Collision Repair 18#1

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ACROMATIC

THE GLOBAL INDUSTRY

Everything you need to know about vehicle colour preferences around the globe!

How you can prepare your business for EVs, AVs and the Internet of Things!

THE

GANG’S ALL HERE

COLLEGE

RAGE

Meet this year’s Canadian Collision Industry Forum Steering Committee!

‘Out-of-touch’ and ‘idiotic’—industry vets vent their frustrations with the industry’s educational failings!

HAIL MARY Giving the next generation of women the courage to succeed in the industry PLUS

Saluting industry veteran Greg Siegel; Formula Honda’s Todd LaLonde takes a slapshot at success in the industry; LKQ CEO Nick Zarcone on diversifying offerings to stay ahead; and much, much more!

Visit us at collisionrepairmag.com Volume 18, Number 1 l February 2019

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$7.95

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

CONTENTS

VOLUME 18, ISSUE 1, FEBRUARY 2019

15 ON THE COVER Mary Monardo at Collision Repair Experts’ Vaughan facility.

Photos: Lisa Crispo

20

Mary Monardo and the Collision Repair Experts gathered at their brand new Vaughan facility.

DEPARTMENTS PEOPLE ON THE MOVE | 10 A look at the big names in new positions!

REGIONAL | 78 A look at the news from collision repairers in every region!

Drive Auto Group’s director of operations Todd LaLonde shares the story of how he went from playing on the ice to taking a leading role in the industry!

54

RECYCLING | 95 Everything you need to know about the hidden heroes of the automotive recycling industry!

SPECIAL FEATURES

Profiling dynamic duo Sebastien and Maude Levis, recently named CARSTAR Rookies of the Year!

CRITICIZING THE COLLEGES | 64 Sparks fly as Canada’s collision community vents their frustrations about pre-apprenticeship programs.

COLOUR ME ACHROMATIC | 73 Drivers throw shade on OEM colour choices in our look at the world’s vehicle paint preferences.

BUSINESS ADVICE: MEGATRENDS | 70 A look into the four key megatrends that will be impacting the future of the industry!

67

74 76

MARKETING YOUR SHOP 10 helpful tips to creating an online presence and connecting with more customers!

MEET THE COMMITTEE J ust in time to celebrate CCIF’s 20th anniversary, we profile the members for the 2019 Canadian Collision Industry Forum Steering Committee!

STAND UP, SPEAK OUT! rom business to training, collision repairers reveal F some of the industry’s biggest challenges.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 5

CONTENTS

57

EVENTS

61 58

Budds’ Collision hosts its 20th annual pig roast!

Collision repair facilities give back to their local communities and charities!

COLUMNS

LKQ chief details the company’s expansionist ambitions!

61

PUBLISHER’S PAGE | 8 Inspecting the unexpected

by Darryl Simmons

HEALTH AND SAFETY | 39 Vehicular narcotics exposure

by Theresa Jachnycky

PRINCIPLES OF REPAIR | 49 Preparing your facility for the future

by Peter Sziklai

Sam Piercey’s legacy lives on! Industry figures from the collision repair community gathered to Budds’ Collision for its annual pig roast feast!

ENGINE KNOX | 51 Balancing the business budget

by Steve Knox

58

PRAIRIE VIEW | 53 Welcoming women to the industry

by Chelsea Stebner

TRAINING | 47 Debunking the myths behind certifications

by Andrew Shepherd

WHO’S DRIVING | 45

Rondex and the TED Group of Companies donated its time and money to the Ronald McDonald House Charities!

Staying focused and maintaining a positive attitude

92

by Jay Perry

THE LAST WORD | 98 Who prepares, wins

by Gideon Scanlon

P&G Parts owner, Darrell Pitman (left) joins community members of St. Theresa Point reserve in northern Manitoba for the Take Back the Tundra program.

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

6 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

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

PUBLISHER’S PAGE

INSPECT THE UNEXPECTED

By Darryl Simmons

When you can’t find the problem, look closer

I

n interviews, it has become fashionable for business leaders to boil down their successes to simple statements—ones such as “never accept there isn’t a better way to do things,” or “a good leader is someone who listens to good ideas.”

That kind of answer reveals little about what makes a business leader effective. It is a bit like a successful stockbroker who insisted anyone seeking to make money on the markets simply “buy low, and sell high.” I always want the specifics.

IF EMPLOYEES THINK THEIR BOSS ISN’T PAYING ATTENTION TO SOME ASPECT OF THEIR ROLE, THEY WILL START TO THINK IT ISN’T AN IMPORTANT ONE.

A few weeks ago, however, a young would-be collision repair facility owner asked me what I saw as the key to successfully managing a business in this industry. Pressed for time, I gave him a business maxim of my own. “Employees may not always do what you expect them to do, but they will always do what you inspect them to do.”

Unfortunately, we got cut off before I was able to expand on what I meant. I thought this might be a good opportunity.

For most owners and managers in the collision sector, keeping a close eye on productivity and dealing with the problems that slow it down.

Once a problem is identified, dealing with it is easy—if an apprentice’s attitude is grating to the team, you take him aside for a serious chat. If the painter keeps

scratching jobs, you set her performance targets and invest in training.

But what should you do if there aren’t any signs of trouble, the business still struggles to hit those KPIs? If your inspections seem to show that everything is running green across the board but your monthly statements show otherwise, it is time to rethink how you go about inspecting things in your facility.

If things really are running perfectly, you should be able to take a closer look at any area of the business, and see that everyone is doing everything exactly what they should be doing. Spoiler alert: they aren’t.

All people, can settle into bad habits, even with the best of intentions. If employees think their boss isn’t paying attention to some aspect of their role, they will start to think it isn’t an important one.

On the flip side, of course, what gets measured by you, will get done by your team—but you can’t expect to track everything. There are simply not enough hours in the day to check everything is being done correctly by every member of your team. Also—no one wants to work for a micromanager!

The real trick is to avoid falling into a predictable pattern about what you are keeping an eye on—and to occasionally track everything you do care about happening within a facility. Not only will this help root out drags on production, but it will give your employees the sense that all areas of job are important.

Or, to boil my point down into a bitesized bit of business wisdom: “inspect the unexpected.”

8 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

PUBLISHER DARRYL SIMMONS (647) 409-7070 publisher@collisionrepairmag.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR GIDEON SCANLON (905) 370-0101 gideon@mediamatters.ca STAFF WRITERS CINDY MACDONALD cindy@mediamatters.ca JORDAN ARSENEAULT jordan@mediamatters.ca LINDSEY COOKE lindsey@mediamatters.ca ASSOCIATE WRITERS SUE DICKINSON GRAPHIC DESIGNER JILL THACKER jill@mediamatters.ca VP INDUSTRY RELATIONS & ADVERTISING GLORIA MANN (647) 998-5677 advertising@collisionrepairmag.com MANAGING DIRECTOR, INTEGRATED BUSINESS SOLUTIONS ELLEN SMITH (416) 312-7446 ellen@mediamatters.ca PUBLISHER’S ASSISTANT LAURA JENSEN (647) 998-5677 laura@mediamatters.ca INDUSTRY RELATIONS ASSISTANT WANJA MANN (647) 998-5677 advertising@collisionrepairmag.com CONTRIBUTORS ERIC CHAN, IAIN BURNS, CHELSEA STEBNER, PETER SZIKLAI, JAY PERRY, THERESA JACHNYCHY, STEVE KNOX, STACEY PHILLIPS

SUBSCRIPTION One-year $39.95 / Two-year $64.99 Collision Repair™ magazine is published bi-monthly, 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, statements appearing in this publication are those of the writers and editors themselves, and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions or endorsements by the publisher.

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

NEWS

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE MARK GREENBERG - WEDGE CLAMP Mark Greenberg has been named Wedge Clamp vice president. Greenberg brings with him a wealth of industry knowledge, including a Red Seal autobody repair certification, extensive real estate experience, and years of head office management. Greenberg began his career as an autobody repair technician with Craftsman, before becoming a realtor. He eventually returned to Craftsman after 10 years to open and manage two locations, before being promoted to head office as GM of business development.

KYLE MUTCH - ADESA ADESA has named Kyle Mutch as its new Saskatoon general manger.

Mutch brings with him a decade of sales and operations management experience, having previously worked as a distribution manager for Enerpac, where he managed the company’s global marketing strategy. He has also worked in sales positions at Fabco Plastics in Saskatoon and GF Packaging, and as a branch manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Mutch also served on the Saskatchewan Water and Wastewater Association as a board member.

MARIO IACOVANTUONO - CARUK & ASSOCIATES Caruk & Associates announced the promotion of Mario Iacovantuono to the position of sales manager, Quebec. Prior to his promotion Iacovantuono spent the past 16 years as a territory manager in the Quebec area working with the company’s distributors and bodyshop customers. “Mario has consistently demonstrated a strong business partnership commitment to our customers and the manufacturers that we represent said Erik Lamb, vice president of Caruk & Associates.“He has proven himself to be a leader.”

FRANK TERLEP - ASTECH Frank Terlep has been promoted to vice president of AsTech, leaving behind his role as the company’s chief technology officer. Terlep has more than 30 years of automotive and claims industry experience, including executive positions at AkzoNobel, Mitchell International and Carstation.com. He also formerly served as chairman of CIECA, and launched three successful startups. During his time in the industry, Frank has helped design and launch four separate shop management systems.

COLSON COLE - SOLERA AUDATEX Solera Audatex (Canada) has announced that Colson Cole has joined the organization as a national strategic account manager. Based in Moncton, New Brunswick, Cole brings a broad range of skills and experience to the position. Prior to joining Audatex, Cole held a variety of management and operational roles at a major MSO, as well as an international parts provider.

Cole’s focus will be working within the collision and insurance industry sectors to assist stakeholders with process and profitability.

SAL PARENTE - GLOBAL FINISHING SOLUTIONS Sal Parente has been named the new executive vice president of sales for Global Finishing Solutions, overseeing the company’s aerospace, automotive refinish and industrial sales business unit. Parente’s work experience includes more than 25 years in product sales, revenue management and business development. Before coming to GFS, Parente led corporate business development and new client systems for various companies in the public and private sectors in the capital equipment and product manufacturing industries.

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ADVERTORIAL

SCANNING MADE SIMPLE

INDUSTRY PROS ON THE ADVANTAGES OF MITCHELL DIAGNOSTICS

Collision Repair Experts Edmonton North

T

he Collision Repair Experts team in Edmonton, Alberta know more than a thing or two about fixing cars, having served the West Edmonton community since 1999.

Founded on twin principles of providing exceptional customer service and the highest quality repairs, operations manager Mike Rosanova and his team take great pride in restoring vehicles to pre-accident condition. But know-how, however, is no longer enough.

As technology within vehicles has become more and more complex, pre- and post-scanning procedures have become a necessity. For facilities serious about performing those vital procedures, there is no better option than to bring the ability to perform them in-house.

And that is exactly what Rosanova decided to do.

After spending hours on research to find the scan tool to fit his facility’s exacting needs, he knew he needed a device that would be highly adaptable, and intuitive enough to be used effectively by his team. For those reasons, he settled on Mitchell Diagnostics from Mitchell International—a decision he certainly does not regret.

“Mitchell Diagnostics has the best overall vehicle coverage,” said Rosanova. “Also, all the features you get with a scanner designed specifically for collision repair are second to none.”

Not only did the tool meet his needs, it far surpassed them, with its uniquely open platform solution and cloud connectivity.

“Since we started using Mitchell Diagnostics, it has helped us become more efficient. This is due to the fact it integrates so well into the daily work flow of a high volume production shop,” Rosanova said.

“We take advantage of the wireless abilities provided through the vehicle communication interface, which means we aren’t tethered to the vehicle during a scan, and can use our time more effectively.”

It isn’t just that the system can be trusted to perform scanning procedures without constant supervision that has helped it make a positive impact on the business’s bottom line.

Get to work with Mitchell Diagnostics™

Call today for more information 800.238.9111 12 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

Collision Repair Experts Edmonton North operations manager Mike Rosanova.

Through Mitchell Connect, the scanner also allows easy access to repair orders, estimates and recommended repair procedures for reference. It also works with the major platforms used to manage claims and repairs, and can even communicate with insurance stakeholders.

Having a tool that can properly diagnose any vehicle is the first step to ensuring the top quality repair needed to restore today’s technologically interconnected vehicles to pre-accident condition.

For Collision Repair Experts in West Edmonton, Mitchell Diagnostics does that and more, allowing Rosanova and his team to focus on doing what they do best—repair.

ADVERTORIAL

Barker’s Collision Centre

Port Hawkesbury CarrXpert

ince the early 1960s, the Barker family has been serving Renfrew, Ontario’s collision repair needs, and today Barker’s Collision Centre is an accredited structural repair facility for both aluminum and advanced steel repairs. Over the course of three generations of management, the business’s continued success has come down to its ability to adapt to changes in the industry.

In recent years, modernization of vehicles has played a big role in the Barker’s adoption of fresh approaches to industry challenges.

Recognizing that pre- and post-scanning procedures are now a requirement for every repair, the family realized that it was crucial that they purchase a scan tool.

“We chose Mitchell because we like the other Mitchell products we use in the facility,” said Rob Barker, the current owner of Barker’s Collision. “We have the confidence that the products and support will be there for years to come.”

Since purchasing the scan tool, the Barker’s have realized that their faith in Mitchell International had been well placed. Barker’s Collison has benefitted from the peace of mind its technicians and customers get from knowing that all the systems on the vehicle are operating as they should.

“I would recommend this unit to other facilities because a big part of remaining an industry-leading business is investing in the highest quality tools and equipment,” Barker said. “It is how you remain ahead.”

Not only does the tool live up to its manufacturer’s reputation, but it has brought improvements to the family business as well.

“It allows the shop to complete better repairs in less time, which is something that benefits clients, insurance partners and our business together,” Barker said.

or the past four decades, drivers from the Inverness, Richmond, Antigonish and Guysborough counties of Nova Scotia have trusted the team of a Port Hawkesbury facility to make the repairs that will keep them and their families safe on the road.

Operating out of a 7500 sq.ft. facility, Port Hawkesbury CarrXpert is committed to living up to the trust placed in the business’s abilities. It is a duty that weighs heavily on the collision centre’s manager, Chris Kennedy.

“In the past if needed, we have had access to scan tools from our three dealerships, but this meant scheduling an appointment and moving the vehicle to those dealerships for the scans,” Kennedy said.

“Because of the frequency that I would be doing scans, it only made sense to invest in a scanner for our shop.”

Kennedy had long recognized the importance of pre- and postscanning procedures, and recognized that for the business to continue to provide the level of service expected by its clients, it would have to find a scan tool that would bring the services in-house.

Like many others, Kennedy was drawn to Mitchell Diagnostics because of his experiences with other Mitchell products. When he discovered that the tool automatically updates itself as the database of OEM repair procedures expands without additional subscription charges, he was sold.

“It's very user-friendly. It has a VIN auto ID, a camera, and uploads the scan reports to your email and Mitchell Connect automatically.”

Despite the scanner’s many features, Kennedy believed that its beauty comes from its elegant simplicity—and the fact that it feels like it is designed by a team who really understand the needs of the collision community.

“The scans are easy-to-read and show results that are relevant to the collision industry,” Kennedy said. “Mitchell Diagnostics scans more body-related items than other basic scanners, including bumper sensors, collision avoidance systems and cross traffic sensors.”

Today, Kennedy and the business are both reliant on the ability to perform in-house scans, and he cannot imagine returning to a remote scanning service again.

“Just having the convenience of having an in-house scanner is nice,” said Kennedy. “It helps production by not having to schedule a scan through another shop, and not having to move the vehicle to and from that shop.”

S

F

(TOP) Barker’s Collision Centre owner Rob Barker.

(RIGHT) Port Hawkesbury CarrXpert collision centre manager Chris Kennedy.

And now, fully integrated

with Mitchell RepairCenter!

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 13

ON THE COVER The Collision Repair Experts team at their new facility in Vaughan, Ontario.

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY MARY MONARDO BRINGS COLLISION REPAIR EXPERTS TO VAUGHAN, ONTARIO

By Eric Chan

“W

hat will you give me if I do it over again?” the repair technician asked Mary Monardo. He spoke in a voice too loud to be seen as anything but a challenge to his new boss’s authority. Instructed to redo a junior employee’s work on a quarter panel, the confident industry veteran had balked at Mary’s insistence that the job be done over—and done right.

A tense silence descended – the calm before the storm, as the co-workers braced for the fireworks. Master tech or not, he did not know who he was dealing with.

“What will I give you for doing your job?”

Monardo asked rhetorically—keeping her voice low and calm, but still audible to the many listeners to hear. “I’ll give you your paycheque.”

Lips struggling to form an appropriate response, the technician had become deathly pale. Without so much as a glance of pity at their humiliated colleague, the onlookers returned to their work. A few allowed themselves a smirk—the technician was, truth be told, a real piece-of-work.

Despite being a woman of petite stature, Mary Monardo is no pushover. She turned and walked away knowing he was not the first and won’t be the last who thought she could be intimidated. When it comes to doing the job right, Mary won’t accept any compromise.

“I don’t put up with nonsense—I have never understood why so many owners do.”

Monardo says, reflecting on the incident. “A business is a professional setting and I expect people to behave professionally within it.”

Though the incident occurred in the distant past it remains a vivid memory for Mary as

Mary Monardo.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 15

ON THE COVER

it reinforces the tenacity, spirit and drive she knows she must bring to work every day. To succeed in a male dominated business Mary knows she needs to be not just as good as her male competitors but better.

Mary is now the proud proprietor of the Collision Repair Experts team located in Vaughan. With a custom built 25,000 sq. ft. production facility equipped with the latest collision repair tooling, it repairs more than 60 vehicles a week.

Bobby preps a vehicle for painting.

Mary got into the collision industry as co-owner and business manager of Mondial Fine Cars in 1991. Mondial’s initial niche was exotic cars and fine coachwork. Business was good but when Mary saw an opportunity to purchase her own shop, she jumped at it. It was a proud moment to own her first building but when faced with mounting bills, Mary knew more sales were needed than what the niche exotic car market could provide. When opportunity came knocking

“Being a diminutive woman in a macho industry like collision made me realize early that in order to survive I had to develop this ability to never appear to address up but to address down as if I was taller than them, no matter who or how big he was, that way I could never be intimated and I got my way.”

—Mary Monardo again with the prospect of doing work for the then-fledgling Enterprise Rent-ACar, Mary made the decision to switch her business. Mary’s no-compromise mentality and determination soon saw Mondial Fine Cars become the most productive repair facility for Enterprise.

The facility interior.

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ON THE COVER

With the bills taken care of, Mary was shortly presented with another opportunity to purchase a second, larger production facility.

In a matter of just four short years, Mary was able to purchase another building more than twice as large as her first and further expand her operations.

When the next great opportunity came knocking, Mary was ready. A piece of land became available that offered the possibility to build a collision repair shop from the ground up. Mary quickly realized this was what she had been waiting for; a facility that would satisfy her vision of the possibilities that exists for a collision shop.

Three stress-filled years later, having to deal with city red tape, bureaucracy, lawyers, engineers, contractors and architects, her dream was finally near completion. There remained only one problem – how to fill a 25,000 sq. ft shop with work and start paying the bills. Then once again Mary’s angel of opportunity knocked –a chance to bring the team under the Collison Repair Experts banner. This was a business model that would again be a radical break from her comfort zone, vastly different from the rental car repair

Wayne performs an in-house glass replacement.

model she had been perfecting the past 15 years. Should she give up something that had served her and her family so well and take the risk in a new venture? For Mary there was no turning back. She had her vision and realized this was the path for her to fulfill it.

“I know many collision repair owners who were successful doing what they did and kept doing it, now they are not so successful any more as the conditions changed” says Mary. “Maybe it is because I as a woman, have always been treated like an outsider in this industry, I did not have to abide to stereotypes that said I should do this or that, I basically followed my instincts and never feared change. Besides I believe my guardian angel watched over me.”

Leveraging their skills and experience in high production turnover and rapid efficient writing of appraisals, and never forgetting but rather fine tuning their appreciation of quality workmanship, they were able to not only adapt to the insurance eco-system but really excel in it.

