Cloudaccess - Joomla! as a service

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts is celebrating its 22nd anniversary in 2011, and many of its top franchisees today have been part of the organization for two decades.

CARSTAR CEO David Byers honored these long-standing CARSTAR stores on stage during the annual awards ceremony on September 25.

Automotive News is reporting that the UAW has ratified a four-year labor agreement with General Motors by a 2-to-1 margin -- marking another milestone in the automaker's post-bankruptcy restructuring.

The union, in a statement, said the vote was 65 percent in favor of the agreement among production workers. Among skilled trades workers who voted, 63 percent approved the deal, the UAW said.

The union reached a tentative agreement with GM on Sept. 16.

GM is the first of Detroit's three automakers to negotiate a settlement with the union. The UAW is now engaged in final talks to secure a labor accord with Ford Motor Co. The union's contract with Chrysler has been extended through Oct. 19.

GM CEO Dan Akerson and CFO Dan Ammann plan to brief financial analysts on terms of the deal at 2 p.m. ET today.

Under the pact, GM's 48,000 hourly workers have traded the promise of generous pay and benefits for job security and compensation gains that are more closely tied to the automaker's health, profitability and quality advances

The San Diego chapter of the California Autobody Association (CAA) held their monthly members meeting on September 27 at 7p.m. at Tom Ham's Lighthouse in San Diego. The meeting's guest speaker was Frank Terlep of Summit Software and Mobile Solutions.

Frank's focus was digital marketing and how shops can better use digital marketing to capture more cars, customers and revenue.
Digital marketing produces exact, measurable results and allows customers to reach a more targeted audience than traditional marketing efforts. The cost is also dramatically lower than that of traditional marketing. Frank's presentation focused on how to use email, web, mobile and text services and social media to accomplish marketing for shops.

"82% of consumers will purchase a product or service from a company when marketed to consistently for 24 months," said Terlep.

The first order of business for shops to start taking advantage of the large amount of 'digital consumers'--people who regularly use digital markets--is to increase their web presence. Terlep talked about a few ways to go about doing this including using social media sites, review and location sites, and creating a company newsletter; however the number one way should be to have a complete and engaging company website.

"Treat your website like your online lobby," said Terlep.

Chief™ Automotive Technologies is offering its best pricing of the year as part of a full menu of show specials that start now and extend through NACE 2011 in Orlando next week (Oct. 5-8, 2011). The company is offering special pricing and free gifts for a wide range of Chief and Chassis Liner™ frame machines, Chief computerized measuring systems and Elektron^® resistance welders.

Contact your local Chief distributor or come to Chief NACE booth #N803 to take advantage of the following offers:

· Pulling. Get special pricing on a 22-foot Goliath^®, 20-foot Impulse^® E-VHT or 20-foot Titan^® 360 frame machine, with even greater savings available when combined with a Chief computerized measuring system. Plus, choose 12 months interest-free financing (with approved credit) or a free Helios 220 induction heater (while supplies last).

· Computerized Measuring. Buy a new Velocity^® or Velocity Max computerized measuring system at a low show price and get an even better deal when combined with a full-size Chief frame rack. Plus, choose 12 months interest-free financing (with approved credit) or get the first year of specifications for just $1 (regularly priced at $999).

· Entry-Level Measuring. Order a new Vector^® computerized measuring system with special pricing and receive 12 months interest-free financing (with approved credit).

· Truck Package. Buy a Chassis Liner Truck ’N Revolution™ frame machine and any Chief computerized measuring system (Vector, Velocity or Velocity Max), and get show pricing on the measuring system plus a choice of 12 months interest-free financing (with approved credit), one of year of specifications for $1 (a $999 value) or show pricing on the Chassis Liner rack.

· Resistance Welders. Contact your local Elektron distributor or visit Chief booth #N803 booth or Elektron booth #N403 for special show pricing.

The Chief Titan and E-VHT pulling systems will be on display in Chief booth #N803, along with Chief computerized measuring systems, the Chassis Liner Lift ’N Rack Pro™ and a full line of Elektron resistance welders. Just a few steps down the aisle, Elektron booth #N403 will feature Elektron welders, including live demonstrations, and the new Chief EZ Liner™ Express.

For more information about the full line of collision repair equipment available from Chief, contact your local distributor, visit www.chiefautomotive.com or call 877-644-1044. For more information about Elektron products, contact your local distributor, visit www.elektron-bremen.com or call 855-932-WELD (9353). To register for NACE, visit www.naceexpo.com. Chief and Elektron are also active on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles is getting ready for their very own reality show! The show is going to focus on the field offices up and down California.

The show will be called ‘California DMV: Field Offices’ and it will premiere on TruTV. The show is co-produced by new ‘Two And A Half Men’ star Ashton Kutcher. The show will look at what its like to work at one of the few state departments that touches nearly every Californian. The DMV show will shoot from several offices up and down California but there is no official premier date yet.

Billed as a "fun and fast paced" series, the countless mental meltdowns that erupt at DMVs around the country should prove entertaining for the home viewer. The show will focus on "hard-working personnel who deal with everything from issuing licenses and registering vehicles to maintaining accident records and investigating complaints."

California automobile dealers must start labeling salvaged vehicles with a red warning sticker under a new law signed Sept. 26 by Gov. Jerry Brown. A.B. 1215 will take effect July 1, 2012. The new law also requires dealers to use electronic vehicle registration for all car sales and allows dealers to charge consumers more to recoup added costs. About half of California's dealers already participate voluntarily in the electronic registration system.

Assembly Bill 1215 also allows dealers to raise their documentation fees for processing auto purchases and lease agreements from $55 for new- and used-car purchases and from $45 for car leases. The increase for dealers that participate in electronic vehicle registration would be to $75, and, to $65 for dealers that do not. Even with that jump, document charges in California will be the second lowest allowed in the nation. Registrations also will be processed much faster. Consumers will wait only a month for their license plates, instead of as long as six months under the current system.

Fees for participating dealers would be annually adjusted by the Department of Motor Vehicles due to changes in the California Consumer Price Index.

The law requires dealers to warn buyers whether a vehicle for sale has been previously totaled or salvaged. California law already requires the seller of a salvage vehicle to disclose to the purchaser that the vehicle has been declared a total loss salvage vehicle (Cal. Veh. Code 11515(h)(1))).

Under A.B. 1215, dealers are prohibited from displaying or offering for sale a used vehicle unless the dealer first obtained a report on the vehicle from the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) to check whether the auto has a branded title. The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System is a database of totaled autos administered by the U.S. Justice Department.

Under most states' laws, a salvage vehicle is a vehicle that has been wrecked or damaged to such an extent that it is considered too expensive to repair. In almost all cases, salvage title is given to any vehicle that has sustained damage worth 75% or more of its value. Requirements are going to vary by state. In Florida, a car has to be damaged to 80% of its value before the accident. Vehicles in Minnesota are considered salvaged when they are declared "repairable total loss" by an insurance company, were worth at least $5,000 before the damage or are less than six years old.

The title, license plates, and a required fee are submitted to the state department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and a Salvage Certificate is issued for the vehicle.

Although many salvage vehicles are expertly repaired, some vehicles: are not properly repaired and/or tested and may be dangerous to operate and have been repaired with stolen parts. In California, if the Highway Patrol or DMV determines the vehicle or its parts have been stolen, the vehicle cannot be registered and the vehicle or parts will be seized. A revived salvage vehicle is one that was reported to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) by the owner or insurance company as a total loss and now has been restored to operational condition.

All sellers, including dealerships, are legally required to disclose the vehicle's salvage title and history, but the law is difficult to enforce, especially when cars come in from another state.

The bill is supported by such groups as the California New Car Dealers Association, Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety (CARS) and the National Salvage Vehicle Reporting Program. Opponents include CarFax, which publishes vehicle history reports.

"No other state can match the built-in protections and convenience awaiting Californians," Peter Welch, president of the state's dealers association, said in a statement. "Like every small business, dealers want to focus on customers instead of paperwork."

Consumers also will benefit from the new warning sticker requirements. California is the first state in the nation to adopt that mandate. All new- and used-car dealers must post a red sticker on any used car flagged in a federal database as junked, salvaged or flood-damaged.

"Consumer advocates have long sought the protections offered in this bill," said Rosemary Shahan, president of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety. "For the first time, auto dealers will be required to provide vital information about a vehicle's safety, reliability and worth before consumers even start negotiating."

