Hammer & Dolly February 2023

CHASIDY RAE SISK

CHASIDY RAE SISK

EDITOR’S MESSAGE FULFILLING OUR PURPOSE IN 2023

Well it’s (finally) 2023, and as we entered the new year, I decided to follow the advice of this great meme I saw:

“Nobody claim 2023 as ‘your year.’ We’re all going to walk in real slow. Be good. Be quiet. Be cautious and respectful. Don’t touch anything.”

So I’m moving gently into ’23, but at the same time…Shew, I’m glad 2022 is in the rearview. I don’t know about y’all, but last year seriously kicked my behind. And even as it was coming to a close, it took a final swing when it stole industry advocate and legend, John Mosley.

The tribute to him on page 22 is the third memorial article I’ve written in the past year, but this one hits differently – John wasn’t just someone I learned about through others’ eyes; John was a friend to me, as he was to many of you. I first “met” John in January 2014 when I reached out to interview him about his involvement with the Mississippi Collision Repair Association, and as I chased him down (the man was always busy!) to secure the interview, it didn’t take him long to tease me: “You sure are hard to deal with. Just kidding. I will call you by Wednesday evening, and we will get it done.”

Over the years, John granted me a number of interviews on various subjects, and I always found him to be a passionate wealth of knowledge. He loved the auto body world and collision repairers; he fought for shops from coast to coast, and the industry is better

WMABA OFFICERS

PRESIDENT Steven Krieps steve@gregclineauto.com 304-755-1146

VICE PRESIDENT Rodney Bolton boltonconsulting61@gmail.com 443-386-0086

TREASURER Kris Burton kris@rosslynautobody.com 703-820-1800

SECRETARY Phil Rice phil@ricewoods.com 540-846-6617

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Torchy Chandler Torchy Chandler torchy.chandler@gmail.com 410-309-2242

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Don Beaver (donbeaver3551@gmail.com) 443-235-6668

Barry Dorn (bdorn@dornsbodyandpaint.com) 804-746-3928

ADMINISTRATION

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Jordan Hendler (jordanhendler@wmaba.com) 804-789-9649

WMABA CORPORATE OFFICE

P.O. Box 3157 • Mechanicsville, VA 23116

Chasidy Rae Sisk 302.593.7002 chasidy@grecopublishing.com

Bill Hawkins (hawkinswilliamjr@gmail.com) 510-915-2283

John Shoemaker (john.a.shoemaker@basf.com) 248-763-4375

because of him. We could all learn something from John…because even though John was quiet and gentle, that never stopped him from being a fighter filled with purpose.

So, we can move gently into 2023, but let’s also move with purpose. Decide what matters most to you and cling to it, defend it, fight for it with everything in you. Do the right thing for your customers and your employees, and stand your ground when insurers tell you “we don’t pay for that.” It’s not their business, and they aren’t the ones who will deal with the repercussions of an unsafe repair. Recognize that this industry is stronger when everyone comes together.

Organizations like WMABA are led by people who, like John, just want to make a difference, not just for themselves but for every shop. But they can’t do it alone. They need everyone to join them and amplify that voice crying in the wilderness. It can be as easy as taking five minutes to fill out the current Labor Rate survey (find out how on page 14) or maybe it’s a matter of sharing your thoughts on important matters in a future Hammer & Dolly feature.

I’d love to get to know more of our readers, so feel free to reach out to me with your ideas, questions and thoughts to help make this the best magazine it can be. And if I reach out to you to request an interview, I hope you’ll give me a chance to prove I’m not hard to deal with. I promise to be gentle! H&D

STAFF

PUBLISHER Thomas Greco thomas@grecopublishing.com

SALES DIRECTOR Alicia Figurelli alicia@grecopublishing.com

SALES REPRESENTATIVE Bill Moore | (201) 209-1989 bill@grecopublishing.com

PUBLISHED BY TGP, Inc. 244 Chestnut St., Suite 202 Nutley, NJ 07110 973-667-6922 FAX 973-235-1963

EDITORIAL/CREATIVE

Alana Quartuccio Bonillo COORDINATOR alana@grecopublishing.com

MANAGING EDITOR Chasidy Rae Sisk chasidy@grecopublishing.com

OFFICE MANAGER Donna Greco donna@grecopublishing.com

PRODUCTION Joe Greco COORDINATOR joe@grecopublishing.com

Reproduction of any portions of this publication is specifically prohibited without written permission from the publisher. The opinions and ideas appearing in this magazine are not necessarily representations of TGP Inc. or of the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA). Copyright © 2023 Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. Stock Images courtesy of istockphoto.com.