“Finding good help is one of the greatest challenges today and too often I see shop owners literally give the keys to the shop to a primadonna tech – I call that the tail wagging the dog” says Mary, “I have my standards and expectations. If a tech is going to be in my shop, they must share my vision

Navdeep in action in the facility’s paint booth.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 17

ON THE COVER

for quality, cleanliness and order – I believe it makes for a better shop environment and everybody is much happier.”

With more than 25 years in the collision repair business, Mary has witnessed the substantial changes in the collision repair industry. Unfortunately, the one change she had ultimately wanted—having more women in the industry--has been slow to progress, though not at her own facility.

“If there’s anything I want for the industry, it is that young women will see how much I’ve been able to accomplish in this business, and realize that they could do it too,” Mary says.

“This industry has a lot to offer women—and I hope I’ve helped show that and perhaps given some inspiration and courage to women to take the opportunity when presented.”

“I hope my daughters, Sandra and Nicole, will take over the business one day—and I believe they have the strength to succeed,” says Mary. “Being a diminutive woman in a macho industry like collision made me realize early that in order to survive I had to develop this ability to never appear to address up but to address down as if I was taller than them, no matter who or how big he was, that way I could never be intimated and I got my way.”

Sandra agrees, “It used to be very hard for a mom to get respect from both men and women because she was not what they

Gjoku digitally tracks progress from the floor.

18 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

“I have my standards and expectations. If a tech is going to be in my shop, they must share my vision for quality, cleanliness and order – I believe it makes for a better shop environment and everybody is much happier.”

—Mary Monardo were expecting in a collision repair shop. It was especially hard as seasoned techs didn’t initially take her seriously and respect her as their employer. But mother has always pushed back and never backed down. Once the tech knew that they couldn’t bully mom, she would treat them like the family—she expects a lot, and she cares a lot too.”

Sandra, Mary’s younger daughter, is the lead repair planner and oversees estimates for accuracy before the job is inputted into the system. She ensures that every job has a

pre-scan of on-board computers, and will soon be certified in 3D blueprinting of structural damage. With multiple certificates in collision estimating, certificates in Mitchell Repair and Estimating and training in All Data Electronic Repair Manuals, Sandra is also a graduate of art and design school. In fact, it was her flair for design that drove the push for an architectural rethink of the new facility during its design phase.

Nicole, Mary’s eldest daughter, a business graduate of York University has her mother’s shrewd financial mindset, and now oversees the enterprise ensuring the bills get properly paid.

Fortunately for Mary, she doesn’t have to stress too much these days to win respect.

She has more than proven herself by quickly becoming one of the highest performing Collision Repair Experts facilities.

While Mary is rightfully proud of her many career accomplishments, she perhaps has one lingering regret. Had she started her career just before her marriage, she feels her maiden name might have made winning the respect of her colleagues just a little bit less challenging.

“What can I say—I suspect introducing myself to the industry as Mary Capone would have commanded just a little more respect!”

"What would you give me to do it over again?” with a sly smirk Mary says, “Absolutely nothing—except that I would do it better!”

EXECUTIVE VISION

TODD LALONDE A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

By Jordan Arseneault

D

rive Auto Group’s director of operations Todd LaLonde has always been a team player. The former junior hockey star, and NHL draft pick, chose to hang up his skates for an opportunity to start a career in collision repair. With a competitive spirit and passion for leadership training, Lalonde has been able to find success in the automotive industry, steadily climbing his way up the ranks. Despite a late start to his career, LaLonde has more than made up for it with the skills he brings to the table.

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EXECUTIVE VISION

COLLISION REPAIR:

How did you get your start in the automotive industry?

TODD LALONDE I started in the car business when I was 32 or 33 years old, having really never had a job as a kid. I was involved in sport, and later professional sport, for the majority of my life. I played major junior hockey in Canada for the Sudbury Wolves and was a draft pick of the Boston Bruins. At 19 I signed a contract with the Bruins and began my professional career. At 23 I got injured and transitioned into coaching hockey. I coached Canadian major junior hockey in Sudbury for about 10 years. When that came to a crashing halt I was left with a pretty tough decision to make; as a guy who’s 30 years old, what do I do for a living? So I went back to university and got a degree, and saw an ad and met a guy named Terry Rafih. He gave me a shot at working in the car business, in what would have been around 2004 or 2005. I worked for his Toyota Lexus store for about seven years. I worked my way up from position to position until I got the opportunity to move to the city to further my career. It was really untraditional in the sense that, not only was I 33 and fresh out of university, but I had never really pictured earning a living in this industry. I thought that I was going to be a school teacher because I’d spent so much time coaching elite athletes for a living. I stumbled into this and not only was I 33, but it was my first real job.

CR: What have been some

of the keys to your success?

TL:

Training, teaching and mentoring are the core of how I operate. I believe that every successful business has a good foundation and great mentorship; much how like any successful sport’s program has a great set of leaders. One of the biggest

things I’ve taken with me from all of my years as an athlete is a clear understanding that we can’t work on everything at the same time, and that we must responsibly allocate our time. This realization, and focus on improving what we can control, is crucial to any successful business.

CR: How do you best

manage your employees?

TL:

I think it’s really simple and I take this back again to the days when wins and losses were completely related to your employment. It really starts with direction and making sure that your employees are completely onboard and aware of why you or your company is asking for something or going in a certain direction. I think it’s really important for us as leaders to make sure that we understand that it’s incumbent upon us to increase our company’s appeal in order to increase our individual employees’ desire to get things done. The last piece is making sure that these employees have the ability to execute. Some of those things sound pretty trivial, but if we don’t bring awareness and create a desire for and focus on knowledge and ability, I think we all get frustrated with the lack of execution. This is taken right out of the athletic playbook, it’s all about wins and losses, and wins and losses in our business our financial success each and every month, bottom line.

CR: What are the biggest

obstacles in this industry?

TL: I think everybody would say the same

thing: it is people. I think it’s necessary for all the leaders in the auto industry to ensure that we are promoting our business as the greatest industry in the world, and I really think it is. This is a business where if you have a strong focus, exceptional attitude and

good work ethic, you can really have a great career. Finding those people is crucial to our business being represented in the way it should be portrayed. That will only happen if we continue to promote this business to the younger generation of people that are entering the workforce and I think that involves a whole bunch of business dynamic changes. We need to look beyond where we are today and ask ourselves how we are best going to attract the top young minds. I think the car business is going to be alive and well for a very long time.

CR: What advice would you

give to someone entering the industry?

TL:

The advice I would give them is to come in with a clean slate. It’s all about how well we can create a level of certainty in our customer by giving them the confidence that the decisions they’re making are the right ones.

CR: Where do you see

yourself in the next five years?

TL: Absolutely 100 percent of my effort is

placed on creating an environment within the Drive Auto Group that attracts the best people, hits our internal KPIs and brings the magnitude and profile of the group to the level I think it should be. Our group’s goal over the next 36 months is going to be to create a solid mentorship program for all the individual leaders in our group so that they can go on and obtain the positions they desire. In five years, the Drive Auto Group could be recognized as a dealer group that has revolutionized the mentorship program in a way that allowed people to obtain position that they would not have thought possible. This is where I’d like us to be in five years.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 21

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PILLARS OF THE INDUSTRY

A LEGEND IN THE INDUSTRY INDUSTRY INSIGHT FROM COLLISION REPAIR VETERAN GREG SIEGEL

By Chelsea Stebner

C

ollision repair has been a part of Greg Siegel’s life since high school in Lanigan, Saskatchewan. As a teenager he was hired by his neighbour to clean cars and do odd jobs around the local bodyshop. That neighbour was a great influence in Siegel’s career path, helping him find his passion for cars and repair. After high school graduation, he developed further skills by working full-time at the shop.

Siegel pursued an opportunity in Prince Albert at Mann Motors Bodyshop and was able to continue building his skill sets by taking Chief EZ Liner Training down in the U.S. With the training in hand, Siegel ran Mann Motors frame repair shop for a few years.

After this, he moved over to a small shop opened by two of his fellow employees from Mann called the Bodyshop, which eventually would develop into TBS Collision, where Siegel continued to build on his career.

He had another opportunity to manage a shop in Prince Albert where he was privileged to meet Tom Bissonnette, who mentored him in many ways. Siegel then returned to TBS where he became partners with the Ben Wareham and Don McWilliams, and built the business from both a financial and square footage perspective. In 2005, he purchased Wareham’s shares and became a 50/50 partner in the business. The business was good to him, as sales and staff grew and TBS was able to purchase the building. This year, Siegel and his partner received and accepted an

offer from another local shop owner and made the decision to retire.

Siegel feels that his career in collision repair was very fulfilling and allowed a great life for his family. He met and networked with so many people over the years and has had the opportunity to learn from many in-

“The roles in collision repair are endless.

Gone are the days of a bodyman or a painter —the technology aspect of our industry has added countless opportunities.”

—Greg Siegel

dustry professionals. Asked about his biggest challenge, Siegel acknowledges that it is “time management.”

“As shop owners, we live, breath, think and eat autobody. Feeling the demands of both a business and of a young family is tough,” Siegel says. “Thanks to my lovely wife, the family and our two young daughters came first.”

The changes in products and equipment were and still are the challenges.

From lacquer to acrylic enamel, to high solids and urethane, to water-base paints, the landscape changed fast over the years.

And that’s only the paint. He feels that one of the greatest challenges facing repair shops is the constant training needed to enable staff to keep up with the continually changing OEM repair procedures required to fix vehicles properly.

(From left) Greg Siegel, Judy and Andre of TBS Collision in Prince Albert, Saskachewan.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 23

PILLARS OF THE INDUSTRY

Another roadblock Siegel feels that those entering the collision repair business face is in finding financing for the purchase of a business or a building, and suggests that they should do their research to find helpful in situations with a business friendly approach.

“If you have a love for what you do and put that love in becoming the best you can be, that will help,” Siegel says. “A positive attitude gives you power over your circumstances instead of your circumstances having power over you.”

As for future opportunities, Siegel believes that they are there to be found.

“The roles in collision repair are endless.

Gone are the days of a bodyman or a painter.

The technology aspect of our industry has added countless opportunities with front-end staff such as appraisers, scanning technicians, estimators, detailers and administrative staff, Siegel says. “The industry itself is becoming more and more challenging but allows more accountability to the shops.”

While he may be enjoying his retirement, Siegel is not prepared to back away from these modern challenges, and still works to show young people how much the industry has to offer.

24 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

Passionate about Skills Canada, Siegel first heard about it through a work education program at his local high school and was surprised that no one in his local industry knew about. Taking his concerns to the provincial autobody association, Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairs, Siegel was a driving force behind the scholarships awarded for Saskatchewan competitors.

Greg Siegel with the winner of TBS Collision’s giving back contest, Leslie Grzesiak (right).

Helping cover accommodations, they reduce the barriers faced by young people interested in attending events, and bring shop owners and apprentices together for networking opportunities.

If there is one thing to take from Siegel’s many achievements, it is that a person’s actions can impact a community and an industry to make a difference.

INDUSTRY NEWS

INDUSTRY NEWS

IBIS San Diego keynote speakers Prof. Michael Cox of the LSE, GM global vice president Tim Turvey and Jamie Yoder, CEO of Snapsheet.

CARSTAR Peterborough owners Cathy and Jim Shirtliff.

COMMUNITY HEROES CARSTAR Peterborough is spreading the holiday spirit this year, one puck at a time.

The franchise bodyshop sponsored a game night with the Peterborough Petes on January 12, with all proceeds going towards Cystic Fibrosis Canada. After opening CARSTAR Peterborough last April owners Cathy and Jim Shirtliff immediately became involved in the community, sponsoring local soccer and hockey teams, while also donating a refurbished vehicle to Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada last holiday season. The facility, which now has a staff of 11 employees, has quickly become a popular collision repair shop in the Peterborough area.

IBIS HEADS WEST The preliminary agenda for the inaugural U.S. International Bodyshop Industry Symposium, which will be taking place February 13 – 15 in San Diego, has been released.

The ground-breaking agenda contains presentations from recently announced speakers Tim Turvey, global vice president, GM customer care and after sales, General Motors and Jamie Yoder, president of Snapsheet as well as professor Michael Cox of the London School of Economics who will open the second day of this exciting event. It is to be held at the Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa Hotel. IBIS USA will host more than 200 delegates from the global collision repair industry.

I-CAR’S NEW SUSTAINING PARTNER

(Left to right) Russell Duncan, Sean Skoropat, Blaine Fraser, Lorinda Teague, Ron Olsson.

COLOR COMPASS WINS PRO SPOT AWARD Color Compass was recognized as the Pro Spot Welding Distributor of the Year for the fourth consecutive time.

The distribution group has claimed the award since 2015, when they first formed a partnership with Pro Spot. The company’s after-sale care techniques were a major factor in why Color Compass was chosen from among its Canadian competition.

“The strength of the team truly relies on the members. Congratulations to all at Color Compass Corporation for the fantastic performance this year,” said Russell Duncan, director of sales and marketing Canada for Pro Spot International.

AkzoNobel is officially an I-CAR Sustaining Partner, becoming one of the first paint suppliers to do so.

“Technology is playing a bigger role in our industry, and that means we need well-trained technicians who can deliver safer, higher-quality repairs,” says Don Shearer, AkzoNobel technical service manager, Automotive Coatings.

“Through our path-yielding partnership with I-CAR, we are supercharging the successful education of our present and future collision repair technicians. At the end of the day, it’s about helping create a better tomorrow.”

AkzoNobel has remained committed to providing its technicians with the latest knowledge and tools in the industry in order to provide top quality repairs.

“The Sustaining Partner program was created to help control the cost of training for collision repair technicians and career and technical school students” says Nick Notte, I-CAR’s senior vice president, sales.“It makes I-CAR training more readily available and affordable for collision repairers and schools.

26 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

Senior director of Industry Programs, AIA Canada, Andrew Shepherd.

AIA CANADA LAUNCHES NEW PROGRAM TO HELP BUSINESSES The Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA) has officially launched its Automotive Service Associate Program (ASAP) to help automotive service professionals access a range of solutions critical to their businesses success.

The program offers a number of benefits including, tailored research at the shop-level, training events geared to management and technical issues facing repair shops, a national shop finder service, financial services for shop customers, and technical expertise on vehicle reprogramming among other perks.

It is also specifically designed to be inclusive of all aftermarket shops.

"Aftermarket service providers are going to need a connection to new training and new equipment, but more importantly a connection to a community where challenges can be faced, and solutions can be developed. ASAP is that community," says Andrew Shepherd, senior director of Industry Programs, AIA Canada.

DISRUPTIVE CASE Connected, autonomous, shared and electric vehicles could cause the loss of more than 48,000 jobs in Canada’s automotive aftermarket by 2051, a new report from the Conference Board of Canada suggests.

In 2017 the automotive aftermarket in Canada made up of more than 46,000 businesses, with close to 400,000 Canadians employed in the sector.

“The implications of connected, autonomous, shared, and electric vehicles on the automotive aftermarket have generally been overlooked, despite the sector being a significant contributor to Canada’s economy,” said Roger Francis, director Energy, Environment and Transportation.

INDUSTRY NEWS

THE PRICE OF CYBER-HACKING Cyber hacks could potentially cost the automotive industry $24 billion over the next five years, according to a new study released by the first and only cloud-based Smart Mobility Cybersecurity provider.

Upstream’s comprehensive report studied the impact of more than 170 documented, Smart Mobility, cyber incidents reported between 2010-2018 and projects future trends based on that eight-year history.

The report, titled Upstream Security Global Cybersecurity Report 2019, outlines how hackers attacked - from physical to long-range to wireless and more - and who they targeted in the smart mobility space.

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

“These attacks can be triggered from anywhere placing both drivers and passengers at risk. Issues range from safety critical vehicle systems, to data center hacks on back-end servers, to identity theft in car sharing, and even privacy issues. The risk is immense. Just one cyber-hack can cost an automaker $1.1 billion, while we are seeing that the cost for the industry as

a whole could reach $24 billion by 2023.”

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

The report found that 42 percent of automotive cyber-security incidents involve back-end application servers and that security needs to be multi-layered in

order to adequately protect car owners.

The report also stated that while car manufacturers remain an obvious target, fleet operations, telematic service providers, car sharing companies, and public and private transportation also face an increasing threat of cyber-hacking.

The Upstream report is the first of its kind and is based on real-life incidents. The goal of the study is to provide insight into who is at risk, how key stakeholders are protecting themselves and emerging trends for 2019.

MITCHELL REVEALS HOW INTELLIGENT AUTOMATION IS CHANGING COLLISION REPAIR Mitchell released its Industry Trends Report for the fourth quarter of 2018. The report explores how intelligent automation is changing the nature of work in insurance, collision repair, and beyond. It also provides insights into key industry trends, including how to manage performance in a technology-shocked industry and the power of integration and automation in humanizing the claims process.

In this edition of the Industry Trends Report, Mitchell CEO Alex Sun discusses the significant implications artificial intelligence (AI) technology will have on the Property and Casualty and collision repair industries. Sun dives deep into the far-reaching implications AI technologies will have for businesses, explaining that “as AI becomes increasingly ubiquitous, it will allow knowledge workers to spend less time on repetitive tasks and more on the higher value, human ones that drive better outcomes.”

Sun also discusses the increased productivity that will result from the utilization of robotic process automation (RPA), as well as the augmented human intelligence that will result from intelligent automation.

Mitchell CEO, Alex Sun.

When speaking about the productivity gains that could result from artificially intelligent personal assistants, Sun notes that if, “knowledge workers in the claims ecosystem could automate repetitive tasks by using a combination of simple and intelligent RPA, they would enjoy a significant increase in productivity. Better yet, they could use that time on tasks that require a human touch: making personal connections, providing consultations, being empathetic—things

that drive different behaviors and actions and can truly help improve outcomes and restore injured people’s lives.”

Now in its 17th year, Mitchell’s Industry Trends Report reaches more than 30,000 collision and casualty industry professionals and provides meaningful visibility into data-driven trends in the P&C and collision repair markets. The complete report is available at: mpower.mitchell.com/ industry-trends-reports.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 27

BUSINESS NEWS

BUSINESS NEWS

Dave Luehr, founder of Elite Bodyshop solutions.

Tony Canade, president of Assured Automotive.

ASSURED AUTOMOTIVE EXPANDS The Boyd Group has announced the purchase of a new Assured Automotive location in Hawkesbury, Ontario.

The acquisition, which was made on November 30, is for a location previously operated as Machildon Autobody, situated approximately one hour from both Ottawa and Montreal.

“We are very excited to add this location, which has served the Hawkesbury market well for many years,” said Tony Canade, president of Assured Automotive. “We look forward to becoming part of the Hawkesbury community and the opportunity to provide the friendly service and quality repairs that Assured is known for.”

Beyond the retraining initiative, the merger will also be followed by significant investments in repair equipment.

The transaction is expected to close in early 2019, under the supervision of Caliber CEO Steve Grimshaw, who will lead the combined company.

NEW ONLINE BODYSHOP TRAINING Dave Luehr, collision repair industry expert and founder of Elite Body Shop Solutions, now offers Operations Monthly Live, a live webcast designed to provide interactive monthly training and support to help collision repairers reach their operational goals.

The first free session was on January 8, 2019.

The training is offered through Elite Body Shop Academy. Luehr’s Elite Body Shop Academy was created in 2018 to provide collision shop personnel modern operational, leadership, and general bodyshop education in an easy-to-access online video format.

Participants were able to sign up for free at the academy to access their own private content accounts.

PPG’S NEW PURCHASE

Paints and coatings giant PPG have agreed to a deal to acquire family-owned German firm Hemmelrath.

The announcement came in early January, and the acquisition - for an undisclosed amount – is expected to be completed in the next six months. Coatings manufacturer Hemmelrath, which employs more than 450 people, supplies automotive plants around the world.

Seven million vehicles are coated with its products every year. PPG chairman and CEO Michael McGarry said the acquisition is “another step forward” in his company’s strategic growth plan.

President and CEO of Caliber Collision Steve Grimshaw.

