AUTOPULSE 220-M3 208/240V
Items
Features:
+ 3 MIG torches (steel, aluminum, silicon bronze)
+ Automative torch detection by pressing trigger
+ XL color screen to configure and precisely control the welding cycle.
+ 3 electronically regulated wire feeders with 2 driver rollers
+ Welding processes: Standard, Pulse, Double Pulse, and Cold Pulse.
+ 68 synergic curves for exceptional welding. Wire Spool
1.2mm Aluminum
5554 - 2 kg (5lbs)
Spool 0.8mm CuSi3
Bronze2kg (5lbs)
Spool 0.8mm / .030" Steel ER70S4kg (11lbs)
MIG Welder Nozzle 3 Packs: + 150A (steel, silicon bronze) + 250A (Aluminum) + M6 - 0.6MM / 0.023" + M6 - 1.2MM / 0.045" Single-Phase Welding Plug
Includes The Apollo Welding Helmet 068681
Purchase the GYS M3 Pulse MIG Welder (ref: 062481) with these accessories and receive a free Apollo MIG Welding Helmet (ref: 068681, valued at $208.00). The Apollo features super-fast .08ms darkening speed and has TRUE COLOR technology, providing more realistic and detailed color during each use.
Revv identifies every required ADAS calibration with supporting documentation
Revv is an end to end solution for ADAS calibration shops
• Precise Calibration Identification
• Seamless Integration
• Custom Invoicing
Our flagship dealerships are pleased to offer a wide selection of authentic genuine parts so you can repair your customer’s luxury car to the highest quality.
We not only sell WHOLESALE GENUINE PARTS across the tri-state area, but we also offer a knowledgeable team of parts specialists who will find the component you need for a seamless vehicle repair. WE WILL GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR YOU!
AUDI QUEENS
30-35 College Point Blvd. Flushing, NY 11354
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MERCEDES-BENZ OF BROOKLYN 1800 Shore Pkwy. Brooklyn, NY 11214
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MERCEDES-BENZ OF CALDWELL 1220 Bloomfield Ave. Caldwell, NJ 07006
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JAGUAR BROOKLYN 809 Neptune Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11224
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LAND ROVER BROOKLYN 809 Neptune Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11224
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LEXUS OF BRIDGEWATER 1550 US-22 Bridgewater, NJ 08807
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LEXUS OF EDISON 711 US Highway 1 Edison, NJ 08817
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P.O. Box 734 Neptune, NJ 07753
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Charles Bryant 732-922-8909 / setlit4u@msn.com
2023-2025 OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
Ken Miller, 821 Collision, LLC (973) 949-3733 / kmiller@821collision.com
COLLISION CHAIRMAN/
PAST PRESIDENT ATTENDING
Jerry McNee, Ultimate Collision Repair, Inc. 732-494-1900 / ultimatecollision@att.net
MECHANICAL CHAIRMAN
Keith Krehel, Krehel Automotive Repair, Inc. 973-546-2828 / krehelauto@aol.com
TREASURER
Tom Elder, Compact Kars, Inc. 609-259-6373 / compactkars@aol.com
SECRETARY
Thomas Greco, Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. 973-667-6922 / thomas@grecopublishing.com
BOARD
Nick Barbera, Union Collision 908-964-1212 / nick@unioncollision.com
Dennis Cataldo, Jr., D&M Auto Body 732-251-4313 / jr@dnmautobody.com
Brad Crawford, Livingston Collision, Inc. 973-992-5274 / livingston.collision@gmail.com
Todd Fontana, Proline Body & Chassis 201-398-1512 / todd@prolinebody.com
Gary Gardella, Jr., County Line Auto Body 732-363-5904 / countylineautobody@gmail.com
Dean Massimini, Autotech Collision Service, Inc. 856-232-1822 / autotechnj@comcast.net
Jeff McDowell, Leslie’s Auto Body 732-738-1948 / chacki@aol.com
Danielle Molina, 821 Collision (973) 949-3733 / dmolina@821collision.com
Ted Rainer, Ocean Bay Auto Body 732-899-7900 / ted@oceanbayautobody.com
Anthony Trama 973-818-9739 / anthonytrama@aol.com
BOARD ALLIED
Joe Amato, The Amato Agency 732-530-6740 / joesr@amatoagency.com
Mike Kaufmann, Mike Kaufmann Dealer Group 973-332-7014 / mkaufmann@adps.com
PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER
Thomas Greco / thomas@grecopublishing.com
VICE PRESIDENT/SALES DIRECTOR
Alicia Figurelli / alicia@grecopublishing.com
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Alana Quartuccio / alana@grecopublishing.com
SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Chasidy Rae Sisk / chasidy@grecopublishing.com
OFFICE MANAGER
Donna Greco / donna@grecopublishing.com
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Joe Greco / joe@grecopublishing.com
CONTRIBUTING
Published by: Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc.
244 Chestnut Street, Suite 202, Nutley, NJ 07110
Corporate: (973) 667-6922 / FAX: (973) 235-1963
www.grecopublishing.com @grecopublishing
Mike Anderson & Friends Share Insight with AASP/NJ by Alana Quartuccio
Like Father, Like Son: Ultimate Collision Repair’s Anthony and Jerry McNee Both Earn Recognition by Alana Quartuccio
AASP/NJ Recognizes DJ’s Restoration as 2024 Body Shop of the Year by Chasidy Rae Sisk
Auto Body Distributing Co. Holiday Party Highlights
Get Connected: Experience It All at NORTHEAST® by Alana Quartuccio
People, Process and Passion: Collision Restoration Joins VIVE Collision Family by Chasidy Rae Sisk
BROKE? Just How Much Do Insurance Company CEOs Make? by Chasidy Rae Sisk & Alana Quartuccio
Wharton Insurance Briefs by Mario DeFilippis
Ron Ananian
Jim Bowers
Charles Bryant
Don Chard
Guy Citro
Dave Demarest
Thomas Greco
Dan Hawtin
Rich Johnson
Mike Kaufmann
Wes Kearney
Nick Kostakis
Jim Kowalak
Keith Krehel
Joe Lubrano
Phil Dolcemascolo
Tom Elder
Bob Everett
Alicia Figurelli
Michael Lovullo
Jeff McDowell
Jerry McNee
Sam Mikhail
Ron Mucklow
George Petrask
Russ Robson
Jerry Russomano
George Threlfall
Anthony Trama
Cynthia Tursi
Lee Vetland
Paul Vigilant
Rich Weber
Brian Vesley
Glenn Villacari
Stan Wilson
Joe Amato, Sr.