The California Department of Consumer Affairs has found that more than 700,000 structurally damaged and 150,000 salvaged vehicles are returned to streets and highways every year without a safety inspection, and pose a potential hazard to all of the state's motorists

The State of California currently "brands" its titles with a vehicle's past history as follows:

Salvaged: Vehicles marked with a "salvaged" brand were involved in an accident or incurred considerable damage from another source, such as a flood or vandalism. This brand includes previously dismantled (junked) vehicles.

Original Taxi or Prior Taxi: Vehicles formerly used "For Hire" which usually have high mileage.

Original Police or Prior Police: Vehicles formerly used by law enforcement and which usually have high mileage.

Non-USA: Vehicles manufactured for use and sale outside the United States which have been converted to meet Federal and California safety and emissions standards.

Warranty Return or Lemon Law Buyback: Vehicles which have been returned to the manufacturer under California's Lemon Law.

Remanufactured; Vehicles constructed by a licensed remanufacturer and consisting of used or reconditioned parts. These vehicles may be sold under a distinctive trade name

Automotive News' writer Donna Harris has reported that the National Automobile Dealers Association's board of directors has chosen William Underriner as the group's 2012 chairman. The board also elected David Westcott 2012 vice chairman, placing him in line for the 2013 chairmanship. Both will take office in February, 2012.

Underriner, 59, is president and co-owner of Underriner Motors in Billings, Mont., which operates Honda, Hyundai, Buick and Volvo stores. He currently is NADA's vice chairman and its Montana director and has served three terms as NADA treasurer.

Westcott, 64, is president of David Westcott Buick-GMC-Suzuki in Burlington, N.C. He is NADA's North Carolina director and has been a new-car dealer since 1981.

The Florida Auto Collision Alliance is looking to reinvigorate two chapters in the state's largest metro areas--Orlando and Miami.

The group's current active chapters include Jacksonville, South Florida, Tampa, Lakeland and Space/Treasure Coast.

According to FACA's Executive Director Cathy Mills the Orlando chapter was active several years ago but has fallen away from that currently.

"Orlando is such a large market. They have reached out to me and expressed a desire and need to bring the association back," said Mills.

The FACA has been actively strengthening their membership since Mills' appointment in January of this year.

"We also are looking at expanding in Miami where they too have reached out and expressed a need and desire to start a chapter there," said Mills.

Interested parties can contact Cathy Mills at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For more information about the FACA please visit www.facafl.com.

The Northwest Louisiana Collision Repair Association will hold their monthly members meeting on October 4 from 6:30p.m. to 7:30p.m. at the new Louisiana Glass and Mirror location; 2201 California Drive, Bossier City, LA.

Ken Stephenson of Louisiana Glass and Mirror is hosting this month's meeting and will provide members with a cookout during the meeting. Ken has arranged for the meeting's guest speaker to be Rick Mathis of Sika Corporation. He is bringing some very interesting crash footage for the group to see.

Rick Mathis has been in the industry for 31 years, mostly in the automotive OEM and Aftermarket business both in sales and training positions. He served 14 years as ASE Advisory Counsil Member, 9 years as AGRSS Committee Member, has served terms on Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Insurance Advisory Council, and has also been a continuing education provider for insurance agents for 14 states.

For more information please visit www.nwlcra.org.

Reported rumors about one major multiple shop acquisitions were confirmed October 5.

Caliber Collision Centers, operator of several collision repair facilities in California and Texas, announced October 5 it has signed an agreement to acquire 911 Collision Centers.

Recognized as one of the premier collision repair companies in the southwest, 911 Collision Centers has seven locations including four locations in Tucson, Arizona, one location in Scottsdale, Arizona and two locations in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Steve Grimshaw, Caliber Collision Centers’ Chief Executive Officer announced, “Our acquisition of 911 Collision Centers sets a new cornerstone in Caliber’s continued expansion plans. After spending time with 911’s management team, it quickly became apparent that 911 Collision Centers provides Caliber with the perfect opportunity to enter the Arizona and Nevada markets behind a well-established, high quality brand.”

“Partnering with Caliber Collision Centers will allow us to grow exponentially over the foreseeable future while sharing corporate best practices and operational efficiencies across the Arizona, Nevada, Texas and California markets” said Michael Quinn, Chief Executive Officer of 911 Collision Centers.

This is Caliber Collision Centers first expansion into locations outside California and Texas and increases the company’s total number of locations from 84 to 91.

For more information about Caliber Collision Centers, visit www.calibercollision.com.

Rumors are still unconfirmed about a tie up including Texas based Service King Collision Repair Centers.

More details as they become available.

Details surrounding the Multiple Shop Operator (MSO) Symposium—the newest event at Automotive Service & Repair Week (ASRW)—were released, including educational content, speakers and the full schedule.

The MSO Symposium will take place Thursday, Oct. 6, featuring an all-day program consisting of education and networking specific to MSOs. Sponsors of this highly anticipated event include CCC Information Services, Toyota Wholesale Parts, DuPont Performance Coatings, The Romans Group LLC, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and UniCure Spray booths. The MSO Symposium is hosted by Matthew Ohrnstein, managing director of Symphony Advisors.

The MSO Symposium will start with a networking breakfast, followed by a full day of panelists, keynote speakers, facilitated discussions, a CEO roundtable, Q&A sessions, and a concluding networking reception.

The Texas Independent Automotive Association (TIAA) held their September members meeting on September 15 at the Barn Door in San Antonio, TX. The meeting had 40 members in attendance; the group has been able to nearly double their attendance numbers over the past four months.

Sid Hurlbert was the guest speaker and he talked about customer service.

He talked about how answering the phone in a correct manner, and updating your voicemail, among other things, will improve customer relations.

One member and shop owner also got up and spoke briefly about the Massachusetts Right to Repair bill aimed at the 2012 Massachusetts state ballot.

The TIAA will hold their October monthly meeting on October 20 at 7pm at Pompeii Italian Grill in San Antonio.

For more information please visit www.tiaa.net.

Motor vehicle registration procedures will change when the new immigration law signed by Gov. Robert Bentley goes into effect Sept. 1, according to The Clanton Advertiser. According to an Aug. 26 press release, Act 2011-535 of the Alabama Legislature, also known as the Immigration Act, will require everyone to show proof of U.S. citizenship for every business transaction made through the Alabama Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division and County Licensing Offices.

“Business transactions” include applying for or renewing a license plate, a driver’s license, a non-driver identification card or a certificate of title.

“It’s really going to change the way we do everything in our office,” said Tim Little, Chilton County tax collector. “Just be patient with us. We’re going to suffer along with the public until we can get the wrinkles ironed out.”

Beginning Sept. 1, any person applying for or renewing a license plate, driver’s license, non-driver identification card or certificate of title must come into the Motor Vehicle Registration Office and present documents proving U.S. citizenship or lawful presence in the U.S.

“You will have to go in and show the proper I.D.,” Little said. “No more online renewals. It’s going to be bad.”

Examples of acceptable documents for U.S. citizenship, original or photocopied clearly, include:
● A valid, unexpired driver’s license or non-driver identification card issued by the Alabama Department of Public Safety.
● A U.S. birth certificate.
● A valid or expired passport with I.D. and passport number.
● Naturalization documents or the certificate of naturalization number.

According to the press release, applicants trying to prove lawful presence must present one document for verification each year, such as a valid, unexpired Alabama driver’s license, a valid, unexpired non-driver identification card or a valid tribal enrollment card.

Safelite AutoGlass on August 30 announced the company will relocate its SuperCenter warehouse in Tampa, Fla. to a larger facility in northern Tampa. The move is scheduled for Sept. 15.

The new 33,000 square foot facility will house an inventory of 10,000 parts. The SuperCenter also has a service shop with four service bays. The company plans to hire more service representatives, dispatchers, seasonal repair specialists and technicians, according to Safelite. The existing store will continue to serve the South area of Tampa.

“Safelite AutoGlass is committed to serving customers in the Tampa area, and this larger SuperCenter will allow us to have more inventory on hand to service customers,” said Amiee Nickerauer, Safelite’s local general manager. “Keeping people safe while they are in their vehicles is a key component to Safelite’s approach to the business. Vehicle glass is an important element of a car’s structural integrity, and we are happy to perform inspections to identify any risky chips or provide a quote on glass damage.”