(Left to right) Owners of Dilawri Group of Companies Tony, Kap and Ajay Dilawri.

DILAWRI PURCHASES LUXURY DEALERSHIPS Canada’s largest automotive group, Dilawri Group of Companies, has taken ownership of six Mercedes-Benz locations in Vancouver.

The locations, which previously formed Mercedes-Benz Canada’s Vancouver Retail Group, were divested as part of an ongoing worldwide assessment of Mercedes-Benz Cars sales and after-sales networks. Prior to the ownerships of these locations, Mercedes-Benz Canada had one of the highest shares of corporately-owned retail locations of all markets around the world. Dilawri Group of Companies currently operates 72 franchised dealerships with more than 4,000 employees nationwide.

ABRA-CALIBER MERGER DETAILS REVEALED The full details of Caliber Collision’s merger with ABRA Auto Body Repair of America have been announced by Caliber.

“With more than 1,000 stores in 37 states and the District of Columbia, we look forward to providing customers and insurance clients with the flexibility and convenience that come with the broadest geographic coverage in the United States and a full suite of services,” said president and CEO of Caliber Collision, Steve Grimshaw.

Caliber is not looking to close down any existing facilities, though Caliber has announced plans to initiate a new, overarching business plan involving the retraining of staff.

“Recognizing the critical importance of top talent to our success, we will be retraining all teammates in the field at both Caliber and ABRA centers,” Grimshaw said.

28 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

PRACTICAR ADDS TO THE BUSINESS PractiCar Car and Truck Rentals is helping collision repair facilities around Canada become a one-stop-shop for all their consumer’s needs. The Calgary-based company, which has more than 35 locations across Canada, provides repair businesses with a license to rent vehicles to their customers.

“PractiCar partners with established collision repair businesses to help them provide car rental services to their customers,” said Joseph Donaldson, manager at PractiCar. Established in 1976, PractiCar has become a leader in car rental solutions, both for the end consumer and operating proprietor. An existing collision repair business working with PractiCar can add a new income stream, and convenience to its customers, without having to undergo a physical renovation or add staff.

BUSINESS NEWS

ELON MUSK TOYS WITH THE IDEA OF BUYING GM PLANTS The rash of General Motors plant closures caught the eye of Tesla CEO, Elon Musk. In an interview with CBS 60 Minutes, Musk said he is considering buying some of the five factories GM is closing--including the facility Oshawa, Ontario.

All told, the announced closures will put 15,000 auto professionals out of work. Oshawa’s plant, which is more than 10 million square feet employs 2,500 people While the plant’s labour force may be pleased by Musk’s comments, some observers say Musk is proffering in false hope. Neither Musk nor Tesla have had the opportunity to perform any serious investigation of the potential hurdles to buying out the plants.

“It’s still possible but unlikely,” says Will Mitchell, a professor of strategic management at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Business.

Should electric vehicle production begin in Oshawa, it could have serious implications for the collision repair community in Central Canada. While the newly signed free-trade agreement--the USMCA--prevents tariffs or other pricing barriers from being placed on any car manufactured in Canada, the U.S. or

Mexico, the very existence of a manufacturing facility would likely generate an increase in the number of Canadians driving electric vehicles--and the number of electric vehicles repair being performed.

Even if the Oshawa plant does not become a Tesla facility, electric vehicle sales in Canada have been steadily increasing, with nearly 35,000 plug-in electric vehicles sold by the end of the third quarter for this year. A 158 percent increase compared to last year, the uptick is directly attributable to the arrival of Tesla’s efforts to make more affordable

models. Tesla Model 3 has retained top-spot as the most-sold electric vehicle for the third quarter of the year. As it stands with the current rates, Canada will see more electric vehicles sold across the country in 2018 than the previous three years, combined.

But for right now, these vehicles still don’t measure up to standard-emission ones, and according to Unifor president, Jerry Dias, he doesn’t believe that Musk is too serious about buying the Oshawa plant and that the only solution is still in the hands of GM.

General Motors plant in Oshawa was one of the several factories that were shut down.

PANASONIC PARTNERS WITH TOYOTA Panasonic will be shifting a significant part of its battery cell production to take care of Toyota’s electric vehicle programs by the end of 2020.

As a result, the two Japanese companies would start a joint-venture, resulting in Panasonic producing cells for Toyota. The OEM would join Tesla as Panasonic’s second cell partner.

The partnership will also represent just one of Toyota’s moves towards improving fuel cell cars, since announcing the expansion of its electric car plans last year with 10 upcoming new electric vehicle batteries.

Toyota will hold a 51 percent stake, with Panasonic owning the remaining 49 percent. A total of 3,500 employees from both companies will be transferring over to the joint-venture The reports also stated that the electric vehicle battery launch will involve the production of next-generation battery cells, including solid-state batteries.

Toyota and Panasonic are confident that their partnership will further strengthen and accelerate their actions toward achieving competitive batteries.

Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota Motor, and Kazuhiro Tsuga, president of Panasonic

“Together with Panasonic, we want to hone our competitiveness in batteries, which represent one of the core technologies of electrified vehicles. By contributing to the popularization of Toyota’s and other automakers’ electrified vehicles, we want to help find solutions to issues such as global warming, environment-related challenges, and energy-related challenges. We have high

expectations for the new company, including -as we aim to deliver ever-better electrified vehicles to even more customers - its role in fulfilling our plans for the popularization of electrified vehicles (including achieving Toyota annual global sales of more than 5.5 million units of electrified vehicles) which we announced at the end of 2017,” said Toyota executive vice president Shigeki Terashi.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 29

INSURANCE NEWS

INSURANCE

A Star Trek fan customized their license plate to say “ASIMIL8.”

TREKKIE TAKES MPI TO COURT A Star Trek enthusiast is in a bit of a pickle with Manitoba Public Insurance as his vanity plate was recalled by the insurer. After two years on the road, Nick Troller’s ASIMIL8 licence plates were recalled following complaints that they were insensitive because of Canada’s historic efforts to assimilate indigenous people. In response, Troller hired lawyers and filed paperwork to have provincial courts reverse MPI’s decision. Troller’s plates are not, however, intended as anything more than a Star Trek reference. “You will be assimilated,” is a catchphrase of the Borg.

SGI denied an insurance claim from a man whose car was torched.

INSURANCE: DENIED A Saskatchewan man is not having the best luck after his car was stolen and torched and only later found out his insurance claim had been denied. Darren Lees had registered his 2007 Chevy Uplander under his mother’s name while designating himself as the primary driver of the vehicle. SGI denied the claim due to the vehicle being improperly registered. Lees claims that he was registering the vehicle in his mother’s name because he was going through a divorce and didn’t want an added asset on the books. Not only did Lees not receive any compensation for the vehicle, he is also now facing more than $1,200 in bills from the fire department and towing company.

Nicolas Jimenez, president and CEO at ICBC.

ICBC HIKES PRICES Drivers in British Columbia are going to experience another increase in auto insurance premiums as the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) announced a 6.3 percent hike - working out to be about $60 extra each year for the average plan. According to the public insurer, the escalating cost of injury claims is the single biggest factor impacting basic insurance rates, which has gone up by 43 percent in the past five years. These costs have been spurred by increased injury claim legal representation, larger payouts and the rise in large injury claims. The increases will come into affect starting April 1, with all new rate policies being subject to the increase.”

B.C. ARA CEO Ken McCormack.

ICBC VS. B.C. ARA Automotive Retailers Association of British Columbia CEO Ken McCormack met B.C. Attorney General David Eby to find a way to restart negotiations between the ICBC and the ARA. While Eby has repeatedly told McCormack that he wants to find a regulatory solution that would enable ICBC to discuss rates with the ARA, he says this would require a change in law. ARA lawyers disagree, saying Eby already has the powers to direct ICBC to resume negotiations with the association.

SGI media relations manager, Tyler McMurchy.

SGI REMAINS FOCUSED ON ENDING IMPAIRED DRIVING Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) is keeping its foot on the pedal when it comes to its fight against impaired driving.

The public insurer kicked off January with a Traffic Safety Spotlight firmly focusing on eliminating impaired driving, which continues to be the leading cause of fatalities on Saskatchewan roadways.

“Impaired driving is something that’s 100 percent preventable,” said Tyler McMurchy, manager of media relations at SGI. “This message isn’t just for January, it’s year-round.

We hope that we can get to a place where people don’t even think about driving while impaired.”

In 2017 SGI saw the lowest amount of fatalities from impaired driving in 30 years.

The private insurer hopes to build off this success and is optimistic thanks to new, stricter, federal laws against impaired driving.

Earlier this month officers gained the right to demand a roadside breath sample from any driver who has been lawfully stopped, while also being trained and certified to perform Drug Recognition evaluations and standardized field sobriety tests. Police are also expected to receive saliva testers to detect recent drug use.

“Police are very focused on putting an end to these unnecessary lives lost and are prepared better than ever before to do so,” said McMurchy. “These officers are the ones who see the damage first hand and have to knock on someone’s door and give the worst news that their loved one is never coming home.”

Current penalties for being caught driving impaired in Saskatchewan include: roadside license suspension for criminal charges, vehicle seizure up to 60 days, mandatory enrolment in SGI’s Driving Without Impairment education program and substantial financial penalties via Safe Driver Recognition program.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 31

OEM NEWS

OEM NEWS

Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

TESLA FALLS SHORT Tesla investors were left shaking their heads after the electric car company’s stock fell as much as 9.34 percent, to $301.49 per share as a result of missed vehicle deliveries and price cuts on three of its vehicles. The automaker said on January 2, that it delivered 63,150 Model 3 sedans in the fourth quarter, missing the target of 63,698 that was forecasted

by Wall Street, according to Bloomberg data. Tesla announced that it will be reducing the price of the Model S, Model X and Model 3 vehicles by $2,000 starting immediately in the U.S. The federal electric-vehicle tax that the company has benefited from dropped from $7,500 to $3,750 effective January 1.

FORD’S NEW SCANNING REQUIREMENTS

A CLASS ABOVE

Ford vehicles built in any model year from 2010 onward must receive a pre-scan during estimation, and a post-scan following any repair procedures, Ford announced in December. The decision follows similar announcements delivered throughout the past 18 months from Honda, Kia, General Motors and Toyota. While the OEM did not specifically mandate anything for earlier vehicle models, it did refer repairers to the Ford/Lincoln Workshop Manual, which describes scanning procedures as a good diagnostic strategy is to resolve all on-demand codes. “Retrieving all continuous DTCs can also be beneficial to understand historic issues or issues outside of the suspect system that may be affecting your concern. On-demand testing should be done to ensure the fault represented by a continuous DTC is still present.”

For the fifth consecutive year Mercedes-Benz is the top luxury vehicle brand in Canada. In 2018 the OEM and its national dealer network sold 49,758 passenger vehicles, vans and smart units in Canada. The total included a record-breaking December for passenger cars and luxury light trucks, with 3,185 units sold during the month. In total the company saw a 4.3 percent increase in sales from December 2017. In 2018, SUVs accounted for more than half of Mercedes-Benz Canada’s sales at 53.8 percent, compared to passenger cars at 46.2 percent. Mercedes vans also achieved record breaking sales, with 6,538 vehicles delivered in 2018, representing a one percent increase from 2017. In 2018, SUVs accounted for more than half of Mercedes-Benz Canada’s sales at 53.8 percent, compared to passenger cars at 46.2 percent.

MORE RECALLS

TOYOTA CANADA’S BEST YEAR YET

Toyota is joining Ford and Honda with the recall of the deadly Takata airbags recalling a total of 1.7 million vehicles in North America.

The announcement came at the beginning of January and is not the first OEM to recall these airbags. Automakers such as Ford, and Honda have already issued out their recalls and it is reported that these OEMs are scheduled to replace about 10 million of the Takata airbags starting in January.

Takata inflators can explode with too much power which has resulted in at least 23 people dead, and many injured worldwide. But according to an annual report from the U.S. government dated last year there are still about one-third of the recalled inflators that have yet to be replaced. The report also stated that 16.7 million faulty inflators out of 50 million under recall have not been fixed yet.

Toyota is recalling several models including: the 2003- 2013 Toyota Corolla, the 2010 - 2016 4Runner, the 2010 - 2013 Corolla and Matrix, and the 2011 - 2014 Sienna. Some of the Lexus models have also been recalled including, the 2010 - 2012 ES 350, the 2010 - 2017 GX 460, the 2010 - 2015 IS 250C and 350C, the 2010 2013 IS 250 and 350, and the 2010 - 2014 IS-F.

Toyota announced its best year in Canada after selling 231,646 vehicles in 2018.

That figure is up 3.2 percent more than in 2017 thanks in part to a spectacular December that saw sales of 15,865 units – a 25.8 percent increase on the previous year.

Another highlight for the distributor of the Japanese-designed vehicles is a 17.9 percent increase in hybrid sales, including a 51.6 percent rise in Prius sales.

In December alone, Prius sales were up 88.8 percent more than last year.

Hybrids now represent 10.3 percent of all Toyota Canada sales, with 23,909 Toyota and Lexus units bought in 2018.

Overall Lexus sales, however, are down 2.6 percent – but 2018 remains the second-best year ever for Toyota’s luxury car brand in Canada.

The Toyota RAV4 crossover SUV, meanwhile, showed a rise in sales of 8.8 percent – its best performance ever.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada has already begun production of the new RAV4 at its plant in Woodstock, Ontario and will be adding additional production at one of its Cambridge, Ontario plants early this year.

Larry Hutchinson, president and CEO of

Toyota Canada Inc., said,“We’d like to give a big shout-out to our dealers and customers across Canada - without them, this fantastic year would not have been possible.”

He added: “Moving into 2019, I believe we have even more to look forward to. The launch of the Lexus UX and all new models of the Toyota RAV4 and Toyota Corolla will highlight what should be another great year for Toyota Canada.”

Toyota CEO Larry Hutchinson.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 33

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Christine Taylor, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Enterprise Holdings.

CONNECTED CAR EMPIRE Google’s self-driving cars, Waymo have been under attack.

WAYMO’S UNDER ATTACK Waymo’s autonomous vehicle testing in Chandler, Arizona has been facing a few bumps along the road. There have been more than 20 attacks which include throwing rocks, slicing tires and even a man waving a gun at a passing Waymo vehicle. Many of these attacks are putting the perpetrators lives on the line and sabotaging the testing stages of this autonomous vehicle. Many experts point to the anxieties of the transportation industry professionals, concerned that they will soon be replaced by autonomous vehicles.

Christine Taylor, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Enterprise Holdings.

Enterprise Holdings has partnered with General Motors to build a connected car empire by the end of next year. The partnership’s focus is to increase the number of connected cars by 100,000 for the end of 2019. This means the partnership would own the largest number of connected cars in the world. Their other hope is to enhance the experience for customers of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent-A-Car brands, as well as to add Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles to their fleet. “This is our first step toward a fully connected fleet of vehicles,” said Christine Taylor, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Enterprise Holdings.

Elevate a new robotic EV which can drive, walk and climb.

CEO of Tesla Elon Musk, demonstrated their underground tunnel to the media in December.

TESLA’S TUNNEL CEO of Tesla Elon Musk, has come out with the unthinkable -- an underground tunnel for autonomous vehicles to help lessen congestion on the roads. The demonstration showed a Tesla Model X being lowered down in an elevator that Musk’s Boring Company had dug and built in a parking lot in California.

Then at the bottom of the lot was the tunnel--a 1.14-mile route built for experiments using underground transportation technology. The vehicles that are equipped for the tunnel have another set of wheels that come out from under the vehicle and stick out on the side.

These wheels then latch onto the sides of the tunnel making it glide at about 35 mp/h.

HYUNDAI’S WALKING CAR Every year unique ideas of vehicles are demonstrated at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES). This year at CES 2019, Hyundai presented their robotic electric vehicle prototype that they say will take people where no vehicle has been before. The vehicle is titled, Elevate and it is shown as having four robotic legs with wheels. Elevate can not only drive but walk, and climb.

The new concept won the Edmunds Tech Driven Award at the technology conference in Las Vegas. Edmunds’ award honours the most forward-thinking innovations announced at the show. The South Korean manufacturer said the Elevate, an Ultimate Mobility Vehicle, was designed to offer drivers capabilities denied to even the most advanced off-road cars and trucks.

Hyundai’s new fingerprint tech will be available in certain areas this year.

TOUCH OF A FINGER Unlocking and starting your Hyundai will soon be as easy as the touch of a driver’s finger.

Automaker Hyundai announced that finger print technology will be available on its 2019 Santa Fe SUVs, but only in select regions.

The company didn’t release any information on what regions these might be, but did say the technology would later become more widely available.

The new fingerprint technology is installed on the door’s handles and ignition button of the Santa Fe and according to the company is much more secure than a traditional vehicle.

The chances of the car mistaking the driver’s identity are one in 50,000, which makes it five times more effective than conventional vehicle keys, including smart keys.

With each use the sensor becomes better at detecting the driver’s digits, lowering the chance of mistaken identity.

New technology shown at CES demonstrates that vehicles will be able to talk to one another on the road.

VEHICLE COMMUNICATION HOT TOPIC AT CES 2019 Audi, Ducati, Ford and Qualcomm demonstrated C-V2X technology at this year’s Consumer Electronic Show (CES), which has a history of introducing the world to breakthrough technologies.

Among the benefits of C-V2X is the ability for cars to ‘talk’ to one another – for example, to communicate their whereabouts as well as prevent blind-spot-related accidents.

The technology can also be used to allow cars to communicate with traffic signals, informing the driver when a light is about to change.

It is expected to be available as early as 2020, with 5GAA pushing for the introduction of the technology on safety grounds.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 35

WHIMSY

BELIEVE IT OR NOT

FORD’S NOSE KNOWS Do you love that new car smell? Ford doesn’t.

The company has filed a patent for a new car odor removal process. The company says the smell, while popular in the free West, is considered abhorrent in China.

GAS PROBLEM A woman in the U.S. was caught on video attempting to fill up her Tesla with gas. The driver of a vehicle parked behind her at the gas station watched her aimlessly walk around her Tesla Model S several times trying to figure out where the gas tank door was.

When she found the electric charge opening, she proceeded to try and stick the gas nozzle in there. Too late, she realized it wouldn’t fit.

But that didn’t stop her from thinking her Tesla still needed to be pumped with fuel.

After the driver and passenger in the vehicle laughed hysterically at the woman struggle for almost ten minutes, one of them proceeded to finally tell her that she was driving an electric vehicle.

DUDE, WHERE’S MY CAR? Have you ever approached a car you thought was your own, only to realize that it wasn’t, but another of the same colour and model?

A driver in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia did exactly that (and more). A woman was dismayed to see a man enter her vehicle and drive away as she—and her keyless entry FOB—approached it. Police said that another driver who had also been inside the business, accidentally got in the wrong vehicle and drove off. Unfortunately for the unwitting car-jacker, he only realized his mistake after paying for a full tank of gas.

CASH CRASH More than $500,000 dollars worth of cash flew out of a Brink’s truck on a highway in New Jersey. Police say that one of the doors on the truck had a malfunction and wasn’t completely secure resulting in thousands of dollars in cash escaping and flying all over the highway. Many drivers stopped in the middle of the highway to claim some of the cash causing a chain reaction of collisions.

Although more than $200,000 was recovered at the scene, and more than $100,000 has been returned in the days since then, there is still $188,000 missing.

helped them figure out what actually caused the incident. First, they found a box of wine in the front seat. Second, the woman was firmly convinced she was in Ohio.

DEEP SEA DRIVE

KILLER WHEELS Youtube account Garage 54Eng put together a video demonstrating their experiment creating tires made out of 3,000 nails. The tires were then put on the front of the vehicle and tested out. While the verdict was that the spiked set of wheels provided considerable grip, most of the nails collapsed during acceleration.

NINE-ONE-FUN A British Columbia based call centre, E-Comm has revealed the top ten ridiculous 911 phone calls they have received over the past year. Believe it or not but five of the top ten calls had to do with vehicular concerns.

The calls included: 1) To complain that a gas station attendant put the wrong type of gas in their car 2) To report a rental company provided the wrong-sized vehicle for the caller's reservation

After being told he had parked in an illegal spot, a 48-year-old Ferrari driver in Florida drove his luxury vehicle straight off a dock into the ocean. Sinking down 30 feet, the man was reportedly not injured. The vehicle, however, had to have been pulled out using inflatables.

