Wisconsin Automotive News Fall 2014

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The Official Publication of the Wisconsin Auto Collision Technicians Association Ltd.

Fall 2014

Deployed Danger!

Counterfeit Airbags Rattle the Industry

Plus:

John A. Eaves, Jr. to Speak at WACTAL Conference Where Will Your Next Technicians Come From?

Goss Auto Body www.grecopublishing.com

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2014-2015 WACTAL BOARD of DIRECTORS President Larry Terrien MJ Collision Center larry@mjcollisioncenter.com Vice President Mark Williams Williams Auto Body mark@williamsautobody.com Secretary/Treasurer Ronnie Goss Goss Auto Body, Inc. ronnie@gossautobody.com Directors James Bryhan Bryhan's Body & Paint Specialists Eileen Haberman Glen's Auto Body, Inc. Randy Johansson FinishMaster Art Krolikowski Reedsburg Auto Body Inc. Mike Miyagawa M & M Auto Body Inc. Michael Taylor Zimbrick Chevrolet-Sun Prairie Association Administration Sue Peterson wactal@execpc.com / info@wactal.com (800) 366-9482 Lobbyist Jolene Plautz jplautz@aol.com

Fall 2014

Vol. 2 Number 1

CONTENTS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE ........................................................5 Where Will Your Next Technicians Come From?

by Larry Terrien LOCAL NEWS ....................................................................7 Attorney John A. Eaves, Jr. to Speak at WACTAL Spring Conference WACTAL MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ................................................9 Goss Auto Body, Menasha, WI

by Jacquelyn Bauman TALKING TECHNICAL ............................................................12 Structural Realignment Changes

by Larry Montanez III, CDA, and Jeff Lange, PE FEATURE STORY ................................................................14 Deployed Danger: Counterfeit Airbags Rattle the Industry

by Joel Gausten WACTAL BENEFITS ..............................................................17 Are You Leaving Money on the Table?

WACTAL “RECRUIT-A-MEMBER” PROGRAM ..................................17 WACTAL MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ........................................18

PUBLISHED BY: Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. 244 Chestnut St., Suite 202 Nutley, NJ 07110 PHONE: 973-667-6922 • FAX: 973-235-1963 ADVERTISING: 973-667-6922 • alicia@grecopublishing.com PUBLISHER: Thomas Greco (thomas@grecopublishing.com) DIRECTOR OF SALES: Alicia Figurelli (alicia@grecopublishing.com) MANAGING EDITOR: Jacquelyn Bauman (jacquelyn@grecopublishing.com) EDITOR: Joel Gausten (tgpjoel@verizon.net) ART DIRECTOR: Lea Velocci (lea@grecopublishing.com) OFFICE MANAGER: Sofia Cabrera (tgp4@verizon.net) www.grecopublishing.com

Wisconsin Automotive News is published quarterly by Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc., 244 Chestnut Street, Suite 202 Nutley, NJ 07110. Distributed free to qualified recipients; $48 to all others. Additional copies of Wisconsin Automotive News are available at $5 per copy.

Reproduction of any portions of this publication is specifically prohibited without written permission of the publisher. The opinions and ideas appearing in this magazine are not necessarily representations of Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. or of WACTAL. Copyright © 2014 by Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. Cover image © www.thinkstockphoto.com/Melissa Brandes

Fall 2014

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Where Will Your Next Technicians Come From?

Where will your next technicians come from? Well, if you live in Wisconsin, the answer is probably “from the local technical college.” It would presumably be fair to assume that most of the technicians that we have working in our shops received their initial training from a Wisconsin technical college; I know all of mine have!

Wisconsin has a reputation of having one of the strongest technical college systems in the nation. Their ability to respond quickly and personally to everchanging workforce development is based on local control, local governance and local funding. However, the State Assembly has recently created a study committee to review the current governance model of the Wisconsin Technical College System. The outcome of the study committee is to determine if a new statewide governance and funding system should be created-a system that would virtually eliminate local control. Implementation of such a system would dramatically affect your local technical college’s ability to meet local business, industry and student needs.