Seung Chang Airtech, Inc. (SCA) is announcing the completion of a 95,000 plus square-foot expansion to its manufacturing operation in Auburn Technology Park North in Alabama, according to WLTZ News Columbus.

The 214,800 square-foot large manufacturing facility will help the company respond to the growing demand for its products.

“Our decision to expand our production is the result of additional business and increased demand from our clients KMMG in West Point, Georgia, and HMMA in Montgomery, Alabama. Our Auburn manufacturing facility strategically places us in a position to grow our company, and provide additional jobs in the community,” said Dr. Daniel Yu, CEO of SCA.

SCA is also announcing another major project coming to Auburn. SCA has already began occupying a 20,000 square-foot facility in the Auburn Industrial Park where it will produce vibration and noise dampening materials used in the automotive, industrial, and construction industries.

With these two projects SCA will have invested $16.8 million and will have created approximately 200 additional jobs in Auburn.

“We are excited about the announcement by SCA,” Mayor Bill Ham said. “SCA became a corporate citizen to Auburn in 2004, creating 40 jobs. In the near future, the company will employ 400 workers. I want to congratulate the leadership of the company and its employees for this achievement,” Ham added.

The Auburn automotive parts manufacturer serves the automotive industry with black plastic injection molding parts and the assembly of heater and blower modules.

Service King Collision Repair Centers will host their 17th Annual Service King Golf Tournament benefiting Interfaith Housing Coalition on Monday, October 3.

Registration and breakfast will start at 9:00AM, followed by the shotgun start at 10:00AM. Awards, Lunch, Prizes, and a Live Auction will conclude the event at 3:00PM. The event will return to the beautiful grounds of the Dallas Athletic Club for this year’s tournament which is noted for Jack Nicklaus’ design of the blue course.

The club’s address is 4111 La Prada Mesquite, TX 75150. For more information please call (972) 279-3671 or visit www.dallasathleticclub.org.

Service King is proud to be supporting Interfaith Housing Coalition for the fourth year in a row as they continue to provide transitional housing and support services to homeless families so they may transform to self sufficiency.

The group is excited to announce their new partnership with SafeHaven of Tarrant County. “The mission of SafeHaven of Tarrant County is to end domestic violence through safety, support, prevention and social change.”

For more information on the tournament or to sign up please contact Christine Barry at 972-400-1545, Eddie Rice at 972-877-8793, Jeff Johnston at 972-670-9222, Laura Mitchel at 972-960-7595 x 2141 or visit www.serviceking.com/charity/index.html.

The Santa Clara chapter of the California Autobody Association (CAA) will host their annual Harding Park Golf Tournament at the Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco on October 19.

The event is a “Celebration of SF’s Municipal Golf” and will start at 9AM. The cost per player is $185.00 and includes a meal.

Registration form and payment is due by September 23, 2011. Please contact the CAA Santa Clara Chapter at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

I-CAR has been emphasizing the importance of three-dimensional measuring since its founding in 1979, but is it really required to repair a vehicle? After all, three-dimensional measuring systems are considerably more expensive compared to the much more affordable tape measure or tram gauge (see Figure 1).

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

A Real Life Experience
Recently, our friend Sam (not his real name, but his story is), found himself having to get estimates for his collision damaged car. The first collision repair facility was chosen, and the vehicle was brought in for an estimate.

During the estimating process, Sam asked what type of three-dimensional measuring system the facility used. The estimator promptly replied “none.” Interesting. The car didn’t look structurally damaged, I’m sure the estimator was wondering why Sam even cared.

So, it was on to the next repair facility. While talking to the estimator, Sam inquired again, “What type of three-dimensional measuring do you use?”

In a too familiar response, the estimator replied, “We don’t really have one.”

The next stop was the last repair facility scheduled to write an estimate. Sam watches the estimate being written and asks the question, but this time, the answer is different, “We have a computerized measuring system.”

The quest was over. Sam knows who’s going to be repairing his vehicle.

Back in July’s Autobody News I wrote a shop showcase article about Nigro’s Auto Body in Philadelphia. (Go to www.autobodynews.com, and search “Nigro’s”)

A focus of my article was how the shop exemplifies the “city of brotherly love” motto by its exemplary contributions to charities and good causes in the region.

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

Now Nigros’ has gone beyond and has reached out to the online consumer in an unexpected yet useful way. With regard to society’s affinity toward technology, they have developed several smart phone applications to assist in accidents and promote safe driving.     The flagship app, Nigro’s Auto Body Assistance™ App, is a patent-pending car accident and emergency assistant smart phone app that provides consumers with instant access to everything they need if they are ever involved a car accident or driving emergency.

When I visited the shop in June 2011, co-owner Domenico Nigro explained that his goal is to improve the industry by helping people and disseminating information, and the release of Nigro’s Accident Assistance Application shows his dedication to this goal.

Several years ago, Domenico thought it would be a good idea to create an application to assist drivers in the instance of an accident. “At Nigro’s, our customers are our main concern, and I felt as though an app such as this could take a great deal of weigh off of the shoulders of drivers.” While researching the possibility of turning his dream into reality, Domenico came upon a company, Summit Software Solutions, that specializes in building smart phone applications, and with the help of this company, Nigro’s Accident Assistance App came into existence.

A survey conducted by Ducker Worldwide has found North American automakers are using more aluminum in their automobiles. Vehicles made with more aluminum should reduce the weight of vehicles and increase fuel economy.

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

Aluminum in 2012 North American Light Vehicles, conducted for The Aluminum Association, estimates North American automakers will increase their use of aluminum from 327 pounds per vehicle in 2009 to 550 pounds per vehicle in 2025.

The survey shows continued growth in overall use of aluminum reaching an all-time high of 343 pounds per vehicle in 2012—up five percent from 327 pounds per vehicle in 2009. The report predicts aluminum is expected to double its share of the average automotive materials mix to 16 percent by 2025, with future cars and light trucks reaching an expected average of 550 pounds per vehicle of automotive aluminum.

Randall Scheps, chairman of the Aluminum Association’s Aluminum Transportation Group and marketing director at Alcoa Inc., says, “We are fast-entering a transition stage to more holistic vehicle design approaches premised on greater use of lighter, stronger and more crash-absorbent aluminum alloys replacing less efficient iron and steel. Vehicles with their size maintained but down weighted with aluminum are inherently more efficient than heavier ones.”

It’s no secret that large numbers of recent immigrants now live in many areas in the United States. Most gather themselves into close-knit communities where their native language predominates. Fortunately, for quality collision shop owners, few of these immigrant communities have a quality body shop in their own ethnic area. If there is a shop, chances are it’s rather primitive and not up to insurance claim quality. This opens the door for an astute shop owner nearby who will put someone on the payroll who speaks their language and can help market the shop to that community.

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

I’m familiar with a shop that opened in a community that had large numbers of Chinese families in the surrounding area. The shop owner hired an attractive Chinese lady who spoke fluent Mandarin and Cantonese for the front desk and he also hired a Chinese-speaking estimator and parts manager. For several years this combination served him well. His Chinese personnel changed a few times, but he always kept some at his shop and enjoyed a significant number of jobs from the Chinese community.

With an economic downturn, when one Chinese employee left, he didn’t replace her immediately. Gradually, as the economy continued to decline, he lost all of his Chinese employees. He intended to replace one or two but it didn’t happen and little by little his Chinese community business fell away. Employees are a shop’s biggest expense. It’s understandable that adding any new employee is costly, but I’m certain that a careful analysis of the situation would reveal that the benefits of reaching the Chinese community would have more than paid for a Chinese speaking employee for this shop owner.

“The Insider” is an auto insurance company executive who wishes to remain anonymous. This column reflects his opinion and not necessarily that of Autobody News’ staff or contributors.

Since the arrival of the first non-OEM crash part from overseas a few decades ago, the debate has raged on over the value, safety and benefit of using these parts. It’s important to note that the rage hasn’t come from the consumer (you know, the person that actually has the parts installed on their vehicle). So if the consumer doesn’t seem to care, who does and why?

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

The people who seem to care the most are the companies trying to sell parts. The reason is pretty simple: money. So the next time you see a press release, a simulated crash or a reaction to test with a reciprocating saw involving crash parts, be advised that what you are witnessing is a demonstration of big business fighting for market share and profitability.

