero percent to 60 percent year-toyear. Stellantis reported 43 percent, up from 14 percent; Porsche 59 percent, up from 55 percent; and GM 58 percent, up from 47 percent.

INSURANCE NEWS

THE LITERAL FLOODGATES According to the Insurance Bureau of British Columbia (ICBC), the insurer has received more than 1,700 vehicle claims linked to extreme weather events during December. The damage is reportedly wide-ranging and covers everything from fully submerged vehicles to minor and repairable damages. “Insane. It’s just been insane,” said Quen Wyllie from Abbotsford, B.C.’s Aggressive Towing. “It looks like carnage,” said Ty Kennedy of Reliable Towing. “None of our industry has ever seen this type of disaster.”

While Wyllie and Kennedy both anticipate further claims to surface, ICBC maintains that it is “too early” to estimate total claims and costs.

SNOWY STATISTICS Based on analysis of claims received by Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) between November and March, the public insurer has found that winter tire use reduces collision claim frequency by 6.3 percent. The analysis was based on collision claims over the insurance years 2011/2012 through 2017/2018. Frequency was measured by comparing claim frequency before and after a winter tire purchase for 111,872 vehicles. Of the 111,872 vehicles studied, there were 13,025 winter-month claims occurring before winter tires were installed, and 9,802 winter-month claims occurring after winter tires were installed, said the report. MPI also found that, at temperatures just below freezing on dry pavement, winter tires have been shown to reduce stopping distances by as much as 30 percent compared with all-season tires.

EYES UP, ALBERTA Changes are on the way for the Alberta auto insurance industry as the provincial government announced new measures to streamline claims processing for not-at-fault drivers. Effective January 1, Alberta drivers are now able to claim vehicle damage that they are not responsible for to their own insurance company and not that of the at-fault driver. The new coverage, known as direct compensation for property damage (DCPD), is legislated in Bill 41, the Insurance Amendment Act, which was passed into law a year ago. The Insurance Bureau of Canada’s western vice-president, Aaron Sutherland, says this will create a more efficient system in Alberta, and one that aligns with similar systems in other provinces. “Your own insurance company will pay for repairs to your vehicle when you are not at fault for an accident,” said Sutherland. “If someone else hits your car, it requires your insurance company to subrogate those damages back to the insurer of the at-fault driver. That can lead to complications, that can lead to delays, and this (change) eliminates all of that.” DCPD regulation sets out rules for determining who is at fault in more than 40 “accident scenarios,” but those rules do not apply to other types of claims, such as bodily injury. DCPD does not prevent drivers from pursuing legal action for other damages, such as injury damages from an automobile accident or other property damage that is not covered under DCPD.

According to the IBC, 73 percent of drivers will see no change to their premiums or either an increase or decrease of up to five percent. However, it adds, nine percent will see an increase of five percent more, while 18 percent will save more than five percent.

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OEM NEWS

SCAR PARTS

JUNK TRUNKS

In early December, Toyota issued a call for all-hands-on-deck to fight against the ongoing automotive materials shortage, announcing the OEM will permit the use of scratched, blemished, and otherwise “imperfect” parts from suppliers while global supply chains level out. “We are careful about the outside of our vehicles, the parts you can easily see. But there are plenty of places that people don’t notice unless they really take a good look,” said Takefumi Shiga, Toyota’s chief project leader for vehicle development during a press briefing. According to a report from Reuters, the OE’s engineers are expanding a programme begun in 2019 to meet component suppliers, even third-tier ones, to assure them that scratches or blemishes are acceptable as long as they do not affect vehicles safety and performance, and are unlikely to be noticed by car buyers.

A gentler touch may be in order as a recent recall issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) alleges that wear on Tesla Model 3’s trunk harness can lead the rearview camera to fail. The NHTSA estimates 356,309 vehicles to be affected by an issue where the coaxial cable housed in the Model 3’s trunk can become worn and disconnect from the rearview camera, causing the camera display to fail. The report announcing the recall described the issue as such: “The coaxial cable is affixed to a harness on the trunk lid and extends or folds as the trunk opens and closes. When the trunk is in a closed state, the harness folds and may experience a tight bend radius, stressing the core of the cable.” The issue has currently only been identified on Model 3s of the years 2017-2020.

A HERO IN HONDA

In an out-of-character decision for the quality-focussed automaker, Toyota said in early December it would allow the use of so-called “imperfect” parts during the vehicle assembly process—but only until supply chain challenges flatten out.

AUTOMATED INTEGRITY Audi is taking new steps to further streamline its production process, announcing that artificial intelligence will be used to guarantee weld quality for high-volume production at its Neckarsulm, Germany facility. According to the OEM, about 5,300 spot welds are used to join the parts that comprise the body of an Audi A6. In the past, the factory has used ultrasound to manually monitor the quality of the welding through random spot checks. Audi says the use of AI will allow the detection of flaws automatically and in real-time. The automaker developed the technology in cooperation with Siemens and Amazon Web Services as part of the Volkswagen Group’s Industrial Cloud, and plans for it to be rolled out in other locations. The aim of the project is for the algorithm to evaluate close to 100 percent of the set welding points during body manufacturing in the future. Audi said the long-term vision is that in the future, the quality of welding processes can be controlled automatically and continuously optimized.

Honda believes it has cracked the code to zero collision fatalities in their vehicles with the announcement of two new pieces of technology that the automaker promises will be a game-changer for road safety. In the ongoing effort of reaching its goal of “zero traffic collision fatalities involving Honda motorcycles and automobiles globally by 2050”, the Japanese automaker has announced its AI-powered “Intelligent Driver-Assistive Technology.” The OE says that this “intelligent” technology makes use of neurological data that tracks driver habits and human error and in turn, is able to predict driver errors and avoid collisions. The second prong of Honda’s attack on accidents is “Safe and Sound Network Technology,” which deals with how the driver’s vehicle interacts with other vehicles on the road and is capable of accurately predicting traffic patterns and potential risks on the highway.

“Applying our future safety technologies which will embody such new value, Honda will work toward the realization of ‘zero traffic collision fatalities’ involving Honda motorcycles and automobiles globally by 2050,” said the company.

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Audi said it expects to begin using AI to detect quality defects, such as small cracks in the car body, in volume production at the Ingolstadt press plant in early 2022. The company says that they do not expect this announcement to have any effect on pre-existing repair procedures. 20

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Subaru of America has granted approval for the DriveSafe and ScanSafe calibration tools from Opus IVS to be used within the Subaru Certified Collision Network. The DriveSafe and ScanSafe devices both use OEM Subaru SSM3 and SSM4 software and the OEM Denso DST-vehicle communication interface. The Opus IVS tool suite also is integrated with CCC One Estimating software, providing a streamlined and consistent workflow solution. Opus IVS says that its products are specifically designed to fulfil all of the pre and post scanning requirements of a modern body shop.

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HOT GARBAGE

WIND IN YOUR SHINS

If you’re using it properly, Google Street View can deliver hours of fun. After all, Google’s map car drives all over the world daily— they’re bound to capture some wacky situations. That’s exactly what happened in West Vancouver back in April when a Google Street View vehicle captured a burning garbage truck along the TransCanada highway. You can view a stop-motion-esque rundown of the event by clicking along the road in Street View. At first, all you can see is a plume of flames atop the truck before a good Samaritan approaches the operator, who is seen climbing the truck’s side ladder, armed with an extinguisher in hand.

Jeep appears to be toying with some tasty new design patents, as the Stellantis-based automaker released some sketches this week, featuring a Jeep sporting “donut doors”. Jeep filed patents for the experimental transparent half-door design back in 2017, which prior to the release of the sketches, had only been seen on prototype Jeep Safari and Switchback models that were shown off at auto shows around that time.

As of yet, Jeep has provided no comment on the sketches, however, Ford notably teased donut doors on the re-introduced Bronco last year, but ultimately scrapped the design.

RACER OASIS While the cause of the fire is unclear, Jeremy Crawford, the general manager of Waste Control Services Inc., told CTV News Vancouver the fire broke out on one of their trucks on April 20 and an employee was able to extinguish the flames.

A $35 million, 3.5-kilometre, 16 turn racetrack is currently under construction north of Calgary in Carstairs, Alberta.

POLLY WANT A DISCOUNT Some automotive businesses have fish tanks in their front offices; others have loyal Fido-like friends that greet customers when they walk up. Then there’s Bill Mathews Autobody in Springfield, Illinois, with its trusty macaw mascot, Seaweed. A well-known parrot to Springfield locals, Seaweek first got her start greeting customers at a car wash owned by JoAnn and John Cravens, who said the bird came with their purchase of the business in 2004. The former general manager of the car wash, Dale Abbott, quickly grew close to Seaweed—just like the many customers who worried where she’d go when the business shut down. Dale had heard that another local automotive business, Bill Mathews Autobody owned other birds and kept them in-house, so he reached out. Seaweed now spends her days greeting customers alongside two other birds and a dog at what most customers refer to as ‘Mathews Petting Zoo’. Seaweed has a long life of greeting customers before her—she’s just 30 years into her 100-year lifespan.

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Can you hear that? Is that a crowd of teenagers chanting, “Let them race?” But this isn’t an 80s ski movie and there is no one in a top hat and monocle in sight. It’s simpler and somehow more compelling than that. Calgarians just want somewhere to show off their modded cars. Calgary’s councillor for Ward 10, Andre Chabot, was fervent on making that happen. In opening a legal option for racers and other auto enthusiasts, Chabot sees the potential to reduce danger and anxiety in communities where illegal street racing is already prevalent. “Speaking to some of the young folks who tend to congregate in certain areas with these done-up vehicles, they have no venue,” said Chabot. Calgary’s sole racetrack, Race City Motorsport Park, closed in 2011 and the city has yet to see a replacement. He envisions a model where drivers can pay for access to closed roads and industrial parks. Chabot’s notice of motion was put on ice by Calgary’s executive committee in mid-December, however, dismissed by a 6-2 vote with sole support coming from Ward 7’s Terry Wong. Mayor Jyoti Gondek said that she remains unconvinced that this proposal would in any way curb the majority of illegal street racing. As it stands, the motion will not reach city council, however, Chabot is free to revise his motion and re-introduce it later.

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THE HISTORY OF REXALL SOLUTIONS More than a partner—a collaborator in solutions

exall Solutions was founded by Ryan Rahbar, who also serves as president of the company. Originally, the company focussed on manufacturing and distributing chemicals for research and Government labs in Canada but has since transitioned to offer a world of specialized solutions for a variety of industries. “Rexall doesn’t just sell products, it provides solutions”—and has done so since the company’s origin in 2010. In 2012, Rexall’s team used their good manufacturing practice and their knowledge

of high purity chemicals to expand its offerings to industrial sectors and in 2016 Rahbar moved its manufacturing facility to Ontario. In 2017, Rexall launched their Autobody refinishes line. Today, it caters to clients in four categories: Labs & Research, Industrial, Autobody Refinishing, and Aerosols. “We stand behind the quality of our products, and We never leave our clients

“With Rexall Solutions, you have more than a supplier; we’re like your partner manufacturer ready to serve your needs.” — Ryan Rahbar, founder/ CEO, Rexall Solutions hanging,” stresses Rahbar. “Being an ISO 9001:2015 certified, we are transparent with our clients, and we look at any issue as an opportunity to improve our way of manufacturing.

Ryan Rahbar drives the company focus on producing quality products and customer service. “We are heavily investing in lean, advanced manufacturing every year,” Rahbar says. Currently, Rexall offers product development, private labeling, toll blending, and costume packaging over 190 different solvents bland. Rexall is capable of packaging 18640 Gallons, 2016 Pails, and 240 Drums per day. Everyone is experiencing significant stress in these times, and we want to be there to support our partners, by providing low-cost, high-quality products. In late 2020, Rexall established an alliance with Caruk and Associates who provide national sales representation and technical field support. Caruk and Associates have 35 years of sales history representing major brands in the Automotive aftermarket and were a perfect fit for Rexall’s ambitions. Together Rexall and Caruk have been rapidly growing sales in the Collision and Automotive Sector.

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TOM’S TALES

MIXING IT UP Try something new and learn a thing or two Column by TOM BISSONNETTE

hings were rolling along rather good at Dodge City, but I was getting restless. Zig Ziglar tells the story of Priming the Pump—you can watch it on YouTube if you search “Zig Ziglar priming the pump.” It is well worth the two-and-a-half-minute watch. In this clip, Zig hammers on the pump relentlessly before realizing he needs to prime it to reap the rewards. “You’ve got to put something in here,” he says, pointing to the pump handle, “to get something out of here,” as he points to the spout. “Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly until you can learn to do it well,” he says. When I saw Zig give this presentation I could immediately relate. This analogy pretty much summarizes my career to date; I must learn things the hard way, by doing, making mistakes, learning and doing some more. Once I figure things out and get to the point where the water is flowing steadily, I must admit that I do not have the same enthusiasm for

... CONTINUED FROM Issue 20#6

the job. I have realized that I am a builder, not a maintainer. When I was approached by the local Peterbilt dealership in 1996 to design and build a new state-of-the-art collision shop for highway trucks I was immediately drawn to the opportunity. Dodge City would be left well cared for with the two Dons—Pagoda and Swick, if you’re new here—and I was intrigued to explore the world of heavy truck repair. The owner of the Peterbilt dealership was a neat guy. A friend of mine that knew him during his school years suggested that he thought he was one of the least likely to succeed individuals that he ever met. He was totally blown away by the fact that the guy owned three Peterbilt locations and was hugely successful—a testament to the fact that hard work, integrity and people skills far outweigh book smarts. I came on board late in 1996 and was immediately tasked with researching and designing the body shop. Shortly after I

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started, they had a used sales manager quit so the owner asked me to manage that until they found somebody new. Talk about a steep learning curve! Essentially, I just leaned heavily on several of the local salespeople, one of whom I recommended to take on the manager’s job and he has had a great career. What should a heavy truck shop look like? Honestly, I had no idea, so I spent quite a bit of time researching and visiting other truck shops. For the most part I learned what not to do—most truck shops started small and then added on several times until they were a maze of different rooms. I had the luxury of working with Ton Reineking once again and even though he had never designed a truck shop his insights and ideas were incredible! We hired a CAD technician for around $25 an hour and we spent more than 100 hours designing the truck body shop. We even took a portion of the building and set it up for automotive repair as that was my comfort zone.