Mob Rules
I’m sure you’ve all heard about the tragic murder of the CEO of a major health insurer in early December. And it truly is a tragedy. No one should be shot in the back and killed in cold blood because of their profession. Of course, like all of you reading this (I hope), I would never condone anything like that. BUT I do understand it. Let me explain.
I’ve written several times about my many experiences with the health care industry. I’ve had phenomenal doctors, and some really bad ones. I’ve been to several really wonderful hospitals, and stayed in some really crappy ones. I have experienced the nicest nurses as well as those who were just flat-out evil. So like many industries, there is always the good with the bad. EXCEPT ONE: the health insurance industry.
In fact, do you know who the insurance companies are now? They’re the Mafia. And not because the poor guy who got shot was murdered on a New York City sidewalk just like the old Mafia Don Paul Castellano in the ’80s. It’s because they play the same rackets the mob did. They are the only industry endorsed and unregulated (look up the McCarran–Ferguson Act) by the government. That’s crazy, you say? Maybe. But isn’t health insurance just another word for “protection”? The mob used to shake down businesses to pay them for “protection,” or else they would let their businesses fade away or blow up and die. We pay for health insurance to cover our doctor visits, hospital stays and prescriptions. They set their rates, and we pay them in order to “protect” ourselves and our businesses from dying.
Of course, prescriptions are the equivalent of the cocaine and heroin the mob would sell. The pharmaceutical companies are the drug dealers. The doctors are the drug runners. The insurance companies dictate who gets the drugs and how much they will pay for them. If you can’t afford the “vig,” screw you – go away and die. And every year, the “vig” goes up, and the drugs become harder to get. I am telling you, they’re the Mafia.
Why this rant? Over the last six months, I have spent more time on the phone with my insurance company than I have with my cumare! (Mob joke for levity!) Honestly, every damn month, I get 16 letters from my insurance company telling me how their “expert” has determined that a prescription my doctor has prescribed is not approved. When I call to ask who this “expert” is, how can I speak to him and how it’s possible that he knows what I
by THOMAS GRECO, PUBLISHER
need better than my own doctor, I get passed on from one operator to another until eventually they either disconnect me or I hang up. I have literally been taking this one medication for two decades, and now they tell me they need more proof that I need it. Are you f$%king kidding me?
How about this one? I need to lose weight. I feel like shit. I look like shit. Both my general practitioner and my cardiologist think a weight loss drug like Ozempic or Wegovy will not only help me drop pounds, but studies have shown both of these drugs to have heart-healthy benefits. Could a drug be more perfect for me? We submitted the Ozempic first. Denied. We submitted Wegovy. Denied.
“If you want to dispute this ruling, fill out these 16 forms…” Screw that. I called them. Again, after four different operators, someone asked what the problem was.
“I want to know why I was denied these drugs that were prescribed by TWO of MY doctors.”
“Are you diabetic?”
“No, but I’m pre-diabetic.”
“Sorry, you have to be diabetic.”
“Wait, so I have to get sicker before I can get the drug that prevents me from getting sicker?”
“That’s the policy, sir.”
“Are you fu…..”
Click.
I tried everything possible to get one of these drugs. My doctor offered to do a peer-to-peer call with the insurance company. They said they’d agree to the call only after they got 16 more pages from him. Oh, and he’d have to mark “urgent” on the documentation. Keep in mind that these drugs cost $1,200 per month. No lie.
I finally gave up. I found a coupon online that got the price down to $600 and bought a month’s worth of Wegovy. My hope is that it works so well, I will not be a complete idiot and realize I feel so much better from the weight loss that I can be disciplined enough to continue on my own. (Don’t laugh! I have done it in the past.)
They are the Mafia. In fact, they are worse than the Mafia. After all, the Mafia may have killed junkies looking to score some heroin, but they never killed little old ladies looking to score some insulin.
Delay, Deny, Defend: Has the Insurance Industry Gone Too Far?
The shocking December murder of UnitedHealth Group’s CEO sparked a national conversation about the role of insurance companies and their practices. Early reports suggest this may have been a targeted attack, possibly tied to an insurance issue. Investigators discovered shell casings at the scene inscribed with the chilling words “delay, deny, defend” – a phrase many recognize as the title of a 2010 book by Rutgers law professor Jay Feinman.
Feinman’s book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the tactics insurers use to withhold payment on legitimate claims. It exposes strategies designed to protect corporate profits at the expense of policyholders. Although the book was written nearly 15 years ago, the troubling reality is that these practices have only intensified since its publication.
If these early theories about the crime prove accurate, it raises a profound and uncomfortable question: Have insurers pushed their cost-cutting measures too far? For decades, insurers have prioritized shareholder returns
by KEN MILLER
over policyholder obligations, often at the cost of fair and timely settlements. But this tragic event may force us to confront the darker implications of these priorities.
Tragic events often have a way of illuminating systemic failures that otherwise go unnoticed or are willfully ignored. Consider the landmark John Eagle Collision case, which exposed the dangers of repairers deviating from OEM repair procedures. That lawsuit didn’t just hold one shop accountable; it reshaped how the entire industry views liability and the critical importance of following manufacturer guidelines.
Similarly, this case – if tied to insurance practices –may serve as a wake-up call for an industry plagued by dysfunction. The current system is not just broken; it is actively harmful to the very people it is meant to protect. Policyholders are not just numbers on a balance sheet; they are individuals and families who purchase insurance to safeguard against life’s uncertainties. Yet, they often find themselves trapped in a game designed to minimize payouts rather than provide the promised safety net.
Why Join WIN?
WIN offers education, mentoring and leadership development opportunities to build critical skills for success in the collision repair market.
• Local/Regional Networking Events
• Annual Education Conference
• Educational Webinars
• Mentoring Opportunities
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• Scholarship Program
• School Outreach Program
• Most Influential Women (MIW) Award
Behind every claim denied, delayed or underpaid is a person in crisis. These are people who have suffered losses, whether due to car accidents, natural disasters or health emergencies, and who turn to their insurer for the support they have paid for through premiums. Instead, many find themselves battling a system engineered to protect profits, not people.
This is not just a matter of inconvenience; it’s a matter of justice. Insurers’ refusal to meet their obligations creates ripple effects – financial strain, emotional distress and in some cases, life-altering consequences. While most policyholders don’t resort to violence, this tragic event underscores the frustration and desperation felt by many. The insurance industry’s commitment to profit over policyholders has been an open secret for years. But this is an inflection point. Will this horrific event finally force the industry to confront the ethical and human costs of its practices? Or will it simply reinforce the status quo, with insurers doubling down on their tactics while regulators and lawmakers look the other way?
One thing is clear: the insurance system must change. Policyholders deserve better than a system that views them as adversaries. They deserve prompt, fair and equitable treatment – not gamesmanship designed to maximize corporate profits. We can only hope that this tragedy compels meaningful reform in an industry long overdue for accountability. Because the stakes couldn’t be higher – not just for those seeking justice, but for the future integrity of the system itself.
