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BMW of Bridgewater 655 Route 202/206 Bridgewater, NJ 08807 PH: 908-287-1800 FAX:908-722-1729 bridgewaterbmw.com
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P.O. Box 734 Neptune, NJ 07753 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Charles Bryant 732-922-8909 / setlit4u@msn.com 2019 - 2021 OFFICERS PRESIDENT Jerry McNee, Ultimate Collision Repair, Inc. 732-494-1900 / ultimatecollision@att.net COLLISION CHAIRMAN Dennis Cataldo, Jr., D&M Auto Body 732-251-4313 / jr@dnmautobody.com 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 Gary Gardella, Jr., County Line Auto Body 732-363-5904 / countylineautobody@gmail.com Dave Laganella, Peters Body and Fender 201-337-1200 / petersbandf@gmail.com Sam Mikhail, Prestige Auto Body 908-294-1985 / mikhail@goldcar.com Ted Rainer, Ocean Bay Auto Body 732-899-7900 / ted@oceanbayautobody.com Anthony Trama, Bloomfield Auto Body 973-748-2608 / anthony@bloomfieldautobody.com BOARD ALLIED Joe Amato, The Amato Agency 732-530-6740 / joesr@amatoagency.com Mike Kaufmann, Advantage Dealer Services 973-332-7014 / mkaufmann@advantageds.com PAST PRESIDENT ATTENDING Jeff McDowell, Leslie’s Auto Body 732-738-1948 / chacki@aol.com
CONTENTS
VOLUME 50 NUMBER 2 | February 2020
10 OUT OF BODY AND (MECHANICAL) EXPERIENCES
18 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE 24 COLLISION CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
14 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
58 NJA ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
LOCAL NEWS
27 AASP/NJ Working Toward Partnership with UTI 32 AASP/NJ Supports NJ CREF Career Fair NATIONAL NEWS 36 Remembering Lou DiLisio, Sr. INTERNATIONAL NEWS
38 Canadian “Red Seal” Program Readies New Auto Body Technicians
LOCAL FEATURE
40 Insurance Fair Conduct Act to Be Refiled; AASP/NJ Reiterates Support
COVER STORY
by Alana Bonillo &
Joel Gausten
PUBLISHER Thomas Greco / thomas@grecopublishing.com SALES DIRECTOR Alicia Figurelli / alicia@grecopublishing.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lisa M. Cuthbert/ lisa@grecopublishing.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Joel Gausten / joel@grecopublishing.com EDITORIAL/CREATIVE COORDINATOR Alana Bonillo / alana@grecopublishing.com
44 Looking and Learning: A Preview of Collision P.R.E.P at NORTHEAST®
AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY 53 Wharton Insurance Briefs by Mario DeFilippis
OFFICE MANAGER Donna Greco / donna@grecopublishing.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Charles Bryant • Mario DeFilippis • Jeff McDowell • Mitch Portnoi • Ron Ananian Keith Krehel • Jerry McNee • Bob Dirkes • Jacquelyn Bauman
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 NEW JERSEY AUTOMOTIVE is published monthly and is sent to AASP/NJ and ARANJ members free of charge. Subscriptions are $24 per year. NEW JERSEY AUTOMOTIVE is published by Thomas Greco Publishing Inc., 244 Chestnut St., Nutley, NJ 07110. The editorial contents of NEW JERSEY AUTOMOTIVE are copyright © 2020 by Thomas Greco Publishing Inc. and may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher and/or editor. Articles in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Thomas Greco Publishing Inc. Stock Images courtesy of www.istockphoto.com.
Joe Amato, Sr. Ron Ananian Jim Bowers Charles Bryant Don Chard Guy Citro Pete Cook Ed Day Dave Demarest Phil Dolcemascolo Tom Elder Bob Everett
Thomas Greco Dan Hawtin Rich Johnson Wes Kearney Nick Kostakis Jim Kowalak Keith Krehel Joe Lubrano Michael Lovullo Jeff McDowell Sam Mikhail Ron Mucklow
George Petrask Russ Robson Jerry Russomano George Threlfall Cynthia Tursi Lee Vetland Paul Vigilant Rich Weber Brian Vesley Glenn Villacari Stan Wilson
New Jersey Automotive | February 2020 | 7
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OUT OF BODY (AND MECHANICAL) EXPERIENCES
The Teacher by THOMAS GRECO, PUBLISHER
For all the great things social media brings, I am of the opinion that it’s evil. I think it gives platforms to too many people who have trouble spelling the word “dog,” never mind putting a sentence together. I think it is ruining the country (world), and it is making us more and more divided and hateful. It gives equal preference to those with informed, decent opinions and those who are completely ignorant and wicked. I should have learned a long time ago when I lost a good friend over social media. He decided to create a blog about himself, writing a several thousand-word essay describing his life and how interesting it was. I told him it was a piece of garbage and asked him what made him think that just because he had access to a computer and could use spell check that he could write on the same level and demand the attention of those of us who had studied and been professional writers for decades? We didn’t speak for years. Thank God he must have gotten the hint, because he never wrote another blog. Too bad there are millions and millions of others who haven’t received that same advice. Now, get off my lawn. Ok, Boomer? I bring this up because I happen to belong to a Facebook group that is made up of people from my hometown. Every day, people post old pictures of longgone stores or houses or other harmless things, and people comment with their memories. I don’t have a problem with stuff like that. But a few weeks ago, someone posted an old school class picture that included a former teacher of mine. And out came the hate: “I had him. Was completely terrified all year. He had so many tantrums. Poor Stephen. He picked on him. Was awful.” “I think he also picked on Eugene often; he kept us all in line that year.” “Eugene had his desk dumped out many times. Poor kid. He dumped mine once, too. I was horrified.” “I think he dumped Patty’s and Lois’ on the same day. Of course, Eugene was a victim as well. My mother
10 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2020
called the school to complain. I don’t remember what else happened, but I cried my eyes out.” “He was an asshole.” “It was outright child abuse!” “He had a funny sense of humor, but it was kinda mean sometimes. He teased and made faces at some of the slower or dirtier kids. Not a sensitive guy, but definitely entertaining.” “Do not sugarcoat it now; he was a prick and could not do it today.” “Yes, I remember a boy in my class who was different from the others; looking back now, he was an adult bully who picked on kids like that. Terrible.” Wow. Now, not only is it unfair to go after this teacher 50 years later while judging his actions through a 2020 cultural prism, but to do it publicly on social media where millions can see it? To slander a man who, if alive, would have to be in his nineties? WTF is wrong with these people? Now, I’m not just talking out of my butt here. I had this teacher. And yes, I was in Eugene AND Stephen’s class! And yes, he turned MY desk over several times. And you know what? I deserved it. Look, he certainly wasn’t a saint, but he was also not the devil he is being portrayed as in these posts. I will never forget the day I felt his full wrath. I was sitting next to the aforementioned Eugene, and I admit it; I was making fun of him when this teacher walked out of the room. (Think of how much of a dent this incident made in my brain for me to remember it this distinctly… This was 1970!) When he returned, he caught Eugene trying to punch me on the arm. He immediately yelled out, “Greco! Detention!” Oh shit. I had never had detention before. This teacher had kind of favored me most of the time because he had taught my brother a couple of years earlier. My brother was the “Golden Child,” so this teacher
always gave me the benefit of the doubt (even though I was more like the “Aluminum Foil Child” compared to my brother). I lived in fear the rest of the day. This guy was an imposing figure. And Lord knows my brother would find out and tell my parents. I watched the clock on the wall like a death row inmate awaiting his execution. The final bell rang, and everyone left to go home. The teacher turned to me and said, “Greco, to the bunker.” OH NO! The bunker was the janitor’s office in the stairwell around the corner. It was where they kept the electric chair! I followed him up the three steps to the landing outside the door (where I surely expected to be given a blindfold and a cigarette). We stopped, and he calmly said, “So, tell me what happened.” I remember it was winter, because I was chewing on my gloves as I stammered: “I…just…[one glove finger in mouth]…sang a…[two glove fingers in mouth]…song to him [five glove fingers in mouth].” “What did you sing?” I looked around for someone to rescue me. It was