So, what can you do to maintain local control of your technical college? First of all, it is critical that our legislators understand that we support the current local governance and funding model for Wisconsin technical colleges. You can call or e-mail your local representative and the chair of the study committee, Rep. John Nygren.

Also, get involved with your local technical college by serving on their advisory committee. You can support the local collision repair program by doing a presentation to the class as a guest speaker or by offering a tour of your shop. You can also speak at local high schools and encourage them to pursue a technical college education. The bottom line is simply to get involved. Too many times, I hear people sit and complain about what’s going on around them, but they do absolutely nothing about it. Only we can control the future of our industry!

Larry Terrien President Wisconsin Auto Collision Technicians Association Ltd. (WACTAL) WAN

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Attorney John A. Eaves, Jr. to Speak at WACTAL Spring Conference Are you fed up with insurance adjusters telling you that you are the only one who charges fairly for what you do?

Are you sick of good customers getting steered to other shops? Are you done with suppressed labor and material rates? Or maybe you are just tired and frustrated from constantly arguing to get paid fairly for the work that needs to be done.

Come and get re-energized by attending the WACTAL Spring Conference in Green Bay on March 6th and 7th, where Attorney John A. Eaves will

John A. Eaves

enlighten you on the legal actions being taken by repairers across the country.

John is the plaintiffs’ attorney in lawsuits that have recently been brought forth against various insurance companies in Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Utah. He has successfully litigated several high profile cases involving asbestos, pharmaceutical drugs and nursing home care, as well as insurance companies.

As Coach Herman Boone (played by Denzel Washington) told his players in the movie Remember the Titans: “This is our time.”

This is our time to make a difference!

The best way to be effective is to have everyone’s voice be heard. The first step is to attend the conference. Mark your calendars for March 6-7!

OVERTIME PAY: Where Do Collision Repairers Fall?

Are employers required to pay overtime or not? It depends! Administrative Rule DWD 274 provides specific exemptions to certain jobs and types of businesses such as cab drivers, computer system analysts/programmers, executives and funeral establishments.

Where do collision repair businesses and their employees fall? Again, it depends. Dealerships have a specific exemption under DWD 274.07, which states: “Parts persons, salespersons, service managers, service writers or mechanics selling or servicing automobiles, trucks, farm implements, trailers, boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles, other recreational vehicles or aircraft, when employed by a non-manufacturing establishment primarily engaged in selling such vehicles to ultimate purchasers.”

Independent collision repair shops do not fall under the specific exemption afforded to dealerships. However, commissioned/flat rate employees may be exempt. According to a letter from the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) in June 1999:

Local

NEWS

“The specific overtime exemption would be the higher paid commissioned employee of a retail or service establishment.

To qualify for this exemption, an employee must meet three criteria: 1) The employee must work for a retail or service establishment. Auto collision repair shops are service establishments. Thus you meet these criteria. 2) The employee must receive at least 50 percent of their wages from commission. Persons who receive compensation based upon a flat rate are considered commissioned employees. Since an employee need only receive at least half of their wages from flat rate, an employer may choose to pay workers a subsistence wage in addition to the flat rate. 3) The employee must pay the worker total wages for all hours worked that average at least 1 ½ times the minimum wage.”

On August 5, 2014, a representative from DWD confirmed the above explanation. Again, the employee must receive at least 50 percent of their wages from commission and 1.5 times the minimum wage is received for all hours worked. Currently, that would be $10.88 for all hours worked.

This article is provided as information only. Examine your pay programs. Consult an attorney, DWD and/or the Federal Department of Labor for clarification on pay programs specific to your business.

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Goss Auto Body Menasha, WI

For many in the collision repair industry, a focus on family and a commitment to continuing education are parts of everyday business.

For Ronnie Goss, the owner of Goss Auto Body in downtown Menasha, this is especially true. The facility – passed down to him by his father and coming up on its 50th year in business – has operated for decades with a longtime dedication to creating a legacy of education. After speaking with Goss, it is apparent that this mindset has impacted the way that he runs his business.

As Ronnie explains, the shop was opened in 1964 by his parents, Tim and Sandy, and it was the place where he spent a large chunk of his childhood.

