Chad Neal Innovative Collision Equipment Chadwneal@yahoo.com (817) 527-2143
(936) 634-8361 Manuel Rubio Miracle Body & Paint manuelr@miraclebp.com (210) 843-9564
833-856-7871
Published by: Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. 244 Chestnut Street, Suite 202, Nutley, NJ 07110
Corporate: (973) 667-6922 / FAX: (973) 235-1963
PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER
Thomas Greco / thomas@grecopublishing.com
VICE PRESIDENT/SALES DIRECTOR Alicia Figurelli / alicia@grecopublishing.com
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Alana Quartuccio / alana@grecopublishing.com
SR. CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Chasidy Rae Sisk / chasidy@grecopublishing.com
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Joe Greco / joe@grecopublishing.com
OFFICE MANAGER
Donna Greco / donna@grecopublishing.com
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS: Burl Richards / Jill Tuggle
Robert L. McDorman / Mike Anderson / Jacquelyn Bauman
www.grecopublishing.com
President’s Message The Elephant in the Room
SSince the news has been circulating through the grapevine, I figure I might as well address the elephant in the room…Yes, I sold three of my shops; no, I’m not retiring or leaving the industry. No, I’m not relinquishing my role as president of ABAT – y’all can’t get rid of me that easily!
Why did I do it, and what does it all mean? Well, even though I might look like a young’un (haha), I’m starting to get a little older, which means it’s time to think about my family and our future, so when Classic Collision approached me with an opportunity to sell Henderson Collision (Henderson), All Star Collision (Jacksonville) and Burl’s Collision (Henderson), I knew I had to consider it. I thought long and hard before making a decision, and it was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. After all, Burl’s Collision was my baby; I started it 28 years ago when I was little more than a baby myself, and I grew into this industry with that shop. I prayed hard before moving forward with the sale, and I’m confident that it was the right decision for everyone involved.
If you know me at all, you know I did plenty of research, and the more I learned about Classic Collision, the more impressed I was. I talked to a buddy who had sold his shop to them, and he had nothing but positive things to say. Yes, they’re a MSO, but they’ve assured me that their focus is on the same quality and customer service that those three shops are known for. They retained my entire staff and even promoted some of them. As part of a larger corporation, my former teams now have access to better insurance and 401(k) opportunities than I could provide. That’s not to say parting wasn’t bitter sweet.
My teams at those three shops have become like family over the years, so I was extremely anxious about sharing the news with them. And I’ll admit that I was worried people would look at me as a sellout, but that’s not the case at all. Yes, I sold my businesses,
continued on pg. 24
Burl Richards ABAT President
Time tested. Technician approved.
New Digs for ABAT.us
TThis is the announcement we have been waiting for this year –the launch of our NEW website and membership module! We have finally found a system that will bring all our memberships, event registrations and emails under one roof!
This is a major upgrade for ABAT leadership and our members! While we are still learning all the bells and whistles that abat.us now has, here are a few highlights:
New landing page: The new landing page features the most used resources right at your fingertips giving you easy access to events, membership, resources and so much more. With one click, you will easily be able to navigate to the information you need most.
Member directory: You will be able to browse our membership and even sort through the members for what suits your search. Looking for members near you? Need a hail company? Want to refer a friend in another city to a good shop? Looking to support vendors who are members of ABAT? All this and more can be filtered in our directory! And as a bonus – if you’re a member, YOUR company will be listed here as well!
Member-only content: We will be building our membersonly content area as we go, but you’ll be able to view past seminars,
communicate with other members, register for events and so much more! PLUS, there’s even an app!
Events: A big upgrade is the capability for you to register your whole team for events with ease! Gone are the days of laboriously registering your staff individually for classes at the Texas Auto Body Trade Show!
Communication: Another aspect that will come under “one roof” is our email communication. No more pesky rules and firewall issues that come with Constant Contact. You can also modify what lists you want to be on!
We have done most of the hard work over the past 12 weeks –the only thing you’ll need to do is log in and make sure all of your information is correct, add your staff and be ready to enjoy the all new abat.us!
