Hammer & Dolly May 2014

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2014 WMABA Golf Outing Registration - page 16

May 2014 Volume 8, No. 5 $5.95

www.grecopublishing.com

www.wmaba.com

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38 COVER STORY IN DEFENSE OF THE CUSTOMER: WMABA STANDS UP FOR CONSUMER PARTS CHOICE

CONTENTS

The association’s work on behalf of the motoring public is far from finished.

May 2014

BY JOEL GAUSTEN

16 2014 WMABA GOLF OUTING REGISTRATION

WMABA's biggest event of the year is coming soon! Learn how you can sign up early and guarantee your spot.

DEPARTMENTS Calendar of Events

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LEGAL PERSPECTIVE 18 2014 Maryland General Assembly

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Editor’s Message JOEL GAUSTEN

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President’s Message DON BEAVER

and WMABA Activity

A look back at WMABA’s most active session in history.

BY ROBIN SHAIVITZ

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NATIONAL NEWS BY JOEL GAUSTEN

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20 22 26 28 30

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Leadership Forum Tackles the Legitimacy of Legislation NORTHEAST® Panel Explores Parts Procurement, Insurer Control The 2015 F-150: Inside Ford’s New Auto Revolution SCRS Responds to Issues Impacting Membership SCRS 2014 Industry Awards & Corporate Member Recognition Luncheon 32 Technical Tsunami Blows Through CIC 34 Repairer Roundtable Offers Straight Talk on Procedural Revolution

TECHNICAL FEATURE 34 Steering & Suspension Damage Explained A look at some of the major changes hitting damage assessors and technicians.

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NewsFlash Vendor Corner SCOTTIE DAVIS Executive Director’s Message JORDAN HENDLER Advertisers Index

COVER: ©thinkstockphoto.com/yganko THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: ©thinkstockphoto.com/Jirsak ©thinkstockphoto.com/pigphoto ©thinkstockphoto.com/Darko Novakovic ©thinkstockphoto.com/Rasica

BY LARRY MONTANEZ III, CDA & JEFF LANGE, PE

May 2014

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Industry training opportunities and don't-miss events.

CALENDAR OF

EVENTS

June 26, 2014 Annual WMABA Golf Outing Virginia Oaks Golf Club, 7950 Virginia Oaks Dr., Gainesville, VA 1pm Shotgun Start For more information, please visit www. wmaba.com

CLASS LISTINGS

May 1, 2014

ALUMINUM-INTENSIVE VEHICLE REPAIRS Coxton’s Gold Team Collision Center, Yorktown, VA

May 5, 2014

STEERING & SUSPENSION DAMAGE ANALYSIS First Team Toyota, Chesapeake, VA SQUEEZE-TYPE RESISTANCE SPOT WELDING Collision Plus, Blacksburg, VA

May 6, 2014

CORROSION PROTECTION Hampton Inn Salisbury, Salisbury, MD COSMETIC STRAIGHTENING ALUMINUM Coxton’s Gold Team Collision Center, Yorktown, VA VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY & TRENDS 2014 (NOTE: CLASS FULL) State Farm Silver Spring, Silver Spring, MD

May 8, 2014

FULL-FRAME PARTIAL REPLACEMENT Frederick Co. Career & Tech, Frederick, MD REPLACEMENT OF STEEL UNITIZED STRUCTURES Automotive Collision Technologies, Randallstown, MD

May 12, 2014

OVERVIEW OF CYCLE TIME IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE COLLISION REPAIR PROCESS First Team Toyota, Chesapeake, VA

May 13, 2014

ALUMINUM-INTENSIVE VEHICLE REPAIRS Best Western Westminster, Westminster, MD RACK & PINION & PARALLELOGRAM STEERING SYSTEMS Canby Motors Collision Repair, Aberdeen, MD

May 15, 2014

FULL-FRAME PARTIAL REPLACEMENT Kunkel’s, Baltimore, MD

May 19, 2014

MEASURING First Team Toyota, Chesapeake, VA

May 20, 2014

REPLACING EXTERIOR ALUMINUM PANELS Harrisonburg (Manheim) Auto Auction, Harrisonburg, VA COSMETIC STRAIGHTENING ALUMINUM Keystone Linthicum, Linthicum, MD WHEEL ALIGNMENT & DIAGNOSTIC ANGLES Coxton’s Gold Team Collision Center, Yorktown, VA

May 22, 2014

ADHESIVE BONDING King Volkswagen, Gaithersburg, MD

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May 1, 2014 A(nother) Day with Mike Anderson: The Encyclopedia of Estimating Practi ces LKQ-Keystone Training Facility 815-A Central Ave., Linthicum, MD 21090 For more information, please visit www. wmaba.com

May 26, 2014

STRUCTURAL STRAIGHTENING STEEL First Team Toyota, Chesapeake, VA

May 27, 2014

June 16, 2014

May 27, 2014

June 17, 2014

WELDED & ADHESIVELY BONDED PANEL REPLACEMENT Hampton Inn Salisbury, Salisbury, MD COSMETIC STRAIGHTENING ALUMINUM Harrisonburg (Manheim) Auto Auction, Harrisonburg, VA

May 29, 2014

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, PERSONAL SAFETY & REFINISH SAFETY Frederick Co. Career & Tech, Frederick, MD

June 2, 2014

VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY & TRENDS 2014 First Team Toyota, Chesapeake, VA

June 3, 2014

PLASTIC & COMPOSITE REPAIR Coxton’s Gold Team Collision Center, Yorktown, VA

June 4, 2014

REFINISHING EQUIPMENT & VOC REGULATIONS First Team Toyota, Chesapeake, VA

June 9, 2014

FULL-FRAME PARTIAL REPLACEMENT First Team Toyota, Chesapeake, VA

June 10, 2014

SUSPENSION SYSTEMS Coxton’s Gold Team Collision Center, Yorktown, VA FULL-FRAME PARTIAL REPLACEMENT State Farm Silver Spring, Silver Spring, MD

June 11, 2014

SURFACE PREPARATION & MASKING First Team Toyota, Chesapeake, VA

June 12, 2014

FULL-FRAME PARTIAL REPLACEMENT Coxton’s Gold Team Collision Center, Yorktown, VA COLLISION REPAIR FOR TOYOTA, LEXUS & SCION VEHICLES Frederick Co. Career & Tech, Frederick, MD

REPLACEMENT OF STEEL UNITIZED STRUCTURES First Team Toyota, Chesapeake, VA RACK & PINION & PARALLELOGRAM STEERING SYSTEMS Coxton’s Gold Team Collision Center, Yorktown, VA WHEEL ALIGNMENT & DIAGNOSTIC ANGLES Canby Motors Collision Repair, Aberdeen, MD

June 18, 2014

DETAILING First Team Toyota, Chesapeake, VA

June 19, 2014

SQUEEZE-TYPE RESISTANCE SPOT WELDING Coxton’s Gold Team Collision Center, Yorktown, VA

June 23, 2014

SECTIONING OF STEEL UNITIZED STRUCTURES First Team Toyota, Chesapeake, VA

June 24, 2014

AUTOMOTIVE FOAMS Hampton Inn Salisbury, Salisbury, MD REPLACING EXTERIOR ALUMINUM PANELS Keystone Linthicum, Linthicum, MD

June 26, 2014

SQUEEZE-TYPE RESISTANCE SPOT WELDING King Volkswagen, Gaithersburg, MD REPLACEMENT OF STEEL UNITIZED STRUCTURES Kunkel’s, Baltimore, MD

June 30, 2014

SQUEEZE-TYPE RESISTANCE SPOT WELDING First Team Toyota, Chesapeake, VA

www.i-car.com or (800) 422-7872 for info

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Joel Gausten

EDITOR’S

(973) 600-9288 tgpjoel@verizon.net

MESSAGE THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

If you have read Hammer & Dolly over the years, you know that several members of the association have committed themselves to being active in improving this industry on a national level. By regularly attending the Collision Industry Conference (CIC), SEMA, the NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show and the various gatherings hosted by SCRS, AASP and other industry entities, these members gain

valuable advance knowledge on issue and trends that directly impact members in the Washington Metropolitan region. For example, WMABA was one of the very first - if not the first - regional auto trade groups in America to raise a red flag over the insurance industry’s growing influence over the parts procurement process. That was because a number of WMABA representatives not only had national ties with SCRS and AASP, but also got on a plane and met with industry reps in places like New Zealand (PartsTrader’s original home base) and Australia. Few state associations in this industry can boast that kind of far-reaching influence, and this fact becomes even more evident as you read the stories in this issue.

It doesn’t matter if it’s Oregon, New Jersey or the State House in Annapolis – WMABA is in the room, and the association’s efforts are being felt and making a difference.

While some WMABA members are able to personally attend events on a national scale, never doubt for one second that their hearts and minds are with you – the local collision repair shop owner or area vendor/supplier. You are the engine that fuels everything WMABA does for the industry. Even if you are unable to attend some of the events we cover in Hammer & Dolly, know that your contributions in the local market are immeasurable. And you better believe that your presence makes a huge difference in the Legislature.