“Mom and Dad couldn’t afford a babysitter, so my brother and I always came down here,” Goss jokes. When he was younger, he worked around the shop doing odd jobs for the local minimum wage (only $3.14 at the time!).

In that time, Ronnie learned the ins and outs of the collision repair business, and after leaving the shop briefly to work at the local mill in Kimberly, he returned full time in May of 1993.

Ultimately, he purchased the shop from his father in 2010.

After taking the shop over from the elder Goss, it was only natural that Ronnie would continue the shop’s 28-year membership in the Wisconsin Auto Collision Technicians Association, LTD (WACTAL) as well. As he notes, he not only continued the shop’s involvement in the association, but took it a step further by joining its board as the Secretary Treasurer.

When asked about his greatest accomplishment, after joking that he “never really accomplished anything,” Goss admits that, to him, his most significant achievement has been running the shop all on his own.

However, in talking to him, it doesn’t take long to see another benchmark of his career: Promoting the future of the industry.

“One of the things we’ve always been involved in is youth and getting young people involved in our industry,” he states. Goss Auto Body has been an I-CAR Gold Class facility Fall 2014

for over 20 years, providing valuable training to its employees in an ever-changing industry.

Further, Goss stays ahead of the curve by bringing in new sets of eyes and hands, and frequently employs students from the local technical schools and high schools. One student-turned-employee in particular, Alex Henderson, has directly benefited from Ronnie’s dedication, with the help of WACTAL. As Goss explains, it was Peter Worley, one of Henderson’s teachers at Appleton East High School, who first alerted him to the promising student.

Ronnie Goss presents Alex Henderson with the WACTAL Auto Collision Scholarship Award

“I had gotten to know Peter prior to meeting Alex,” he explains. “He called me one day and said, ‘I’ve got a student down here interested in getting into the collision repair industry. Why don’t you come out and meet him?’”

Goss’ reaction was an enthusiastic ‘yes.’ Alex started working at the shop in October of last year and showed potential right away. After his graduation, Goss had him apply for the WACTAL-funded Auto Collision Scholarship Award, presented through the Wisconsin Automobile and Truck Dealers Association (WATDA). The award is a tribute to Ron Paleman, a former teacher who remained committed to education even after becoming the owner of an automobile dealership.

WACTAL MEMBER

SPOTLIGHT

by Jacquelyn Bauman

According to Sue Peterson, WACTAL executive director, “The process [for selecting a candidate] is quite extensive…there are a lot of things that come into play.” All of the applicants must fill out an application, participate in an interview process, pass a series of tests and submit a high school transcript.

Throughout the years, WATDA has awarded almost 1,600 scholarships to applicants representing the fields of collision, diesel, automotive, and motorcycle repair, investing “over $6 million in young people’s careers.” Henderson – the winner of the Auto Collision Scholarship Award – was one of three winners out of 113 applicants for the WATDA scholarships. He was awarded $2,000 towards his tuition and, although the scholarship permits Henderson to use his scholarship at any NATEF certified Wisconsin Technical College, he will be remaining close to home. Fox Valley Technical College is right around the corner from Goss Auto Body, where he will continue to get his job training and mentorship. In addition to the $500-per-semester installments Henderson will be receiving if he maintains a 2.8 GPA, he will be granted a Snap-on Corporation tool set valued at $3,525.

For Goss, this scholarship is not just about the monetary reward, but also the sense of accomplishment it provides to the recipient.

“I think it’s wonderful that these young students get to have this recognition,” he says, noting that Henderson will not be the last fresh set of hands into which he’s looking to get the WACTAL scholarship.

“I have a student working for me right now from Freedom High School who is a senior, and come graduation, he’ll have a WACTAL scholarship application in his hands, too.”

At Goss’s shop, he provides the best of both worlds, combining familial aspects with the education necessary to get new blood into the trade. In an ever-changing industry that is always in need of new additions, this is truly an accomplishment to be proud of.

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SAVE THE DATE!!!

