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CONTENTS Vol. 31 No. 1
AASP-MN News is the official publication of the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, Minnesota, Inc. 1970 Oakcrest Ave., Suite 102 Roseville, MN 55113 Phone: 612-623-1110 Fax: 612-623-1122 email: aasp@aaspmn.org website: aaspmn.org. To keep its readers better informed, AASP-MN News allows its columnists to fully express their opinions. All views expressed are not necessarily those of the publication. AASP-MN News is published by Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. ©2022 All rights reserved. Cover image www.istockphoto.com.
AASP of Minnesota is an association of independently-owned automotive service businesses and industry suppliers dedicated to improving the state’s automotive service industry and the success of its members.
AASP-MN BOARD MEMBERS 2021 - 2022
PRESIDENT Tom Archambault IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Matt Feehan SECRETARY-TREASURER Jesse Jacobson COLLISION DIVISION DIRECTOR Lee Schlosser MECHANICAL DIVISION DIRECTOR Jeremy Nordgren ASSOCIATE DIVISION DIRECTOR Loren Feldkamp COLLISION SEAT Travis Doyle MECHANICAL SEATS Mike McLynn Tony Newman
STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE.................................................4 New Beginnings! by Linden Wicklund, AASP-MN Executive Director LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.....................................................................5 2022 Legislative Preview by Sam Richie, AASP-MN Lobbyist LOCAL NEWS..................................................................................6 NATIONAL NEWS ............................................................................8 COVER STORY.................................................................................14 NASTF: A Conduit to Close Gaps in OEM Information Access By Chasidy Rae Sisk D.E.G. ESTIMATING TIPS .................................................................16 COMPLETE HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL & SAFETY SERVICES (C.H.E.S.S).......................................................................................18 What a Jolt by Janet L. Keyes, CIH and Carol A. Keyes, CSP INSURANCE I.Q. ..............................................................................20 CASH IN ON YOUR MEMBER BENEFITS! .........................................22 AASP-MN & Automotive Seminars Team Up to Offer Members Online Training Discounts AASP-MN Member Benefits ............................................................22
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Linden Wicklund OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Jodi Pillsbury PUBLISHED BY: Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. 244 Chestnut St., Suite 202 Nutley, NJ 07110 PHONE: 973-667-6922 FAX: 973-235-1963 PUBLISHER Thomas Greco | thomas@grecopublishing.com SALES DIRECTOR Alicia Figurelli | alicia@grecopublishing.com
UPCOMING EVENTS February 22, 23, 24, 2022 20th Annual Race for Automotive Education ProKart Indoor Racing Burnsville, MN
April 7, 2022 Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West Plymouth, MN
June 15, 2022 27th Annual AASP-MN Golf Outing Majestic Oaks Golf Club Ham Lake, MN
ADVERTISERS’ INDEX AAA Auto parts............................................ 7
Morrie’s .......................................................... 11
EDITORIAL & CREATIVE COORDINATOR Alana Bonillo | alana@grecopublishing.com
A-Con Recycling........................................... 5
MPA.................................................................. IBC
MANAGING EDITOR Chasidy Rae Sisk | chasidy@grecopublishing.com
Aramark.......................................................... 9
Proven Force........................................................ OBC
Dentsmart....................................................... 15
Reliable Automotive Equipment..............12-13
Inver Grove Honda/Inver Grove Toyota.... 19
Rosedale Chevrolet...................................... 8
Jack McClard................................................. 9
Spanesi............................................................ 17
Keystone......................................................... 21
Straight & Square....................................... 5, 20
Maplewood Toyota...................................... 4
Toyota Group................................................ 16
Mopar Group ................................................ 11
Valspar Refinish............................................ IFC
OFFICE MANAGER Donna Greco | donna@grecopublishing.com PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Joe Greco | joe@grecopublishing.com www.grecopublishing.com
AASP-MN News
January 2022 | 3
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
New Beginnings! By Linden Wicklund, AASP-MN Executive Director
I am delighted to be the incoming Executive Director of the Alliance. Thank you to everyone who has welcomed me into the position with optimism for the future and a willingness to share knowledge. Particular thanks to Judell for all of her years of building this organization to have strong programming and an inclusive professional culture. To those of you who I have not yet met, I look forward to working on your behalf and learning what impacts your business most. My career thus far has taken me through several different industries that I have served through non-profit membership-based organizations. First ceramics and the arts, then industrial textiles and now automotive repair shops. At each organization, my role has provided me with the privilege of working with amazing volunteer leaders who bring the voice of industry into the organization to help guide it forward. My first passion in life is making and fixing things, so working with individuals who care deeply about their industries and the craft or quality of what they are putting out into the world is very fulfilling.