Although WMABA’s Parts Bill didn’t move forward in this session, the association’s work in and out of the legislative arena to protect consumers is far from over. Over the next few months, WMABA will be calling on you to become even more involved in local industry activities to improve conditions for shops/vendors and consumers alike. We urge you to become a part of what is sure to be WMABA’s most ambitious campaign yet. The journey isn’t finished until consumers have the right to use the parts they want – and that road begins right in front of your business. There’s no need to book a flight to help your industry; you will be able to make things better right where you are. Stay tuned. H&D

Correction: On page 20 of our March 2014 issue (“Parts Procurement Matrix Unveiled at CIC”), the correct mission statement of the CIC Parts & Materials Committee should have read as follows: “The mission of the CIC Parts & Materials Committee is to identify the issues and challenges related to the parts, materials and technologies utilized in today’s vehicles – including the effect they have on the collision repair process – and to identify and offer solutions where possible. Our members represent numerous industry segments with wide-ranging viewpoints, but are working jointly to improve the overall quality of the repair process for the industry and vehicle owners alike.” Hammer & Dolly regrets the error.

©thinkstockphoto.com/anamad

2014 WMABA OFFICERS PRESIDENT

VICE PRESIDENT TREASURER SECRETARY

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Don Beaver Dbeaver@antwerpenauto.com 443-539-4200 ext. 17061 Torchy Chandler torchy.chandler@gmail.com 410-309-2242 Mark Schaech Jr. mark@marksbodyshop.com 410-358-5155 John Krauss jkrauss@craftsmanautobody.com 703-534-1818 Barry Dorn bdorn@dornsbodyandpaint.com 804-746-3928

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Rodney Bolton (rbolton@aacps.org) 410-969-3100 ext. 250 Mark Boudreau (crashdaddy@aol.com) 703-671-2402

ADMINISTRATION

Kevin Burt (kevinburt@walkermillcollision.com) 301-336-1140 Bobby Wright (bobby@burkevillebodyshop.com) 434-767-4128

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jordan Hendler (jordanhendler@wmaba.com) 804-789-9649 WMABA CORPORATE OFFICE P.O. Box 3157 • Mechanicsville, VA 23116

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STAFF

PUBLISHER MANAGING EDITOR EDITOR ART DIRECTOR OFFICE MANAGER ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Thomas Greco tgp22@verizon.net

Alicia Figurelli tgp2@verizon.net

Joel Gausten tgpjoel@verizon.net

Lea Velocci tgp3@verizon.net

Sofia Cabrera tgp4@verizon.net

Norman Morano tgp5@verizon.net 800-991-1995 Fax 732-280-6601

PUBLISHED BY TGP, Inc. 244 Chestnut St., Suite 202 Nutley, NJ 07110 973-667-6922 FAX 973-235-1963 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 © 2014 Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc.

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PRESIDENT’S

MESSAGE

Don Beaver

(443) 539-4200 ext. 17061 Dbeaver@antwerpenauto.com

©thinkstockphoto.com/StudioM1

HELP US HELP YOU

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Wow, 2014 is in full swing now, with the first quarter of the year already completed. Time sure flies when you’re having fun!

Although our proposed bills were not initially successful in Annapolis, there were certainly many wins. We now know our way around the legislative process, and we made many new contacts and supporters this time around while also rekindling some old friendships. With the exception of a few key votes, we nearly changed our industry.

There are many things that are out of our control, and the ever-increasing outside influences and mandates upon our business continue to impact us tremendously. To be able to repair vehicles using correct procedures, keep warranties intact and do what is right for the consumer (our customers), we must gain some of that control back, and it appears that legislation may be the only way to do it. The process of legislation is expensive and tiresome; it takes days, hours and weeks of walking the halls of Congress to educate our legislators and make them effective allies. WMABA is the vehicle needed to do just that. The association allows shops to voice their concerns and worries while remaining anonymous for fear of reprisals from those outside influences. There is no doubt that the insurance lobby has money, and they spend a lot of it at our State Capitols. The only way to fight this fire is with fire. We need your help.

We need people who are as tired as I am of these influences taking control over our businesses. We need more people to join WMABA -

May 2014

and if you’re already a member, we need you to make a contribution to our Legislative fund. We can change the industry, and we came awfully close this time. We will be heading back next session and hope to prevail with your help, but it won’t be cheap.

So as you sit and read this message, don’t think that things will never change; things can and will change. I truly believe that, because what’s right is right. We have right on our side and when more people say, “Enough is enough,” things will finally change. This is OUR battle, and it is possible for David to slay Goliath. Join, donate and participate to help us help YOU. Good things are on the horizon! H&D

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Alexandria Volkswagen 107 West Glebe Rd. Alexandria, VA 22305 703-684-7007 Fax: 703-684-4138

Lindsay Volkswagen of Dulles 22455 Cedar Green Rd. Sterling, VA 20166 703-880-8160 Fax: 703-880-8219

e-mail: parts@alexandriavw.com

www.lindsayvolkswagen.com

Karen Radley Volkswagen 14700 Jefferson Davis Hwy. Woodbridge, VA 22191 703-550-0205 Fax: 703-643-0081

Ourisman Volkswagen of Bethesda 5415 Butler Road Bethesda,MD 20816 301-652-2452 Fax: 301-652-2589 e-mail: vwwholesale@ourisman.co

Cook Volkswagen 2110 Bel Air Rd. Fallston, MD 21047 866-560-3957 410-877-1500 Fax: 410-877-8557

Checkered Flag Volkswagen 3025 Virginia Beach Blvd Virginia Beach, VA 23452 Parts Direct: 757-687-3465 757-490-1111 Fax: 757-687-3514 www.checkeredflag.com

Russel Volkswagen 6624 Baltimore National Pike Baltimore, MD 21228 PH:410-788-1700 Fax:410-818-2049 e-mail: rpedrick@russelautomotive.com www.russelvw.com

Brown’s Volkswagen 10501 Midlothian Turnpike Richmond, VA 23235 Parts Direct: 804-379-6610 Parts Fax: 804-897-1654 e-mail: jhatton@brownscar.com www.brownscar.com

Ourisman Volkswagen of Rockville 801 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852 Parts Direct: 301-340-7668 Toll Free: 855-417-4511 Fax: 240-499-2488 e-mail: rockvilleparts@ourismanautomotive.com www.ourismanvwofrockville.com

Fitzgerald Volkswagen 114 Baughmans Lane Frederick, MD 21702 Toll Free: 800-545-4745 Fax: 877-696-1841

Fitzgerald Volkswagen of Annapolis 34 Hudson Street Annapolis, MD 21401 Phone: 410-224-4636 Fax: 410-224-4264 www.fitzmall.com

Ourisman Volkswagen of Laurel 3371 Ft. Meade Rd. Laurel, MD 20724 Phone: 301-498-6050 Fax: 301-498-0157 www.laurelvolkswagen.com

e-mail: parts@fitzmall.com www.fitzparts.com

King Volkswagen 979 North Frederick Ave. Gaithersburg, MD 20879 Parts Direct: 240-403-2300 Fax:240-403-2398 e-mail: parts@vwking.com www.vwking.com

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News and reports from across the nation.

NEWS

FLASH WMABA Executive Director Among WIN “Most Influential Women Award” Winners The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) recently announced the winners of its annual Most Influential Women award. Among them is Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA) Executive Director Jordan Hendler.

Hendler has been entrenched in the collision repair industry since 1998, when she began as an administrative assistant for Concepts, Inc., a company that later provided support to the Society of Collision Repairers (SCRS). She has worked with industry groups including the National Auto Body Council (NABC) and the Collision Industry Conference (CIC), and has served as WMABA’s executive director since 2007.

“It is an absolute honor to be recognized by your peers, many of whom I’ve been working with my entire career spanning almost 16 years,” Hendler says. “WIN has fostered women into non-traditional roles in the industry, and helped them feel like they weren’t at odds with industry perspectives by doing so. I feel that they have initiated positive and empowering dialogue, and offered mentoring as a resource to those who need some common perspective.”

When asked how she feels the role of women has evolved over the years, Hendler expressed her hope that today’s industry is now at a place where women are treated as equals and in no way different than their male counterparts.

“It’s important to me that I do a good job by any standard, and especially not because I’m ‘a girl in a man’s world,’” she says.

With nearly two decades’ worth of professional experience in the industry, Hendler has solid advice for women looking to establish long-lasting careers in the collision repair world.

“What should set you apart is how well you perform your job,” she says. “Being a woman in this industry is not a crutch but instead a step up in the way of utilizing your

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individual skills to accomplish personal goals.”

According to WIN’s website, the awards “recognize women who have enriched the collision repair industry with their leadership, vision and commitment to excellence [in alignment with] WIN’s mission to ‘enhance the role of women in the industry.’” Past honorees include women in all areas of the collision repair industry, from body and paint technicians to shop owners, managers, lobbyists, educators and more.

In addition to Hendler, this year’s recipients include:

Frederica Carter, president of F. Carter Events LLC (formerly communications manager at AkzoNobel) Leanne Jefferies, director, Collision Programs, AIA Canada

For more information about the Women’s Industry Network, please visit www.thewomensindustrynetwork.ning. com. H&D

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2014 WMABA GOlF OuTiNG

JuNE 26, 2014 • 1:00 PM SHOTGuN START Virginia Oaks Golf Club 7950 Virginia Oaks Dr. Gainesville, VA 20155 www.virginiaoaksgc.com

For information about sponsorship or participation, visit www.wmaba.com

2014 Annual Golf Outing

ENTRY FORM

NO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE!!

Entries must be received by June 14.

Name: __________________________________________ Company: _______________________________________

TEAM AVAILABILITY

*Four-person teams may be entered TEAM FEE: $625 ($156.25 per player) Please list the players: Name: _____________________________________________ Avg. 18-Hole Score: ___ Handicap: ___ Name: _____________________________________________ Avg. 18-Hole Score: ___ Handicap: ___ Name: _____________________________________________ Avg. 18-Hole Score: ___ Handicap: ___ *Person responsible for the team must contact and inform the other players and collect their portion of the fee from them.

Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________ City: ___________________________________________ State: ___________ Zip: ________________________ Phone: _______________________________________ Email: _________________________________________

TO PAY BY CREDIT CARD Number: _______________________________________ Type:

Visa

MasterCard

American Express

Expires: _____ /_____ Security Code: _______________

Avg. 18-Hole Score: ____ Handicap: ____

TOURNAMENT FEE (check one) $175 Individual Player $625 Team Entry (Save $75 on entry)

Signature: _____________________________________

Send entry to: WMABA PO Box 3157, Mechanicsville, VA 23116 or Fax to: (804) 335-1296

QUESTIONS? Contact Jordan Hendler at (804) 789-9649 / jordanhendler@wmaba.com 16

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Conquest your Mitsubishi parts needs!

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Ultra-Conquest Collision Parts Program Highlights: • Discounted prices on quality new and unblemished OEM parts • Automated price and part selection in collision estimating systems • High parts availability • Delivery to most major U.S. cities within 24 hours • Available through all participating Northeastern area Mitsubishi dealers • Includes the majority of key collision components for select popular models • We can meet or beat aftermarket prices!

To find out more about Ultra-Conquest pricing contact your local Mitsubishi dealer.

For Genuine Mitsubishi parts, contact these authorized Mitsubishi Dealers.

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Buy Genuine Mitsubishi Parts and get the perfect fit at the perfect price.

10% off on all parts orders when you mention this ad.

May 2014

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LEGAL

PERSPECTIVE

What’s happening at the State House, in your industry and everywhere in between.

BY ROBIN SHAIVITZ

Government Relations Consultant, The Law Offices of Alexander & Cleaver

2014 Maryland General Assembly and WMABA Activity

©thinkstockphoto.com/Rasica

As the weather turns warmer, we think of lazy days and vacations for the family. While that is all true, WMABA members also have a great deal to think about given the association’s growing legislative strength in Maryland. During the 90-day session, which ended on April 7, the state dealt with over 2,600 bills; two of them were the bills Alexander & Cleaver worked on behalf of WMABA. We started in the fall to find strong sponsors and were successful in working with John Astle (D-Annapolis) in the Senate and John Olszewski (D-Eastern Baltimore County) in the House. Senator Astle and Delegate Olszewski introduced Senate Bill 487 and House Bill 574, which essentially would prohibit an insurance company from putting an aftermarket part on a car that was less than three years old. The bills also prohibited certain types of online bidding through parts procurement processes. In spite of the fact that the bills did not pass, we learned a great deal about how to go about getting them passed in 2015.

Initially, we found no opposition to the bills; however, we found out soon enough that the entire insurance industry - as well as their army of lobbyists - was against us. For our next attempt, the issues won’t change, but we will be more prepared for success, as the election year will be behind the members of the General Assembly.

By that time, the elected officials will feel more comfortable supporting our position. Good bills always pass, but some of them take a few years to build support. Alexander & Cleaver is pledging to make that happen for you in 2015.

We hope that the membership will stay in touch with us and keep abreast of legislative activities occurring in Maryland. Given the election of a new Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General as well as 188 members of the Maryland General Assembly, members of the WMABA repair community have plenty of ways to get involved. Our two bill sponsors, John Astle and John Olszewski, are both in tough races and each can use both your financial support and your volunteer work to help them in their

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respective campaigns. Additionally, two upcoming annual conferences in Ocean City, MD - the Maryland Municipal League (MML) in June and the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) in August - will attract elected officials. WMABA members are encouraged to meet them and tell them why this legislation is important. Alexander & Cleaver will host major receptions at Seacrets in Ocean City for both of these events, and we hope members will join us to meet and greet those folks who can weigh in on these issues important to you as a businessperson and auto body specialist.

The ultimate key to success in the Maryland political arena is to remember to get involved, express your views in a polite and factual manner and remember that winning is the long haul, not the quick fix. With that in mind, one can become a respected member of the government relations community in this state. WMABA is surely on its way to becoming such a valued player in Maryland.

H&D Ms. Shaivitz is the chief operating officer of the government relations division of the Law Offices of Alexander & Cleaver. The firm represents WMABA on legislative issues and represents many of its members on a wide variety of legal issues. To reach Robin, call (410) 974-9000 or visit us at www.alexander-cleaver.com.

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NATIONAL

The latest from WMABA members and supporters.

NEWS LEADERSHIP FORUM TACKLES THE LEGITIMACY OF LEGISLATION

On Friday, March 21, the 2014 East Coast Resolution Forum & Leadership Meeting treated attendees to something very different from the norm.

A decades-long staple of AASP/NJ’s NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show, the Forum (held just prior to the start of the show) has historically hosted representatives from different state associations presenting updates on their individual state’s activities. This year’s Forum (co-presented by SCRS, AASP/NJ and NYSACTA/ LIABRA), however, was conducted in an informal “roundtable” format where association leaders posed questions that other attendees could answer and discuss.

Representing WMABA, Immediate Past President Barry Dorn introduced the topic of association-promoted legislation to the discussion, no doubt inspired by his group’s recent attempt to get a proconsumer bill passed in the Maryland General Assembly.

“Is there any advantage to even well-crafted legislation?” he asked.

Tony Lombardozzi, president for the Coalition for Collision Repair Excellence (CCRE), expressed the opinion that it is up to shops – not legislators – to address the insurer’s interference in the repair contract between a repairer and vehicle owner.

“After 30-plus years, why are we still arguing over aftermarket parts?” he asked. “Nobody can dictate to the body shop – who assumes 100 percent of the liability – how that vehicle is supposed to be repaired. They don’t have any right to come into [your shop] and say you have to do this unless you let them. If you go to [promote] legislation, there’s always compromise. You’re also fighting an industry that has a lot of money and a lot of time.

“Ninety percent of the bills I’ve seen get passed in other states are seen as wins, but are not wins,” he adds. “Four or five years down the road, [the repairers] find out it was a mistake and you can’t undo it. Nobody in this country can force a body shop owner who has his name Tony Ferraiolo of the Auto Body above the door to choose a [parAssociation of Connecticut ticular] vendor unless they allow (ABAC) discussed ways his group it, so why are we going through is active in consumer education. all of this?”

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Presenting a different perspective on the discussion, SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg noted that legislation could nonetheless be effective as a tool to address the consumer safety issues that could arise from utilizing parts other than those made by the manufacturer.

“I think there are a lot of consumers who are involved in Tony Lombardozzi (CCRE) a claim and are put in a position discussed alternatives to where they go, ‘I want laws that industry legislation protect me from my insurers or the terms that are put in front of me,’” he offered. “I think there are consumers asking, ‘Why can’t somebody protect me from a policy that’s going to put me in a position of having a part on my brand new vehicle that isn’t what was [originally] on there, or from having a repair performed in a way that isn’t in my best interest?’”

Expanding on the consumer angle, Auto Body Association of Connecticut (ABAC) President Tony Ferraiolo detailed his association’s ongoing efforts to educate drivers through billboards and radio ads.

“That’s where we believe our money has to be spent for the association to get [the message] out to consumers,” he said. “By educating them, they’re fighting their battle for us. They’re educated; they’re coming in knowing about aftermarket parts and proper procedures. We want to put the time and energy from our association into educating shops, members and definitely consumers.”

On March 13, the Maryland House Economic Matters Committee issued an unfavorable vote on House Bill 574, WMABA-supported legislation that was also filed in the Senate (SB487). The bill sought to prohibit “a specified adjuster, appraiser, insurance producer, or employee of an insurer from requiring a motor vehicle repair facility to use a specific vendor or process for the procurement of parts or other materials necessary for the repair of a motor vehicle.” Additionally, the bill would have prohibited an insurer in the state of Maryland from requiring the use of aftermarket crash parts for the first three years of a vehicle’s life. An in-depth report on the aftermath of the Committee’s vote – and WMABA’s plans to continue addressing the issues identified in the bill – begins on page 38.

H&D

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May 2014

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The latest from WMABA members and supporters.

NATIONAL

NEWS NORTHEAST PANEL EXPLORES PARTS PROCUREMENT, INSURER CONTROL With insurer-mandated parts procurement now a reality across the country, the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) hosted a special panel discussion at the 37th Annual NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show in Secaucus, NJ to allow for industry representatives from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions to share their views on the matter with area repair shops.

Guest speakers at the March 21 gathering included Past WMABA President Barry Dorn (Dorn’s Body & Paint, Richmond, VA), Ed Kizenberger of NYSACTA/LIABRA, Tom Elder of Auto Body Distributing Co. (ABD) and attorneys Mitch Portnoi (Post, Polak, Goodsell, MacNeill & Strauchler) and Joshua Bauchner (Ansell, Grimm & Aaron).

As Kizenberger stressed at the beginning of the event, the panel was in place to discuss the concept of parts procurement, not any one company. During the discussion, he questioned the reasoning behind the mandated use of PartsTrader in State Farm Select Service facilities.

“There has to be some benefit to State Farm,” he offered. “We understand the benefit to PartsTrader because there’s going to be a fee. There has to be something coming back to State Farm in the future, or why would they mandate it? I think the immediate benefit [to State Farm] besides price has to do with them being able to track return history.”

Kizenberger also dispelled the notion that mandated parts procurement is in place to assist shops in improving their efficiency.

“Generally, [State Farm] acts like there’s something they can do to force you to deliver that car quicker, sooner and better, but that’s what your business is,” he said. “It serves no purpose for you to sit on the job.”

Bauchner suggested that industry groups emphasize the consumer protection angle if they attempt to seek legal remedies to insurer-mandated parts procurement, comparing the effort to raise awareness of the problem to starting a fire to get everyone’s attention.