WACTAL 2015 Spring Conference March 6-7, 2015 Tundra Lodge, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Fall 2014

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Talking

TECHNICAL

Structural Realignment Changes

By Larry Montanez III, CDA and Jeff Lange, PE

Through our visits to repair facilities and in our training classes, we have seen and heard some troubling things. Many shops are still using structural realignment (frame equipment) apparatus that may belong in the Smithsonian. Many in our industry (both insurers and shops) are misguided on how to actually affix/anchor the vehicle to the apparatus, and many think that sill “pinch weld” clamps are the norm and still acceptable. This article is will hopefully clear up some of these misconceptions, misunderstandings and/or misinformation in our industry.

For many years, we have known that most German vehicles cannot be anchored by the sill/pinch welds. This was due to the configuration of the rocker panel mating flanges, which include adhesives that can be damaged. In addition, rocker panel flanges are not designed to withstand the forces the way they are applied during mounting. We have seen over the past few years that high-end German engineering designs are being utilized in lower-priced vehicles. For example, the 2014 Dodge Dart and Jeep Grand Cherokee are now utilizing the Compact US Wide platform design, which does not support jacking or anchoring at the rocker panel mating flanges/sill panels (pinch welds). Although you will have to affix the vehicle to the realignment apparatus by the sill clamps, Dodge/Jeep states that you may anchor the vehicle by the sills. However, you must anchor in at least two other areas, such as the front or rear suspension mounting areas. Otherwise, you can cause damage to the sill areas during pulling procedures. Generally, this will mean you will need to anchor a fixture or jig to the engine cradle or rear suspension cradle mounting areas. This will require the removal of the mounting bolts and/or removal of the cradle. Some manufacturers state in their repair procedures that there is adhesive in the sill mating flanges, and anchoring in these areas will destroy the adhesive bond, weakening the area.

Unless you are using a Celette Bench or a universal fixture system (which anchor and measure the vehicle in multiple areas), most late-model vehicles require additional anchoring. These types of systems affix a jig fixture/universal fixture to the machine and to the vehicle to support and hold other areas on it for measuring and realignment procedures. Many 12

shops have an issue because their equipment is antiquated and not designed for the anchoring and repairing of late-model vehicles. Many times, we see vehicles with chains hooked into areas on the undercarriage or into uni-rails. This will cause damage to these areas because they were not designed to have force applied to them. Additionally, we must all understand that electronic measuring or fixture measuring is the only correct way to realign a collision-damaged vehicle.

One of the main issues we see is damage assessors (estimators) unfamiliar with the proper equipment and procedure for affixing a vehicle to the realignment apparatus. In addition, we hear all too often, “We only get paid 2.0 hours to set up and measure.” We also hear technicians say, “I ain’t got time to set it up, cause we didn’t get paid for it.” This way of thinking needs to change. We cannot arbitrarily skip repair procedures because we didn’t get paid for them. Those operations still need to be performed.

Surprisingly, it can take upwards of 2.0 hours to set a vehicle up on a realignment apparatus and another 2.0 hours to clean and replace all of the anchoring clamps/fixtures.

That would be 4.0 hours to set up the vehicle, and that may or may not include measuring.

We know too many of us have been fooled into thinking that 2.0 hours for set-up and measure is the norm. Although it may have been at some point in the past, it is no longer enough time (nor is it published anywhere) that studies have established that using 2.0 Procedure and Description: Car-O-Liner

Labor

Measure suspension components: This will determine if the suspension sustained any damage.

1.0 Frame

Pre-measure vehicle: This will determine the extent of damage and if structural realignment is necessary (or remove and replace the component). 1.0 Frame

Set Up on Realignment Apparatus: This would include assembling clamps, installing the vehicle, affixing the clamps, removal of the vehicle and clamps, cleaning and replacement of the clamps.