4 | January 2022
For the past decade, I have been at the Industrial Fabrics Association International. Most recently, I was a member of the senior leadership team and oversaw conference and event management, membership programing and retention, division oversight, lobbying and market research. This work was rewarding and dynamic, taking me into shops and factories around the country and into the halls of the White House. However, my husband, three little kids, pets and perennial garden were all calling for me to focus my energy in the state of Minnesota. I am looking forward to meeting with members and non-members around the state to learn firsthand about the issues most impacting shops. In these early days on the job, I am meeting with the Board, committees and team members to learn how the work of the Alliance has helped our members and the broader community of independent auto repair shops over the years and the vision for the future. I welcome any outreach, so please feel free to contact me at any point to share your perspective. Happy New Year!
AASP-MN News
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
2022 Legislative Preview by Sam Richie, AASP-MN Lobbyist
Minnesota lawmakers are set to return to St. Paul for the revenue forecast for both the short and long term. A the second year of the biennium on January 31, 2022. large dose of federal funding didn’t hurt either. Despite split party control of the state House and Senate, Lawmakers from each party staked out familiar the Legislature was able to pass the state’s two-year territory after the record surplus was announced with budget last session – so the focus this year will be on DFL lawmakers calling for an increase to state services to passing a bonding bill to update and maintain the state’s continued on pg. 21 publicly-owned assets and infrastructure and agreeing to new legislative maps for the 2022 elections. While the Legislature has not been in session since July, there has been no shortage of news. Minnesota Management and Budget officials recently announced a record $7.7 billion surplus for lawmakers to work with during the 2022 session. There have been leadership changes to both the DFL and Republican caucuses in the A-Con Recycling can help! Give us a call state Senate as redistricting and the 2022 elections loom today at 651-252-6000 for more details We PICKUP & RECYCLE your bumpers, large. and scheduling.
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State Record $7.7 Billion Surplus After a pandemic-induced slow down, the state economy looks to have rebounded nicely. Minnesota Management and Budget officials cited higher than expected tax receipts, as well as an improved outlook for incomes, consumer spending and profits in improving
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LOCAL NEWS Overall, this year’s campaign succeeded in: • Generating nearly 3.7 million ad impressions • Reaching more than 136,510 people across Minnesota • Leading to more than 210 visits at participating locations
Happy New Year from the AASP-MN Board of Directors & Staff! Call for AASP-MN Board and Committee Nominations AASP-MN is looking for automotive industry professionals who are interested in advancing the industry by serving in leadership positions on the Alliance’s Board of Directors and Advisory Committees. If you have a personal interest or would like to nominate someone else to fill one of these positions, nominations must be received by February 20. To be considered, an individual must be nominated by five or more regular members. The Nominating Committee may also nominate a person whose name was not submitted by the regular members. If, by Feb 20, only one person has been nominated to fill the open seat(s) on the Board of Directors, the person so nominated shall be declared to have been elected to the Board without further action. If more than one person has been nominated to fill these positions, the Nominating Committee will prepare an electronic ballot setting forth the names of the persons who have been nominated and send to the regular members by March 10.There are also several positions open on the Collision, Mechanical and Associate Advisory Committees, as well as the Government/Regulatory Affairs Committee. If you are interested in serving on any of the committees above, please contact the Nominating Committee Chair, Matt Feehan (Fix Auto) at (763) 424-2522 or matthew. feehan@fixautousa.com or the Alliance office at (612) 623-1110 or aasp@aaspmn.org by February 20. Note: Only an individual representative of a member which performs collision work may be nominated to fill a Collision Division Seat, and only an individual representative of a member which performs auto service work may be nominated to fill a Mechanical Division Seat. Get to Know Your Neighborhood Auto Repair Pro™ Campaign is a Wrap for 2021 The 2021 Get to Know Your Neighborhood Auto Repair Pro program recently completed with outstanding results. The goal for this year’s program was to build a highly targeted digital campaign that drove awareness, interest and traffic to participating members’ businesses, and also boosted community awareness of the benefits of independent auto repair shops.
6 | January 2022
The Alliance works to bring members new ideas and ways to reach customers and this year’s Get to Know Your Neighborhood Auto Repair Pro program was no exception. Watch for details to sign up for the 2022 campaign on the association’s website, aaspmn.org. AASP-MN Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference Announced The Alliance is pleased to announce its Annual Meeting and Leadership Conference will be held April 7 at the Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West, Plymouth. The conference, with the theme “Full Speed Ahead,” will be a full day of insights, practical strategies and critical information to help attendees build momentum in the fast-paced recovery from the tumultuous days of the pandemic. Attendees will leave with actionable takeaways and new connections to help them succeed at top speed! In addition to the impressive agenda of educational programming, there will be ample opportunity for attendees to network and socialize with their peers and industry vendors as they showcase new products and services during happy hour. Here’s what’s in store: 8am: Opening Session: “Staying on the High Road – Service, Professionalism & Leadership,” by Chad Weinstein 9:30am: Roundtable Discussions 11:30am: Lunch and Keynote Address: “Beyond Grit: Embracing Passion and Perseverance to Gain the High-Performance Edge,” by Dr. Cindra Kamphoff 2pm: "Beyond Grit Workshop," by Dr. Cindra Kamphoff 2pm: "Tech Momentum," by Aaron Stokes 2pm: "Productivity + Efficiency = Profit," by Louie Sharp 4pm: Vendor Reception & Showcase 2022 Membership Dues Are Due! Annual membership renewals were mailed in December. By now, all AASP-MN members have received at least two membership renewal notices. If you have not paid your 2022 membership dues, PLEASE do so today. Your timely payment will save the Alliance additional costs and time incurred with re-billing and other collection efforts. We would much rather be dedicating those resources to programs and initiatives to improve the automotive service industry – and your business. Thank you!