“Litigation is the kindling for the fire,” he said. “The best thing to happen is not just to have all of you starting that fire, but to get consumer associations and groups involved. [They’re] going to recognize that this is a threat to them as well, and they have incredible resources...They can be terrific allies.”

Attorney John Eaves, Jr., who at press time was working with the Mississippi Collision Repair Association and other industry professionals to gain injunctive relief against PartsTrader in the state, spoke from the audience of the dangers of shops’ compromising

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Ed Kizenberger (NYSACTA/ LIABRA) questioned the reasoning behind State Farm's PartsTrader mandate.

their work in order to appease an insurance partner.

“We cannot emphasize enough that you have a great responsibility,” he said. “They’re not going to come to the insurance company if something happens when you do an improper repair. They’re coming to you.”

Although injunctive relief has been viewed by many in the repair field as a possible weapon against the spread of insurer-mandated programs like PartsTrader, Portnoi cautioned that employing this method Attorney Mitch Portnoi warned could potentially lead to of the potential pitfalls of disappointment. seeking injunctive relief.

“You file suit and ask for injunctive relief to stop PartsTrader, and you walk in front of a judge…and [he or she] looks at you and says, ‘Your client…what exactly makes him have to contract with XYZ Insurance Co.? Why doesn’t he just opt out?’ Everyone in this room quite potentially has that same opportunity to opt out,” he said. “It may be financially very difficult for you to do so, but you certainly have that opportunity. In order to get injunctive relief here in New Jersey, one of the requirements is that you have to show that there is a reasonable probability of success on the merits. So you’re looking at two adult businesses – obviously one holds a very significant economic advantage – but the other party is a businessperson who is willing, able and capable of opting out of a contract that they don’t want. That could very well be the most significant problem in anybody obtaining injunctive relief.”

Representing a network of 40 dealerships and nearly 200 body shops through the ABD, Elder shared that many of his dealer members have expressed that they feel forced to either sign up to PartsTrader or lose the business of Select Service shops.

“Wherever you [decide to] go, it’s a business decision,” he said.

“I’m not for it, and I’m not against, but I can tell you that almost without exception, dealers in our buying cooperative joined PartsTrader at least for the trial period...I’m disappointed at the whole thing, but I can’t blame any one segment of the market.” H&D

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May 2014

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AS A COlliSiON REPAiR SPECiAliST, YOu MuST AlWAYS FOC HOWEVER, iNSuRANCE ESTiMATES ARE OFTEN FOCuSED ON BMW centers stock Original Equipment Parts that never sacrifice quality or s

For Original BMW Parts, contact one of these authorized BMW centers: BMW of Annapolis 25 Old Mill Bottom Road Annapolis, MD 21409 410-349-2565 Fax:410-349-2586 www.mybmwannapolis.com

BMW of Fairfax 2805 Old Lee Highway Fairfax, VA 22031 800-879-2269 Fax: 703-641-8562 www.bmwoffairfax.com

BMW of Alexandria 499 South Pickett Street Alexandria,VA 22304 Direct: 703-684-5255 Fax: 703-647-1853 www.bmwofalexandria.com

Passport BMW 5000 Auth Way Marlow Heights, MD 20746 301-423-0733 Fax: 301-423-2717 www.passportbmw.com

Apple BMW  of York 1370 Roosevelt Ave. York, PA 17404 800-839-1755 Fax: 717-843-2948 www.applebmwofyork.com

BMW of Sterling 21826 Pacific Blvd.

Sterling, VA 20166 888-954-8222 Fax: 571-434-7727 www.bmwofsterling.com

BMW of Silver Spring 3211 Automobile Blvd Silver Spring, MD 20904 866-737-8937 Fax: 301-890-3748 www.bmwofsilverspring.com

Northwest BMW 9702 Reisterstown Rd Owings Mills, MD 21117 410-363-1461 Fax: 410-363-7749 www.northwestbmw.com

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FOCuS ON SAFETY, QuAliTY AND COST. ON JuST COST. r safety for cost.

·

Every detail is exactly matched to the vehicle’s safety systems for optimum occupant protection.

·

Original BMW Panels and Components are built from premium materials using ultra-precise processes.

·

To maximize the safety of all passengers, replacement panels undergo strict and extensive quality control tests.

·

To ensure optimal paint adhesion, electrophoretically primer coats are applied during the manufacturing process.

BMW of Catonsville 6700 Baltimore National Pike Baltimore,MD 21228 800-828-6529 410-744-2000 Fax: 410-818-2600 www.bmwofcatonsville.com

BMW of Bel Air 1705 Conowingo Road (US 1 in Hickory) Bel Air, MD 21014 443.640.1230 Fax: 443.640.1234 www.bmwbelair.com

Richmond BMW 8710 West Broad Street Richmond, VA 23294 800-237-0130 Direct: 804-527-6860 Fax: 804-965-6254 www.richmondbmw.com

Richmond BMW 12100 Midlothian Tpke Midlothian, VA 23113 Phone: 804-897-2211 Fax: 804-897-2202 www.richmondbmw.com

Checkered Flag BMW 5225 Virginia Beach Blvd Virginia Beach, VA 23462 757-687-3494 Fax:757-687-3495 bmw.checkeredflag.com

BMW of Towson 700 Kenilworth Drive Towson, MD 21204 410.296.7908 Fax: 410.296.4852 www.bmwtowson.com

Valley BMW 2824 Franklin Road SW Roanoke, VA 24014 PH: 540-342-3733 Fax: 540-345-9060 www.valleybmw.com

BMW of Rockville 1396 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852 301-984-8989 Fax: 301-984-1710 www.bmwrockville.com

May 2014

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The latest from WMABA members and supporters.

NATIONAL

NEWS THE 2015 F-150: INSIDE FORD’S NEW AUTO REVOLUTION Easily one of the most talked-about vehicles in today’s collision repair industry, the 2015 Ford F-150 made a gamechanging appearance at the NORTHEAST® 2014 Automotive Services Show (March 2123), giving thousands of attendees their very first glimpse of the vehicle’s breathtaking structure and design.

In development since 2009, the new F-150 has an improved boxed frame with more high-strength steel than ever before.

Next, Ford used high-strength, militarygrade, aluminum alloy throughout the body,

Ford Collision Marketing Manager Melissa Lester

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which improves dent and ding resistance while saving as much as 700 pounds, providing improved towing, payload and better fuel efficiency. In addition, the vehicle comes equipped with a variety of high-tech enhancements including a 360-degree camera and a lane departure warning system. Ford is also implementing an extensive recycling program at its plants, guaranteeing that all scrap aluminum that is taken off a truck is put back into new aluminum – making the 2015 F-150 truck a smart choice for consumers and the environment. A special cutaway of the truck was the centerpiece of Ford’s extensive display on the NORTHEAST show floor throughout the weekend.

Naturally, the introduction of the new vehicle means that the manufacturer is looking to the auto body industry to ensure that Ford drivers receive safe, dependable repairs. Melissa Lester, collision marketing manager for Ford, appeared at NORTHEAST 2014 on March 21 and 22 to present an overview of the manufacturer’s new National Body Shop Program. Facilitated on Ford’s behalf by the Assured Performance Network (APN), the program seeks to promote those facilities that have the right tools, equipment and training to repair Ford vehicles back to manufacturer specifications.

The cost for either independent shops or dealer facilities is $2,950 a year, while dealers will have the ability to sponsor their independent body shop partners for recognition on the program. The arrival of the 2015 F-150 underscores the need for a

sustainable national network of body shops that can properly perform aluminum repairs.

“Less than half of our dealerships actually have body shops,” Lester said. “If you are a customer and live in a community with a Ford dealership that doesn’t have a body shop, it will become necessary for you to have repairs performed at an independent repair facility…We think it’s very important that during the collision repair process, our customer is educated and knows that they have the right to request the right part and the right body shop.”

More information on the Ford National Body Shop Program is available at www.Ford CertifiedShop.com.

In addition to Lester’s presentations, Ford engineers held special “F-150 Repair Information” classes all three days of the show to present attendees with an overview of enhanced service information, repairability methods, available training courses and recommended tools/equipment.

In related news, I-CAR recently announced the June 1 launch of a new sixcredit hour 2015 Ford F-150 Structural Repair course (FOR06) covering vehiclespecific repair information and various topics relating to aluminum. H&D

Executive Director’s Thoughts Repairers cannot make the mistake of trying to fix these vehicles without the proper training and equipment in a dedicated space. This is decision time for most; either make the decision to invest in doing it right, or step aside and let someone who has made that investment fix these vehicles instead.

- Jordan Hendler

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May 2014

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The latest from WMABA members and supporters.

NATIONAL

NEWS

SCRS RESPONDS TO ISSUES IMPACTING MEMBERSHIP

As with all Open Meetings hosted by the Society of Collision Repair Specialists, the April 8 gathering in Portland, OR featured a comprehensive report on a broad array of issues being worked on in the background by the national association.

SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg reported on a number of initiatives identified by both the Board and the membership as ones of growing significance.

Topics ranged from past meetings and presentations to collaboration with SkillsUSA on recognizing the instructors behind the winning students and strategic support extended to state affiliate associations who have been actively engaged in legislative initiatives. His report further detailed a variety of data-centric areas of focus that have produced information the association is fashioning for release to its members. One area of research over the past quarter has been relative to how length-of-rental information relates to average hours per claim, and how that information can be used to help the association and its membership better understand and anticipate estimated time for repair. Schulenburg reported that the association had worked with a variety of data sources (both Information Providers and rental agencies) to collect various data sets to compare numbers. While giving no specific figures, he reported that all of the results pointed to the fact that average hours per day came in at under 3.0 hours in every comparison set. This provides stark contrast to the 5.0 and 6.0 hours per day used by many carriers to calculate initial rental, and is an area where the industry may be able to better set consumer expectations by utilizing more accurate data. SCRS assured more reports on this subject were to follow.