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Special guest presenter Michael Bradshaw from K&M Collision will be giving us insight with his session: “Repairer to Repairer: Stop Estimating and Start Repair Planning” –The difference between the two, blueprinting, identifying structural repairs and more…

Seeking Shops’ Insights for WMABA Labor Rate Survey

How many office staff personnel work in your shop per technician? How much are shops charging for various labor operations? How much do insurers interfere in your business? These are just a few of the questions WMABA wants you to answer to help the association better understand what’s happening in its market.

For over a decade, WMABA’s Labor Rate Survey has provided insights into the economic realities of running an auto body business throughout the region. Since it was launched in 2012, the bi-annual initiative seeks information from collision repair facilities in nine regions: Annapolis, Baltimore, Charlottesville, Hagerstown, Richmond, Roanoke, Virginia Beach, Washington DC and West Virginia. Results for this year’s rendition of the survey will be published in a future edition of Hammer & Dolly

The 2022-2023 Labor Rate Survey (available online at wmaba.com/labor-rate-survey) asks WMABA-area shops to provide their posted/retail rates for several operations. As always, all Survey results remain completely anonymous; no participating shops will be identified by name. Active participation in the latest Labor Survey allows WMABA to see what changes have occurred since data was last collected two years ago and to analyze significant changes for body shops in their market area since the Survey began.

For example, the Annapolis region showed a 4:7 ratio of office staff to technicians in 2016, a ratio that shifted to 2:3 in 2018 and then 1:1.6 in 2021, reflecting the additional administrative burden that many shops have been forced to undertake in recent years. Although many business costs increased over the same time period, body Labor Rates in Annapolis only rose by 2.37 percent in 2021 compared to 2017, an increase of just $2.20 since 2014! Yet, mechanical labor increased by more than $10 from 2014 to 2021.

“Third-party payers’ systems determine ‘market rate’ based on

a variety of information, including discounted DRP rates added by insurers, which skews the overall average in a downward trend that negatively impacts the market,” lamented WMABA Executive Director Jordan Hendler. “But shops often have no idea what to charge. No joke – probably four out of 10 shops actually think their Labor Rate is whatever the insurance company pays, and it’s so frustrating and sad. They don’t know their numbers; they’re not able to manage their business. We want to help shops understand how to come up with a Labor Rate, what their actual door rate would be if there was no outside influence.”

And shops definitely feel like third-party influences are taking place. In 2021, over 98 percent of shops felt that insurers try to control or insert themselves into the repair process, and 98 percent were also told, “We can’t pay for that because it’s against insurance company policy,” even in cases where shops knew the procedure was reasonable and necessary. The same number of shops expressed the belief that insurers’ initial estimates lack proper repair procedures, yet 75.5 percent feared insurer retribution if they “charged for a job performed that you felt was fair, reasonable and necessary, but they may not approve of” – a figure that increased from 68.8 percent in 2018.

So, what does that mean for shops in 2023? WMABA needs YOU to stand up and make your voice known to figure it out!

By tracking marketplace trends and critical industry practices, the Survey provides WMABA with information that allows the association to better understand the industry it serves and its members’ needs. Once Survey data is collected, WMABA will use this information to better serve its members and the industry at-large through legislative, regulatory and educational efforts. H&D

Arm WMABA with market data. BY CHASIDY RAE SISK

COLLISION REPAIRERS REAP THE BENEFITS

THANKS TO SCRS’ HEALTHCARE AND 401(k) PLANS

Auto body shop owners sure have their hands full with dayto-day challenges. Labor Rate wars, ever-changing technology, insurer-induced administrative burdens and parts issues to name a few. Add in the pressure to keep employees happy while trying to build a good work environment in a competitive industry that already has a shortage of new blood coming in, and you’ve got shop owners all across the nation shaking their fists in frustration.