no use. So, to the tune of The Beach Boys’ “Barbara Ann,” I stuttered: “Wwwwent to a ddddance…[second glove in mouth]…” He yanked the gloves out of my hands. “And?” “Lllooking…ffffor…rrromance…” “Go on.” “Sssaw Euuugene….” “I don’t have all day, Greco!” “And…I..I..I…” (Cue the slow motion like in A Christmas Story when Ralphie says, “Fudge!”) “…pppulled dddown his pppants.” I’m sure he could see the fear and the tears in my eyes, because he half-smiled, turned away and said, “That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard. Go home, Greco.” Tough Love. What a concept. Screw Facebook. God bless you, Mr. L. Wherever you are. NJA
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
by JERRY MCNEE
Out of Control Some insurers out there are getting bolder and bolder with pushing their weight around. From refusing to pay for total losses and necessary procedures to disregarding (or cherry picking items from) the PPages, several carriers are out of control. In addition to committing these offenses, they are pitting shops against one another by falsely stating, “Well, that shop over there is doing it this way, so you need to accept it.” I’m constantly told by certain insurers that they only pay “prevailing market area rates” as per the “industry standard.” What exactly is an “industry standard” in these situations? Well, considering that plenty of insurers still balk at the idea of paying shops to perform actual OEM-recommended/required procedures, it appears that their “industry standard” is
just doing the bare-bones minimum. If you’re a shop that feels pressured to go along with this, then you need to understand that you – not the insurer – are responsible for the quality of that repair.
To make matters worse, there are insurance appraisers out there who clearly lack genuine training and experience.
There’s not a judge out there who would buy the excuse that you simply did what you were told and paid to do. The sad reality is that plenty of shops are unaware of their rights. They’re being brainwashed into following the insurance
industry’s thinking. Here’s a newsflash: Not everything in this industry is a cost of doing business. Insurers certainly don’t operate this way. They can forecast the second or third quarter of a given year and increase premiums to counteract their anticipated losses. They cover their bases, yet they are unwilling to step up to the plate and pay us for the work we do. If somebody painted my house for $20,000, what harm is a bad job going to do me versus driving around with my family in a vehicle that was unsafely repaired for $10,000? The facilities that are committed to professionalism and consumer safety deserve to be adequately compensated for doing the right thing, yet all shops are considered the same in the insurance industry’s eyes. There’s more to continued on page 41
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WayneMazda.ccom We ship anywhere in the coun ntry! F AS T! F REE! NEXT D AY DELIVER RIES!
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1244 Route 23 North, Wayne NJ 07470 1-800-639-7278 • Fax: 862-221-9664 Email: Blanterman@waynemazda.com Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30am-6pm, Sat. 7:30a am-4pm
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FAST! FAS FA AST ST T! F FR FREE REE NEX NEXT EXT XT DAY DA AY DEL DE LIVERIES IV VERIES ES 1244 Route 23 North, Wayne NJ 07470 1-800-639-7278 • Fax: 862-221-9664
WayneHyundai.com Email: Blanterman@waynehyundai.com Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30am-7pm, Sat. 7:30am-4pm 16 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2020
Call us for ALL A of your Whollesale Parts and d Accessory Neeeds!
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Phone: 1-800-639--7278 • Fax: 862-221--9664 www.Rt23Honda.ccom Email: Blanterman@233honda.com Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30am-7:00pm, Saturday 7:30am-5:00pm 0am-5:00pm
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
Where Do We Go from Here?
The collision industry is now at the place we all used to point to and describe as “the way of the future.” We wrote articles about what the future might look like when automobiles would be able to drive themselves, and we referred to that era as something that we would never see in our lifetime. Well, guess what? We are there. Certain vehicles are actually capable of driving themselves today, and they are sophisticated to the point where they can be referred to as “accident-proof.” These vehicles are equipped with so many ADAS and collision avoidance technologies that it is amazing that collision shops are not falling by the wayside because of the lack of work. The list of ADAS features now available in most vehicles seems endless. However, the following are enough to get an idea of how they will change the collision industry forever: • • • • •
Forward collision warning Lane departure warning Pedestrian and cyclist collision warning Advanced brake assist Blind spot monitoring
One can only imagine how this short list of ADAS features is affecting the amount of collisions in the US. There are so many more ADAS concerns, but let’s just stay focused on this short list for now. How great is it to be alerted by a forward collision warning when you are about to have a collision with the vehicle in front of you so you
18 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2020
by CHARLES BRYANT
can hit the brakes and avoid a crash? What about lane departure warnings? How many times have you dozed off or just not paid attention and drove over the lane line? That could very likely result in a head-on collision. No more. Now, with lane departure warning, you will be alerted so you can avoid the head-on collision. How about pedestrian and cyclist collision warnings? How in the world did the engineers figure out how to invent this feature? Finally, what about blind spot monitoring? People use the excuse of their blind spot all the time when an accident occurs. It is so great to have these features available to avoid accidents. The people who invented these and so many more ADAS features had to be brilliant, to say the least. With that said, if the inventors of the ADAS features are brilliant, what about the collision shops that have to figure out how to repair these vehicles? The older collision repair technicians who have not been trained to repair modern vehicles would not know where to start. The only way for a repair technician to gain the knowledge of how to repair them is to get an extensive amount of training and then continue to take courses to keep up with the new technology being introduced and installed. The next issue to look at is the equipment required to repair these vehicles. Unless a collision shop has made the investments, they still cannot repair them. Finally, since every vehicle is different and the repair procedures now required differ on each vehicle, the technicians who have received the training still have a problem. They now have to look up the repair procedures for each vehicle and create a repair plan or blueprint on how
to proceed, which can be very time-consuming. They also have to pay for a subscription to find the repair procedures or pay on a case-by-case basis for the information if they repair a variety of vehicles and can’t afford to have a subscription for every type in the shop. Well, with all the money insurers are saving on the reduction in claims as the result of these ADAS features in today’s vehicles, one would think that they would be a little more understanding about the expense collision shops have to incur on training, equipment and (in some cases) certification. However, that is not the case. Instead, when the scanning and recalibration requirement began, many insurers refused to pay for these operations. As time went on, most insurers finally surrendered and now pay for them, but only at a fraction of the actual cost collision shops incur. Another issue the collision industry is faced with (which has been a problem forever) is the Labor Rate. Even with the increased cost collision shops incur to repair vehicles, insurers are still paying collision shops less than what bicycle and lawnmower shops get for their services.