I can’t wait to see what new heights this propels us to, and we hope you enjoy the new digs!
jill@abat.com
Jill Tuggle ABAT Executive Director
Russell & Smith Logging Big Paint Hours with USI Booths & Prep Station
Buying a paint booth is a huge investment, and there are many factors to carefully consider before selecting one Will the booth work well in a region where there’s a ton of humidity and with drastic changes in the weather? How long do you think the booth will last and will it require a lot of maintenance? Will your painters be comfortable using it ever y day and finally, will the company making the booth provide solid training and reliable customer ser vice?
To answer these questions before acquiring two Chronotech spray booths and a prep deck from USI ITALIA back in 2004, Collision Center Manager Kevin McIllveen at Russell & Smith Body Shop in Houston, TX spent six months studying the market He was looking for the best booths that matched his needs to use in a brand-new 36,000 sq ft facility that the company built from the ground up
Mcllveen, age 56, entered the industr y more than three decades ago as an estimator and has worked for Russell & Smith Body Shop since 1993 His goal with his new spray booths was to improve the efficiencies in his paint department and to accommodate his production, he said, while simultaneously saving time and energy if possible
The vetting process was arduous but worth it in the end. "We did our research so that we could make an educated decision," he said "I went to NACE two years in a row and talked to literally ever yone and asked a lot of questions We knew that this was going to be a ver y significant investment, so we took the time to perform our due diligence to cover all our bases We invested in their prep stations as well, which was another good decision, because my guys can work so much faster and effectively with five different places where we can spray We put a curtain up in the prep booth that provides us two additional spaces that are heated and properly ventilated So, when we are really jammed, we can handle the workload and maintain our cycle time without interrupting or slowing down our production "
After using them for a ver y short time, Mcllveen could clearly see that his Chronotechs were more than capable as they quickly became a centerpiece in his new, high-end, modern shop
"We have four paint teams here, consisting of a painter and a painter’s helper and we consistently log approximately 600-700 paint hours weekly,” he said “We switched to waterborne paint when we opened this facility because we want to provide a healthier climate for our employees and the community as a whole ”
we push these booths and they never let us down ”
Any issues that Russell & Smith Body Shop have encountered with their USI ITALIA booths have been rare and far between But Mcllveen feels good knowing that if called upon, the company will respond and find solutions promptly “If you do your scheduled maintenance and keep ever ything clean, these booths will last you 30 years and maybe even longer The issues that we have encountered with the Chronotechs have been minor and quickly solved, which is impressive when you think that we have been using these booths daily for the last 16 years. I tell people that these booths will be here long after I’ve retired!”
Why was Mcllveen able to improve his numbers by simply adding two USI booths? “In the end, it all comes down to their airflow because we never need blowers or additional air to cure these vehicles The fans in these Chronotechs are exceptional because they feature variable speeds, so we can switch depending on the parameters of each job. Our painters are producing an impressive product day after day, so these booths are saving us both time and money We paint an average of 400 cars ever y month, so
After training provided by USI ITALIA, Mcllveen’s painters were able to start spraying after one day, he said "The Chronotechs are designed to work with waterborne paint, which makes it easier for our painters to do their work After a ver y short time, all of our guys were comfortable and the results were consistently exceptional.”
Mcllveen is also impressed by the Chronotech's sturdy construction and durability "Some booths are just a box, but these are wellbuilt," he said “I know, because I've seen them all and there isn't anything like a USI ITALIA booth "
His career in collision repair industr y has been a great experience and products like his USI ITALIA spray booths and prep station are a part of that, he said “We haven’t had to furlough anybody here and that’s because we value our people and, in the end, our Chronotechs are part of the team ”
ABAT San Antonio Chapter Fall Celebration Highlights
On September 28, ABAT’s San Antonio Chapter held its Fall Celebration event at the St. Luke Catholic Church Parish Hall in San Antonio. The event featured a barbecue dinner, beer, margaritas, music and dancing, door prizes and more!