A Toyota HiAce with a sauna in the back is for sale online.

SCANDINAVIAN HOT WHEELS An unusually modified 2000 Toyota HiAce was recently listed for sale in Sweden. The van contains a built-in sauna in the back area.

Despite having just 30,000 km clocked on the odometer, the diesel-powered vehicle has not been able to find a buyer willing to pay the asking price--about $14,000 Canadian.

3) To ask for help turning off the caller's car lights 4) To report the caller's vehicle’s windshield wipers had stopped working 5) To find out where the caller's car had been towed

PLANE PAIN A 39-year-old Florida resident was arrested

by Manatee County police for crashing through a fence at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport and into a plane. The collision did not stop her vehicle, which then crashed out of the airport through another fence. Officers were given two key clues that

PAPERWORK PROBLEM Residents of Eric St. in St. Johns, Newfoundland, spent eight weeks complaining to police that a vehicle had been abandoned on their street. When the owner of the CR-V, Melissa Bradbury, was eventually contacted, it emerged she had registered the vehicle as stolen some time before it landed on the quiet street. Her insurer had already provided her with a replacement vehicle.

FEBRUARY 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 37

HEALTH & SAFETY

VEHICULAR NARCOTICS EXPOSURE ROUTINE PRACTICES, UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS AND RISK ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES TO KEEP YOUR TEAM SAFE FROM HARM

By Theresa Jachnycky

A

s collision repairers we tend to be naïve about occupational risks outside those we typically encounter within our businesses— especially those that enter our facilities by way of the vehicles that we are repairing.

In a recent report showcasing its newly acquired trace detector for narcotics and explosives, Manitoba Public Insurance an nou nc e d t h at ab out one - i n - f ive recovered stolen vehicles involved in a pilot study had tested positive for traces of illicit drugs including fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin.

The results of the pilot study created a bit of a buzz within Manitoba’s collision community, as people reacted to the possibility of unknowingly coming into contact with the opioid fentanyl, which has made headlines around the world as the deadliest drugs on the market . Many within the community identified it as an area where the industry is not widely familiar with the full scope of the problem.

“This is a very scary situation—some interesting things that we would not normally consider when repairing theft recoveries,” posted Rob Boyce of Signature Motors.

Other repairers had first-hand experience with such a situation. Ferd Klassen owner of Niverville Autobody wrote that “A customer of a recovered stolen vehicle was concerned about the white stuff all over his interior which turned out to be cocaine and methamphetamine.”

After being told to vacuum the residue K l a s s e n , a t r ai n e d p ar am e d i c an d knowledgeable in risk assessments, contacted his paramedic colleagues for help with confirming what the substance was before putting staff and himself at risk when told to handle an unidentified substance.

While these risks may sound overblown to some, narcotics exposure can be a serious hazard to those working within vehicles every day. In fact, a vehicle’s interior may be contaminated with harmful substances

at any time, not just through incidents of theft—though stolen vehicles are far more likely to have traces drugs still in them.

Vapor from methamphetamine , for example, can cling to surfaces and form into crystals, experts say. Those who come in contact with such surfaces could ingest it through their skin or other ways.

Fentanyl and its analogs can be present in the form of green tablets, adhesive patch, white powder or liquid. Unless exposure is prolonged or ingested, the risk of toxicity is low. Potential exposure routes of greatest concern include inhalation, contact through the mouth, nasal passages, or eyelids, ingestion, and needle pricks. Brief skin contact with fentanyl or its analogs is not expected to lead to toxic effects provided any visible contamination is immediately removed.

Wash Bay attendants, detailers and estimators often encounter many types of stains in vehicle interiors and on upholstery.

Most stains are not hazardous; however, there are substances that even when dry pose a safety risk. Dried blood, for instance, is still capable of transmitting Hepatitis B as the virus can live up to two weeks in a bloodstain according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Group A strep bacteria is another infectious substance that can transfer from saliva and nasal secretions to gear shifts, door handles and other vehicle surfaces surviving for a certain amount of time. Transmission can occur if an uninfected person touches something an infected person has coughed or sneezed upon and then brushes their hand against their eyes, mouth, or nose.

While taking precautions to prevent such exposures in the vehicle aftermarket sector is new, many professions have taken to adopting the safety measures for preventing exposure to unknown infectious organisms and illicit drugs. They include health care workers, first responders (fire, paramedic, police), housekeepers, trauma/biohazard clean-up crews, and laboratory workers to name a few.

L ong-time Niverville volunteer fire department chief Ferd Klassen, owner of Niverville Autobody, was alarmed when a recovered stolen vehicle arrived in his facility filled with cocaine and methamphetamine.

After a distinguished career in the not-for-profit sector, Theresa Jachnycky joined the family business in 2014. She has provided executive leadership to small, medium and large corporations, and worked with diverse client populations and professionals in the areas of strategic and operational planning, community development, administration and finance. She holds a masters degree in health services administration & community medicine from the University of Alberta and a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Manitoba.

CBC News, MPI drug testing, decontaminating stolen vehicles before returning them to owners, Dec 24, 2018 Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Drugs Most Frequently Involved in Drug Overdose Deaths, 2011-2016, National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol 67, No 9, Dec 12 2018 Desert News Utah, Your stolen car is returned, what next? Get it inspected for meth police warn, May 28, 2016 https://www. deseretnews.com/article/865655243/Your-stolen-car-is-returnedwhat-next-Get-it-inspected-for-meth-police-warn.html

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 39

HEALTH & SAFETY

PREVENTING OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE FOR COLLISION REPAIRERS Start with the assumption that all substances found in and on vehicle interiors and upholstery are unknown and potentially hazardous Wear Personal Protective Equipment

• Goggles

• N95 mask (dust mask)

• Nitrile Gloves

Perform a Risk Assessment Vehicle Condition

Hand Hygiene

• Upholstery Stains

• Clean hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when hands are not

• Carpet Spills • Smells or Odors • P resence of powder-like substance • L ook for any objects that may cause a needlestick injury or cut • D rug Paraphernalia, including: (e.g. needles,

visibly soiled • If hands are visible soiled, wash hands with soap and water • Dispense liquid soap about the size of a dime and lather very well • Scrub your hands, between your fingers, backs of your hands, wrists, and forearms for at least 15 seconds.

• Scrub under your nails

tin foil pipes, plastic pen cases or cut up

• Rinse thoroughly under clean, running water

drinking straws, small spoons, rolled-up

• Dry your hands with a single use towel or use an air dryer

paper tubes, razor blades, lighters, glow sticks, surgical mask/dust mask, pacifiers or lollipops, bags of candy to hide pills)

• Turn off the taps/faucets with a paper towel • Protect your hands from touching dirty surfaces as you leave the bathroom

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: • Was the vehicle a stolen and recovered?

• General Tidiness OTHER PRECAUTIONS: • Look first before placing hands anywhere (e.g. under carpets, glovebox, compartments or trunk).

• Remove individual items one by one to reveal what is underneath • Do not blindly force hand behind or between seat squab and seat back.

40 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

• Cover cuts with bandages and wear gloves for added protection Handwashing remains the number one method for preventing infection and toxicity if exposed to harmful substances including deadly opioids and other drugs. For less than the cost of a daily cup of coffee, performed routinely, handwashing in conjunction with the use of nitrile gloves, masks and googles will safeguard collision repairers from the ills of unknown harmful substances when present.

• Before eating food • After using the bathroom

• Before and after treating a cut or wound • A fter touching garbage

• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing • After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste •A fter handling pet food or pet treats

TIME

TO TALK

TRAINING

THE FUTURE STARTS NOW Being a top shop means having top talent, and that means trained talent. Escalating vehicle technology demands upgrading skills, as well as embracing new ones.

The 2019 Training Directory makes it easy to find the right course, the right location and the best trainers.

It is the only comprehensive guide to training in, and for, the Canadian collision repair industry.

The 2019 Training Directory, powered by Collision Repair magazine is here.

• EASY ACCESS • EASY NAVIGATION EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COLLISION REPAIR TRAINING

TRAINING‘19 PRESENTS THE

DIRECTORY

Check out trainingmatters.ca, the complement to the 2019 Training Directory.

Contact us at 905-370-0101 or email us at info@trainingmatters.ca

RED & WHITE AND READ ALL ACROSS CANADA Here at Collision Repair, we are proudly Canadian. We are committed to telling the stories our collision repair community cares about most. Perhaps that is why we were the trade publication of choice for 80% of respondents to a recent industry magazine readership survey.

Based on an independant survey conducter by IPAO Market Research Full results available by request to: publisher@collisionrepairmag.com

SUBSCRIBE TO COLLISION REPAIR IN PRINT AND ONLINE TODAY!

Media Matters Inc. publishes Collision Repair magazine every two months, and publishes a daily digital e-zine focused on the stories that matter to Canada’s collision community.

Subscribe today to read more of the stories that matter to you!

To Sign Up for Your Subscription, visit collisionrepairmag.com and click on Subscribe Today!

WHO’S DRIVING

SPARKING INSPIRATION TO YOUR STAFF

By Jay Perry

Creating the perfect work environment

W ASK YOURSELF, “WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE YOUR JOB AND YOUR LIFE HERE AT WORK BETTER?”

Jay Perry is co-author of the book Success Manifesto with Brian Tracy, and the founder of Ally Business Coaching, a process improvement and leadership development firm. He can be reached at jayperry@ab-c-inc.com.

ith so many things happening in a business everyday and all day, it can be hard to keep focused so that your attitude is the right one, the one that inspires people to follow you.

In order to maintain this focus I recommend that everyone should develop a mantra of sorts to remind themselves as to why they wanted to be a leader in the first place. This will be quite unique and personal to each of us and it may take a little reflection to get the right balance in yours.

To help you get started I have created this basic approach and put it in question form so that it prompts you to get re-centered on what matters to you, your company and, most importantly, your people. Ask yourself, “What can I do to make your job and your life here at work better?”

It is an outlook that creates opportunity for continuous improvement and an infectious attitude throughout the organization. This concept embraces servant leadership and moves the leader to a place of balance between the identified needs of the staff and the constant search for the right resources.

This highlights the viewpoint that the best leaders have developed, that of vigilantly looking for unexpected connections. These connections could be people or items. The people could be

anything from teachers to teammates.

The items could be tools for the now or for the future so that staff is better prepared to handle change as the need is presented. It doesn’t necessarily have to be as tangible as items either. It could be more of an awareness to say ‘thank you’ when you see someone doing a good job. What we want to avoid is becoming habituated toward the important small things that make life more pleasant.

When the position of the leader is caring genuinely that things are being improved for their people, so many more of the nuances of leadership become easier to handle. You are spending most of your day with these people, which is why it makes sense to create an atmosphere that everyone can enjoy being in.

This kind of focus leads to even more benefits. Inspirational leadership follows and people understand better when help is flowing their way. They want to follow that leader. The opposite attitude is disheartening, deflating and creates the negative environment that people flee.

You will have day-to-day distractions. As a leader that is unavoidable but you must stay focused on what makes life better for your people because that ultimately makes life better for all. That’s what will keep you the one who’s driving.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 45

TRAINING

UNMASKING MYTHS

By Andrew Shepherd

Identifying the truth behind collision shop certification

R ANYONE DECLARING THAT A SHOP IS “NOT QUALIFIED” IF THEY HAVE NOT PAID THE CERTIFICATION FEE MAY HAVE AN AGENDA OTHER THAN INDUSTRY ADVANCEMENT.

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

ecently, in a another trade magazine, it was asserted that “Less than 15 percent of collision repair facilities in Canada are qualified to repair cars” because “less than 600 [sic] shops are OEM certified . . .”

This is a myth of epic proportions. It may be useful to examine where the industry stands on “qualified collision repair” and who benefits from such a myth.

A great majority of Canada’s 4,000 repair facilities have performed accurate, safe and effective vehicle repairs for many years. This fact is underpinned by the ongoing support of Canada’s major private and public insurers. Yes, the increasing complexity of vehicle components and repair methods is putting pressure on repairers to keep up, but are we to believe that more than 85 percent of shops cannot now perform ‘qualified’ repairs? Has anyone mentioned this to Boyd, CARSTAR, Fix Auto, CSN etc.?

Clearly, many qualified shops simply haven’t approached accreditation. These shops are following all OEM repair directions and have industry-leading equipment and training—who will call them unqualified? The Automotive Retailers Association who initiated the Certified Collision Repair program in B.C. spoke to this issue at CCIF Vancouver 2016, identifying that a program is needed to recognize and encourage operators in urban as well as non-urban centres. For many facilities it would make no financial sense to invest

in OEM certifications when they already receive the bulk of work within their communities or have no supporting local dealers. The program has always been about promoting standards and a methodology to demonstrate to consumers who the top tier of industry is—those shops capable through training, equipment and infrastructure to repair modern vehicles. Any other assertion is simply a marketing ploy.

As the AIA Position Paper on Collision Shop Certification notes: “Any collision repair facility can legally repair any vehicle, whether it belongs to the certified repair network program or not. In general, the accredited repair network programs serve the manufacturer interest because they encourage the purchase of OE parts, and most importantly because they promote brand allegiance after a collision.”

The move toward collision shop accreditation is a good one and supported by almost all in the industry. Accreditation raises standards, enhances consumer confidence, reinforces safety objectives and forces sub-standard operators to shape up or close. But a decision to become accredited should be based on competitiveness and return on investment and no one should be fooled into thinking that it ‘qualifies’ the shop to fix certain brands of automobile. Anyone declaring that a shop is “not qualified” if they have not paid the certification fee may have an agenda other than industry advancement.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 47

PRINCIPLES OF REPAIR

THE UNFORESEEN FUTURE

By Peter Sziklai

Prepping your collision repair facility for the future

T YOU OWE IT TO YOUR BUSINESS TO PUT SOME THOUGHT INTO OTHER POSSIBILITIES AND PROBABILITIES, CONSIDER THE COSTS AND OPPORTUNITIES AND THEN SET PLANS.

Peter Sziklai is the owner of Tsawwassen Collision, an independent collision repair shop near Vancouver. Actively involved in the industry since 1982, he is the founder of the Ready For its Next Accident project (rfina.ca), which focuses on fostering an awareness of the principles of repair. He can be reached at peter@tcltd.pro.

he future for the collision repair industry is less clear than it has been for many decades.

One of my favorite themes is ‘the solution to this problem was five years ago.’ If you had not started preparing five years ago for an eventuality that plays out today there is not a lot you can do other than pay the cost to get out from under the problem and re-evaluate your preparation for the future.

An example is I-CAR Gold, with the standards for achieving this becoming more stringent in 2019 combined with more interest in Gold status from insurers and certification programs. This interest has not yet been converted to action (except in Manitoba, which is home to half of all Gold shops in the country) and you have been able to skate through based on local relationships and current DRPs. Now you look at 2019 and see two things; getting to Gold is more demanding; and the people who pay you are starting to look for it.

The five-year thing comes into play; you announce to your staff that I-CAR courses will be mandatory and all of them will need to take more than one course a month to meet the requirements. Everyone will stall for the first two months and by March they all need to take two courses each month. One or two of them will be more interested in this year’s money than the future that is not all that clear yet and they

will leave to the operator that is not yet asking for these courses. If you are lucky you will be able to hire more enlightened replacements, but it is more realistic to expect a month or two of reduced volume while you get back up to full staff. Life would be a lot easier if you had started several years back with the introduction of one or two courses a year to get them comfortable with the idea of training.

One possible future includes national standards backed by government legislation. Cars have become too complex to be repaired to random rules applied by insurance companies. Also, the business of repairing cars involves more than the necessary safe repairs and the manufacturers are not the right group to design and control the business model.

This will not be sprung on you without notice, but neither will it be announced with 10 years warning. Will you see it as an opportunity, a minor nuisance or a major problem? Moves you make now will have a huge bearing, but what will these decisions mean if the regulation does not happen?

You owe it to your business to put some thought into other possibilities and probabilities, consider the costs and opportunities and then set plans. It is not easy nor without risk but sitting back and waiting is probably the highest risk you can take.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 49

ENGINE KNOX

THE GREAT BALANCING ACT

By Steve Knox

Keeping up with the costs

A

BUSINESS IS SCARY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE ON A TIGHTROPE WITH EVERY JOB THAT YOU RUN THROUGH THE SHOP.

CARSTAR Fredericton and CARSTAR Fredericton North general manager Steve Knox is a member of the CCIF Steering Committee and an I-CAR instructor. He can be reached at sknox@ carstarfredericton.ca.

nother month ended, and I find myself sitting down to read my monthly statement.

So many thoughts go through my head—spending is down a little, my parts gross has come up a bit, wages are a little lower on the admin side due to some changes, labour sales are holding steady.

Looking at the gross profits, this should have been a great month. Really though, it was just alright. I’d like to do a little better.

Business is scary, especially when you realize that you are on a tightrope with every job that you run through the shop. We recently installed a new management system to give us far more transparency with our performance. We can more easily balance our revenue against our gross income and against our net income. We ask our insurance partners for every small labour or materials allowance we can get. We beg for every paint hour or minute we can ask for. Why? We have to. It seems that the little extras we ask for is what we have left after adding up the costs to run these businesses. It is hard to not take it personally when we get an estimate back that has been cut down. Our livelihoods rely on these. The undercoating. The seam sealer application.

The scanning for codes. The special adhesives and the list goes on.

The industry is beginning to mandate proper, safe repairs. That means shops need to invest in new equipment and training.

If we are all repairing cars the way that the factory recommends, we’re doing the

right thing. But how much does that new resistance spot welder cost? It’s not cheap.

In order to fulfill the OEM guidelines, you need one. How about a frame bench? It is much more. You need one for some OEM guidelines. Don’t forget your training. You better pay that tech more per hour in the hope of keeping them once they’re educated. The more you invest in staff, the more attractive they become to the competition.

Your shop’s average severity will rise. That never looks good on an insurer’s report card. As you add in the extra lines that are needed, your average cost of repair will go up. The truth though, is the industry’s average severity is up.

What is the premium offered to shops that perform these upgrades? Do shops who do not upgrade their tools and training get paid the same as the state-of-theart shops? In most cases yes. Our industry is in flux. We are moving toward the future but aren’t there yet. A lot of very modern cars are being repaired with very old-fashioned methods. Are they safe?

Maybe. Maybe not. Nobody will know until there is another accident. That’s an awful gamble to make.

Our shop is I-CAR Gold certified. It’s certified with CCIAP. It’s certified with Certified Collision Care. We’re very proud of these facts, but they didn’t come without a price tag. So how will my next month’s net income look? Likely very similar.

Next year, though, it will grow. I’m sure it will.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 51

PRAIRIE VIEW

WELCOMING WOMEN

By Chelsea Stebner

Breaking down one of the industry’s biggest barriers

N “HERE’S TO STRONG WOMEN. MAY WE KNOW THEM. MAY WE BE THEM. MAY WE RAISE THEM” – UNKNOWN

Chelsea Stebner is a co-owner/ operator of Parr Auto Body, a collision repair facility located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She can be reached at chelsea@ parrautobody.com.

ow, hear me. Before anyone gets their hackles up about feminism, about gender equality, about all the media and current trends out there. Just stop.

This is not about any of that. It’s about hiring the right person for the job and the opportunities out there for diversity in our workplaces, for growing our labour force and for building great businesses.

If you had the opportunity to hear the women’s panel at CCIF 2018 in Vancouver, you’ll know that it is a shift in attitude, a shift in perspective, an understanding of working together to better our industry and other trades as well.

Did you know that almost 50 percent of Canada’s labour force are women?

Did you know that only 6.4 percent of trade jobs in Canada are held by women and that one percent of them are in the automotive field?

I grew up in this industry surrounded by men. As a matter of fact, after my first two years in the industry I took a break and went into a great paying government job that quite frankly was a full office of women and I couldn’t wait to get back to collision repair! I have had such a positive experience working in collision repair, with many great mentors, many of them being male, that I want to encourage and welcome young women into the collision repair world.