I’m sure there are some safety concerns that need to be addressed. But if there were a significant enough problem, I would surmise that a lawsuit involving a few high-powered attorneys illustrating the faultiness of non-OEM crash parts and the resulting death of a vehicle’s occupants would have happened at least once in the past few decades. If you are aware of one, please send it to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Lacking that, what we really have are two kids who can’t play in the same sandbox.

The end result is a lot of propaganda, rife with chest-puffing, staged testing, wasted money, name-calling and an increased cost of parts to the consumer in order to offset the needless expenses—despite the car manufacturers trying to lead you to believe that it’s all in the name of safety.

Ford Motor Company said that the recent report published by the Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA), claiming Ford service parts are inferior to its production parts, is based on incomplete facts and only highlights the aftermarket parts industry’s lack of understanding about some aspects of the auto manufacturing process. The carmaker has issued a complete explanation. See coverage in Sept. issues of Autobody News, or online at autobodynews.com.

The ABPA report, published on September 9, cites engineering test results that show significant material differences between one Ford service part and the Ford production part it was designed to replace. Based on the result of that test, the ABPA concluded that Ford Genuine OEM Collision Replacement Parts are different than the original production components. The ABPA published the test results along with accusations that Ford was ‘grossly misrepresenting the truth’ when it claimed in a video that “Genuine Ford collision replacement parts are the same as those used to manufacture the vehicle.”

Ford, however—acknowledging that the parts tested by NSF were indeed different—said the conclusion drawn by the ABPA is based on incomplete facts and that the 2005-2009 Mustang front bumper isolators tested by ABPA (through NSF) were both used for vehicle manufacturing as well as service replacement.

The carmaker said, “The parts referenced [by the ABPA] were used for both manufacturing and service replacement, and were thoroughly tested and proven to meet Ford’s specifications for the Mustang. The statements in Ford’s YouTube video are true and accurate and Ford stands behind all of them, including Ford’s claim that collision replacement parts are the same as those used to manufacture the vehicle.

Carrillo and Sons Collision Center, a 15,000 square-foot collision repair shop in San Diego, CA, is all about customer satisfaction and family legacy.

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

Owner Maria Carrillo started the business in 1981 with her then-husband Tony at a small location off Adams Avenue in San Diego. Maria worked mostly in the office part of the business and the couple raised three sons in that shop; Tony Jr., David and Daniel, who quickly became interested in the business.

“When I was working in the office the kids were with me a lot of the time,” said Maria.

In 2000 the Carrillos opened a second, larger location on Old Cliffs Road in San Diego where Maria started spending most of her time.

The Old Cliffs location is able to see about 115 to 150 cars per month with 13 employees.

Then, as Maria says, “Life happened.” In 2008 Maria and Tony decided to get a divorce.

“I never wanted to divide the business, but that was the only option,” said Maria. Maria decided to buy her now ex-husband out for the Old Cliffs Rd location, chiefly due to her children’s interest in continuing the businesses now that they are adults.

Maria officially took over the business in July of 2010 and her three sons have been there every step of the way, ensuring that Carrillo and Sons continues to be a family-run business centered on quality and customer service.

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from November 1 through 4. In gearing up for the upcoming show, the group has made several announcements regarding celebrity appearances and their expanded Repairer Driven Education (RDE) sessions provided by the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS).

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

Charley Hutton, formerly body shop supervisor at Boyd Coddington’s La Habra shop and known for his appearances on the TV shows American Hot Rod, Rides, and Overhaulin’, is regarded as one of the most popular painters in the custom car world. He will appear Wednesday, November 2, from 2:00–3:00 p.m. at the Collision Repair & Refinish Section Stage (North Hall #10873). Charley will do an onstage interview and a question and answer session.

Working out of his shop in Nampa, Idaho-Charley Hutton’s Color Studio-Hutton has produced an impressive number of automotive refinishing projects over his career, most recently through his work using PPG Automotive Refinish. He has garnered a number of prominent honors as a result.

The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) also added award-winning painter, fabricator, television personality, and Autobody News Columnist Rich Evans to an already packed lineup of activities taking place this year in the north hall of the Show.

Greg’s Auto Body, with two locations in Whittier and Santa Fe Springs, CA, hosted a firefighter extrication class at their Whittier location back on May 7th.

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

Firefighters from the Santa Fe Springs Fire Department and the LA County Fire Department, which services the Whittier area, participated in the course which highlighted extrication techniques on newer vehicles made with Ultra High Strength Steel (UHSS) and hybrid electric vehicles.

The class of about 35 to 40 firefighters was taught by I-CAR instructor and Autobody News columnist Toby Chess.

“It worked out very well,” said Greg Gunter, owner of Greg’s Auto Body. “It kind of stopped traffic on our street.” Chess and Gunter had set up several crashed vehicles, including two cars turned on top of each other, the night before the class took place and it caused quite a bit of passerby attention.

Gunter decided to hold the class at his shop to give back to the local community.

“This is something that’s good for the community,” said Gunter, “I’m very involved in the local community.”

State Farm Insurance and Triple A sponsored this class.

For more information please visit www.gregsautobody.com.

After hearing good things about the service at Auto Collision Service in New Castle, DE, I decided to look into the shop’s practices to find what methods they use to ensure customer satisfaction.

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

The motto at Auto Collision Service is that they “meet a lot of nice people by accident.” The goal at the shop is to focus on the customer and make sure all vehicles are repaired at the highest quality achievable.

According to owner, Pat Henry, “We have always felt that you are only as good as the last vehicle that you fix. If you lose sight of that, that is when things will fall through the cracks and you end up disappointing someone. Here at Auto Collision Service we all take great pride in what we do and we are never satisfied with the status quo.”

Auto Collision Service offers a comprehensive summary of their process on their website to aid customers in understanding what will happen to their vehicle while in the shop. This process includes removal of parts and estimate, arrival of parts, structural and body repair, painting, vehicle reassembly, and delivery to customer.

The website also provides customers with the opportunity to monitor the repair status of their vehicle, and an optional survey allows customers to provide feedback to aid Auto Collision Service in adjusting their procedures to best achieve the customer satisfaction they desire.

Business owners who are struggling in a tight economy may be looking to shed some payroll costs by replacing employees with independent contractors. Some who pursue this strategy decide to lay off employees and hire independent contractors while others may rebrand some or all of their employees as independent contractors. This reclassification may result in lower payroll costs and more profitable workers, but is not without significant peril.

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

State and federal governments have a strong incentive to make sure that businesses do not avoid taxes or circumvent employee protection laws by improperly labeling workers as independent contractors. Workers may also independently sue for misclassification. As a result, misclassification of any worker as an independent contractor may turn out to be much more costly than any benefits obtained through the misclassification. This article discusses the distinction between employees and independent contractors, the pitfalls associated with classifying auto body workers as independent contractors, and offers suggestions on how to set up a working relationship that is legal and beneficial to both the auto body shop and the worker.

Hiring independent contractors may be advantageous to a business:  Independent contractors may be cheaper, more efficient, and better motivated to work than employees due to the manner in which their compensation is structured. Independent contractors are paid based on the actual repairs they perform whereas employees are paid based on the number of hours they work. Independent contractors do not get paid overtime even when they work beyond a regular workday. Furthermore, if independent contractors fail to perform the repairs adequately they will not be paid, whereas employees must be paid for the hours they work but may be fired for poor performance.

by Harry Klein, Customer Engagement
Strategies, www.customerengagement.com

What’s the first image that comes to mind for a customer about to walk into a body shop? Dirt? Grease? Noise? Is there a waiting area? Is it some dark, post-apocalyptic movie scene?

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

Happily, this is a thing of the past in most shops, because many in the auto collision repair industry have awakened to the power and value of putting the customer at the center of their business strategy. There’s a Lean Production revolution starting in the industry and it’s having a profound impact for early proponents.

First let’s level the playing field about Lean Production. According to the Lean Enterprise Institute, there are five principles of lean:
1. Specify value from the standpoint of the end customer by product family.
2. Identify all the steps in the value stream for each product family, eliminating whenever possible those steps that do not create value.
3. Make the value-creating steps occur in tight sequence so the product will flow smoothly toward the customer.
4. As flow is introduced, let customers pull value from the next upstream activity.
5. As value is specified, value streams are identified, wasted steps are removed, and flow and pull are introduced, begin the process again and continue it until a state of perfection is reached in which perfect value is created with no waste.