TOM’S TALES

The result was a 1,395 sq. m. (15,000 sq. ft.) facility with up to eight units in body repair and another four in the paint department. We had a downdraft paint booth that was 70 feet long with a roll up door in the middle— you could put a truck on each side or utilize the entire booth for trailers or industrial coatings. We painted everything from airplanes to modular HVAC systems in this booth. In addition, we had a local ambulance manufacturing company that had us spray their boxes, both new and refurbished. The bodywork area had two massive prep stations to remove fumes from fiberglass work and allow priming to be done in the body area. The shop had two wash bays because you could spend two or more hours just washing a truck off getting it ready for production. If you ever visit Saskatoon, you really should check the place out, even 25 years later it is still very impressive. Now if you think it is hard to make money in automotive collision, the truck world is

twice as tough. The first challenge is the typical highway tractor takes up at least two car spaces. As I mentioned above you need about 35 feet of space to accommodate a truck with the hood up and easily twice the width of a car.

“I MUST LEARN THINGS

THE HARD WAY, BY DOING, MAKING MISTAKES, LEARNING AND DOING SOME MORE.” Now imagine going to paint the front hood of a Peterbilt 379, which is made from aluminum and has more than 100 rivets on it. You must paint this truck with Imron 5000 which is a single stage metallic, without creating any paint runs and making sure there are no tiger stripes in the metallics—all for eight hours! Compare this to painting the

front end of a Honda Civic and blending into the front doors then clearing it for about 14 hours, which would you rather do? The other Big Challenge in the truck world are the fleet and owner-operator drivers. The fleet operators want the truck to look good at 60-miles-an-hour as cheap as possible. The owner operators live in their truck; it’s their baby. It had better be perfect, but they also want it cheap. It is like working with two totally different mindsets: on one hand you must be a one-stop shop with a quick turnaround, and on the other hand you must be the most incredibly high-tech meticulous collision centre you can imagine. Remember how I mentioned my belief that the industry was its own worst enemy? It was no different in the truck world. Neither the truck shops nor the insurance appraisers had a sniff of what was involved in returning a truck back to pre-accident condition for a reasonable price where you could make a profit.

ISSUE 21#1 | COLLISION REPAIR

TOM’S TALES

Some examples I witnessed include: We were lagging in the refinish department, so I called up the folks at Mitchell Estimating, who sent a fellow named Dick Widmer from San Diego. He conducted some studies and pointed out we should get time to mask, and that we should be charging feather, prime and block time to bring repaired panels to “like new” condition. Passenger vehicles require these extra procedures as well. It took time but finally SGI started paying for these operations. SGI used the same formula for bodyshop materials as it had on passenger vehicles; the challenge came when we had a truck with riveted panels, we would use about $1,300 worth of rivets and only receive about $900 worth of body material! We literally had to manually job cost each job to prove that we were losing money on every job. SGI’s response was to pay our “cost” on shop materials—they did not feel it was something that we should make money on! I mentioned earlier that it took over two hours just to wash a truck down before repairs, and SGI simply considered this a cost of doing business. They still do today, even in the thick of winter or spring when vehicles come in filthy. We only had one truck frame repair company in town and SGI refused to pay the towing there and back on a truck that was utterly undrivable. Even moving a dead truck from the shop to the back lot while waiting for parts was not paid for.

TOM BISSONNETTE

is the director of the Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairers (SAAR). Tom’s Tales is a series of Collision Repair magazine articles chronicling his journey through the collision industry, since 1982. Besides telling his story, Tom hopes that today’s shopowners and manager can learn from his victories—and his mistakes.

“if you think it is hard to make money in automotive collision, the truck world is twice as tough.”

The best thing about working at Frontier Peterbilt is that I hired a young lady by the name of Chelsea Hoffman—you know her now by her married name as Chelsea Stebner! Right from the get-go this young 20-yearold was a force to be reckoned with, she took control of the front office and was an indispensable part of my career from then on. Funny, some people just have what it takes to succeed, sometimes they just need an opportunity to shine—more on Chelsea later. When I left Dodge City, Don Pogoda had taken over from me. He did not enjoy the pressure of running a busy shop and Don Swick had moved on and went onto a stellar career with PPG. In mid-1999 the dealer principal had heard that I was not totally happy with the truck business so he called and asked if I would consider coming back. As much as I liked the owner at Peterbilt, the people I worked with and many of my truck driving customers, after about three years of banging my head against the wall I was glad to have an opportunity to go back to the automotive side of the industry. I like to think that I left the truck side better off than when I first got there but I am aware that they still struggle with insurance to this day. Overall, it was a great experience, and I learned a lot about overcoming challenges, but I was glad that it was over. On my first day back at Dodge City they had a big BBQ to welcome me. I immediately felt like I had returned home. It was great to be back with most of the guys that helped us build that business. The only major challenge on the horizon was Y2K—the imminent shutdown of all the world’s computers when

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the clock struck midnight on December 31st. We all know now that the event never materialized but we all learned not to worry about potential catastrophes—or did we? In any case, we continued to roll along and pump up the body shop business. Fall turned to Winter then to Spring of 2000. Life was great, I had a good handle on the business, and I ran it as if it were my own. The owners gave me full control to run the business as I saw fit, and I pretty much had it on autopilot. I was looking forward to pushing Dodge ahead to even greater heights, not just the bodyshop but even the parts department. I was good friends with the parts manager and together we would make sales calls on body shops asking for their parts business. Dodge City allowed me considerable latitude to work with SGI on behalf of the industry, so I knew a lot of shops on a personal basis. Our pitch mentioned that fact and that the other Chrysler dealership was actively advertising for auto body business—which we never did other than word of mouth. One of the shops we paid a visit to was Parr Auto Body. We met with the general manager and their parts person at lunch. They agreed that we had some compelling reasons to support Dodge City and they would consider it. On the way out of the restaurant I asked the general managers if the owners would ever sell the business as I heard it was not doing too well. He asked if I was interested and I said, “for the right price, maybe.” Within a week, I received a call from the owners of Parr Auto Body asking if I was interested in buying their business!

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INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

BUCKLE UP The trends and trials to expect in 2022

elcome to 2022—it’s set to be a thrilling ride. In the wake of nearly two years of what most business owners would label less-than-ideal, the automotive aftermarket—and global population, really—are more than ready for some excitement. Lucky for the collision repair sector, it appears this year is set to bring an onslaught of trends. From insurance-driven claims to the continued rise of advanced driver assistance systems and—gulp—electrification, check out what the collision industry’s experts are predicting for the 12 months ahead.

EXPECT SHRINKAGE Consolidation—have you heard of it? Jokes aside, any member of the collision repair aftermarket knows that consolidation has been a rising trend for the last decade. While some mergers and acquisitions analysts whispered hypotheses of a cooling market back in 2019, the pandemic squashed any chance of slowed consolidation in the collision repair market. According to Frank Terlep, the founder and CEO of AutoTechcelerators, factors like the skills shortage and modern vehicle repairs will drive collision centres to sign to larger networks. “With repair complexity increasing, the technician shortage, the increasing cost of training, equipment and OE certifications combined with record-high valuations, I believe ‘the big’ will continue to get bigger, faster,” Terlep wrote in a December 2021 blog post. “This ongoing consolidation will also affect insurers, paint companies, paint distributors, equipment suppliers, associations, industry consultants, industry 20 groups and more.”

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS According to Cox Automotive’s predictions for 2022, the value of used vehicles will depreciate following the spring. In 2021, with new vehicle inventories at historic lows across North America, used vehicle demand saw massive upticks; as did much of Canada’s recycled auto parts sector. At auctions, used vehicle values set new records every month in Q4 2021, according to the Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index. In September 2021, the CBC reported that used vehicle prices were up somewhere between 14 to 25 percent across Canada. In short, if there’s a used vehicle you’ve been hanging on to for no particular reason…check how much you can get for it before the market cools off. It might just be worth it. 30

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GET YOUR ADAS IN GEAR Another prediction by Terlep is that the advanced-driver assistance system and calibration segment of collision repair will be the fastest-growing business vertical in 2022. “With the ADAS-equipped car parc increasing to more than 90 million vehicles [in North America] and the ongoing technician shortage, the need for companies that specialize in ADAS services and calibrations will increase dramatically,” wrote Terlep in his blog post. “Most consolidators have figured this out and acquired companies [in the space].” Terlep also cautions that the aftermarket shouldn’t be surprised to see more major consolidators picking up ADAS service and calibration companies to service the collision centres they acquire. “The number of local and regional MSOs that launch a new company/division to deliver these services to their locations will grow dramatically,” he said.

MORE THAN EVER BEFORE The electric vehicle segment experienced growth in 2021—albeit only 3.5 percent from 2020. Nonetheless, the segment continues to blossom, especially with the Canadian government’s goal to end gas-powered engine sales by 2035. At the end of December, Toyota Canada said it sold 62,460 electrified vehicles in 2021, representing 27.7 percent of its total sales for the year. Despite the efforts of other automakers like Ford with its Mustang Mach-E and incoming F-150 Lightning, Tesla remains the dominant brand in the pure EV market, though the others are driving significant growth; namely Volkswagen, Kia and Hyundai with their EV and hybrid pushes. The Canadian government continues to push for electric vehicles over internal combustion engines, with an 11-cent-per-litre carbon tax increase on April 1, 2022—the third increase issued amid the pandemic.

HOWDY, PARTNER Hand-in-hand with ADAS technologies and the rise of electric vehicles, OEM certifications will continue to rule the roost in 2022. Several automakers—Lucid, Rivian and General Motors—have already emphasized that step-by-step guidelines will be integral in completing repairs on electric vehicles. As such, acquiring and maintaining OEM certification standards will be key to surviving the future of collision repair. Moreover, Terlep predicts that more and more automakers will shorten their lists on who they’re willing to sell parts to, thanks to the popularity of OEM certifications.

ISSUE 21#1 | COLLISION REPAIR

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

ARTIFICIALLY YOURS Two American insurers, Root Insurance and GEICO, recently committed to using Tractable’s artificial intelligence (AI) platform to double-check estimates. According to Terlep’s predictions, “image-based estimating and AI will be pushed down to collision centres just as computerized estimates were pushed in the 1990s.” “There are too many benefits for insurers [to pass up], and the consumer loves the technology and the service,” said Terlep.

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SELFLESS SACRIFICE Success is not a straight path—ask Jamie Gray

t the end of 2021, Assured Automotive presented Jamie Gray, a graduating student of Fanshawe College’s 310B Program, with the Jerome D’Silva Memorial Award. Typically, awards are given to those who perform best in their realm; and while Jamie did graduate with a 3.84 GPA, the chief legacy of this award circles around the values of Honesty, Integrity and Respect the recipient display amongst their peers and community. Jamie’s story entering our industry is humbling, and daily he makes sacrifices to support those around him. From a young age, Jamie says his mother was bluntly honest and did her best to prepare him for life. He knew that, if he wanted to go to college, he would have to pave that path himself. Jamie had been interested in collision repair since he was a child. Influenced by his father, a body technician, and his uncle, a painter. Dealt an enormous challenge at 16 years old, Jamie was forced to drop out of school and find a career. After working various

roles, he found a gig as a tow truck operator, where he stayed for ten years. But Jamie still wanted to get into collision repair. It came down to a point where Jamie would be on a drop off job and he would be asked if he knew any technicians looking for work. Finally, Jamie asked – what do I need to do to become a technician? Bill and Ben Weir, the owner and manager of a local collision centre, had known Jamie for several years and were familiar with the strength of his work ethic. They explained to Jamie that he’d need his GED and advised him to take a three-tiered program to become a technician. They would support him by taking him on as an apprentice to fulfill the practical experience portion. It all sounded great to Jamie, but there was a slight problem—he needed his high school diploma, and full-time school would not allow him to work simultaneously. At this point, Jamie looked to his partner, Charlotte, to see if they could face the challenge together. She would be the only

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one working, and their family was about to grow—not by one, but by four; the pair had just completed the adoption of four siblings aged six through 15, in addition to already having one child. Jamie and Charlotte felt that, if they truly wanted to move their family forward, they’d have to take a step back. In 2020, Jamie enrolled in the 310B program at Fanshawe College. Tragedy struck soon after when Charlotte’s sister became ill and passed away. She had a four-year-old son, whom Jamie and Charlotte took in without a second guess. They became a family of eight. For the next year and a half, Jamie buckled down to complete his required training. He had passion for the trade in addition to support on all fronts: at school, at home from his family, and from Bill and Ben. And Jamie’s advice to anyone thinking about getting into collision repair? “Don’t overthink it, just take the leap. If you have a passion for this, you’ll make it work.”

