THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ALLIANCE OF AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE PROVIDERS/NEW JERSEY (www.AASPNJ.org) AND THE AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY (www.ARANJ.org) TM
February 2022 $5.95
Returns with a Bang! MARCH 18-20, 2022 MEADOWLANDS EXPOSITION CENTER SECAUCUS, NJ Working Hard for the Money:
NJ SHOPS WEIGH IN ON CURRENT CHALLENGES Whose Car
IS IT ANYWAY? The Big Lie
HAS GOT TO STOP! www.grecopublishing.com
W H Y Z A M O R A’ S A U TO B O DY M A D E T H E S W I T C H
BUSINESS PROFILE
ZAMORA’S AUTO BODY Frederick, Maryland Andy & Eric Zamora ~ Owners
3 85 5 6 3 75
LOCATIONS EMPLOYEES PAINTERS PAINT BOOTHS PREP DECKS VEHICLES PER WEEK
Andy Zamora
“We demoed four waterborne paint lines and found PPG had the best product, the best technology, and the most technical support.”
“The color chips are an identical match, so there’s little need for sprayout cards. This saves us money on paint and labor.” “We increased our throughput by 10% or around 30 to 40 more vehicles per month.”
PERFORMANCE YOU CAN COUNT ON The PPG Logo, Envirobase and the Multiple Cubes Geometric Design are registered trademarks of PPG Industries, Ohio, Inc. ©2021 PPG Industries, Inc. All rights reserved. www.envirobase.com
4 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 5
CALL: 1-800-221-1256
800-221-1256
6 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
P.O. Box 734 Neptune, NJ 07753 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Charles Bryant 732-922-8909 / setlit4u@msn.com 2021 - 2023 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 Brad Crawford, Livingston Collision, Inc. 973-992-5274 / livingston.collision@gmail.com 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 /prestige@goldcar.us Ken Miller, 821 Collision, LLC (973) 949-3733 / kmiller@821collision.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
VOLUME 52 NUMBER 2 | February 2022
CONTENTS
10 OUT OF BODY (AND MECHANICAL) EXPERIENCES
16 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
12 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
18 MECHANICAL CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE 46 NJA ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
LOCAL NEWS
20 Four Decades of Service: Acme Nissan Parts Manager Gary Sinay Retires by Alana Quartuccio Bonillo
NATIONAL NEWS
22 CREF Opens Applications for 2022 School Benchmark Grants and Student Scholarships
FEATURE STORY
26 Working Hard for the Money: NJ Shops Weigh in on Current Challenges by Chasidy Rae Sisk
PAST PRESIDENT ATTENDING Jeff McDowell, Leslie’s Auto Body 732-738-1948 / chacki@aol.com
COVER STORY
PUBLISHER Thomas Greco / thomas@grecopublishing.com
SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE
SALES DIRECTOR Alicia Figurelli / alicia@grecopublishing.com EDITORIAL/CREATIVE COORDINATOR Alana Bonillo / alana@grecopublishing.com MANAGING EDITOR Chasidy Rae Sisk / chasidy@grecopublishing.com OFFICE MANAGER Donna Greco / donna@grecopublishing.com PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Joe Greco / joe@grecopublishing.com
28 Out of This World Education and Experience: NORTHEAST® 2022 Returns with a Bang by Chasidy Rae Sisk 36 Your Shop’s Overloaded with Work... What Do You Do?
AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY 44 Wharton Insurance Briefs by Mario DeFilippis
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Charles Bryant • Mario DeFilippis • Dennis Cataldo • Mitch Portnoi • Ron Ananian • Keith Krehel • Jerry McNee • 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 © 2022 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
Alicia Figurelli 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 2022 | 7
8 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 9
OUT OF BODY (AND MECHANICAL) EXPERIENCES
Stop in the Name of Jon! by THOMAS GRECO, PUBLISHER A few weeks ago, I was driving home from the Windmill (my favorite hot dog place) on the Garden State Parkway when something caught my eye. I think I must have been “halfway there” because I looked to my left and saw Jon Bon Jovi’s name and a guitar in neon lights on a building where there would normally be a rest stop. I figured he was doing a benefit concert for one of his charities (or his favorite politicians) and kept on driving. I forgot about it until the next Friday. Once again, I was “halfway there” when I saw a sign that said “Jon Bon Jovi Service Area.” WTF? This time I had to see for myself. I pulled off onto the long ramp and wouldn’t you know it, there it was: the Jon Bon Jovi Service Area! Initially, I wondered what he ever did to get a rest stop named after him? But then I thought, wait a minute, is this really a good thing? Then again, let’s face it, people have been dumping on Bon Jovi for close to 40 years now. Why not make it official? Most of the other rest stops in the state are named after people who have passed. There’s even one named for Frank Sinatra. Can you imagine what his reaction would have been if he were alive?
10 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
“You want to name a house of toilets after me? Fuggedaboutit!” It made me think of some of the other Jerseyans they probably approached before they went to Jon Bon Jovi. “Hello, is this Bruce Springsteen?” “Sure is.” “Boss, we’d like to name a Parkway rest stop after you…” “Stevie, you got me. Funniest joke ever.” Click. “Hello, is this Mr. Frankie Valli?” “Yes, it is.” “Mr. Valli, we are huge fans; we’d like to name a Parkway rest stop after you…” “Uh, Let’s Hang On…” Click. “Hello, is this Joe Pesci?” “Yes, it is.” “Mr Pesci, we loved you in Goodfellas so much that we’d like to name a Parkway rest stop after you…”
“Get the f#$k out of here, you moth@#f3$k#$. You think that’s funny? I’m funny how? Funny, like, I’m a clown?” Click. “Hello, is this the Jonas Brothers??” “Yes, ma’am.” “(screaming and panting) OMG, we’d like to name a Parkway rest stop after you…” “We’d be honored!” (fainting and phone drop) Click.
a hundred other things you’d rather have named after you? John Lennon has an airport named after him. Freddie Mercury has a huge statue in Geneva. Kurt Cobain has a park in Seattle. Hell, I would be honored if they named a hot dog at the Windmill after me! But someone as famous as Jon Bon Jovi? Whether you like him or not, he has done a lot of amazing charitable things. It’s true he hasn’t had a hit in a decade, but the guy has to be worth $100 million. I just don’t see how he gets the call and says, “Oh yes, that’s a great
idea. I want people to think of me every time they have to go to the bathroom! Sign me up!” Anyway, every Friday night, I drive by and chuckle. My face just gets flushed from the laughter… Come and see everything you need to survive at NORTHEAST® 2022! March 18-20, Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, NJ Register NOW at aaspnjnortheast. com.