Presentations included a keynote speech from Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar who shared some data about fatality accidents and gave kudos and encouragement to the shop owners in attendance for wanting to fix cars properly to keep Texans safe.
Multiple sponsors contributed to the event to help make it a huge success – ADP Solutions (bartenders), Ancira Chevrolet (margaritas), Car-O-Liner (barbecue dinner), Certified Collision
Group (door prizes), Dents & Dings (beer), English Color (desserts and door prizes), Ingram Park Auto Mall (security), Miracle Body & Paint (event hall, door prizes and lots of hard work!), San Antonio Collision (DJ music), Sherwin Williams (decorations) and Tasco Paint (door prizes).
Table sponsors included AkzoNobel, Alamo Heights Collision, American Collision, Auto Republic Collision, Axalta, BASF, Certified Collision, Honducar Collision, Juiels Auto Clinic, Mission Collision, National Coatings & Supplies, RGS Collision and Gunn Collision. TXA
by Alana Quartuccio
Meet Chevy Corn, ABAT’s New Board Member
Chevy Corn sure has one helluva family history in collision repair! As the fourth-generation owner of Corn’s Collision Center, Inc. (Hearne), Chevy hails from a long line of auto body professionals who have built a legacy spanning 76 years and counting.
Chevy has been immersed in the collision repair industry his entire life, proudly carrying on the family legacy started in 1948 by his great-grandfather, Woodrow Wilson Corn. As the fourth-generation Corn’s Collision Center owner, Chevy brings a wealth of hands-on experience, having worked in every part of the shop.
“I’ve been around this industry my entire life — since I was in diapers,” Chevy shares. “I’ve learned from the ground up, working as a technician and in all areas of the shop.”
As the newest ABAT Board of Directors member, he’s eager to bring his knowledge and passion to the role, advocating for safe repair practices and supporting fellow shop owners.
Corn’s Collision Center services various vehicles, including autos, light trucks, heavy trucks, buses, fleet vehicles, and recreational vehicles. They even paint airplanes. When Chevy’s great-grandfather retired in the mid-1980s, he turned the business over to his son Larry (Chevy’s grandfather), who expanded it by adding frame equipment, a second building, and estimating software. Then, in 2002, when Larry retired, his son Brandon (Chevy’s father) took over. Chevy officially took the reins in 2021 when he returned to the shop after a brief stint working for insurance companies “to learn the other side of the business and see how the insurance world processes claims.” He was proud to return to his family’s business to “maintain the tradition, quality, and service my family has built over the years. I’m proud to carry out that legacy as a fourth-generation owner.”
Chevy is dedicated to upholding the quality and service that has defined Corn’s Collision Center for generations, ensuring the family legacy remains strong. While his father, Brandon, still steps in occasionally, Chevy now oversees the dayto-day operations. As for the future, the Corn legacy may continue, with the fifth generation already showing an interest.
“My son, Dylan, is only two, but he loves visiting the shop and watching everything we do. It’s too early to say if he’ll follow in my footsteps, but seeing his curiosity and connection to the family business is exciting," Chevy shares.
What sets Corn’s Collision Center apart is its unwavering dedication to safe, high-quality repairs and customer service.
“We focus on staying current with the latest technology and training to ensure our repairs are cosmetically flawless and meet safety standards,” Chevy says. “We’re also highly invested in the community and have built long-standing customer relationships. Our experience and dedication to safer repair practices and family-oriented values make our shop stand out from the rest.”
He sees some challenges in the industry: “Staying ahead of vehicle technology is crucial today, as rapidly advancing automotive technology presents several challenges to the auto repair
industry. Vehicles today are more complex with electronics and safety systems, so repair shops need to constantly train and keep equipment up to date to meet the demands of these advancements.
“Additionally, the collision repair industry faces challenges with insurance companies,” he adds. “Especially when negotiating fair compensation for quality work and the need to repair vehicles properly.”