I have written about two dealerships recently, the Lasher Auto Group, and Acura of Westchester, and their common ground to success. They both have a positive attitude. They take pride in their work, and enjoy taking good care of their customers. They deliver their service along with the parts. Their customers know that their business is valued, and become loyal partners of the dealership. Everyone is making money and staying happy!

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

This commitment to customer service would be impossible, however, without support from the manufacturer. In this case the manufacturer is Honda/Acura, and the support is awesome. Once there was a time when manufacturer’s parts reps considered the dealers as their customers; looking no further for more business. But times have changed. Now, Honda/Acura has a division, with fourteen field representatives, actively helping their dealers service their collision customers.

American Honda’s Collision Select Program is a wholesale support initiative, available to both Honda and Acura dealers, and supported by OEConnection’s CollisionLink product, which is OEConnection’s online parts procurement and management tool. CollisionLink is supported by GM, Ford, Chrysler, Nissan, Toyota, Infiniti, Lexus, Honda and Acura parts orders. Some of the major benefits of CollisionLink are:

Memorable partnerships make for great history: Hope and Crosby; Mantle and Maris; Jobs and Wozniak; Donny and Marie; Tom and Jerry—to name but a few. American Honda and OEConnection’s (OEC) CollisionLink® program can now be included on that renowned list of successful alliances. Since 2009, the automaker’s wholesale parts program, Collision Select, has connected a large number of body shops to their Honda and Acura dealerships’ parts departments via OEC’s CollisionLink parts procurement system. Through Honda’s program, the carmaker enables its participating dealers to assist body shops in enhancing their cycle times, alleviating shop returns, and streamlining parts ordering, but most importantly for repairers and parts managers, it allows shops to incorporate more Honda and Acura Genuine parts into their repairs.

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

To further support an already healthy working relationship, American  Honda is providing additional support  to its dealers, through an aggressive promotional campaign known as “A Perfect Pair,” designed to provide further exposure and ultimately sign up additional collision facilities nationwide.

OEC’s Director of OEM Program Management, Bill Lopez, 47, has seen the collision industry from disparate perspectives over the past 22 years. After college he worked as a Claims Manager with Farmers Insurance, where he learned estimate writing, the importance of cycle times and the issues common to insurers, body shops and their customers. He also worked in business development with a paint manufacturer, an online estimating company and even joined an internet startup for a time in Silicon Valley.

Ok, who out there knows everything about automotive repair? Who out there has seen it all, and wouldn’t be surprised if something so common to do now turns out to be not so common? Well, one thing is for sure—it ain’t me. I learn something new about this crazy car business every day. Especially when it comes to the electronics in today’s cars.

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

Even though I’ve spent a lifetime repairing these electrical nightmares that come into my shop, it still has its surprises. These days it’s not only the wiring, but some of the results I see from the scanners that can be just as unexpected.

My buddy Tom’s 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT was having some problems. It’s a well kept, clean and in great shape ride. The suspension system was sending the driver its little notice across the dash message banner, “Suspension system service needed”.

“Sure, bring it in Tom. I’ll throw it on the scanner and see what’s going on,” I told my old pal.

I grabbed the Tech 2 with the CAN unit hooked up to it and headed to the car. Only one code, C0660 was stored—“Level Control Exhaust Valve”.

What may have seemed to some at the most recent Collision Industry Conference (CIC) as a debate about esoteric computer jargon was actually a discussion about who gets access to all the information in a shop’s estimates.

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Fred Iantorno of the Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association (CIECA) said the way a shop’s estimating data currently flows through any of the current electronic connections in the industry—to the shop’s management system, to insurers, to parts suppliers, to rental car companies or CSI providers—can be compared to repairing a car without applying the needed corrosion protection.

“You can’t see what’s inside of these systems to see if the corrosion protection has been put there or not,” Iantorno said. “But over time, it’s like a time bomb waiting to happen. The rust will show up, because essentially the corrosion protection hasn’t been changed since 1999.”

Iantorno, along with a number of collision repair trade associations and organizations, has been lobbying for a shift by the information providers away from using the older “EMS” standard for transferring estimate data to using the news “BMS” standard. Understanding what those acronyms stand for is less important, he said, than understanding the key difference between the two.

The CAA Pasadena/Foothill General Chapter meeting was held September 15, 2011, at the Brookside Country Club, Pasadena, CA, was presided over by Linda Holcomb, President. She announced that she and a few other members of the CAA had met with an AQMD committee about Rule 1147 recently. The rule would have required many shop owners to install expensive equipment to control noxious emissions. At the meeting, the CAA members succeeded in getting the AQMD to postpone costly regulations for shops.

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

The September 15 meeting was essentially divided into two parts. To amplify what Linda and her group had accomplished, there was an expert update on Rule 1147, by Anthony W. (Tony) Endres, president of Furnace Dynamics, Inc. His clients include companies that generate millions of BTUs monthly and yet the AQMD rule affects body shops that generate a tiny fraction of that.

Endres notes that a typical collision repair shop generates less than a pound of pollutants per month, and only about 12.4 pounds of NOX per year. Mr. Endres has challenged both the deadline for implementing the rule and the appropriateness of the rule at all for collision shops. In his update he was able to announce a five-year extension for implementing the rule for collision shops, and eventually for making shops totally exempt from the rule.

by Greg Horn, Vice President of Industry
Relations, Mitchell International

In my recent Industry Trends feature article, Timing is Everything: Total Loss Values and Gas Prices, I explored the impact of rising fuel prices on resale values. This phenomenon initially interested me because I had traded in my Chevrolet Suburban for a more fuel efficient vehicle just before fuel prices reached above $2.40 per gallon. Not too soon after, fuel prices rose to near record levels for the second time in recent history.

To view a PDF of this article, including all referenced graphs, please click HERE.

What we witnessed in this recent rise was, in large part, due to a group of futures investors. These speculators bet on the rise of fuel prices, and their investment actions in turn caused prices to remain inflated even when the price of the crude oil had fallen and production was not an issue.

In early May, the situation with gasoline futures became so intense the Obama Administration released some strategic oil supply onto the market to ease the spiraling price at the pumps, at least temporarily.  There are a few important questions we need to answer to fully understand this chain of events and how the industry can learn from it:
1.  What is the relationship between fuel prices and resale values?
2. What can collision repairers do about the total loss decision process that is primarily in insurance companies’ hands?

It’s a common complaint among collision repairers: It’s not worth contacting the state insurance commissioner’s office because they don’t do anything about our complaints.

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

Yet in recent months, some state insurance commissioners have taken actions cheered by some shops, from radically changing their department’s focus, to issuing bulletins reminding insurers of state laws on steering or other shop-related activities.

What has led to these changes, and does it mean now is a good time for shops to reassess their interactions with state insurance regulators?

Some Success Stories
For decades, shops in many states have taken concerns about auto insurer practices to insurance divisions only quite often to be told, in essence, that such regulators are there to address consumer complaints about insurers, not business-to-business issues.

But even that mission isn’t being met well in some states. When John Doak took the helm of the Oklahoma Insurance Department earlier this year, he quickly announced  he was reorganizing the department’s anti-fraud division to focus on investigating insurance company fraud against consumers, rather than the other way around.

The SEMA show (Specialty Equipment Marketing Association) has always been a big part of Foose Design. I have personally been attending for well over 25 years. Some of our guys at Foose Design first attended more than 25 years ago. One of them even went to the very first SEMA show when it was under the bleachers at Dodger Stadium! For the past ten years Foose Design has featured or unveiled specialty vehicles at SEMA. For three years in a row we built cars live in front of the SEMA audience for TLC’s TV Show Overhaulin’. We were proud in 2005 when Foose Design featured total of 32 Foose Vehicles at SEMA, a record for any designer/fabricator and more than any of the OEM’s that year. So, needless to say, we have history at SEMA.

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

For SEMA 2011 Foose design will be featuring three vehicles. We are currently working feverishly like all of the other shops to make the deadline. This year we will be proudly displaying the following Foose Design vehicles:

This month a group of lawyers filed a petition accusing State Farm Insurance of defrauding the Illinois Supreme Court by covering up its “extraordinary support of Justice (Lloyd) Karmeier’s campaign and to thwart Justice Karmeier’s disqualification” from the Avery v State Farm class-action case originally tried in 1999. Lloyd Karmeier was the successful 2004 Republican candidate in the most expensive state judicial race in U.S. history, which was conducted during the appeal of Avery v State Farm. The petition is based on an investigation by former FBI agent Michael Reece. Reece stated in his affidavit accompanying the petition: “The bottom line of my investigation is that State Farm used the Illinois Civil Justice League to elect Judge Karmeier and Judge Karmeier knew it.”