AASP-MN News
Sponsorship Support Needed for AASP-MN’s Education & Events in 2022 Sponsorships are now available for AASP-MN education and events in 2022. Sponsorships help the Alliance deliver quality programs and keep registration fees affordable. Sponsors are rewarded by increased visibility and recognition within the Alliance membership and industry at-large. It’s a great way to stand out, expand marketing dollars and connect with the best shops in the industry. To date, the following companies have made sponsorship commitments in 2022:
Minnesota Careers in Auto Repair & Service (MNCARS) MNCARS is a nonprofit organization established in 2016 by AASP-MN. Its sole purpose is to promote careers in the automotive industry, recruit young people into the state’s college-level automotive service and collision repair programs, and, ultimately, into industry workplaces. Take advantage of the resources in the MotorMouth toolbox at https://carcareers.org/motor-mouth/. Get out and get active in your local community promoting industry careers!
Platinum Sponsors LKQ Minnesota Gold Sponsors AASP National Auto Value Parts Stores/APH CBIZ Elite Worldwide FinishMaster United Fire Group Silver Sponsors Colonial Life Dentsmart PDR Enterprise Rent-a-Car If you are interested in sponsoring any events in 2022, sponsorship information can be found on the Alliance’s website, aaspmn.org or by calling the office at (612) 623-1110.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
DECEMBER 2021 Apple Collision & Glass Apple Valley, MN Countryside Body Shop Alexandria, MN AASP-MN News
January 2022 | 7
NATIONAL NEWS
www.langmarketing.com Replacement Parts Share Shrink Increases Aftermarket Volatility Replacement Parts climbed more than $8 billion in aftermarket volume at user-price between 2010 and 2020, but they have been outpaced in annual growth rate by two of the four major product groups. Major Takeaways: • Light vehicle aftermarket products can be categorized into four major groups: Replacement Parts, Accessories, Chemicals, and Tools & Equipment. See the all-new 2022 Lang Aftermarket Annual for complete analysis of the annual sales performance of all major product groups. • Replacement Parts have fallen in light vehicle product share over the past 10 years, from over 64 percent to less than 63 percent. • Chemicals, representing a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary products, suffered a loss in aftermarket product share from nearly 15.5 percent to approximately 14.2 percent over the past 10 years. • Accessories (which are non-discretionary products) recorded the second largest increase in car and light truck product share, climbing from less than 11.3 percent to approximately 12.4 percent between 2010 and 2020.
• Tools & Equipment achieved a share gain of approximately 160 basis points between 2010 and 2020 and recorded second largest increase in product volume. • Replacement Parts’ shrinking product share means that an expanding portion of product volume is represented by discretionary products, which adds to the overall volatility of aftermarket product sales – i.e., increased sensitivity to economic changes and variations in consumer income and purchase activity. • The greater share of aftermarket volume represented by Accessories and Tools & Equipment means that shifts in product volume will occur among distribution channels. 2021 Domestic Nameplate Parts Sales Below 2010 Domestic nameplate aftermarket product volume peaked during 2015 and has steadily declined since then. Six Major Takeaways: • Despite product growth across the car and light truck aftermarket, domestic nameplates failed in 2019 to match their product sales recorded nine years earlier in 2010, at user-price. This trend has continued during the impact of COVID-19, with Lang Marketing projecting that 2021 domestic nameplate product volume will fail to match 2010 volume. • The total aftermarket climbed nearly $11 billion in product sales between 2015 and 2019, but domestic names suffered a $0.7 billion product reduction.
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AASP-MN News
• Domestic nameplates fell from just under 63 percent of car and light truck product sales in 2010 to an estimated 48 percent of the 2021 market. • Domestic light trucks will climb more than $4.0 billion in aftermarket product volume from 2010 to 2021, however this gain will be offset by the plunge in domestic nameplate car product sales. • Domestic cars will account for all of the reduction in domestic nameplate product volume between 2010 and 2021, as domestic car product sales will fall more than $8 billion at user-price. • Foreign nameplates will generate all light vehicle aftermarket product growth between 2010 and 2021. See the just-released 2022 Lang Aftermarket Annual for complete details of the changing product volume of domestic and foreign nameplates over the past 10 years.