WOW – It’s a Whole New World We Are Living In!
Certain cars are now capable of driving themselves. You look up outside, and drones are moving around unattended…or in a manner that appears that way. Computers can prepare reports and articles on any subject based on minimal information – and they can write what you say as you speak!
Now, I know some will likely say, “Get with the times, Charles.” Well, to prevent any misunderstandings, let me make myself clear right from the start. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with where we are today or that I disagree with anything. What I am saying is that I am fascinated with it, and I never thought such things would occur in my lifetime!
I try to stay up on the new things that get introduced in the collision industry because I run a hotline where I assist members of the industry when something goes wrong or when they have a problem they are unable to resolve on their own. It is common for someone to call me and ask a question like, “Is there a law, rule or regulation that prevents an insurer from refusing to pay for a particular operation or procedure?” My many years of experience has allowed me to gather information on issues such as this or to know where to find the answer to such questions.
As a result, I have gathered a wealth of information that has been extremely valuable to members of the collision industry. Over the years, I can’t even begin to tell you how many of these types of questions I have been asked and answered.
However, looking at the industry today, one might
by CHARLES BRYANT
as well throw out most of the information that has been gathered over the years because it simply doesn’t pertain to the ultra-modern vehicles that are on the roads today or to the vehicles that are on the way. I should call them something other than vehicles, as what we are finding on the roads today are more like rolling computers.
I recently got in a new vehicle, and while driving down the road, the vehicle suddenly corrected itself by pulling itself to the left just a bit because it apparently felt it was too close to the lane line on the road I was traveling on. Well, to put it politely, it scared the daylights out of me! I immediately thought someone had run into the side of the vehicle and pushed it to the left; instead, it was simply the vehicle correcting itself by automatically staying in the correct lane.
The next thing I noticed that I wasn’t accustomed to was the headlights changing from high beam to low beams without any assistance or request from me. I know these are simple issues, but they certainly are not ones I was familiar with. However, these issues triggered me to wake up and start watching what is coming and looking at what is already here. Although these new and unique features fascinate me, I am no longer involved with the repair of damaged vehicles.
However, it triggered me to wonder about just how many older, long time repair technicians are aware of these features vehicles are equipped with today. I am quite sure some of the older repair technicians are out there repairing these vehicles on a regular basis.
So, I am now making a plea to members of the collision industry to reach out to me and share your experiences with some of the new modern vehicle issues that you have run into. I can be reached on the AASP/NJ Hotline at (732) 922-8909 or via email at Setlit4u@msn.com. I await your response. Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.
NJA
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Mike Anderson & Friends Share Insight on Opportunities with AASP/NJ
Navigating this continuouslyevolving industry often leaves repairers feeling as though they’re constantly “running the gauntlet” as they are forced to jump, duck and tackle the obstacles that arise in their path. As a result, many become so focused on the challenges that they fail to see the opportunities that exist. But this does not have to be the case at all, according to the one and only Mike Anderson (Collision Advice).
Noted as one of the most influential speakers in the collision repair world, Anderson shared his insight and expertise with the AASP/ NJ community during a full-day workshop on November 21 at the Courtyard Lincroft in Red Bank. He and his crew of industry professionals demonstrated how “Obstacles are Opportunities in Work Clothes.”
“Lots of sales cover lots of sins,” he cautioned, addressing the false belief that dollar signs are not a true indication of success. Severity is up – along with the price of just about everything – therefore, if “you want to grow your sales in 2025, you need to get more cars in the door and write better estimates.
“You can’t just look at your sales
in dollars,” Anderson insisted. “You have to look at your labor hours because labor is where you make your gross profit.” He suggested that shops assess their mechanical labor rate as well because “this one will grow in the future, and if the industry doesn’t right size this now, we’ll lose the opportunity.
“When you get certified with an OEM, you have to be smart about it. You have to be intentional. Are you marketing your certifications? Are you building relationships with dealerships?” he asked. He brought up Matt Ritzer of Enterprise Rent-aCar to inform all about resources like Entegral.
OEM subscription-based services are something Anderson believes will “change the collision repair industry.” The customer experience is changing, and vehicle owners will want a personalized experience. AI can be of assistance to body shops by helping improve their capture rate. According to Anderson, 43 percent of accidents happen when a body shop is closed, and AI can provide ways for consumers to make a first contact.
“ChatGTP is getting smarter and smarter and smarter. Look at it as a way to handle some communication to your customers or insurance companies.”
Craig Stevens of CCC Intelligent Solutions believes that AI is an opportunity repairers should embrace as it can be a marketing or triage tool. AI will never eliminate human interaction completely as this technology is designed for human interaction. A shop can notify customers that they won’t be able to write an estimate based on the photos, but they can use them to get an idea of the damage and get their car to the shop sooner. Anderson noted it as a marketing strategy.
“When customers have the ability to send photos, it eases their anxiety. Whoever responds to them first gets the customer.”
Deric Krist and Larry Grossaint of Kritech Solutions showed the audience various automation tools that are designed to help estimators get time back. They set out to build a system “that works while one is writing an estimate so it gives them guidance and advice,” according to Krist. Reports from their systems also help in educating customers.
“Customers don’t know how to read estimates. This is a great report to hand them as it itemizes where the shortpays are.”
Many items can easily get lost in the area of estimating for paint and materials. Anderson spoke of static removal which is a not-included operation as per all the IPs. Tools like the Static Solutions Pro-stat gun can remove static and ultimately improve the paint process, saving time and cutting down on resources.
Addressing proper invoicing for paint and materials, Ben Stephens of Matthew’s Auto Supplies asserted, “Anything you consume, you should bill out. There is no such thing as ‘the cost of doing business.’ Everything
Mike Anderson (Collision Advice)
Craig Stevens (CCC Intelligent Solutions)
has a sale associated with it.”
Negotiating with insurers sure has its challenges, but the future is taking a turn in a different direction. Reports say 40 percent of drivers would rather pay out of pocket for repairs, while more than a third of drivers have said they would rather not file claims with their insurance company. As claim trends continue to plummet, Anderson says now is the time to start thinking about customer financing. The audience weighed in on the possibilities customer pay could bring, creating a list of benefits that included everything from “less bullshit” in not dealing with third-party payers to faster cycle time, higher
To achieve success by doing so, shops will have to educate their consumers but also “teach our front estimating staff how to upsell.”
Anderson shared his predictions surrounding electric vehicles, which won’t be adopted in the US as quickly as other parts of the world where gasoline is much more expensive. Infrastructure is key, and there’s much to consider – especially when it comes to road repairs, not to mention what is to be done with fuel tax. “If everything goes electric, how do we fund work on roads and bridges?”