NJA
Now, look. I happen to like Bon Jovi. I have most of their records and have seen them in concert a number of times. But a Parkway rest stop? Weren’t there any streets available in Sayreville? Or benches on a boardwalk somewhere down the shore? I mean, what is their ad campaign? “If you’re driving on the Garden State Parkway and ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ after eating some bad sushi, visit us at the Jon Bon Jovi Service Area!” Or: “The Jon Bon Jovi Service Area: We give toilets a good name.” Or: “You’re stomach is aching On a steel horse you drive If you don’t get here quickly You’d rather be dead than alive The Jon Bon Jovi Service Area.” Or: “It’s your bladder It’s now or never But you ain’t gonna hold it forever You just want to make it to the Jon Bon Jovi Service Area.” Or: “When you have to let it go (Wash your hands) When you want to let a feeling show (Wash your hands) From South Amboy to Ramsey (Wash your hands) From Asbury Park to Atlantic City (Wash your hands) At the Jon Bon Jovi Service Area.” I could go on, but you get the idea. I don’t know about you, but aren’t there
New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 11
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Whose Car Is It, Anyway? by JERRY MCNEE Last month, I talked about the importance of shops investing in training and education to ensure that they’re equipped to properly and safely repair customers’ vehicles, but there’s another vital component to education that our industry often neglects to talk about – we need to be educating our customers! Think about it: Whose car is it? It’s the customer’s car. Yet when there’s a battle with the insurance company over proper procedures, shops have been programmed to take up arms and go to war, but it’s not our battle; that vehicle belongs to the customer and so do any problems that arise with their insurance company. Most customers have no clue about the problems we encounter on a daily basis, and the only way they’ll ever know is if we inform them. We need to start educating the customer about their vehicle and what is required to restore it to its pre-accident condition; however, many shops are reluctant to have that conversation. They either don’t want to confront the customer with negative news, or they’re simply unwilling to invest the time into explaining the multitude of problems we are facing.
12 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
Now, I’m not telling you to whine and complain about every aspect of your business, but when a customer’s insurance carrier tries to inhibit your ability to correctly do your job, think about who is actually impacted when you give in to the insurer’s demands. If you’re not willing to put the time in to educate your customer, who is going to do it? No one! And if we aren’t doing anything about these issues, if we’re merely accepting the status quo, nothing will ever change. Shops cannot afford to continue patching cars with a temporary Band-Aid. The old excuse that you’re “not getting paid” isn’t going to hold up in a court of law. Furthermore, it’s your own fault! I get it: Shops perform a valuable service which entitles us to fair and reasonable compensation according to New Jersey regulations. With each manufacturer requiring specific factory tools, one tool does not fit all vehicles. Add in equipment and training, and it seems like nobody is paying attention to our struggles. Because they’re not! And they’re not going to pay attention until we tell them what’s going on.
continued on pg. 43
SCREAMINGLY FAST PARTS DELIVERY.
Looking for Mopar® and Magneti Marelli Offered by Mopar Parts in a hurry? Give our parts department a call and they’ll be on their way before you know it.
DOVER DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP 158 S. Salem Street Dover, NJ 07801
Order Hot Line: (888) 676-6727 Fax: (973) 366-0757
Mon.–Fri. 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Sat. 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
©2021 FCA US LLC. All Rights Reserved. Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Mopar and SRT are registered trademarks of FCA US LLC. FIAT is a registered trademark of FCA Group Marketing S.p.A., used under license by FCA US LLC. Magneti Marelli is a registered trademark of Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
44259_LR29_F_TGP.indd 1
New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 13 5/27/21 5:03 PM
14 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
Audi dealers strive to make you an Audi Genuine Parts fan •
Audi Parts Professionals are your subject matter experts on collision parts, replacement components and mechanical items.
•
Many Audi dealers offer technical service support hotline access that can reduce your repair times and help you meet an on-time promised delivery.
•
Installing Audi Genuine Parts contributes towards improved cycle time that makes both your customer and their insurance company happier.
Helping you do business is our business. Order Audi Genuine Parts from these select dealers. Flemington Audi 213 Route 202/31 Flemington, NJ 08822 Toll Free: 877.657.2787 Fax: 908.782.1795 email: rmuir@flemington.com www.NJPARTS.com
DCH Millburn Audi 2211 Millburn Ave Maplewood, NJ 07040 Toll Free: 800.553.9250 Direct: 973.762.0262 Fax: 973.762.2381 www.dchmillburnaudi.com
Paul Miller Audi 179 Route 46 East Parsippany, NJ 07054 Toll Free: 800.35.MILLER Parts Direct: 973.575.7793 Fax: 973.575.5911 www.paulmiller.com
Bell Audi 782 Route 1 Edison, NJ 08817 732.396.9360 Fax: 732.396.9090 www.bellaudi.com
Audi Brooklyn 211 63rd Street Brooklyn, NY 11220 Phone: 718.492.6400 Fax: 718.492.8899 rmerchant@audibrooklyn.com www.audibrooklyn.com
Town Motors Audi 400 South Dean Street Englewood, NJ 07631 201.227.6506/6536 Fax: 201.541.0314 www.townmotors.com
Jack Daniels Audi of Upper Saddle River 243 Route 17 Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 201.252.1500 Fax: 201.254.1552 tbabcock@jackdanielsmotors.com www.jackdanielsmotors.com
Audi Bridgewater 701 Route 202-206 N Bridgewater, NJ 08807 929.600.9156 Fax: 908.595.0237 parts@audibridgewater.com www.audibridgewater.com
New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 15
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
The Big Lie Has Got to Stop! by CHARLES BRYANT State Farm Insurance Company just agreed to pay $9,400 in order to avoid obeying a Texas judge’s ruling that it must disclose its Labor Rate survey data and other information related to its estimating process, according to a Repairer Driven News article (bit.ly/NJA0222). Are you kidding me? What a joke! Just how long is this industry going to put up with this nonsense? If State Farm or any insurer is going to limit what they will pay as the Labor Rate for collision repairs based on a survey, then they should be more than willing to openly share the results of the survey that they claim to be relying on. Even a Texas judge agrees that if State Farm is going to limit what they are willing to pay for collision repairs based on a survey, then they should release the results of said survey. Yet, State Farm is willing to pay thousands of dollars to keep the results of their survey a secret. They argue that the result of their survey is proprietary and protected. Well, if that is the case, it should not be used to control another industry without full disclosure. Obviously, when insurers are paying collision shops less than bicycle shops are getting paid to repair bicycles, something is not right! The fact that State Farm is so secretive about the results of their survey that they are willing to pay thousands of dollars to keep them secret tells us there is a good reason why they don’t want the results revealed. Plus, this is not the first time State Farm has used the court to try and make sure their survey results do not get released to the public. Back in February 2020, a Texas judge ruled against a motion that State Farm made for a protective order regarding discovery, according to Repairer Driven News (bit.ly/NJA0222B). Well, let’s not act like this is something new for an insurer to try and control the Labor Rates. Way back in 1987, the New York Department of Insurance informed the Assistant Counsel to the Governor that the way insurers reach an agreed price with collision shops is actually referred to as “The Big Lie.” In the letter to the Governor’s office, it was explained that proposed legislation was intended to eliminate what 16 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
has become known as “The Big Lie,” what they believe represents the prevailing way claims are settled in New York because insurers were not paying adequate Labor Rates, preventing auto body shops from earning a profit in a legitimate manner. The letter further acknowledged that insurance appraisers were inflating the repair estimate by allowing for additional labor hours that did not exist in order to get the shops to accept their estimate and, at the same time, artificially suppress the Labor Rates. The letter also acknowledged that it was blatantly clear that the Labor Rate that was being paid to collision shops was grossly inadequate and that it barely covered the direct salary cost of a competent auto repair professional. The idea of the legislation was to eliminate the practice of insurers throwing a couple of extra hours that did not exist into the estimate in order to get the shops to agree to the grossly inadequate Labor Rate. So, you see, this is not something new. Collision shops have been working for inadequate Labor Rates for many years because of unscrupulous practices by insurers who have been getting rich off the backs of collision shop owners who suffer because of the ridiculously low Labor Rates that insurers have enjoyed for so long. The problem is their games will no longer work! Collision shops are fixing expensive vehicles that require the technicians to be properly trained and for the shops to purchase the equipment required to return these vehicles back to the consumer in safe operating condition. These vehicles with advanced features like automatic braking, lane change sensors and such require the proper training and equipment that cannot be purchased at Labor Rates that are less than bicycle shops get paid to repair bicycles. The point is, if insurers don’t cut the nonsense and start paying shops a reasonable amount to repair these modern vehicles safely and properly, people are going to die because unsafe vehicles will be on the roads when involved in a collision. If anyone would like to discuss any portion of this article, they are welcome to call me on the AASP/NJ Hotline at (732) 922-8909. NJA