ON THE COVER

ENJOY YOUR STAY Sibling duo Sari and Mark Descoteau bring hospitality to collision repair

From left to right: Sari Descoteau, Al Descoteau and Mark Descoteau. Al, Mark and Sari’s father first established the Terminal Auto Body name back in 1978.

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ON THE COVER

Story by MAX REID

here is something magnetic about Parksville, British Columbia. At the beaches it can often be hard to tell where the shoreline ends, and the ocean begins. Small changes in the elevation cause the white sand to poke through the surface of the water like semi-submerged dunes. Every year the city hosts Parksville Beachfest, Canada’s only World Championship Sand Sculpting official qualification event, attracting the world’s most skilled sand sculptors to this small Vancouver Island community. Should you find yourself driving in the Parksville area, become entranced by its lovely beaches, and subsequently find your vehicle to need repairs after taking in too much scenery, you may find yourself attracted to a certain family-run collision centre that would take genuine delight in getting you back on the road again. CARSTAR Parksville, or Terminal Auto Body as it used to be called, is powered by the sibling duo of Mark and Sari Descoteau.

The pair, alongside Mark’s wife, Christina and their 16 loyal employees, run a 1,115 sq. m. (12,000 sq.-ft.) collision repair facility just 30 minutes northwest of Nanaimo. Like many great shop owners, they took up the business from their father who first established

“Our story is a little different.” — Mark Descoteau, co-owner, CARSTAR Parksville

the Terminal Auto Body name back in 1978. While Mark and Sari undoubtedly look back on childhood memories at dad’s shop

with fondness and an appreciation for a fine automobile, their paths took them in different directions when it came time to decide on careers of their own. “Our story is a little different,” said Mark, over Zoom with Collision Repair. “My background is in hospitality management.” “And my background is daycare teacher,” said Sari. “Early childhood educator,” corrects Mark, with a laugh. These two look and act and tease like any pair of siblings, but one thing they do not do is reduce each other. Around 2004, Mark moved back to Parksville after a four-year stint working at a hotel in Jasper, Alberta. “When I moved back here, everybody who was interviewing me at the resorts in and around the Parksville area were my age, so I was gunning for their jobs,” said Mark. Just as his frustration with the job hunt was hitting its peak, Mark’s father approached him with a proposition. ISSUE 21#1 | COLLISION REPAIR

ON THE COVER

“My dad had a person in the office that was leaving; plus, him and my mom used to go down to Arizona for four, five months of the year through winter. He really wanted some family at the shop, just to keep an eye on everything.” Over that winter, Mark took the skills he learned in the hospitality industry and injected them into the processes of a collision repair facility. “He looked at what I was doing with the processes here—in this business, you have to be very empathetic, upbeat. You’ve got to be able to think on your feet to help people out. That was kind of how I started here,” said Mark. “I’ve always worked in hotels at the front desk, and in the sales department. It was a good experience and a good fit.” “Mark’s a people-person,” remarked Sari. Sari’s path led her back to the family shop at a time when a long-time employee was looking to make a change. “[Diana] was ready to retire, so that’s what brought me into the business in 2010,” said Sari, who brought the organizational skills requisite to survive as an early childhood educator to CARSTAR Parksville’s reception and accounting departments. 36

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ON THE COVER

“I’m also proud to work with CARSTAR. Over the years, I’ve developed a lot of good relationships with them in corporate. I’m comfortable picking up my phone and reaching out whenever I need.” — Mark Descoteau, co-owner, CARSTAR Parksville

Though Mark noted, “As the shop has grown, Sari is way less a receptionist and more everything to do with accounting.” The siblings took over the business from their father in 2017, though they admit jokingly that the exact moment a family business changes hands can be a little “murky”. Since then they have kept on a loyal core of staff that are increasingly diverse in age, as per shop manager Jason Steil’s proven formula for skills advancement in the shop. Jason saw what he had in his staff: a team of bona fide career body technicians, solid in their skills, but many of them heading into the final years before retirement. Jason adjusted to the changing tide. “Seeing the age of the staff and the great experience that they have, the first thought was to try and mix in a younger generation to help take us into the future,” said Jason. ISSUE 21#1 | COLLISION REPAIR

ON THE COVER

Through Mark’s connections with local high schools and the Parksville Chamber of Commerce, CARSTAR Parksville has had an incredibly positive experience bringing in young apprentices to learn at the shop. “Sari and Mark started with a phenomenal team/family atmosphere and I think bringing apprentices up in that atmosphere helps keep it going. Having that atmosphere already set in gives them a really solid foundation,” said Jason. With one apprentice having just completed their program and received certification, two currently working within the paint and body departments, and one new prospect looking for spot, the shop has become an extremely sought-after employer in the area. When the pandemic hit, the employees of CARSTAR Parksville knew their jobs would be there waiting for them when things opened back up. In fact, the shop even managed to pull a few displaced techs from the lockdown wreckage. “We went from 17 people to nine. We were able to spread our work out and keep everybody busy. Then in June and July, it started to get crazy again and all of the sudden we were up to our peak at 19 people…We’ve sort of ‘rightsized’ and now we’re back down to 16, although we always feel like we could use more bodies,” said Mark. “We did have some new people who joined us from shops who couldn’t take them back.

Where we lucked out was that there were people around us that needed and wanted work.” And how could one not want to work there when the owners literally know how to make your time there feel like vacation. “There’s a few things we do around here that keep a positive attitude. Twice a week, as a team, we stretch in the morning. We feel that’s pretty important, so we have a personal trainer that comes in and stretches everybody out,” said Mark. “It’s for two things: it’s preventative, and for a lot of the team physical wellness and learning how to breathe through things is important— how to stay calm.” If the stretching and breathing exercises don’t work, Mark and Sari can always rest easy on their numerous OEM certifications (FCA, Ford,

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Nissan, Toyota, Kia and Certified Collision Care) and strong ties to their corporate parent. “I’m also proud to work with CARSTAR. Over the years, I’ve developed a lot of good relationships with them in corporate. I’m comfortable picking up my phone and reaching out whenever I need,” said Mark. More than anything, the fact that Mark and Sari get to work alongside family every day is an immense source of pride for the two; pride that in turn inspires others to want to join them on their journey. “I’m pretty proud just to say that I work with my brother and I’m a part of a family business, said Sari. “When customers come in and you get to tell your story—every time I get to tell it is a proud moment.”

YOUR TEAM IS IN GOOD HANDS.

Looking to retirement but want to be sure your team is taken care of? Sell your business to another local owner! CARSTAR is a collision repair network made up of independent owners, most of them being long running family businesses. They join CARSTAR because they want

Contact Collin Welsh today if you want to sell your business to another local owner at cwelsh@carstar.ca

to keep providing premier auto body repair services to the communities they work and live in, but need support competing with large national chains in their market.

WHO’S DRIVING

REAL, RAW REFLECTION Ask yourself this

Column by JAY PERRY

n the last article we spoke of being grateful and balancing that gratitude with the desire to improve. Inside of looking at what we have, in being grateful, is an element of reflection. The act of reflecting is absolutely paramount for leaders for without it, progress cannot be made or recognized. It is not the easiest of things to do though. One of the things pushed in our advanced leadership course is the complexity to reflection. There are four major components that leaders must work on mastering as part of their personal practice of reflection. When one reflects there is an implicit requirement of objectivity. This means being

process. When we do the session in the course on this, I love to ask the question, “Who do we lie to the most?” Everyone gets that answer right—it’s ourselves! It is easy to fool ourselves into thinking we have done either too well or too poorly. We must be honest, maintain objectivity and judge in neutral terms while we reflect. This allows us to open the door of potential. This door of potential is when we can answer the question, “What would I do differently?” This challenging question while reflecting allows us to spot opportunity that we can employ in moving forward. Even if we are completely and honestly satisfied

We need to be open-minded for the practice to be effective. There are so many ways we can expand our view: lots of resources from Collision Repair magazine, conversations with peers to conferences and formal training courses. All of these help us in our practice. Speaking of practice, we believe that just like exercise, it only pays dividends when done regularly. Do you have a routine for your reflection? It doesn’t have to be long and involved. It is when done regularly, effective allowing us to see where we were and how much progress we’ve made. This regular habit is one that helps us stay the one who’s driving.

“IT IS EASY TO FOOL OURSELVES INTO THINKING WE HAVE DONE EITHER TOO WELL OR TOO POORLY. WE MUST BE HONEST, MAINTAIN OBJECTIVITY AND JUDGE IN NEUTRAL TERMS WHILE WE REFLECT.” neutral and not applying opinion through rationalization, justification or excuses. There is an element of judgement, too: when we look back on what has been accomplished, we need to compare results to stated goals. In that comparison we judge whether we like the results or not, staying away from excuses or rationalizations. This is a good thing—judging the satisfaction we have with outcomes. Another component and one deeply tied to avoiding rationalization and excuses is honesty. It is an integral part of the reflective 40

with the results, we now have opportunity to reinforce the behaviours that allowed us to accomplish what we wanted. The final component of reflection is perspective. We all have one, as it is an opinion—just like bellybuttons, everyone has one. Are we doing enough to widen our perspectives? Are we seeking out the opinions of others that can help us expand our viewpoint? Are we researching and keeping up on trends and techniques that others can offer? Or are we closed off due to only valuing our own perspective?

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JAY PERRY

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

PAINTER’S CORNER

FEWER SHADES OF GREY AUTOMOTIVE COLOUR TRENDS IN 2022 Monochrome tones remain king—but not among consumers Story by KATE NG

odern automotive coatings are more complex than ever— radar detection, EV sensor compatibility and supply chain issues are some of the factors companies must consider before developing the colour hue itself. Most customers don’t see that though—pretty colours are more obvious than flecks of radar-reflecting material. According to BASF and Axalta, blue’s time in the sun has passed, dropping four percent in popularity, back to red’s nine percent. Blue is still the most popular chromatic colour, it is now comfortably below all the chromatic colours, but

competing with silver for the fourth most popular colour. Red remains the second most popular chromatic colour, but can easily overtake blue. Other colours like green and beige remain minuscule but shouldn’t be ignored. Much like red and blue, these colours are competing for the space held by white, black and grey. While reports by BASF and Axalta agree that white, black and grey remain the most popular automotive colours worldwide, there is less of a consensus on the direction white will go in North America’s automotive industry. Axalta says white’s popularity in North

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America is declining, BASF says white’s popularity in the North American market is only growing. You might wonder how these companies came to different conclusions and still be correct. The reason? Consumer needs versus corporate needs. White is typically the colour of choice for corporate vehicles: it’s cheap in bulk, presents a blank canvas for logos or slogans and almost certainly matches older vehicles in the fleet. On the other hand, consumers have more variance with personal choice and colour trends taking a greater role than pure costs and practicality.

PAINTER’S CORNER

WHILE REPORTS BY BASF AND AXALTA AGREE THAT WHITE, BLACK AND GREY REMAIN THE MOST POPULAR AUTOMOTIVE COLOURS WORLDWIDE, THERE IS LESS OF A CONSENSUS ON THE DIRECTION WHITE WILL GO IN NORTH AMERICA’S AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY. When accounting for corporate vehicles on the road, almost three in four vehicles in North America are achromatic. Infographic by BASF, BASF Color Report 2021.

This is shown in Axalta’s 2021 Consumer Survey, which collected data from 1,003 vehicle owners across the United States. 30 percent said their favourite colour was black, while 24 percent favoured blue or red—only 15 percent preferred white. Compared to Axalta’s 2021 global automotive colour popularity report which

examined market data, 20 percent of the North American market had vehicles painted black while 18 percent had blue or red vehicles. White made up a whopping 28 percent, far outweighing consumer preference. BASF suspects the reason for North America’s boom in achromatic hues, particularly white, has two primary factors: changing

consumer preferences, and automotive production requirements. “With demand high and supply trending lower, buyers could be forced into making more pragmatic choices and fewer emotional choices. Consumers have quickly shifted to more familiar shades in the achromatic space,” said Paul Czornij, head of Automotive Design for the Americas.

With consumer vehicles, variety is still a key factor. infographic by Axalta, 2021 Consumer Survey in USA ISSUE 21#1 | COLLISION REPAIR

PAINTER’S CORNER

OUT OF 25 PERCENT OF CUSTOMERS CONSIDERING A REPAINT, 28 PERCENT CHOSE BLACK; 31 PERCENT CHOSE BLUE OR RED AND NINE PERCENT CHOSE WHITE, EMPHASIZING THE WEIGHT OF CORPORATE CUSTOMERS DONNING WHITE VEHICLES.

Despite the rising popularity of chromatic shades like red and blue, BASF’s 2021 colour report says nearly one in three North American vehicles are white. Combined with 2021’s supply shocks and material shortages, production “seemed to favour the larger, more popular platforms in the midst of the downturn,” said BASF. The platforms in mind? SUVs and trucks. BASF explains that these vehicles are the most profitable platforms during economic slowdowns. With automakers producing more SUVs and trucks, to allocate resources profitably, we likely saw more white vehicles on the road - neon delivery vans haven’t caught on (yet).

Effectively, we are seeing data polled from different audiences. Axalta’s polls seem to focus on non-corporate vehicle owners and reflect trends in the consumer market. White, black and grey remain essential colours for the autoworker’s toolkit, but reds and blues are slowly rising in popularity. Out of 25 percent of consumers who considered repainting their vehicles, 28 percent chose black while 31 percent chose blue or red. Only 9 percent chose white, emphasizing the weight of corporate customers in the automotive industry. Whether you work with corporate vehicles or your neighbour’s Ford, the impact of corporate spending is almost guaranteed to impact your shop in some way.