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A fundraiser to support the AASP-MN Automotive Education Fund…
Enhancing opportunities in automotive education through scholarships, program support and partnerships. Start your engines! Organize your team today. (This event would make a great employee outing!) The competition will consist of up to 12 teams each night with five members each and a crew chief. These ain’t your daddy’s go karts! ProKart’s fleet of RiMO EVO6 Race Karts are run on power-boosting, low-emission, renewable methanol for consistency and performance. All proceeds will benefit the AASP-MN Automotive Education Fund When the final checkered flag waves and the adrenaline subsides, our goal is to raise up to $15,000 over the three nights. Most of that money is earmarked to fund scholarships for students enrolled in an ASE-accredited automotive programs (collision or mechanical) in the state of Minnesota. Scholarship awards are $1,500 per student.
-------------------------------The race is on! Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Race for Automotive Education is sure to be a sell-out event, so don’t delay – register today!
_____Team Sponsor - $500 (Includes admission for 6, including team captain and 5 racers) Team Name:_______________________________ Contact:________________________________________________ Address:___________________________________________ City:______________________________ Zip:_________ Phone:___________________________________________ Email:___________________________________________ Preferred Race Night: _____Tuesday 2/22
_____Wednesday 2/23
_____Thursday 2/24
_____Race Sponsor- $250 Racing is not in my blood, but I would like to support automotive students/programs in MN (Includes admission for two spectators) Sponsor Name:___________________________________________Contact:____________________________________ Address:____________________________________________City:_______________________________Zip:_________ Phone:____________________________________________Email:___________________________________________ Return with check payment by 2/15/2022 to: AASP-MN Automotive Education Fund 1970 Oakcrest Ave., Suite 102, Roseville, MN 55113 To pay by credit card, call the AASP-MN office at (612) 623-1110. NOTE: Credit cards accepted with 3% surcharge. This surcharge is not greater than our total cost of accepting credit cards. Surcharge does not apply to debit cards.
The AASP-MN Education Fund provides financial resources to support automotive students, enhance automotive programs and raise awareness of career opportunities in the independent automotive service industry. 10 | January 2022
AASP-MN News
AASP-MN News
January 2022 | 11
COVER STORY
NASTF: A Conduit to Close Gaps in OEM Information Access by Chasidy Rae Sisk With vehicles becoming increasingly complex – they’re basically computers on wheels – it’s more important than ever to ensure that repairers have access to information on OEM service, tooling and training recommendations. AASP-MN’s recent Mech XChange, which focused on emerging technologies, featured a discussion on a useful resource for acquiring access to OEM information: the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF). NASTF Executive Officer Donny Seyfer sat down with AASP-MN News to share the organization’s purpose and goals: “NASTF was founded in 2000 as a joint venture between the automotive aftermarket and automakers to be a conduit to resolve gaps in service information, OE training information and tool information and availability. In 2006, NASTF became responsible for the Secure Data Release Model (SDRM) under which independent technicians and locksmiths have access to vehicle security information used to reinitialize vehicles after security-related repairs and when making new keys for the vehicle owner.” NASTF provides OEM repair information free of charge to the industry, funding the program through its Vehicle Security Professional (VSP) program by which locksmiths and other vetted professionals obtain their SDRM credentials.
,,
We need to hold automakers accountable to make sure we have access to the right information and tools like they promised us. The NASTF agreement is a great catalyst for accountability.
- AASP-MN member Seth Thorson
14 | January 2022
“By working closely with automakers and the aftermarket, NASTF has developed very good relationships with most automakers,” Seyfer continues. “It’s not always easy being in the middle, but we see the fruits of our labor when comparing the availability and quality of OEM information that’s available now to what was available prior to NASTF’s existence; that type of progress does not happen by legislation, regulation and agreements alone. By getting people involved and helping both parties comprehend the other’s challenges and needs, we’ve helped raise the standard of communication and understanding between technicians and automakers, and the end result is a better product.” Through the NASTF Automotive Service Information Standards Agreement with vehicle manufacturers, NASTF seeks to ensure that all information provided to dealers by the OEM is also made available to independent technicians. “Our agreement is comprehensive,” Seyfer elaborates. “While EPA and CARB [California Air Resources Board] regulations cover only emissionsrelated repairs, the NASTF agreement covers all vehicle systems related to repairs. Even most third-party information providers source their information from agreements made with automakers.” Why is access to OEM repair information vital for shops? “If that information is not available in a timely manner, those who work on the newest cars can encounter problems completing a repair in a timely and efficient manner,” Seyfer explains. “This is particularly true for collision shops where a vehicle can be in need of repair within weeks of its release.” AASP-MN member Seth Thorson (Eurotech Autoworks; New Brighton), who serves as a volunteer NASTF Board member and shared information about the organization at the Mech XChange, agrees that access to repair information is imperative for shops that want to
