TECH FEATURE: Power with Plasma
The plasma cutter may be mysterious to many, but its functions are undeniable, especially when it comes to cutting heat-treated alloys like boron steel.
New York AG Sends NYSACTA Inquiry to Auto Insurance Fraud Unit
The New York Attorney General’s Office has forwarded a letter about possible price-fixing by auto insurers written by New York State Auto Collision Technicians Association (NYSACTA) President Mike Orso to its Auto Insurance Fraud Unit for further consideration. Orso wrote the letter (click HERE to read it) in the wake of Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s
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.
Photo Enforcement Aims to Cut Collisions in Arizona
Many factors have been cited as reasons why the number of collisions has decreased from the early 1990s to the present: introduction of the third brake light, safer roads, the increasing prevalence of accident avoidance technology, etc. But now at least one state is claiming that crime-fighting cameras located on busy interstates are also helping
Liberty Mutual Providing Total Loss Records to Carfax
Liberty Mutual, the nation’s eighth-largest car insurer, is providing Carfax with its data on every car the insurer declared a total loss and sold for salvage for the past five years and going forward. The information will be disclosed to buyers on Carfax vehicle history reports. "Varying state laws and a deceitful practice called ‘title
Don’t Leave Dollars on the Table: Total Losses
Total losses are often regarded as a loss to a body shop. But the fact is the loss is your customers’ and doesn’t have to be borne in any sense by your business.
OSHA: When Safety is a 4-Letter Word
An OSHA inspector recently showed up to perform a ‘random’ inspection. He noted two minor violations and complimented us on our compliance, saying the average body shop has 12 violations. Because he said his report would reflect favorably on us, we mistakenly thought our fines would only be a few hundred bucks.
Innovative (and Cool) Stuff for the Paint Shop
During the recent NACE show in Las Vegas, I made the rounds of the paint manufacturer’s display booths. (It’s nice to have them back at NACE, by the way.) My topic for this article is new paint technologies, and I was able to speak to someone knowledgeable at each of the booths. I simply asked
Truce: Working with Insurance Adjusters
If you ever need to energize a bunch of bored shop owners, bring up working with insurance adjusters. This topic can incite a lively discussion among even a reserved group of repairers. That’s because everyone has a war story or two about an adjuster experience and they’re usually eager to share it. One of my