Recent Columns
- John Eagle Collision Center Faced Consequences for Not Following OEM Repair Procedures
- Glue Pulling Repair Becoming More Commonly Used in Auto Body Shops
- CIC Committee Looking at How Estimates End Up on Vehicle History Reports
- Heidi Foster at Crash Champions is In It to Win It
- 3M Offering Specialized Products, Training, Support to Collision Repair Shops to Help Drive Profit Efficiencies
Columns
From the Desk of Mike Anderson: Destructive Weld Testing a Crucial Step You Should Be Paid to Perform
Written by Mike Anderson
One of the few discouraging statistics for me from the “Who Pays for What?” surveys we’ve been conducting since 2015 involves destructive testing of welds.
GM, Lucid Motors & Rivian Share EV Collision Repair Considerations
Written by Stacey Phillips
Sales of alternative power vehicles, including electric vehicles (EVs), currently represent about 5% of all U.S. light-vehicle sales---but that share is expected to reach 45% by 2035, according to research by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).
What Exactly is a Prevailing Rate and How Does It Affect You?
Written by Ed Attanasio
If you’re a shop owner anywhere in this country, your labor rates have been a serious concern since day one and the numbers have likely kept you up at night more than once.
Auto Body Shop Owner Runs His Own Show and Looks to Exit Industry Stage Right
Written by Ed Attanasio
At Autobody News, we get emails and letters every week from auto body shop owners all over the country. In most cases, they’re either venting about the industry or promoting themselves.
Automakers: Collision Repairers Must Ensure ADAS Calibration Procedures Are Followed
Written by John Yoswick
The importance of proper ADAS calibrations was a key focus as the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) brought collision repairers and automakers together at an event in Las Vegas during the SEMA Show.
Collision Repairers Discuss How They Are Coping with Parts Supply Chain Issues
Written by John Yoswick
A Collison Industry Conference (CIC) committee presentation earlier this year confirmed parts supply chain issues continue to plague collision repairers.
Day Job/Night Job: The ‘California Godfather’ of Collision Repair Taps Into His Artistic Side
Written by Ed Attanasio
Charlie Vigiani owns Vigiani’s Auto Body & Paint in Yuba City, CA, where people call him “The Godfather of Collision Repair.”
Techs of the Future: Matrix Trade Institute’s Efficiency Bootcamps Help Collision Repair Industry Grow and Retain Employees
Written by Stacey Phillips
Many say one of the most alarming issues in the collision industry right now and in the foreseeable future is the desperate need for technicians.
Some Auto Parts Cheaper at Walmart, Fixed Ops Director Shocked to Find
Written by Ed Attanasio
After giving his wholesale parts customers deep discounts through price-matching programs and taking a miniscule profit, Charlie Monteleone, corporate fixed operations director for the Ancira Automotive Group, recently discovered he can buy some of his parts cheaper at Walmart than through his own jobber.
From the Desk of Mike Anderson: Resources to Combat Collision Parts Supply Chain Challenges
Written by Mike Anderson
I can’t speak with auto body shop owners, managers or estimators for long these days without the subject of parts supply challenges being raised.
More...
Remote Scanning Companies Foresee More ADAS Calibrations for Auto Body Shops in the Future
Written by John Yoswick
Nick Dominato, a senior vice president at asTech, said he believes collision repairers should be prepared for automakers to broaden their ADAS calibration requirements.
Certain Metallic Finishes May Interfere with ADAS Radar Systems, PPG Expert Says
Written by Ed Attanasio
A decade ago, ADAS was an acronym very few people in the collision repair industry were familiar with. But now every collision repair professional on the planet knows what it means and how it affects them every day.
Toby Chess Shares Best Practice Documents for Collision Repairers
Written by Toby Chess
This is the first installment of Toby Chess's newsletter, in which he will share more than 100 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for auto body shops, tools, trends in repair and anything he thinks could help shops improve.
Collision Repair Industry Thought Leaders Share Innovative Ideas During IDEAS Collide Showcase: Part 2
Written by Stacey Phillips
Total losses, the Database Enhancement Gateway, computer vision and sustainability were some of the topics discussed during the IDEAS Collide Showcase held during the 2021 SEMA Show.