Those challenges and a commitment to advocacy are what led Chevy to ABAT. He’s actively participated in association events like the Texas Auto Body Trade Show. “I ultimately got involved with ABAT to advocate for safe and proper auto repair standards. I joined the organization to connect with other industry professionals, share knowledge and stay informed on legislative and regulatory changes that affect our industry. By being a part of ABAT, I aim to contribute to the betterment of the industry.”
In his new role as an ABAT Board member, Chevy seeks to “promote the importance of safe repairs and work toward initiatives that support independent shop owners like myself.” He hopes to bring a fresh perspective and enthusiasm for education and community outreach.
“My goal is to ensure that shops in Texas, especially in the College Station and surrounding areas, have access to the resources they need to succeed and continue providing safe, high-quality repairs.”
Helping people by getting them back into safely repaired vehicles after the trauma of a collision is something he truly loves about his career of choice. “An accident brings challenges people don’t face every day. It’s good to be able to help put our customers and their families back into vehicles that have been safely repaired.” As the Corn’s Collision Center motto states: “We meet our friends by accident.” TXA
Chevy Corn
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ROLE SEGMENTATION: STRENGTHENING THE MACHINE
A machine is defined as “an apparatus using or applying mechanical power and having several parts, each with a definite function and together performing a particular task.” Machines work by accepting an input, transforming or modifying it in some way and then releasing the output of its efforts.
Most discussions and examples of a “machine” will include references to automobiles, a vital piece of the collision repair industry, yet there’s an even more important machine that plays a role in this field: the shop itself!
Each repair facility (apparatus) requires several parts
(employees) to use or apply their power to function together and perform a particular task. Following a collision, the auto body shop inputs a damaged car, transforms it during the repair process and outputs a vehicle that has been safely restored to its preaccident condition.
While a typical shop employs an estimator, body technician and painter, some of these “machines” have found ways to increase efficiency, profitability and even employee morale by implementing the concept of strategic role segmentation. By gleaning insights from successful strategies used in other
by Chasidy Rae Sisk
industries, savvy shop owners have identified ways to utilize these techniques to strengthen their businesses by adapting to future trends and promoting the growth of employees’ unique skills, which in turn, improves workflow and overall productivity.
How did they accomplish all of that exactly? By breaking that structure down into more specific segments. A segmented collision shop has people devoted to specific roles, such as blueprinter, customer service representative (CSR), glass technician, structural technical, mechanical technician, ADAS tech, dedicated parts team, refinish prepper, refinish technician and a diagnostic technician.
Why have some shops decided to go this route?
“Originally, we had traditional estimators who ran back and forth around the shop; they wrote the estimate, sold the job to the customer and captured the keys, followed the car through the repair process from start to finish and dealt with the insurance claim,” Burl Richards recalls about Burl’s Collision (Henderson), the shop he recently sold after 28 years. “Our estimates were very inconsistent because different people wrote them differently, so we’d get more pushback from insurance companies. We wanted to create more continuity in our repair plans.
“We found that communication was a major challenge throughout the entire process. There was an obvious disconnect between the estimator, the customer, the technician and the painter, so at every meeting, I would stress that they needed to talk to one another and we’d make small changes to try to improve things. At one point, my production manager asked if we would ever stop changing, and I told him, ‘Sure, when we get it right!’ Shops will probably always need to make some adjustments because of how much our industry constantly advances, but the need to make large changes slowed down about eight years ago when we started implementing role segmentation.”
That division of responsibilities was so successful that Richards plans to roll it out in his three remaining shops: Doug’s Paint & Body (White Oak), Fishburn’s Collision Center (White Oak) and Laserline Collision Center (Lindale).
For Eric McKenzie (Park Place Dealerships; Dallas/Fort Worth), segmentation is just the way it is because it makes the most sense. “The segmentation we have at Park Place and at my previous dealer shop were always in place, so it is the way I learned the business, and it has worked for both companies. It has always worked well as designed.”
So, how does it work?
The process of role segmentation begins from the moment the car enters the shop. Rather than having an estimator who deals with customers, insurers and technicians – a job that can be overwhelming for even the most experienced industry professional – these roles can easily be divided into a CSR and a repair planner.