To speak directly to young women interested in collision repair, I have a bit

of advice: know what you want and be open to opportunity. One of the points I want to drive home is this. Say YES. Say yes to training, to volunteering, to public speaking opportunities, to sitting on a board, to writing a column in a magazine. Basically, be prepared to get outside your four walls and get uncomfortable. Change never happens when we neglect to look outside the box. It is our responsibility to push ourselves for more that will open more doors.

To the men out there with wives, sisters, daughters – ensure your steadfast support of these women so that they can succeed in their chosen field. Looking for a place to start? Ensure that you are supportive with a listening ear, helping find balance, sharing the load and being an encouraging presence in their lives.

If you’re their leader provide training, development and a safe environment for learning and growing.

In your business, if you want to build relationships and to create a nurturing, compassionate team, consider hiring more women. But before you do that, ensure your culture is positive and open so that it is an easier step in the right direction. Understand that your culture is built on a solid foundation of leadership and great direction, values, vision, great policies and procedures about work flow, job descriptions and great health and safety programming. As a leader, your attitude is everything to your team.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 53

CAREER PROFILE Sebastien and Maude Levis.

After taking over the facility in 2017, the Levis joined CARSTAR in 2018. Sebastien was named the banner’s ‘Rookie of the Year.’

PARTNERS IN PROGRESSIVE REPAIRING HOW SEBASTIEN AND MAUDE LEVIS FOUNDED A BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP BASED ON MARRIAGE

By Jordan Arseneault

C

ARSTAR Levis isn’t your ma and pa bodyshop. The rebranded CARSTAR location has gotten off to a blistering start, earning quite the reputation in the province of Quebec. The newly renovated facility has quickly become one of CARSTAR’s shining examples of what joining a banner corporation can do for an independent shop. Don’t let the bodyshop’s new facelift fool you however; the real story behind its success is the dedicated owners who acquired the location.

Sebastien and Maude Levis purchased the shop in 2017 and haven’t looked back. In just their first year, the duo managed to double the previous owner’s sales. The accomplishments lead to both Sebastien and Maude being recognized as CARSTAR Rookies of the Year for 2018. The secret to their success, well simply put, they have great chemistry.

“We work as a team is every aspect of our lives so it's just the logical continuation of our 12 years relationship,” Maude said. “We are very complementary to each other and I think that it's a part of our success.”

54 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

Sebastien works with a Pro Spot I 4S Spot Welder.

The couple, who have been together for the past 12 years, have taken their teamwork skills and translated them to the workplace.

Showing up in the wee hours of the morning, the two provide a perfect complement for each other, each lending skills in areas were the other lacks. Sebastien, having worked in the field of collision repair for most of his

life, handles the daily operations in the shop, while Maude, a former credit agent, is tasked with assisting customers and conducting estimates on vehicles.

“For me, the biggest challenge has been to improve my knowledge about this industry,” Maude said. “I never worked in this industry before but my other administrative and

CAREER PROFILE

technical experiences, along with Sebastien’s experience, made our success.

“Work ethic and her past professional experiences gave us the chance to improve our knowledge in estimating and body repairs,” Sebastien said. “This gave us the chance to build a solid relation with insurance companies based on mutual trust.”

In what seems like a match made in heaven wasn’t always the case, at least as far as the bodyshop goes. Sebastien had tried for years to persuade Maude to join him in the collision repair world, but for Maude the timing wasn’t right. It wasn’t until Sebastien brought forward the idea of joining CARSTAR that Maude had started to think otherwise.

“I decided to make the move with Sébastien after several years of discussion,” Maude said. “Joining CARSTAR was the time to do it as he needed help to make it happen. He thought that I was the right person to get into this with him.”

“She made the step and I'm very happy for it,” Sebastien said. “I'm really grateful that she accepted to leave her own career to get with me in this great adventure.”

It’s safe to say that the gamble paid off and then some. Sebastian and Claude couldn’t be happier with their decision and the opportunities brought to them through their partnership with CARSTAR. “Being a part of CARSTAR banner is a great

Alain reads the report produced automatically by the Accuvision 3D computer.

“CARSTAR is very dedicated to curing cystic fibrosis, something we are looking forward to further getting involved with” — Sebastien Levis

experience,” Maude said. “All the franchisee work as a team and their representative involvement is unbelievable. It's just like everyone is there for each other.”

“CARSTAR is very dedicated to curing cystic fibrosis, something we are looking forward to further getting involved with,” Sebastien said.

As for what the future holds, well it’s safe to say that they couple will continue to work together.

“Working with Sebastian is easier than I thought it would be!”

Karina, Maude, Stéphane, Sebastien, Alain, Carl, Noël, Daniel and Marc-André.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 55

EVENTS

A BRIGHT FUTURE

LKQ LOOKING FOR NEW DIRECTIONS TO EXPAND

By Cindy Macdonald

L

KQ has come a long way in 20 years. The company that began as a consolidator of auto salvage yards is now a global supplier of recycled and aftermarket parts.

Speaking to an audience of insurance providers and repairers at LKQ’s Client Forum in late October, CEO Nick Zarcone said the firm achieved a 10-fold increase in revenue from 2007 to 2017. “We have increased our revenue faster than eBay, Google, Apple and Netflix. And we’re in

the parts business,” he said with pride.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of LKQ. What’s next for the company that’s growing faster than most well-known tech companies? Well, the company’s core business is and will continue to be the parts business, but there may be opportunity for expansion into areas that add value to our customers.

Zarcone was clear that he has no intent of getting into the repair business, but, “we’re looking at our customer’s needs throughout the value chain and thinking about areas where

CONSOLIDATION AND EXPANSION LKQ’s founders had a vision of consolidating the auto salvage sector to add value to the services they could provide repairers.

“The idea was to take a very fragmented, Mom and Pop industry, and bring process, and controls, and capital, and talent, and create something that had never been done before,” Zarcone recalled.

LKQ’s first acquisitions in 1998 were shops in Ohio, Florida and Wisconsin. Five years later, when the company went public, it owned 31 salvage yards and had about U.S. $300 million in revenue.

The next major development was the purchase of Keystone Automotive Industries in 2007, which added aftermarket parts capabilities. Zarcone said LKQ is the only entity offering aftermarket and recycled parts on the same truck.

LKQ senior director MSO sales and Insurance Services Paul Reichert, LKQ CEO Nick Zarcone, and regional vice president of LKQ Derek Willshire.

In 2011, a European expansion began with the purchase of Euro Car Parts, a supplier of repair parts in the U.K. The European expansion phase continued with 55 more acquisitions, including the market leading entities in Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. LKQ now has annual revenues of more than U.S. $12 billion, split about evenly between North American and Europe.

“The North American salvage business for us has continued to grow dramatically, but in terms of total revenue, the company has continued to diversify both in terms of product lines and geographic regions” Zarcone explained.

LKQ is eyeing China, where the vehicle fleet is growing at a tremendous rate.

Support services for small, independent repairers are also on the horizon. Already, in

we can participate, such as business processes, customer support, and adjacent services.”

He feels OEMs are trying to monopolize the business of recalibrating advanced driverassistance systems (ADAS).

“We believe there is an opportunity, at some point in time, perhaps, for LKQ to provide a service like that.”

Of course, the focus would remain on high quality parts at right price. Right now, LKQ’s aftermarket parts inventory is approaching $500 million. On the recycled parts side, LKQ is digging deeper into every vehicle, capitalizing on opportunities presented by windshield washer tanks, specialty brackets, ADAS sensors, and interior and exterior trim.

“The North American salvage business for us has continued to grow dramatically, but in terms of total revenue, the company has continued to diversify both in terms of product lines and geographic regions.”

— Nick Zarcone the Netherlands, LKQ purchased a software company and is offering its customer relationship management (CRM) software free to repair shops. “We will give it away to our customers so they can be more competitive,” said Zarcone.

Noting a lack of training for estimators, LKQ is developing an alternative parts certification training program with I-CAR. No matter where and how the company diversifies, LKQ’s values continue to prioritize customer service.

“There’s no shortage of organizations willing to sell parts,” said Zarcone.“We need to provide better customer service.”

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 57

EVENTS

‘TWAS THE SEASON COLLISION REPAIR FACILITIES GIVE BACK

By Lindsey Cooke

T

he holiday season is a time for giving, and many collision repair facilities decided to get festive this year by donating some of their time and money to several different charitable causes to help those in need. The Ronald

McDonald House Charities (RMHC) was a popular one and provides families with sick children the financial and emotional support they might need. The local foodbanks were another common charity that was not forgotten about!

Collision Repair found that Fix Auto Network, Rondex, Parr Auto Body, and CARSTAR were among the many in the collision repair community that gave back last year, donating thousands of dollars and loads of gifts to several great causes!

the entire FAN Canada family of Fix Auto, Speedy Auto Service and NOVUS Glass.

With this expansion it is hoping to raise even more money for the organization to help keep families close while their children receive medical treatment at nearby hospitals.

“Working with the Fix Auto team for the past two years has been wonderful, and we’re so excited that our partnership has now expanded to include Speedy Auto Service and NOVUS Glass,” commented Kate Horton, executive director for RMHC Canada Through each of the network’s regional meetings in 2018, FAN was able to raise a total of $75,087 for the foundation.

“It’s exciting to think of how much more we can achieve for RMHC Canada families

and communities in the future, with all of our automotive brands’ support,” said Alexandra Zalec, vice president of marketing for Fix Automotive Network Canada. Each 2018 FAN regional meeting entailed a RMHC Canada fundraising initiative; from silent auctions to prize raffles, meeting delegates dug deep.

The B.C. team raised $3,130, Alberta and Saskatchewan raised $4,000, Ontario and Manitoba raised $10,280, while the Quebec region raised $10,000, and the Atlantic team raised $1,100.

“On behalf of the 25,000 families who stay at Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada each year, we remain grateful to entire Fix Automotive Network for their commitment and support – from our families to yours, thank you.” said Horton.

FIX AUTOMOTIVE NETWORK Since 2016, hundreds of volunteers from Fix Automotive shops and corporate staff all over the country have dedicated their time towards helping out with the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

“We are so honoured to be partnered with such an amazing organization,” said Steve Leal, president and CEO of Fix Automotive Network World.

Across Canada, there are nearly 25,000 families from more than 1,800 communities across the country that call RMHC home each year. Additional help is still needed as more than 2,800 families were turned away in 2017, due to a lack of resources.

But this year Fix Automotive announced that it expanded its partnership with the Ronald McDonald House Charity to include

( Left to right) General manager FAN Alberta & Saskatchewan Chris Peterson, owner of Speedy Auto Service Taber Rick Tessemaker, president and CEO Fix Network World Steve Leal and CEO RMHC Southern and Central Alberta Jason Evans.

(Left to right) CEO RMHC south central Ontario Catherine Bridgman, manager of development & donor relations RMHC south central Ontario Chris Over, general manager FAN Ontario Daryll O’Keefe, and brand & marketing manager FAN Ontario Jamie Neuman-Rodrigues.

58 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

EVENTS

RONDEX Rondex, also operated under the mother company of the TED Group of Companies donated to the RMHC this year in two different locations, Winnipeg, Manitoba and Hamilton, Ontario.

“The cities in which we choose to run our business in are very important to us.

We are a family run business and because of this we also treat our staff and customers as such. There is nothing more special and more meaningful to The TED Group than for us to help families in need, and most of all at Christmas time. It is the very least that we can do. We are very proud to support The Ronald MacDonald House.”

For the fifth consecutive year, they donated to the RMHC in Hamilton but this time they raised a cash donation of $1500 from their silent auction. Not to mention a truck load of toys was also donated from their staff and customers. Rondex hosted more than 150 of their customers coming from all over Toronto to Niagara Falls for their festive Christmas dinner party.

But for the first time ever the company donated to the Winnipeg, Manitoba RMHC location raising $3,500.

“We’re extremely proud to present the cheque to Wendy Galagan, the CEO of Ronald McDonald House Manitoba. This donation was made on behalf of all friends, family and customers of Rondex and The TED Group of companies,” said James Sun, TED Group marketing coordinator.

Just when you think they have finished giving back, president of the TED Group, Bret Greenwood said they will be giving lunches to some of the rooms at the Winnipeg house this year. “We will be supporting the RMHC in more than one way this year. Stay tuned,” said Greenwood.

PARR AUTO BODY Saskatoon-based Parr Auto Body got into the spirit of the season by donating to a couple of different charities, including the Ronald McDonald House’s Adopt-a-Room program and the Saskatoon Food Bank.

The facility started off by donating $4,000 and enough food to stuff an SUV to a local food bank. Parr Auto Body’s donations, which went to the Saskatoon Food Bank, was given as part of the ‘Stuff The Bus Campaign’ put on by radio station Rock 102 FM. “Our team really comes together to make things happen. It’s great to include different team members in the opportunities to expose them to the feeling of sharing our blessings,”

( Left to right) The TED Group secretary / COO Everett Greenwood, TED Group president & CEO Bret Greenwood, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Manitoba Wendy Galagan, and Ronald McDonald House Manitoba volunteer Tim Smith.

Christmas dinner in Hamilton was held on December. 6 and A was packed with more than a hundred customers.

said managing partner of Parr Auto Body, Chelsea Stebner.

This isn’t the first time that Parr Auto Body has made a large donation to the Saskatoon Food Bank. In 2015, they also donated $10,000 to the Milk For Kids Program. In addition to this, the team also gives back to a variety of charities and continues to have an ongoing commitment to provide support for Ronald McDonald House’s Adopt-a-Room program.

“Parr considers community involvement to be one of its core values and we believe that as people living and doing business in Saskatoon we have a responsibility to give back to that community,” said Stebner.

( Left to right) Gary Kotzer, Whitney Graves, Chelsea Stebner and Derek Watson.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 59

EVENTS

CARSTAR’S DAYS OF GIVING CARSTAR teamed up with local radio stations across southwestern Ontario to provide 30 families in need with an extra boost of holiday cheer through its annual Days of Giving initiative.

Listeners nominated deserving families by sharing stories of why their nominee was in need of some extra support during the holiday season. Participating CARSTAR locations then donated gift cards ranging from $300$500, which went towards food, clothing and

financial support for the deserving winners.

“CARSTAR aims to give back to the communities we live and work in all year round, and our annual Days of Giving donations are no different,” says CARSTAR president Michael Macaluso. “Participating CARSTAR locations drive this program and their generosity is truly unmatched as they continue this donation year after year.”

When members from various CARSTAR locations delivered the gift cards they also

CARSTAR GIVES BACK TO CYSTIC FIBROSIS CANADA After a CARSTAR franchise operator’s granddaughter was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis more than 20 years ago, the collision repair network decided to become a continuous donor for the cause.

Last year, CARSTAR raised more than half-a-million dollars for cystic fibrosis research and care.

“Our commitment to fundraising for cystic fibrosis research, care and advocacy runs deep within our corporate culture at CARSTAR, as many of us have heard touching stories from families and those affected by cystic fibrosis first hand,”said CARSTAR president Michael Macaluso.

The franchise – which has more than 600 facilities across Canada and the U.S. – raised much of the cash through hockey tournaments, car washes, auctions and golf competitions put on throughout 2018.

But a huge chunk of the final sum was collected in a single evening during the CARSTAR yearly gala, where attendees donated about $200,000.

CARSTAR has now raised close to $3.7million for Cystic Fibrosis Canada, a number the charity’s president and CEO Kelly Grover praised as a “shining example” of “corporate philanthropy.”

60 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

had the opportunity to hear the recipients’ stories in person and see their reactions to the donations.

“We get so moved by their stories and are incredibly grateful that we have the opportunity to help these families out,” says Luci Minogue, owner, CARSTAR London East and CARSTAR London West. “I have even stayed in touch with some of our winners from over the years, and I just feel so lucky to have met these outstanding people.”

CARSTAR president Michael Macaluso.

EVENTS

CHARITY AND GOOD CHEER BUDDS’ COLLISION HOSTS 20TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY AND PIG ROAST

By Lindsey Cooke Darryl O’Keefe, Steve Leal, Gloria Mann and Harry Dhanjal.

F

or the past 20 years, hundreds of members from the collision repair community gather to Budds’ Collision in Oakville, Ont., for their annual Christmas tradition of a pig roast in support of the Sam Piercey foundation.

“Sam started this event 20 years ago and the tradition will live on for many years to come,” said JR Martino, general manager of Budds' Collision.

JR and his team rearranged their world-class, aluminum certified and multi-OEM certified facility for the day to accommodate hundreds

of visitors for the event. Many of the dining areas featured custom-made pieces from classic cars or engine blocks from rare Jaguars or Mini Coopers.

The well-attended event was open to staff, partners in the community and those involved in broader collision repair industry.

“We’re proud to carry on my father’s legacy through this event and the foundation. He is missed by all of those in attendance and his presence is still very much in the air this time of year,” said Sam Piercey Jr. “He would be pleased to know that we are awarding these

bursaries in his name and that the donations are from his friends, family and others who remember him fondly.”

Diane Piercey, Sam's widow, was also in attendance. “It has been great to see everyone again. It’s like a family reunion,” she said.

The Sam Piercey Foundation awards bursaries to the winners of the Skills Canada competitions for paint and body repair. The 2018 competitions were completed earlier in the year. The foundation expects to announce the recipients as well as new regional and national partners for bursaries early in the New Year.

Joey Piercey, Sam Jr. Piercey and Bing Wong.

The Pierceys celebrate with a family embrace.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 61

INFORM, ENGAGE, CONNECT Put your products and services in front of your key targets with this one-stop industry resource.

COLLISION REPAIR ANNUAL BUYER’S GUIDE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS! Back by popular demand, the Collision Repair Annual Buyer’s Guide & Directory is a valuable one-stop resource featuring over 120 products and services. It is an easy and accessible reference tool for the Collision Repair Industry. Buyers Guide is at your fingertips as well as those of your target customer featuring specific categories

such a parts, refinishing, tools, accessories and more. There is no better source to list or source the product and service information. Would you like to update your product offering throughout the year? We made that option easily available at collisionrepairmag.com. Talk to us. We’ll show you how easy it can be.

To place your order, contact your sales representative, order online at www.collisionrepairmag.com or call us at 905-370-0101

Buyer’s Guide Put your products and services directly in front of your key targets.

Connect with your target customer. Increase leads and sales with Collision Repair magazine’s Annual Buyers Guide. Engage your audience in both print and online. To reserve your FREE product spotlight listing, simply follow these steps and our editors will do the rest!

1

PICK YOUR CATEGORY Abrasives

Management & Software

Alignment

Tools & Accessories

Adhesives

Paint and Refinish

Measurement

Scanning and Equipment

3

2

Health and Safety

COPY Spotlights are in standardized format with a 110 word count. Product descriptions can be submitted via pdf brochures, web links or other sources of information.

Welding

PHOTOS Include a high-resolution (300 dpi) photo of your product and logo.

4

SUBMISSION Email: Fill out this form and submit via e-mail to: buyersguide@collisionrepairmag.com Fax: Scan this form and fax it completed to 1-866-868-7072 Mail: Complete this form and mail it to the address below Online: Use the following link to complete your submission: collisionrepairmag.com/buyers-submissions

ORDER FORM This form can be e-mailed, snail mailed, faxed, or submitted online along with the additional information requested above.

Mail: 317 Reid Street, Peterborough ON K9J 3R2

Online: collisionrepairmag.com/buyers-submissions

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Product _________________________________________________________________________________________ If you have any questions, please contact Ellen Smith E-mail: ellen@mediamatters.ca Phone: 905-370-0101

BY THE NUMBERS

CRITICIZING THE COLLEGES COLLISION COMMUNITY LAMBASTES PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS

By Gideon Scanlon

C

anada's collision community has delivered a scathing verdict against the country's auto repair education programs.

According to the results of an anonymous survey of Collision Repair readers, just 38 percent of industry owners and managers believe Canada's pre-apprenticeship diplomas provide an excellent or good foundation in the basics of repair procedures.

With one exception, this was the highest rated aspect of Canada's college-level collision curriculum.

Just one-in-four respondents judged college coverage of welding techniques to be either excellent or good, while 47 percent viewed it as inadequate or non-existent.