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

While there are no hard and fast rules as to when a Justice should recuse himself the U.S. Supreme Court said a WV appelate court judge should have recused himself in a case because he received $3 million in campaign contributions, then overturned a verdict against a contributor. The U.S. Supreme Court decided the judge should have recused himself because of the “serious risk of actual bias.”

Insurance Journal reported that a former northeastern Pennsylvania insurance executive has been sentenced to 5 1/2 to 16 1/2 years in state prison in what prosecutors said was a pyramid scheme worth at least $7 million. Brian Murray, 68, former head of Murray Insurance Agency Inc., was arrested in July, 2010 by agents from the state attorney general’s insurance fraud section. He pleaded no contest in June to felony counts of criminal conspiracy, theft by deception and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds. Murray was sentenced in Lackawanna County Court.

Prosecutors said he and others took premiums from new clients to conceal the thefts from others and never procured the insurance the customers thought they were paying for. Moses Taylor Hospital, Mount Airy Casino Resort and the University of Scranton were among the alleged victims of Murphy’s fraud.

Some of the fraud was uncovered after Pennsylvania Manufacturers Insurance and Travelers Insurance conducted audits of Murray’s accounts.

Allstate Corp. lost $500 million on Hurricane Irene, the largest publicly traded home and auto insurer in the United States said September 15, much less than it lost from tornadoes earlier this year.

In total, Allstate said its July and August disaster losses came to $865 million before tax. The company did not break out the source of the other losses besides Irene.

In April and May, Allstate lost $2 billion because of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. That nearly equaled its disaster losses for all of 2010.

Industry estimates on the damage caused by Irene have varied widely, in part because most of Irene’s damage was from federally insured flooding and not privately insured wind effects.

Some estimates suggest the total privately insured loss from the storm was less than $2 billion.

Allstate began releasing select monthly disaster data earlier this year after pressure from analysts, who wanted more clarity on the company’s catastrophe exposure.

After Hurricane Irene came through the New Jersey area at the end of August, the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) decided to reach out to its members affected by Hurricane Irene, offering to help in any way possible, according to a recent statement from the organization.

“The damage done in New Jersey, particularly the northern part of our state, has been devastating for several of our members,” says AASP/NJ Jeff McDowell. “We are contacting our members to let them know that AASP/NJ is here for them and willing to help in any way we can.”

The AASP/NJ was urged to help their members affected by this storm by former AASP/NJ President Glenn Villacari of Parkway Auto Body in Nutley, NJ.

“Glenn contacted our office and suggested that we reach out to our members,” adds AASP/NJ Executive Director Charles Bryant. “He even offered his own personal assistance to other shop owners who might need help cleaning out the muck and debris from their shops.”

The Quality Parts Coalition (QPC) has announced the launch of the “Me and My Car” contest on Facebook, encouraging consumers to share their memorable car stories for a chance to win a prize package consisting of a Garmin GPS nϋvi 3750 and a $150 gasoline gift card.

The contest, which runs from September 14 to October 14, invites car owners to reflect on their fondest car-related memories. Whether it involved fighting over who got to ride “shotgun” on a family road trip, driving to your favorite band’s concert, visiting a secluded hideaway with a special someone or watching a scenic view from your car, the QPC wants to hear from you.

To enter the contest, follow three simple steps on QPC’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/KeepAutoPartsAffordable. First, click the “Like” button and fill out the registration form. Next, upload a photo of yourself with your automobile at a unique or special location. Finally, post a story about a positive, memorable experience with your car in 1,000 characters or less.

Contest submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges and the winner will be chosen based on the creativity and originality of their entry, the positive sentiment the photo and story capture about the automobile and the overall quality of the submission.

“We’re doing this contest not only to capture the connection drivers have with their cars, but also to raise awareness about the importance of affordable auto parts alternatives when the time comes for consumers to repair their cars,” said QPC Executive Director Eileen Sottile. 

The contest is live now and will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on October 14. The winner will be notified late October. For complete contest details, please visit www.facebook.com/KeepAutoPartsAffordable.

The city of Houston’s proposed Automotive Repair and Collision Shop Licensing regulation in its current form would place a great deal of paperwork burden and liability on the shop owner, yet falls short in other requirements such as technician training and equipment. ASA opposes this proposed regulation in its current form.

The proposed regulation is presently in the city’s legal department, and could be considered by the city council at any time.
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) believes that many concerns could have been avoided if the city had included independent repairers in early stakeholder meetings. There are critical differences in the operations of collision and mechanical repair facilities.

Other jurisdictions have addressed both professions in licensing laws and it can be done in Houston. The city’s current proposal does not adequately address the differences in collision and mechanical repair facilities.

The Texas Independent Automotive Association will hold a State Meeting on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at 8am.  The meeting will be held at 4726 Dodge Street in San Antonio.

Click HERE for the meeting agenda.

For more information, please contact Louie Sirianni at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A Swedish court has rejected an application by ailing carmaker Saab for protection from creditors to give it breathing space to solve a cash crisis and get funds from Chinese investors. Saab says it has commitments for additional short-term funding.

The Vanersborg district court in western Sweden said in a statement on its Web site that there was no reason to believe a new creditor protection process, known as a reconstruction, would work. Saab went through the process in 2009-2010 when it was owned by General Motors Co.

The company says it is looking for short-term stability while it seeks additional equity funding. The reorganization would have been self-managed but headed by an independent administrator appointed by the court. Under Swedish law the plan must be presented to creditors within three weeks of the filing and the plan would be executed over a period of three months.

Norm Dulaney, president and owner of Dulaney Auto and Truck Parts in Amarillo, Texas, has been named one of the top “25 Most Influential Auto Recyclers of 2008” by Locator UpFront. Dulaney has been named as the top “Legend” in the automotive recycling industry. Every year Locator UpFront selects 25 of the most influential automotive recyclers from across the country.

“The Locator recognizes that this industry is built on the enthusiasm and dedication of entrepreneurs who have put their heart and soul into their businesses. We want to acknowledge the accomplishments that they have made,” explained Charis Lloyd, Locator executive vice president / C.O.O. “This issue provides just a small glimpse at the esteemed men and women who have made an impact on our industry during this past year.”

Locator UpFront, published quarterly by John Holmes Publishing, Whiting, Iowa, serves the automotive recycling industry by showcasing industry leaders, their businesses and ideas. It is distributed to 3,000 auto recyclers nationwide per issue.

Dulaney has been chosen among the best in the business to earn a spot on this list.

To see the complete issue, go to www.partslocator.com/UPWI2009.pdf.

The Northwest Louisiana Collision Repair Association sponsored a local Industry Day on June 14 with Guest Speakers Chuck Sulkala, Mike Sprinkle with DuPont, along with Tri-State Coatings, Car-O-Liner, 3M, and Software Works Consulting.

The group had a very diverse crowd in attendance. Shop owners shop managers, estimators, production foremen, body techs and a group of future technicians soon to enter the industry attended the event. Shops were represented from East Texas, SW Arkansas, and NW Louisiana. Everyone was welcomed by the Dean of Louisiana Technical College-Shreveport/Bossier campus, Mrs. Angie Rymer. The college was very pleased to help host the event for the collision repair industry. Several departments worked very closely together to make the event a success. The NWLCRA would like to give special thanks again to Mrs. Rymer, Mr. Linser and staff for coordinating the facility site, Mrs. Lorna Drach, Culinary Arts, for allowing her students to prepare and present the lunch and snacks, and Mr. Chris Shepherd, Collision Repair Instructor, for preparing the classrooms and labs for the lectures and hands-on learning.

The event was made possible by the support of some very talented and informative speakers. The day included these four classes being taught in four breakout sessions. This enabled everyone to attend all four classes. A lot of great ideas were shared in each class and the group gave so many thanks go out to each of the instructors.

New Jersey officials issued a statement at a packed community hearing August 29 assuring residents that efforts by Ford to gain ownership over a section of a state park where the car company dumped toxic waste are off the table.

The news follows a long-running grassroots effort and popular petition on Change.org to clean up the toxic waste left by Ford at Ringwood State Park in the 1960s and 1970s.

The state's statement represents a major shift in the local effort to clean-up the contamination of Ringwood State Park, a campaign that has received national attention in recent weeks and was the subject of an HBO documentary that aired last month.

