State Farm, Allstate Raising Rates in Texas
State Farm and Allstate customers in Texas will be paying increased rates, despite urging from the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) to governors nationwide to look into lowering insurance rates to match decreased driving due to high fuel costs. State Farm Mutual, with 3 million policyholders, will increase rates an average 2.4 percent Oct. 27;
More Than 60 Vehicles Promised for NABC’s Recycled Rides
The National Auto Body Council (NABC) 2008 Recycled Rides project is closing in on its target of making 100 simultaneous vehicle donations the week of Thanksgiving. Participating collision repair facilities have already committed to repair over 60 vehicles. For the project, NABC members repair and donate recycled vehicles to families in need throughout the United
Auction, Raffle for March Taylor Fund Slated for NACE
A silent auction and raffle to support the March Taylor Memorial Fund, which supports training for collision industry technicians, will be held at this year’s NACE, Nov. 4-6 in Las Vegas. The silent auction featuring products from Kent Automotive, Dent Fix Equipment, 3M, Infratech, Car-O-Liner, SATA, Miller and others will be held during the Collision
Caliber Collision Centers Opens New Location in Dallas
Caliber Collision Centers, an Irvine, Calif.-based operator of collision repair facilities in California and Texas, announced the opening of a newly designed 61,000-square-foot facility in Dallas, Texas, located at the entrance to Dallas Love Field Airport. This new facility, a relocation of Caliber’s Northwest Dallas center, was built in response to the needs of Caliber’s
PPG’s Aquabase Plus to be Used in Chrysler’s National Training Center
Chrysler Corporation announced it has installed an Aquabase Plus waterborne paint system in its Auburn Hills, Mich., national technical training center, bringing it into conformance with other Chrysler facilities. The majority of Chrysler assembly plants already use PPG waterborne coatings. “We have been using PPG systems for years. When we decided to go green, we
Insurance Association Disappointed in Court Ruling on Labor Rate Survey
The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) expressed its disappointment with a ruling by a Rhode Island Superior Court judge that would require every insurance carrier authorized to sell motor vehicle liability insurance in the state to conduct a labor rate survey and use this information as the sole determinant of the prevailing auto
Zara’s Receives Russ Verona Memorial Award for Industry Achievement
Zara’s Collision Center of Springfield, Ill., recently was recognized for achievement in the collision repair industry with the Russ Verona Memorial Award. Brad Zara, owner of Zara’s Collision Center, accepted the award on behalf of the business at the I-CAR International Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz. Eligibility for the award is based on achieving the
URG Advisory Group Releases New Training Tool About Automotive Recycling
United Recyclers Group (URG) released a new PowerPoint training tool that explains the automotive recycling industry and features nearly 25 experts in several areas, including: automotive recycling, information providers (including parts location services and estimating software), auto insurance and the collision and repair industries. The presentation, “Green, Lean, and Sustainable: The New Era of Automotive
Industry Veteran Scott Shriber Named Publisher of BodyShop Business Magazine
Scott Shriber has been named publisher of BodyShop Business, a Babcox publication serving the collision repair industry. Shriber begins his new role as publisher on Monday, Aug. 25. “We look forward to the unique and in-depth industry insights Scott brings to his role as publisher of BodyShop Business,” said Bill Babcox, president of Babcox Publications.
Mentors at Work Seeking ‘Mentor of the Year’ Nominations
Mentors at Work is seeking nominations from the collision repair industry for consideration for the “Mentor of the Year” award. This award will be presented to a journeyman technician, currently working in a shop, who has shown exceptional skill in teaching and training new technicians for his or her employer. The award will be presented
SCRS Accepting Executive Director Applicants
The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) is seeking applicants for its executive director position. The current executive director, Dan Risley, is resigning effective Aug. 25. In an effort to expedite the process of finding a replacement, SCRS has formed an executive director search committee that is now accepting resumes for the position. Candidates should