CARSTAR Offers Training Program to Assist Franchise Partners - BodyShop Business

CARSTAR Offers Training Program to Assist Franchise Partners

CARSTAR announced it has added an Education and Training team to the corporate family with the goal of creating and delivering training programs that are immediately applicable, industry-leading and positively contribute to CARSTAR owners’ business growth and performance.

CARSTAR announced it has added an Education and Training team to the corporate family with the goal of creating and delivering training programs that are immediately applicable, industry-leading and positively contribute to CARSTAR owners’ business growth and performance.

Earlier in 2018, CARSTAR completed the buildout of CARSTAR University, a hands-on and online educational program with more than 700 role-based learning modules. Now, there are more than 2,000 franchise partners and staff members enrolled in the program, representing nearly 50 percent of the CARSTAR network.

“Before I joined the CARSTAR network, I was at an independent facility, and I could have really used CARSTAR University to assist in training new employees while also keeping current employees up-to-date with our always changing industry and insurance company guidelines,” said AJ Pickering of CARSTAR Collision Specialists East & CARSTAR Collision Specialists West. “When you are running a repair center, you have enough to worry about throughout the day. It is such a relief to have one spot to access all the knowledge you need at just the click of your finger.”

According to CARSTAR, the content in CARSTAR University has grown exponentially, and the CARSTAR Education and Training team is working to ensure they provide stores with the most up-to-date, industry-relevant training. Some of the newest additions include:

  • CARSTAR EDGE Training: Role-based support to guide franchise partners through EDGE, the proprietary operational platform that drives network performance.
  • Direct Repair Program (DRP) Training: courses built to help coach CARSTAR stores on requirements for specific insurers, as well as tools to encourage best practices.
  • I-CAR Training: collaborating with I-CAR, an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing the information, knowledge and skills required to perform complete, safe and quality repairs.
  • OEM Training: sharing original equipment manufacturer (OEM) training tools, guidelines and resources with the CARSTAR network.

CARSTAR also has invested in its partnerships with industry leaders such as Mike Anderson, founder of Collision Advice, and I-CAR. Collision Advice has provided training webinars exclusive to the CARSTAR network on hot topics such as scheduling, understanding OEM repair procedures and disassembly for repair (DFR).

“We are certifying our CARSTAR operations and insurance sales teams to deliver I-CAR training to our stores and also have made it mandatory for them to maintain a platinum level certification,” said Dean Fisher, COO for CARSTAR. “Investing in your team’s education and development is crucial for any successful business and to continue delivering the industry’s highest-quality repairs, we need the highest levels of training.”

CARSTAR also is working with vendor partners for focused education programs on the CARSTAR standard operating procedures, advanced vehicle repairs such as aluminum and composite materials, new paint technology, and pre-and post-scan standards.

“There is so much valuable information on CARSTAR U,” said Karen Bryan of CARSTAR Precision. “You definitely finish each course learning something new each and every time as the team is putting relevant and updated information in a localized place for everyone to access. I’ve been in this industry 30-plus years so yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks!”

Additional upgrades are coming to CARSTAR University in the coming year, including more online learning modules, regional hands-on training programs and expanded OEM education and certification.

You May Also Like

The Digital Blitz

We talk so much about how much collision repair is changing, but so is the world of media!

We talk so much in the pages of BodyShop Business about how rapidly the collision repair industry is changing, but the world of BodyShop Business is changing drastically too — the world of media, that is. Change is everywhere! Is there anything that is not changing? Change, as they say, is inevitable. I liken it to a freight train that will steamroll you unless you get on board.

Auto Body Shops: Building a Foundation for the New Year

For the new year, it’s important to conduct a thorough audit of your finances to look for areas of opportunity and things to change.

Auto Body Consolidation Update: There’s a New Buyer in Town

The good news for shops that want to sell but do not fit a consolidator’s
profile is that there is a fresh pool of new buyers.

Is Your Auto Body Shop a Hobby … or a Business?

So you want to provide safe and properly repair vehicles to your customers … even at a financial loss?

BodyShop Business 2023 Executives of the Year

Greg Solesbee was named the Single-Shop Executive of the Year, and Charlie Drake was named the Multi-Shop Executive of the Year.

Other Posts

CARSTAR Car Crafters Trains SkillsUSA Gold Medal Winner

Dane Robbins learned new skills at CARSTAR Car Crafters, won the gold medal in the state SkillsUSA competition and now will compete in the national competition this spring.

VIVE Collision Appoints New Vice President of Operations

VIVE Collision has announced the promotion of Stephen Kohut to vice president of operations.

CARSTAR Salutes the Women of the Collision Repair Industry

The women of CARSTAR U.S. are role models for anyone looking to succeed in the vehicle service business.

Heather Culleton, Nikki Rende, Jen Forhan, Sheri Poole
Puget Collision MSO Group Reaches Over 50 Stores

Joe Morella would have never pictured the path he has taken to becoming the owner of over 50 CARSTAR and Fix Auto USA locations.