PLATINUM SHOW SPONSOR BOOTH # 227
New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 17
MECHANICAL CHAIRMAN MESSAGE
The Super Car That Almost Was – AMX 3
by KEITH KREHEL
When I was a teenager, there were four common car brands made in the United States. The Big Three were: GM, Ford and Chrysler, and the small straggler, American Motors (AMC). I always had a soft spot for AMC, possibly because I saw them as underdogs in comparison to the others. Some of their cars were good-looking and sporty, like the first AMX muscle car and the Javelin. Then there were, in my opinion, unique-looking and perhaps cute cars, like the Gremlin, while others were just plain ugly, like the Matador and the Pacer. I’m quite sure my wife would not have gone on a date with me in one of those dogs. In the late 1960s, AMC was in Photo credit: Fuelcurve.com As the image here shows, the AMX-3 (bottom) financial trouble, and they knew it. They (https://fuelcurve.com/amx3/ resembled the Pantera (top) had suffered huge losses, their product line was underwhelming, and more importantly, they were Possible reasons for its cancellation: underselling. AMC’s product line was deemed dated 1. AMC had just endured the longest labor strike in its technically and dull. In order to liven up their product line history, depleting the resources needed. and attract younger customers, they wanted to build a 2. The AMC 3 project itself was deemed unprofitable, and high performance mid-engine sports car much like Ford. the car could not be produced at the planned cost and Seeing how the GT 40 had helped the Ford brand, AMC would have sold for well over the price of the Pantera, sought similar success so they created the AMX 3 to its direct competition in the states; however, Halo compete with the upcoming Ford Pantera. This vehicle cars, in my understanding, are not always expected to was a team effort with the body design and drive train from be profitable but more importantly help promote the AMC, chassis and suspension from Giotto Bizzarini, along image of the company (thanks, Craig). with Italdesign and BMW contributing in various ways. 3. Possible intervention by competition, allegedly Ford, The car was to be built overseas by the German recognized the superiority of the AMC 3 over the company, Karmann. Its price was supposed to be around Pantera and “persuaded” AMC to stop the project. As $10,000 to $12,000, which was about three times the cost I have written earlier, the Ford Pantera was heavily of the Mustang at the time but roughly half the price of the flawed from the factory and required several Ferrari 365 GTB/4 – a potential competitor. Dick Teague modifications to prevent overheating, as well as to at AMC was credited with most of the design. Because correct other issues. The AMX 3 may have been the AMC only had front engine, rear wheel drive production better car; they sure looked similar. No telling what the cars in its lineup, and since the AMX 3 was to be midoutcome would have been had the car seen engine, AMC outsourced a lot of the chassis design. The production. Maybe American Motors would still be car was designed with a maximum speed of at least 160 in business today (doubtful,) and retro Gremlins could mph, which at first was unobtainable due to “body lift” be commonplace and perhaps even retro Pacers (more at high speeds, much like the prototype Ford GT40, but doubtful and outright scary). after modifications to a second proto type, 170 mph was reached with performance comparable to the Ferrari 365 Specifications are below: GTB/4 – no small feat. The car was presented at the New Production: 1969/1970 Width: 75.6” York Automobile Show on April 5, 1970, but by that Designer: Dick Teague Height: 43.2” summer, AMC abandoned the project without explanation Mid-engine, rear wheel Weight: 3,090 lbs after about only six cars were built. drive A American Engine 390/4 bbl V8 M Motor 295 HP X eXperimental Length: 175.6” 3 third version NJA
18 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 19
LOCAL NEWS
by ALANA QUARTUCCIO BONILLO
Four Decades of Service: Acme Nissan Parts Manager Gary Sinay Retires Gary Sinay has most certainly earned his retirement. This month, he wraps up a 42-year career as manager of the Acme Nissan parts department where he’s garnered memories, accomplishments, much success and great relationships to last a lifetime, and he is excited to enter the next chapter in his life. His retirement became official just days shy of the anniversary of his start date – February 4, 1980. Sinay recalls finding work in the automotive field at a time when he “needed to get responsible and find something to do.” He had worked different odd jobs before realizing it was time to settle into something. In need of work, he learned about automotive parts through a state-funded program that allowed him to earn and learn. He remembers the moment he got called to his first job interview. Sinay was in class when a fellow student suddenly began to have an epileptic seizure. Despite the chaos of the health emergency, an instructor walked in and asked if anyone lived near Woodbridge; anxious to leave the scene, Sinay immediately spoke up affirmatively, and off he went to start a short stint at Woodbridge Datsun. Not too long after, Sinay became engaged with the Acme Datsun team (that later became Acme Nissan) who wanted him to come on board. He joined as parts manager, and the rest is history. Sinay truly appreciates the family-run single franchise business that all began with the late owner and founder: Paul Jaskowski, Sr. Currently, his sons Paul Jaskowski II and John Jaskowski own the business, and Sinay also worked closely with them. Sinay enjoys fond memories of watching the current owners’ sons grow up from small boys into men who are now also part of the operation. He attributes the success Acme Nissan has achieved to the family-run teamwork. Sinay is thankful to the owners for always being enthusiastic about the parts department. “Paul, Sr. always saw the future in the backend of the business, not just in selling cars. That was a big plus. I always had the support of the family.” Sinay looks back fondly on what he most definitely considers “a good run.” One of the many highlights of his career has been helping the business grow. Upon first coming on board, he was told to focus on wholesale. And that he did. He picked up the phone and made some good calls, and things really took off. Another key was getting involved with the Auto Body Distributing Co. as a preferred dealer. “Suddenly, we were selling parts like crazy!” he recalls. “We had to add trucks. We had to add drivers. We had to add inventory. It just started growing, and it was pretty cool. When you are successful, it feels good. 20 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
I always enjoyed what I was doing. When you get to see the fruits of your labor, it’s a nice feeling.” Longevity is a common trait at Acme Nissan. In addition to the members of the Jaskowski family, Sinay has members in his parts department who have been with him for decades. “I have four guys who have each been there for over 30 years,” he exclaims. “That’s kind of unique. I don’t think many dealership parts departments have people staying in the business for so long. Without those guys, I couldn’t have done all this. I give kudos to my employees and the good support from the owners. Without them, this wouldn’t have been possible.” Where will one find Sinay now that he won’t be behind a desk in the parts department? Most likely, he’ll be found with some bait and a rod in hand as he takes part in his favorite pastime – fishing. “It’s my passion,” says the newly retired parts manager. “I plan to spend my time fishing either here locally in New Jersey, or maybe I’ll go down to Florida and fish in the ponds or go with the guys to the Everglades. Maybe I’ll get to do some international fishing too.” With travel on his mind as a second activity to partake in, Sinay hopes to explore Spain, Portugal and perhaps Italy. When asked what he’ll miss most from his 42 years at Acme Nissan, Sinay says it’s the people. “It’s like a family, and with family, you get used to being with them. Also, I’ll miss the customers. I’ve known some of them for so many years. If I get them on the phone, I immediately get a smile on my face and say ‘How you doing? How you been?’ Some I’ve been talking to for about 40 years.” As he closes out his career, Sinay has one last message to share: “I’d just like to thank the owners, all the employees and my staff for their support and help all these years as well as the loyalty of all our customers who stuck with me and the dealership for four decades.”