8%

Respondent's faith in their apprentices training in aluminum repairs was even lower, with 76 percent giving a score of inadequate or dreadful.

Likewise, six-in-10 respondents considered their apprentices' training in PDR techniques to be either inadequate or nonexistent. More than half of respondents also considered newly trained apprentices to have an inadequate or nonexistent understanding of new technologies.

The one area where the majority of repairers did believe their incoming apprentices were being well trained in was in matters of health and safety. Close to eight-in-10 respondents judged there apprentices understanding of the health and safety procedures to be either excellent or good.

4%

Collision repairers are not alone in their concerns about college-level training. One employee of a public insurance company wrote in to say that among insurers, "It is felt that the instructors themselves lack the experience, and that they do not provide the proper supervision to make quality tradespersons of their students."

While the overall results indicate a widespread lack of faith in the college-level industry education system, so repairers were prepared to defend the system.

"Pre-apprenticeship programs give a good overview of our trade," one respondent wrote, adding: "I believe it is the facilities responsibility to shape and educate the employees into what field they will excel at.”

13% Nil Inadequate Fair Good Excellent

13%

30%

34%

BASIC REPAIR PROCEDURES

26%

REFINISHING PROCEDURES

4%

39%

Nil Inadequate Fair Good Excellent

18% 40% ALUMINUM REPAIRS

36% 64 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

30%

BY THE NUMBERS

4% 21% NIL INADEQUATE FAIR GOOD EXCELLENT

22%

21%

Nil Inadequate Fair Good Excellent

PAINTLESS DENT REPAIR PROCEDURES

WELDING

18%

59%

26%

26% 8%

4%

13%

13%

Nil Inadequate Fair Good Excellent

9%

il nadequate air ood xcellent

30%

30%

8%

HEALTH AND SAFETY PROCEDURES

NEW TECHNOLOGIES

40%

39%

31%

34%

4%

Nil Inadequate Fair Good Excellent

39%

18% Nil Inadequate Fair Good Excellent

36%

ESTIMATION PROCEDURES

PRE-AND POSTSCANNING PROCEDURES 22% 18%

26% FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR  65

BUSINESS ADVICE

MARKETING YOUR SHOP HOW DATA-DRIVEN MARKETING CAN HELP BODYSHOPS CONNECT WITH CUSTOMERS

By Stacey Phillips

D

iane Miller from Body Shop Nation recently asked a room full of bodyshop owners and managers: “Did your marketing make you money last year? Or did it cost you?”

Diane recently shared the secret of ranking above business competitors and gaining more customers during an AkzoNobel Acoat Selected North American Performance Group held in San Diego, CA. “Spend your marketing dollars focused on what works,” advised Diane. “You’ll be able to measure your results in real-time from every source.”

With a background in the insurance and collision repair industries, Diane and her husband Don, owners of Body Shop Nation, help bodyshops market their businesses online and connect with customers and their local community using “data-driven marketing.”

This includes Search Engine Optimization

“The most valuable asset online is your website,” said Don. “The more your site answers the question of the search, the higher the ranking of the website.”

- Don Miller (SEO), social media campaigns, geo-location marketing and contextual targeting.

Don explained that SEO is the ability to deliver a business’s website in a proper search result that compels the consumer to take action—either a phone call or filling out a form. “The most valuable asset online is your website,” said Don. “The more your site answers the question of the search, the higher the ranking of the website.”

Don and Diane Miller, owners of Body Shop Nation.

They also discussed the importance of instituting social media campaigns. “Have your name at the forefront when someone in the community asks for referrals or recommendations through any social channel,” said Diane.

“Facebook is the cheapest marketing platform and delivers a targeted campaign to a specific audience, even down to the type of vehicle they own.”

Geo-location marketing targets prospective customers based on their location while contextual targeting is the ability to target any user in a geographic location based on the search terms looked up, the websites visited, the content read, and the social media links clicked on. “User actions are an excellent targeting approach to be first in your community before any other shop,” said Don. Body Shop Nation also uses “micro-targeting” which in many cases they said has been shown to be a more effective marketing strategy. Micro-targeting is the ability to market to a customer based on what they do. Using micro-targeting, cell phones can be targeted, as well as a person’s

location and even a competitor’s website.

Consumers can also be targeted based on the content read.

“Micro-targeting allows you to reach clients in exclusive ways,” said Don. “Geo-fencing is a popular form of micro-targeting and allows us to deliver a specific ad to a specific group of people in a specific location. Yes, you can target customers sitting in your competitor’s lobby.”

He explained that geo-fencing can be used for anything including community awareness. “You can use geo-fencing to get eyes on your brand from about any source you want,” said Don. “You can even load your CRM data and deliver messages about anything you want to. It’s an invaluable tool that very few are using.”

During their presentation, Don and Diane talked about incorporating these marketing strategies to maximize investment.

“Data not only helps with your ROI (Return on Investment), but it can also tell you if your website is working and how to manage your business,” said Diane. “Data tells you exactly what to do next.”

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 67

BUSINESS ADVICE

BODY SHOP NATION’S 10 TIPS TO BOOST SEO AND GAIN MORE CUSTOMERS

1

SITE STRUCTURE Site structure is the very core of SEO. Don said that website structure must be set up, so it’s understood and indexed by the search engines to deliver content to your ideal customer based on what they are searching. “Most web designers do not set up the structure or have the knowledge to do it, so make sure to find out before hiring someone,” he advised.

2

RANKING FACTORS Increasing ranking factors helps search engines decide which website to deliver in a search result that meets all guidelines for trustworthiness, quality, content and reputation.

4

ADD FOUR AND FIVESTAR GOOGLE REVIEWS Having positive review yellow stars alongside your company name when someone conducts a search helps your business stand out from the crowd and also provides authority.

6

ENCOURAGE ENGAGEMENT Diane stressed the importance of having someone take action in order for a business to become visible. “We need some form of action to become relevant both in the search and social platforms,” she said. “Views on social media mean nothing without a like or share.”

8

BROAD SEARCH TERM This involves becoming the overwhelming option on the first page of a search in addition to being in position one. Your content must be written correctly and structured in order to be effective.

10

RELEVANCE When someone is engaged with your post, it demonstrates to the search engine that you are relevant and affects how high your website will appear in the search results.

68 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

3 5

SHOW UP IN TOP THREE A structured website will tell the search engines where to deliver you in the search results. The goal is to become an “Authority Brand” and to show up at the top of the search results.

SOCIAL MEDIA Active social campaigns are now an essential aspect of Google’s search algorithm and tell the search engines how involved your business is with your community.

7

ENGAGEMENT When posting on social media platforms, Don said to ensure it is something that is going to engage customers and be interesting to them. “You are essentially invisible if you don’t have engagement,” he said.

9

SOCIAL POSTING Regular posting is critical when it comes to SEO. It’s also important to always target your audience correctly and pay to be seen if necessary.

Body Shop Nation is a Google Certified Partner. Don and Diane regularly attend SEO classes to keep on top of Google’s algorithm.

For more information, visit bodyshopnation.com/bodyshops.

BUSINESS ADVICE

MEGATRENDS GLOBAL AUTOMOTIVE MEGATRENDS AND WHAT BODYSHOPS SHOULD EXPECT

By Stacey Phillips

B

odyshop owners and managers across the country recently had the opportunity to hear about global automotive “megatrends” predicted to occur over the next 30 years. Deirdre Mayhood, the global key account manager for AkzoNobel, shared insight about these trends in September during the company’s Acoat Selected Canadian Profitability Conference held in Montreal. Her presentation was based on information provided by Fitch Solutions and Shelley Cheshire, the former CEO of the IBIS organization and current owner of RepairTalks.

With bodyshops facing similar challenges in terms of purchasing equipment to do a proper repair, keeping up with OEM certifications and interacting with other stakeholders, Mayhood stressed the importance of understanding how quickly the collision repair industry is changing and how this will impact business.

“It’s no longer your grandfather’s auto industry,” said Mayhood. “Things are changing on a daily basis and it isn’t the same market—whether that relates to who is building the car, how it is powered, who owns the vehicle and even who the driver is. The way bodyshops do business and the types of cars they are working on now and in the future are very different.”

Deirdre Mayhood, global key account manager for AkzoNobel.

“It’s no longer your grandfather’s auto industry… The way bodyshops do business and the types of cars they are working on now and in the future are very different.”

—Dierdre Mayhood Mayhood outlined the findings of an automotive study conducted by Fitch Solutions.

70 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

Two hundred auto executives were asked what they believed to be the upcoming trends in the industry, and what investments businesses will need to make to stay competitive.

“Interestingly, the environment and energy efficiency came up as the biggest drivers and are predicted to make the most impact,” said Mayhood.

Four key megatrends for 2020 to 2050 were identified as, zero-emissions vehicles, the mass adoption of autonomous vehicles, the growth of shared mobility and vehicles within IoT (Internet of Things).

To be considered a megatrend, Mayhood said there are three different criterias, “It needs to be global, sustainable and have a major impact on the industry,” she explained.

BUSINESS ADVICE

FOUR KEY GLOBAL MEGATRENDS Zero-Emissions Vehicles The Fitch Solutions study forecasted considerable growth regarding zero-emissions vehicles. Mayhood said it will become critical to address the changing infrastructure, current sales and governmental pressures. “We still have a long way to go with electric vehicle adoption,” she said. “China is leading the way due to environmental regulations in Asia, closely followed by Europe, North America and then Latin America.”

Many countries are currently investigating renewable resources, such as geothermal, biomass, solar and wind. However, Mayhood pointed out that renewable energy is unpredictable and not always readily available. Industry experts say electric vehicles (EVs) could be a viable solution, specifically in terms of battery storage.

Autonomous Vehicles Autonomous vehicles are expected to change the balance of power between OEMs and suppliers, according to the report by Fitch Solutions. Mayhood said much of the technology needed for autonomous cars is being developed outside the automotive industry by non-traditional suppliers. She used the example of Intel partnering with companies such as Mobile Eye and Delphi to develop the software and sensor products necessary to operate these vehicles.

Insuring autonomous vehicles is another consideration that will need to be addressed.

Research has shown that autonomous systems will reduce the levels of car crashes, which will potentially lower premiums. However, the cost of insurance will not necessarily decrease due to the expensive parts required for these automobiles. Responsibility for the accident is also predicted to shift from the individual driver to an auto manufacturer or rental car company, especially with a driverless vehicle. In addition, further consolidation in the industry is expected to occur due to the possible decrease in premiums.

Shared Mobility ith the increasing focus on technology in future automobiles, OEMs no longer have as W many “touch points” with customers. As a result of these changes, Mayhood said OEMs are recognizing the need for a new business model. “Purely being a manufacturer is no longer enough,” she observed. “The OEMs are figuring out their place in the mobility ecosystem. They want to integrate technologies and services and ultimately they want to control the entire journey they have with consumers.” OEM certification programs will continue to be front and center, said Mayhood.

Carmakers are also forming partnerships with companies like Uber, Hertz and Apple to develop value-added transportation services for consumers based on shared mobility. This includes the shared use of a vehicle, bike or other transportation. They are also developing apps for ride sharing, maintenance, first notice of loss and other customer-focused issues.

The Internet of Things (IoT) In Mayhood’s opinion, IoT will be one of the biggest hurdles to overcome with advanced autonomous cars. Currently, interconnectivity is available on many vehicles, such as OnStar and BMW Assist. “We’re used to that type of technology but we’re going to take it another step further,” said Mayhood. In order for autonomous cars to operate, she said that a standard universal communications platform will need to be developed where automobiles can communicate with one another—vehicle to vehicle— as well as vehicle to infrastructure and passenger to car. Infrastructure issues will also need to be addressed.

“The entire car is not going to revolutionize itself overnight,” said Mayhood. “People are still going to drive cars.” In the meantime, she said auto manufacturers and others will continue to develop vehicles that are assisted, automated and autonomous. In closing, she encouraged bodyshop owners to stay informed of the changes and the effect they will have on customers and the overall repair process.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 71

www.ProFirst.ca

SPECIAL REPORT

COLOUR ME GLOBAL COLOUR REPORTS SHOW SHADES STILL SHINE

W

By Iain Burns

hite remains the most popular colour for vehicles around the world – but black and grey are on the rise, two new studies from major auto paint manufacturers have revealed.

About 38 percent of all vehicles on the road are painted white, reports by BASF and Axalta show.

In Asia, half of all vehicles are white, while in North America the figure is about 30 percent. More than half—58 percent—of all vehicles in China, meanwhile, are white.

The next most popular colours are black (18 percent), grey (12 percent) and silver (12 percent). Together, the four most popular coatings—all achromatic colours—make up 80 percent of all vehicle colours.

In fifth place is blue (seven percent), followed by red (five percent), brown/beige (five percent), yellow (two percent) and green (less than a percent). But white’s reign at the top could be limited, with the reports showing it may have peaked in China at 62 percent in 2017.

Hot on its heels are black and grey, both of which saw worldwide increases in popularity.

Nancy Lockhart, Axalta global colour marketing manager, said her team has observed “an emerging trend toward warmer shades” that could “challenge white’s position”.

"Although neutral spaces are the headliners, there is an indication of a return to colour to change the automotive landscape. Blue is most popular outside the neutrals and holding strong at seven percent of the market, increases of orange and bronze are popping up and gaining interest," she added.

Chiharu Matsuhara, head of automotive colour design for BASF’s Asia Pacific department, said that research on China shows a ‘diversity of chromatic colours’ emerging. “Chinese consumers readily display their colouristic tastes more so than in the past,” he said.

(TOP RIGHT) Axalta global colour marketing manager, Nancy Lockhart.

(BOTOM RIGHT) Head of automotive colour design for BASF’s Asia Pacific department Chiharu Matsuhara.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 73

CCIF

This year, the Canadian Collision Industry Forum celebrates its 20th anniversary.

MEET THE STEERING COMMITTEE NEW MEMBERS AND NEW PERSPECTIVES

By Lindsey Cooke Meet the members of the 2019 Canadian Collision Industry Forum Steering Committee. With members representing a wide array of the industry, the group comes together to discuss how to best address the shared concerns of Canada’s collision community.

CHAIRMAN PATRICE MARCIL North America learning & development director for Axalta Coating Systems.

CCIF ADMINISTRATION BRIGITTE PESANT Director of Collision programs for AIA Canada.

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SPECIAL ADVISOR ANDREW SHEPHERD Executive director of I-CAR Canada and senior director, industry programs for the AIA Canada and senior Collision Repair columnist.

TRISTA ANGER Regional business manager for BASF Coatings Western Canada.

CCIF

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PETER SZIKLAI Owner and president of Tsawwassen Collision and Collision Repair columnist.

COLIN ASSELSTINE Director of claims transformation and vendor management for RSA Insurance.

FLAVIO BATTILANA Chief operating officer at CSN Collision & Glass.

CHELSEA STEBNER Managing partner of Parr Auto Body and senior Collision Repair columnist.

JOHN HARVEY Vice president of sales for CARSTAR Canada.

CRAIG HENDRY Owner of Wendell Motors-Chrysler Jeep Dodge.

ANTHONY IABONI Owner of Collision 360.

JEAN-LUC SAURIOL Vertical business manager for ALLDATA.

WADE PARKER Bodyshop manager at Pye Chevrolet Buick GMC.

WILLIAM PERREAULT Director of claims appraisals for Desjardins Insurance.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARTHUR CRAWFORD Vice president at AutoCanada Collision Centres.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS MIKE KAPLANIAK Vice president at Uniparts OEM Canada.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS DARIO RICCIUTELLI Director of procurement claims at the Wawanesa Mutual Insurance.

STEVE KNOX General manager at CARSTAR Fredericton, I-CAR instructor and Collision Repair columnist.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR  75

SPEAKING OUT

FRANK AND INCENSED SHRINKING PROFIT MARGINS, SHODDY COLLEGES AND OVERBEARING OEMS—OH MY! In this issue of Collision Repair’s Stand Up, Speak Out, industry professionals share their anonymous –and candid— opinions on the challenges facing the industry.

BUSINESS BLUES This truly is a fear driven industry.

As an owner, I feel the squeeze here. As we push forward I can see our margins shrinking. Our industry partners—as they like to call themselves—are taking as much as they possibly can, whether it be from discount demands or through the image desk cutting. I own my property.

I could sell it and live happily ever after. If you don’t own your property, I think you’re in trouble.

TRAINING DAZE

With three stores, each in different small markets, I’ve benefitted from not having all my eggs in one basket. Two of my stores had an excellent year, but the third—not so much. Had I have put all my efforts into one location, I would never get any rest!

It is difficult for licensed technicians to spend time required with apprentices when they are under pressure to make ‘time’. Inadequate door rates are jeopardizing proper apprenticeship training.

The only thing I have an issue with is the risk of poaching of students. On a number of occasions when an apprentice goes to school, a teacher has offered them another shop to work at. I have also had a former teacher call my apprentices and lure them out of my shop to go work where he is now the manager.

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My advice? Just keep moving forward. Whatever people say about changes in the industry and creeping consolidation trends, there is still an easy formula for success. Make sure your team stays up to date with the latest procedures, that you invest in the right tools and equipment, and that you build and keep a great reputation in the community.

Pre-apprentice programs give a good overview of our trade, but I firmly believe it is a facility’s responsibility to shape and educate the employee into the specialty that they will in. Among auto insurance professionals, it is widely felt that the instructors themselves lack the experience needed to teach, and that they do not provide the proper supervision to make quality collision repairers out of those entering this trade.

SPEAKING OUT

Here in New Brunswick we find that the colleges are teaching 30 year old practices.

OEM OVERHAULS The OEM certification requirements currently exceed the financial reach of smaller shops, especially for those in rural areas. OEMs need to set different levels of certification to retain these shops, if not then these shop owners and their employee's will certainly leave the trade. It would be a shame to lose these people. Many have proven they are among the best of the best in collision repair.

We recently took on four preapprenticeship candidates from the same college. All had absolutely no knowledge of the skills of the trade.

It is a horrendous program.

Between the training costs and tool upgrades, OEM Certifications are killing me! My facilities have quite a few, but I’m wondering if they are really worth the costs.

OEM certifications have great potential, but don’t mean much at the moment. Insurers don't appreciate or recognize these certifications—profit is their only concern. If they acknowledged them, us strong independents would not be losing long-term relationships with clients and would be rewarded for our continued effort to provide safe and proper repairs.

INTRUSIVE INSURERS With insurance companies forcing customers to take their business to DRPs, sure it is more difficult to get work. But that isn’t what upsets me. The tactics that they use are downright dirty.

They say they won’t guarantee our work. They tell customers that if there is a price difference between us and a program member, they will not pay. They refuse rental vehicles to those who still use non-member shops.

With TD coming into the repair market we face additional challenges of keeping our staff along with our customers. What kind of partnership is that? I can’t wait to see them fail, just like all the other insurance companies that have tried to move into our market. I would love to see a bodyshop group like Boyd get into the insurance business!

How did we get to the point where they became experts on repair and can dictate what they'll pay for and how much as well as meeting ridiculous KPIs? Consolidation. Insurers want the fastest and cheapest service, not repairs that follow OEM procedures. They have found what they want with the banners.

As an independent facility, we have continued to lose relationships with insurers we have worked with for more than two decades. Instead, they turn towards facilities that offer faster and cheaper service— with little regard for how to make proper repairs following OEM procedures.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 77

REGIONAL NEWS | BRITISH COLUMBIA

HISTORICAL AUTO SHOP MOVES AFTER 70 YEARS Alec’s Automotive in Vancouver, B.C. is a long-time family-owned shop that is moving away from its century-old historical building and starting fresh in Burnaby, B.C. “Alec’s Automotive has been in the Borden family for approximately 70 years,” says owner of the shop, Rob Borden.

With three generations of the family having worked in this historical shop, there’s a lot of history. But the family decided to sell off their property and move their engine rebuilding and machine shop services to 6909 Russell Ave., Burnaby, B.C. The old shop building will be torn down and made into a rental apartment building,something that Rob says they are happy to have done due to the housing crisis for residents in Vancouver.

But for Rob, this is a bittersweet move.