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For something that has for the large part of automotive history only been a technological concept, EVs have the uncanny ability to produce equal parts hope and dread among the average North American consumer.

CHARGED OPINIONS

When it comes to EVs, everybody’s got something to say —but what do you really know? Story by MAX REID

epending on where you live in Canada, the idea of electric vehicles likely elicits a different reaction for each person who reads this. For something that has for the large part of automotive history only been a technological concept, EVs have the uncanny ability to produce equal parts hope and dread among the average North American consumer.

Whether they are something to aspire to, or a threat to your way of life, EVs are the order of the day, or decade, ready or not. In June 2021, the federal government accelerated its impending ban on gas-powered vehicles by five years to 2035. The ban aims to align itself with Paris Agreement commitments to curb emissions rates to 40-45 percent below 2005 levels.

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Today, each province occupies its own unique footing within this burgeoning industry; Quebec, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island are pushing their own variations on the federal Incentives for Zero-Emissions Vehicles Program (iZEV). Saskatchewan and Alberta remain tied to a natural-gas-based system, due in part to the culture around oil in the Prairies, as well as

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

“There is nothing special about an electric car, other than the powertrain. They still run with all the same body panels.” – David Giles, technical specialist, All EV Canada

a legitimate demand for EVs that are better equipped for harsh, rural Canadian winters. Ontario is attempting to position itself at centre stage of the North American EV manufacturing market by bringing in major OEM contracts for its assembly plants. The province was forced to cancel its Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle Incentive Program in 2018 after the newly formed Ford government scrapped Ontario’s capand-trade program, through which funding for the incentive program was sourced. With no real consistency or alignment between provincial EV plans, industry experts have started to take note of gaps forming in the education of repair techs when it comes to electrification, often giving way to misinformation and false rumours about the vehicles.

“Technicians don’t like change,” joked David Giles, technical specialist at All EV Canada, owned by the Atlantic Canada-based Steele Auto Group. “In the early days of my career, the two areas that were always feared by collision technicians and where shops would always farm the work out was air conditioning and electrical—they always farmed it out.” Giles is concerned that the industry is on a similar path with EVs as misinformation around the technology is leading to some pretty short-sighted business moves for some shops. “What I have been finding, is that the appraisers and the adjustors of these insurance companies are writing these cars off way too easy because they’re fearful of the batteries,” said Giles.

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INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

He points out that yes, EV batteries are quite large, they do power the entire vehicle and a legitimately compromised battery is not a small thing. But at the end of the day, they’re still just batteries, like the ones in our phones and the gas-powered vehicles we already drive. “There is nothing special about an electric car, other than the powertrain. They still run with all the same body panels,” said Giles “The [Hyundai] Kona is a perfect example. A gas-powered Kona to an electric Kona— they’re identical, for the most part, other than their powertrain.” The lack of knowledge around EVs has spawned an understandable, but ultimately wasteful fear of the technology that could end up sending repairable vehicles to salvage yards. “How many times do you drop your phone and put it right back into your pocket,” said Giles, a man who has never once had a pocket explode. He even spoke of a case where a shop refused to change the tires on a client’s EV

Battery level on the dashboard of electric car.

because the local fire department wasn’t available to supervise. By the nature of the business and the way parts ordering and labour rates work, shop owners know everywhere their money is going, so the fact that they are giving up time and money for a safety precaution that isn’t mandated anywhere in the country speaks volumes.

According to a February 2021 survey from KPMG Canada, 68 percent of Canadians would like their next vehicle purchase to be an EV. As more and more Canadians opt for an electric vehicle, it will be up to repair centres to take that demand seriously and get educated, so they aren’t leaving money on the table.

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Looking for Painters, Body Technicians, Shop Managers, Customer Service Administrators, Collision Estimators and More

Finding new staff or finding your dream job in this exciting industry has never been easier. Check out collisioncommunity.com for multiple job listings or post your own opportunities.

THE HEAVY STUFF

MIGHTY MACHINES

The grind of heavy-duty collision repair Story by MAX REID

or most drivers, their thoughts on trucking and buses don’t often extend much past the best ways to avoid them on the road—out of a justified concern for personal safety, mind you. These vehicles are, obviously, extremely heavy. In saying that, heavy vehicles are almost treated like wild animals by the public and the collision industry at-large. Most people have neither the knowledge nor the means to handle them properly, so they leave them to the few who can. But times are changing and heavy truck repair is no forbidden knowledge. Sometimes it just takes a fresh pair of eyes and a little bit of initiative—something Kenton Schultz, president and CEO of BRC Group out of Grande Prairie, Alberta, has in spades. "It was a complete cold call,” said Schultz over the phone with Collision Repair, describing his pitch to the ownership at Big Rig Collision. "I was in the process of working on my MBA at Queen's University. We were working

on a project where we created a modelled expansion that could be applied to Big Rig Collision Grande Prairie. "After we did the project, I thought, this could become a reality,” said Schultz.

"A TRUCK IS A MONEYMAKING MACHINE.” – Paul Santos, chair, automotive and motorcycle department, Centennial College His pitch appealed to the former owner of BRC’s Calgary branch, who was receptive to a positive succession plan and for an opportunity to scale back. In September of 2021, Big Rig Collision closed on a deal that brought together the locations in Grande Prairie and Calgary, as

well as a coach and transit repair business in Las Vegas, all under the same BRC Group Ltd. banner. In planning out this bold merger proposal, Schultz took note of certain changes occurring within our own industry. "Looking at what is happening right now in the collision market with consolidation, there's not much like that happening in the heavy duty space. My thought on it was, we either take the initiative and form a network ourselves or be consolidated into someone else's group.” He attributes this lack of consolidation in truck repair to be due in part to the increased costs that come with working on larger-scale machinery. Chair of Centennial College’s automotive and motorcycle program, and 26 year auto body veteran, Paulo Santos confirmed, much of the basic collision repair process is consistent between a passenger vehicle and an 18-wheeler—the major difference is the size of the tool used to pull the dent. ISSUE 21#1 | COLLISION REPAIR

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Above left, Paulo Santos, chair, automotive and motorcycle department at Centennial College.

Above right, Kenton Schultz, president and CEO of Big Rig Collision (BRC) Group.

"Equipment like that is much heavier and bulkier than that which is used on smaller passenger vehicles,” said Santos. "Even a floor jack, for example. If you're trying to lift a truck, you need a floor jack that is capable of lifting very heavy weight… in refinishing, there are special spray booths that will accommodate a large unit—and because of its height, some of these spray

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booths actually have floors that drop down into the ground so the painter can reach the higher panels.” Much of this specialized equipment is owned by standalone regional collision facilities. Schultz sees his network as the foothold he needs to make the BRC Group the most reputable truck and bus repair company in the west.

THE HEAVY STUFF

"Having that sort of presence, I think it brings attention to our buying powe r an d ou r volu m e ,” s ai d S c hu lt z . “We're diversified in multiple markets now. We get perspectives that stand alone regional facilities couldn't get.” This sort of presence across the western markets also lends a peace of mind to trucking companies to know that a consistent repair process is never too far off, whether travelling through Alberta’s foothills or the Mojave Desert. "A truck is a money-making machine,” said Santos explaining the value companies place in keeping their fleet well maintained. “If a truck is down, the company and the driver aren't making any money.” Santos said it isn’t uncommon to see a year old truck with 600,000 kilometres already on it, illustrating the increased wear that commercial vehicles must endure throughout their working careers.

Schultz says that, in that regard, one of the most valuable services BRC Truck and Coach in Las Vegas offers is its refurbishment services, which he claims can just about double the life expectancy of a coach or transit vehicle. These are exciting times in the world of heavy truck collision repair and the prospect of implementing heavy-duty services into

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traditional collision repair centres weighs on the minds of more and more shop owners every day. With network consolidation a relatively new realm in the trucking world and technological complexity increasing at a comparable pace, at this point one can only speculate on what changes or events could cause the paths of our two industries to converge again.

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INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

TALKS ON THE TABLE Round two of Canadian Right to Repair

ime for round two—a Canadian Right to Repair bill has been tabled after Brian Masse, an NDP member of parliament representing the Windsor West riding in Ontario, introduced a private member’s bill on the topic on February 4. If passed, the bill would ensure proper tools and parts are available to Canada’s automotive aftermarket and allow consumers the freedom to choose where their vehicles are repaired. Masse said the bill will aim to accomplish three things: If passed, the Canadian Right to Repair bill would ensure automotive aftermarket professionals have access to the tools and information required to complete proper repair.

“This important legislation will place that control back in the hands of consumers, allowing them to choose the service or repair shop that is best for them. Given previous support from all parties to establish a right to repair, we are hopeful this Bill will receive broad support and encourage its swift passage.” — J.F. Champagne, President, AIA Canada 52

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• Amend the Competition Act to authorize the competition tribunal, to make an order requiring vehicle manufacturers, to provide independent repair shops access to diagnostic and repair information and service parts on the same terms and manner as a manufacturer makes that information and parts available to their own authorized repair providers; • Update the voluntary Canadian Automotive Service Information Standard (CASIS) agreement in place since 2009 to include the rights of digital software that will cover future innovations and technologies as we move to zero-emissions vehicle standards and EVs;

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

“I’m proud to present a bill I believe all Members of Parliament will support, similar to what’s happened in the past.” — Brian Masse, MP, Windsor West, Ontario

• Ensure that consumers have a right to choose where they get their vehicles fixed, and to help the environment by making sure vehicles with emissions are stronger and also cleaner

A Canadian Right to Repair bill has been re-introduced as a private member’s bill by Ontario MP Brian Masse, who represents the Windsor West riding.

Masse also noted Right to Repair legislature would “be good for public safety” as vehicles on the road are repaired and kept in the best condition possible. This is the first time the topic has been brought up in the House since the Fall 2021 election scrapped the Right to Repair legislation in process. Masse had also proposed similar legislation in 2009. “I want to commend MP Brian Masse for

introducing his Private Member’s Bill which will establish much-needed rights for vehicle owners across Canada,” wrote J.F. Champagne, president of the Automotive Industries of Canada. “Currently, vehicle manufacturers own the data transmitted by vehicles, limiting options for where consumers can have their vehicle repaired. “This important legislation will place that control back in the hands of consumers, allowing them to choose the service or repair shop that is best for them. Given previous support from all parties to establish a right to repair, we are hopeful this Bill will receive broad support and encourage its swift passage.”

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MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

STAY OR GO

Knowing your worth is key in either scenario Column by NANCY ROLLAND

he pandemic has caused many business owners to reconsider their long-term goals of owning and operating their businesses. Shutdowns and personnel shortages have clearly been a drain on many, while severely impacting financial performance and their ability to effectively service customers. If you are thinking about exiting the race, consider having a professional business intermediary, such as an investment banker review your business and provide a free, no obligation valuation. Most can perform this task quickly by reviewing your financials and asking a few preliminary questions about your operations. If you do this, make sure you find an intermediary that specializes in your industry. They will have the most current knowledge of what is happening in the marketplace and what buyers are willing to pay. Following are a few of the items they would ask you to provide.

Financial Statements Gather your financial statements and tax returns for the last three years as well as the current year to date and the previous year’s comparable period. Many prospective buyers like to see how the business has operated on a trailing 12-month basis, so the two periods are necessary to calculate operating results.

Owner’s Benefits Identify how much you are really earning from your business that a new owner can also expect. Also known as seller’s discretionary earnings (SDE), this takes into consideration any personal expenses you are running through the company, such as personal car leases, cell phones, salaries to non-working family members, etc. SDE is calculated by taking your company’s profit as shown on 54

your tax return and adding back potential expenses that may not be incurred by a new owner as well as other expenses, such as non-recurring or non-related business items.

Staffing Address any personnel issues or deficiencies in advance of a sale. If you are planning to completely exit the business, make sure you have at least one person in place who may be able to assume your role and duties. One of the biggest reasons buyers are attracted to and pay higher prices for businesses is knowing they have great teams in place. If you expect that the new owner is going to have to hire someone to perform your duties, anticipate a negative earnings adjustment.

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Facility Take a walk through your facility with ‘buyer’s eyes’. Could it use a thorough cleaning, a fresh coat of paint, or new equipment? Selling your business is much like selling your home. You want to make it as presentable as possible, even in the collision industry. Having done numerous site visits during my career, clean, organized shops still stand out in my mind and command the best price. Keeping a well-organized and clean shop is like teaching your children the importance of making their bed. It’s not the task itself, but the development of discipline and good habits that are learned during the process.

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

CONSIDER HAVING A PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS INTERMEDIARY, SUCH AS AN INVESTMENT BANKER REVIEW YOUR BUSINESS AND PROVIDE A FREE, NO OBLIGATION VALUATION.

Rent Check Double check your facility lease or rent rate. If you own the property, are you charging yourself fair market value? If you are uncertain, contact a local commercial realtor for their opinion. If you are leasing it from a third party, how much time is remaining on the term? Are there any onerous conditions?

Customer Base Who are your customers? How wide of a geographic region do you cover? Do you provide prospective buyers with an opportunity to expand into a new area or strengthen their existing territory? Do you have a diversified customer base

that would help in the event one of them underperforms during a particular period? Companies with multiple sources of income to smooth out the economic hills and valleys almost always garner the highest valuations.

Suppliers Similarly, be prepared to discuss your relationship with your paint supplier as well as other vendors. Do you have an outstanding prebate that will need to be paid off at closing? Our team has represented over 20 clients in the last few years with annual revenues more than $500 million. We would love the opportunity to discuss your specific situation.