NJA
NJA
New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 21
NATIONAL NEWS
CREF Opens Applications for 2022 School Benchmark Grants and Student Scholarships The ongoing technician shortage poses a problem for many collision repair facilities around the country, and most can agree that the resolution begins with the youth who will become the industry’s future. Unfortunately, many schools’ collision programs are underfunded, while students struggle to pay post-secondary tuition. The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) seeks to alleviate some of those burdens by facilitating the industry’s generosity in the form of its Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Grants as well as its Student Scholarship awards. In 2021, CREF awarded $329,000 in grants to over 80 schools, recognizing those programs that excel at educating students, but which require additional financial assistance due to constrained school budgets, providing funds to purchase the tools, equipment and supplies necessary to enhance their students’ learning experience and elevate the caliber of their graduates. The 2021 Student Scholarships benefitted 30 students with more than $100,000 awarded in financial assistance to ensure those students are able to continue their education, preparing them to pursue a successful career
22 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
Past Collision Repair Education Foundation grant winners include Thomas A Edison Career and Technical Education High School (Jamaica, NY)
in body shops around the country. Applications for CREF’s 2022 School Benchmark Grants and Student Scholarships are now open, with a deadline of March 2, 2022. To apply for a Benchmark Grant or Student Scholarship, or to learn more about supporting CREF’s efforts to promote the industry to future generations, visit CollisionEducationFoundation.org.
NJA
New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 23
FEATURE STORY
by CHASIDY RAE SISK
Working Hard for the Money: NJ Shops Weigh in on Current Challenges It’s a brand-new year, but many of last year’s problems have rolled over into 2022 and contributed to a unique situation: Shops can’t keep up with the increased workload and are struggling to deal with the overwhelming number of jobs bombarding their facilities. The overabundance of vehicles in need of repair is exacerbated by the continuing supply chain disruptions and shortage of qualified help. When the pandemic began and for months afterward, historically low repair volumes left repairers twiddling their thumbs, but now those same collision repair professionals face backlogs that stretch out months into the future, longer hours to meet customer demands and the pressing need to keep vehicle owners informed about the progress of their repair amid increasingly frustrating delays outside the shop’s control. So, what are NJ shops’ biggest obstacles right now, how are they dealing with them, and how will they leverage the lessons they’ve learned to position their businesses for success in the future? “My team and I are working a ton of overtime,” shares Anthony Dellapietro (Tony D’s Auto Body; Atlantic Highlands). “I’ve been waking up at 3am to get to the shop by 4:30am to get work done before everyone else arrives. I’m dead on my feet, but the work needs to get done, so what else can we do?” “We’re completely overwhelmed,” laments Richard Rutigliano (Lacey Collision, Inc.; Lanoka Harbor). “I’ve run out of room in our parking lot to accept more vehicles.” It seems like most shops are filled to max capacity these days, but the excess of work isn’t unique to NJ. A recent CRASH Network study found that the national average scheduling backlog increased from 1.7 weeks pre-pandemic to 2.6 weeks in the third quarter of 2021, while the shops reporting a backlog decreased from 57 percent to five percent. Predictably, supply chain shortages play a large role in a significant portion of the backlog issues shops face as parts take weeks to arrive, making it impossible to provide on-site storage for all the vehicles waiting to be repaired. “There’s no longer enough space at the shop to perform a complete disassembly and write an estimate on every vehicle, only to wait weeks for the parts to arrive,” notes Dennis Cataldo, Jr. (D&M Auto Body; Old Bridge). “Instead, vehicles are triaged during the initial estimate phase, but while towed and non-drivable vehicles get disassembled, the cars with mostly cosmetic damage that are still safe to drive get patched together as best we can while we wait for parts. “I take a deposit for the parts and order what has been approved, and when the complete parts order arrives, I call the customer to bring the vehicle in so we can 26 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
disassemble it and start the repair process,” he continues. “I try to electronically order as many parts as I can because I feel like it cuts down on some of the chaos and mistakes made on the parts side, plus it makes it easier to keep track of backorders. It also puts more accountability on the vendor somewhat.” “Parts delays are unbelievable,” adds Rutigliano. “Everything is on backorder, so we’re waiting weeks for parts. We’ve sent customers out with vehicles that are missing parts or still have damaged parts as long as they’re safe to be on the roads until we can obtain everything that’s necessary to complete the repair.” As the amount of work increases, parts aren’t the only thing missing from the equation. Shops desperately need more assistance in their shops and in their offices. “We don’t have enough help because we’ve been unable to find and hire anyone who wants to work,” Rutigliano says. “It’s discouraging how few young people are entering the field.” “Our office should have three or four more people to deal with the ridiculous amount of paperwork we have to process,” according to Dellapietro. “After nearly 20 years in business, the Labor Rate has only increased by $3, so we have to be creative to make any money, especially with insurers refusing to pay for so many items.” Efficiency is a vital component to meeting customer and insurer expectations (and always a challenge), but factors outside repairers’ control restrict their ability to do that. As photo and virtual estimates pervade the industry, initial supplements are often insufficient, inhibiting the shop’s ability to order parts upfront which causes further delays, but the need for a supplement – or more likely, multiple supplements – impedes progress and creates additional administrative burdens on repairers as well. “I’ve been watching what the insurance industry has been doing with virtual estimates for the past 10 years,” Rutigliano begins. “They are getting us to perform the estimating, which is their job, yet they want it done for free. I can’t believe they’re still telling us how to run our business! I think that insurers’ hope with virtual estimates is that the vehicle owner won’t fix that car or they’ll bring it to a shop that doesn’t write supplements so the carrier can save money. “My job is to create supplements,” he continues. “When you write a supplement after performing a full teardown, and you back it up with the right documentation, you get what you ask for. I complete a supplement on every single job.” “Once in a while, we get an initial estimate that was written based on photos, but I typically refuse continued on pg. 38
SMART WELDERS USE THE SMARTEST WELDERS i4s Smart Welder by Pro Spot: the welder that is ready for the future, today! Wi-Fi connectivity for instant software updates Instant on-board training with instructional videos
360°
Smart Gun with 360° rotation The industry’s only 5-year warranty
Made in the USA
5932 Sea Otter Place, Carlsbad, CA 92010 www.prospot.com | info@prospot.com 877-PRO-SPOT
Distributor in NY, NJ, Eastern PA www.centerlinespraybooths.com johnjr@centerlinespraybooths.com 631-841-3200
New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 27
COVER STORY
Returns with a Bang!