More than 200 people packed the Ringwood Library for the Environmental Protect Agency hearing on Ringwood site clean-up on August 23. Members of the Ramapough tribe, a community severely affected by Ford's toxic dumping, delivered nearly 70,000 petition signatures to both EPA and Ford representatives.

Edison Wetlands Association, the New Jersey group that has been leading the campaign to strengthen the clean-up effort for seven years, launched the petition on Change.org following rumors Ford was attempting to gain control over the site of Peter's Mine, one of the most contaminated areas of Ringwood State Park, before the EPA had finalized plans to remove the toxic waste. The EPA is currently considering seven options for site clean-up, ranging from completely removing toxic material to the more controversial option of capping affected areas.

Pennsylvania has a long way to go to meet national best practices for highway safety. The risk on the road is real: 1,256 people died in fatal car accidents in 2009.

Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering three bills that supporters believe will make the roads safer for all drivers. One proposal is a bill that would allow municipal police to use radar to catch drivers who speed. Another proposal would allow red light cameras state-wide. And, once again, the state is trying to enact a ban on talking or texting on cell phones while driving.

Following certification by the Massachusetts Attorney General of its proposed ballot question, the Right to Repair Coalition announced September 7 that it will immediately begin collecting signatures to place this important pro-consumer initiative petition before the voters. Supporters have until November 23 to get the nearly 70,000 signatures required to secure placement of the question on the 2012 ballot.

The proposed Right to Repair law would require automobile manufacturers to provide directly to consumers the diagnostic and safety information needed to repair their cars at the shop of their choice Currently, auto manufacturers provide only some of the diagnostic and safety information needed to repair vehicle owners’ cars with independent technicians, limiting consumers’ choices and losing business for neighborhood repair shops.

“If the car manufacturers can continue to manipulate the market by withholding information, then do I really own the car?” said Jeff McLeod of Marshfield and one of the original signers of the initiative petition approved by the Attorney General September 7.

Global Finishing Solutions LLC, (GFS), is pleased to announce a $10 million dollar investment in its facilities at the Osseo, Wisconsin Corporate offices.

This expansion is based upon supporting the company's on-going growth and increasing demand for its products. The investment will be utilized for expansion of manufacturing facilities, offices, and the addition of new equipment and machinery within the manufacturing areas.

"It's a very positive move for us," says Rick Binder, President of GFS. "This investment allows us to consolidate manufacturing operations resulting in a significantly higher level of production efficiency, quality, and improve our ability to provide exceptional service to all of our customers."

GFS is a leader in providing paint finishing equipment and integration services to the Automotive Refinish, Industrial, Aerospace, and Military markets. For more information contact GFS at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 800-848-8738.

Nalley Toyota of Roswell, Georgia, is pleased to announce that it has won the prestigious President’s Award for the first time. The award is given annually by Toyota Motor Sales and is awarded to select dealers for their commitment to maintaining Toyota's high standards for customer satisfaction.

The President’s Award recognizes those dealerships that provide customers with an excellent experience for the entire lifetime of their vehicle. In order to qualify as a President's Award winner, dealerships must excel in each of a series of categories. Dealerships which meet the requirements in all categories receive name badge recognition at all dealer events, national recognition in an Automotive News advertisement and, of course, the beautiful President's Award Tiffany crystal trophy.

Nalley Toyota of Roswell, which sells new and pre-owned vehicles to the Atlanta Metro area, was selected for the award based on excellence in a number of categories, including Customer Sales Satisfaction and Customer Service Satisfaction.

Nalley Toyota was selected for a President’s Award due to its commitment to both selling cars of the highest quality and providing the best customer service in the Atlanta region for as long as the customer owns the vehicle.

Nalley Toyota of Roswell is part of the Nalley Automotive Group, which has been a presence in Atlanta since 1918. Visit toyotaofroswell.com for more information.

Nalley Toyota of Roswell
11505 Alpharetta Highway
Roswell, GA 30076
877-450-7521

As the days pass and the SEMA Show draws closer, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) continues to demonstrate its commitment to putting together a program that will be remembered by collision repairers attending the Show long after it ends.

The latest addition to SCRS's outstanding list of events is a live discussion with Charley Hutton, a renowned personality in the automotive industry, regarded as one of the most popular painters in the custom car world. The Society will be welcoming Hutton on Wednesday, November 2, from 2:00-3:00 p.m. at the Collision Repair & Refinish Section Stage (North Hall #10873) for an onstage interview and question and answer session.

Working out of his shop in Nampa, Idaho-Charley Hutton's Color Studio-Hutton has produced an impressive number of automotive refinishing projects over his career, most recently through his work using PPG Automotive Refinish. He has garnered a number of prominent honors as a result.

His talents have been recognized with two Ridler Awards, presented by Autorama, a premier customer car show. He is also the winner of several Street Rod of the Year and Custom Rod of the Year awards, as well as being the recipient of America's Most Beautiful Roadster award.

August's monthly meeting for the Northwest Louisiana Collision Repair Association (NWLCRA) was held on August 2 in the Collision Repair Classroom at Louisiana Technical College. The meeting was brought to order by the NWLCRA's Secretary-Treasurer, Bill Burnside, by reading the anti-trust statement.

August‘s Guest Speakers were Billy Montgomery and Stephanie Rogers. Billy Montgomery, a former State Representative, and always a friend of the Northwest Louisiana Collision Repair Association spoke first. He talked about how great it is to hear of the accomplishments of local organizations like NWLCRA, Louisiana Technical School, our local High Schools, CC&TC, and Bossier Parish Community College. He stressed the importance of education AND trades. It’s great for someone to go on to a college or university for a degree, but the world NEEDS craftsmen, he said. He discussed how much he was involved with all these organizations when he was a Principal for Haughton High School and how he enjoyed being involved with the Collision Industry, both as a Principal, and Representative. He is currently the Chairperson for the BPCC 100, and announced the upcoming 3rd annual BPCC 100 at the meeting. For more information, you can see their web site at http://bpcc100.org. This event is sponsored by several local organizations by entering a race. All proceeds of this 2 Day Family event go to scholarships for Bossier Parish Community College and Louisiana Technical College. Ken Stephenson with Louisiana Glass and Mirror asked if more was going to be done at the High School level about training students for a trade while in High School during the meeting; he touched on the meeting where Richey Jackson, Director of the Truancy Assessment and Service Center for the Bossier Parish District Attorney's Office, came and talked to us about this very platform--Training students by offering Trade Schools. Montgomery said that due to the current budget constraints of local and federal governments, he doesn’t know how it will turn out, but because of his life passions of education and politics, and his involvement in both, he is definitely going to stay on top of it and would keep the NWLCRA and it’s members updated.

Throughout 2011, I-CAR has introduced several new online training programs to the industry, including programs with all-new content and instructor-led (live) training programs that have been converted to an online delivery format. Programs that have been converted from the live delivery format contain the same content and are available 24/7, through a convenient online platform. I-CAR has recently added Electric and Electric Hybrid Vehicles (ALT01e) and Hybrid Electric and Alternative Fuel Vehicles (ALT02e) to its online course catalog. Both of these online programs are also available in the instructor-led (live) format.

These programs touch on different areas of current and changing technology of hybrid electric vehicles and alternative fuel vehicles. Both training programs will provide individuals with an understanding of vehicle-specific repair considerations and the importance of ensuring a safe and cost-effective repair.

Course Details - Electric and Electric Hybrid Vehicles (ALT01e):

Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes will host the next A-Plus™ University “Winning the Keys” Estimating and Profitability Workshop Nov. 16-17, 2011, at the Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa.

Sherwin-Williams “Winning the Keys” workshop participants will obtain the skills, information and tools necessary to increase estimate profitability. Shop owners, managers, estimators and customer service representatives interested in improving their closing ratio and creating loyal customers should attend.

This two day hands-on workshop covers a variety of topics, such as:
•    The Customer Experience
•    The Estimate – Blueprint for Profit
•    Effective Communication
•    Increasing Productivity and Profitability

“Built by leading repair industry professionals for collision repair professionals, ‘Winning the Keys’ is custom tailored to teach attendees customer service and estimating,” said Troy Neuerburg, Marketing Manager - Business Services for Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes. “Attendees will leave the workshop with the necessary knowledge and tools to negotiate profitable estimates, and implement loyalty while building sales techniques.”