“I have mixed emotions, initially I was really happy but once you start looking at the heritage, there is a lot of attachment to the neighborhood and property… [on the other hand] it’s nice to have a fresh start.”

To paint a picture of the property, there is a building in the front and this is where Alec Eaton started his blacksmith shop, which

A photograph taken in the late ‘30s of Les Borden working on a stationary engine in Brakerville, B.C. and later when he moved back to Vancouver he started working with Alec Eaton eventually buying him out and changing the business to a dedicated engine shop.

dates back to the early 1900’s. Eaton used his shop to make horseshoes for the horses at the nearby Dairyland.

As the neighborhood started filling up with residential housing Eaton decided to turn the blacksmith business into a gas station in the early 1940s and then to a service station that performed mechanical work, to rebuild engines. Rob’s grandfather, Les Borden, was an employee of Eaton’s for nine to 10 years before buying the business and property in 1948, when the business changed to a dedicated engine shop.

But the heart of the property lies behind the shop, in a small house, where Les raised his family. “It’s kind of like a farm way of living,” Rob says.

From there Rob’s father, Doug Borden and his brother Don Borden, had taken over the business and then retired about a decade ago.

Since then Rob and his brother have been working and managing the shop.

“We are not getting out of the business, but growing in it,” Rob says.

Alec’s Automotive is expected to be moving to their new location in February.

FINDING SOLUTIONS TO TOW TRUCK DRIVER FATALITIES The recent death of a tow truck driver from Castlegar, British Columbia, has raised the issue of road safety for the industry.

For the past decade in the province there has been two deaths and more than 15 serious injuries which were caused by vehicles hitting tow truck drivers who were pulled over to the side of the road.

Towing industry relations advisor with the Automotive Retailers Association of British Columbia Ken Hendricks, told Collision Repair that there is just one magic solution to this problem.

Right now there is already the law of “slow down and move over” in the province which

orders drivers to slow down and move over to the other lane if there is an emergency vehicle or tow truck stopped at the side of the road.

“But not everyone adheres to this law,” said Hendricks.

To manage it the B.C. ARA is working alongside other stakeholders to bring together a campaign that raises awareness of this issue.

Another aspect of what is contributing to the issue is the lights used on tow trucks.

Currently, in B.C. the lights used on these trucks are 360 amber.

“We’ve become desensitized to the amber lighting,” said Hendricks.

As a solution, the colour of the lights might

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be changed to blue and white to create more of an alert to drivers on the road.

Saskatchewan and Alberta have already taken a lead on this change and B.C. is looking at following in that direction.

But this isn’t just an issue that occurs in B.C., it’s an issue in all of North America.

“At least once a week a tow truck driver is killed in North America, and in the province of British Columbia,” said Hendricks.

Hendricks also pointed out that there is an untold number of tow truck drivers that have almost been hit by a vehicle. Although there is no number for this, he confirmed that there has been a lot more than one would think.

ALBERTA | REGIONAL NEWS

CARSTAR ADDS NEW ALBERTA LOCATION CARSTAR St. Paul is officially open for business. The new CARSTAR location, situated in St. Paul, Alberta, is owned and operated by a father-son duo, Bernard and Joshua Michaud. Having purchased an independent shop back 1985, both Joshua and Bernard bring with them a wealth of industry knowledge and expertise.

Growing up in his father’s shop, Bernard became a part owner in the business back in 2016.

“Seeing the way the industry is moving, my father and I knew we would need to join a network but we wanted to make sure we partnered with a brand that would maintain our reputation,” says Bernard Michaud.“I am excited to be a part of the CARSTAR family because they have that top-of-the line image which aligns with what my dad has worked so hard to build here in St. Paul.”

The newly branded 8,000 square foot shop will offer full collision repairs as well as glass repair and replacement.

“When a family-run business, that has a longstanding local reputation, wants to join the CARSTAR team–it is incredibly encouraging to me because it means we are doing something

right here,” says Mike Piper, western zone director of CARSTAR. “The CARSTAR team is dedicated to upholding our commitment to provide premier customer experiences as well as expert repairs and it is because of hardworking people like Joshua Michaud that we are able to deliver on those promises.”

Having roots in St. Paul dating back to when Joshua opened his shop in 1985, the familyrun business will continue to stay actively involved in the community. Both Bernard and Joshua are looking forward to getting involved with CARSTAR’s efforts towards raising money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

Owners Joshua and Bernard Michaud.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 79

REGIONAL NEWS | SASKATCHEWAN

SASKATCHEWAN AUTO REPAIR ASSOCIATION JOINS THE SCRS The Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairers (SAAR) is the most recent Canadian association to become affiliated with the largest trade organization representing collision repairers in North America, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS).

The SAAR is a non-profit organization of automotive repairers and associated firms who focus on the development of the industry in all its aspects. While also representing the collision repair industry to the crown insurer, Saskatchewan Government Insurance and the public, it also provides programs, training and membership meetings and conferences.

Former owner of Parr Auto Body and chairman for the Canadian Collision Industry Forum, Tom Bissonnette has now been the executive director for the SAAR since 2017.

“SAAR is probably one of the more active provincial autobody associations throughout Canada, and we want to be the ones setting the standard of what a provincial association in the industry should like,” said Bissonnette in an exclusive interview with Collision Repair in 2017. With more and more complex technologies entering the market, collision repairers must learn how to adjust.

“Our industry is going through disruptive changes and SAAR is looking to provide its members with as much information & training as we possibly can to help them make the necessary changes in their business in order to survive and thrive,” he said in a statement.

Bissonette explained that he thinks becoming affiliated with the SCRS will help the Saskatchewan collision repair community thrive in these changes.

“After being associated with SCRS through events like CIC and SEMA,” Bissonette continued, “we have concluded that connecting with our counterparts in the U.S., and affiliating with SCRS will give our members a great conduit to information that will help them meet the demands of the fast-changing collision industry.”

The SCRS has been the largest national trade association since 1982, representing more than 6,000 collision repair businesses and 58,500 specialized professionals who work to repair damages vehicles. Its sole purpose is to provide a strong presence of industry professionals in order to create a better future for the trade.

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“The fact that the work developed by our organization has international appeal, to associations and across our borders, further reinforces the global challenges that face our industry and the hope that lies in addressing those challenges through collaboration and communication. As that network of communication grows, both through added Affiliate Associations and through the addition of individual locations, the stronger the industry becomes as a result,” added Kyle Yeung, SCRS Chairman.

SAAR executive director, Tom Bissonette.

MANITOBA | REGIONAL NEWS

MORAY COLLISION AND GLASS JOINS EASTSIDE GROUP OF COMPANIES The Eastside Group of Companies in Winnipeg announced that Moray Collision and Glass will be joining their team.

Ken Wang, the former owner of Moray Collision and Glass, knew that the business needed some added expertise to help face the challenges that the industry is up against.

Wang decided to approach a local colleague, Dan Bernier, to help him find a suitable match.

That’s when the Eastside Group of Companies bought Moray Collision and Glass, making Bernier a shareholder and general manager of the business. Wang has also stayed on with Moray, focusing his efforts on sales and

marketing for the business.

Formerly a single shop location, Moray now joins forces with a highly reputable collision repair company that has two other locations within the Winnipeg area, which will ultimately expand their business outreach, Bernier explained.

“When it comes to this industry it’s tough right now because of the very fast-changing technology in cars. At the same time it’s a great opportunity for those that have the plan, energy, and resources to keep pace. Not everyone will be able to, but we feel very strongly that Ken built a great foundation we can expand. Having

Eastside with their 40-plus years of experience on our side is a huge benefit to both Moray and its customers,” Bernier said.

He explained that shops are struggling with retrieving access to accurate repair, diagnostic, and calibration procedures as well as training to repair new-generation vehicles.

“The shops that can keep up with this new technology will do well. For Moray this is a good opportunity because we have the backing of a strong company now and we can invest in training, expand our relationship with OEMs for OEM certifications, and ultimately bring value to our customers. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

oray Collision and M Glass has been bought

by The Eastside Group of Companies.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 81

REGIONAL NEWS | ONTARIO

OMVIC CATCHES A SET OF CURBSIDERS The owners of Euro Premium Auto in Markham have been caught selling high mileage vehicles without a proper licence The Ontario Motors Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC) believes the owners, Arif Adnan Syed and Hafsa Nasser are “curbsiders” – a term for unlicensed car sellers.

Just as “curbsiders” commonly misrepresent themselves—often posing as private sellers— they frequently misrepresent the vehicles they sell with many accident-damaged, rebuilt write-offs or with tampered odometers.

Many of these offenders sell from small automotive-related businesses like repair centres or body shops.

But in this case, Syed and Nasser were allegedly purchasing high mileage vehicles then posing as private sellers, offering them for sale on Kijiji. They rolled back the odometers on many of the vehicles they sold, sometimes as much as 200,000 to 300,000 kilometers.

“We believe Syed, Nasser and Euro Premium Auto Ltd. have sold at least 26 cars in 2018, and from the cars lining their driveway, they appear to have more to sell,” explained OMVIC CEO and registrar John Carmichael.

In November it is believed that Nasser

had purchased a vehicle from a dealer with an odometer reading of 295,807 km. Four days later he put the 2007 Toyota Camry up for sale on Kijiji for $5,000, with the odometer reading set to 166,000 km.

In another instance, a young woman had purchased a 2006 Honda from Syed. This vehicle was advertised with having only 165,000 km. But little did this woman know, the vehicle had been originally purchased

by Euro Premium Auto Ltd, back in May with more than 420,000 km.

“Each of the victims interviewed by OMVIC indicated the sellers did not provide the required Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP) that would have disclosed historical odometer information”, explained Carmichael.

According to OMVIC, these alleged “curbsiders” arrange for potential buyers to meet them at the Unionville Home Society or nearby plazas.

“The purchasers think they’re buying a relatively low-mileage vehicle from a genuine private seller but end up with a vehicle that may be near end-of-life or require unexpected and expensive repairs due to the actual mileage.”

However this wasn’t the first time Syed has been caught and charged with this offense. In 2015, he was previously convicted and fined $5,000 for “curbsiding”.

He also operated Desi Auto Body Used Parts Ltd., where he was caught again for “curbsiding” and committing unfair business practices in contravention of the Consumer Protection Act. He was fined $12,500 for each offense.

C urbsiding is the illegal practice of selling vehicles for profit without a proper license.

WHERE ARE THE SAFEST PLACES TO DRIVE? Looking for a place to open a collision repair business? You might want to avoid Hanmer, Ontario. A 10-year study from Allstate has concluded that the Greater Sudbury community has the lowest frequency of collisions anywhere in Canada.

With just 3.8 percent of vehicles involved in collisions each year, Hanmer drivers are about 35 percent less likely to be involved in a fender bender than the average Canadian driver.

While Hanmer may not be a great place to start a new business, collision repairers shouldn’t write off the entire province. Allstate has found that North York has the highest collision frequency in Canada, at 7.1 percent.

The study also highlighted several other Canadian collision trends, including the fact that Canadians are most likely to find themselves in accidents on Fridays and least likely on Sundays.

Another observation that was found showed December 23 is the most dangerous day to be on Canadian roads.

North York, Ontario has the highest collision frequency in Canada.

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ONTARIO | REGIONAL NEWS

TORONTO CAR THEFTS ON THE RISE Car thefts in Toronto are up 30 percent compared to two years ago and wireless key fobs are playing a major part.

According to Markham automotive security specialist and Lockdown Security owner Jeff Bates, cars are being stolen at a higher rate due in part to a method known as “relay theft.”

The process works by a thief bringing a relay box close to the home’s front door, or area of the house where the keys are sitting. From here the device can intercept and reroute the key fob’s signal, allowing the thief to drive away with the car without needing a key.

“The way that the thieves are getting around this is they’re essentially amplifying that lowpower signal coming off of the push start fob,” Bates told CBC.

Car thefts in Toronto have increased due to a new method called relay theft.

“They will prey upon the general consensus that most people are leaving their key fobs close to the front door of their home and that the vehicle will be in the driveway.”

Bates explained that the automotive industry made the trade-off of putting convenience over security when it first introduced the push-start fob.Vehicle manufacturers are currently looking for ways to fix fob vulnerabilities, but Bates believes that there are basic tips every owner should follow to increase their vehicle’s security.

“If you do live in a house, try to leave your keys either upstairs or … as far away from the vehicle as possible,” Bates told CBC. “The other thing that you can do is there are products out there that you can put your key

fob into,” such as a Faraday cage — a box used to block radio signals — a key pouch, which works similarly, or even a steel box.

These tips will become increasingly more important as more and more new vehicles are equipped with remote start fobs.

“I think it’s going to continue to happen and I don’t think we’ve seen the end of it. I think it’s going to be even more and more prevalent,”

UBER’S SELF-DRIVING OPERATIONS RETURN TO TORONTO Uber’s autonomous operations (Advanced Technology Group “ATG”) returned to Toronto last December with humans behind the steering wheel.

The ride-sharing service’s autonomous testing, which has been suspended since March of 2017, after a pedestrian was struck and killed in Arizona, returns to Canada’s biggest city in the same way it left, with each vehicle being manually driven by a person accompanied by another Uber employee in the passenger seat.

The manual-mode driving allows Uber to collect data essential to understanding the different conditions that a self-driving vehicle might encounter. Being able to build a strong system is critical for the autonomous operation’s success and safety while having the data available allows the company to develop AI algorithms.

Today’s autonomous cars require detailed high-definition maps of the road in order to

safely operate. In an effort to accommodate this, ATG’s research and development team in Toronto has created an AI technology that allows self-driving cars to drive where maps are unavailable, building the map itself in real-time.

“Our automated mapping capabilities, once mature, have the potential to expedite the rate at which we build high definition maps, which is a time-intensive process,” said Raquel Urtasun, Uber ATG’s chief scientist and Toronto office lead. “We are pleased to resume manual driving of our autonomous vehicles in Toronto and excited about the potential that this data collection can have for our self-driving AI research efforts in Canada.”

With Uber’s research and development team expected to double within the next year, the company has decided to relocate the department’s headquarters in 2019 to Bathurst College Centre. In early 2018, Uber announced that it would be opening an

Uber’s autonomous vehicles have made a miraculous return to Toronto after being suspended from operations in March 2017.

engineering hub in early 2019, along with expanding its ATG and Development Centre in Toronto, investing more than $200 million in a five-year period.

In December, Uber was granted permission by the state of Pennsylvania to resume testing of autonomous vehicles. The company stated that it would resume its self-driving operations in Pittsburgh on December 20, with two mission specialists in the vehicle at all times. In additional to Toronto, Uber will also resume the manual driving of its autonomous fleets in San Francisco.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 83

REGIONAL NEWS | QUEBEC

PRINCESS AUTO EXPANDS TO QUEBEC Princess Auto is heading to Quebec. Starting in the fall of 2019, the family-owned business will be expanding its business to two new locations in the province.

“Princess Auto has been looking into the Quebec market for many years now. Our long-time Quebec fans already enjoy our unique assortment of tools and equipment, by purchasing through our online store and some are even making the trip to our stores in Ontario or the Atlantic region. We thank them for their loyalty and we are excited to finally bring the Princess Auto experience closer to them,” said Marc-André Fournier, Quebec business leader at Princess Auto.

Both new stores are scheduled to open in the fall of 2019, with one being located in Saint-Jerome, near Grand Heron Boulevard. The other store’s location, which will also be on the North Shore, has yet to be announced.

Princess Auto employs more than 2,500 team members through its 46 stores across Canada.

For more than 85 years the business has supplied Canada’s collision repair businesses with the tools and equipment necessary to build and repair vehicles. From welding to hydraulics, the Winnipeg-based company has been a staple in the Canadian auto parts market.

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Princess Auto facility in Ottawa, Ontario.

Princess Auto will be arriving in Quebec for the fall of 2019.

ATLANTIC | REGIONAL NEWS

VEHICLE SMASHES THROUGH HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP A test drive at a Capital Hyundai dealership in St. Johns, Newfoundland went terribly wrong when the vehicle ended up smashing through the building and pinning an employee under the car.

The vehicle broke through the three-metre window pane, driving right into the showroom and stopping just before it went through the manager’s office.

Police were called to the dealership at 4:30 p.m. on January 4, and reportedly had to use extrication tools to lift the vehicle off the man in order to free him. The man was then taken to hospital and the extent of his injuries are unknown.

“As the investigation into the incident at Capital Hyundai today is ongoing, we cannot share any further details at this time,” said

Jon Howard, CEO of Capital Auto Group.

“Our top priority today and every day is the safety and well-being of our staff and customers. Right now, we are doing all we can to assist the St. John’s Regional Fire Department and The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary in their investigation, while keeping in touch with our employee and those affected to provide support where possible.”

OWNER ACQUITTED Elie Hoyeck, a former Halifax auto bodyshop owner, was found not guilty of criminal negligence causing death in connection to an explosion that killed one of his employees.

In 2013, Peter Kempton was working under a 1998 Dodge Caravan at Your Mechanic Auto Corner in Dartmouth when it broke out in flames, causing second-third degree burns on 90 percent of Kempton’s body and killing him. The court found that Kempton made a series of choices that resulted to his own death, though the judge said the garage had a list of safety issues but none that resulted in the death of the trained mechanic.

Peter Kempton, (left), died in 2013 after an explosion in a Halifax, Nova Scotia bodyshop.

Owner Elie Hoyeck (right) was acquitted of criminal negligence causing death in January.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 85

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FRED OVERSPRAY MASTER

DIVERSITECH

The FRED Overspray Master is a portable paint fume extractor designed to capture paint overspray and filter harmful VOC fumes and odors from touch up painting operations.

The compact portable design allows operators to position the extraction arm in confined spaces or on large work pieces where a paint booth is not practical.

The portable paint fume extraction unit includes a hood mounted paint pocket arrestor pre-filter, four MERV 11 primary filters and 2 extruded carbon after filters for VOC fumes.

The filters in the unit comply with the NESHAP 319 standard for toxic chromate coatings and primers, commonly found in aerospace painting applications. The Overspray Master comes with a 10’ Extractor capture arm, with external pantograph style articulation ensuring ultra-smooth repositioning and protecting the arm’s components from wear and tear.

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IR-B06/IR-B06-T

B-TEC SYSTEMS

The IR-B06 and IR-B06-T infrared curing systems from B-Tec Systems feature low base heights and two stage drying with the option of either half or full power bake cycles available. Each cassette on the units feature separate switching so they can be turned on individually and B-Tec says the gas-filled struts make it easy to position them. The units include a 10 m power cable, digital memory function that can store up to four drying programs, a visible ultrasonic distance indicator and a two-year warranty. The IR-B06-T also allows for temperature control and a drying area of 1,000 x 1,500 m. Optional cassette covers are also available. bteccleaners.com

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PAINT PREP SYSTEM

3M AUTOMOTIVE

Mobile, compact and easy-to-use, the Paint Prep System delivers an efficient and profitable paint prep experience, according to the device’s manufacturer, 3M. The system is marketed as having exceptional dust extraction capabilities and an incredibly intuitive interface. The system also offers extensive storage for any additional tools a technician needs during the job. Offered in two model types, pneumatic or electric, the system is designed to reduce the amount of dust in the air from sanding and improve cycle time, meaning less rework. The system is intended to be used with a series of accompanying accessories to reduce cycle time and increase the functionality of the Paint Prep System.

3mcanada.ca

diversitech.ca

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 87

HOT NEW PRODUCTS

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3000 SERIES

GARMAT

The Garmat 3000 series full downdraft paint booth has a touch screen control panel featuring a number of different modes including, spray, bake and purge, all available at the touch of a finger. The booth also has horizontally oriented light fixtures for virtually shadow free illumination. The 3000 series includes 23 four-tube lighting fixtures for a total bulb count of 92. The 10-foot wide trifold doors have heavy-duty hinges and offer vertical and horizontal adjustment capability. Three row pit comes fitted with heavy-duty lightweight grates. Garmat also says the air foil dual inlet reverse incline fans provide more consistent airflow as the filters load. garmatspraybooths.com

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ULTRA XR PAINT BOOTH

GLOBAL FINISHING SOLUTIONS

Global Finishing Solutions calls its new Ultra XR paint booth model a “premium painting and curing environment.” This downdraft paint booth features superior airflow, intuitive controls, energy-saving options and bright, shadow-free wall and ceiling lighting. A semi-automatic REVO Speed Accelerated Curing System is integrated into the booth and moves easily around it, rapidly curing coatings from the inside out. The booth features a pressurized parking garage and power rails. GFS says the booth’s Exclusive Controlled Airflow Ceiling allows for superior contamination control. globalfinishing.com

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QUALITY AIR BREATHING SYSTEM

MARTECH SERVICES

Martech’s Quality Air Breathing Systems are designed to provide Grade D breathable air from existing compressed air sources.