Thankfully, there are people in the know who have their back. The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) makes it their mission to tend to the needs of thousands of repairers nationwide. SCRS is always listening and working diligently to seek out solutions to better the lives of collision repairers. And their latest offerings are solid proof of that commitment!

Last fall, SCRS partnered with healthcare solution provider, Decisely, to offer an affordable healthcare plan that is night and day from what shops have experienced in the past. Shops that have adopted the program have saved an average of 10 to 15 percent, which can mean as much as $90,000-$100,000 per year based on feedback from some participants, significantly increasing the quality of coverage from other plans available on the marketplace. All leading to happier employees with promises of increased longevity. This latest offering follows in the footsteps of the national association’s well-received 401(k), plan which was rolled out in 2019 and is being utilized by shops all across the country with very similar objectives in decreasing costs, increasing service and support levels and reducing administrative burden for the employer.

“The healthcare plan stemmed from hearing members tell us for years that offering healthcare has been one of the most critical issues affecting their business, as it was a hardship due to escalating costs,” explained SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg. “Members had been paying exorbitant fees for terrible coverage and stressed that if we could help them provide better coverage at a reduced cost, it would be meaningful to them.”

SCRS spent the past five years researching and looking into the many providers and options out there as it was “important to

identify a plan with providers we felt were sustainable, a program that would be effective on day one and in the long run rather than something that was priced too good in year one and would significantly increase in year two. If we were going to put the SCRS brand behind it, we wanted it to be something that people truly felt brought them positive benefits. I’m so proud of the work that our Board did to really sift through the details to come out with what I think is the best plan possible for small businesses.”

While positive feedback rolls in from shops about how much they are saving on costs annually, Schulenburg says there is another takeaway shops are experiencing that carries even more weight. “Many have said ‘forget the money. What I am able to offer my employees is so much better than what I was able to offer them before,’ and that was the driving motivation for SCRS to find a way to help small businesses do a better job of supporting the people doing the work.”

That certainly rings true for Michael Bradshaw (K&M Collision; Hickory, NC) whose employees love the healthcare plan; in fact, a significantly higher number of employees chose to participate in this plan over the previous plan his shop offered.

“The personal feedback we’re receiving – even from healthcare physicians – is just how great the coverage is along with the experience in dealing with the claims processing. It’s radically different from any other plan I could have access to as a business owner.”

And through Decisely, there is a healthcare plan for businesses of any size, plus the quality of the plan though Gravie Insurance takes the benefit even further thanks to their extensive list of no-cost services, which can really empower people, according to Schulenburg. No-cost services involving primary doctor or urgent care visits, lab work or X-rays inspire people to take better care of themselves because they have affordable access to these needed services.

“The coverage is by far superior to anything we’ve had in over 25 years,” boasts Barry Dorn of Dorn’s Body & Paint (Mechanicsville; VA). “Just the plan pricing alone saved us

a little over $79,000 for the year. Just about every doctor visit – unless it’s for something catastrophic – has no cost at all. All prescriptions are fully covered on the generic side, and there is a small co-pay for name brands. This is all with mainline networks, no off-the-wall networks.”

Prior to switching over to SCRS’ plan, Dorn truly believed that the days of good affordable healthcare plans were a thing of the past as he experienced increases of 20 to 40 percent a year, but he was glad to have been proven wrong when SCRS’ hunt to find affordable healthcare led them to develop this plan.

“This was something that SCRS had been pushing to put together for years, and we were finally able to work it so shops from Virginia to Hawaii and from Montana to Texas can have good coverage,” says Dorn, who serves as an active Past-Chairman of SCRS.

Like Bradshaw, Dorn saw an increase in enrollment from staff members. In fact, it doubled as the SCRS plan resulted in 100 percent enrollment as opposed to having only 50 percent enrolled in anything his business offered previously.

Bradshaw is also amazed by how well the plan works and how much the no-cost services are helping his family,his employees and their families. “We had a bout of the flu going around recently, and it was easy for our employees to get the meds they needed even without having to go to the doctor - they were able to use the teledoc services which are included in the plan.”

