CONSOLIDATOR REPORT: New Jersey Shop Cut by Chrysler, Texas Shop Changes Hands
The Detroit Three’s ongoing troubles hit home for at least one body shop this month. Tally’s Chrysler Dodge and Auto Body in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, is closing due to dealership cutbacks ordered by Chrysler. APP.com reported that 25 body shop and service employees were laid off at Tally’s last week, and the dealership, which
North Carolina Shop Holds ‘Fix My Wreck’ Contest
True2Form, a multi-location collision repair organization, recently conducted a promotion at its Hickory, North Carolina, facility, teaming up with the local Salvation Army to completely repair a needy citizen’s “wreck” of a car. The promotion – “Fix My Wreck…Please!” – was the brainchild of True2Form Hickory Location Manager Loren Lowe, who saw a need to
AMI Accepting Applications for NACE and CARS Scholarships
The Automotive Management Institute (AMI) is offering several scholarships for collision and mechanical technicians. Scholarship money will be put toward attending the 2009 International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) or the Congress of Automotive Repair & Service (CARS) in Las Vegas Nov. 4-9. To request an application for any of the following scholarships, call AMI
Get Busy When Slow
All I keep hearing out there is how everyone has been so busy due to the harsh winter weather we received in many parts of the country this year. But I suspect that when spring breaks and gas prices spike this summer, there will once again be a dearth of repair work and many shops
Letters to the Editor
The New DRP I was confused by your January 2009 cover story [“The New DRP,” pg. 22]. There are so many reasons why DRPs should be banned, and even though the article touches on the fact that many people in the collision repair industry feel that way, it takes on a defeated tone. Rather than
Legislative Lowdown
Federal – The U.S. Department of Justice recently released the final rules for the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS), created by a 1992 law to prevent title washing. The rules, which were effective April 1, require insurers to report vehicles that have been declared total losses under state law and by their own
READER’S CHOICE: Dealing with Inexperienced Estimators
“Is the trend of young, ill-prepared insurance estimators here to stay? How will this affect sales when estimates are so poorly written and biased more than ever in favor of insurers?” – Thomas Graddy, owner, Graddy’s Body Shop, Earlington, Ky.
READER’S CHOICE: Attracting New Talent
“How do we draw more technicians into this business? We’re making less profit and doing more work for the insurance companies. The insurance companies are going to force themselves into a situation where they won’t have qualified shops.” – Bob Showers, body shop manager, Bentley Pontiac-GMC, Huntsville, Ala.
Overcoming Resistance to Change in a Lean Environment
With change comes resistance and pushback. But here are some ways, when implementing lean, to get everyone to trust that what you’re
doing is a better way.
TECH FEATURE: The Case of the Murdered Paint Job
A horrible paint job. A miffed vehicle owner. An upset insurance company. We were out to crack the case. And everyone and everything were suspects.