The big question is, where do we go from here? The proper thing for the insurance industry to do is acknowledge the increased cost collision shops incur and voluntarily and substantially increase the Labor Rates – and I don’t mean the same old increase of about two dollars per year. However, as we all know, that is not going to happen without a push. The bottom line is something has to happen. AASP/NJ is working hard to find the answers for our members. As we go forward, we will be watching. Stay tuned. NJA
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Genuine Volkswagen Collision Parts Are a Call or a Click Away. The best repairs start with the best shop-supplier relationship. Contact the following Authorized Volkswagen dealers by phone, fax or email to get the parts you need, when you need them. Flemington Volkswagen 213 Route 202/31 Flemington, NJ 08822 TOLL FREE: 877-657-2787 FAX: 908-782-1795 rmuir@flemington.com www.NJPARTS.com
Paul Miller VW of Bernardsville 118 Morristown ROAd Bernardsville, NJ 07924 Toll Free: 877-318-6557 Local: 908-766-1600 Fax: 908-766-6171
Douglas Motors 491 MORRIS AVE. SUMMIT, NJ 07901 PHONE: 908-277-1100 FAX: 908-273-6196 TOLL FREE: 800-672-1172 www.douglasvw.com email: douglasparts@douglasautonet.com
Trend Motors 221 Route 46 West Rockaway, NJ 07866 888-267-2821 fax: 973-625-4985 www.trendmotors.com email:dreinacher@trendmotors.com
Crestmont Volkswagen 730 ROUTE 23 NORTH POMPTON PLAINS, NJ 07444 TOLL FREE: 800-839-6444 fax: 973-839-8146 www.crestmontvw.com email:vwparts@crestmont23.com
“Volkswagen“ and the Volkswagen logo are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG. ©2020 Volkswagen of America, Inc.
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Join our growing list of satisfied customers. Save time, improve profits and keep your customers loyal. * If your order is placed by 10:30am, we will confirm availability and provide you with and ETA for delivery. ©2020 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks. New Jersey Automotive | February 2020 | 21
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Truk Lagoon, 1994: Almost My Last Vacation
MECHANICAL CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
Back in the ’80s, I took up scuba diving at a friend’s request. It was an easy sell, as I loved the water and enjoyed growing up with access to a built-in pool (where I had actually learned most of the skills needed). Removing and clearing the mask became second nature, while I stayed underwater for minutes at a time with the aid of an upside-down bucket of air I had jammed under the ladder in the deep end of the pool. Combining that love with my interest in World War II history, wreck diving was my favorite. I dove wrecks as far north as Canada, along with North Carolina, Mexico, Central America and many Caribbean locations. North Carolina stands out for great wreck diving due to a history of frequent harsh weather along the coast and German U-Boat activity during WWII. I always had an interest in diving Truk Lagoon, arguably the best wreck diving in the world. Truk Lagoon is a series of small islands close together that create a sheltered body of water in the central Pacific, located between Japan and Australia. Truk had been made into a large Japanese naval base and was heavily fortified, so much so that it was commonly referred to as “the Gibraltar of the Pacific.” Toward the end of WWII, a decision was made to neutralize the base and then bypass it as opposed to an invasion. This was done to avoid the heavy loss of American lives. As part of “Operation Hailstorm” in 1944, the US sent 12 aircraft carriers to attack Truk, sinking ships and planes and damaging the base. It is these ships and planes that make Truk such a memorable destination for wreck divers. For anyone reading this with dive experience, keep in mind these wrecks are not to be confused with modern-day artificial reef-type ships that are intentionally sunk after being cleared of hazards. Heavy cables, wiring, exposed conduit, pipes, etc. make it extremely
dangerous to penetrate (enter) the wrecks in Truk Lagoon. Knowing that some of these wrecks are very deep and might require decompression, I read a book on decompression diving. I was glad I read it; at a briefing by midweek, someone mentioned the next dive was “only” 130 feet deep. That was actually pretty deep. We frequently did two to three decompression dives per day. Decompression diving is basically the result of staying too long at a substantial depth, requiring timed stop(s) at shallow depths before surfacing to avoid a very serious condition known as “the bends.” Honestly, I was not trained for the vacation to follow. Upon arriving in Truk in 1994, 50 years after the battle, we were briefed by the dive master who advised the following: • Do not touch or collect the live ammunition ranging from bullets to 2,000-pound cannon shells for the Yamato, the largest naval guns ever built. • The local hospital was normally a place to die, not to recover, and the closest real hospital required a flight to Guam, so be cautious. • There was a recompression chamber on the island, but it was broken and had not worked for years. • Since there is no current inside the wreck, the interiors were layered with inches of silt, very fine particles that once disturbed would negate visibility and take hours to clear. I would experience this later. Before the first dive, we were told we could dive with the tour by the native guide or go off in pairs, which my buddy and I did. It was a big mistake. One of the first dives we made was the Nippon Maru. (Maru means “freighter.”) After a time at a depth well over 100 feet, I noticed we were approaching the decompression threshold. I signaled to my buddy to ascend, but he continued to go deeper. A few minutes later, I A Japanese wreck in Truk Lagoon.