As participation with the new healthcare plan soars, serving existing and new members alike, Schulenburg says they are seeing continual growth with the 401(k) plan as well.

Bradshaw, who utilizes both solutions

continued on pg. 20

BY ALANA QUARTUCCIO BONILLO

NATIONAL FEATURE

continued from pg. 17

in his business, saw a dramatic reduction in fees when his business moved over to SCRS’ 401(k) plan. “It allows employees to retain more money and grow their nest egg in a greater way.”

Dorn echoes his sentiments on the 401(k) plan.

“We were the first shop to do it,” Dorn says proudly. “Previously, we had a simple IRA plan, which came with burdensome administrative costs; managing it was just a nightmare. Before we moved to the SCRS plan, we did a traditional 401(k), but those administrative costs were astronomical. Our costs dropped 90 percent when we switched over to SCRS. Plus the share costs went down dramatically, which ultimately benefited the employees.”

Aside from saving businesses money, these benefits are helping to achieve the ultimate goal – shops can be competitive and attract and maintain employees.

“From a business point of view, as an independent shop, to be able to offer plans that compete with, or in many cases, are better than what major MSOs are able to offer allows me to be competitive in that space,” Bradshaw champions. “It really speaks to our core value of taking care of our people. We want to implement new

processes and benefits to make our employees’ lives better, and we couldn’t have that without SCRS and the power to aggregate these businesses in order to have this huge plan versus a small pool.”

“These plans speak to the heart of what SCRS does – bring advantages to the small businesses we serve,” Schulenburg expresses with pride. “We’ve seen nothing but positive outcomes from those participating and have seen increases in how much, and how many, people are saving.”

“We’ve had nothing but good experiences from dealing with Virginia Asset Management for the 401(k) plan and with Decisely and Gravie for healthcare. They are fantastic, and they have made the transition easy. I know many may be skeptical about change, but it has been nothing but homeruns for us from the standpoint of both costs and benefits,” sums up Dorn.

Learn more about SCRS’ healthcare plan at scrs.com/ healthcare and about their 401(k) plan at scrs.com/401k H&D

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MEMORIES SOAR: CELEBRATING JOHN MOSLEY

Collision repairers’ hearts broke in unison all around the country on the morning of December 21 when many woke to learn the sad news regarding the industry’s collective loss of beloved collision champion, John Mosley, age 69. Mosley was an aviation aficionado who owned and flew historic airplanes, but he was even more devoted to Carolyn, his wife of 48 years and his children, Patty and Daniel. In addition to owning Clinton Body Shop, Hangar 360 Aircraft Services and John’s 360 Coatings, Mosley served on the Board of Directors for the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) and was a founding member of the Mississippi Collision Repair Association (MSCRA). He also fought for shops’ and consumers’ rights in the way that he did everything else…passionately but respectfully.

“John was a true southern gentleman,” said Barry Dorn (Dorn’s Body & Paint; Mechanicsville, VA).

“He was always the first one to offer his support on any initiative, charity or cause, not for the recognition but because it was the right thing to do. One time, the SCRS Board decided not to move forward with an initiative we had worked on for a while, and this says everything about John: After the vote went through, he stood up and said, ‘I

BY CHASIDY RAE SISK

understand and respect the vote; however, I believe in this so much that I’ll pay for it personally.’ And he did just that.”

Although he had known of the industry legend for many years prior, Dorn first met him at a SCRS Board meeting in 2007 and immediately knew that Mosley was “serious about doing the right thing and treating his team with respect and with wisdom. John was very clear that he wanted to change the way carriers and the consumers viewed collision repairers. He always wanted to know what he could do to help the collision industry as a whole and all of us individually.”

WMABA Executive Director Jordan Hendler also immediately recognized Mosley’s passion when she first met him through his work with MSCRA. “I’ll never forget the sound of his accent when he talked. It was the first thing I noticed, right along with his passionate demeanor and articulate delivery!” she recalled. “I’ve always been fond of John’s way of using a little humor and humility to make his point. He’d even use humor in a self-deprecating way to make himself more personable to folks he thought would be able to change the way our industry works for the better. His influence on those around him was such that you couldn’t help but feel empowered after a meeting with him. He was supportive, wise and never afraid to roll up his sleeves to get dirty. If sweat equity was real money, he’d have been the richest man on Earth.”

SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg struggled to recall when he first met Mosley. “It’s been a long time, and after so many industry events, it’s hard to think back to which was the first. I first met John when I was with the DEG, and I distinctly remember his call to congratulate me when I was hired as SCRS’ new executive director. He was so kind and excited, and it stood out to me. Our relationship really grew under our work together, in a variety of different capacities, through SCRS.”

He described Mosley as “soft-spoken but as loud as they come. He was filled with love and full of fight. He was noble, professional and full of conviction. In so many ways, he was larger than life – but never at the expense of being professional, humble and wellgrounded. He knew exactly where he came from and who he was here to help.”

Likewise, Mike Anderson (Collision Advice) cannot recall how he first met Mosley, though he believes “it was at a local shop that I did some estimate training for in his market and he attended. John was kind, thoughtful, passionate, well-spoken and dedicated to doing the right thing…and he loved his airplanes! Some of my favorite memories of John include all the airplane and flying stories he would share, as well as when he showed me photos of the planes he

restored. He was very proud, and it was cool learning about it.”

Veteran industry journalist Joel Gausten agreed that Mosley was an interesting, well-rounded individual.

“John Mosley was many things. He was an industry leader who helped set the course for activism in Mississippi and beyond, and he was an industry soldier who was always willing to roll up his sleeves and do the work that needed to be done. He served his industry on the national level as part of the SCRS Board, and he served locally by once running for insurance commissioner of his home state. He was a fierce and fearless defender of collision repairers, and he was a kind and friendly man who never ceased to be courteous and respectful. Every conversation I ever had with him was a pleasure.”

Schulenburg is grateful for the many great memories he shared with Mosley. “From taking part in the crash tests at Karco, to our work together on Capitol Hill advocating for the preservation of the Consent Decree, to an amazing stroll through the French Quarter following one of the Southern Automotive Repair Conferences…No matter the setting, John never compromised who he was or what he believed in. People talk about having ideals and conviction in what they stand for, but John’s beliefs shined brightly and were ever present in his work, his conversation and his actions.

continued on pg. 24

continued from pg. 23

“You could see it in Washington DC,” he continued. “John was far more politically connected than most people even realize, and the way he spoke just forced every one of the members of Congress that we met with to listen. He spoke like their constituents, but was armed with a lifetime of knowledge. It was earnest, touching and built on trust and respect. And almost every conversation he took part in led to a letter of support.”

Their shared love for the industry and aviation cemented Dorn’s friendship with Mosley. “I had the opportunity to go to KARCO in California with several of us from SCRS and Todd Tracy, the attorney involved with the John Eagle case. I found out then that John and I share a passion for aviation. He was a pilot, and I used to be one years ago; that was one tie that bound us.”

Dorn appreciated that ongoing relationship and their many conversations about the industry, business and life in general. “I learned so much from John about faith, business and relationships. I cannot express the gratitude I have for his wisdom and friendship.”

Schulenburg seconded that notion. “I learned more from my friend than he probably ever realized. I know he was so grateful for his time spent serving SCRS, but truly for every one of us, we are the ones who were most grateful to have him. He was an important part of our family and will be missed, but every one of us is ready to tell his stories loudly and continue the work in his honor.”

“Of all I’ve learned from John, I keep the valuable lesson of doing all things with grace and dignity, especially when you leave this world,” Hendler shared. “He was even so kind as to respond to our notes to him in his final days and give us all hope. It was the most generous gift he could give, and I’ll never forget what it felt like to receive such a special promise from him at the end, saying, ‘See y’all in Heaven.’ To which all I could reply with was, ‘Yes, John, you will!’ I pray my final days here will be as beautiful as his, and I can leave others with the same feelings he left me.”

Mosley left a lasting legacy on more than the few individuals that spoke with Hammer & Dolly about his life. Hundreds showed up to pay their respects at his funeral to honor the man who made a difference in their careers and their lives.