It seems like it’s been an eternity since collision and automotive repairers have gathered to celebrate the final days of winter at the largest regional automotive trade show in the Northeast, but the countdown has finally begun! Adding to the general excitement surrounding the return of the NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show, scheduled for March 18-20 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center (MEC) in Secaucus, NJ, the 45th rendition of AASP/NJ’s flagship event promises more education, updated equipment and a better experience than ever before. 28 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
Trade shows offer a great opportunity to network with industry peers and explore the latest and greatest tools and equipment available on the market, but NORTHEAST takes on sky-high ambitions to deliver what enlightened collision repairers truly need: world-class training and education to help repairers escape the black hole of technological advances and other challenges that often leave them feeling lost in the cosmos. “Let’s face it: No one knows everything, but NORTHEAST is a place where anyone in attendance can learn something to take back to their shop and implement immediately,” states AASP/NJ President Jerry McNee. “All classes are designed to educate attendees and give back
by CHASIDY RAE SISK
to the industry. If you attend one class that helps your shop generate additional income or improve your business practices, it’s a win-win!” NORTHEAST’s 2022 educational slate is geared toward addressing some of the most pressing problems orbiting shops to help them prepare to rocket into a brighter future. In fact, one of this year’s highlights will specifically focus on the industry’s future generation. The ongoing technician shortage crisis has left many shops spinning on their axis, so repairers will be over the moon for “The Continuing Tech Shortage: How Do We Fix It?” a panel that seeks to confront the nebulous issues surrounding the lack of man-power eclipsing repair
facilities all across the country. Michael Bonsanto (Passaic County Technical Institute) will moderate this panel which features a variety of experts: Brandon Eckenrode (Collision Repair Education Foundation), Keith Egan (Betag Innovation), Josh Laurent (Automotive Business Management), Bart Mazurek (CCC Intelligent Solutions Automotive Services Group) and Greg Settle (TechForce Foundation). Starting his career in a body shop, Bonsanto’s career journey eventually led him to become an I-CAR instructor before his passion for the next generation launched him continued on pg. 32 New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 29
30 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 31
COVER STORY continued from pg. 29
into his current role as a vo-tech collision instructor. “Although the lack of qualified help has been a huge issue for the past 30 years, it’s even more important now due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has worsened the situation,” Bonsanto explains. “We can’t keep waiting for someone else to fix this problem for us; we have to come together and find a way to fix it as an industry. Collision repairers cannot afford to keep putting their heads in the sand and continue being unaware of what’s going on because that won’t solve this crisis. “Awareness is needed first and foremost; we have to realize there’s a problem in order to come up with a solution,” he continues. “Then, we need to figure out how to approach, tackle and solve it. We need to identify avenues for luring new techs into the industry and encouraging them to stick with it, and that begins by challenging the common image of shops as a grimy dungeon where techs are physically and mentally beat down. Collision repair has changed big time since yesteryear and offers a variety of career paths.” The goals of the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) are to support collision repair educational programs, schools and students to create qualified, entrylevel employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities. “Throughout my 20 years of industry experience, and specifically working with CREF for the last 12 years, my efforts are solely focused around helping to address the industry’s need for entry-level staff by investing in local collision school programs around the country,” Eckenrode notes. “CREF is in a unique position to coordinate and gather industry members from all segments, and through that combined support, our industry can have a bigger impact on assisting these collision school instructors who are facing limiting program budgets; however, the industry has high expectations on their graduating students’ skill sets. CREF is and will be an industry leader in addressing this issue and rallying industry support.” In addition to learning about CREF’s efforts to support collision school programs nationwide, attendees will discover some of the opportunities they have to get involved with their local schools. Eckenrode hopes the Continuing Tech Shortage panel will “help motivate industry businesses to get involved with their local high school/college collision programs, students and instructors as that will be key in helping to ensure that these programs are well supported. “The involvement of local industry members is vital to solving this issue. As the concerns around the ongoing ‘entry-level staff need’ is commonly listed as one of the industry’s major issues, there is no better time than now to start addressing this together with CREF and hear how you can help schools in your market.” 32 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
“
No one knows everything, but NORTHEAST is a place where anyone can learn something to take back to their shop and implement immediately. As the vice president of consulting and services for CCC Intelligent Solutions’ automotive division, Mazurek’s responsibilities include “knowing the macro trends the industry faces, based on the millions of claims coming through our system combined with data from numerous other sources, and being able to speak to them to give the industry a better sense of the forces at play and why they may be subject to these forces without having any control over it. “There’s a lot of frustration among repairers about things that, unfortunately, they don’t have any control over since we cannot just immediately conjure up tens of thousands of additional techs; however, other forces at play make it more reasonable to find help,” he elaborates, adding, “A lot comes down to how much shops can afford to pay, but by looking at market trending, we can investigate some changes on the horizon that may give shops hope to increase their profitability which will provide an opportunity to hire more techs.” By providing attendees with some visibility into this topic, Mazurek hopes to offer attendees a glimpse at the bigger picture and “help them acquire some clarity related to why some of these trends are taking place.” The TechForce Foundation sets out to “help get young men and women through their education and into industry jobs as professional technicians, so this topic is our sweet spot,” says Settle, who has authored TechForce’s annual Technician Supply and Demand Report for the past four years. “I’m very familiar with the tech shortage, so I’ll share the trends, discuss the issues that led to the shortage and offer some suggestions about what TechForce believes the industry must do to alleviate that shortage.” After beginning his career as a technician and then advancing into a hiring role as service and parts director, Settle spent over two decades at Mercedes Benz USA where he developed an apprenticeship program and directed his efforts on the training side of the industry. “I have a lot of experience around the tech supply issue, and I’m also very passionate about solving it,” he notes. “The solutions the industry needs to solve this problem aren’t a great secret. In addition to the industry needing more resources to understand what’s causing the tech shortage, kids need to know what options are continued on pg. 34
NE AD
New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 33
COVER STORY continued from pg. 32
available in the industry and how to prepare themselves for a successful technician career. Many of them have no idea how many possibilities exist in this industry because a lot of kids only hear that they need to obtain a college degree, but that’s not necessarily true for the skilled trades where there’s much more demand.” Settle hopes that he and the other panelists can “convey our knowledge to the audience about the reality of the problem and what can be done to improve the current situation, specifically how we can address it as an industry with real-world actions they can take to help solve the tech shortage and make a difference.”