24 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2020
signaled him again, but to no avail. After crossing in decompression for the first time, I got in his face, saw his eyes and realized he was totally buzzed. This was “nitrogen narcosis,” a type of high created by deep diving. I grabbed his tank and pulled him about 50 feet upward. Thank God, he went willingly. He became coherent above 80 feet, and we both realized he would have stayed at depth until his air was exhausted and died. After this event, we wisely became part of the group. Hoyo Maru was the second event – and my meaning of fear. This ship is 475 feet long and rests upside down with its topside crushed into the sand and coral. It’s very surreal, as all you see is a massive hull. While swimming around the hull, I noticed a trench leading underneath the ship, so the last three of us broke off from the group unannounced and unnoticed. Not a good idea. The ship was upside down; while under its deck, we noticed an open hatch to enter. We went up and in. We swam 20 feet or so into the wreck, and my companions started to tie a guide rope as they intended to find the wheelhouse much further into it. Thinking this may be a bad idea, I came up with my one of my own. I signaled to my buddies that I would leave the ship solo and return to the group. I turned back and went down the hatch we had entered – or so I had thought. I chose the wrong hatch. I swam until I reached a wall, so I turned and swam in the second direction and reached another wall. Immediately, I knew I was lost with only one way out, as all other openings were blocked with sand and coral. I wanted
to tear my way through the steel wall in front of me, but assured myself, “You panic, you die.” I had hopes that they would bring my body back; I did not want my body to stay in this wreck. I began to hear a low rhythmic thumping. At first, I thought someone was trying to find me. But thanks to my poor judgement, no one knew I was missing, and then I realized the noise was my heart pounding. I was scared to death; for the first time ever diving, I began to breathe fast. Not a good thing. Although I was cautious, the silt in the area began to encumber visibility to the point where I could not see my hands. Unless I touched my mask, I could not see bubbles. I lost reference to up and down and began to swim around the room hand over hand – on the walls, ceiling and floor – looking for a way out. After what seemed a long time (but realistically just 10 minutes or so), I somehow found the correct hatch, exited the silted-out room and made my way over to the tied guide rope and waited for the return of my friends. Upon their return, I followed them out the correct hatch (this time) and out of the wreck to safety. Back on board the host vessel, the guide now informed us that penetrating the wreck is very dangerous and not recommended. To be honest, I was not sure I would ever dive again after this incident. But the next day, I was back at it with five dives, including an eerie night dive through a large operating room on a medical ship. I have to admit that with all the mistakes on the trip, I am lucky to be here. NJA
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AASP/NJ Working toward Partnership with UTI to Help Graduates Find Employment
As part of an ongoing effort to encourage more young people to consider careers in the automotive world, AASP/NJ is working to partner with the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) to help graduating students find employment with member shops. AASP/NJ Executive Director Charles Bryant and Mechanical Chairman Keith Krehel (Krehel Automotive Repair; Clifton) were recently given a tour of the Bloomfield campus. The trip gave them the opportunity to learn about the Institute’s educational offerings and job placement programs. The Institute has 11 campuses across the country, some of which offer automotive and collision repair training. The Bloomfield campus, which opened about 18 months ago, offers a 51-week automotive technician course. “As a former high school auto shop instructor, I was very impressed,” states Krehel. “The facility was neat, clean and well organized. The students I observed were focused on classroom activities, while the teaching aids and hands-on workstations were state of the art. This school is ‘top shelf.’ We would be proud to play a role in helping place graduates in our various member facilities for automotive mechanical and collision work.” “Our tour of the UTI trade school was an unbelievable experience for me and a real eye-opener,” shares Bryant. “It
LOCAL NEWS by Alana Bonillo was amazing to see the modern technology and equipment the Institute has available to train the students. Each section of the Institute was more exciting than the last, and all that we learned while there will help AASP/NJ assist our members. This includes the possibility of creating a partnership of sorts in order to post job openings on [UTI’s] website. We are presently considering how all we learned can be turned into a benefit for our members. Stay tuned.” NJA
Left to right: Kevin Gero (UTI regional admissions director), AASP/NJ Mechanical Chairman Keith Krehel and AASP/NJ Executive Director Charles Bryant
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LOCAL NEWS by Alana Bonillo
AASP/NJ Supports NJ CREF Career Fair, Encourages Students to Join Labor Pool
AASP/NJ recently participated as a sponsor of the New Jersey Area High School/College Transportation Career Fair at the Mercedes-Benz Learning & Performance Center in Robbinsville. The event was organized by the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF). AASP/NJ Executive Director Charles Bryant, President Jerry McNee and Treasurer Tom Elder were on hand to interact with students interested in exploring a career in collision repair. They also welcomed soon-to-be graduating students to join the association’s growing Labor Pool, which matches workers seeking employment with member shops looking to hire. “We’re excited to be here to help bring fresh blood into the industry today,” commented Bryant. “It’s important to have young people come in because [the industry] is changing. There are some who have been in this a long time who are not familiar with new procedures and don’t want to start over and learn again. So, it’s great to see new faces coming in to learn the trade and pick up where older people are leaving off.” Through multiple breakout sessions, the AASP/NJ leaders spoke with students about the benefits ofPage exploring careers in 1 the automotive field. “Every one of you will find a home. There is no question about it,” McNee told attendees. McNee pointed out that work opportunities will be
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available whether students plan to pursue collision or mechanical careers, as shops and dealerships need mechanics in addition to auto body technicians. “When I started, computers weren’t relevant. Today, every time you turn the corner, something has a computer as the cars get more and more advanced. “AASP/NJ is here to help you,” he added. “We want to support you. There isn’t a shop in the state or country that is not looking for qualified technicians.” “You need to work hard at getting as much training and as many certifications as you can,” advised Elder. “There is so much work out there…There’s plenty to do, and there are good opportunities.” NJA
AASP/NJ President Jerry McNee addressing students at the New Jersey Area High School/College Transportation Career
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NATIONAL NEWS
Remembering Lou DiLisio, Sr.
The national collision repair community is mourning the loss of Lou DiLisio, Sr., who passed away on January 14 at 88. He was the father of past Collision Industry Conference (CIC) and Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) Chairman Lou DiLisio, Jr. of Automotive Industry Consulting, Inc. Lou Sr. grew up in Mount Kisco, NY working in the family auto body shop, Mt. Kisco Paint and Body Shop, which was opened by his father in 1932. He eventually took over and ran the shop for over 30 years. His brothers Angelo and Ed, both now deceased, spent time working for the business as well. Away from auto body, he founded a successful food manufacturing business, Casa DiLisio Products Inc., in 1973. He began the business by manufacturing the company’s frozen Italian sauces in the evenings and weekends along with his wife of nearly 66 years, Lucy, and it grew into a full-time enterprise. He was also a tennis player, wine connoisseur and avid musician whose dance band (which he
36 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2020
formed when he was still in his teens) played for many local weddings and events. His love for music drove him to become part of the Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra, among other organizations. In addition to being profiled by CBS in 1976 and the New York Times in 1977, Lou Sr. appeared on the Food Network and was a guest on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee in 1996. In a February 1977 radio address shortly after the CBS report aired, future US President Ronald Reagan praised the New Yorker’s independent and inventive spirit.
