National AutoBody Research (NABR) has announced the launch of its VRS Labor Rate Survey in the state of Massachusetts, sponsored by AASP-Massachusetts.
The online survey is free for all Massachusetts collision repair centers and can be found on NABR’s survey website.
Through the VRS Standardized Labor Rate Survey, NABR states that it provides Massachusetts body shops with an independent, third-party survey they can trust to survey labor rates properly and transparently.
“We are very enthusiastic to bring the innovative and proven VRS survey to Massachusetts,” said Lucky Papageorg, executive director of AASP-Massachusetts. “Together, the VRS survey and system specifically address and eliminate the significant obstacles and problems this industry has faced with labor rate surveys and properly measuring market-based labor rates for far too many years, in fact decades.”
NABR says it is independent and does not have a conflict of interest. The VRS survey is openly and equally accessible to all collision centers nationwide. The questionnaire and format are standardized, so all repairers take the same survey. The VRS measures posted labor rates, which NABR says are more indicative of market rates than off-market discounted, negotiated, wholesale or fleet rates not available to the general public. The survey is continuously measuring market rates; it’s not limited to once every year or two or longer.
Further, the VRS reports a range of market rates, not one singular so-called prevailing rate for all shops. The data shows both shops and vehicles are different and do not necessarily have the same labor pricing for collision work. NABR claims the VRS system treats data with integrity, not changing or manipulating data to achieve a particular outcome.
“NABR is delighted to conduct its independent survey in Massachusetts and encouraged to see that the association leadership recognizes the value and power the VRS system brings to the marketplace,” said Richard Valenzuela, CEO of NABR. “We expect strong participation in the survey and look forward to reporting an accurate picture of what market rates really are in the state.”
To check out the Variable Rate System, collision repair owners or decision-makers can request a free online demo.