“When a customer walks in, the CSR writes the estimate and takes photos if needed,” Richards explains. “They also educate customers on the claims process, helping them understand that
the estimate is just that – an estimate – and an accurate repair plan requires vehicle disassembly.”
Once the car entered the shop, the team at Burl’s Collision Center would pre-wash the car, take a video to identify any existing damage and pre-scan the vehicle before sending it to the DFR (disassembly for repair) team. “Using the initial estimate provided by the insurer as a basis to write the supplement(s), one of our repair planners would review the car with the technician after disassembly to research all the OEM repair procedures and identify any ADAS features so they could write a thorough supplement that included all the processes and procedures necessary to properly repair the vehicle. The repair planner sent the supplement to the CSR who forwarded it to the insurance company and informed the customer that a repair plan had been submitted to their carrier.”
The car was then held until the insurer greenlit the repair plan; not surprisingly, this often took multiple supplements. When the approval finally came through, parts could be ordered, and upon their arrival, the body tech could begin the repairs. Then, the car would go to the paint department for refinishing before moving to the painter’s helper for nib and polish.
One of the most important components to each step of the repair was the quality control process, according to Richards. “At each step, the repair planner would review the progress with the technician, painter, etc. to sign off on the work performed. We had a lot of QC processes in place which enhanced our overall efficiency since we didn’t have to backtrack vehicles because a mistake was made earlier in the process. Once the vehicle was restored, the repair planner would communicate any final supplements to the CSR who would submit it.”
Another vital way that Burl’s Collision Center improved communication took shape first thing each morning in the shape of a daily production meeting. “All the CSRs, repair planners, body techs, painters, painters’ helpers and management team would spend just 10 minutes discussing all the jobs for the next three to five days so everyone had an update on where each vehicle stood in the process. The updates included information like where the parts were and reminders when sublets were necessary. Those meetings were crucial to our success.”
Training is essential in all shops, but role segmentation allows individuals to specialize and focus their learning efforts in specific areas. It has also proven beneficial for shops seeking OEM certification. “Several of the OEMs that manufacture electric vehicles have specific body and mechanical technician training requirements,” McKenzie shares. “Several other luxury OEM certifications require role specific training for estimators, body technicians and refinish technicians.”
“All the training we did and seeking to understand how the manufacturers want their vehicles performed really took us over the top,” Richards agrees. “Burl’s was the most certified shop in
continued on pg. 18
Cover Story
continued from pg. 17
East Texas with 23 certifications, and we were really conscientious of the importance of performing a proper repair.”
All those changes made a huge difference in improving consistency as desired, but the impact extended to improving productivity, which enhanced profitability, and it also had a positive effect on the shop’s culture. “With the segmentation we have, it is both efficient and profitable,” McKenzie stresses. “Employee morale has always been good as well. Role segmentation seems to be more prevalent in the dealer collision center environment, and we group the roles into teams for each estimator to keep communication and teamwork as cohesive as possible and that helps maintain an overall positive shop culture.”
“The consistency creates clear expectations not only for the staff but also for insurers, but more importantly, segmentation allows everyone to focus on what they do best,” Richards insists.
“The people who excel at communication do a great job as a CSR, and those who enjoy research and are more technologically inclined make great repair planners.”
Of course, any major change is bound to face some reluctance. McKenzie acknowledges this was the case when his shop decided to stop subletting glass repairs in favor of having the body technicians perform the work. “There was some resistance at first, but as soon as the technicians went to OE glass class, they
were more than willing to take on the task.”
For Richards, it took some trial and error to identify employees’ strengths. “We rotated people into different roles and offered a lot of training. But I think the reason this change was accepted and became so successful was related to my belief in empowering employees to have some say in how it’s all done; they’re the ones who do the job every day, so I’m always willing to listen to their suggestions because my goal is the end result, regardless of how we get there. If people resisted a change, we would discuss how to improve it, but I always told them, ‘Don’t come to me with a problem unless you also have a solution.’ They had to suggest a way to fix it.