NANCY B. ROLLAND

is a managing director of FOCUS Investment Banking with more than 20 years of experience in sourcing, managing and executing mergers and acquisition activities for small business owners and multiple Fortune 500 companies. She can be reached at nancy.rolland@focusbankers.com, or by phone at 954-610-3410.

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ISSUE 21#1 | COLLISION REPAIR

VIEWS FROM THE WEST

POWERING THROUGH In today’s times, it’s all about perspective

Column by CHELSEA STEBNER

e’re two years into a global pandemic and I commend our fellow collision shops across Canada for digging deep and continuing to put one foot in front of the other. In talking to many other shop owners, I know that they as well are struggling, but persevering through. Whew, it’s not just us! Depending on who you’re talking to, and on what day—these factors can absolutely impact our attitudes surrounding our current states. Recognition of chaos? Are you ‘bringing it’? Self-awareness is key. Hey! You. Yes, you. Are you flying into the shop, stressed about parts and dollars and cents, or your buddy who needs the work done right NOW, or reacting to frustrations that our insurance company is causing, or jumping into a situation without taking the time to get the full picture? Our teams see our body language and frustrations written all over our faces. Now it is more than okay for them to see us admit we’re having a tough day or say “I don’t know”; vulnerability is a brave spot to put yourself in as a leader; doing so brings humanity to leaders. Take time in your day, preferably in the morning, before you show up; with your

cup of coffee and your day planner and set yourself up for success. If you set your own schedule up for success, without a thousand things on the list each day, you’ll show up for your team in a more positive way. If you don’t have that habit built, start! It will change your outlook and your ability to handle the fast pace of our industry today. When you step in with a fresh look on the day and a game plan in hand, your team will sense that. You’ll have time to respectfully listen to them and guide them in what they need. With clearer headspace, we will have more ability as leaders to adapt and roll with the changes that are happening. In our shop, the demands, and requirements, from customers, vendors and insurance companies are ever changing…especially with the parts crisis that’s occurring in industries all over the world, ours included. We need to be able to roll with it, think critically and help our teams adapt right on the shop floor – how can we temporarily repair this, what else can we use, how can we produce this work to get the job out the door? Of course, following all safe and quality repair procedures.

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TODAY, WE ARE NOT WAITING FOR THE BUMPER THAT WILL SHOW UP TOMORROW, WE MIGHT BE WAITING MONTHS FOR IT–SO, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

Today, we are not waiting for the bumper that will show up tomorrow, we might be waiting months for it – so what are we going to do? Not only that but we also want to teach others how to think further outside the box than we ever have before. This is the time to start utilizing our teams’ brilliant minds even more; ask questions, get curious and engage each other to find solutions. Do you worry and fret about the stuff you can’t control? I think everyone does. I get frustrated about a lot things that I can’t control, and it takes up a whole lot of energy

VIEWS FROM THE WEST

better spent elsewhere. We get frustrated by processes that we don’t understand with the insurance companies. A wise coach shared with me a useful imagery tool to help me realize where my brainpower is better spent. It’s called the hula hoop. And quite frankly, we all need to stay in our own hula hoops. When we focus on what we can control, we better serve our teams, our clients and ourselves. Leading a team today to produce work and foster positivity in a motivation sapped world is a challenge. After almost two years of a worldwide pandemic—dare I say, without

an end in sight—people are struggling to look at the bright side. We can live in the chaos or rise and create reasons to celebrate your organization and help it thrive today and into the future. Is there a habit or change that you’ll make to encourage and engage your team? To build culture. Today, I heard a business leader say that big change is overwhelming right now but if I continue to do one small change every day it will impact us positively. I’d love to hear about a small change that you’ve made that’s creating impact in your organization.

CHELSEA STEBNER

is the CEO and managing partner of Parr Auto Body in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and a member of the CCIF Steering Committee. She can be reached at chelsea@parrautobody.com.

ISSUE 21#1 | COLLISION REPAIR

STAND UP SPEAK OUT

TAKING ATTENDANCE Collision repair industry weighs the peril of in-person events

Do you plan to attend industry events in 2022?

Story by ALLISON ROGERS

fter hosting its 2020 event online, the SEMA Show went off without a hitch at the Las Vegas Convention Centre last November. Most attendees hadn’t physically been on a trade show floor for nearly two years, and the air was thick with palpable excitement. Regulations were lifting, vaccines were lifting their loads. If you had asked the average member of the Canadian aftermarket

two years of no trade shows, forums or open conversations on a physical stage. Few find a back-and-forth Teams text chat as captivating as a booming voice on a stage. In 2021, 68.2 percent of Collision Repair respondents reported not attending any industry events throughout the year, while 31.8 percent said they did. Of those who did participate in industry get-togethers, 43.5 percent reported attending golf tournaments;

IT’S BEEN ALMOST TWO YEARS OF NO TRADE SHOWS, FORUMS OR OPEN CONVERSATIONS ON A PHYSICAL STAGE. last November whether they planned to attend industry events in 2022, there was a significant likelihood that they’d think to consider it. The Canadian Collision Industry Forum had planned to host a Toronto event in February; the trifecta of Toronto, Montrèal and Vancouver Canadian International AutoShows had plans to return in full force. But all were forced to cancel their events. Webinar sessions returned in droves. Governments imposed regulations we thought we’d bid adieu to. All thanks to the dreaded O-word. In the wake of a COVID regulation resurgence, many are frustrated. It’s been almost

26 percent said they attended annual general meetings; 21.7 percent said they swung by the odd trade or car show and 13 percent said they attended SEMA in 2021. None reported attending any events requiring overseas travel. Collision Repair magazine also asked readers how they felt about attending industry events in the wake of Omicron’s wrath, in which 27.3 percent said they would attend events no questions asked; 29.5 percent said they’d plan to attend if regulations were strict and 43.2 percent said they would not attend any aftermarket shindigs this year.

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YES: 27.3% YES, IF THERE ARE COVID-19 HEALTH REGULATIONS IN PLACE: 29.5% NO: 43.2%

Did you attend industry events in 2021?

YES: 31.8% NO: 68.2% *Survey results are taken from 45 respondents.

STAND UP SPEAK OUT

“I don’t think now is the right time to start getting out in large group settings. 2022 is not off to a good start with the Omicron surge…attending indoor events with health regulations in place is the definite minimum, but I wouldn’t expect that attending in-person events in the early part of 2022 to be in any of my plans. Everyone wants to get out and back to normal to ‘join the fun,’ but we are still too far from that point.”

“Don’t be afraid. We need to get on with our lives and careers.” “The reason I am not attending certain aftermarket events does not have to do with COVID. It is because the insurance companies are now controlling the narrative of those forums. It is no longer an open discussion. It used to be a great place for repairers to get together and learn about best practices and stay informed about the industry. But now there has been a shift in the content and it seems as if the insurance company involvement is a major hindrance to providing valuable content.”

“It’s time to learn to live with COVID.” “Attending events where I would have to fly would be a decision based upon the current state of outbreaks and the cost of flying to the destination.”

“THERE MUST BE STRINGENT COVID-19 REGULATIONS AND PROTOCOLS PLANNED FOR ME TO ATTEND LIVE IN 2022.”

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INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

ROMANS REPORT Highlights from A 2020 Profile of the Evolving U.S. and Canadian Collision Repair Marketplace

“WE BELIEVE THAT THE MARKET SEGMENTS PROFILED WITHIN OUR REPORT WILL RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC."

n late December, the Romans Group LLC unveiled its 15th annual white paper, A 2020 Profile of the Evolving U.S. and Canadian Collision Repair Marketplace, detailing the market happenings of the U.S. and Canadian collision repair industries. “Within the collision repair industry, 2019 was a pinnacle year for opportunity and success,” reads the first lines of the whitepaper. “Collision repair facilities were flush with repairable vehicles and the relevant total addressable market reached its all-time historical high.” Then came 2020. According to Vincent Romans’ analysis, the CEO and founder of the Romans Group who has curated the whitepaper for 15 years running, “COVID-19 seemed to have a disproportionately negative impact on the 60

Canadian collision repair industry as compared to the United States,” largely due to government-imposed restrictions. The report states that, during 2020, there was a 45-to-50 percent decrease in repairable vehicles versus the same period in 2019. On top of that, the number of Canadian collision repair locations has taken a hit in the last near-decade, decreasing by 1,770 locations since 2012. The combined >$10 multi-store operator (MSO)/banners/multi-location networks drove Canada’s revenue growth from 2012 through 2019, said the report. As for continued trends, the Romans Group is predicting continued impacts in areas from insurance, consolidation, OEM certs and, of course, COVID-19 recovery dynamics and opportunities.

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Confirming the visions of many North American insurers, the Romans report predicts that vehicle damage estimation with photos will continue, eventually “evolving to telematics, relying on artificial intelligence coupled with insurer-driven rules with the integration of supplier network connections.” The report reiterates that, much like the U.S., Canada’s auto insurance market is highly consolidated, with the top ten private insurers controlling “the lion’s share of premiums written and shouldering the majority of claims processed and settled.” Romans is also predicting an uptick in cross-border relations where consolidation is concerned, as mirrored by recent trends like CSN Collision Centres’ merger with U.S. network 1 Collision; Fix Network’s 2019 acquisition of ProColor collision and its subsequent entrance to the U.S. market; and U.S.-based Lithia Dealership’s recent acquisition of the Greater Toronto Area’s Pfaff Automotive Dealer Group. Don’t expect private equity to relinquish its focus on the collision repair sector, either: the Romans Group predicts that private equities will continue a path of investment, disruption and consolidation influence in the collision repair sector as well as other auto aftermarket segments. Ultimately, the future for the sector is rosy, assures the report. “We believe that the market segments profiled within our report will recover from the pandemic and continue to grow and expand their revenue base, through organic growth, brownfield/greenfield development, and acquisitions.”

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

FAST FACTS According to the Romans Group • The U.S. collision repair market size on a U.S. dollar basis is 12.3 times the size of the Canadian target addressable market, with 7.4 times the repair facilities. • Canada’s top ten insurers maintain a higher consolidated market share at 82.4 percent, versus 73.5 percent in the United States. • Canada’s top-ranked repairers represent more than 80 percent of the Canadian industry’s revenue with less than 40 percent of the industry’s repair facilities.

The Romans Group’s annual report, A 2020 Profile of the Evolving U.S. and Canada Collision Repair Marketplace, is now available. The report contains the complete results of our research and analysis for 2020, including over 70 charts and graphs throughout more than 107 pages with historical trends and a future view. The report can be purchased by contacting MARY JANE KUROWSKI of The Romans Group LLC at maryjane@romans-group.com.

CANADA’S TOP-RANKED REPAIRERS 2020 All Repairers

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AS FOR CONTINUED TRENDS, THE ROMANS GROUP IS PREDICTING CONTINUED IMPACTS IN AREAS FROM INSURANCE, CONSOLIDATION, OEM CERTS AND, OF COURSE, COVID-19 RECOVERY DYNAMICS AND OPPORTUNITIES. COLLISION REPAIR MAGAZINE RECOGNIZES CONSOLIDATED COLLISION SERVICES' STORE FOOTPRINT IN CANADA'S COLLISION REPAIR MARKET. FOR REASONS UNKNOWN, THE COMPANY IS NOT FEATURED IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT.

ISSUE 21#1 | COLLISION REPAIR 61

THE INTRICATE WEB

YOUR GO-TO AUTOMOTIVE

MARKETING GUIDE Build strong relationships and brand awareness in your communities

As an Automotive Marketing specialist, I often ask industry leaders two very important questions: 1. Why has marketing never been big in the collision repair industry? 2. Why do collision centres not focus on owning a relationship with their customers directly, instead of continuing to rely on third parties?

DID YOU KNOW? ✓

95%

of your local community is using the internet

85%

of your local community ✓ is actively on social media *Stats from Hootsuite’s 2021 Digital trends report.

Column by VENESSA DI VITO

n my opinion, the answers to the two questions above are simple: collision repair facilities have never marketed or focused on their relationships with customers because there has never been a need for this. Insurance companies, dealerships and fleet companies have always provided endless amounts of work, and franchises and networks provide the customer with a recognizable brand. So, why market? Right? Well, times are changing, demands are higher, and people want to do things the right way rather than doing what’s expected of them. Businesses want to thrive, not just survive. With this need to thrive comes the understanding that, for a business to be successful within their local markets, things must be done differently than they used to be. This out-of-the-box mindset, looking at the business from a bird’s eye view, is

where automotive marketing comes into consideration for many. This is because businesses are now seeing potential for an insane number of opportunities that will arise by investing time, resources, and effort into marketing their businesses within their own local communities. So, what is marketing? Marketing, in collision repair terms, is the process of delivering value to meet the need of a target market or local community with regards to the services (and products) you offer. Collision repair facilities can provide such value and build strong relationships within their local markets. So, perhaps marketing is an affordable solution to help you become the ‘best body shop in town’. What do you think? In today’s article, I’d like to provide you with an easy guide on how to kick start your marketing campaign with a focus on capturing stronger brand awareness and

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building relationships within your local communities. Let’s say your target audience, or your community’s local population, is 100,000 people. That means that 85,000 to 95,000 people in your local community are actively using the internet and social media on a regular basis. That’s a lot of people, and a lot of potential, wouldn’t you agree? With so much of your local community possessing an online presence, and with digital marketing becoming increasingly affordable, we suggest that to market your business you should begin by focusing your attention on the digital world as it provides an easy, affordable, and powerful way to reach your customers. So, how can a collision repair facility start to market their business within their local communities? First, let’s answer three main questions.