EVO Anchoring left front uni-rails (upper and lower): This operation is to ensure that the rails are held in the correct position during the replacement procedures. (Three are required at 0.5 Frame per)

3.0 Frame 1.5 Frame

Check measurements during the repair process

1.0 Frame

Refinish Anchoring Locations

1.2 Refinish

Repair Anchoring Locations

1.5 Body

Add for Clearcoat

0.4 Refinish

Mask Underside for Primer and Paint

$15/0.6 Body

Acid Etch/Epoxy/Primer Anchoring Locations

0.8 Refinish

R&I All Four Wheels

0.4 Mech

Collision Access Time

1.5 Body

Trial Fit Weld-On/Bolt-On for Replacement

Totals

$15.00

7.5 Frame

6.6 Body

3.0 Body

2.4 Refinish

0.4 Mech

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hours is normal and customary. Then there are the many procedures and operations to affix the vehicle to the realignment apparatus that many of you perform without realizing they are not included. For example, let’s use a 2014 Toyota Camry with a frontal impact. The vehicle requires a left lower front uni-rail (frame rail) and a left upper front unirail. Let’s look at the setup procedures for structural repairs on a Car-OLiner system and on a Celette Bench. The procedures and labor times in the charts listed in this article are for example only and in no way a suggestion of procedures and labor times for each operation.

As you can see, there are a lot of procedures to structural realignment that your techs are performing without a charge. Remember that each vehicle repair is slightly different, but structural repair on collisiondamaged vehicles generally remains the same, based on the type of structural realignment equipment utilized. Please keep in mind that measuring and diagnosing are the most important steps to any structural repair. Also understand that we did not include realignment time/pull time, as we could not show the damage in an article. In some cases, no realignment would be required, due to the fact that all the damage is being changed at a mating area that is undamaged. It is always important to keep upgrading your equipment and stay up to date on training.

Vehicles are changing every single year, and newer types of substrates Procedure and Description: Celette

Pre-measure vehicle: This will determine the extent of damage and if structural realignment is necessary (or remove and replace the component).

Measure suspension components: This will determine if the suspension sustained any damage.

Set Up on Realignment Apparatus: This would include affixing the fixture Towers and MZ Plus, installing the vehicle, affixing the fixtures to the vehicle, removal of the vehicle and fixtures, cleaning and replacement of the fixtures and hardware. Eight Locations (four front and four rear)

4.0 Frame

1.5 Body

Acid Etch/Epoxy/Primer Anchoring Locations Mask Underside for Primer and Paint R&I All Four Wheels

Trial Fit Weld-On/Bolt-On for Replacement Collision Access Time Totals

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$15.00

8.0 Frame 6.6 Body 2.4 Refinish

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1.0 Frame

Repair Anchoring Locations Add for Clearcoat

Jeff Lange, PE is a Forensic Engineer and president of Lange Technical Services, Ltd. of Deer Park, New York. Jeff is a Licensed New York State Professional Engineer, ASE Certified Master Technician and ASE Certified Master Collision Repair Technician who specializes in vehicle damage analysis for accident reconstruction, products liability and insurance claims investigation. Jeff can be reached at (631) 667-6128 or by email at Jeff.Lange@LangeTech.net.

1.0 Frame

1.0 Frame

Refinish Anchoring Locations

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

Labor

Additional fixtures left front uni-rails (upper and lower): This operation is to ensure that the rails are held in the correct position during the replacement procedures.

(Two are required at 0.5 Frame per) Check measurements during the repair process

are just around the corner. Remember that our industry has grown from panel beaters and “heavy guys” to repair technicians and structural technicians to para-engineers.

We hope this article has helped the industry to better understand the changes to structural realignment and why upgrading your equipment is so important. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

1.0 Frame 1.2 Refinish

0.4 Refinish

0.8 Refinish

$15/0.6 Body 0.4 Mech 3.0 Body

1.5 Body

0.4 Mech

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Feature

STORY

Deployed Danger: Counterfeit Airbags Rattle the Industry

by Joel Gausten

If a product seems too good to be true, it probably is.

In the race to make each auto repair job as profitable as possible, some shops could be tempted to purchase a deeply discounted airbag, typically manufactured in another country and sold online. However, as the US Government is making abundantly clear, these airbags are most likely fakes that can place your customer – and your freedom – in jeopardy.

In an effort to reach out to the automotive community on this growing issue, representatives from the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies appeared at the July 29 Collision Industry Conference (CIC) in Detroit to warn attendees about the sad and dangerous reality of counterfeit airbag use in today’s industry.