Schulenburg noted that the association is also actively addressing concerns over the collection and use of data in the PartsTrader process, based on frequent inquiries coming in from members as the rollout widens.

“For certain users, there is not just data from State Farm claims in the PartsTrader dashboard; they’re seeing data from other insurers as well,” he explained. “Depending on

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The 2014-2015 SCRS Board of Directors (L-R): CJ Vermaak, Domenic Brusco, Jim Sowle, Dustin Womble, Aaron Clark, Bruce Halcro, Luis Alonso, Ron Reichen, Brett Bailey, Kye Yeung, Rodes Brown, Andy Dingman and Paul Val.

which estimating system the end user is using, it is apparently common that five pieces of data on non-State Farm claims will be able to be extracted by PartsTrader: Year, make, model, the last four digits of the claim number and the insurance company’s name. We had some dialogue back and forth with PartsTrader over why that’s necessary. According to them, it’s to be able to pinpoint the file on the server if the shop were to decide to upload it at a later date.”

Schulenburg added that although PartsTrader claims they hold on to this information for only two weeks, there exist concerns over the type of information and recording functionality that could be produced from that data, as well as concerns over whether that information may violate any confidentiality agreements with other carrier programs. Additionally, he reported that when asked if shops could elect to not have that data transferred and extracted, PartsTrader responded that it was up to the individual estimating system.

In response to a variety of data-related concerns, he advised that CCC’s response indicated they have put together a mechanism where shops can now identify specific paths for EMS data, including which insurer-specific EMS files will be received by which data collection programs on the user’s server.

“That is something we and other organizations have been asking for years,” Schulenburg said. “The fact that it is now reality for shops to have better control over data management is a huge win for the

industry.” SCRS intends to release more details following the meeting.

Schulenburg went on to note that AudaExplore has stated that their system does not automate the EMS exchange outside of where it is a requirement (ex: State Farm) without a specific request from a user to turn it on; Mitchell representatives have told SCRS that the company is looking into a possible product enhancement, although they could not identify a timeframe in which it would be addressed.

“The concern from our end is really just making sure that our members and the industry as a whole understands their capabilities as far as managing their data, and understands how these systems work so they can properly set them up to have the data flow the way they want it to,” Schulenburg said.

In addition to Schulenburg’s report and updates by a number of SCRS committees, the SCRS Open Meeting also included a special educational presentation by SCRS Board member Gary Wano, Jr. on the repairability of the 2015 BMW i3 electric vehicle, as well as an update by Janet Chaney of the Oregon Collision Repair Specialists (OCRS).

The April 8 gathering included the annual SCRS Board elections, which saw association members in attendance vote in the same directors as last year (see photo below).

On April 9, the association hosted its annual SCRS Industry Awards & Corporate Member Recognition Luncheon (see photos on page 30). H&D

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The latest from WMABA members and supporters.

NATIONAL

NEWS

Congrats to Michael Anderson (CollisionAdvice.com), who received the Collision Industry Individual Service Award, but was unable to attend the event.

SCRS 2014 INDUSTRY AWARDS & CORPORATE 9, 2014, MEMBER RECOGNITION LUNCHEON APRIL PORTLAND, OR

Clockwise from top left: Event emcee Jeff Hendler; Joe Mattos of Pro Finishes PLUS accepted a posthumous Regional Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of his late cousin and longtime WMABA supporter, John A. Mattos (The award was presented to Mattos by Barry Dorn of WMABA); Domenic Brusco of PPG (right) accepted the Collision Industry Non-Individual Service Award on behalf of the Collision Repair Education Foundation; SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg; an emotional moment as Past SCRS Chair Gary Wano, Jr. receives the SCRS National Lifetime Achievement Award and a surprise visit from his sisters Kristi Wano (left) and Tammy Tomberlin.

SCRS would like to thank its Corporate Members and the following sponsors for making the 2014 Portland events possible: Premier Sponsors – Axalta Coating Systems, BASF Corporation, Ford Customer Service, PPG Automotive Refinish, the Sherwin-Williams Company, Toyota Motor Sales, USA. Gold Sponsors – 1-800 Radiator & A/C, AkzoNobel Coatings, Celette, LKQ/Keystone, OE Roundtable, United Recyclers Group.

General Sponsors – 3M Automotive Aftermarket, ABRA Collision & Glass,Caliber Collision Centers, CAPA, Diamond Standard, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, General Motors Customer Care & Aftersales, Kent Automotive, Matrix Electronic Measuring, NAPA, Paint Body Equipment Specialists, the Hertz Corporation.

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The latest from WMABA members and supporters.

NATIONAL

NEWS TECHNICAL TSUNAMI BLOWS THROUGH CIC

At a Collision Industry Conference (CIC) last year, I-CAR Senior Director of Field Operations Jeff Peevy warned that the industry would soon face a “technical tsunami” that would require heightened skill sets and equipment requirements. Now, with the 2015 Ford F-150 and other highly advanced vehicles soon to hit the market, his premonition has become a hardhitting reality for many industry stakeholders.

Responding to the obvious need for greater inter-industry discussion on changing technologies, CIC Chair George Avery opened the floor of the April 9 CIC in Portland, OR to the body to express opinions on the matter and see how the Conference might fit into the industry’s work to stay up to date with new designs and repair demands.

“If you’re going to be in a situation where the process needs to change, you need to get the stakeholders together,” he shared. “How do we get everybody out there who’s influencing a process to understand what the issues are?...

I’m committed in the belief that everybody needs to see it so everybody can make an intelligent decision.”

I-CAR President & CEO John Van Alstyne suggested that CIC participants focus on educating stakeholders beyond the event’s four walls.

“Quite frankly, the problem’s not at CIC; we’re really preaching to the choir here,” he opined. “I’m guessing that the collision repairers in the audience here today totally get it. It’s not the 30 [repairers] who are with us today; it’s the 30,000 who are not with us today who need to understand what’s going on. From a technology standpoint, we’re just seeing the tip of the iceberg.”

Offering a repairer perspective, Kye Yeung of European Motor Car Works (Santa Ana, CA) expressed concerns that shops could find it difficult to see a return on investment in the proper training and equipment necessary to fix the next generation of automobiles.

“One of the things we hear a lot of from repairers who are interested about the aluminum that’s coming down the pike is, ‘Is there a tool we can reference that can do a

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I-CAR's John Van Alstyne stressed the importance of educating more than just the CIC body.

majority of the repairs?’” he said. “I think the big problem we have in this industry is that if you want to do different types of vehicles, the upfront cost can be astronomical.”

The discussion prompted an emotional response from Peevy, who offered some of the afternoon’s strongest words – especially when it came to stressing the tremendous influence that CIC has on the collision repair industry at-large.

“We have a moral obligation to do the right thing,” he said. “I question if we as an industry have done the right thing even in older technology, and I’ll point to steel…Do you believe that poor or improper welds on structural repairs lead to compromised structural integrity? If you just said yes to that, then I have to ask this question: Do you believe that compromised

structural integrity leads to decreased [occupant] safety?

“Today, 69 percent of those who we believe weld on a daily basis on vehicles lack even the most basic in welding training and certification,” he added. “For steel structural repairs, our data says that 98 percent of those who do [those] repairs in our industry don’t have any formal welding training and certification…

The influence that’s in this room is staggering.

How can we continue to turn a blind eye on proper equipment, [the] proper electrical infrastructure that drives that equipment and the hands and minds behind it who lack the training to do a proper weld?...Let's make sure that we’re at least getting the old, less sexy steel repaired correctly before we move on.” H&D

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WE KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING. YOU WANT TO KNOW IF THE PART’S IN STOCK, HOW MUCH IT COSTS, AND WHEN IT’S GONNA GET THERE. We get it.

You want the best part for a Toyota, but you’ve got to know when and how much.

Well, now you can. In addition to tools that can help you find and order the right VIN-based parts, now you can see if it’s in stock, schedule the delivery, even see your shop’s net price from your participating Toyota Dealer.* Now you’re thinking: “Cool!”

ToyotaPartsAndService.com

©2014 Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

For Toyota Genuine Parts please call one of these authorized local Toyota Dealers: Jerry’s Toyota 8001 Belair Road Baltimore, MD 21236 Toll Free: 877-838-5114 Direct: 410-661-4610 FAX: 410-661-0259 www.jerrystoyota.com

Russel Toyota 6324 Baltimore Nat’l Pike Catonsville, MD 21228 Phone:410-788-1700 443-341-8665 Fax: 410-455-9909 www.rcars.com

Antwerpen Toyota 12420 Auto Drive Clarksville, MD 21029 Phone: 410-988-9272 Fax: 443-539-4022 darnold@antwerpenauto.com

Lakeforest Toyota 18707 North Frederick Avenue Gaithersburg, MD 20879 Phone: 301-670-4881 Fax: 301-670-1595

Koons Tysons Toyota 8610 Leesburg Pike Vienna, VA 22182 Phone: 703-790-8310 Fax: 703-356-9081 www.koons.com

R&H Toyota 15 Music Fair Road Owings Mills, MD 21117 Direct: 410-363-4502 Toll Free: 1-866-692-2787 Fax: 410-902-1998 toyotawholesale@rhemail.com

Alexandria Toyota 3750 Jefferson Davis Highway Alexandria, VA 22305 Toll Free: 800-766-9767 Phone: 703-836-8476 Fax: 703-684-3468 www.alexandriatoyota.com

Checkered Flag Toyota 5301 Virginia Beach Boulevard Virginia Beach, VA 23462 PH: 757-687-3443 FAX: 757-687-3437 www.checkeredflag.com

Toyota of Waldorf 2600 Crain Highway Waldorf, MD 20601 Direct: 301-843-6075 Fax: 301-645-9124 partsdepartment@toyotaofwaldorf.com

www.toyotaofwaldorf.com Ourisman Fairfax Toyota 10441 Lee Highway Fairfax, VA 22030 Toll Free: 800-626-2236 Direct: 703-273-2236 Fax: 703-385-8411 fairfaxparts@ourismanva.com www.ourismanva.com

May 2014

Younger Toyota 1935 Dual Highway Hagerstown, MD 21740 Phone: 800-296-1190 Fax: 301-733-5465 dthompson@youngertoyota.com

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Nuts and bolts, tips and tricks from our resident industry experts.