AASP-MN News
ensure they’re safely and correctly repairing customers’ vehicles. “We need to hold automakers accountable to make sure we have access to the right information and tools like they promised us,” Thorson says. “Some OEMs are more difficult, but the NASTF agreement is a great catalyst for accountability.” “AASP-MN’s Mech XChange offers a great opportunity for shops to get together and discuss best practices,” Thorson adds. “A lot of attendees at our last event didn’t realize how much information is available through NASTF; there’s a disconnect in the industry for understanding why shops should be involved with this organization.” As an example of NASTF’s benefits, Thorson notes that a Mercedes was recently brought to his shop after several other facilities were unable to repair the vehicle, due to unavailability of parts. “We were able to order the parts through NASTF, allowing us to fix that customer’s car. OE tools are also available. A lot of shops don’t realize how much NASTF offers and does for our industry. The top five to 10 percent of shops know what’s available, and then there’s another 10 to 15 percent of shops that have some idea; however, the vast majority of the industry has no clue what’s available to make their jobs easier.” Using its human and technical resources, NASTF works behind the scenes to watch for potential issues and try to resolve them before they escalate. “Shops that use NASTF’s services enjoy improvements in efficiency because they can spend their time repairing vehicles instead of searching for information,” according to Seyfer, who also offered advice for repairers to follow if they notice a gap in repair information:
“If you cannot find a piece of information, buy a scan tool or locate training information after searching the OEM’s website, start by contacting the automaker’s support to request assistance; OEM support links are available by brand on our website. If the automaker does not respond within 24 hours, or if they do not resolve the problem, repairers can file a Service Information Request with NASTF, and after reviewing the request, we’ll contact the automaker on your behalf to resolve the issue.” Visit nastf.org for more information or to register for access.
AASP-MN News
January 2022 | 15
ESTIMATING TIPS All Three Systems: EV Charging/Plug-in Vehicles is NOT INCLUDED- Charging Electric Vehicles (EV) is NOT INCLUDED in any of the three information providers’ published labor times per CCC Inquiry 19143, Mitchell Inquiry 19142 and Audatex Inquiry 19144. Repair facilities may need to consider any associated tasks and costs associated with the electricity consumption. Mitchell: Labor Times for Welded Panel and Inner Panels- Mitchell Labor General Information >> Labor Times states >> "Times for some operations are applicable after necessary bolted, attached or related parts have been removed.” DEG Inquiry 19212 response from Mitchell states, “Labor times for inner panels, rails or reinforcements are with outer panels removed." Audatex: Rivet Gun Set Up- OEM repair procedures may require the use of specific riveting equipment for panel attachment. OEM procedures may also specify performing a test panel for rivet bonding before panel attachment may begin. Rivet gun set up is NOT INCLUDED in Audatex published labor times. Audatex treats this process in the same way as “welder set up” and is NOT included per section 4-2 in Audatex DBRM. Additional considerations for rivet gun set up could include the number of C arm and rivet die changes required during panel attachment.
CCC/MOTOR: Updated Guide to Estimating (GTE P-Pages)- CCC/MOTORS has updated the Guide to Estimating (P-Pages) ”Rev 12-21”. Users can access the most current up-to-date guide by visiting this link: help.cccis.com/webhelp/motor/gte/guide.htm. Users can quickly identify new changes by seeing update icon next to the section as well as blue text. Examples of some updates would be the change from “Labor Time Premise” to the new “Estimated Work Time Premise.” Important updates include: • A new Labor Procedure Section for “Camera and Sensor Aiming” located under the Front Bumper category. • The refinishing procedure section under panel and or component designation has been updated with “Minor Panels/Components." • MINOR PANELS / COMPONENTS: “A panel or component with a base refinish time of less than 1.0 hours is a Minor Component. A minor panel(s) or component(s) are based on the panel or component being refinished in conjunction with a major panel. Therefore, retrieving color information, including paint chip info, mix paint, load sprayer, and clean sprayer would not be included when a minor panel would be refinished independent of a major panel.”
Note: The estimating databases are all intended to be used as a GUIDE ONLY - it is important to remember that the auto body professional performing the repair is in a position to thoroughly inspect, diagnose and identify the methodology and their unique cost of the vehicle damage repair. You can view these tips and others on the DEG website, DEGWEB.ORG.
16 | January 2022
AASP-MN News
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January 2022 | 17
COMPLETE HEALTH , ENVIRONMENTAL & SAFETY SERVICES (C.H.E.S.S.)