Of course, many industry members from the East Coast and beyond will never forget the pre-show dinner parties that Lou Sr. and his family threw each year prior to the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey’s (AASP/NJ) annual NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show. During his eulogy for his father, Lou Jr. spoke of the kindness that touched everyone who had the pleasure of knowing this unforgettable man. “My father’s generosity to those around us was infectious. One of the things I learned from him was that generosity didn’t mean ‘giving’ something to someone. It very simply meant ‘do the right thing.’ In some cases, that may have been viewed as a gift, advice or just plain friendship, but it was never done to get something back in return. It was done because it was the right thing to do.” Lou Sr. is survived by Lucy, three children (Lou Jr., Linda and Lisa), four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Leslie and parents Edward and Antoinette. NJA
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS by Joel Gausten
Canadian “Red Seal” Program Readies New Auto Body Technicians As the American collision repair industry continues to struggle to attract, train and retain a solid workforce, efforts to achieve these objectives in Canada provide an example of what is possible. Established more than 50 years ago, the Canadian Red Seal Program is a government-sponsored endeavor designed to promote standards and consistency in trade apprenticeship training. The program operates as a partnership between the federal government and provinces and territories, which oversee the apprenticeship training and trade certification in their jurisdictions. Red Seal operates under the 15member Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA), a voluntary intergovernmental partnership comprised of one official from each province and territory and two representatives from the Department of Employment and Social Development Canada. Red Seal currently works with nearly 60 trades, including carpentry, ironworking, plumbing and roofing. Under the current Red Seal Auto Body and Collision Technician program, apprentices repair and restore collisiondamaged vehicles, assess body damage and prepare estimates. Additional skills include restoring a vehicle’s electronic components and passenger restraint systems and aligning/replacing suspension and steering components. Apprentices work at sponsoring repair facilities and approved schools. In a January 2020 article entitled “10 Reasons You Should Absolutely Consider a Career in the Skilled Trades,” MacLean’s praised the Red Seal Program, noting that apprentices “receive provincial qualification as a journeyperson—and employers know they’ve been trained to the same rigorous standard no matter what province or territory they’re from. And that means they’re not constrained to one region, or one country.” Generally, a minimum of 7,200 hours of combined relevant work experience and training are needed before an Auto Body and Collision Technician apprentice can take the Red Seal Exam, which features at least 100 multiple-choice
38 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2020
questions. Below are four samples (out of several available at red-seal.ca) displaying the type of information and procedures that an apprentice must know to complete and pass the exam (70 percent or above) within a maximum four-hour time period:
• What must be done to diagnose the severity of secondary damage when a unibody vehicle is struck on the right front corner and inner-structural damage is caused
• Where a technician needs to section when a front-frame rail is replaced on a unibody vehicle
• How a technician determines if an airbag system is operating
• Knowledge of the type of adhesive used when installing a heated windshield The waiting period and number of times an apprentice can attempt to pass the examination are determined by each province and territory. A Red Star endorsement is added to the provincial/territorial trade certificates of tradespeople who pass the exam. Additionally, the CCDA grants an official “Red Seal Endorsement” acronym (RSE) for endorsement holders to use on their business cards and signatures (e.g., John Smith, RSE). This helps identify Real Seal workers to potential employers and allows for greater labor mobility throughout Canada. The Red Seal Program actively engages the trade industries it represents by encouraging experienced workers or apprenticeship instructors to participate in workshops. Preference for participation in these events is given to those professionals who have already received a Red Seal endorsement on their qualifications. More information on the Red Seal Program is available at red-seal.ca. NJA
Insurance Fair Conduct Act to Be Refiled; AASP/NJ Reiterates Support
LOCAL FEATURE by Joel Gausten
A critical piece of consumer protection legislation, commonly known as the “New Jersey Insurance Fair Conduct Act,” is gearing up for another round in the Legislature. The bill (S-2144/A-4293) seeks to establish a private cause of action for first-party claimants regarding certain unfair or unreasonable practices by their insurer. Most significantly, it aims to do away with the state’s current system of making a claimant prove that an insurer’s actions were of such a frequency as to indicate a general business practice. If passed, the bill would allow a claimant to file a civil action against their insurer for an unreasonable delay/denial of a claim for payment of benefits under an insurance policy. It would also grant a claimant the ability to file an action against a carrier for committing “unfair methods of competition and unfair and deceptive acts or practices in the business of insurance, including, among other things, misrepresentations and false advertising of policy contracts, false information and advertising generally, defamation, unfair discrimination, unfair claim settlement practices and failure to maintain complaint handling procedures.” Notable “unfair claims settlement practices” as defined by New Jersey statute include (but are not limited to): • failing to acknowledge and act reasonably promptly upon communications with respect to claims arising under insurance policies; • failing to adopt and implement reasonable standards for the prompt investigation of claims arising under insurance policies; • not attempting in good faith to effectuate prompt, fair and equitable settlements of claims in which liability has become reasonably clear; compelling insureds to institute litigation to recover amounts due under an insurance policy by offering substantially less than the amounts ultimately recovered in actions brought by such insureds; • attempting to settle a claim for less than the amount to which a reasonable man would have believed he was entitled by reference to written or printed advertising material accompanying or made part of an application; and • failing to promptly settle claims, where liability has become reasonably clear, under one portion of the insurance policy coverage in order to influence settlements under other portions of the insurance policy coverage.