EVs weigh more than ICE vehicles, so there’s much to consider in the adoption of EVs. He believes they will remain in the fleet space like Rivian’s partnership with Amazon delivery vehicles; therefore, there’s opportunity in large-sized paint booths.
Anderson left the audience with so much to think about, including the importance of investing in one’s local politicians to get them to understand how the insurance industry works, how Hyundai could easily surpass Tesla in the US EV space and that OEMs will begin to sell recycled and refurbished parts.
AASP/NJ is grateful to Matthew’s Auto Supplies for sponsoring this
Ben Stephens (Matthew’s Auto Supplies)
An audience engaged with Mike Anderson as he shared his ideas and insight
AASP/NJ President Ken Miller
Mike Anderson & AASP/NJ Executive Director Charlie Bryant
Mike Anderson, Jerry McNee and Ken Miller
Like Father, Like Son: Ultimate Collision Repair’s Jerry and Anthony McNee Both Earn Recognition
The Ultimate Collision Repair (Edison) team has had lots to celebrate in recent months!
AASP/NJ’s Immediate Past President and current Collision Chairman Jerry McNee (owner of Ultimate Collision) learned he was inducted into the association’s Hall of Fame during their October Annual Meeting. Just two weeks later during SEMA week in Las Vegas, he watched his son Anthony be recognized with the FenderBender Best Repair Planner/Estimator Award during the Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards.
“There is not a guy out there who is more passionate about this industry than Jerry,” AASP/NJ President Ken Miller said upon accepting the award on his predecessor’s behalf during the Annual Meeting. Miller noted Jerry’s commitment to the industry which includes national-level outreach and his willingness to help others.
“I was honestly flattered,” shares Jerry about being inducted into AASP/NJ’s Hall of Fame.
“I was just happy to see what was happening in the industry,” he says of the early days of working with the Board. “I really didn’t think I had anything to add, but I guess others felt I offered something that would benefit the members and the association.
I’m grateful someone somewhere thought enough of me to think ‘we need a guy like this on the Board.’ I’m happy to help out in any way shape or form that I can or to offer any suggestion I may have based on my own personal experience to help the industry overall.”
things correctly be treated and looked at as the ‘big bad wolf?’ That is a problem.”
It all comes down to making sure things are being repaired properly, which is why he makes sure his staff is trained and educated to be at the top of their game.
His son Anthony surely shares that same work ethic and passion for education as is proven by him taking home the inaugural Best Repair Planner/Estimator Award. “The goal was to refer to OEM repair guidelines and not-included repair operations,” expressed Jay Sicht (FenderBender) as he explained to the SEMA audience how Mike Anderson (Collision Advice) and his team worked with the panel of judges on the estimate exercise. “The competition and estimate exercise was close, but what made our winners stand out was the critical safety related inspection items. Our winner has been tireless in his efforts to keep the shop up to date with researching OEM repair procedures and processes and has multiple OEM certifications.”
Getting this recognition was a huge honor for Anthony, who took his first estimating class with Anderson. “To be nominated to participate in this competition and be chosen winner was very special for me.” Growing up around the family business, Anthony would work at the shop during the summer. He started sweeping floors and moved into invoicing for parts and later began writing estimates. He’s now consistently worked at Ultimate Collision Repair for the past 10 years.
Being involved at the Board level helped him see the challenges that exist out there. He strongly believes a lack of knowledge is the problem, and that’s why he is so hellbent on education. “My goal has always been to help educate the industry. I know what shops need. I am a shop owner; I have been living, eating and breathing this stuff my whole life.
“We’ve all heard ‘you’re the only one,’ but I know I’m not the only one,” he laments about the common pushback from insurers. “I don’t make the repair procedures. I’m not an engineer, so who am I to question what the OEM says needs to be done? If eight out of 10 shops are not doing things properly because they are uneducated and don’t understand that proper repairs need to be done, why should those two shops doing
He fully recognizes the importance of writing and documenting every single detail of the repair process, and that is required on every single vehicle. “I document everything I do, and I do it in an organized fashion.”
Jerry points out that it wasn’t the final value of the repair bill that made Anthony stand out as winner in this competition. It all came down to the accuracy of the estimate. “Anthony was able to hit every single mark of what was required to repair that car properly with every safety feature, with notes and explanations. I’m happy to have him on my team doing what he is doing.”
AASP/NJ Immediate Past President Jerry McNee accepting his Hall of Fame Award with current AASP/NJ President Ken Miller
AASP/NJ Recognizes DJ’s Restoration as 2024 Body Shop of the Year
AASP/NJ is only as strong as its members, and during its Annual Meeting each year, the association acknowledges the value that individual members contribute to the association and the industry atlarge by recognizing an outstanding member shop with the Stan Wilson/ New Jersey Automotive Body Shop of the Year Award.
This year’s honoree was DJ’s Restoration (Ewing), an association member whose involvement began decades ago – before AASP/NJ even existed! “I originally got involved with the Garden State Automotive Federation,” shares Daniel Brandt, Jr., owner of DJ’s Restoration.
Brandt’s passion for auto body work began when he was a teenager, but cars are in his blood; his grandfather owned Perry Auto (Trenton), and his father operated a mechanical shop, so Brandt was basically “born and raised in a garage.” While he was still in high school, he got his start painting cars in his father’s shop, and after graduation, his love for creating
something beautiful led him to go to work at a local collision repair shop.
After nearly a decade working for someone else, Brandt decided to branch out on his own in 1992. “When I opened the business, I was 26 years old,” he recalls. “My father thought I was crazy when I made that decision, but I was convinced it was what was right for me, so I put everything on the line and worked crazy hours. It was stressful at times, but 33 years later, DJ’s Restoration is a wellestablished, high-quality full collision and restoration shop that is very well known in our community.”
The I-CAR Gold certified facility employs five collision professionals who work on everything from small dents to major collision repairs. DJ’s Restoration also performs complete auto restorations and custom paint and vinyl wrap on cars, trucks and motorcycle tanks. To perform the quality work his customers have come to expect, Brandt invests in the most up-to-date tools, equipment and materials to restore each vehicle to its pre-collision condition; he treats every
customer’s car as if it were his own. That also requires a commitment to training and ongoing education for himself and his entire team. “DJ’s Restoration has only done high quality work – no cutting corners. That means we’re constantly investing in the latest and greatest equipment and training for our staff,” Brandt asserts.
His need to maintain a high level of knowledge about the field to which he has devoted his life led to getting reacquainted with AASP/NJ several years ago. Although he has remained a member throughout his career, running a busy shop sometimes gets in the way of anyone’s best intentions, so “my participation in the association dwindled a bit over the years” as he became preoccupied with his business’ day-to-day operations.