What a Jolt by Janet L. Keyes, CIH and Carol A. Keyes, CSP
Technicians are learning how to work on electric vehicles without getting shocked. They remove the key and put it far enough away to ensure the car won’t start up unexpectedly. They disconnect the power source, wearing electrical insulating gloves and safety glasses when doing so. They allow the capacitors to discharge and don’t push the car, so the charge can’t rebuild. They ask the customer to turn off any app that can start the vehicle. Do they take the same care to avoid being shocked by everyday things? But wait! Electric vehicles are high voltage. Surely, we don’t need to worry about ordinary voltage of a box fan or a lamp? It takes half an amp to light a 60-watt light bulb or to make a box fan run. Two one-hundredths of an amp will leave you clutching a live wire, unable to let go. One tenth of an amp can disrupt your heart’s rhythm. Half an amp can kill after only a second of contact. In August 1990, an employee at Bethlehem Steel in Maryland walked into the lunchroom and sat down next to a floor model air conditioner, on which rested a toaster oven. His arm touched the toaster oven; his leg touched the air conditioner. The toaster oven was electrified – when he completed the circuit by touching the toaster and the air conditioner, he received a shock that sent him into fatal cardiac arrest. What happened? The toaster oven had a nonpolarized plug. It was plugged into a polarized outlet, resulting in reversed polarity – even when the toaster oven was off, current was going through the heating element. The heating element was damaged, causing it to be in direct contact with the casing of the oven. When the sweaty worker’s arm touched the oven, the current flowed from the toaster, through him, to the grounded air conditioner. Electricity is an opportunist. It will take the easiest path to ground. The human body is a very good conductor of electricity.
18 | January 2022
It’s rare for us to not find electrical hazards when we do walkthroughs. Ungrounded fans? Common. Missing grounding pins? Common. Insulation separating from plugs? Common. Damaged cords wrapped with electrical tape? Common. Why do we see these? Because people don’t look for damage. They underestimate the danger. They think they know how to make repairs, but don’t know how to make them correctly. You don’t have to be an electrician to prevent electrical problems. And if you can prevent the problems, you probably won’t have to call in an electrician to fix them. Check equipment before you use it. Handle cords with care. Protect them from damage and stress. Don’t run them through doorways or walls. Unplug them and hang them up when you’re done with them. Don’t coil or bend them tightly. If they start curling up on you, take the time to untwist them. If they are damaged, replace them. Wrapping them with electrical tape isn’t repairing them, because electrical tape lacks the flexibility and insulating ability of the original cord jacket. Grounding pins break off pretty easily, especially if cords are yanked out of outlets. Instead, grab the plug to unplug them. That grounding pin provides a better path to ground than your body does, reducing your risk of getting shocked. For wet areas, such as detailing, use a GFCIprotected circuit for all electrical tools. A GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) detects a current leak of five thousandths of an ampere or more. If the electrical current is going where it shouldn’t be going, such as through your body, a GFCI shuts off the circuit. Don’t overload circuits or power strips. Power strips are intended for low amperage loads only. They’re fine for computers, phone chargers or battery chargers. They are not suitable for heat guns, coffee makers,
AASP-MN News
AASP-MN News
Answer: Tape on the cord covering damage.
toaster ovens, refrigerators or anything else that heats up or cools down, because those have too high a power draw. Be very cautious about doing your own repairs. OSHA requires that electrical work be done by a “qualified person,” someone with the training and experience to know the hazards and to do the job correctly. Your technicians become qualified persons for work on electric vehicles when they receive I-CAR or manufacturer’s training on that work. If they haven’t received training on other safe electrical work practices, they aren’t qualified to do that other work. Replacing a plug on a damaged extension cord is easy to do. But if you get it wrong – for instance, reverse the wiring of the hot and neutral – you just created the same reversed polarity hazard that killed the Bethlehem Steel employee. Replacing the cord on a damaged tool might be easy to do, but unless the manufacturer says you can repair it, opening up the tool case voids the UL listing. Electrical systems have become safer because the codes and standards have evolved to make them safer. But they are only safer if you don’t try to bypass safety measures. Leave wiring to the pros; treat electricity with respect. For more information, contact Carol Keyes at (651) 481-978 or Carkey@chess-safety.com .
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January 2022 | 19
INSURANCE I.Q.
NEGLIGENT ENTRUSTMENT
Companies can be held liable if an employee has an accident in a personal or company vehicle, but a sound risk management strategy can help reduce milliondollar verdicts of negligent-entrustment lawsuits. Negligent Entrustment A company could be liable for damages if an employee has a collision while driving for work purposes in either their own or a company supplied vehicle. A negligent entrustment claim could occur if a company has a weak or nonexistent fleet risk management program, regardless of who’s at fault in the accident. The principle of negligent entrustment is not based on negligence of the at-fault driver, but on negligence of the company for supplying a vehicle to a driver who is not subject to any assessment, license record checks, motor vehicle record checks, driver safety training and ongoing activity/performance monitoring. More and more companies are subject to negligent entrustment lawsuits, as the victims and their attorneys are often awarded large payouts. Negligent entrustment implies that an employer knew, or should have known, that they put an unsafe driver behind the wheel of a company vehicle.