Once an insurer violation has been established, the bill would entitle the claimant to “actual damages caused by the violation including, but not limited to, actual trial verdicts” and “prejudgment interest, reasonable attorney’s fees and all reasonable litigation expenses.” The bill passed the New Jersey Senate in June 2018. At that time, the legislation called for a plaintiff to be awarded treble damages if an insurer was shown to be in
violation. However, the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee amended the legislation in early January 2020 to remove this provision. The Committee also amended the bill to define “first-party claimant” as “an individual injured in a motor vehicle accident and entitled to the uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage of an insurance policy asserting an entitlement to benefits owed directly to or on behalf of an insured under that insurance policy.” A new, pre-filed version of the Assembly bill (A-1659) seeks to reinstate the treble damages provision and define “first-party claimant” or “claimant” as “an individual, corporation, association, partnership or other legal entity asserting an entitlement to benefits owed directly to or on behalf of an insured under an insurance policy.” A Senate version of the bill had yet to be refiled in any form at press time. AASP/NJ President Jerry McNee believes that passage of the Act would prompt greater accountability from the insurance industry. “The New Jersey Insurance Fair Conduct Act seeks to address everything that some insurers do on a daily basis. It would help prevent the ‘Wild West’ mindset we have now where carriers shoot from the hip and see where the bullets land.” However, he is quick to express apprehension over recent attempts to remove the ability for successful plaintiffs to receive treble damages. “If I did something as simple as not have the customers sign work authorizations, I’m liable for treble damages. It’s acceptable for me to have to be responsible for my obligations and liability as a shop owner, but it’s unacceptable for insurers to be held to the same standard? It’s concerning that this bill could be chipped away as it moves forward to the point to where it won’t have any teeth.” A longtime advocate for the Act, AASP/NJ Executive Director Charles Bryant is pleased to see that the current legislation still seeks to substantially change what is deemed a “general business practice” with respect to insurer violations in the state. “Passage of this legislation will finally put an end to the need to demonstrate that an insurer has committed enough violations to be considered a general business practice before actions can be taken against it. The current ‘general business practice’ mentality is similar to allowing a motorist to run a red light multiple times before they can get a ticket. This legislation aims to address a situation that is in dire need of change.” Bryant is also confident that more claimants will file actions against insurers once the financial provisions of the Act are finally signed into law. “Because claimants currently can’t get back their court costs or attorney’s fees, insurance companies are gambling that they will just go away or won’t sue. As a result, carriers can get away without paying what they owe.” For more information on AASP/NJ, visit aaspnj.org. NJA
40 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2020
LET US TURN THEM AROUND!
Contact New Jersey Automotive Sales Director Alicia Figurelli
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
from page 14
the repair process than just giving insurers an excuse to have a financial windfall at someone else’s expense. To make matters worse, there are insurance appraisers out there who clearly lack genuine training and experience. If they do have a hands-on history in this industry, it’s usually from working at a shop 20 or 30 years ago. Some don’t have any experience at all. A lot has changed since then in terms of technology, but these appraisers will show up at shops and say, “I don’t think this repair needs that procedure.” How would they possibly know that unless they are as up to date on modern vehicles as we – the true professionals – are? How do auto body shops in New Jersey combat these things? Participate in AASP/NJ. Donate to our Legal or Litigation Funds. Go to our meetings and events. Study OEM repair procedures and position statements. Research P-Page procedures, and include them in your estimates (even if they don’t pay). Document everything you do during the repair. We have more rights than we know; we just need to stand up for ourselves and never give up. We’re allowing this to happen. Ask yourself why it’s time that we did something about it. NJA
(973) 667-6922
ALICIA@GRECOPUBLISHING.COM
New Jersey Automotive | February 2020 | 41
HYUNDAI IS PROUD OF ITS REPUTATION FOR QUALITY AND SERVICE. SO ARE THE DEALERS AND BODY SHOPS WHO RELY ON GENUINE HYUNDAI PARTS. TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU GET THE RIGHT HYUNDAI PART, ASK FOR A HYUNDAI WHOLESALE PARTS SPECIALIST. For Genuine Hyundai parts, contact an Authorized Hyundai Dealer. MAXON HYUNDAI 2329 ROUTE 22 WEST UNION, NJ 07083 TOLL FREE: 800-964-7281 FAX: 908-851-5631
LIBERTY HYUNDAI 371 ROUTE 17 NORTH MAHWAH, NJ 07430 201-529-3600 FAX: 201-529-3051
42 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2020
WAYNE HYUNDAI 1244 ROUTE 23 NORTH WAYNE, NJ 07470 PH: 973-646-0333 FAX: 973-694-1700 waynehyundai.com
MAINTAIN AN INFINITE INVENTORY OF ORIGINAL MINI PARTS.
At your local MINI dealer, we believe that using Original MINI collision replacement parts will speed your repairs and increase your profitability. Original MINI parts assure an absolute perfect fit and function.
For Original MINI parts, contact any of these authorized MINI dealers. MINI of Mt. Laurel 1311 Rt. 73 Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054 856-778-3000 Fax: 856-813-4622 MINIOFMTLAUREL.COM FACEBOOK.COM/MINIOFMTLAUREL
MINI of Manhattan 793 11th Avenue at 55th Street New York, NY 10019 212-246-7375 Fax: 212-315-9560 MININYC.COM FACEBOOK.COM/MINIOFMANHATTAN
© 2020 MINI USA, a division of BMW of North America, LLC. The MINI name, model names and logo are registered trademarks.
New Jersey Automotive | February 2020 | 43
LOOKING
COVER STORY by Alana Bonillo & Joel Gausten
and
LEARNING
A Preview of Collision P.R.E.P. at
2020
In just a few short weeks, the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus will host thousands of automotive professionals from the East Coast and beyond at AASP/NJ’s NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show. Held March 20-22, the show will offer must-see product displays, industry innovations and exclusive educational offerings that draw auto body and mechanical professionals from all over the country. Once again presented by the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Associ-
44 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2020
ation (WMABA), the Collision Professional Repairer Educational Program (Collision P.R.E.P.) will be a highlight of this year’s event. One of the most popular speakers in the industry, Mike Anderson (Collision Advice) will be among the featured Collision P.R.E.P. presenters for the 2020 show. “Next to SEMA, there is no other industry event that has the level of participation from OEMs and training offerings like NORTHEAST. There isn’t anything in the same
league. It amazed me how many OEMs come out and support it. Honda has had events there, and General Motors launched its certification program there a few years ago. Every year, NORTHEAST ups its game.” Anderson is thrilled to see NORTHEAST consistently grow over the decades to become the largest
regional show of its kind in America. “It’s a very intimate setting. I liken NORTHEAST to Thanksgiving dinner; it’s a chance to reconnect with your family members you haven’t seen throughout the year. Years ago, you’d only see people from the northeast go there. Now, you see people from Texas, Kentucky, Florida and other places around the country.”