THE INTRICATE WEB

Where do you want your message to show up? Your customers are everywhere. Some prefer to watch YouTube videos while others like to socialize on Facebook. Some like reading blogs on Google and others enjoy following and staying up to date with a brand by viewing what’s new on your website. So, you’ll do well with whatever method you pick, but the most successful businesses typically favor a mix of such strategies to capture a larger audience. Here are a few suggestions… ✓ Social Media Marketing ✓ Email Marketing ✓ Texting/Communications ✓ YouTube Channel ✓ Blogs ✓ Websites

What is your budget? Marketing can cost as little or as much as you’re willing to put into it. It’s not so much the cost I’d suggest you look at, but rather, what you want to achieve and how much time and resources are you willing to allocate to achieve that goal.

What I suggest is coming up with a dollar amount that your business can afford, and if you can’t do it in house, hire a company and tell them your maximum budget and see what they can do with that budget. Most businesses put three to five percent of its total sales towards online marketing, but we know that with the cost of other operating expenses, this can be a lot to commit. Therefore, pay what is comfortable for you, as no matter what, you will still see results.

you will need someone who comprehensively understands the industry. General marketing agencies are known to provide more ‘basic’ yet high-level marketing strategies which will not provide a collision repair facility with the value, awareness, and relationships they would have hoped. Once you’ve figured out the answers to these three questions, you are then able to make some more important decisions on exactly how you are going to execute your marketing strategy.

How much time are you willing to commit? To be frank, marketing takes a lot of work to perfect. It takes commitment, an allocated amount of time, creatively, execution, and a lot of planning to get your message and brand awareness out and into your local communities. Are you willing to commit the time to do so? A reasonable recommendation on what one should commit to the amount of time used to market one’s business would be 10-20 hours, minimum, per week. If you don’t have the time or resources to help fulfill this, hiring a marketing agency is another great way to help, but be cautious;

ISSUE 21#1 | COLLISION REPAIR

THE INTRICATE WEB

Your Four-Step Marketing Plan

Determine your audience

Who is your customer? Someone who has had damage on their vehicle. Someone who is looking to enhance their vehicle. Someone who has recently been in a car accident. What are the specific demographics of your local market? This is where programs like GMAPS and even your local library can help to provide information for you. Who are your partnerships, and how can you work closer with them to create a stronger brand? Who are your strategic partners? Insurance companies, franchises/networks, dealerships, fleet companies Which sublet companies do you work with in town? Which companies could you partner up with in town? Who are your suppliers that can help you?

Execute your message

The next step is to execute and create the content you wish to launch and disseminate to your local communities. How are you going to get your message out to your local communities? Examples:Video, photos, etc. Whether it’s through social media marketing, e-mail marketing, etc., there are a ton of reputable software programs and resources out there to help support your message.

Determine your message to your audience

We often find that collision repair facilities invest hundreds of thousands of dollars on their business, but no one truly knows (outside of insurance companies, franchises, and dealerships) exactly how amazing your business really is. What are the standout qualities or “great things” about you and your business? What message do you want to tell your local community? This is your marketing message, and it is the kind of information that needs to be shared with your local communities.

Measure the results of your campaign and adjust as necessary

Lastly, and probably one of the most important parts of marketing, is measuring your work. How do you know if all the work you did, worked? How do you know if what you’re doing is creating the brand awareness and relationships, you’re working so hard to achieve? Measuring your results is important when it comes to marketing. They help you find out what worked, what did quite well, and what didn’t work well, so that you can continue to keep adjusting until you finally own the market. Programs like Insights on your social media networks, Google Analytics, Google Console, and other software programs are so important to the success of your marketing plan. We highly suggest that you make this a priority to measure each month.

Even though automotive marketing, and specifically digital marketing, is relatively new to collision repair facilities, the concept of marketing itself has been around for centuries and has proven its success time and time again to numerous businesses. Corporations all over the world invest large amounts of money towards marketing strategies and campaigns every year. The reasons for this? Because they see value and know that marketing works to help build a brand as well as build strong relationships with customers. I hope this article inspired you to do the same with your brand and help to support you to #ownthemarket within your local community. For more information, visit our website at www.autoplusperformance.com. If you would like more details on this article, contact us at info@autoplusperformance.com.

VENESSA DI VITO

is the owner and founder of Auto+ Performance, a full-service automotive marketing and solutions company specializing in generating growth in sales, traffic and customer retention for a collision repair or dealership facility within their local communities. For almost 20 years Venessa has been helping automotive businesses across North America with business best practices and will continue to find ways to support and grow this ever evolving, yet incredibly exciting, industry.

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IBIS – the platform for thought leadership, knowledge sharing, business development and peer-to-peer networking for the leaders of the global collision repair industry

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YOUNG GUNS PROFILE

BUILDING A NAME Chelsie Lesnoski and Cole Marten

Cole was one of three Battle of the Builders participants to receive a Golden Ticket, which won him transportation and accommodation to SEMA and a spot in the Young Guns competition.

“WE LOVE TO CONTINUALLY SET THE STANDARD FOR THE WORLD’S FIRST, AND EVERY CAR WE’VE TAKEN TO SEMA HAS BEEN THE WORLD’S FIRST IN ITS OWN REGARD.” — Chelsie Lesnoski, co-owner Throttle Thrashers Garage

Story by ALLISON ROGERS

collision repairer for more than 35 years, Chelsie Lesnoski’s father never wanted her to find a career in collision repair; he swore she would end up resenting a life in the sector. But now Reb Lesnoski couldn’t be prouder of his daughter. “I eventually won him over,” Chelsie told Collision Repair, hot off the heels of SEMA 2021, where she claimed the title of the first-ever female builder to claim a top-three spot in the Battle of the Builders Young Guns competition. Cole Marten and Chelsie Lesnoski are the owners of Penticton, British Columbia’s Throttle Thrashers Garage, a shop specializing in custom builds and paintwork. The pair also happen to be known for breaking records at the SEMA Show annual Battle of the Builders Young Guns competition. Cole and Chelsie’s first swing in Battle of the Builders happened in 2019 when they brought Chelsie’s 2013 Scion FR-S down to Vegas. Chelsie had initially met Cole during a test-drive on his buddy’s car. The rest is history. Two years and a business together later, the pair completed a Nissan Skyline engine swap and refinished the Scion in a custom purple developed by Chelsie; but she never expected it would go to Vegas.

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“I was building that car for the purpose of going on a little car cruise here in town,” she said. “I rolled it out into the sun the day before the cruise and asked, ‘why the hell does that quarter panel look more pink than purple?’ It was really devastating—making that car cruise was a personal goal I set for myself.” “I’m sitting there scratching my head thinking, ‘This car hasn’t even driven yet, and you want to go on a cruise?’” laughed Cole. After their first SEMA experience, Cole and Chelsie turned Throttle Thrashers’ focus to Nissan Skylines. Chelsie would do the painting, while Cole would handle mechanical work and fabrication. “No matter how blasphemous the idea, we love it,” beamed Cole. “The worse it is, the better.” And unique builds were certainly the goal for the couple heading into SEMA 2021, where each brought their own unique ride to the Las Vegas Convention Centre. “My goal was to make Top 12, being that I made Top 40 in 2019,” said Chelsie. Chelsie’s build at the 2021 SEMA Show was a 1993 Mazda RX-FD, which she claims is the world’s first mid-engine Audi 2.7 twin-turbo Mazda FD RX7. Her build received a sixinch custom metal wide-body treatment and incorporates custom front fender and hood

YOUNG GUNS PROFILE

Photos by Timmy Gregson

Cole and Chelsie plan what records to break at next year’s Battle of the Builders comp. Photo from Autovotion Canada.

Chelsie said her build is the first-ever mid-engine Audi 2.7 twin-turbo Mazda FD RX7.

vents, custom rear louvers and diffuser. For paint, Chelsie custom-mixed a two-toned black-cherry hue with satin and gloss finishes. “I spent two years thinking about this car,” said Chelsie. “Every nut, weld and stroke of paint was done by my own hands.” Cole, who claimed one of three all-inclusive SEMA Show Golden Tickets, took a 1991 Nissan Skyline R32 GTR down to SEMA, equally adorned with modifications, featuring a 1,000 horsepower 2JZ engine conversion with a changeover to AWD, which required a custom front differential, transmission tunnel and adapter. A widebody kit was also moulded in to make the six-inch wide-body increase appear seamless.

“Next year, I’m going to be competing in the pro class, so I’m planning to just do a fun entry for that,” said Cole. Chelsie said she’s aiming for more records. “I’m shooting for the podium in the next two years,” said Chelsie, who will compete in the Young Guns segment until 2023. “I’m going to be rebuilding the FR-S this winter, we might collaborate on it again, and I’ll bring that to SEMA 2022. “The build I have in place for 2023—I feel very confident that is the winning car. If I can achieve what I have planned, I do feel like it will be the car that takes me on the podium and makes me the first woman in that position.”

“It’s also LHD swapped steering,” said Chelsie. “So, we can fist-bump each other at red lights.” One of the hardest parts of this year’s builds, the couple says, was teaching the other their trade. “The hard thing about teaching is that no matter how you show someone, they’re always going to find their own twist to doing the job,” said Cole. “Yeah—some of us like to spray two medium wet coats, and some of us like to do five super-heavy running coats,” said Chelsie with a glare pointed in Cole’s direction. As for future builds, the couple says there are no questions about SEMA 2022.

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BRITISH COLUMBIA | REGIONAL NEWS

REGIONAL NEWS | COAST TO COAST UBER KICKED IN KELOWNA Uber Canada’s application to expand its services in British Columbia’s interior and on Vancouver Island has been rejected by the province’s Passenger Transportation board. The Board said it would not allow Uber to operate its ride-sharing service due to impacts on taxi companies and because it “was not convinced there exists a public need for the service.” Kelowna, B.C. Mayor Colin Basran called the Board’s decision “baffling.” “It’s really disappointing that the board says it is not convinced a public need for ride-hailing services exists outside the Lower Mainland,” he wrote in a public statement. “That view does not align with what we are experiencing in Kelowna.” Basran added that the locale’s airport is “the largest one in Canada without ride-hailing services,” and that Kelowna hears complaints from domestic and international passengers “all the time.” Victoria, B.C. Mayor Lisa Helps also voiced her disappointment with the ruling. “Victoria’s number-one private-sector industry is tech, and tech companies have been advocating for Uber since at least 2017 or earlier,” she told Victoria newspaper, Victoria Times-Colonist. Uber currently operates in four British Columbia cities: Kamloops, Nanaimo, Prince George and Vancouver.

LEADING THE BATTERY PACK British Columbia is poised to lead the nation in EV battery recycling thanks to the province’s rapid and widespread adoption of emission-free vehicles, according to a new report from the Pembina Institute. The environmental advocacy organization published its report, “Closing the Loop: B.C.’s role in recycling battery metals and minerals to power the electric vehicle revolution”, in early December, which delves into the role that metals and materials play in emissions reduction. The report calls on B.C.’s government to accelerate current plans for EV battery recycling programs to better position the province as “a leader in the low-carbon future.” The provincial government had planned to roll out recycling programs in 2026, but the report calls for action to be taken sooner.

Kelowna, B.C. Mayor Colin Basran called the Board’s decision to reject Uber’s operations “baffling.”

For the full report, visit pembina.org.

Six calls to action for the government were identified in the report: • Assume a leadership role in engaging with neighbouring jurisdictions to ensure efficient and safe collection and transport of batteries for recycling purposes, including across borders. • Establish clear guidelines and an efficient review process for battery recycling facility permitting and land use. • Accelerate the timeline for implementing provincial regulations from 2026 to 2023 in order to address a growing stock of end-of-life batteries and position the province as a first-mover and regional leader. • S upport pilot projects that explore solutions to various challenges, such as

Quebec’s support for a “battery passport” pilot to trace metals and minerals from mining and processing through to their use in batteries. • Work with the federal government to establish content targets for incorporating recycled metals and minerals into battery cells produced in Canada, closing the loop on the materials chain and spurring investment in recycling capacity. • Work with the federal government to establish battery labelling standards to ensure cell chemistry information can be used to simplify end-of-life recycling. As it stands, there are 54,000 EVs currently registered in B.C. Under the provincial government’s current plan, only zero-emission vehicles will be sold in B.C. by 2040.

SEARCH AND SALVAGE Fans of “Rust Valley Restorers”, keep an eye out, the History Channel is offering a new vantage point on the auto salvage industry with the new show, “Lost Car Rescue,” filmed in British Columbia. The show puts a spin on a familiar formula by putting viewers in the cockpit with a team of five car fanatics as they fly a 1948 Stinson bush plane through British Columbia’s north searching for the most hidden of rare vehicles amid the wilderness. The group is led by Matt Sager, alongside his brother Steve, the mechanic; Dave, the body tech; Lee, the crane operator; and Jess the pilot. “Lost Car Rescue” premiered on January 13 on the History Channel. ISSUE 21#1 | COLLISION REPAIR

SASKATCHEWAN | REGIONAL NEWS

PEAKS IN THE PRAIRIES Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) is working through a period of increased claims volumes thanks to an active storm season in the Prairies. According to an email distributed by the Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairers (SAAR), the claims volumes over the last six-to-eight weeks have been above average. “Although the claim operations team is working to maintain a balance between claims intake and handling functions as we work through this peak in volumes, it’s possible you may experience delays in accessing an adjuster,” wrote Tom Bissonnette, director of SAAR, in the email notice. SGI has also made amendments to its Town Hall meetings in light of the current COVID-19 conditions.