William Hayes, a deputy special agent for the Department, suggested that an airbag’s retail cost is a good way to determine if what you’re buying is real or a poor imitation.

“If a legitimate item is $1,000 and you’re getting it ‘on sale’ for $400, that price is often a very good indicator of a counterfeit,” he said.

China and Hong Kong made 82 percent of the counterfeit goods seized by the Department in the last year. When India and Pakistan are added, the number increases to 86 percent. Most of the items seized are coming into the US through small parcels shipped via Express Mail or the US Postal Service. Even worse, some fake airbags are entering the country on commercial passenger airlines and even end up in military vehicles, placing American soldiers at risk.

The fight against the distribution and use of counterfeit airbags is being advanced by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center), a collaborative effort of 21 federal and international partner agencies.

“We tell you this to warn you in the collision industry,” offered

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Andrew Florell, national program manager for the IPR Center’s Operation Engine Newity. “This threat is out there. Look for it; deal with reputable individuals. Do not buy things from China, and be very cautious when dealing with online marketplaces.”

Not surprisingly, the government is coming down hard on anyone caught selling these dangerous items. One counterfeiter in North Carolina, Igor Borodin, was caught with 1,514 fake airbags and $60,000 in cash in 2012. He pled guilty to the distribution of counterfeit merchandise and illegal possession of explosive devices, forfeiting $1.7 million in sales proceeds.

Borodin was later sentenced to 84 months in federal prison and will be deported to Russia when his term is completed.

Although the distribution of counterfeit airbags is clearly an issue in other parts of the country, the trend doesn’t appear to be making any great headway in Wisconsin.

“I’ve heard the horror stories about shops doing that, but I have not seen it personally or run across it,” offers WACTAL President Larry Terrien (MJ Collision, Green Bay). “We’ve never seen any cars that were repaired that had counterfeit airbags in them.”

A former auto body instructor for 30 years, Terrien believes that the lack of these airbags in his market stems from the industry’s commitment to doing the right thing for customers.

“When I was [instructing] at school, [one thing] we always tried to instill in the students was ethics and repairing every car like your mom or sisters would be driving it,” he says.

Although he had no knowledge or experience concerning counterfeit airbags prior to being contacted by Wisconsin Automotive News for comment, WACTAL member Al Utzig (Utzig CARSTAR, Janesville) subsequently devoted time to researching the topic online. He was shocked to see how easy it was to find these products with the click of a computer key.

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“I wouldn’t want the general public to think that shop owners are going out to try to find a way to just cheapen a repair,” he says. “I would think most shop owners who care about what they’re doing are going to want to do a good job. I can’t even fathom that [installing a counterfeit airbag] is something a shop owner would seriously look at doing; apparently, you can buy these things for just about anything you want.”

Not surprisingly, many Wisconsin shops avoid using any airbag that isn’t 100 percent from the original equipment manufacturer.

“There’s no way we would ever consider putting an aftermarket airbag in,” offers WACTAL member Bernie Berenz (Stenz Auto Body, Mount Calvary). “We do most of our work with the insurance companies and they won’t allow it; it has to be OEM...They won’t even put in a used one out of a car that’s never been deployed.”

While he has never utilized a used or counterfeit airbag himself, Art Krolikowski of Reedsburg Auto Body (Reedsburg) notes that these practices do go on in his industry.

“It’s just not a good idea of course, but there are shops that are willing to do it to cut corners and put money in their pockets,” he reveals. “It’s a big no-no; we’re talking about saving somebody’s life here. Any shop [technician] who does it has to have his or her head examined.

“The shops we have to worry about are the backyard guys who fix cars in a chicken coop, don’t follow regulations and just

get the car out to get it out,” he adds. “It’s sad.”

Naturally, using knockoff airbags allows a repairer to save costs in the repair process – something that is always of interest to the insurance industry. However, one would be hard-pressed to find a facility in this market - referral or otherwise - willing to go this far to reduce costs. In Terrien’s mind, the ultimate use or prevention of counterfeit airbags in the collision repair industry comes down to personal and professional morality.