Other featured presenters include John Shoemaker, business development manager for BASF, who will give attendees a thorough overview of how they can position themselves for sustainability. This will include an interactive discussion about the changes in the collision industry and how they affect shop owners. The presentation will stress the need to adapt to these changes and the consequences shop owners could face if they don’t move beyond the way things are currently done. “We will discuss how shop owners must adapt their environment to allow them to keep their business operating over a period of time. So, what does this really mean? The environment seen in some of today’s shops is not the one needed to continue doing business in the collision industry. Status quo is not positioning you for sustainability; it’s treading water in a rising river.” Shoemaker believes NORTHEAST is the perfect location for such a discussion to take place. “NORTHEAST provides the ability to meet up with the best in the industry in a close location and accomplish a lot in a short period of time. The talent the show attracts is the top in the industry, and it is a great opportunity to be able to present at this premier event.” With rampant changes in automotive technology prompting a new era of accountability in the collision repair world, veteran Oregon-based shop owner Ron Reichen (Precision Body & Paint) has spent several months upgrading the in-house processes at his three locations. These revamped, OEM-centric operations include everything from washing the vehicle before the repair to ensure its camera lenses are clear for accurate reads to road testing and fully documenting sublets, thus creating a solid “key-tokey” approach to organizing the repair. Now, Reichen is preparing a special class on this in-house work to continued on page 54
New Jersey Automotive | February 2020 | 45
Superior service starts with superior parts. Rely on what Mazda drivers already know-Genuine Mazda parts extend a car's life. Designed specifically for Mazda vehicles Get the right part the first time We're an accurate, trusted resource as close as your phone Give us the opportunity to serve you
Contact these Mazda dealers for all your parts needs: Maxon Mazda 2329 Route 22 West Union, NJ 07083 Phone: 800-964-7281 Fax: 908-851-5631
Nu Car Mazda 172 North Dupont Highway New Castle, DE 19720 Phone: 800-346-5283 Fax: 302-322-7135
46 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2020
Mazda of Lodi 130 Route 46 East Lodi, NJ 07644 Phone: 866-716-0511 Fax: 973-594-4933 www.mazdaoflodi.com
Wayne Mazda 1244 Route 23 North Wayne, NJ 07470 Phone: 973-646-0333 Fax: 973-694-1700 www.waynemazdafactoryparts.com
Announcing the 202 20 Kemperle e Training Training Schedule Sch hedule
T R A IN I N G C OU RSE SC HE D U L E S F O R 2 0 2 0 Dates
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A SYSTEM
R EBO OR N w it h e v er yt hing y ou u a s k ed f or in a r e f inish s y s t em – c olor c onsis t enc y and t ools .
M AV ER IC K AP P R OV ED . R EQ UE S T A D EM MO , V ISI T MA AT TRIXSYSTEM.COM Visit us at NORTHEAST® Booth 317 General– Show Sponsor
New Jersey Automotive | February 2020 | 49
Join us u in celebrating Kemperle e’s 80th An nniversary at our o 2020 expo! x
T H E H I LT O N L O N G I S L A N D / H U N T I N G T O N 5 9 8 B R OA D H O L LOW R OA D, M E LVI L L E , N EW YO R K THURSDAY APRIL 23, 2020 5PM-11PM FRIDAY APRIL 24 , 2020 5PM-11PM SATURDAY APRIL 25, 2020 9AM-2PM ALL ATTENDEES MUST BE PRE-REGISTERED PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SALES REPRESENTATIVE FOR REGISTRATION 50 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2020
Diagnostically speaking, there is no substitute. Porsche technology. Porsche Genuine Service & Parts. Contact one of these authorized dealers. Town Porsche 105 Grand Avenue Englewood, NJ 201-227-6505 Fax 201-227-6553 town-motorcar.porschedealer.com
Flemington Porsche 213 Route 202/31 Flemington, NJ 800-216-5124 Fax 908-782-9397 flemingtonporsche.com
Porsche Princeton 3333 Route 1 Lawrenceville, NJ 609-945-1500 Fax 609-945-1501 princetonporsche.com
Paul Miller Porsche 3419 Route 46 East Parsippany, NJ 973-227-3000 Fax 973-575-8396 paulmillerporsche.com
Porsche Monmouth 280 Route 36 East West Long Branch, NJ 732-935-7600 Fax 732-935-7602 porschemonmouth.com
Manhattan Motorcars 711 11th Avenue New York, NY 877-661-1586 Fax 646-473-0798 manhattanmotorcarsporsche.com
Š 2020 Porsche Cars North America Inc. Porsche recommends seat belt usage and observance of traffic laws at all times.
New Jersey Automotive | February 2020 | 51
52 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2020
Visit us at NORTHEAST® Booth #501
COVER STORY from page 45 debut at NORTHEAST. He hopes that sharing his honest experiences will help others develop similar programs at their businesses. “We didn’t have good shop flow with the vehicle intake,” he admits. “Some cars were getting scanned at the wrong time in the process, so the repair plans didn’t have the informa-
167 Route 31 Flemington, NJ 08822 Toll Free: 877-657-2787 Fax: 908-782-1795 bseymour@flemington.com www.njparts.com
tion from the scans built in. Some of the cars weren’t getting scanned until they actually got to the technician; by then, it would be too late for parts ordering and negotiating. I wanted consistency by getting standard operating procedures in place. Because vehicles are much more advanced now, we had to add these
55 Kinderkamack Road Emerson, NJ 07630 Phone: 201-261-7495 Fax: 201-261-3261 Toll Free: 888-782-9493 parts@libertysubaru.com www.libertysubaru.com
3469 Route 46 Parsippany, NJ 07054 Phone: 973-658-5714 Fax: 973-402-9591 mdaltilio@paulmiler.com www.paulmillersubaru.com/parts
advancements into our process.” Reichen encourages attendees to take a look at the standard workflow at their facilities before they join him for his NORTHEAST presentation. “Come in with questions based on your work mix of vehicles. If you’re an independent shop, are you more luxury repair-focused? Are you involved with repairing Ford, Chevrolet or the regular consumer level of Japanese or Korean products? I want to stimulate attendees’ thought processes on things that they haven’t considered doing before.” After attending and participating in NORTHEAST for well over a decade, Mark Olson of VECO Experts will experience this year’s show as a first-time exhibitor in addition to serving as a Collision P.R.E.P. presenter. “We want to exhibit to target market and target audience. The people we want to deal with are there, and they’re going to be able to see us. With VECO, we are really looking to support those who support the industry. As far as I’m concerned, NORTHEAST is the premier event, so we want to be a part of it. “If you need something for your collision repair shop, then you’re going to find it at the NORTHEAST show,” he adds. “You can also get the education you need [with] high-end industry speakers you don’t get at a lot of regional shows…There’s a commitment, a passion and an energy to NORTHEAST that pretty much none of the other ones have.” Pre-registration for NORTHEAST 2020 is underway. To sign up and/or learn more about NORTHEAST and Collision P.R.E.P., visit aaspnjnorth east.com.