Anderson expressed it best: “The world is a better place because of John Mosley; if we all aspired to be more like John, the industry would be forever changed. He was dedicated and ethical to the core!”

Schulenburg challenged the industry to pick up Mosley’s mantle and change the industry for the better: “Continue to make John proud in your actions, in your fight for what is right. He would love to know that we all served the same mission.” H&D

“His influence on those around him was such that you couldn’t help but feel empowered after a meeting with him. He was supportive, wise and never afraid to roll up his sleeves to get dirty.”

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Dolly

COVER STORY

Green light: repair planning.

BY CHASIDY RAE SISK

Michael Bradshaw (K&M Collision; Hickory, NC) believes it’s time to stop estimating.

“Many shops want to write estimates for every customer, but it’s time-consuming and often a waste of time because a large subset of customers are just looking for the cheapest estimate,” he stressed to the room full of collision repair professionals, gathered at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) in Alexandria, VA for WMABA’s Annual Membership Dinner. “We don’t write estimates in our shop because they’re inaccurate; we cannot determine what the vehicle needs until we disassemble the vehicle and conduct repair research.

“If our estimate goes up dramatically after we tear down the vehicle, the customer is upset…We put ourselves in a bad position from the start by not explaining what’s needed to get an accurate cost,” he explained. “So, we sell our customers on the process of being thorough and getting it right the first time instead of merely taking a guess.”

Instead, Bradshaw believes that shops should be writing repair plans, which are more accurate and efficient. As a result, they cause fewer delays and less administrative burden by reducing the number of supplements needed. Writing an accurate repair plan begins with accessing reliable sources, such as OEM information, Motor’s Guide to Estimating, the Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG), the Blueprint Optimization Tool, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) website, Refinish Manufacturer Tech Info, Collisionadvice.com and I-CAR’s Repairability Technical Support.

Using an actual repair plan on a Honda Pilot quarter panel from K&M Collision, Bradshaw reviewed the many steps that shops take when blueprinting a vehicle yet often neglect to include on estimates. Simply preparing for the repair blueprint includes numerous tasks, such as pre-washing, which Honda specifically recommends since it’s “impossible to properly inspect a dirty vehicle for damage.” He also stressed the importance of documentation, advising that his shop’s average workflow includes around 200 photos. During the pre-scan, shops should document the ADAS components on the

vehicle and identify which calibrations are likely to be needed.

In addition to the mechanical/electrical and refinish operations, as well as the ADAS calibrations that might be included on a quarter panel replacement, Bradshaw also reviewed the structural operations that should be considered, observing, “If it’s attached using welding, weld-bonding or rivet-bonding, it’s structural. Period.”

“The repair blueprint essentially needs to tell the story of what you’re going to be doing to the vehicle,” Bradshaw emphasized. “It takes a little more time to be detailed, but you’re never going to collect what you’re worth if you’re putting everything on one line. When you break it out and show exactly what you’re doing, how many more labor hours could you legitimately pick up?”

Ultimately, Bradshaw revealed his blueprinting totals on the example he used, which included 35.6 hours of body labor, 33.4 hours of paint labor, 13.6 hours of mechanical labor, three hours of frame labor, one hour of diagnostic labor and 45 hours of structural labor. Once parts, materials and taxes were added, the total bill totalled $21,421.96 to put a quarter panel on the car.

“This is a good example because on the hundreds of estimates I see, I mostly see body and paint labor; but there are 12 labor types within CCC,” WMABA Board member John Shoemaker (BASF) pointed out. “You don’t see any frame or structural, yet your techs have done the same repair Michael just illustrated. They’re performing these repairs, so why aren’t you charging for it?”

Acknowledging that K&M struggled to get properly compensated for some line items at first, Bradshaw discussed the shop’s decision to take legal action and support customers in pursuing the Appraisal Clause in multiple cases.

“A lot of people believe they can’t do this, but if you could see where we were just 10 years ago…It’s about grinding and being consistent with your staff and how you do things in your business. If you can lead by example, others in your organization can buy in. Develop a plan and stick to it. Implementing QC processes to correctly prepare your repair plan can make a world of difference.”