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Expensive Precedents A sampling of past cases demonstrates what could be at stake with negligent entrustment. In the 2004 case of Brooks v. Hancock, a 19-yearold student was turning left at an intersection when a pickup truck traveling in the opposite direction, struck his car and killed him. The student’s mother sued the pickup truck driver and his employer, claiming that the driver was driving too fast. The suit alleged negligent entrustment of the vehicle to the driver, who had a history of motor-vehicle citations, and the claimant was awarded a very large verdict in this lawsuit. Summary Negligent entrustment is the negligence of employers in supplying vehicles to drivers without subjecting them to assessment, license record checks, motor vehicle record checks, driver safety training and ongoing activity/performance monitoring. Negligent entrustment is fast becoming a milliondollar risk for employers. Risk managers can mitigate the risk by instituting a clear, formal and consistent driver safety program. For more information, contact Brad Schmid at bschmid@cbiz.com or (763) 549-2247.
AASP-MN News
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
continued from pg. 5
reach those who are being left behind while GOP officials announced their intention to return the surplus to the taxpayers of Minnesota. Some combination of increased spending through a supplemental budget as well as targeted tax relief will likely now both be in play during the 2022 session. Leadership Changes Both caucuses in the Minnesota Senate have elected new leaders to navigate their parties through next year’s session and the all-important 2022 election, which will see all 201 members of the Legislature on the ballot. Senator Paul Gazelka (R – Nisswa) had been the leader of the Senate Republican caucus since 2017, but stepped down from that position in early September in order to focus on his run for Governor. Senator Gazelka has been the face of the Republican party as the lead negotiator in dealing with DFL Governors and a DFLlead House during his time in leadership. His resignation as Majority Leader was expected as his Gubernatorial ambitions have been widely reported, but less certain was who his successor would be. The new Republican leader will be Senator Jeremy Miller (R – Winona). Senator Miller was first elected in 2010 and has been serving as Senate President since 2019. Senator Miller is the father of three young boys and works as the chief financial officer for his family’s scrap metal company in Winona. He has been an approachable and thoughtful legislator with a reputation for trying to find common ground and reaching across the aisle in an
effort to reach compromise. While Senator Gazelka’s choice to step down was widely anticipated, the same cannot be said for DFL Minority Leader Senator Susan Kent (DFL – Woodbury). Senator Kent, who took over the leadership role in early 2020, announced that she will not seek reelection in 2022 and would step down from her leadership position immediately. The new Senate DFL Leader will be Senator Melisa Lopez Franzen (DFL – Edina). Senator Franzen, who was born and raised in Puerto Rico, will be the first member of the People of Color and Indigenous caucus to be elected to lead a caucus in the Minnesota Senate, was first elected to the Senate in 2012. She is an attorney and small business owner and has served on both the influential Commerce and Finance Committees. Both new Senate leaders will try to use the 2022 session to help frame their election message for the fall. 2022 Elections The 2022 elections will loom over everything that happens during the 2022 session. In addition to the 201 legislative races for control of the state House and Senate, we also have statewide races for Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State and Auditor. Republicans are looking to win their first statewide race since Governor Pawlenty’s successful reelection campaign in 2006 and will look to highlight their policy differences with Governor Walz throughout the session. It all starts when lawmakers return to St. Paul on January 31, 2022.
AASP-MN News
January 2022 | 21
CASH IN ON YOUR MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS!
AASP-MN & Automotive Seminars Team Up to Offer Members Online Training Discounts AASP-MN is pleased to announce it has partnered with Automotive Seminars to offer members discounted pricing on all upcoming live-online training, as well on-demand training videos. Automotive Seminars specializes in diagnostic training that provides automotive technicians with knowledge, testing techniques and data interpretation skills needed to diagnose today’s vehicles. The live-online training and on-demand training videos focus on automotive electronics and engine management systems and are written and created by some of the industry’s leading diagnostic technicians. These online options take the best of in-person training and bring it to technicians wherever they are, whether at home or in the shop. Highlights include: • Live-online event have Q & A periods after each discussion topic. These dynamic sessions are there
to make sure everything is clear, and that the technician understands the information provided. • Each shop’s technicians can be watching at the same time, from any location • Unlimited video access after the live-online event concludes • PDF manual included • Certificate of Completion with number of hours • Each live-online event costs $100 for the entire shop (multiple-shop locations require a license for each location) • AASP-MN members receive 15 percent off all liveonline presentations, as well as Automotive Seminars’ entire on-demand video library, by using an exclusive promo code at checkout. For more information, visit aaspmn.org or contact the Alliance office at (612) 623-1110.
AASP-MN MEMBER BENEFIT PROGRAMS PROPERTY/LIABILITY AND WORKERS’ COMP INSURANCE CBIZ AIA Contact: Brad Schmid 763-549-2247 / bschmid@cbiz.com CBIZ AIA and United Fire Group (UFG) have created a program for members that includes a special premium discount, exclusive coverage and potential safety group dividend. CBIZ AIA can present quotes from multiple carriers and, as an added bonus, offer members an exclusive 10% discount on their property/liability insurance premiums.