“I’ll never claim that it was a perfect machine, but segmentation roles led to the best way of running a shop that I experienced in my 28 years at Burl’s. You have to be willing to look outside the box and try something different. If you do things the same way that everyone does them – the way they’ve always been done – you’ll never be anything more than average. But I don’t want to be average at anything I do; I want to set myself apart! Embracing concepts that make a huge difference has always allowed my shops to do exactly that, making us stronger and more successful.” TXA
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Ask The Expert A Right TO Appraisal Gone Bad
by Robert L. McDorman
Dear Mr. McDorman,
I own and operate a collision facility in North Texas. Several months back, one of my clients hired an independent appraiser to assist them in a dispute with their insurance carrier related to the indemnification of the repair cost.
Our final invoice to return the vehicle to its OEM pre-loss condition to the best of our ability came out to $17,234.67. After more than three months and four attempts to get the insurer to properly indemnify the vehicle owner, the client’s insurer issued a fourth supplement totaling $9,375.34. Our client instructed us to stop communicating with their insurance carrier, place the car in production and repair the vehicle according to OEM guidelines to the best of our ability. They would pick the car up when finished and pay the difference out of pocket. Once we completed the repair, our client paid us for the difference and left. After six months, they returned to our shop. They told us the independent appraiser they hired to handle the Right to Appraisal process refunded their fee and told them there was nothing he could do to help them recover their $7,859.33 out-of-pocket expense because he and the insurance carrier’s independent appraiser could not agree on the repair methodology, parts or rate. Additionally, they could not agree on an umpire to decide on their differences, and the policy was silent on how the loss should be handled once the appraisers could not agree on an umpire. Have you ever heard of this type of situation? Does this happen often?
Thank you for explaining your client’s unfortunate Right to Appraisal situation and sharing your questions. Yes, I have heard of many situations like this. We have taken on many clients’ claims with similar optics over the years and have managed to get them all sorted out and the client made whole. These situations will continue to occur until we have laws in Texas to govern the auto policy appraisal process. Most of the appraisal claims we have taken over after the original independent appraisers could not bring the claim to closure were from the manipulation of the insurance carrier in the appraisal process. Some readers may be asking how this could happen. The insurance policy requires the appraisers to be independent and unbiased. However, the insurance carrier rarely chooses an appraiser who is truly an independent appraiser; instead, they select an appraiser they can control.
As long as the insurance carrier can place its thumb on the scale of indemnification, this type of bad behavior will continue, and the insured will continue to be punished for invoking a policy right. We see an example of this type of bad behavior several times a month when an insurance carrier’s so-called independent appraiser tells us, “I understand this is the proper way to repair the vehicle based upon the OEM guidelines, and I know that the procedures and rate
the shop are charging is fair and reasonable to return the car safely back to it’s the pre-loss condition to the best of one’s human ability. However, if I agree with this, I will not get any further assignments from this carrier because they have told me not to agree on any rates or procedures outside their prevailing claim handling guidelines. Let’s pick an umpire and let them rule correctly; the insured will be made whole, and I will not have to conform to the insurance carrier’s harmful instructions.”
When this type of situation goes terribly for the insured, the biased “independent” appraiser working with instructions and guidelines from the carrier refuses to select a competent, unbiased independent umpire to rule on the differences between the two appraisers. Sound independent? It is not, and this invasive action on the carrier’s part is becoming more and more common. As citizens of Texas, we must band together to pass mandatory Right to Appraisal laws with time-sensitive triggers designed to stop the carrier from tipping the scales during the appraisal process.
As the examples above show, we – as insured citizens of Texas – need our lawmakers to pass the mandatory Right to Appraisal bill this upcoming session. Without the passing of this bill, this injustice will not only continue; it will grow even worse. As can be seen inlast month’s editorial, the statistics on the indemnification of auto claims have risen over the last several years.