TECHNICAL

FEATURE

BY LARRY MONTANEZ III, CDA & JEFF LANGE, PE

STEERING AND SUSPENSION DAMAGE EXPLAINED

Steering and suspension components have changed drastically over the last 10 years. With the advancement in so-called smart suspension systems and steering assist systems, damage assessors and technicians have had a difficult time in diagnosing the damage sustained. In many cases, damage goes undiscovered until the vehicle goes in for a wheel alignment, or technicians change parts until the vehicle will take a wheel alignment. Another issue is that many OEMs are now requiring that if there is damage to a suspension component, many of the components in that area be changed.

Likewise, damage to the tie rod end requires the rack and pinion assembly to be changed per the OEMs. The above issues not only show the importance of pre-measuring and diagnosing steering and suspension components, but also address the importance of checking with the OEM repair manuals for what is required after a collision event.

Šthinkstockphoto.com/pigphoto

Diagnosing Suspension and Steering Damage It is important to understand what type of collision event the vehicle was involved in and what occurred in the event. For example, a vehicle traveling at 15mph on snow and ice that slides into a curb and causes scraping of the rim and bending of the outer tie rod is completely different than a vehicle traveling at 30mph and impacting a deep pothole that bends the rim and the outer tie rod. Many of the OEMs are utilizing aluminum to make the suspension components. During collision events, the applied impact forces can cause the aluminum components to bend and deform - not only at the point of impact, but many times damage can occur to the suspension components in the opposite area of the impact as well. Damage is frequently not visible to the naked eye, and requires

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mechanical or electronic measurements to ensure there is no sustained damage. It is imperative that damage assessors and technicians never assume that damage is or is not present; they must measure and prove it. They must also check with the OEM information on procedures after a collision event and position statements on suspension and steering component damage and repair.

Measuring suspension components can be done comparatively and mechanically with tram gauges and tape measures. If components are found to be misaligned, then we recommend electronic measurements be taken with three-dimensional structural repair measurement equipment from manufacturers

such as Car-O-Liner, Spanesi or similar. If wheel alignment equipment is available, then we recommend a four-wheel alignment check be performed. Either of the electronic systems will determine the extent of damage, if any. This will ensure that the technician and/or damage assessor knows what needs to be replaced - or not replaced.

Many vehicles have multiple electronic assist components and electronic controls that must be initialized and reset after component replacement. Many vehicles also come with an automatic cruise control system that works with the steering system, and most vehicles also have a backup camera that works with the steering angle

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and/or yaw-rate sensors. These systems must also be checked during the analysis process.

Many OEMs have serviceable tie rod ends, but these replacement parts are only for normal wear and tear and not for collision damage replacement. In this case, if the tie rod is damaged in a collision event, the OEM would require the replacement of the rack and pinion steering assembly. Additionally, if the rim and tie rod are damaged, many times all the suspension components on that side may require replacement. Generally, when a tie rod sustains damage, the rim also sustains some damage. Rim assemblies need to be evaluated for the extent of damage sustained. Most OEMs only allow sanding and buffing of the rim, while others allow refinishing of the rim.

Most of the OEMs have positions statements that state “no bending, reshaping, adding material, removing material, welding or heating of the rim.” This is why refurbishing a wheel assembly is really not a good idea. The extent of damage sustained is often unknown due to the fact that the main issue is micro cracking that may be present and undetectable without Magnafluxing or X-Raying the rim — procedures that are not typically cost-effective.

As we have said before, today’s damage assessors need to become para-engineers due to the changing complexity of today’s vehicle designs and components. This industry needs to raise the bar on education and training. The general driving public is relying on us to ensure their vehicles are repaired safely and will perform in the manner in which they were designed to. Too often, we inspect vehicles for post-repair inspections or during accident reconstruction and discover incorrect repair procedures attempted where those procedures were a contributing factor in the subsequent collision event. Many times, we find that suspension components failed in those investigations. Failure of steering and suspension components that were damaged and left undetected during the repairs can have disastrous results, and all the liability rests solely on the repair facility. Always follow the OEM repair procedures and protocols. Making a business decision to appease a third party can expose you to a huge financial loss, if you were negligent.

We hope this article has helped the industry to better understand today’s complex steering and suspension components and why you must follow the OEM procedures. Feel free to contact us if you have questions. H&D

Larry Montanez, CDA is co-owner of P&L Consultants with Peter Pratti Jr. P&L Consultants works with collision repair shops on estimating, production and proper repair procedures. P&L conducts repair workshops on MIG & resistance welding, measuring for estimating and advanced estimating skills. P&L also conducts investigations for insurers and repair shops for improper repairs, collision repairability and estimating issues. P&L can be reached by contacting Larry at (718) 891-4018 (office), (917) 860–3588 (cell), (718) 646–2733 (fax) or via email at info@ PnLEstimology.com. The P&L website is www.PnLEstimology.com.

Jeff Lange, PE is president of Lange Technical Services, Ltd. of Deer Park, NY. Jeff is a Licensed New York State Professional Engineer who specializes in investigating vehicle and component failures.

Lange Technical Services, Ltd. is an investigative engineering firm performing forensic vehicle examinations and analysis for accident reconstruction, products liability and insurance issues. Jeff can be reached at (631) 667-6128 or by email at Jeff.Lange@LangeTech.net. The Lange Technical Services, Ltd. website is www.LangeTech.net.

Executive Director’s Thoughts Larry and Jeff continually bring up issues and topics that have a common theme: Researching today’s vehicle prior to a repair is a must. Knowing how to do the repair right – in advance – is the only way to have confidence in the finished product for the customer. We cannot ever forget that customers trust technicians with their families’ safety. - Jordan Hendler

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A view from the supplier side of the industry.

VENDOR

CORNER

©thinkstockphoto.com/chatchaisurakram

For those of you that do not know me, my name is Scottie Davis and I own All Foreign Used Auto Parts in Fredericksburg, VA. I have been in the automotive recycling business for over 20 years. I have started writing this column with the intention of helping to establish better understanding between shops and their vendors, and I would love to hear from the Hammer & Dolly readership to help this come to pass.

We are all in business for the same reasons: To make sure our customers are fully satisfied and to make a profit while doing so.

This column will appear in Hammer & Dolly on a quarterly basis to share tips, offer advice and answer questions for readers in a “Q and A” format. My goal is to help everyone reach the goals of reducing cycle times, satisfying customers and building great vendor relationships.

As an example of the types of questions you can expect to see covered in future articles, an industry colleague recently asked me, “Why do I need to fill out a cut sheet?”

Well, there are a few reasons why. Most importantly, a cut sheet gives the vendor a visual tool to make sure the cut is done in the proper way. It also gives them confirmation on items like the vehicle year by supplying the VIN and the correct side by marking the sheet.

As a vendor, we at All Foreign Used Auto Parts are able to hand these sheets to our techs; as a result, they have no question on what needs to be done. This ensures a fast and correct delivery process. Simple processes like these reduce the stress involved for everyone who is doing his or her best to get the job done right.

I look forward to hearing from the WMABA community, and hopefully encouraging greater communication between us all. I

BY SCOTTIE DAVIS

urge anyone with suggestions for this column to email me at scottie@allforeign.net.

H&D

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WMABA members reflect on the most recent legislative session.

COVER

STORY

By Joel Gausten

©thinkstockphoto.com/yganko

On March 13, the Maryland House Economic Matters Committee issued an unfavorable decision on House Bill 574, but know that the legislators in Annapolis are now acutely aware of the collision industry, the customers they serve and the issues they’re facing.

The Committee’s decision to not move forward with this WMABA-supported consumer protection bill ended one of the association’s most active legislative campaigns in its history.

The first quarter of 2014 saw WMABA representatives (bolstered by invaluable assistance from lobbyists Alexander & Cleaver) promote passage of the bill during often-impassioned Senate and House hearings and two special

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workgroups held to further explore the bill (see page 42). While it appeared at times that the bill would be a smooth and well-deserved win for the Maryland collision repair industry, legislators ultimately decided not to make the bill a reality at this time. Many of those involved from the association suspect that the use of strongarming and the issues’ overall contentiousness led them to shy away at the last minute.

“We thought that we had the votes to get the bill out of the subcommittee,” explains WMABA Board member Mark Schaech, Jr., who also testified on behalf of the legislation at its Senate and House hearings. “It was kind of shocking that so many minds had changed so quickly, but I don’t think we are going to be deterred from taking another run at this bill [in the future].

“In the end, obviously it’s the consumers in Maryland who really lost – for another year, at least,” he adds. “[Those are] the consumers who are paying out of their pockets for OEM parts versus aftermarket parts when they want to uphold a lease agreement or confirm that their manufacturer’s warranty will be upheld.”