But with technology changing so rapidly these days, Brandt recognized the need to keep a close pulse on current trends as well as environmental concerns and safety requirements, and he knew the best way to do that was to recommit to his local association. “About five years ago, I started attending AASP/NJ events and meetings again to further my education as well as to help educate others,” he shares.
A major benefit of his closer involvement with the association is the sense of community garnered from collaborating with other Garden State collision repairers and shop owners. He feels sorry for the shops that miss out on the camaraderie that exists among the group. “It’s a shame not every shop in the state is a member! I hope that more shops will become involved with AASP/NJ in the future.”
Belonging to a supportive organization like AASP/NJ creates a feeling of unity and solidarity within the local industry that is much needed, especially as interactions with insurers often leave shops feeling
The 2024 Shop of the Year recipient Daniel Brandt, Jr. poses with AASP/NJ Board members (from L-R): Tom Elder, Jeff McDowell and Ken Miller (President)
like they’re stuck on an island by themselves, repeatedly told “you’re the only one;” however, Brandt has no tolerance for that behavior from carriers. “We restore customers’ cars to factory specifications, period. Any shop can provide a lower estimate by leaving something out or overlooking parts, but that’s not how we operate. We put the customer first, and we take no nonsense from insurance companies.”
Still, Brandt recognizes the obstacles that can arise when interacting with insurers, especially when it comes to negotiating repair plans, processes and procedures that are required to safely restore vehicles. He identifies the biggest challenge faced by New Jersey shops as “simply dealing with the insurance companies and their lack of agreement to repair our mutual
customers’ cars properly” and notes that a lot of the contention boils down to “the archaic labor rates.
“What’s a mechanic’s labor rate?” he asks. “What is a plumber’s labor rate? How about an electrician? Are we any less skilled/qualified for the work we do? Absolutely not. And that means that we should be able to collect a fair and reasonable amount without fighting tooth and nail.”
Brandt’s passion and dedication to this industry for the past 40-plus years indicates exactly why AASP/NJ named DJ’s Restoration as the 2024 Stan Wilson/New Jersey Automotive Body Shop of the Year Award recipient. Originally known solely as the New Jersey Automotive Body Shop of the Year Award, the honor was rebranded in memory of the late AASP/NJ Board member who was known for his dedication
to the association and played an instrumental role in its early days.
“I don’t feel like I deserve this,” Brandt humbly says when asked about his reaction to the honor. “There are many good shops in this state, especially the ones associated with AASP/NJ. I am very grateful for the recognition, but DJ’s Restoration would not be as successful without the support and hard work of my entire team, so this honor belongs to all of us.”
Held at Gran Centurions in Clark in late October, the Annual Meeting also featured the presentation of two Russ Robson Scholarships, AASP/ NJ Hall of Fame induction and the election of three new AASP/NJ Board members. Full coverage of the event is available at grecopublishing.com/ nja1124localnews
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2025 Get Connected: Experience It All At
March
14-16, 2025
Meadowlands Expo Center
Secaucus, NJ
A new year is here, and that means the NORTHEAST 2025 Automotive Services Show is just two months away. Every informed automotive professional up and down the East Coast and beyond knows that AASP/NJ’s flagship show is where the industry connects and plans to head to New Jersey this March 14-16 when it all goes down at the Meadowlands Exposition Center (MEC) in Secaucus.
2025 marks the 48th year AASP/NJ will present this show, which is noted as the largest and fastest-growing event of its kind. Elite educational presentations in the classrooms, innovations, products and equipment on the show floor, plus non-stop activities on and off the show floor is what brings people to New Jersey year after year to experience this one-of-a-kind premiere industry weekend.
“We are gearing up for another action-packed weekend,” boasts AASP/NJ President Ken Miller. “Repair professionals travel from all over to take part in the
NORTHEAST experience, so we set out to never fall short in offering the best of the best. I have no doubt that all we have in store this year will make for another recordbreaking event. Can’t wait to see everyone in March!”
Details are still rolling in, but attendees can rest assured the sky is the limit once again when it comes to the NORTHEAST show as it sets out to bring everything together under one roof. Attendees can expect more than 150 exhibitors to line the aisles of the MEC. The Body Work Bowl will return for the third consecutive year, giving repairers an opportunity to showcase their skills in welding, painting and estimating. Winners in each category will take home big prizes! The show offers repair professionals a shot at winning some NORTHEAST Dollars toward purchases at the show – plus there’ll be chances to meet celebrity guests!
All that is just what will take place on the show floor. There’s also the education component (once again sponsored by AirPro Diagnostics) that NORTHEAST is so well recognized for – featuring some of the industry’s most recognizable faces.
In fact, the most recognizable face in the industry – Mike Anderson (Collision Advice) – will return to NORTHEAST this March. One of the most dynamic speakers around, Anderson is known for his engaging presentations designed to inspire and enlighten repairers to be their best selves in and out of the body shop.
Last year, Anderson wowed the NORTHEAST audience with a full-day Collision Advice workshop focused on completing a 100-percent disassembly and offering an extraordinary customer service experience. This year, he will team up with Craig Stevens of CCC Intelligent Solutions to offer an exclusive, in-depth, one-day workshop to kick off the NORTHEAST weekend.
“Unleashing the Full Power of CCC One” will be held on Friday, March 14 from 8am to 4pm featuring “all things related to CCC One, whether you are a CCC estimating customer or a body shop management customer.” The course is designed for shop owners, operators and managers who want to take full advantage of CCC One’s capabilities. Repairers will walk away from the workshop with a deep understanding of pre-repair, repair and postrepair processes.
This will be an opportunity for repairers to optimize CCC One to improve their body shop’s performance. Anderson and company intend to cover estimating, repair tracking, parts management, invoicing and customer communication. The Collision Advice team will also be on hand all weekend during NORTHEAST.
The conclusion of the Friday workshop will mark the official start to NORTHEAST 2025 when the doors open at 5pm.
Once again, NORTHEAST educational offerings will extend beyond the three-day weekend. Following in the success of last year’s pre-show workshop debut, Dave Luehr (Elite Body Shop Solutions) returns to offer another full-day of education set for Thursday, March 13.
“My Elite team and I are very excited to be invited back to NORTHEAST,” exclaims Luehr. “To me, it is one of the very top events in North America.”
by ALANA QUARTUCCIO
have studied the effects of a few high-leverage actions that eliminate most of the stressors. “In other words, if you do these few things, you work less and accomplish more!” according to Luehr.
His workshop will dive into transforming the atmosphere of one’s shop in the areas of work in process (WIP), repair planning accuracy and parts management. It’s recommended the entire team attend the course in order to learn and build an action plan together.