We at Auto Claim Specialists understand your concerns about under-indemnification. Until legislators pass laws to make the Right
Robert is a recognized Public Insurance Adjuster and Certified Vehicle Value Expert specializing in motor vehicle-related insurance claim resolution. Robert can be reached by phone at (800) 736-6816, (817) 756-5482 or via email at AskTheExpert@autoclaimspecialists.com. continued on pg. 22
Ask The Expert
continued from pg. 20
to Appraisal mandatory in Texas for all motor vehicle policies, we have no choice but to continue to advise our clients who have been harmed and cheated by their insurance carriers to fight like the third monkey in line to get onto Noah’s Ark when it has already begun to rain, and we will help. In my professional opinion, the more times these systematic under-indemnification schemes are exposed, and monetary punishment is levied, the quicker change will come to help us all.
Our position at Auto Claim Specialists is that the Right to Appraisal should be a mandatory contractual right in every policy. For the 89th Texas Legislative panel, we have teamed up with lobbyist Andrew “Drew” Graham to educate lawmakers and help secure mandatory contractual appraisal rights for all insured Texans. We, the insureds, are many, and I am confident that if we join forces and all do what we can, we can be successful in securing our rights and our children’s rights to contest insurance settlement offers that would result in underpayment of losses and/or shoddy and dangerous repairs.
As shown above, the under-indemnification in repair procedure claims in Texas is rampant. Most of the estimates and supplements for these repair claims had many overlooked (by design) safety and OEM-required operations needed to restore the loss vehicle to its pre-loss condition to the best of one’s human ability. Limiting or removing the insured’s right to appraise a repair procedure is a severe safety issue. Limiting or eliminating the Right to Appraisal by the insurance carrier in a repair procedure dispute will be the nail in the coffin for safe roadways in Texas.
The spirit of the Appraisal Clause is to resolve loss disputes fairly and to do so in a timely and cost-effective manner. Invoking the Appraisal Clause removes inexperienced and biased carrier appraisers and claims handlers from the process, undermining their management’s many tricks to undervalue the loss settlement and under-indemnify the insured. Through the Appraisal Clause, loss disputes can be resolved relatively quickly, economically, equitably and amicably by unbiased, experienced, independent third-party appraisers as opposed to more costly and time-consuming methods such as mediation, arbitration and litigation.
Why Join WIN?
WIN offers education, mentoring and leadership development opportunities to build critical skills for success in the collision repair market.
• Local/Regional Networking Events
• Annual Education Conference
• Educational Webinars
• Mentoring Opportunities
womensindustrynetwork.com
• Scholarship Program
• School Outreach Program
• Most Influential Women (MIW) Award
In today’s world, regarding motor vehicle insurance policies, frequent changes in claim management and claim handling policies and non-standardized GAP Addendums, we have found it is always in the best interest of the insured or claimant to have their proposed insurance settlement reviewed by an expert before accepting. There is never an upfront fee for Auto Claim Specialists to review a motor vehicle claim or proposed settlement and give their professional opinion as to the fairness of the offer.
Please call me should you have any questions relating to the policy or covered loss. We have most insurance policies in our library. Always remember that a safe repair is a quality repair, and quality equates to value. I thank you for your question and look forward to any follow-up questions that may arise.
Sincerely,
Robert L. McDorman TXA
President’s Message
continued from pg. 4
but I’m not a sellout; all the effort I’ve put into ensuring we provide safe repairs and that our customers are taken care of will continue to be part of the legacy at Burl’s, Henderson and All Star under the Classic Collision umbrella.
No one expected me to sell, but since the announcement was made, I’ve received nothing but favorable feedback. I held a mandatory meeting with my teams, and everyone shook my hand or hugged me and told me how proud they are of everything we’ve accomplished in our facilities. And to be clear, WE did this together, not just me. I would have never enjoyed the successes I’ve had without my employees and God’s grace. I’m so grateful for the positive responses from everyone, and I’m very appreciative of this wonderful industry that has blessed me and my family for so many years.
