Lawmakers Mull Federal Oversight of Insurers
Federal oversight of the insurance industry appears to be more likely as President Barack Obama and members of Congress roll out plans to address the country’s economic woes in what experts say is the largest regulatory overhaul since the Great Depression. House Financial Services Chair Barney Frank (D-Mass) said this week that his top priority
CCAR Renews Preferred Vendor Status with CARSTAR
The Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair (CCAR) has announced the renewal of its Preferred Vendor status with CARSTAR Franchise Systems, Inc., to provide CCAR’s “S/P2” e-learning program to CARSTAR locations through the end of 2010. CCAR’s Web-based S/P2 training addresses the key safety and pollution prevention issues that face automotive service and collision repair professionals.
SCRS Applauds Free OEM Information Availability
The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) expressed its appreciation to Chrysler LLC (Chrysler) and General Motors Corporation (GM), as well as the OEM Roundtable, who have made strides in providing access to technical collision repair information through www.OEM1STOP.com. The SCRS noted that GM and Chrysler are providing their collision repair information free of charge
Kaeser Announces ENERGY STAR Partnership
Kaeser Compressors recently partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR program. According to the EPA, an ENERGY STAR partnership offers businesses an energy management strategy that helps in measuring current energy performance, setting goals, tracking savings and rewarding improvements. Kaeser says that its ENERGY STAR partnership will help the company communicate the importance
AutoBody America Opens Ninth Location
AutoBody America – a multi-shop, independent operator of collision repair facilities in Tennessee and Northern Mississippi – has opened its ninth location in Nashville, Tenn. The new, state-of-the-art 25,000-square-foot collision repair center is located at 530 Collins Drive in the Hickory Hollow suburb of Nashville. According to Pat James, founder and president of AutoBody America,
Lincoln Electric Offering Gift Card Rewards with Welder Purchase
The Lincoln Electric Company has launched its Choose Your Reward promotion, which offers customers their choice of gift card from several retailers with the purchase of a qualifying MIG, TIG or engine-driven welding machine. The promotion runs now through April 30. After purchasing a qualified welder, customers who register their new equipment online at www.lincolnelectric.com/choose-your-reward
I-CAR Launching Waterborne Training Program
Those interested in waterborne refinish systems will soon have a new training resource from I-CAR. On March 2, I-CAR will launch its Waterborne Products, Systems and Application (REF07) live training program. Inter-industry interest in waterborne refinish systems continues to grow as repairers look toward not only compliance with existing regulations, but also the environmental
Conference Scholarships Offered by Women’s Industry Network
In keeping with its mission to support and encourage women in the industry, full-time students and collision shop employees are encouraged to apply for scholarships to attend the 2009 Women’s Industry Network (WIN) Conference held in Dallas, Texas, March 22-24. Student scholarships include conference registration, one-year membership to WIN, two nights’ hotel expense (based on
SCRS to Host Affiliate Association Conference Calls
The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) is undertaking an initiative that will allow its 36 state affiliate associations (affiliates) to communicate via conference calls. The calls will be held on the first Tuesday of every other month and begin on Feb. 3. The calls will start at 3 p.m. EST and last no more
House Members Urge Federal Oversight of Insurers
Several members of the House of Representatives urged newly sworn-in Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to increase federal oversight of the insurance industry in a letter last week. The letter’s six authors – Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.), Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif,), Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.), Rep. Michael Castel (R-Del.), Rep. Dennis Moore (R-Kan.), Rep. Ed Royce
House Members Urge Federal Oversight of Insurers
Several members of the House of Representatives urged newly sworn-in Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to increase federal oversight of the insurance industry in a letter last week. The letter’s six authors – Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.), Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif,), Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.), Rep. Michael Castel (R-Del.), Rep. Dennis Moore (R-Kan.), Rep. Ed Royce
First-Party Bad Faith Bill Introduced in New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate is considering a bill that would allow first-party claimants to sue their insurance companies for any violation of the state’s unfair claim settlement practices without needing to prove the insurer violated the law often enough to have it considered a general business practice. Sens. Nicholas Scutari and Jeff Van Drew introduced