NJA
54 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2020
VISIT US AT
2020 BOOTH 327
18 USI Italia Booths and Still Counting at No. 1 Collision
When anyone has a technical question for No. 1 Collision regarding any piece of equipment from a car rack all the way to a paint booth, they ask Facilities and Equipment Manager Milford Cumberland is the person to ask. At the age of 66, he is the old wise man that holds the cards and is the information gatekeeper on every facility, as well as all of its training, tools and equipment. One of Cumberland’s job at No. 1 is overseeing the acquisition, installation and ongoing maintenance for 18 USI Italia booths. It’s an enormous investment that keeps paying for itself over and over again, and as a result, Cumberland is likely North America’s #1 expert about these Italian-made high-end spray booths. The No. 1 Collision Centre in Richmond, British Columbia invested $19 million in an impressive 70,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art location on two acres that is over the top in every way. “We call our facilities the superstars of the industry and our largest one definitely has that ‘wow’ factor,” Cumberland said. “Other shops and many of the OEMs request tours of this shop all the time and fly here from the U.S. and Europe just to see what we’re doing. When they see a dozen USI Chronotechs here set up side-by-side and full of high-end luxury vehicles, they are impressed, no doubt.” If you walked into any of the No. 1 Collision locations, you’d find primarily Teslas, Land Rovers, Jaguars, Porsches, Mercedes-Benzes, Audis, Volkswagens, MINIs, Ferraris, Maseratis and even a few Rolls Royces being repaired. Certified to work on this impressive assemblage of 10 OE certifications, No. 1 Collision works hard to stay current with the training and equipment required to make this list. CEO Rob Walker and his brother COO Scott purchased a shop in 1993 and today No. 1 Collision repairs a total of more than 1,0000 cars every month. The Walker Group of Companies have built an impressive business that includes four collision centers in Canada and one in the U.S. This MSO has invested approximately $1 million in its USI booths after acquiring their first one in 2009. When it comes to acquiring any tools, equipment or training, Walker isn’t afraid to pay for value, “We learned rather quickly that trying to cut costs isn’t the best way to go,” Rob Walker said. When we started looking at paint booths, we realized that the European ones were superior and that USI was the best. Our Chronotechs are like BMWs while some of the others are more like KIAs. We will never buy another type of paint booth, because these have proven to be superior across the board. The technology is unmatched with incredible lighting, better air movement and sturdy construction.” Cumberland agrees with Walker and is more than willing to expound on the capabilities and advantages of using USI booths, he said. “We are very impressed with the USI direct drive system and their powerful motors (15hp), and everything is tunable on-site. Some paint booths contain cheap components and in the end they’re nothing more than just cargo boxes with lights. A great booth is something you can install and then not worry about it for 20 years and that’s what we have with USI.”
Refinish Technician Ben Yi paints primarily high-end vehicles in a USI Chronotech spray booth at No. 1 Collision.
Whenever he purchases anything, Cumberland makes certain that the support that is both accessible and accountable. “We made sure that the support from USI was going to be strong, and that was one of the many things we considered before acquiring the booths,” he said. “At the very beginning, all of the USI people gave me their phone numbers, which has turned out to be a real blessing. They’re very responsive and you can tell they love what they’re doing. When I call them, especially their tech people, they are more than willing to answer all of our questions. We can’t afford to be down at any time if we want to maintain our reputation. I tell people the sign says No. 1, not No. 2.” “I always tell people that to succeed in this industry, you should never skimp on things such as air compressors and paint booths,” Cumberland said. “We’ve been very fortunate with USI and now they’re an integral part of everything we do here.” When it comes to maintenance and upkeep, Cumberland has a huge calendar that tells him what to replace and when with every USI booth. “With 18 of these babies, we have to stay on top of it, so that they will perform at a high level all the time. With USI, we don’t have to replace the filters or the intake and exhaust cubes as frequently as we would with another brand, which gives us another advantage over the competition.”
USI of North America 566 Commerce St. Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417 PH: 201-405-7761 EMAIL: s.moretto@usius.com www.usius.com New Jersey Automotive | February 2020 | 55
ARANJ Officers
President Rodney Krawczyk Ace Auto Wreckers (732) 254-9816 aceautonj@comcast.net 1st Vice President Daryl CarmanLentini 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 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
56 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2020
ARANJ The Automotive Recyclers Association of New Jersey
Wharton Insurance Briefs
Many insurance companies outsource their workers’ compensation, general liability and property loss control inspections to a third party, which then sends out its loss control representative to inspect your facility. These loss control inspectors have visited your yards and have not made many recommendations. Of the yards where recommendations were made, most were for the lack of forklift certification and lockout/tagout procedures. Forklift certification can be obtained through an independent service that specializes in operator training and certification. One website that you can access is certifyme.net. Lockout/tagout procedures are also available online, or you can access them through your insurance company. We may be able to provide literature regarding some phases of recycling operations, including proper lifting procedures, back safety, snowplow safety and more. Stay educated and make safety a priority in 2020. As always, if you have any questions regarding your insurance coverage, please contact us. Mario DeFilippis, AAI Vice President 800-221-0003 (ext. 1320) (908) 513-8588 (cell) mdefilippis@whartoninsurance.com
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1.800.292.RIMS (7467) New Jersey Automotive | February 2020 | 57
Page 1
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ADVERTISERS’ INDEX 1-800-NEW-PARTS ............................16-17 Acme Nissan ......................................3 AkzoNobel ..........................................33 Amato Agency ....................................30 American Honda..................................22 Audi Group..........................................30-31 BASF ..................................................23 BMW Group ........................................6 BMW of Springfield..............................21 Bram Auto Group ................................IBC Classic Audi ........................................15 Collision Equipment Consulting, Inc. ....14 Empire Auto Parts................................56 Flemington Audi ..................................5 Flemington Group................................49 Glen Toyota..........................................OBC GM Group ..........................................28 Hyundai Group ....................................42 Innovative Solutions & Technology / Pro Spot..............................................IFC Jaguar Land Rover Parsippany ............10 Kemperle ............................................47 Klean Frame........................................56 Lynnes Nissan East..............................10 Maxon Buick-GMC ..............................27 Maxon Hyundai ..................................29
Maxon Mazda......................................29 Mazda Group ......................................46 MGM Auo Body Supplies ....................36 MINI Group..........................................43 Mopar Group ......................................52 NUCAR................................................12-13 Paul Miller Subaru ..............................58 Performance Ford Lincoln....................11 Precision Equipment-Solidus ..............39 Porsche Group ....................................51 PPG ....................................................3 Reliable Automotive Equipment............37 Sherwin-Williams/Matrex ....................48 Sherwin Williams Help Wanted ............58 Spanesi ..............................................19 Subaru Group......................................47 Town Motors ......................................35 Toyota Group ......................................11 Tri-State Luxury Collection ..................8-9 USI of North America ..........................55 Valtek..................................................57 VW Group............................................20 Westbury Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram SRT..................................34 Wheel Collision Center ........................57 ZB Negotiations ..................................32
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58 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2020
Audi Brooklyn
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