To register online for the A-Plus University “Winning the Keys” workshop, go to www.sherwin-automotive.com. For more information on the A-Plus Network, call (216) 332-8580.

I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, will soon offer collision repair industry professionals a new training opportunity focused on Ford’s vehicle-specific parts and repair procedures. The I-CAR course, Collision Repair for Ford and Lincoln Vehicles (FOR05), was developed by I-CAR, in conjunction with Ford Paint & Body Technology Center. Registration for this instructor-led (live) training program is currently open and the course will premiere on September 6, 2011. New classes are being added to the class schedule on a continual basis.

This course provides information on service and parts for Ford and Lincoln vehicles, including collision repair position statements, different construction materials, vehicle features, and repair considerations. An explanation of different joining methods used on Ford and Lincoln vehicles, including the use of fasteners, adhesives, and welds is provided. Considerations around properly preparing parts for corrosion protection coatings and refinishing procedures are also covered in the course. Additionally, information on electrical and mechanical systems that are specific to Ford vehicles is provided.

Bill Stage, I-CAR Director of Marketing & Distribution said, “The ability for I-CAR to develop and deliver Ford-specific training helps support the collision industry by providing an overview of key topics that are relevant to individuals who repair Ford and Lincoln vehicles. I-CAR is glad to have established its relationship with Ford Paint & Body Technology Center and believes that individuals working in the collision industry will be better positioned to provide Ford vehicle owners with a complete and safe repair. Proper training on Ford vehicles will help repairers reduce the possibility of rework and maintain the overall integrity of the vehicle.”

Information and registration for this course can be found on the I-CAR website (www.i-car.com) or by contacting I-CAR Customer Care at 800-422-7872.

Copart, Inc., a live online vehicle auction, announced August 30 the opening of its new South Atlanta facility in Ellenwood, Georgia. This latest addition to Copart's footprint marks the company's fifth facility in Georgia and the 154th facility world-wide.

Copart President Vincent W. Mitz said the 77-acre site will improve Copart's service in the greater Atlanta Metropolitan area.

"Atlanta is a major market, and our new South Atlanta facility in Ellenwood provides additional capacity to more efficiently cover the region as demand for our services grows," said Mitz.

Copart, founded in 1982, provides vehicle sellers with a full range of remarketing services to process and sell salvage and clean title vehicles to dealers, dismantlers, rebuilders, exporters and, in some states, to end users. Copart sells vehicles on behalf of insurance companies, banks, finance companies, fleet operators, dealers, car dealerships and others as well as cars sourced from the general public. The company currently operates 154 facilities in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. For more information, or to become a member, visit www.copart.com.

Golden State Collision Centers, Inc. announced September 1 the business will conduct a 3rd annual internal fundraising campaign to benefit the Boy and Girl Scouts of America organizations during the month of September, 2011. 

Golden State Collision Centers will donate a dollar amount for each vehicle repaired throughout the organization’s five locations. This campaign will continue throughout the month of September, 2011, and will be earmarked for campsite development projects in the Northern California area.

“In 2009, we were approached by the Boy Scouts of America to donate a nominal dollar amount, targeted for the refurbishment of Camp Winton in Northern California. Our organization launched a month long campaign, which clearly resonated with the communities in which we do business.” said Dave Finkelstein, owner of Golden State Collision Centers, Inc. “We were thrilled to announce that over the past two years this campaign has continued to be a huge success, enabling us to contribute $11,500 to Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts Heart of Central California organizations. It is our hope that the third year of our campaign will be equally successful and that these funds will help to provide a safe, fun and productive environment to further foster the campsite programs developed by the Boy and Girl Scouts organizations.”

Golden State Collision Centers has five locations in the Northern California area, servicing customers in Roseville, Sacramento, Orangevale, Lincoln and Yuba City. For more information about Golden State Collision Centers, visit www.goldenstatecollision.com.

In a continuing effort to respond to consistent participant feedback, Automotive Service & Repair Week (ASRW) announced on September 7 its 2012 event - featuring the milestone 30th annual NACE event - will take place Oct. 11-13 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA. The 2012 event will again follow a Thursday-Saturday day pattern, with education beginning Wednesday, Oct. 10.

"Almost a year ago, we put the attendees and exhibitors in charge of key decisions about the future of ASRW, including where and when the event takes place," said Ron Pyle, ASA president. "After multiple surveys among both attendees and exhibitors, the results were clear: our audience wants this event in New Orleans, and we're pleased to make it happen."

Based on attendance trends leading up to the 2011 event, the move to New Orleans is expected to draw a significant population of new attendees, as a new region of the United States has access to this international event.

Representatives from New Orleans will be onsite in Orlando to formally open housing, assist attendees with reserving hotel rooms and answer questions about the city. 

NACE was last held in New Orleans in 1995; CARS in the late 1980s.

The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) has added award-winning painter, fabricator, television personality, and Autobody News Columnist Rich Evans to an already packed lineup of activities taking place this year in the north hall of the Show.

Evans, owner of Huntington Beach Bodyworks and Rich Evans Designs, is known nationally for his work on television shows such as TLC's Junkyard Wars, Chop Cut Rebuild and Car Warriors on the SPEED Channel; and for his distinctive custom painting techniques that allow him to create some of the most striking heavy vehicle graphics in the world, including his much heralded "Tattoos for Cars" series.

While Evans has built his name on custom work and fabrication, he built his career on collision repair, and he will join SCRS at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 2, to speak about his career in the collision repair industry and the ever-changing landscape of the business and its technical side.

SEMA attendees are invited to stop by the SCRS booth (North Hall # 10727) to take part in this live interview.

"Our goal this year has really been a strong combination of developing the best, most relevant, educational topics we could put together for the industry through our RDE program, while also embracing the best elements and opportunities the SEMA Show has to offer, and highlighting them in ways that are focused and distinct to the collision repair community," explains SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg. "Adding dynamic and well known personalities like Rich Evans into the mix, who can provide exposure and insight into collision repair expertise that is as uncommon as it is fascinating, is one way to do this. We're excited to have Rich join us in the booth for what is sure to be an interesting discussion, and a great tie in to many of the topics that will be discussed in depth during the 2011 RDE program."

GARMAT USA announced on September 6 the start of a new contest for shop owners and paint techs. The Garmat Sharp Shooter Contest will run from September 4- October 08, 2011 and the Grand Prize includes a free trip to Las Vegas for the SEMA 2011 Expo. The Garmat Sharp Shooter contest is Garmat's way of recognizing quality paint techs and shop owners that use Garmat equipment.

"At tradeshows and site visits paint techs are always telling me how they prefer Garmat booths, so this is their chance to tell us why", says Johan Huwaert, Garmat USA's general manager. He also noted "This contest allows us to open channels of communication with the techs so they can give us feedback on what they would like to see in a paint booth."

Paint techs and their managers will have the opportunity to tell their Garmat Story, in either video testimonial or written statements. The first 200 entrants will receive a custom Garmat Sharp Shooter Cap. First place prizes of 2 leather jackets, (one for the contestant and one for the owner) will be awarded to five finalists, and the Grand Prize of a trip for two to Las Vegas will go to the contest winner. Contest rules and regulations can be found at www.garmat.com.

The Ft. Myers, Fla. area will be the site of Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes next A-Plus™ EcoLean™ Level 2 workshop Oct. 5-6, 2011, at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point, in Bonita Springs, Fla.

The EcoLean Level 2 workshop is designed to further educate collision repair owners and managers to maximize profit while reducing the environmental impact of the facility’s process and environmental waste. The course is open to all collision center representatives that have previously attended the EcoLean Level 1 workshop.

In Level 2, participants will learn the importance of a complete and accurate repair plan in a lean collision repair facility, as well as marketing and communication tactics they can use to get the word out about ‘going green’. The mechanics of an environmental management system as well as compensation solutions of lean collision facilities will be discussed.

“Integrating lean practices into your collision repair facility benefits both the facility and the environment,” said Troy Neuerburg, Marketing Manager - Business Services for Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes. “EcoLean teaches collision facility owners how to improve the quality, production output and profitability of their facilities, while reducing process and environmental waste.”

After attending the session participants will leave the two day event with tangible tools to decrease the amount of waste at their facility, but will increase profitability and productivity.

To register for the A-Plus University EcoLean Level 2 workshop online, visit www.sherwin-automotive.com.  For more information on the EcoLean program, call (804) 433-9690.