Later in the NORTHEAST weekend, Luehr will return to the classrooms to present “REV UP Your Business,” where he plans to share the secrets of the world’s best body shops while helping repair professionals build a strategy to take advantage of the incredible opportunities coming their way.
“There’s incredible opportunity in the collision repair industry right now,” Luehr believes. “I’m finding that many collision repairers feel overwhelmed and they aren’t seeing these opportunities because they are feeling the grind instead. This program will give them clarity toward the freedom and prosperity they seek, helping them identify the opportunities they should take advantage of. There’s a false impression that new opportunities will result in more work but that is only the case if people go about things the wrong way. My mission is to help them find the clarity they need so they don’t have to work harder, but work smarter on the high leverage activities that are really going to move their businesses forward.”
The AASP/NJ team is gearing up for another successful year at Meadowlands.
Luehr intends to show audience members how to not only increase productivity and profit, but also how to reduce stress with his “Fundamentals of Operational Success” workshop. Most body shop chaos is avoidable by consistently doing the basics well. Luehr and his team
“It’s nearly time for the industry to return to the Meadowlands for the largest automotive services trade show of its kind,” says AASP/NJ Executive Director Charles Bryant. “When repairers invest in their businesses, our industry can reach new heights and achieve great things –and this is the opportunity to do just that. We can’t wait to see everyone on the show floor this coming March!”
NORTHEAST 2025 show hours are 5pm to 10pm on Friday, March 14, 10am to 5pm on Saturday, March 15 and 10am to 3pm on Sunday, March 16.
Whether you’ve been attending for decades or will be a first-timer this year, be sure to secure your spot at the show. Don’t miss this great opportunity to connect with your peers, grab hold of new knowledge and experience the best innovations the industry has to offer.
Pre-register now for your free admission, make accommodations and get the latest updates by visiting aaspnjnortheast.com
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People, Process and Passion: Collision Restoration Joins VIVE Collision Family
Nearly four decades after its doors first opened in 1986, Collision Restoration (Fairfield) has begun a brandnew journey as a member of the VIVE Collision family of auto body repair facilities!
Garden State collision repairers were stunned last year when Eddie Day, a prominent and respected figure in the industry, decided to retire and sold the shop he founded so many years ago (read Day’s interview at grecopublishing.com/nja0924coverstory). But the legacy he created made the facility an ideal addition for VIVE Collision’s growing organization, which is dedicated to “redefin[ing] the collision repair industry by focusing on three core principles: People, Process and Passion,” according to VIVE CEO Vartan Jerian.
VIVE Collision was founded in 2021 by a group of collision industry professionals who were passionate about fixing what they saw as broken. “We saw an industry often burdened with outdated processes, high turnover and inconsistent service quality,” Jerian explains. “Rather than accept that as the norm, we set out to challenge the status quo with the goal of creating a world-class collision repair experience for our customers, teammates and stakeholders. We believe that by prioritizing our people, streamlining our processes and fostering a culture fueled by passion, we can deliver better outcomes for everyone involved.”
The MSO now consists of 52 collision repair shops in nine states within the Northeast region, located as far south as New Jersey and Pennsylvania and running up through New England to Maine. Collision Restoration is the ninth New Jersey shop to join the VIVE Collision family –but VIVE isn’t willing to invest in just any shop; it seeks out facilities that are already dedicated to performing highquality repairs per OEM requirements.
“Collision Restoration stands out from other shops in the area due to its extensive OEM certifications and commitment to manufacturer-approved repair standards,” Jerian notes, pointing out that the shop has certifications from JLR, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Tesla and Maserati. “These certifications ensure our technicians are trained, equipped and qualified to repair vehicles to factory specifications, using the right tools, parts and procedures. This gives customers the confidence that their cars are being restored with precision, safety and long-term
performance in mind. Our focus on OEM-certified repairs and cutting-edge technology positions us as a leader in the market, delivering the highest standards of service to every customer.
“Backed by Eddie Day’s strong foundation, Collision Restoration has established a reputation for quality, trust and excellence,” Jerian continues. “Adding a shop with a strong reputation like Collision Restoration to the VIVE family brings immediate credibility, trusted customer relationships and a solid foundation of operational excellence. It allows us to build on their strengths while enhancing performance with VIVE’s systems, tools and leadership development.”
Of course, adding a new shop to a large organization such as VIVE’s will always include some growing pains. “The biggest challenge [when we acquire a new facility] is cultural alignment and change management,” Jerian acknowledges. “Anytime you integrate two teams, there’s an adjustment period, but we focus on clear communication, leadership development and ensuring everyone understands how VIVE’s ‘People, Process and Passion’ approach creates new growth opportunities.”
Embracing that approach while integrating Collision Restoration’s 28 employees into the VIVE family required a proven approach. “The journey of Collision Restoration becoming a VIVE shop was all about alignment, integration and growth. Our goal was to maintain what made Collision Restoration successful while enhancing it with VIVE’s approach to ‘People, Process and Passion,’” Jerian stresses. “The process started with thoroughly evaluating their people, processes and performance metrics to ensure alignment with VIVE’s vision. We wanted to understand their strengths, spot gaps and ensure our cultures aligned.”
After finalizing the acquisition, VIVE “implemented a 90-day plan to maintain continuity while driving improvement. This involved open teammate communication, leadership assessments and operational support. It’s all about clarity and communication. People need to know the ‘why’ behind the change and how it benefits them,” Jerian insists, clarifying, “For me, the ‘why’ behind VIVE Collision has always been simple – investing in people leads to better results. We know that developing
our teammates, empowering them with clear processes and inspiring them with a shared purpose drives success across the board.”
Collision Restoration’s journey to becoming a VIVE facility continued with operational integration – focusing on optimizing throughput, quality of estimate and overall efficiency while maintaining OEM procedures and continuity. VIVE introduced tools, technology and new processes to ensure consistency and performance. “Our goal is simple: make a great shop even better than before with simple changes to a great business,” Jerian says.
“VIVE continues to invest in the already robust training and equipment necessary to continue with the many OEM programs, and the process doesn’t end at 90 days; we follow up post-close with senior leaders and the team to review what’s working and what needs to change. These calls focus on ‘People, Process and Passion’ to ensure lasting success. Collision Restoration was already a great shop, but with VIVE’s playbook, we’ve set it up to be even better.”
VIVE’s efforts focus on “disrupting the collision repair industry” to overcome its challenges, but what are those challenges? “The biggest challenges facing New Jersey repairers are the technician shortage and the rapid evolution of vehicle technology,” Jerian believes. “The shortage of skilled technicians is a nationwide issue, but it’s even more difficult in a competitive market like New Jersey. Shops must prioritize attracting, developing and
retaining talent to stay ahead.