WEBSITE AND INTERNET MARKETING SOLUTIONS Autoshop Solutions Contact: Tony Mercury 919-267-1731 / tony@autoshopsolutions.com Autoshop Solutions has developed the most cuttingedge marketing platform for AASP members. Really Powerful Marketing (RPM) is an all-in-one program that bundles your website, pay-per-click, search engine optimization, social media, and much more! With five levels of RPM to match your budget, goals, and competition, it’s built to drive your shop forward!
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Business Planning Professionals Contact: Dennis Begley 612-308-6577 / dennis@begley-group.com Business Planning Professionals will provide AASP-MN members with quotes from multiple carriers for life insurance, health insurance, long-term care and disability insurance.
REPAIR SHOP PRODUCTS/SERVICES DISCOUNTS CARS COOPERATIVE Contact: Stephenie Sheppard 405-547-4077 / membersupport@cars.coop Members receive discounts on a variety of products and services they use every day! From discounts on paint and rental cars to office supplies and phone services. Over 50 programs available!
EMPLOYEE VOLUNTARY BENEFITS Colonial Life Contact: Deb Ferrao 612-600-4135 / deb.ferrao@coloniallifesales.com or Tracy Bailey 612-801-0139 / tracy.coloniallife@gmail.com Dedicated representatives can help members transform their benefit package with competitive rates, value added services at no cost and complimentary legal document preparation service. Colonial Life has the tools and flexibility to create a plan to fit everyone’s needs. UNIFORM & LINEN SUPPLIES Aramark Contact: Rick Krenz 612-616-5290 / krenz-richard@aramark.com Discounted pricing to members on rental of uniforms, entrance mats, shop rags, etc. Purchases are also discounted. Members receive annual rebate equal to 10% of their business with AmeriPride/Aramark each year. CREDIT CARD PROCESSING Association BankCard Services Contact: Mac Hardin 952-933-2026 / mach@retailfinancialservices.biz Competitive rates for AASP-MN members. Terminals and printers sold at cost. Monthly rental of equipment is also available. LEGAL CONSULTATION Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick 800-496-6789 Members receive free, over-the-phone legal assessment and consultation (some restrictions apply) with an attorney who specializes in the area of law that is the subject of the call.
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INFORMATION PROVIDERS Mitchell 1 Contact: Mitchell 1 Representative 888-724-6742 Mitchell 1 offers AASP members special discounts on the Mitchell 1 family of integrated software tools. Mitchell International Contact: Mitchell International Representative 800-238-9111 AASP members receive a 15% discount on any Mitchell RepairCenter TechAdvisor package. Visit ww.w.mitchell. com/ products-services/collision-repair-shop-solutions/ cloud-estimating for more information. TECHNICAL INFORMATION HOTLINE IDENTIFIX 800-288-6220 Members enjoy discounted prices on the industry’s #1 technical information hotline, Direct-Hit. CHECK GUARANTEE SERVICES Certegy Check Services 877-520-2987 Discount rate of .75% to AASP-MN members. Use existing credit card terminal. Fast claim payments. AUTO EMPLOYEE ASSESSMENT Assessment Associates International Contact: Nate Page 952-854-6551 / nate@aai-assessment.com Designed to help facilitate and enhance hiring decisions. AASP-MN members receive 50% off retail price, starting as low as $15 per assessment.
AASP-MN News
BUSINESS FORMS/CALENDARS AASP-MN Contact: Jodi Pillsbury 612-623-1110 / jodi@aaspmn.org Discounted rates on printed business forms and calendars. SAFETY COMPLIANCE Complete, Health, Environmental & Safety Services Contact: Carol Keyes 651-481-9787 / carkey@chess-safety.com AASP-MN members receive a 20% discount on Safety Data Sheet Management (SDSLinks), Right to Know(RTK)/Hazard Communication program customized for your facility and monthly safety reminders, and other safety, OSHA or environmental assistance. PAYROLL PROCESSING CBIZ Payroll Contact: Carrie Hobrough 612-436-4620 / chobrough@cbiz.com Members receive 20% discount off standard payroll products and services (excluding 401k). BUSINESS COACHING 180BIZ 540-833-2014 / info@180biz.com Members receive a 20% discount on one-on-one sales and management coaching programs (covering financial planning & analysis, strategic marketing, leadership and personnel development) without long-term commitments. Members also receive a 20% discount on monthly sales & management webinars as well as a 20% discount on all 180BIZ advisor training programs. LIVE-ONLINE & ON-DEMAND TECHNICAL TRAINING AUTOMOTIVE SEMINARS Contact: Tim Houghtaling 920-866-9813 / tim@automotiveseminars.com Discounted pricing to AASP-MN members on all liveonline events, as well as on-demand training videos. Automotive Seminars specializes in diagnostic training that provides automotive technicians with knowledge, testing techniques and data interpretation skills needed to diagnose today’s vehicles. The live-online events and on-demand training videos focus on automotive electronics and engine management systems and are written and created by some of the industry’s leading diagnostic technicians.
AASP-MN News
January 2022 | 23