As shop owners, we all have to realize that our time is finite, and we need to be prepared to take advantage of opportunities when they arise. We also need to be thinking about our exit strategy, whether we plan to sell our shops or leave them to family members. (If you aren’t sure about your options, you might want to take a look at the Texas Automotive feature on the topic from earlier this year by going to grecopublishing.com/ txa0324coverstory.)
Even though I sold three of my shops, I still co-own three collision repair facilities with my buddy, Jerry McNee: Doug’s Paint & Body (White Oak), Fishburn’s Collision Center (White Oak) and Laserline Collision Center (Lindale). Now, I’m more motivated than ever to get those three shops on the right path. We just hired a new regional manager to oversee those locations, and Jerry and I are really
focused on installing updated equipment and working on our OEM certifications.
I’m also going to have more time to focus on ABAT and my job as association president. From that perspective, our legislative initiatives are the number one priority on my mind – we need to get changes made that benefit our industry because every year that passes without getting important legislation related to Right to Appraisal and repair safety just makes our jobs harder and harder.
As someone who has been in this industry for decades, I feel like I’ve done it all – from starting a shop where I was the only employee and did everything to running several facilities and even helping to create one of the best body shop associations in the country. Life happens, and things change, but along the way, you acquire experience. I don’t pretend to be the sharpest tool in the shed; I’ve certainly made my fair share of mistakes, but I’ve learned from my mistakes, and I’ve implemented lessons learned from others’ mistakes as well. I’ve found that it’s valuable to learn from one another, and I want to share my experience with those who need it.
we come together and support each other, our industry gets stronger. Even elephants know that there’s strength and security in numbers, and that’s why they stick together in a herd. Let ABAT be your herd! We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming meetings.
burl.richards@proton.me
Industry Update
Enhanced Mobility and Shop Safety with RAE Mobile Battery Lifting Table
When repairing sophisticated electric vehicles, proper disassembly and handling of EV batteries is a must. RAE’s Mobile Battery Lifting Table is a game changer, taking the stress out of lifting and storing EV batteries as well as motors and transmissions.
The table’s sturdy build and smooth hydraulic system ensure precise lifting and lowering, allowing repairers to position the battery exactly where it’s needed with the ability to safely handle loads up to 1.5 tons, with a pneumatic-hydraulic drive powering smooth and reliable lifting.
With adjustable features including a mechanical drop safety device, 3-step handle and slopes on both axes, operators can be confident of precise positioning. An extendable platform (adjusting from 1830mm to 2130mm) fits various battery
sizes, but the lifting table’s versatility means it’s not just limited to batteries; repairers can use this to lift, hold and store many heavy components in the repair process.
With approvals from Ford, Lucid and Rivian, this Mobile Battery Lifting Table is a solid investment, not only cutting down on time spent with manual labor but also making battery handling more efficient to improve overall productivity in the shop.
If you’re looking for a solution that combines safety, ease of use, and durability, this Mobile Battery Lifting Table is exactly what you need. The team at Reliable Automotive Equipment is ready to help with this and any equipment concerns you may have; please contact us today at raeservice.com to learn more about our array of collision repair products, training and support.
THE ITALIA
Designed for high production, the Italia comes with the Timeless Series Direct Drive Air Make Up Unit, completely integrated intake, heat, and exhaust system.
The Italia includes (2) 10hp VFDs, digital PLC control panel, full lower LED lighting package (every wall), and SmartPad digital control panel with EnergySmart Package, which automatically drops to idle when no spraying is detected.
The exterior of Accudraft’s Dual Skin Finishing Equipment is available in FOUR colors:
The RAE Mobile Battery Lifting Table has a lifting capacity of 3,080 pounds, ensuring safe maintenance procedures.
Outstanding performance, high-accuracy color, and tough durability … all from a waterborne system?
Utilizing the latest technologies means that PPG’s Envirobase High Performance waterborne paint system is easy to use and packed with benefits. Compatible with PPG’s digital tools, this advanced system helps body shops to increase their productivity potential by up to 15% while achieving an accurate OEM color match and a flawless finish every time.
Experience the benefits of PPG Envirobase High Performance, the most flexible paint system on the market.