”
If you attend one class that helps your shop generate additional income or improve your business practices, it’s a win-win! “There’s a lot of useful information to be gleaned from informative presentations such as the tech shortage panel,” he points out, encouraging repairers to participate in the educational sessions offered at NORTHEAST 2022. “Of course, repairers want to network during the event – and there’s a lot of value in networking – but there’s plenty of time for that. You’re taking time away from the shop to attend NORTHEAST, so be sure to get the greatest benefit possible by spending time learning things to improve your business and your industry.” “The collision repair industry is at a crossroads right now,” Bonsanto adds. “We can either help our industry grow by attracting more qualified help…or we can watch it implode due to the technician shortage. This crisis is no longer just touching the small businesses; it’s impacting larger organizations as well. The bottom line is that we need to figure out how to get new techs, where to get them from and how to keep them.” Attendees at NORTHEAST 2022 will also have the opportunity to participate in an exclusive Labor Rate panel discussion featuring Barrett Smith (Auto Damage Experts, Inc.), Sam and Richard Valenzuela (National AutoBody Research), Lucky Papageorg (AASP/MA), Burl Richards (ABAT) and Jerry McNee (AASP/NJ) as well as a panel on the Appraisal Clause which will include Robert McDorman (Auto Claim Specialists), John Walczuk (ZB Claim Services Inc.) and AASP/NJ Executive Director Charles Bryant. Tim Morgan (Spanesi Americas, Inc), John Shoemaker (BASF) and Chuck Olsen (AirPro) will be on hand to present a pair of classes on blueprinting and ADAS/calibration. 34 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
Additional informative presentations will be delivered by Gerry Bonanni (Ford Motor Company) and Lee Rush (Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes). NORTHEAST also offers NJ collision shops a chance to proactively obtain the training necessary for renewing their body shop licenses with Sunday’s “OEM Certification Success: Dos and Don’ts,” presented by Dave Gruskos (Reliable Automotive Equipment). A recognized industry speaker, Gruskos will cover topics related to OEM certification, including establishing and maintaining partnerships with the OEMs and sponsoring dealers, tooling specifications, training requirements, the customer’s role, blueprinting, repair procedures and more. “With technology evolving more and more, we will fall behind if we don’t put in the work to keep up,” AASP/ NJ Collision Chairman Dennis Cataldo, Jr. recommends. “AASP/NJ continuously works to bring valuable training to its membership to help them stay ahead and remain successful. We want all shop owners to take advantage of the training as it’s a good idea to get out there and find out what you don’t know.” Shops attending Gruskos’ class will receive certification that allows them to use the training session for their 2022 body shop license renewal. “Collision shops in New Jersey are licensed by the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission, and licensed shops are required to renew the license every two years,” Bryant explains. “Part of the renewal process is to provide the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission with proof that the applicant has taken some type of training directly related to the auto body industry within the year prior to the application. There will be training classes held at NORTHEAST that will come with a training certificate which will satisfy the training requirement required to renew a collision shop’s license. The collision shop license renewal is coming up in September 2022, so collision shops will start to receive the renewal notices this July.” As anticipation for this year’s big bang of an event, McNee urges collision repair professionals not to miss out on the galactic mixture of education, experience and exhibitions at NORTHEAST 2022: “NORTHEAST is the number one show in the country, bringing the best of the best to you right in your own backyard. Unless you’re afraid to check out the industry’s latest equipment or learn something new from some of the most skilled and talented educational presenters out there, why wouldn’t you attend? There’s something for everyone, and AASP/NJ hopes you’ll join us!” More classes are being added to the schedule for NORTHEAST 2022, so be sure to stay tuned to New Jersey Automotive for all the information you need to avoid getting left lightyears behind. Rocket your shop into the future by pre-registering to attend at aaspnjnortheast.com. NJA
*Schedule subject to change.
Superior customer service starts with Town Audi and Audi Genuine Parts. • Our expert parts staff is ready to serve you with over $500,000 in inventory and a fleet of trucks to help ensure same-day delivery on most orders • We respect your time, and offer a quick and accurate order process to help meet your needs • Proudly serving the Tri-State area with Audi Genuine Parts since 1970 • Same-day delivery on stocked items, next-day availability on most non-stocked items
Town Audi 400 South Dean Street Englewood, NJ 07631 Parts Direct: 888.779.6792 Fax: 201.541.0314
Email: audiparts@townmotors.com
Hours: Monday-Friday 7am-7pm
Saturday: 8am-5pm
Porsche Genuine Parts & Service. With our comprehensive inventory of Porsche Genuine Parts & Service, you will guarantee your customer optimal safety and reliability and ensure their Porsche remains what it is: an original.
Maintain Originality.
Town Porsche 105 Grand Avenue Englewood, NJ 07631 201-227-6505 town-motorcar.porschedealer.com
© 2019 Porsche Cars North America Inc. Porsche recommends seat belt usage and observance of traffic laws at all times.
New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 35
SMALL... MEDIUM... LARGE...
Welcome to New Jersey Automotive’s latest feature, “Small...Medium...Large.” Each month, we will present the same scenario to one small, one medium and one large shop and share their response verbatim. Does size really matter? Decide for yourself...
YOUR SHOP’S OVERLOADED WITH WORK. YOU ARE BOOKED FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS BUT YOU CAN’T GET THE WORK OUT. WHAT DO YOU DO? Sq. Footage: 5,600 Employees: 6 60% DRP
Sq. Footage: 9,000 Employees: 10 0% DRP
Sq. Footage: 17,000 Employees: 24 35% DRP
Schedule accordingly. Get people in and do the best you can do. I mean, the guys are burnt, the guys are fried. You know you can only have them here so long. So, schedule accordingly. The biggest challenges are not letting down your loyal customers and maintaining a quality repair. I’d rather have too much work than not enough work. Who the f#$k wants not enough work? My shop’s up to the challenge. I’ll take on too much work all day. With too much work I can pick and choose. We can be more selective with an abundance of work, right? Since we’re all having a hard time, I made sure I picked the direct repair programs that are the most fair. And I cater to my better direct repair programs. Everybody’s f#$ked up right now. You know that, right? I have enough people. We’re rolling in work. We’re cruising along. They’re coming in faster than we can work on them. That’s our problem. But I’ll take that over having an empty shop any day of the week.