The collision repairers were represented well by all those who participated in the hearing and workgroup processes for both the House and Senate committees. WMABA Executive Director Jordan Hendler and Hannah Garagiola, WMABA lobbyist and Alexander & Cleaver government relations consultant, combined efforts with Maryland collision repair business owners to create an effective team in Annapolis both prior to and during the legislative session. Collision repair business owners participated in these same meetings, and even more throughout the state communicated with their representatives just how important this law could have been in protecting Maryland policyholders.

“While this consumer legislation is straight-forward in our opinion, it turned out to be more controversial than the medical marijuana and minimum wage bills,” opined Garagiola. “Legislators

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typically do a good job of putting themselves in the place of the consumer, but opposition tactics to promulgate lies and kick up dirt can be hard to overcome. Given how close this year’s efforts came to being successful, I think the groundwork has been laid, and there are good opportunities to succeed with the same language - and some added ammunition - in future sessions.”

Although the bill did not move forward in this session, this conclusion appears to have done very little to slow down WMABA’s resolve to address the many consumer issues brought to the public eye during the campaign. WMABA leaders are currently working with other government entities to promote the group’s pro-consumer initiatives, while members like Schaech are educating customers like never before. In fact, he is in the process of filming a video where his customers who have been forced to pay the difference for an OEM part – or settle for an aftermarket part when they can’t afford it – can share their experiences of insurers only paying for non-OE parts. He believes such a project will help explain the situation to lawmakers – especially when many other shops are unable or unwilling to do so in fear of it negatively impacting their referral contracts. “[The aftermarket parts issue] may not be as big of a talking point in other shops because they can’t tell the truth,” he explains.

“How often can [a DRP shop] sit there and tell [the insurer’s] customers who were sent to the shop, ‘Hey, we don’t recommend these parts that we have to write for’? It’s just not going to happen; their hands are tied.”

Looking ahead to the possibility of future State House campaigns, Schaech stresses that it is possible for DRP shops to support WMABA initiatives while also protecting their agreements with insurers.

“Shops that can’t show up and have a voice because of their fears of insurance [industry] retaliation are still constituents in someone’s area,” he insists. “They still can contact their delegate or senator and tell them

the truth and what’s important to them and their customer base. Those shops need to be heard. If every single DRP shop who liked what we were doing and wanted this bill passed had picked up the phone and sent an email, I think it could have made a difference.”

Like Schaech, WMABA shop owner Joe Tucker (JT Restorations, Deale, MD) devoted time away from his business to testify on behalf of the bill. In his mind, there is an impossible-to-ignore need to truly address the issues surrounding the use of aftermarket parts on newer vehicles.

“Most people who come in don’t want substandard parts on their car,” he says. “If you’re a claimant and somebody runs into you, you didn’t have any fault in that accident and should be put back whole – how you were before the accident. You're not being put back to pre-accident condition because you have parts that were not made by the manufacturer being put on the car…I never have to get rid of an OEM part and put an aftermarket part on because that aftermarket part fit better.”

Most of all, Tucker is concerned about the potential safety risks posed by certain some aftermarket parts – especially those without any certification.

“If you have a reinforcing bar that’s up there in the front of your vehicle that doesn’t crumble the way it’s designed to, what’s that going to do to your airbags?” he asks. “Who is going to share in the liability when somebody gets hurt?

“The manufactures and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety [IIHS] work together on consumer safety by crash testing vehicles with OEM parts,” he adds. “My question is, are aftermarket parts manufacturers working with the IIHS to ensure consumer safety by making sure their parts perform as well as OEM parts in a crash situation? If they don't, why not?

People's lives are at stake. Some people buy cars for their safety rating; with untested parts going back on cars, where is the safety?”

WMABA’s efforts in the past few months gained considerable attention in and out of

WMABA Executive Director Jordan Hendler promoted the association's bill at special events including Lobby Day in Annapolis last February.

Annapolis. Following WMABA’s lead, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers joined the anti-parts procurement mandate cause towards the end of the legislative session, with Director of State Affairs Laura Dooley offering the following position on behalf of her group in a February 21 letter to House Economic Matters Committee Chairman Dereck E. Davis: With respect to the first provision, the Alliance does not believe that repair facilities should be required to use specific vendors or processes for parts procurement. Competition in the procurement of parts not only keeps the cost of repair parts down for consumers and insurers, but it also allows repair facilities to negotiate with different vendors. A common practice today is for genuine parts manufacturers or dealers to match the price that a repair facility may get on an aftermarket part – thus allowing the consumer the benefit of the genuine part at the aftermarket price. Various procurement systems may eliminate this practice, unnecessarily penalizing the consumer.

“We argue that the only way consumers can be confident that the replacement parts used in their vehicle repair are equal in fit and performance of any like, kind and quality of the original is to utilize OEM parts,” offers Dan Gage, the Alliance’s director of public affairs and communications. “We think it’s imperative that consumers not only have the right to choose OEM replacement parts, but that they

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WORKGROUPS IN REVIEW In the first workgroup for the parts bill held on March 6, Senator Thomas “Mac” Middleton (chair for the Senate Finance Committee) and Senator John Astle (vice chair of the Senate Finance Committee) opened by asking all attendees to consider that the Committee had leaned favorably toward the legislation. Present for WMABA were Executive Director Jordan Hendler, lobbyist Hannah Garagiola (Alexander & Cleaver) and Mark Schaech, Jr. (Mark’s Body Shop). Other proponents included the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Maryland Automobile Dealers Association. The opposition consisted of representatives from LKQ Corporation, CAPA, State Farm, Nationwide, PCIA, USAA and Liberty Mutual.

Middleton first called into question a letter submitted to him by PartsTrader that accused him of pushing forth the legislation because of a family connection to the salvage parts industry. He stated that it was untrue and that he verified with the ethics counsel that he was outside of a conflict of interest. Garagiola verified this to be true, as WMABA had approached Senator Astle first to be our sponsor and author, and that Senator Middleton was unaware of the legislation prior to it going to his committee.

The second workgroup was organized personally by Delegate John Olszewski, Jr. (informally) for the House Economic Matters side of the legislation to try and reach a consensus prior to committee vote. This meeting included many, if not all, of the same individuals from the earlier Senate workgroup. Delegate Rick Impallaria, who was invited by Delegate Olszewski, Jr. to participate in the workgroup discussion, offered his personal accounts of issues he faced while operating his own repair shop.

Impallaria also was able immediately debunk some of the opponents’ arguments by virtue of his experiences.

Discussion during the workgroup(s) centered more on the three-year mandate for original parts rather than the parts procurement mandate. LKQ was the most vocal of the opposition present, trying to disparage the credibility of the association as the professionals for the repair process and pushing that their parts are of similar quality and warranty as genuine parts. It was obvious that those in the room had little to no insight into how the repair process actually works in the facility, nor how their local representatives work with those same repairers inside and outside of the Direct Repair agreements.

When discussing parts procurement issues, State Farm lobbying representatives were not very familiar with their own Direct Repair Program operations at the shop level. This left the discussion “flat” and more about making generalized statements. It was clear that this had hindered the forward progress for finding common ground within the group. Moreover, it was stated that State Farm has not gotten involved with PartsTrader to make shops more efficient, but rather with a goal of affecting parts prices in mind.

As with the hearing(s), many of the opponents discussed particulars of their products or services but offered no documentation to back them up. LKQ accused the automobile manufacturers of being less safe than their products, citing that the OEMs have a large number of recalls and their products do not. Interestingly, CAPA articulated that their parts processes include a recall process and verified manufacturing specifications, and that all other non-CAPA parts cannot be verified for safety, fit, function or other measurement, nor recalled without proper part identifications. It flew in the face of the arguments LKQ put out.

The insurance industry representatives focused on the supposed belief that this would inevitably raise premiums, stating that if the costs for repair rise at all, then they would pass that cost directly to the consumer. When asked about how much the repair cost affects premiums versus their rating system for location, demographic, vehicle model/year, driver history or credit rating, they replied that it depends on the company or how they operate individually, but added that it typically approximated somewhere around 50 percent of the premium determination. There was no documentation for that, either.

The workgroups did not yield any consensus, nor offer up any major opportunity for compromise. Opponents offered no areas in which they would negotiate, and in the end it would not have made much difference. Had there been any compromise, it would likely have resulted in a favorable committee vote and the ultimate passage of the legislation.

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be notified and have consent if their insurance company requires the use of aftermarket parts.

That’s important for us.”

Of course, this kind of traction earned fierce push back from the opposition. In addition to strong - and, at times, questionable statements delivered by CAPA, LKQ and State Farm at the House and Senate hearings (covered extensively in our April 2014 issue), the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) did all it could to turn the motoring public against the bill, going as far as running an email ad through the Baltimore Sun to urge consumers to stand up against what it called the “Auto Body Repair Tax.” However, such tactics appear to have had limited impact on the increasingly educated motoring public.

“I have not heard one thing about that ad; I question its reach,” notes Schaech. “The customers I do talk to who know what we were doing were disappointed. We had high hopes that the bill would pass.”

With insurer-mandated parts procurement here to stay for at least the time being, shops and vendors alike are struggling to make the best out of an unwanted scenario. With PartsTrader now fully in place in his market, veteran recycled parts supplier and WMABA member Scottie Davis (All Foreign Used Auto Parts) is feeling the strain that many parts suppliers across the nation have experienced since State Farm first began rolling it out in earnest in late 2012. For example, he’s already had to hire an additional employee to handle the overflow of work caused by PartsTrader, although it remains to be seen if the parts procurement program will generate any actual profit for the business. This comes on top of soon having to pay to use PartsTrader in the first place.

