CFA Tells Consumers to Ask Insurers for Auto Rate Reduction
The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) is encouraging consumers to contact their insurance companies to see if they qualify for immediate auto rate reductions based on the fact that most consumers are now driving less due to the price of gasoline topping $4 a gallon nationwide. The CFA says consumers are using mass transportation, car-pooling,
ASA Announces APRA as New Associate Member
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has announced that the Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA) has joined as an associate member. “I’m particularly excited about APRA joining ASA,” said John Scully, ASA’s executive vice president. “This relationship with a well-recognized partner to the industry will increase our ability to fully serve all segments of our membership
News Station Investigates Progressive’s Concierge Program
As the result of one family’s ordeal in trying to get its SUV repaired properly, the Channel 3 I-team out of Connecticut did a special investigation of Progressive’s Concierge Service. The family filed a claim with Progressive and had its car repaired at one of the insurer’s DRP shops. However, after a second accident, another
CIC Posts Estimating Best Practices for Review
The Collision Industry Conference’s Insurance Relations Committee has posted a draft of its Estimating Best Practices for review prior to its next meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz., on July 23. The document contains a proposed outline of procedures to be taken during the estimating process and includes sections on identification and inspection, photographing, parts replacement, full-body/partial
I-CAR Event Boosts Awareness for New Advanced High Strength Steel Training Program
Over 300 industry professionals gathered in Cerritos, Calif., on May 6 to complete the newest I-CAR training program (Steel Unitized Structures Technologies and Repair – SPS07) and understand how the newest I-CAR programs provide the technical knowledge needed to identify and safely repair consumers’ vehicles. Organized by the southern California I-CAR volunteers and program instructors,
Texas Body Shop Wins Governor’s Volunteer Award
Bates Custom & Collision of Baytown and Channelview, Texas, was recently honored by the state of Texas with the Governor’s Volunteer Award for its ongoing community support and contributions to the Harris County Department of Education’s (HCDE) Head Start Centers. Lee and Leila Bates received the award at a June 4 ceremony at the Driskill
House Subcommittee Considers Creation of Federal Insurance Office
The Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises held a hearing June 10 to discuss the creation of a federal Office of Insurance Information (OII). House Resolution 5840, the Insurance Information Act of 2008, was introduced April 17 by Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, D-Pa., subcommittee chairman, along with four other members of the
ASA Announces New Publication Dates, Expanded Business Hours for Summer
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has announced that its biweekly e-newsletter, ASA News-Network, will move to a publishing schedule of every other Tuesday. Subscribers will see the next edition in their e-mail boxes on Tuesday, June 17. In addition, ASA’s national office is expanding its hours of operation Monday through Thursday during the summer
Spartan Chassis, Inc. Honors PPG with 2008 SPARC Award
Spartan Chassis, Inc., a Charlotte, Mich.-based manufacturer of custom chassis and vehicles for the national emergency-rescue, recreational and specialty vehicle markets, recently honored PPG with its 2008 SPARC Award for outstanding supplier performance. The SPARC award, an acronym for “Supplier Performance Action Review Committee,” is based on a Spartan Chassis supplier’s engineering and manufacturing support,
SEMA Offers Self-Adhesive Products Specialist Accreditation
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has added a Self-Adhesive Products Specialist Exam to its battery of installer certification tests. The new SEMA test, known as Z6, will measure real-world knowledge and skills of industry professionals who install self-adhesive products on passenger cars and light-duty trucks. The exam covers a range of product categories,
Progressive’s Earnings Continue Downward Trend
Progressive recently reported that its net income in May fell 3 percent as net premiums written fell slightly. Progressive said net income for the month was $79.3 million, or 12 cents per share, compared with $81.6 million, or 11 cents per share, during the same month last year. Earnings per share rose despite a decline
State Farm Ranks First, Progressive Last in Nebraska Shop Survey
The Nebraska Autobody Association’s (NABA) annual survey of Nebraska body shops rating insurance companies is now complete and the results are similar to a recent survey of Kentucky shops (click HERE for that story) in that State Farm ranked the best while Progressive ranked the worst. The survey was based on the 2007 calendar year