“Another major challenge is keeping up with advancements in ADAS and EV technology. As vehicles become more complex, repairers must invest in continuous training, updated equipment and new processes. These investments are necessary for shops to stay caught up in their ability to service modern vehicles effectively,” he continues, adding, “Addressing these challenges requires focusing on workforce development, technology investment and ongoing training to ensure repair teams are equipped for the industry’s future.”
VIVE’s devotion to improving the industry starts at home with an emphasis on the first “P” of their principled approach: “We are here to support and work for our teammates because the real key is people. If you get the people part right, everything else works.”
Implementing the right processes is a vital step for any successful collision repair establishment, but none of it matters unless one possesses an enthusiasm and love for the industry that keeps them going when things get tough. “Passion fuels everything we do, from approaching customer service to handling growth and expansion,” Jerian professes. “Our combination of ‘People, Process and Passion’ has become the DNA of VIVE Collision and the foundation for everything we strive to achieve.”
BROKE?
Just How Much Do Insurance
Company CEOs Make?
Up and up and UP! From east to west and north to south, drivers all over the country have seen significant increases in their auto insurance policies.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI), the cost of motor vehicle insurance in the first half of 2024 rose by nearly 21 percent compared to the first half of 2023, an annual trend that has intensified since the pandemic. The average cost of premiums in the first half of 2019 saw an increase of just 1.6 percent compared to the previous year, yet from the first half of 2020 through the first half of 2024, auto insurance premiums increased by 51.7 percent – an average of nearly 13 percent per year! And an additional spike of 12.6 percent nationwide is predicted for 2025.
But some states have likely seen an even larger adjustment to their premiums. Insurify.com projected a 22 percent increase in 2024 nationally, but the insurance shopping comparison website also provided a breakdown by state, indicating that some states could see a rate hike of up to 61 percent! Compared to other states like Massachusetts and Connecticut, which have predicted high increases of 40 percent and 35 percent respectively, New Jersey is below the national average at nine percent, while New Hampshire and New York were expected to experience one of the least significant increases at an estimated four percent.
In some states, a huge jump has made a major dent in consumers’ pockets, so insurers and news outlets have sought to justify these increases by blaming inflation, the cost of repairs and claim frequency and severity. While there is some
validity to these explanations, it seems worthwhile to dissect each culprit identified by carriers.
The annual inflation rate for 2023 was 4.1 percent with the current year’s rate hovering near 2.5 percent and experts predicting a continued decline in 2025. With rising inflation impacting the cost of – well, everything, it’s not exactly surprising that repair costs have increased. Examining the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, CCC Intelligent Solutions’ Crash Course Q3 2024 reports a 3.7 percent growth in the total cost of repair, driven largely by labor and parts costs…actually being paid by insurers!
Exploring the growth of severity and frequency is a little more complex. CCC Intelligent Solutions’ Crash Course Q1 2024 indicates that severity has outpaced general inflation, largely due to the higher cost associated with medical bills, reflecting an increase of 6.7 percent since 2022. Although the report
asserts that auto collision frequency flattened out in the first half of 2023, it acknowledges, “Comprehensive paid claim frequency has continued to rise in recent quarters and appears to be at or near historic levels, likely a result of the storm activity.”
These factors are corroborated by the 2024 LexisNexis Auto Trends Report: “Both the severity and frequency of claims, including severe auto physical damage and bodily injury, have increased since 2020. Bodily injury severity has increased 20 percent in the post-pandemic years.”
While the fact that advancing technology has led to higher severity is apparent, many shops report that insurers object to paying for certain processes and procedures. At the same time, these same technological advances have largely mitigated some risky driving occurrences, with safety systems like lane departure warning and automatic braking, which would appear to reduce the frequency of claims.
Although the Insurance Information Institute (III) claims that auto insurers paid out 112 percent of premium dollars collected in claims in 2022, they also report a 2023 net written premium growth of 14.3 percent, “the highest in over 15 years and six points higher than the nexthighest, reflecting rate increases to offset inflation-related loss costs.”
Yet, even as insurance carriers cry broke based on these figures, other numbers tell a different story.
III’s website identifies the top 10 writers of private passenger auto insurance in 2023 by direct premiums written as State Farm, Progressive, Berkshire Hathaway (GEICO), Allstate, USAA, Liberty Mutual, Farmers Insurance, American Family, Travelers and Nationwide. These premiums total over $243 million and account for 76.7 percent of written premiums in this category.
A look at annual and quarterly financial results for these insurers reveals varying tales; some acknowledge high earnings, while others share a sob story of their losses, but in either case, these insurance companies do not seem to be suffering from a major budgetary deficit based on what they’re paying their CEOs – these same 10 companies paid over a quarter billion dollars to their CEOs over the past two years!
Data for 2023 wasn’t readily available at the time of this writing, but New Jersey Automotive was able to find estimated compensations for eight of these companies, which has been used in the following discussion.
Although State Farm reported a $13.2 billion underwriting loss in 2023, the company issued a record $118 billion in new policy volume and boasted a $3.5 billion increase in net worth (from $131.2 billion in 2022 to $134.8 billion in 2023). CEO Michael Tipsord’s 2022 compensation was $24.4 million, and while that reportedly dropped to just $17.6 million in 2023, that amount still reflects a 76 percent increase over his 2019 salary of $10
million. According to Payscale.com, the average State Farm employee earns $56,000 per year, which means Tipsord earned over 314 times more than the company’s average worker last year (which we’ll identify as “pay ratio” going forward).
Progressive’s 2023 net income was $3.86 billion, a 456.4 percent increase over 2022, and the insurer net worth is estimated at $93 billion.
During an earnings call in October, Progressive reported a Q3 profit of $2.33 billion – more than double its net income of $1.12 billion for the same period in 2023. CEO Susan Patricia Griffith’s 22.7 percent compensation increase in 2023 took her earnings from $12.7 million (2022) to $15.6 million with a 218:1 pay ratio. by
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After reducing its staffing by 20 percent and increasing premiums by an average of 17 percent per policy in 2023, GEICO generated an underwriting profit of $3.6 billion last year, compared with a loss of $1.9 billion in 2022. The company suffered the highest loss in market share of these organizations, and that was reflected in CEO Todd Combs’ salary cut from $13.6 million in 2022 to just $10 million last year (cue world’s smallest violin), with a pay ratio of 130:1.
While Allstate’s 2023 Financial Report indicated a $316 million loss, a net worth of over $50 billion allowed the insurer to pay CEO Thomas Wilson $16.5 million last year, a decrease from his 2022 compensation of $18.9 million, though it still results in a 240:1 pay ratio.