Systems are available from 50 SCFM to 150 SCFM panels to fit customers’ particular needs and facilities. The systems can service anywhere between one and 14 people at the same time. Custom-built options are also available upon request. Free shop layout designs and system configuration advice is offered by the company. With the ever-increasing concern over proper OSHA respiratory protection when working in a confined air space, the use of a proper air supplied respirator is necessary. breathingsystems.com

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NITROMAX GENERATORS

NITROMAX

NitroMax Generators are stand-alone systems from NitroHeat, that are installed in-line between the compressed air supply and the spray gun. Ideal for use in both waterborne and solvent paint applications, the model includes the innovative NitroHeat pre-filtration system, the nitrogen membrane separator and the HeatPro200 heated hose controller and hose. The benefits of the system include reduction of overspray and improved transfer efficiency, curing time, cycle time, productivity and finish quality. The systems are high-performance filtration units that clean and separate the gases in compressed air to harness the available nitrogen for paint applications.

The units can be wall mounted and easily “self installed,” says NitroHeat.

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SATA AIR VISION 5000

SATA

The new SATA air vision 5000 breathing protection system consists of the air fed respirator hood and a belt unit which allows the easy attachment of add-on modules.

The modern ergonomic design is offered with either an air regulator or air carbon regulator which includes an activated charcoal absorber.

There are three optional modules which can be also mounted on the belt to further enhance the breathing comfort for the painter: the SATA air warmer, SATA air cooler and the SATA air humidifier. The SATA air vision 5000 with belt unit, SATA air regulator, and all other add-on modules are NIOSH approved. sata.ca

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SATA TRUESUN

SATA

The SATA trueSun accurately reproduces the entire colour range of visible light, to help you select the correct colour shade when refinishing a vehicle. The new LED module, developed by SATA, offers a true reproduction of daylight, providing precise colour shade evaluation and identification inside the bodyshop.

The light intensity can be adjusted by using a sliding control on the back of the light. The SATA trueSun’s light intensity remains consistent throughout the duration of its battery life, approximately 70 minutes at full intensity, enough for an entire day’s production in most shops. sata.ca

nitroheat.com

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TOUCHMIX XI

PPG REFINISH

The TouchMix XI computer is one of three tools making up PPG’s XI line.

The computer provides easy navigation of the PaintManager software program offered by the company. The TouchMix XI unit features plug and play functionality for scales, printers and spectrophotometers. It has a 37.5 cm colour touchscreen, which is glass for easy cleaning and has a paint-resistant industrial-strength finish. Its small footprint enables it to be configured as stand, pole or wall mounted with no external computer or keyboard required.

In addition, the TouchMix XI computer provides a variety of networking options, including USB data backup, WiFi capability, and Ethernet and HDMI compatibility. ppgrefinish.com

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UR 300QVAC

UNI-RAM

The Uni-ram UR300QVAC is a two-person mobile vacuum system that is equipped with a 16 ft hose and 20 ft power cord. The machine has the option of a single or dual vacuum motor, operating at 1,000 W and 2,000 W respectably. The motor is stage two diecast housing and has an internal fan for cooling. It comes with replaceable brushes and features stainless steel drum construction. The vacuum can be used as a wet vac with an optional kit. It comes with a one year CE safety approval warranty. uniram.com

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VAC RACK

NORTON

According to Norton the VAC RACK system is a complete, customizable solution for portable dust extraction and tool organization, built to fit into your workspace.

Light in weight and mobile, the VAC RACK is ideal for cleaning and creating better finishing results. nortonabrasives.com

TRAINING

Photos courtesy PPG

PREP SCHOOL FOR REFINISH PREPPERS PPG’S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS KICK-OFF NEW COURSE

By Cindy Macdonald

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nyone in a collision center knows that every stage in the automotive refinish process is critical. One misstep along the way can compromise the end result. One very critical step is the first one: making sure a vehicle is properly prepped for refinish.

To that end, PPG has developed a new course designed specifically to train technicians in the craft of refinish preparation. The two-day class, called “PPG Refinish Preparation Specialist,” is intended for entry-level assistant technicians who have never received any formal PPG training and work alongside body and refinish technicians using PPG products and processes. The “prepper course,” as it’s known, will be scheduled regularly at each of PPG’s 16

Business Development Centers across North America. “This is a class that our customers requested,” explains Gregg Whitmer, PPG zone 3 training manager. “We’ve found that there are many instances where technicians working in our customers refinish operations are not properly trained on how to prepare a vehicle for refinishing. Yet, if a car isn’t cleaned or sanded correctly, prep work may have to be redone and that affects productivity, efficiency and profitability. So this class directly addresses this concern.”

Students attending a prepper class will be able to develop their skills in substrate cleaning, sanding, masking and bumper cover and plastic parts preparation. Participants are also taught the importance of keeping a clean and organized shop. Upon completion

of the class, graduates are also certified in EPA 6H Area Source Rule requirements and receive a certificate of achievement.

“This class represents our major commitment to training,” says Randy Cremeans, PPG director of training. “By training assistant technicians properly at the beginning of their careers, we can help ensure that they’re on the right path for continued success in the collision repair industry.”

The PPG Refinish Preparation Specialist class is now part of the PPG training curriculum. It is appropriate for entry level technicians in both small and high-production collision centers as well as fleet maintenance and repair shops. A complete schedule of PPG training opportunities is available at ca.ppgrefinish.com/Training.

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RECYCLING FEATURE

Day one for Pitman at St. Theresa Point reserve in northern Manitoba during the Tundra Take-Back.

Two Garden Hill community members put what they’ve learned to the test.

P&G Parts owner, Darrell Pitman (far left) joins community members of St. Theresa Point reserve in northern Manitoba to assist in educating them with the proper recycling of ELVs.

THE TUNDRA-TAKE BACK PLUS AWARD-WINNING PROGRAM EXPANDS ITS REACH AND IMPACT

By Scout Environmental

A BRIEF HISTORY Every year, tonnes of vehicles and appliances are shipped to northern, remote Indigenous communities—never to return. Often, the result is an overflowing dumpsite, where waste can accumulate for decades, threatening human and ecosystem health by leaching a range of toxins into the land and water.

Tundra Take-Back is a practical skills development program that empowers Indigenous communities to depollute and recycle ELVs and appliances. With the support of tribal councils and governments, Tundra Take-Back has transferred skills and helped develop infrastructure in 18 communities across Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nunavut, Labrador, and Quebec, recovered more than 2,000 tonnes of pollutants and recyclables, and trained more than 100 people.

After a season of transformative community engagements, Scout Environmental launches two new developments for the Tundra Take-Back program expanding our range of services and redefining roles for automotive recyclers.

INTRODUCING TUNDRA TAKE-BACK PLUS Every Indigenous community is unique.

That’s why we’ve launched Tundra TakeBack Plus: a range of customizable services and training projects tailored to the specific needs of each community.

Traditionally, we’ve sent recycling teams to northern and remote Indigenous communities. There, they provide hands-on education and resources to enable local residents to recycle and depollute end-of-life vehicles and appliances and manage hazardous materials.

This won’t change. But with Tundra TakeBack Plus, we’re now helping communities:

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• Develop sustainable waste management plans • Provide recommendations for new garage designs • Write proposals, request funding, and connect to key stewardship programs • Clean up after emergencies • Register and complete relevant certifications for the Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Ozone Depletion Prevention WHMIS

RECYCLING FEATURE

WANTED: AUTO RECYCLERS With their hands-on approach, our automotive recyclers are the heart of the program. They ensure Indigenous trainees learn fundamental depollution skills and industry knowledge right from professional sources.

Now, we’re building a broader network of recyclers to act as mentors for projects and

spearhead in-field clean-ups. Specifically, we’re seeking practicing and retired experts to join us on incredible, life-changing journeys. But don’t take our word for it.

“The whole experience is awesome,” says Paul Bell of Poehl’s Auto Recyclers (Kentville, Nova Scotia), who’s participated in two projects. “And that’s because you get to

see different places and meet different people.” Increasing the capacity of Indigenous people brings our recyclers a profound “sense of accomplishment,” adds Darrell Pitman of P&G Auto (North Bay, ON), who’s participated in three Tundra TakeBack adventures and is proud of the difference he’s made in the lives of his trainees.

A SUMMER OF SUCCESS These developments come after a fruitful summer season. With financial support from Indigenous Services Canada and in-kind support from the Keewatin Tribal Council, we travelled to the Island Lakes Region of Manitoba and the First Nation communities of St. Teresa Point, Garden Hill, and Wasagamack.

Trainees were taught how to depollute ELVs, decommission appliances, and store and stockpile pollutants. When the program concluded, 18 participants were trained, nearly 80 ELVs were depolluted, and more than 1,000 litres of hazardous liquid waste were recovered!

In the same month, we arrived in the First Nations community of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (Big Trout Lake) in northern Ontario. After being welcomed by Chief and Council, we taught trainees to depollute ELVs and appliances while organizing a stockpile of liquid waste and consolidating nearly 100 lead-acid batteries. Supported financially by Indigenous Services Canada, and in-kind by the Independent First Nations Alliance, we’re also organizing the removal of more than 100 drums of hazardous waste from the community on the 2019 winter road in partnership with True Grit Engineering.

Auto recycler, Darrell Pitman (far left) stands alongside community members at a recycling facility in Garden Hill, northern Manitoba.

CONTACT US

For more information — or to get involved yourself — head to TundraTakeBack.ca !

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 93

University of Waterloo and Krown Rust Control found a way to measure rust on vehicles.

Mayor of Detroit Mike Duggan.

The AARDA is working on revisiting their abandoned vehicle program.

ABANDONING CARS Abandoned vehicles are being left in parking lots and off in the woods more frequently than the Alberta Auto Recycling and Dismantling Association (AARDA) would like. The abandoned vehicle program is an initiative that has been put in place to help salvage and stop people from leaving their vehicles in parking lots or in the country. There are approximately 10,000 vehicles reported to the RCMP each year. It’s been close to 30 years and there haven’t been any changes made in regard to the costs of how these vehicles are picked up and recycled. In response, the AARDA is working alongside the Justice Department to see what it can do to better to improve the program.

RUSTY REPAIRS A study conducted by the University of Windsor and Krown Rust Control provided a consumer-oriented metric for measuring vehicle corrosion. To measure the amounts of rust, the university’s research team photographed the visible surfaces of 228 rust-treated vehicles that were collected through the course of two sampling campaigns and compared it to measurements taken from 141 untreated vehicles collected in a similar fashion. “It’s not only good for the consumer by keeping money in their pocket, but it’s good for the environment because it keeps cars from being disposed of before they need to be,” said Auto Recyclers of Canada, managing director, Steve Fletcher.

The Scrap Metal King of Montreal, AIM CEO Herbert Black.

WHAT’S THAT SOUND? A series of complaints from neighbouring property owners of the American Iron & Metal (AIM) scrap yard in Saint John, New Brunswick surfaced because of the loud explosive noises they kept hearing. This resulted in the Department of Environment issuing a stop-work order to the company. While AIM CEO Herbert Black also referred to as the ‘Scrap Metal King of Montreal’ is defending the case by saying that the explosion noises are being mistaken for “vibrations.” Auto recycling explosions are generally caused when suppliers of auto hulks and other types of scrap conceal pressurized, sealed containers within the scrap they sell.

DETROIT PUTS THE BRAKES ON AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR In response to concerns that the city’s automotive aftermarket industry is expanding too quickly, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has issued a short-term ban on the creation of these businesses, and a series of measures that may force others into closure.

According to the city, the measure aims to prevent aftermarket businesses from changing the city’s character, and land usage.

The order, which comes into effect on April 1, specifically identifies auto repair businesses, as well as auto recycling facilities and used parts sellers. Also, in the city’s crosshairs are tire sellers and metal scrap processors. In total, more than 1,500 businesses are expected to be impacted by the decision.

Tiger Auto Parts is set to begin its U.S. operations in Cleveland, Ohio.

DECLINING RATE OF RECYCLED PARTS The British Columbia Auto Recyclers Division has been seeing a declining percentage of recycled parts utilized within the province and is seeking answers. Recyclers who are known as allied subscribers that supply parts for the ICBC, have been experiencing a decline in recycled parts utilization over the past seven years despite the rise in demand for recycled parts. They have also been purchasing fewer salvage units. The answer could point to a few assumptions, which would include OEMs playing a role in this with their aggressive price matching of parts and making it so the repair procedures on vehicles can’t use recycled parts during the repair process.

TIGER AUTO PARTS EXPANDS A Toronto-based distributor of replacement auto parts, Tiger Auto Parts, has announced they will be launching their operations in the U.S. Tiger Auto Parts had purchased the more than 72,000-sq.ft. building in Cleveland, Ohio from bedframe manufacturer Mantua Manufacturing in December for $2.8 million.

According to Crains Cleveland Business, the new operation location will employ approximately 10 people, which has the mayor of Walton Hills wishing the company was a manufacturer that would create more jobs in the community.

Launched in 2001, Tiger Auto Parts currently has three other locations, all of them in Canada. Two are located in Toronto and the third in Montreal.

FEBRUARY 2019 COLLISION REPAIR 95

HIDDEN HEROES

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT AUTO RECYCLING

For health and safety reasons, auto recyclers don’t tend to wear capes. Their efforts on behalf of the environment, however, are downright superheroic. Like many masked crusaders, their good work too often goes unaccredited. It is high time that recyclers let the world know exactly why their industry is so important.

Manufacturing Process: By the time it has been driven off the dealer’s lot, a vehicle has already released for about a third of its lifetime carbon dioxide emissions.

From raw material extraction to parts manufacturing, the more use that we can get from waste metals, the higher the carbon savings.

• Using low-sulphur scrap metal can reduce a steel mill’s air polution by 86 percent and water polution by 76 percent

• More than a million vehicles are recycled in Canada each year

• 2,500 lbs of iron ore is mined to produce enough metal to build an average vehicle

• More than 90 percent of the material in cars can be repurposed, making vehicles the most recyclable engineered goods in the world

• Auto

recycling provides about 40 percent of the ferrous metal for the scrap processing industry across North America

• Each year,recyclers safely dispose of toxic fluids equal in volume to the Deepwater Horizon spill

End-of-Life Process: • During the end-of-life cycle, recyclers responsibly dispose of harmful coolants and fluids that would otherwise pose a threat to the health of people and the environment • Worldwide, the industry recovers eight million gallons of gasoline and engine coolant, as well as 24 million gallons of motor oil • Recycled parts save about 80 million barrels of oil annually that would be used to produce new replacement parts

Reusable Resources: • Vehicles are made up of alloys, plastics and rubbers • An average vehicle is 65 percent high-grade steel • Aluminium accounts for another 10 per cent and one kilogram of it saves 14 kilo watts of energy • Copper

and gold exist in smaller quantities in vehicle electronic systems

Cost Savings: • In most cases, consumers are saving hundreds of dollars when buying recycled parts as oppose to buying the part from a manufacturer. Canadian recyclers offer identical parts at a significantly lower cost than OEMs—offering savings as high as 80 percent. Example: 2010 Chevrolet Malibu • For a brand new A/C condenser, the cost is about $600 • The average cost of the 2010 Malibu’ intake manifold through an auto recycler is about $120 • The average listed price for a recycled OEM A/C condenser is $125, a difference of approximately $475—about 79.2 percent Sources: a-r-a.org, autorecyclers.ca

THE LAST WORD

BRINGING A WRENCH TO A GUNFIGHT

By Gideon Scanlon

Collision professionals need a strategy, but not necessarily the strategy

ADVERTISER INDEX COMPANY

PAGE

3D Canada ................................... 25 AkzoNobel ..................................... 4 ARSLAN ...................................... 50 Assured Automotive .................... 24 Axalta .......................................... BC BETAG ..........................................69 Car-O-Liner ................................. 46 Car-Part.com ............................... 66 Carcone’s Auto Recycling .......... 93 Cardinal Couriers ........................ 83 CARSTAR Canada ........................ 7 Color Compass ........................... 81 CAS .............................................. 30 Dominion Sure Seal .....................36 Equalizer ...................................... 85 Eurovac ........................................ 61 Excellence Auto Collision ........... 60 Finixa ........................................... 34 Fix Auto Canada ........................... 52 Formula Honda ........................... 19 Honda Canada ............................ 72 Impact Auto Auctions ................. 94 Keystone ...................................... 56 KIA ............................................... 32 Martech ....................................... 10 Mitchell ........................................ 14 Polyvance .................................... 80 PPG Canada ............................... 2,3 PractiCar ..................................... 38 ProSpot ....................................... 48 SATA Canada ................................ 9 Sherwin-Williams......................... 44 Simplicity Car Care ..................... 22 Steck ............................................ 82 Symach ........................................ 84 Thorold ........................................ 79 Valspar ......................................... 99 Wurth ........................................... 11

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etween the increasing involvement of OEMs in their business, and the new approaches taken by insurers to increase their oversight of it, Canada’s collision repairers are in a tight spot.

The basic reality for the industry is pretty obvious. Insurers want inexpensive repairs, to drive their costs down. OEMs want high quality repairs, driving repair costs up. Repairers want to remain repairers—and are committed to safe repairs first and foremost.

Today’s rapidly advancing vehicle technologies aren’t just changing how repairs are made. OEMs have become more involved in the business of repairing than ever before. Insurers are finding new and improbable strategies for involving themselves as well. Taken together, it does seem a bit like Canada’s collision community has brought a wrench to a gunfight.

If my inbox is to be believed, many of the sharpest minds in the Canadian collision community have become obsessed with this problem.

Despite the vast number of neurons firing away at a solution, the community appears to be unable to reach a consensus opinion on the issue. On the whole, the various conclusions that are being reached are reflective of the businesses those who conceived them run.

In general, owners of facilities in regions with limited insurer oversight and lots of OEM certifications feel owners should be absolutely beholden to OEM procedures. Their peers who have found themselves in the good graces of a number of insurance networks tend to offer a different opinion—that the insurers, who butter a facility’s daily bread, must be appeased above all else.

Those business owners not involved in DRP networks and who often find themselves spending too much time justifying differences between their understandings of what procedures qualify as necessary, tend to hold a third view. They often suggest that the industry should use OEM guidelines as a shield to protect consumers from improper—and less profitable—procedures.

As the editor of Collision Repair, allow me

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to present a more nuanced—at least more neutral—view. To survive, a collision repair facility must have a strategy, not necessarily the strategy. If you are a business owner who has focused on keeping up with the industry, chances are good that you’ll continue to make decisions that will keep your business solvent.

Look, I know what you are thinking. I am a card-holding member of the participation award generation, so it might be a bit difficult to take my point seriously—but hear me out.

While the circumstances facing Canada’s collision community are new, the symptoms aren’t.

It is simply that the industry is continuing to professionalize—and the one thing professionalizing industries see is that the people who keep their jobs are the same people who think a lot about what is required to succeed in them.

The increasing pressure facing collision repairers has steadily diminished the number of active businesses—but this isn’t a new phenomenon.

At the turn of the century, there were 8,000 facilities in operation in Canada. Today there are about 4,000. It is a safe bet that by 2038, that number will be again halved.

Looking back, it is easy to see why some facilities thrived, and others didn’t. Some invested in equipment, offered steadily higher wages to preserve talent. They trained their teams and followed the industry news.They saw the challenges facing the industry and worked out strategies for their business to survive.

The circumstances will always change, but if you’re the sort of business owner who thinks about the industry, chances are you are not the sort to allow yourself to get left behind.

Gideon Scanlon is the editor of Collision Repair magazine He can be reached at 905-549-0454 or by email at gideon@mediamatters.ca.