Cry. I mean, that’s the reality of the world right now. So I manage customer expectations and I hit them up front from day one. If it’s a twoweek job, I tell them it’s going to be a month and half. If it’s a month’s job, I tell them you’re looking at every bit of three months. It’s honestly alI I can do. I just had a guy with a Honda Civic come in. He asked how long it would take. Normally it would be a two-week job. I told him two to three months. It’s coming up on two months tomorrow, and I’m still waiting on a radiator and a transport. I’m just trying to manage expectations as best as possible. So when I hit them like that at first, and I get the shell shock, I just explain, “Dude, I can’t make unicorns. If the manufacturer doesn’t service these parts, I can’t just make them up.” If you catch them up front, for the most part, they’re fine. If you don’t educate them day one, if you’re backpedaling or trying to explain the story on the backside, they get a little irritated. I’d rather have our shop overloaded with work than not have enough of it. Don’t get me wrong. I like when we’re at a better pace and we can actually, you know, take the time to maximize profitability on each job. But in the same sense, we just came out of two years of sitting on our thumbs. So, it’s kind of nice to get force-fed back into the swing of things and try to recoup some of those losses from the last two years.
Raise my rates and pick a higher quality insurance company and get rid of all the lower end insurance companies. I would stop bringing cars in, and I would offer people whose cars with lower end insurance that were already at the shop the chance to come in and pick them up. When I have had this situation in the past, I would gracefully bow out before we started and normally blame it on the bad insurance companies. I’d tell the customer I didn’t want to get involved with fixing the vehicle if it meant dealing with the bad insurance company. I would give them the opportunity to come pick it up or tell them, ‘Look, I’m just going to be honest with you. It’s probably going to be close to six weeks. If you can’t wait six weeks and you think somebody could do it sooner, we prefer that you take it to them.’ Sometimes it’s just the reality check they needed. I’d rather have not enough work than an overcrowded shop because I just hate not being able to please the customer as soon as they come in. Honestly, when we have less work, we make more money because it gives me time to follow the job through the shop and get paid for everything. When you have so much work and everybody’s overworked, you’re going to have employees that are upset. They’re going to quit on you, and you’re not going to be able to get paid because you’re going to be pushing the cars out the door so quickly the insurance companies are going to say, ‘You didn’t give us the photos, you didn’t call us, you didn’t wait like you’re supposed to.’ They will blame it on you. So, I could probably make more with 25 cars in my shop a week than I could with 40.
36 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
NJA
New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 37
FEATURE STORY continued from pg. 26
photo estimates,” states Dellapietro. “We used to do one supplement, and now we’re doing five or six. Supplements get lost or delayed, angering my customers; my secretary believes they’re punishing us, but when I get involved, they typically pay. I’m not playing their game, I’m just not doing it. I’ll play my game which is looking up the procedures and continuing to hit them up with supplements. I hold the license, and I’m the only one fixing that car, so I’m not allowing the insurers to make repair decisions for my shop and my customers.” Customer service is a vital component to shops’ success, and although shops strive to deliver the same experience clients have come to expect from their businesses, all the aforementioned concerns make it much more difficult to do so. “When I try to explain the parts delays to every customer, some understand, but others do not,” Cataldo discloses. “Aside from the obvious supply chain delays and tech shortage, perhaps the worst aspect of this situation is our inability to receive answers from people. We ask when we’ll receive a part or when an insurer will come out to inspect the vehicle, and we are consistently told, ‘I don’t know.’ It’s very frustrating because now we have no answers to share with our customers, and
38 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
it feels like we are trying to put out fires that we didn’t even create!” “The strongest thing in a business is customer relations,” Rutigliano believes. “We try our best to call the customer and keep them informed and updated on the status of their repair, but the delays outside our control are creating issues with rental coverage for many clients, so we’ve also been finding ways to help our customers extend their rental coverage.” The concerns that shops face are numerous, but every challenge teaches lessons as repairers come out on the other side and we approach our “new normal.” Successful shops seek to implement those lessons moving forward to ensure their businesses are positioned for future efficiency and profitability. “I look at every car at various stages during the repair process to make sure my guys do the right thing, and if something isn’t done right, we take the vehicle apart and do it over,” Rutigliano shares his method for ensuring that repairs are performed properly. “I charge for estimates and refuse to order parts without either having the vehicle in the shop or collecting a parts deposit,” Cataldo acknowledges. “I try to set the expectation that completing vehicles in three days has become a rare occurrence in today’s market. It seems like our ‘new normal’ really means ‘hurry up and wait.’” Dellapietro has a similar approach: “You have to do the scans; you have to do the blueprinting. ALLDATA is a great resource for identifying everything you need to check and collecting the documentation to get paid. We invest the time into researching every repair. Really, we have to lay everything out for these idiots who have no clue how to fix a car, yet we get no respect. They want to dictate procedures when it’s my license on the line. There’s a lot to do to get it right, but if shops all stuck together and did the right thing for our customers, our industry would change for the better.”
EMPIRE AUTO PARTS
Spend more time running your business and less time worrying about your parts.
www.empireap.com
Lamps
Bumper Covers
Radiators
Hoods & Fenders
Door Mirrors
Steel Bumpers
Cooling Fans
Grilles & Bezels
NJ DISTRIBUTION CENTER
800.624.4561 Serving CT, DE, MA, NJ, NY, PA, VT
Parts Accuracy Friendly Sales Team
Quality Assurance Fast, Free Delivery
NJA
New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 39
LYNNES
AUTO GROUP
WHOLESALE DEPARTMENT
Genuine Service & Parts
SERVICE, SELECTION AND VALUE SINCE 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
40 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
Our wholesale parts team is here to make sure you find the exact Genuine Subaru Parts you need for every repair.
• Competitive prices • Fast, accurate deliveries • Genuine Subaru Parts that drive your business
Paul Miller Subaru 3469 Route 46 Parsippany, NJ 07054 Phone: 973-658-5714 Fax: 973-402-9591 mdaltilio@paulmiller.com www.paulmillersubaru.com/parts
The Blueprint is Right in Front of You.
TOUCH
Electronic Measuring System
MULTIBENCH
The Spanesi® Touch Electronic
Measuring System and Multibench Structural Repair Workstation are designed to work together seamlessly. The Multibench allows technicians to drive most vehicles directly onto its low-profile ramps. After the vehicle is disassembled to evaluate the damage, the Touch rolls right up, letting the technicians gather measurement data in no time. With its 10-ton pulling column, the Multibench also serves as a single-bay repair solution. Finally, technicians use Touch to check structural repairs and ensure proper OEM specifications are achieved.