According to USAA’s 2023 Annual Report, its net income of $1.2 billion helped increase its net worth by $1.7 billion, ending the year at $29.1 billion, though its assets total $212 billion. As a result, Steven Wayne Peacock walked away with $8.1 million, a 426.3 percent increase over his starting CEO salary of $1.9 million in 2020 and a pay ratio of 137:1.
Liberty Mutual’s new CEO Timothy Sweeney earned an estimated $15.5 million (a 187:1 pay ratio) in 2023 after his company hiked premiums across the country, including a 25 percent rate increase in California.
In 2022, Farmers Insurance CEO Jeff Dailey received $1.8 million more than he had the previous year, following the layoff of 11 percent of the company’s workforce and huge jumps in homeowners insurance premiums (more than $575 million across 42 states). He earned almost 136 times the average employee’s salary.
After reporting an underwriting loss of $1.7 billion in 2023, American Family reduced CEO Jeff Salzwedel’s salary from $6.7 million (2022) to $3.4 million; last year, he made just over a quarter of his 2020 earnings of $12.4 million. As a result, this company has the lowest pay ratio of just 33:1.
Travelers’ Allan Schnitzer received $22 million in compensation last year, an increase of 136.65 percent compared to $16.1 million in 2019, and a pay ratio of 378:1.
Last year, Nationwide reported its third consecutive year of “record sales” with $1.3 billion in net operating income and total adjusted capital of $25 billion, up nearly five percent from 2022. CEO Kirt Walker received $3.5 million in 2022, an estimated pay ratio of 43:1.
So, where does all this money come from when insurers keep claiming losses year after year?
Michael DeLong, research and advocacy association for the Consumer Federation of America, seems to have
hit the nail on the head in an October 2023 statement: “CEOs are living high on the hog while increasing insurance premiums for people living paycheck to paycheck. Insurers are telling regulators that ordinary consumers have to pay much more for auto and home insurance because the companies are struggling with inflation and climate change, but they are quietly handing CEOs gigantic bonuses. Drivers are required to buy auto insurance and homeowners have to buy coverage to satisfy their loan requirements, so there needs to be more scrutiny of the rate hikes companies are demanding and the huge CEO paydays that are funded with customer premiums.”
So, while many consumers struggle to buy groceries, their insurance premiums continue to increase, lining the pockets of these executives while the companies they work for keep crying that they can’t afford to pay out claims.
As AASP/NJ President Ken Miller points out, these practices threaten public safety. “This information reveals a troubling reality: despite claiming financial struggles, insurers continue raising premiums while failing to cover the full cost of repairs.CEOs walk away with millions, while the companies undercut reimbursements needed for safe and proper repairs. These tactics not only harm repair shops but also jeopardize the safety of consumers who
rely on quality repairs.
“Insurers continue to unjustly enrich themselves while collision repair shops and policyholders are left fighting for fair reimbursement,” Miller stresses. “Insurers routinely deny or underpay for essential repairs, expecting repairers to absorb the costs or compromise on quality. This behavior prioritizes corporate profits over public safety, putting both repairers and policyholders at risk. Simultaneously, insurers delay inspections, reject supplements and impose unnecessary obstacles that increase frustration for both repairers and customers.
“By using cost-cutting measures to boost profits, and making the claims process overly difficult, insurers are leaving repairers and policyholders to bear the burden,” he adds. “As repair professionals, we are committed to performing proper repairs, but we cannot do so without fair reimbursements. It is crucial that we continue exposing these practices to ensure insurers are held accountable for their refusal to pay for safe, complete repairs – repairs that are vital for the safety of the consumers who depend on us to do the right thing for their families and their vehicles.”
ARANJ Board of Directors
David Yeager - EL & M Auto (800) 624-2266 / elandmauto@aol.com
Ed Silipena - American II Autos (609) 965-0987 / esilipena@yahoo.com
Norm Vachon - Port Murray Auto (908) 689-3152 / portmurrayauto@yahoo.com
Dillon Rinkens - East Brunswick Auto (732) 254-6501 / ebautonj@comcast.net
ARANJ Officers
President - Rodney Krawczyk Ace Auto Wreckers (732) 254-9816 / aceautonj@comcast.net
1st Vice President - Daryl Carman Lentini Auto Salvage (908) 782-4440 / darryl@las-parts.coms
2nd Vice President - Mike Ronayne Tilghmans Auto Parts (609) 723-7469 / tilghmans@snip.net
Past President - Bob Dirkes Dirkes Used Auto Parts (609) 625-1718 / dirkesauto@gmail.com
ARANJ
The Automotive Recyclers Association of New Jersey
Wharton Insurance Briefs
OSHA unveiled the 2024 list of its 10 most frequently cited safety violations. For the 14th consecutive year, Fall Protection came in at number one with 6,307 violations – the most commonly cited standard following inspections of worksites for all industries. Hazard Communication was next at 2,888, followed by Ladders and Respiratory Protection.
Below is the full list, plus some resources to help you maintain a safe workplace and stay compliant.
OSHA’s 2024 Top 10 Safety Violations:
1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501) – 6,307 violations
2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200) – 2,888 violations
3. Ladders (1926.1053) – 2,573 violations
4. Respiratory Protection (1910.134) – 2,859 violations
5. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147) – 2,443 violations
6. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178) – 2,248 violations
7. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503) – 2,050 violations
8. Scaffolding (1926.451) – 1,873 violations
9. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102) – 1,814 violations
10. Machine Guarding (1910.212) – 1,541 violations
As always, if you have any questions, please contact me.
800-221-0003 (ext. 1320) (908) 513-8588 (cell) mdefilippis@whartoninsurance.com
1839 Central Park Avenue Yonkers, NY 10710 Order Hot Line: (800) 967-5298 Fax: (914) 361-1508 www.centralave.com COLLISION LINK, REPAIR LINK AND PARTS TRADER
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1953
Delivering to the New Jersey/New York area.
Genuine Nissan parts are built to the same standards as Nissan vehicles. It’s no wonder they’re the driving force behind the most exhilarating vehicle on the road.
7 experienced countermen and 12 drivers ready to serve
Parts: 800-782-7597
E-mail: John@lynnes.com www.lynnesnissan.com
Hours: M-F 7:30am - 6pm, Sat 7:30am - 2pm
5 Alva Street | Bloomfield, NJ 07003
The RAE InvertaSpot NG combines accuracy with a user-friendly interface for increased efficiency and precise welding solutions.
Our wholesale parts team is here to make sure you find the exact Genuine Subaru Parts you need for every repair.
•Competitive prices
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Fax: 973-402-9591
mdaltilio@paulmiller.com www.paulmillersubaru.com/parts