“I’m buying the parts at auction, which are being put up by insurance companies, and paying my auction fees and things on top of that,” he says. “Then I’m going to have to eventually pay this PartsTrader program to be able to provide my product.”

Additionally, the integration of the program into Davis’ operation has been uncomfortable at best.

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“It takes so much longer for my guys to do an estimate because there are so many questions with the cars,” he says. “They’re still having to make phone calls to confirm certain things. It hasn’t cut out the phone call process that much.”

The problems experienced on the floor are compounded by what Davis considers to be a significant lack of available hands-on training for the PartsTrader product. In his mind, instructional videos are just not the same as having a legitimate educational session.

“We’ve talked to some body shops we have good relationships with, and some of them are struggling just as we’re struggling,” he says. “I think other vendors are struggling to understand exactly how it works. We’re doing the best we can, but the problem was that I think there was no training given for anybody.

We got a notification of seminars they were giving...I sent two of my guys, and they came back and said it was a sales seminar.”

Considering how tumultuous insurer-mandated parts procurement has been for parts suppliers in various markets, why in the world would they agree to it in the first place? Just as DRP shops endeavor to keep their insurer partners satisfied for the sake of incoming work, parts vendors like Davis are feeling pressure to respond to their customers’ needs. In his case, it was difficult to say no to PartsTrader when 102 customers – including some with multiple locations – recommended he use the system.

“I’m going to do it because I want to service my customers,” he shares. “The shops are having to do it to keep their DRP status. I have some very good customers; as a business owner, I have no choice but [to] do this. I need to service customers and keep them happy.”

Although the outcome of this most recent legislative session was not what anyone in the WMABA community wanted, there is still plenty to look forward to. For one thing, the next session will see considerable turnover in elected officials, and with it, a variety of new faces.

With a clean slate in place, the association will be better positioned to expand on the status they’ve already built. And in a world where it

sometimes takes multiple runs at the State House to get a bill passed, Schaech is one WMABA member unwilling to throw in the towel this soon.

“We forged a lot of relationships in Annapolis,” he says. “We’ve educated delegates

and senators on some of our issues, and they got to see some real hard facts about what’s going on in our industry and what the insurance industry is doing to consumers. Whether or not they were able to vote for a bill for their own political reasons still doesn’t change the

continued on page 42

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COVER STORY

continued from page 41

fact that they were educated. If we continue to bring this legislation forward, maybe some of these delegates and senators will be able to say yes in the future.”

In Tucker’s mind, the WMABA Parts Bill or any repairer-driven endeavor - will only succeed if enough members of the industry get involved to make a difference.

“Everybody knows that there’s a problem, but few people do anything about it,” he says.

“That’s what happens in the auto body business; they’re so busy trying to make a living that they can’t stand up and say, ‘This is wrong!’ Eventually, they’ll figure it out and say, ‘You know what? We have to start fighting for what’s right.’ Until then, it’ll be a tough industry.

There’s a lot of change going on out there, and people just have to fight for what they think is right. I think people’s safety in vehicles is worth fighting for.” H&D

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An association fostering the exchange of ideas, and providing a voice and support for the collision repair professional.

OFFICERS

PRESIDENT: Don Beaver Dbeaver@antwerpenauto.com 443-539-4200 ext. 17061

VICE PRESIDENT: Torchy Chandler torchy.chandler@gmail.com 410-309-2242

SECRETARY: John Krauss jkrauss@craftsmanautobody.com 703-534-1818

TREASURER: Mark Schaech Jr. mark@marksbodyshop.com 410-358-5155

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Rodney Bolton rbolton@aacps.org 410-969-3100 ext. 250

Mark Boudreau crashdaddy@aol.com 703-671-2402

Position Your Business as a Leader!

Just like equipment and training, WMABA membership is not only a commitment to excellence, but also a valuable investment.

WMABA is recognized both regionally and nationally as the key forum for the exchange of ideas concerning the D.C., MD, and VA collision repair industry. It is the venue to discuss, learn about and impact evolving standards and policies in the technical, administrative and legislative fronts of our industry. Shops and industry supporters can best develop themselves and their employees by actively engaging in the association and its activities.

Automotive collision repair facilities in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. who are willing to adopt WMABA’s Standards of Membership and offer a guarantee to their consumers are encouraged to engage their business as an active member of the association. For over 40 years, the WMABA membership of professional collision repair businesses and affiliates have committed to operating at a higher standard on behalf of their industry and their consumers. Over the years, WMABA has proudly represented the collision repair industry at hearings on Capitol Hill, in Annapolis, MD, and Richmond, VA as well as almost every national collision repair event. While WMABA has a rich history of dedicated men and women serving the local collision repair community, WMABA also boasts numerous past and current accomplished Board members who represent our membership at the national level.

WMABA offers current and dynamic discussion forums on topics facing collision repairers, technical information and educational seminars, opportunities to network and discuss pressing topics with leaders of the collision repair industry, an arbitration program that works with consumers to help resolve issues they might have, apprenticeship programs, legislative representation and the ability to receive and contribute to one of the nation’s leading collision repair magazines, Hammer and Dolly.

Kevin Burt kevinburt@walkermillcollision.com 301-336-1140

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Jordan Hendler jordanhendler@wmaba.com 804-789-9649

PAST PRESIDENT: Barry Dorn bdorn@dornsbodyandpaint.com 804-746-3928

Bobby Wright bobby@burkevillebodyshop.com 434-767-4128

“

Contact Executive Director Jordan Hendler to find out how WMABA can amplify YOUR voice in the collision repair industry.

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S

MESSAGE

Jordan Hendler

(804) 789-9649 jordanhendler@wmaba.com

“WE NEED YOU!” – WMABA (and Uncle Sam)

This issue is full of what WMABA does for you, so now is the time for us to ask for your support by becoming a member. Association membership is something the professionals in our industry think of as optional, but with your help, our accomplishments could become mind-blowing and industry-altering.

Staring down the advancements in vehicle technology, increased government and rising insurer issues, it’s hard to think of membership in WMABA as anything but mandatory.

Everyone from the independent repairer to the dealership body shop needs a vocal representative now more than ever.

So, let me explain away the “excuses” we’ve heard, and you can join today!

1) WMABA Hates DRPs. So, if you have any, they hate YOU. The association represents ALL repairers. That means that the majority of our membership has a DRP relationship with at least one insurer. Our goal is to find ways to improve relationships with insurers whenever possible. If there isn’t a “happy medium” for an issue that arises, then we will try to get it resolved through our national contacts. If that doesn’t work, then we use the legislative or governmental alternative as a last resort.

2) It’s so expensive; I can’t afford it.

Membership is $1.92 per day. When you calculate it out, that’s $700 per year, but when you see it as a daily number, we know that you can understand it’s very affordable to have someone working for you on a more global scale each and every day. What WMABA does helps your shop, but also helps your shop community.

given out publicly — or even to other members. The WMABA Board feels strongly that no one repairer or group of repairers should be seen as the “vocal minority.” This gives our members the option of anonymity to be involved with the association while not feeling as though there is a potential for a target on their back. If there are particular avenues within the association that someone wants to publicly address, such as repair practices or (more pointedly) insurer mandates, then they certainly have the ability to do so.

©www.thinkstockphoto.com/marekuliasz

Dispelling the Top 5 Rumors or Untruths You Might Have Heard About WMABA

4) Membership is for those “big” shops. WMABA members come in all shapes and sizes. We have members ranging from a staff of four or five people to as large as 50 or more. We represent the very small independent in a rural community the same way we do a large dealership group body shop. All are important to us, and all help sustain a variety of perspectives in our scope of activities.

5) I’d have to be involved or go to meetings. Membership in WMABA does not come with requirements for attendance to anything. Supporting the association with dues is the most important gesture a shop can make. Those funds go towards all of the activities that we’re involved in. Whether or not you want to attend the membership meetings, legislative functions, a Golf Outing or anything else that WMABA holds is 100 percent your prerogative. Of course, we would love to have more participation to promote connectivity and consensus building in the repairer community. However, if you’d rather be fishing, then so be it!

See, you feel better about joining now, don’t you? Visit the website to download a membership application, or feel free to contact me at the office to find out more. H&D

3) The insurance companies have a list of WMABA members and beat them up constantly. Our membership rosters are not

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ADVERTISERS’ INDEX Alexander & Cleaver............................19 Alexandria Toyota ................................42 All Foreign Used Auto..........................37

Audi Group ..........................................15 Axalta Coating Systems ......................4

BMW Group ........................................24-25 BMW of Bel Air ....................................IBC BMW of Fairfax....................................3

BMW of Rockville ................................IBC BMW of Towson ..................................IBC Car-Part.com ......................................19 CAPA ..................................................8

Chesapeake Automotive Equipment ..46

Empire Auto Parts................................14 Future Cure ........................................41

Honda Group ......................................44 Hyundai Group ....................................21

Koons Ford ..........................................42 Mazda Group ......................................27 MINI Group ..........................................11

MINI of Baltimore County ....................IBC Mitsubishi Group..................................27 Mopar Group ........................................9

Nissan Group ......................................36 O’Donnell Honda ................................32 Packer Norris Parts ............................7

Porsche Group ....................................31

PPG ....................................................IFC P&L Consultants ..................................35 Russel Toyota ......................................23

Safety Regulations ..............................46 Subaru Group ......................................29 Tire Distributors Inc. ............................23

Toyota Group ......................................33

Valspar Automotive..............................OBC VW Group............................................13

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