Spanesi Americas, Inc. 123 Ambassador Dr. STE 107 Naperville, IL 60540
Structural Repair Workstation Touch Electronic Measuring System: Comparative Measurements Complete Documentation Mechanical Parts Measurements Suspension Parts Measurements User Added Points with Photos Vehicle Frame and Structural Items Wheel and Tire Alignment Checks
Multibench Structural Repair Workstation: Loading Capacity 3,175kg (7,000lbs) Lifting Height 1.45m (4’ 9”) Lift Time (Ascension) 45 seconds Pulling Force 10 Tons
Learn More Now
224-SPANESI (224-772-6374) www.spanesi-americas.com facebook.com/spanesiamericas New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 41
FIT AND FINISH IS NO PLACE TO GET CREATIVE. CONTACT US TODAY FOR A COMPETITIVE QUOTE ON YOUR NEXT COLLISION REPAIR ESTIMATE. CENTRAL AVENUE CHRYSLER JEEP
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
EASTCHESTER CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE
4007 Boston Road Bronx, NY 10466 Order Hot Line: (914) 597-7018 Fax: (718) 881-3014 WE COMPETE WITH AFTERMARKET PRICES! FREE DELIVERY!
FRANKLIN SUSSEX AUTO MALL
DOVER DODGE
158 S. Salem St. Dover, NJ 07801 Order Hot Line: (888) 676-6727 Fax: (973) 366-0757
315 Route 23 Sussex, NJ 07461 Order Hot Line: (888) 528-2200
NIELSEN DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM 175 Route 10 East Hanover, NJ 07936 Order Hot Line: (877) 890-9545
Check out MoparRepairConnection.com for resources, promotions and technical information. ©2021 FCA US LLC. All Rights Reserved. Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Mopar and SRT are registered trademarks of FCA US LLC.
42 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 NJA_FULL_2021.indd 1
5/27/21 5:43 PM
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE continued from pg. 12
Meanwhile, as we worry about getting paid, shops are causing much worse problems for the driver or passengers of that car because an OEM-recommended scan wasn’t performed to verify that all vehicle components are functioning the way the manufacturer intended. The customer doesn’t realize that they’re driving a ticking time bomb, and if they’re involved in a major accident, most consumers will chalk it up to the latest collision without ever realizing that some of the damage could have been prevented if the car was fixed right the first time. By mandating the rates they’re willing to pay, insurers are under-indemnifying our mutual customers, but the fact that they’re engaging in unfair claims practices flies under the radar because we aren’t including the people who are actually impacted by their bad behavior in our discussions. Stop allowing insurance companies to dictate how you do business! We know that a bumper repair is no longer a simple bumper repair, and it’s time to let the customer know the same. We need to tell the customers that these are the procedures that the vehicle manufacturer recommends and which we need to perform in order to ensure their vehicle is safe to drive. We cannot continue to live in fear of standing up for the customer and for ourselves. Shops need to do the right thing, and that begins by educating our customers so that they can grab a sword and join us in the battle for their safety and well-being. NJA
New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 43
ARANJ
ARANJ Board of Directors
The Automotive Recyclers Association of New Jersey
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
Wharton Insurance Briefs
Prevent cold weather injuries by staying warm. Staying warm can prevent hypothermia which occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Here are a few tips to prevent hypothermia: Wear a hat or other protective covering. This will prevent heat loss from your head. Wear a scarf and mittens instead of gloves. Mittens keep your fingers together and help keep them warmer. Minimize activities that cause you to sweat. Wet clothes in cold weather can cause you to lose heat faster. Dress in layers of loose fitting and lightweight clothing. Polypropylene holds heat better than cotton and wicks the moisture away from your body. Stay dry and get out of wet clothing as soon as possible. Remember that normal body temperature is 98.6 F, and hypothermia can occur as the body core temperature drops below 95 F. Stay warm and healthy.
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
44 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
Mario DeFilippis Vice President Wharton Insurance Group (732) 686-7020 (office) (908) 513-8588 (cell)
NJA
Co-celebrating decades of creating chemistry between two industry leaders
Here’s to 235 years of combined service excellence This year, as Albert Kemperle Inc. celebrates its 80th anniversary, BASF also celebrates its 155th anniversary. We are proud of our decades of partnership with BASF and years of serving the auto paint and body industry together. Kemperle’s founders would be proud of this relationship and the growth their company has experienced because of it. Today, as we look forward to many more decades of service to our customers, we find ourselves filled with gratitude. The creativity, hard work, and sense of responsibility of the people working for our two companies have made us what we are today. Thank you for your many years of loyalty.
626 E. Elizabeth Ave., Linden, NJ 07036 414-416 Madison Ave., Paterson, NJ 07524 631 Clifton Ave., Toms River, NJ 08753 100 Melrich Road, Cranbury, NJ 08512 4 Emery Ave., Randolph NJ 07869
Phone: Phone: Phone: Phone: Phone:
(908) (973) (732) (609) (862)
925-6133 279-8300 797-3942 860-2800 244-4818
Fax: (908) 925-4344 Fax: (973) 279-9030 Fax: (732) 797-0774 Fax: (609) 860-2801 Fax: (862) 244-4822 www.kemperle.com New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 45
ADVERTISERS’ INDEX Acme Nissan.................................................... 5 Accudraft......................................................... IBC Albert Kemperle................................................ 45 Amato Agency.................................................. 21 Audi Group....................................................... 15 BASF................................................................ 17 BMW Group..................................................... 14 BMW of Springfield........................................... 19 Clinton Honda................................................... 38 Dover Dodge/Nielsen........................................ 12-13 Empire Auto Parts............................................. 39 Flemington VW / NJ Parts................................. 6 GM Group........................................................ 22 Hyundai Group.................................................. 40 Innovative Solutions & Technology................. 2 Jaguar Princeton.............................................. 38 Krehel Auto/Klean Frame.................................. 39 Kollective Auto Group........................................ 8-9 Land Rover Princeton........................................ 38 Lynnes Nissan East........................................... 40 Maxon Buick-GMC........................................... 38 Maxon Hyundai................................................. 44 Maxon Mazda................................................... 10 Mazda Group.................................................... 43 MINI Group....................................................... 43 Mopar Group.................................................... 42 NORTHEAST..................................................... 33 NUCAR............................................................. 30-31 Paul Miller Subaru............................................ 40 Porsche Group................................................. 4 PPG................................................................. 3 Pro Spot........................................................... 27 Reliable Automotive Equipment......................... 24-25 Spanesi............................................................ 41 Subaru Group................................................... 11 Town Motors.................................................... 35 USI of North America........................................ 37 Valspar Refinish................................................ OBC Valtek............................................................... 46 VW Group......................................................... 23 Wheel Collision Center...................................... 46
46 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2022
New Jersey Automotive | February 2022 | 47
VIBRANCY, VALUE AND VERSATILITY Achieve it all with Valspar Refinish Valspar Refinish combines best performance with best value, from primer to clear. With this solvent system, you will achieve color consistency, great coverage and hiding, and an overall quality finish—every time.
A brand by
ValsparRefinish.com