“A lot of [people in the industry] are saying, ‘All these DRPs are being forced to take shortcuts and they’re compromising the safety of the cars,’” he says. “I’m sure there are some of those, but you can’t just generalize and say just because [a shop] is a DRP that they’re taking shortcuts and compromising safety.”

The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center urges the collision repair industry to spread the word about the agency’s work and to contact them if a shop has any information regarding counterfeit airbags. More information is available at http://www.iprcenter.gov/contact-us.

“This threat is out there.

Look for it; deal with reputable individuals.

Do not buy things from China, and be very cautious when dealing with online marketplaces.”

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Increase Your Sales and Support the State’s Most Influential Automotive Repair Association!

Get In on the Start of Something BIG! Contact Alicia Figurelli 973-667-6922

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WACTAL

Are You Leaving Money On The Table?

BENEFITS

If you’re a WACTAL member and insured with West Bend Mutual Insurance, you’re well aware of the savings you receive under the WACTAL Business Insurance Program. If you’re NOT a WACTAL member and you’re insured with West Bend Mutual Insurance, you’re “leaving money on the table.” Already a member but not insured with West Bend Mutual?

Request a quote from West Bend Mutual on insurance coverage for your business.

Under the program, members receive a special seven percent discount on all business coverages except Umbrella and Workers Compensation. In most cases, the premium savings are more than enough to cover the cost of membership dues. In addition to the premium discount, Business Income Coverage and Station Damage Coverage are included.

Typically, a premium is charged for each of these special coverages. This amounts to more $avings!

One member with dues of $275 realized a savings of $900 this year. Savings, of course, are based on premium – your savings may be higher or lower.

This program is only available through local independent insurance agents who represent West Bend. Like you, they’re independent business people. For more information, contact an agency that represents West Bend. For the name of an agency nearest you, visit www.thesilverlining.com.

Member Program

“Recruit-a-Member”

For each member an existing WACTAL member recruits, the sponsoring (existing) member will receive a one-time $50 credit toward their membership dues.

There is no limit on the number of members an existing member can recruit.

If the dollar amount of the credits exceeds the sponsoring member’s annual dues, the excess amount will carry forward to subsequent years.

No monies will be paid out and credits cannot be cashed out.

Credits cannot be split amongst multiple members.

The sponsoring member’s individual and business name must be listed on the new member’s Application for Membership as the sponsoring member.

If the new member had been a WACTAL member during the prior calendar year, no commission will be allowed.

This program can be rescinded or amended without prior notice. In the event the program is rescinded or amended, credits for applications received after the change will be processed under the new program. No credits will be issued if the program is rescinded.

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WISCONSIN AUTO COLLISION TECHNICIANS ASSOCIATION, LTD. W226 S1742 State Road 164 S Waukesha, WI 53186 PH: 262-542-7707 or 800-366-9472 FAX: 262-542-0906 info@wactal.com

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP Business Name ______________________________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________________________________ City ______________________________________

State ______________Zip ______________________

Contact ____________________________________

Title__________________________________________

Phone ____________________________________

Fax __________________________________________

Email ______________________________________________________________________________________ Preference for communications from WACTAL: Number of Employees (including owners):

Number of years in business: __________________

Email

Fax

Technicians______

Mail

Office______

Date of Application: ____________________________

I hereby apply for membership in the Wisconsin Auto Collision Technicians Association, Ltd. I promise to abide by the association’s By-Laws and Code of Ethics. I understand that any signs, decals or emblems provided by the association remain the property of the association, and I agree to return them to the association upon termination of membership. I understand that the use of the association logo and identification is authorized only as long as my membership is maintained.

Authorized Signature __________________________________________________________________________ DUES: Membership dues are based on the number of employees, including active officers, partners & owners.

Part-time employees count as 1/2. Annual dues schedule is as follows:

Sole Owner, No Employees 2-4 Employees 5-9 Employees

$145 $235 $275

10-15 Employees 16-19 Employees 20-29 Employees

$325 $375 $445

30+ Employees Associate Member School Member

$495 $250 $250

WACTAL accepts Mastercard & VISA. Contact the WACTAL office if you wish to make payment with Mastercard or VISA.

Sponsoring Member __________________________________________________________________________________

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