THE UPCOMING DATES FOR SGI TOWN HALLS ARE: MARCH 12 – SAAR SPRING CONFERENCE IN MOOSE JAW MARCH 24 – SGI TOWN HALL IN SWIFT CURRENT APRIL 7 – SGI TOWN HALL IN REGINA APRIL 28 – SGI TOWN HALL IN NORTH BATTLEFORD MAY 5 – SGI TOWN HALL IN SASKATOON

SAAR YOU READY? Tickets are on sale for the Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairers’ (SAAR) 2022 Spring Conference, set for the second week of March in Moose Jaw. Set to kick off on the morning of March 12, attendees of this year’s annual general meeting can expect to hear from influential auto industry names like Quinn Magnuson from BDC, Peter Wrong from 3M and Jean Luc Sauriol from AsTech. Saturday’s meetings will be preceded with a night of food and fellowship at local Moose Jaw restaurant, Bobby’s Place. This year’s event will be held at the Temple Gardens Hotel and Spa.

The event will be styled in a casual come-and-go format where participants can join SAAR for some pub food and refreshments, said the group.

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ALBERTA | REGIONAL NEWS

CATALYTIC ETCH-A-SKETCH

Leduc RCMP stand with partnering businesses in the “You Etch It. We Catch It” program.

Alberta is taking aim at rising catalytic converter thefts via new legislation that requires all scrap metal dealers to report transactions to law enforcement. Jail time was also increased. On Nov. 1, 2020, the Alberta government passed the Protecting Alberta Industry from Theft Act. Its aim was to make it tougher for criminals to sell stolen metals for scrap. Despite legislation, Alberta RCMP reported almost a doubling of thefts come the end of 2021. There were 1,147 thefts from January to Nov. 11, 2021, compared to 647 thefts in 2020. As catalytic converter thefts have spiked across the Edmonton region, Leduc RCMP has also taken extra steps in combating these quick crimes, partnering with Leduc businesses to create the “You Etch It. We Catch It” program. It involves etching the first eight digits of a VIN number onto a vehicle’s catalytic converter. Etching the VIN is performed at no cost to customers and assists officers in identifying stolen property. “It’s something the police community is looking into. Our biggest problem is that if we arrest someone, we can’t always connect them to the actual offence and lay charges,” said Cpl. Troy Savinkoff of RCMP K-Division. Leduc Fountain Tire is one of the businesses partnering with RCMP to etch VIN numbers. When Lesenko was asked if he would participate if St. Albert RCMP offered an etching program, he replied, “In a heartbeat.” St. Albert RCMP said it does not have a program like the one in Leduc to track catalytic converters. Cpl. Morgan Kyle said in an email on Tuesday theft of the car parts jumped five-fold between 2019 and 2020. In 2019 there were 22 calls for catalytic converter thefts; 107 in 2020. Before December 21, 2021, there were 70 calls.

CHOP BLOCKED RCMP in southern Alberta located $550,000 to $600,000 in stolen vehicles following the bust of an alleged chop shop near the city of Chestermere in mid-December. The Southern Alberta Crime Reduction Unit (SACRU), a regional wing of the RCMP, received a tip from the Calgary Police Service of the possible location of a stolen Toyota 4Runner in rural Chestermere on December 2. “SACRU attended an address in Rocky View County on Range Road 285 near Highway 1 and observed items on the property that led them to believe the property was being used as a chop shop,” according to a press release from the RCMP. Police found at the location; eight stolen pickup trucks, two stolen SUVs, a Cat Skid Steer, one flat-deck utility trailer with skid steer attachments, one small utility trailer, one Arctic Cat side-by-side and one Honda quad. “Two of the vehicles recovered had been chopped and are nonrepairable and one pickup had its VIN changed whereby the VIN on the door and dash were replaced with false VIN stickers for a matching vehicle,” the release said. “The other seven vehicles were found to be in excellent condition. Two of the recovered vehicles were stolen during test drives from Calgary dealerships.” Charges have yet to be laid and the investigation is still ongoing. There is no indication at this time that the suspect is in any way involved in the Canadian automotive industry.

Among the vehicles found by RCMP were eight stolen pickup trucks, two stolen SUVs, a Cat Skid Steer, one flat-deck utility trailer with skid steer attachments, one small utility trailer, one Arctic Cat side-by-side and one Honda quad.

ISSUE 21#1 | COLLISION REPAIR

MANITOBA | REGIONAL NEWS

“We’d like to express our appreciation to all of the individuals, families and businesses that donated to our campaign— it really is a great cause,” read a post from the shop’s social media accounts, announcing the campaign’s success.

’STACHE FOR CASH

THEFT TRENDS

A Manitoba collision centre came to play in a big way for Movember this year, raising more than $2,600 in support of men’s health research and warming their upper lips all at once. In all, St. Claude Autobody, of the eponymous town an hour west of Winnipeg, raised $2,640 for the Movember Foundation, blowing well past their goal of $2,320 and last year’s record of $1,160. The Movember Foundation supports research for a number of commonly overlooked men’s health issues, including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.

Catalytic converter thefts are the hot new trend for seedy jerks and now Manitoba Public Insurance has the data to prove it, as the public insurer revealed the unnerving statistic that thefts of this kind are up 450 percent in the province. According to MPI’s data, 400 vehicles had their catalytic converters stolen in 2020, a far cry from the 2,200 pilfered over the first 11 months of 2021, in Manitoba. MPI spokesperson Brian Smiley offered little in the way of comfort for Manitobans who want to protect themselves from this sort of crime, saying there isn’t much to do other than park in a garage whenever possible.

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TERRITORIES | REGIONAL NEWS

THE WORST KIND OF LITTERBUGS After recognizing the sheer volume of abandoned vehicles in Yukon’s landfills, on roadsides and in forests, the territory’s auto recyclers are working to clear the problem. “[There are] growing piles of metal, growing piles of cars,” Ralph Charleston of Raven Recycling Society told the CBC’s The National. “We’re just trying to catch up and get it back down to zero.” Contrary to other provinces, the Yukon has no strategies for recycling cars, according to the local recycler population. Any cars that Raven Recycling Society can save are brought to a Whitehorse auto shop that prepares them for end-of-life crushing, draining all vehicle fluids and fuel. After they are crushed, the vehicles recycled through Raven are sent to Edmonton, where parts will be picked from the cube of scrap metal. Local First Nations groups also keep an eye out for abandoned vehicles on their lands. “We’re here to ensure our future generations have a sustainable future for them to thrive on,” said Amanda Leas, chief of the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council. The government claims to be working on a solution, said CBC, and locals hope to soon see their picturesque landscape return to normal.

STAY CONNECTED

An abandoned U.S. military truck on the Canol Rd. in the Yukon.

At Collision Repair magazine, we are proudly Canadian and committed to bringing you the most up to date news that matters to industry professionals. We do it by telling the stories, your stories, which impact your business and that you care most about. We put our readers first through editorials, webinars, podcasts and so much more.

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REGIONAL NEWS | ONTARIO

GRAND THEFT TORONTO The Toronto City Council is calling on the Toronto Police Services Board to form a unit aimed at addressing the rising tide of auto theft that Toronto has been in the midst of for the past several years. On Friday, December 17, the council voted to put the issue before the police board, specifically requesting it to work with the chief of police to “determine the resources required to re-establish a policing unit specifically dedicated to fighting the increasing problem of auto theft in Toronto; and mandate the unit to conduct proactive investigations with partner agencies across Ontario, to ensure greater information sharing and coordination of investigations into highend auto thefts.”

Colle’s motion shed light on the more than 5,300 auto thefts that have occurred in the city over the past year and the effects they have on an area’s auto insurance rates. The December 8 notice of motion notes the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s data that auto thefts have risen by 55 percent, in Ontario, from 2016 to 2020. According to Colle, the value of these claims totals $250.7 million, an increase of 149 percent over this same period. Colle says that Toronto-area drivers pay up 15 percent more than most Canadians for auto insurance because of higher theft rates.

LKQ DELIVERS THE LOOT The students of Tropicana Community Centre’s Pre-Apprenticeship Auto Body and Collision Repair class had a very happy start to 2022, thanks to a very generous donation from LKQ Corporation. On top of body panels for Centennial College students to test their skills on, LKQ also supplied OGIO backpacks, vests and top-notch supplies to each Tropicana student. “This year was the first year we were able to include backpacks, in partnership with PPG,” said Amin Youssef, general manager for LKQ Toronto East. “We also had some extra leeway to include extra supplies, in comparison to years prior.”

Amin Youssef, general manager for LKQ Toronto East, delivers the donation.

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The company has worked with Tropicana for more than six years and Centennial College for even longer. Through the partnership, LKQ ensures to meet with the organizations throughout the year to offer any needed support, said Youssef. “Beyond this initial benefit, charitable giving has a ripple effect that impacts and promotes students’ positive outcomes, and for teachers to continue to do what they love and the community,” said Suad Dualeh, coordinator of Tropicana’s pre-apprenticeship training programs. “We hope this story inspires others to do the same.”

ONTARIO | REGIONAL NEWS

TORCAM GOOD GUYS Santa Claus has sub-contractors in the CARSTAR Torcam Group, who brought the cheer to their local community this holiday season in the form of $3,000 in gifts donated to the Salvation Army Brantford and Salvation Army Simcoe. Led by partners Javier Torres, Sebastian Torres and Liliana Galeano, the CARSTAR Torcam Group owns CARSTAR Brantford, CARSTAR Brantford West and CARSTAR Simcoe. This year, employees from each store were given the wish lists of local families to purchase gifts for. “We had a blast shopping as a team and it meant that much more

to us because it was for a good cause,” said Sebastian. “Both Simcoe and Brantford are filled with incredibly generous individuals, so we also hosted a toy drive at each of our locations to expand our contribution to the Salvation Army.” Brantford, Ontario Mayor Kevin Davis and Norfolk County Deputy Mayor Chris Van Paassen were present for the donations at their respective local Salvation Army branches. The Salvation Army has been operating in the Brantford and Simcoe (Norfolk County) areas since 1885 and 1884 respectively.

Brantford, Ontario Mayor Kevin Davis and Norfolk County Deputy Mayor Chris Van Paassen were present for the donations at their respective local Salvation Army branches.

PROJECT CLONE CRACKED The Toronto Police Service wrapped up Project Clone earlier in December, a police auto theft investigation that resulted in two arrests at a garage in the Toronto/Brampton area. The investigation was launched in July to identify gang members involved in car theft, according to Toronto police. On December 5, 2021 police acted on a search warrant for the garage where they seized a loaded 9mm Springfield Armory Hellcat handgun, with a three-inch prohibited barrel and a 13-round overcapacity magazine, as well as a number of key fobs from various automakers, reprogramming tools for those fobs, fake license plates and lockpicks.

“The quality of technology, and the amount seized, speaks to the level of sophistication and technical skill employed by thieves during the commission of motor vehicle thefts within the city. With tools such as this and the knowledge that thieves possess, vehicles can easily be stolen in under 30 seconds,” said Det. Daniel Kraehling. A 25-year-old individual from Toronto was charged with possession of property obtained by crime, two counts of possession of break-in instruments, 10 counts of theft of a motor vehicle and 10 counts of failing to comply with release order. A 30-year-old individual from Brampton was charged with seven counts of operation while prohibited and theft of a motor vehicle.

ISSUE 21#1 | COLLISION REPAIR

REGIONAL NEWS | QUEBEC

MAKE Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is an approach that seeks to transfer the responsibility for recovery and reclamation of materials to the companies at the origin of their marketing.

RETURN

PRESSURE’S ON Propulsion Québec has released a study to “analyze the feasibility of implementing an extended producer responsibility (EPR) mechanism in Quebec.” Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is an approach that seeks to transfer the responsibility for recovery and reclamation of materials to the companies at the origin of their marketing. Essentially, EPR acts as a way to hold businesses accountable for the goods they produce. In mid-October, the Québec government announced that it would soon subject several types of products to the principle of EPR, including electric vehicle batteries, small batteries and leadacid batteries. According to Propulsion Québec’s study, the concept of EPR is more than applicable to EV batteries. “The current legal framework in North America does not present a challenge for implementing EPR as a mechanism for recycling lithium-ion batteries,” wrote the company alongside its report. “In fact, it would complement other regulations, including those governing recycling of end-of-life vehicles, cells, and batteries and transportation of hazardous materials. “EPR would address challenges faced by key market players, especially in terms of ensuring safe and environmentally friendly end-of-life battery management.”

EPR

USE Propulsion Québec maintains that EPR is already in place for EV batteries in Europe with a directive on batteries and accumulators as well as a directive on end-of-life vehicles. “Quebec has an opportunity to lead the way on EPR in North America,” wrote the company. The report outlines the key success factors for implementing EPR as setting the right parameters in terms of scope and definition of lifespan, as well as providing a balanced approach to funding; finding an optimal launch time to ensure a gradual and flexible approach and consistency across the board; flexible EPR implementation; conservative recovery targets; the implementation of a battery identification system; research and development awareness and promotion and a “collaborative approach” between the multiple links of the recycling chain. “The Quebec Government is proud to support Propulsion Québec,” said Jonatan Julien, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Minister Responsible for the Côte-Nord region. “This study enables identifying solutions and proposes actions to responsibly manage end-of-life electric vehicle batteries. The Québec Plan for the Development of Critical and Strategic Minerals includes conducting this discussion.”

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CHRISTMAS DAY CRASH More than 150 cars found themselves amidst a pile-up along Highway 40 in Yamachiche, Quèbec, near Trois-Rivieres, on Christmas day. According to local Minister François Bonnardel, an initial collision caused by a heavy truck served as the origin of the accident, though dozens of vehicles subsequently became tangled in the pile-up. Police attributed the collision to bad road conditions. Several people faced minor injuries as a result of the crash, while one person suffered multiple serious injuries.