COVER STORY

State of the Industry

Prior to Bradshaw’s presentation, WMABA Executive Director Jordan Hendler updated attendees on some of the association’s key initiatives, such as representing its membership at national meetings including the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) and SEMA, and highlighted the value of WMABA’s affiliation with national organizations like SCRS and the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP). She gave a nod to the SCRS benefits package that “lowers fees like you’re a corporation, even though you’re a small business.” Get more details about SCRS’ 401(k) plan and health insurance offerings on page 16.

sees something in the database that looks wrong, they’re probably right…and they will feel vindicated and supported when it’s adjusted in their favor.” File an inquiry with the DEG at degweb.org.

In addition to plugging the 2022-2023 Labor Rate Survey (see page 14) and reminding attendees to mark their calendars for the 2023 Southeast Collision Conference (more details on page 8), Hendler provided information on a new initiative to increase industry outreach to vo-tech schools, which WMABA is piloting with NVCC and Center of Applied Technology (CAT) North in Severn, MD.

“We want to come up with a solid, easy-to-follow plan for shops to not only get involved with local schools, but also to help students assimilate into a shop. We know that’s a huge gap because shops are busy and struggle to pair these students with seasoned techs; you don’t know what to do with them, so it becomes, ‘I don’t know… why don’t you go wash this or sweep that?’ And that’s discouraging. We want to prevent that from happening by building a blueprint of how to grow your own technicians in the shop to help them become productive as technicians, painters and estimators.”

WMABA also sponsors the DEG, where collision repairers can submit inquiries to the database providers about inaccurate times and missing operations, parts, numbers, procedures and more. “Even if the inquiry only results in a 0.2 hour difference, if that applies to thousands of jobs, the industry could be leaving millions on the table,” Hendler noted. “Inquiries often result in changes while the car is still in the shop, so that goes right to your bottom line. People assume those guides are tested, but YOU are the guinea pigs. The shops are the testing ground. When a technician or painter

WMABA’s Annual Membership Dinner also included a tour of the host’s facility as well as a brief presentation by Automotive and Collision Program Head Laura Garcia at NVCC, which is “the only post secondary collision program in the area,” as she shared. During COVID, the campus considered closing the program, but Garcia rallied industry voices who promoted the need for the program, keeping it alive; in fact, enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year was completely full by July, demonstrating increasing student demand. (Learn more about NVCC in last month’s Hammer & Dolly, available at grecopublishing.com/ hammer-and-dolly-january-2023.)

Although NVCC has already begun teaching I-CAR curriculum for the first time,

“we have a lot of work to do to resurrect this program from the ground up,” Garcia said. “We need to take that next step by establishing a solid system so we’re doing the training we need to do, but we also need to make sure these up-and-coming technicians are paired up with shops that know how to train them.”

Garcia also identified NVCC’s current needs, inviting industry professionals to join the program’s advisory committee and expressing the need for a part-time adjunct instructor. Those interested in helping in either capacity can contact Garcia at lgarciamoreyra@nvcc.edu H&D

Michael Bradshaw

Barry Dorn

NVCC Automotive and Collision Program Head Laura Garcia

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ADVICE INDUSTRY ASK MIKE:

How Can “EV Isolation” Save Techs from Harm?

This month, we “ASK MIKE” for his thoughts on “EV isolation” and other matters affecting electric vehicle repair and safety. We at Hammer & Dolly hope you find the following exchange useful, and we encourage you to reach out to us if you have a question for Mike on this or any industryrelated matter that he can answer in a future issue.

Hammer & Dolly: As we both know, there is always something new coming down the pike in this industry. This is definitely true when it comes to electric vehicles (EVs). What is “EV isolation,” and how does it play into the greater picture of what needs to be done with these vehicles?

Mike Anderson: As many readers may be aware, I’ve had the honor and privilege of working with the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) to create a series of videos that come out on a weekly basis. Recently, we had the honor to go to I-CAR’s new facility in Chicago and shoot some videos. While we were there, we shot one in regard to EV isolation. One of the things that I was not privy to but became familiar with is the importance of protecting any electrical connector we disconnect. One of the things that was brought to our attention – and I was unaware of it – is that if you get any dust in there, or if you see any primer or paint overspray in there, it could actually cause a catastrophic event if the connector gets plugged back in. So, it’s really important that we protect those connectors when we disconnect them. I-CAR invested in a 3D printer and made some plastic caps that they would put over the plugs to protect them versus someone trying to use a baggy or something that might be on an AC line, for example.

