Associations Assembling with Chasidy Rae Sisk
Chasidy Rae Sisk is a freelance technical writer from Wilmington, Delaware, who writes on a variety of fields and subjects, and grew up in a family of NASCAR fans. She can be contacted at crsisk@gmail.com.
Collision Training on ADAS, EVs, Total Losses and Phone Skills at ASA’s X50 Conference
Southeast News
The recent ASA X50 Conference & repair network processes, which in- OEM’s progress towards an electric Expo offered more than 50 live train- cludes benchmarking industry compet- fleet. ing sessions, including five classes itors, soliciting feedback from dealers Discussing high voltage awarewith Chasidy Rae Sisk specific to collision repair profes- and the collision industry, and collab- ness and training, Allen stressed, sionals. orating cross-functionally with Global “Everyone in our dealerships and our “Our engaging platform will Aftersales Engineering, CCA Collision collision network has to be trained to provide attendees with an inviting Wholesale Dealer Channel and Pro- know and identify EVs to recognize experience to learn from and inter- duction Engineering. that they shouldn’t touch the cabling act with instructors, sponsors and “There’s no compromise when and that it will require special care. Chasidy Rae Sisk their peers in awith way that uses techit comes to safety,” Blackmore con- Our high voltage technicians are nology to strengthen their networks cluded. “OEM repair procedures must trained to run diagnostics and de-enand build their industry knowledge,” be used 100% of the time, but the in- ergize the system, and high voltage said ASA Executive Director Ray dustry should stay close to the OEMs experts are trained in all high voltFisher. since technology is changing rapidly.” age systems and can repair all sys GM’s John Eck and Chris Roger Cada of Accountable tems, including the battery.” with Chasidy Rae Sisk Blackmore presented “GM Driving Estimating LLC presented “Estima- Allen discussed the safety conTechnology: Advanced Technologies tion, Education and Documentation cerns related to repairing EVs, notin ADAS and the Impact to the Re- that Drive Bottom Line Results.” ing the high voltage technician must pair Industry,” stressing the impor- “The facts of the loss are critical observe three safety rules before betance of scanning and calibrations because they tell you what damag- ginning the repair: de-energize the and providing updates on GM’s Coles are on that car… Since COVID, vehicle, secure the system against with Chasidy Rae Sisk restarting and check no lision Repair Network processes. you’ve become the eyes “[GM has] planned over 20 new and ears for the insurer, voltage is present. models in the coming years to move impacting the estimate and “You might think you’re to an electric vehicle fleet,” Eck if it starts off wrong, it will a rebel living in the mosaid, noting regulations, safety ex- never end up right,” Cada ment, but realistically, that pectations and ADAS features have began. “And the process moment is already past hiswith Chasidy Rae Sisk influenced changes in the industry. begins when you first talk tory,” he quipped. “We’re “And that’s exciting times, but it to the customer and get the already involved with these Kristen Felder vehicles and repairing them. also presents a mound of problems facts of the loss so you can and issues for our industry that we write the most accurate estimate ev- So, in all this confusion, ask yourhave to resolve. ery time. self, ‘Are you feeling lucky?’ Or “Gas regulations light “We have to build evidence are you ready for the future of the with required Chasidy Rae Sisk er vehicles, while also enhancing through documentation,” Cada con- e-tron?” safety expectations,” Eck explained. tinued. “It’s critical that we capture Kristen Felder, CEO of Colli“Safety is king, and customers are the evidence well so we can properly sion Hub, taught two classes during continually looking for safety op- assess the damage and have an out- ASA’s X50 Conference. The first, tions to protect their occucome that actually restores “Total Loss File Handling,” explored Chasidy Rae Sisk it to its pre-accident condi- the total loss process. pants and the with investment they’ve made. That requires tion. The evidence you’ve “Running a collision repair shop collected also justifies your has become more about accounting, a change in how vehicles are built and the technology charges, preventing insurers law, psychology and other adminoffered on them, including from saying no. But once istrative tasks than about actually the creation of new ADAS with Chasidy Rae Sisk you start repairing the vehi- repairing the vehicle,” Felder said. systems. More features becle, the evidence isn’t there, “The administrative side has become Mark Allen ing added to vehicles, forcso you need to collect it at almost overwhelming.” ing evolutionary change. The goal the very beginning.” Shops should be aware of multiis a world with zero crashes, zero Cada proceeded through a step- ple legal terms to be prepared to conemissions and zero congestion.” by-step breakdown of the documen- tend with a total loss situation. Felder Eck discussed the importance of tation required to provide evidence defined bailment and explained how scanning and calibration as Attanasio it pertains justifying the repairs performed, a law of contracts “gives you the with Ed to vehicles equipped with ADAS, in- such as pre-scans, clear images, ability to ensure a vehicle doesn’t get cluding how to access GM’s calibra- measurements and test drives. abandoned or pulled from you withtion documents. “Audi North America: EV and out your fees being paid.” Blackmore then discussed the Evolving Technology,” presented by She warned, “When it comes changes GM is making to its collision Audi’s Mark Allen, focused on the to total losses, having a ‘repair con-
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tract’ may not protect you from having vehicles removed and you not getting paid, or it may not protect your customer from having settlements diminished because of that.” After becoming familiar with civil and contract laws, Felder emphasized knowing state and municipal regulations is imperative since certain jurisdictions clearly identify who is qualified to be a storage or towing company, and those laws may also “govern what you can charge and lay out actions that are required on your end. If you have a regulation and don’t comply, you may not be able to collect what you’re charging.” Discussing how to establish services and pricing for total losses, Felder said, “If you’re in a contractual agreement that says you can’t charge for any services on a total loss, you’re stuck at this point, but if you don’t have that agreement, what do you charge? “Your duty is to be able to describe the reasonableness of your decisions. Whatever you charge, you’d best be able to explain each line to every 10th or every penny you have on the estimate because that’s going to be compared to ‘reasonable’ in other places.” Felder discussed common reasons related to the total loss process, which collision shops may charge, including fees related to intake, notification, securing the vehicle, administration, collision access time, cataloging and storing removed parts, environmental protection, photo documentation, repair planning, vehicle mobility, vehicle disposition, OEM access, DMV/lien/legal expenses and storage. Next, Felder recommended shops create and store pre-written form letters, which can easily be updated with the client and vehicle-specific information. She provided a list of pre-written letters to keep on hand, such as confirmation of pickup disposition, summary of charges for pickup, status update total loss, notice of total loss, summary of inspection with fees, authorization for inspec-
