37 YEARS
WEST EDITION
AUTOBODY
Vol. 37 / Issue 1 / January 2019
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Insurance Fraud Ring Led by Body Shop Owner Revealed in Sacramento, CA Detectives from the California Department of Insurance arrested four people early the morning of Nov. 16 for allegedly ripping off four auto in-
Credit: CA Dept. of Insurance
surers for more than $34,000 by filing fraudulent insurance claims. One additional suspect was taken into custody Thursday, Nov.15. All suspects were booked in the Sacramento County Jail. Investigated by the Urban Auto Fraud Task Force, which is supervised and led by the California Department of Insurance Enforcement Branch and includes the California Highway Patrol and Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, See Fraud Ring, Page 10
Collision Repair Industry Associations Make 2019 New Year’s Resolutions by Chasidy Rae Sisk
Since the Babylonians began the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions over 4,000 years ago, people around the world have kicked off each new year by making a promise to improve some aspect of their lives. The collision repair industry is no different, and associations around the country have begun thinking about what they can do to improve their organizations in 2019. Fortunately, some of these industry leaders were willing to share their 2019
New Year’s resolutions with Autobody News. Increasing membership, expanding educational offerings and pursuing legislative initiatives were all largely important to associations and the industry in 2018. Collision repair professionals can anticipate seeing these efforts extend into 2019 with renewed vigor. Elijah Winans, board member of the North Carolina Association of Collision and Autobody Repair (NCACAR), would “like to see our membership, attendance See Resolutions, Page 32
AUTOBODYNEWS.COM
CAA Meeting Discusses New BAR Regulations, QC App, Counterfeit Parts by Victoria Antonelli
On Wednesday, Nov. 7, the California Autobody Association (CAA) Los Angeles and Orange County chapters met at Fix Auto Anaheim North in Anaheim, CA, to discuss recent confusion about OPT-OEM parts. The meeting kicked off with registration and a meet-and-greet from 5:30 p.m.–6 p.m., followed by a TexMex style dinner from 6 p.m.–6:30 p.m. Around 75 people attended from across Southern California. A little after 6:30 p.m., Melanie Allan, CAA Los Angeles president and VP of business development and sales at Craftsman Collision in Long
Beach, read the rules and regulations and introduced the four speakers. MyQCIQ App David Caulfield, who hosted the meeting at his Fix Auto Anaheim North shop, took the microphone first. He discussed his 43 years of experience and how recurring industry issues compelled him to strike out on his own and open the 23,000-squarefoot specialized collision services center in February 2018. “I’m trying to turn the tide in the collision repair industry; I’m on your side,” David said to the collision shop owners. “I didn’t want to See CAA Meeting, Page 14
Holidays Holidays y Caliber Collision, ABRA (Auto Body Repair of America) To Merge Caliber Collision (“Caliber”) and ABRA Auto Body Repair of America (“ABRA”) recently announced a definitive merger agreement that brings together the companies’ teams, brands and operations to better serve their customers and insurance clients. The combination joins two complementary leaders in the $47-billiona-year collision repair industry. “This combination will allow us to offer even greater satisfaction for our valued customers and insurance clients while creating new opportunities for the talented teammates of both companies,” said Steve Grimshaw, Caliber Chief Executive Officer. “With more than 1,000 stores in 37
states and the District of Columbia, we look forward to providing customers and insurance clients with the flexibility and convenience that come with the broadest geographic coverage in the United States and a full suite of services.” The combined company will offer customers and clients a single solution with more offerings, including dedicated non-drive, express and aluminum-certified and high-line repair centers. Customers will also benefit from increased choice, as substantial opportunities exist to expand the companies’ offerings, such as glass, mechanical, diagnostic See Caliber Collision, Page 26
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