As we’ve been doing research, we’ve found that some EV manufacturers have very specific curing times and maximum temps to bake an EV when you paint it. The average painter probably bakes a vehicle at 140 to 160 degrees F, but I’ve seen some EV manufacturers say you can’t exceed 131 degrees F for longer than 20 minutes. Another manufacturer said 140 degrees. Another one said that when you go to paint the vehicle, you can’t have more than a 20 percent charge on the battery. If there is more than a 20 percent charge, the manufacturer wants you to drive the vehicle in circles with all the accessories turned on so the battery will have a lesser charge. As we start to work more on EVs, we’ll see more precautions in the manufacturers’ procedures that we really need to research and watch.

I’d like to add that I’ve had some shops report that they’ve ordered gloves through a major online marketplace, and those gloves were expired when they received them. I have been told there are one or two companies that can recertify those gloves if you send them to them.

H&D: Obviously, you’re still learning new things all the time about EVs. From your experience, how would you gauge where the industry is in terms of embracing EVs as an ongoing concern? We’ve been talking about EVs for years now, but what are you seeing out there?

MA: To give credit to Lucid and Rivian, as you see some of those new vehicle manufacturers being introduced, I think they’re doing a great job of bringing us up to speed on some of the things that are needed. To paraphrase something Jake Rodenroth from Lucid has said, ‘A vehicle can kill a person now if they don’t do something right.’ We’re not trying to be fearmongers, but people really need to make sure to do the research before they start to work on something. It’s important to look up what the precautions are to disconnect a battery or work on the vehicle. With today’s EVs, it’s

BY MIKE ANDERSON

more than just making sure you don’t cause any harm to the car; it’s also to make sure you don’t harm yourself

H&D: We’ve talked a lot about technicians’ safety when it comes to EVs. What’s your impression of shop owners’ preparedness in making sure their facilities have the level of safety needed to work on these vehicles?

MA: There’s still a lot of uncertainty in terms of what shops need to do to prepare; there are still a lot of questions that are going to evolve. If you have to charge a battery, which requires electricity, who’s responsible for the electricity that it takes while the vehicle is in the shop being worked on? Will someone say that’s a cost of doing business? Will someone else say that’s a billable item? Electricity costs money – especially when you’re working on 10 or 20 EVs. That could be a cost every month. It’s also about taking a look at the infrastructure of your facility to support chargers. There’s a website, clippercreek.com, that sells EV chargers. If you go to that site, there’s a ‘rebates and incentives’ link that tells you any rebates that

Mike Anderson is an Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) and the former owner of Wagonwork Collision Centers, two highly acclaimed shops located in Alexandria, VA. He has served as a member of many industry organizations throughout his career, including the WMABA Board of Directors, the Mitchell Advisory Board, the MOTOR Advisory Board, the ASE Test Review Committee, the National Auto Body Council, the Collision Industry Conference and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists. Additionally, he is a past Virginia SkillsUSA chairman, serves as a facilitator for Axalta Coating Systems’ highly recognized Business Council 20 Groups in both the US and Canada and facilitates numerous courses for Axalta Coating Systems’ Educational Series. He currently offers expert industry consulting via his latest venture, Collision Advice (collisionadvice.com). H&D

are available in each state if you install an EV charger. If a shop works on EVs and they have chargers, there are a lot of EV charging apps that customers have on their phones that shops can take advantage of by being listed there.

I’m confident that the OEMs will give us the right training to perform safe and proper repairs on EVs, but it’s going to take a change in the way we see things. EVs are going to do to this industry what aluminum never did. Aluminum kind of separated shops a little bit; you have some shops that became certified to fix many European cars that had restricted parts sales. Some of the shops couldn’t work on the cars because they couldn’t buy the parts. EVs will separate shops even more due to the investment in equipment, training and tooling.

SCRS’ “Quick Tip” videos on EV isolation and more are available at youtube.com/SCRSCollision.com). H&D