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REGIONAL NEWS | ATLANTIC

NEO SCOTIA Nova Scotia’s population passed the one-million-mark in December and the province is riding a high, with the government announcing a plan to double the population by 2060 through a skilled trades recruitment campaign. “Nova Scotia is no longer a ‘best-kept secret’—people are realizing this is one of the best places on earth to live and work,” said Premier Tim Houston.

“Our population is growing at record rates. We want healthcare workers and skilled tradespeople to know there’s both a great life and a great job waiting for them. I invite them to come to Nova Scotia and see for themselves.” Houston’s plan aims to bring 25,000 new Nova Scotians to the province by returning provincial taxes on the first $50,000 of income for workers aged 30 years and under in designated trades.

A MOVING GESTURE The fine people at Collision Clinic in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, are yet again giving the gift of mobility to celebrate the 2021 holiday season, surprising Faith Ann Vokey and her son, Ashton, with a newly refurbished 2018 Kia Rio. Vokey works evenings at a downtown St. John’s hotel, must rely on taxis for transportation, and frequently finds herself waiting for up to an hour for a cab with a car seat. She is looking forward to starting school next year, and this gift is

sure to help drive her and Ashton to success. This marks the 18th year running that Sharon Wells and her team at Collision Clinic have given away a vehicle to a family in their community as part of the “Enriching Lives Car Giveaway Program.” “Christmas really begins for us building up to this day,” said Wells, general manager at Collision Clinic. “It is such a rewarding day for all of us and we look forward to it every year.”

The facility also gifted Vokey free insurance for a year and a swag bag of goodies.

RUBBER, REUSED Andrew MacDonald, president of Maritime Auto Parts, is taking recycled tires to a new level—ground-level, that is. Since 1996, Nova Scotia’s tires have been processed and recycled by Divert Nova Scotia (Divert NS). According to the organization, more than one million used tires are diverted from the province’s landfills every year and 70 percent of those go to Halifax C&D Recycling to be recycled into a tire-derived aggregate (TDA) for construction or engineering applications. “We have a lot of soft soils in Nova Scotia that you cannot readily build on because they are too weak to support infrastructure,” Dr. Hany El Naggar, associate professor and graduate studies coordinator with the Department of Civil and Resource Engineering at Dalhousie University. “But when you use a TDA-soil mixture for the backfill, you have something that is lightweight but significantly reinforces the strength of the foundation soil. Now, you can build the structure you want on that soil, doing it economically without any risk that it will fail.” When building his new commercial property, MacDonald learned of the TDA’s construction applications. As an obvious advocate for the circular economy, MacDonald couldn’t say no to the idea.

“They sell different TDA varieties depending on your application,” he said. “I did my homework, learned about the adhesion properties, how lightweight it is compared to gravel, and I was sold.” “I’m sure some of my tires are under there somewhere,” he laughed.

Andrew Macdonald is taking advantage of Nova Scotia’s circular economy push by using tire-derived aggregate in his latest construction project. ISSUE 21#1 | COLLISION REPAIR

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FlyDry robot is ideal for paint preparation and smart repair. It quickly dries any type of paint, primer and body filler. FlyDry can be equipped with 2 technologies, IR and UV, to dry all coatings, and with its automatic vertical and horizontal movements it dries any part of the vehicle, with its large drying surface. Symach Technology is EV Ready. Symach’s Drytronic infrared drying technology is particularly recommended for drying paint on Electric Vehicles (EV’s); it focuses energy to the painted surface avoiding any excess heat to Electric batteries and vehicle’s electronics. ISSUE 21#1 | COLLISION REPAIR

RECYCLING NEWS

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MATTE’S MANDATE When it comes to electric vehicle batteries, Quebec’s Association of Auto Parts Recyclers (ARPAC) share a question in common with much of the general Canadian public: “What end of life electric vehicle battery strategies need to be in place to support our environmental goals while achieving the one hundred percent zero-emission vehicle target by 2035?” Luckily, ARPAC has a number of answers. Specifically, four “comments” from association CEO Simon Matte on how they will attempt to guide the automotive recycling industry for when electric vehicles and their batteries wind up in salvage yards. Matte’s first comment speaks to the need for ARPAC to reassure Canadians that automobiles have been recycled in this country for more than a century and EVs won’t be what stops that. Secondly, Canadians can be set at ease when their EV reaches the end of its life as any business that is a member of Automotive Recyclers of Canada (ARC) is proven to be a qualified dealer, able to safely and sustainably dismantle and recycle an EV according to Canadian Automotive Recyclers Environmental Code standards. Batteries taken in by an ARC-member facility can be inventoried, inspected and re-sold to repair another vehicle or to companies who deal in the manufacturing of energy storage equipment. Finally, Matte suggests a tax for buyers looking to export Canadian parts from EVs that could contain valuable minerals that could otherwise be re-integrated into the manufacturing process.

ARPAC CEO Simon Matte has shared four comments with Environment Canada on electrification in the automotive industry and its implications for auto recyclers.

AIRBAG APPLAUSE Canadian auto recyclers have been working hard to pick up the pieces of the still-ongoing Takata airbag recall that affected millions of vehicles worldwide. Rebuilder’s Automotive Supply (RAS) congratulated the nation’s recyclers in an email in December, saying “Keep up the good work! We Appreciate Our Canadian Customers!”, recognizing them for their hard work in tracing and collecting recalled Takata airbags circulating throughout the Canadian aftermarket. Thus far, Canadian recyclers have recovered recalled airbags from Chevy/GMC/Cadillac trucks and SUVs, Honda, Nissan, the Pontiac Vibe, Saab, the Saturn Astra, Subaru and Toyota. The Takata airbag recall was first launched in 2013.

GO FOR OARA After two years without the Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association (OARA) Convention and Trade Show, Steve Fletcher says the 2022 event will go ahead as planned. The executive director of OARA said the Convention and Trade Show will take place from Thursday, March 31 through Saturday, April 2 at the Hilton Mississauga/ Meadowvale hotel. The event will kick off with the OARA Board of Directors meeting and an informal meet and greet on Thursday before diving into the Trade Show Friday and educational seminars Saturday. So far, Fletcher said there are more than 40 vendors registered to attend the event; and after two years away, Ontario’s auto recyclers will be bursting with conversation. For more information, or to register for this year’s OARA Convention and Trade Show, visit oara.com/events.

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The last time OARA held its annual Convention and Trade Show was in 2019.

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TOWING NEWS

The Ford tow manual says to hook in front of the control arms and tie-down using the wheels.

MACH-E MISHAPS An improper hookup can do some pretty significant damage to an EV and, such as in the case of one Mustang Mach-E driver, cost you thousands. A Canadian driver posted to the online Mach-E Forum, detailing the harrowing tow experience he had while on a road trip in Florida where damage to his vehicle’s battery left him owing $28,000 in repair costs. After seeing a “Pull Over Safely” notification flash across the dashboard, the driver did exactly that and called Ford’s Roadside Assistance who quickly dispatched a flatbed tow truck to deliver the vehicle to the nearest dealership. As it turned out, the tow operator was unfamiliar with EV body structure and hooked a winch onto the Mach-E’s battery rail, causing damage to the batteries. When contacted about the incident, Ford deferred responsibility to the roadside assistance provider, Agero Roadside Assistance Services, who improperly hooked up the vehicle.

Agero pushed back, claiming that the damage cannot be proven to be the fault of the company and that the battery could have been damaged at any point during the road trip. The driver did not go into detail in their post about the potential causes of the warning notification that kicked off the series of events but is seeking to fight the hefty repair bill in court on both sides of the border. As the adoption of electric vehicles becomes all the more prevalent on North American roads, education surrounding these vehicles and their batteries is becoming increasingly more important for all segments of the automotive industry.

SIGNALLING FOR CHANGE An Albertan tow operator is signalling to provincial legislators a need for better safeguards after one of his employees was hit by a vehicle while attending to a roadside assistance call. Saskatchewan allowed the use of blue and amber flashing lights for tow operators in 2017 and now Gregg Wilson of APL Towing and Recovery in Spruce Grove, Alta. is calling for similar legislation to come to his province. Wilson told the CBC that one of his employees was struck by a vehicle on Highway 16, near Range Road 22, while waiting for a blocker unit to arrive early in December, sending the employee to the hospital and badly damaging both vehicles. Wilson’s driver is now back home from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. His boss, on the other hand, is taking the issue to the government and citing a disturbing frequency of incidents such as this. “We don’t go a day without an incident or a close call,” said Wilson. There is documented support for emergency lights for tow trucks in Alberta, as indicated by a 2019 petition with 11,000 signatures in support of the idea. The movement was also mentioned in local news outlets a year prior, in 2018. Jeff Kasbrick, vice president of government and stakeholder relations for the Alberta Motor Association, has also confirmed blue and amber as the most effective colour combination in alerting and raising motorists’ attention. The AMA, which responds to a high-risk call every 14 minutes, has been lobbying the Alberta government to allow the lights for three years.

The movement for emergency lights for tow trucks is once again gaining traction in Alberta.

“We deploy safety blocker units, we have visible clothing, reflective cones, ongoing training and despite all of that, it’s very clear from our lived experience that more needs to be done,” Kasbrick said. Kasbrick noted that snowplows in many Canadian and American jurisdictions are allowed to use flashing blue lights. “We by no means would the first to take action in this regard in Alberta,” he said. ISSUE 21#1 | COLLISION REPAIR

LAST WORD

UNDER PRESSURE Don’t let your stress get the best of you By ALLISON ROGERS

ADVERTISER INDEX

3M Automotive.......................... 09 Arslan Automotive ............. 15, 79 Assured Automotive................. 33 Autel US.................................... 13 Axalta........................................ 84 Carcone’s Auto Recycling........ 63 Cardinal Couriers Ltd............... 08 Car-Part.com............................ 41 CARSTAR Canada.................... 39 Color Compass Corp............... 55

inter may not be every collision repairer’s favourite season, but it sure is a profitable one. The words of one collision repairer recently featured on a local U.S. news broadcast said it best. When asked how he felt about an impending storm set to bring a foot of snow to his locale, he simply answered, with a hearty chuckle: “I’m super excited—I do bodywork for a living. Tomorrow’s going to be a good day for me.” Our nation is no stranger to seasonal catastrophes; the average post-snowstorm conversation will always be met with garish comparisons to a far worse storm of the past. Snowstorms may be a walk in the park for most of Canada, but the last few months have seen Mother Nature wreak a special kind of havoc on Canadian drivers. Think British Columbia’s

al-led experience; in many instances, driven by photographs, even computer-fuelled artificial intelligence processes. On top of these process-based challenges are the ongoing parts shortages, causing headaches and lagging WIPs in collision centres across the country. In some cases it can take months to simply get your hands on a part—and you better hope you’ve received the right piece. Some businesses have even gone weeks without a right-side quarter panel only to find a left-side in the delivered box. Oh, and it’s got a chip on it. Have fun! As strange as it may sound, the stress of “normal” can be a lot to bear. Surely no one enjoyed the reality of the last two years, but returning to a state of normalcy has been more jarring than some imagined.

Dominion Sure Seal.................. 17

WHILE FEW ARE FOND OF THE STORMS CANADA HAS WITNESSED IN RECENT MONTHS, THE COLLISION REPAIR INDUSTRY MUST ADMIT IT’S BEEN GOOD FOR BUSINESS.

Eurovac..................................... 48 Filco.......................................... 25 Fix Auto Canada..................10, 11 Hail Specialist........................... 59 HD Repair Forum...................... 45 IBIS............................................ 65 Impact Auto Auctions............... 02 Keystone / LKQ................... 19, 78 Norjon Management Ass.......... 47 PPG........................................... 05 ProSpot International Inc......... 21 Repairify.................................... 32 Rexall Solutions.................. 24, 79 Sata Canada............................. 83 Sherwin Williams...................... 29

severe flooding last November; Saskatchewan’s active storm season; several feet of snow in Ontario and Maritimes and the general messiness that comes along with Canadian winters. While few are fond of the storms Canada has witnessed in recent months, the collision repair industry must admit it’s been good for business. In the wake of the last two years, it’s been particularly refreshing. If only it were all that rosy. The last two winters were riddled with restrictions and lockdowns—not to mention many were still under work-from-home orders. Now, more Canadians are out on the roads, returning to routines of a more normal life. Despite the uptick in work, it’s been a period since the verticals of the collision ecosystem experienced such work. Not to mention the way we’ve processed claims has turned into a virtu-

If you’re finding yourself overwhelmed by a return to normal numbers and steady work, you are not alone. Few may admit in a candid conversation, but the pressure is universal. A little tip from Collision Repair? Communication goes a long way. You’d be surprised how much stress can be alleviated by having an honest conversation with your partners. Whether it’s hosting a weekly conversation with your team of staff to gauge their capabilities given the current challenges, or a chat with your key suppliers to take the temperature of the parts shortages and navigate potential solutions or back-up plans. To Canada’s collision repair industry: we’ve made it this far. The light is finally at the end of the tunnel, so close you can feel its warmth. This year is set to be grand, and grand it will be!

Simplicity Car Care................... 23 Spanesi Americas Inc..........07, 79 Symach Canada................. 44, 79 Thorold Automotive Solutions...53 United Catalyst......................... 51

Allison Rogers is the editor of Collision Repair magazine. She can be reached at allison@mediamatters.ca. 82

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