Wharton Insurance Briefs

ARANJ Board of Directors

David Yeager - EL & M Auto (800) 624-2266 / elandmauto@aol.com

Ed Silipena - American II Autos (609) 965-0987 / esilipena@yahoo.com

Norm Vachon - Port Murray Auto (908) 689-3152 / portmurrayauto@yahoo.com

Dillon Rinkens - East Brunswick Auto (732) 254-6501 / ebautonj@comcast.net ARANJ Officers

President - Rodney Krawczyk Ace Auto Wreckers (732) 254-9816 / aceautonj@comcast.net

1st Vice President - Daryl Carman Lentini Auto Salvage (908) 782-4440 / darryl@las-parts.coms

2nd Vice President - Mike Ronayne Tilghmans Auto Parts (609) 723-7469 / tilghmans@snip.net

Past President - Bob Dirkes Dirkes Used Auto Parts (609) 625-1718 / dirkesauto@gmail.com

ARANJ

The Automotive Recyclers Association of New Jersey

Wharton Insurance Briefs

It is that time of year again where many of you will be renewing your workers’ compensation insurance and obtaining an audit for the prior year’s policy. We have had this conversation at many of our ARA meetings. In order to prevent any problems on workers’ compensation audits regarding the classification of employees, make sure you are prepared for your audit. You should assign each employee into the proper classification to avoid these problems. There are several classifications that are typical to recycling operations. There is auto dismantling; iron and steel scrap dealer; store auto retail; auto garage or repair; outside salesperson; and clerical. You must have a clear physical separation of duties in order to use any or all of these classifications. For example, you must have a separate office for clerical and a separate area for store auto retail (counter area), and the auto dismantling operations must be separated by a fence or barrier from the iron and steel scrap operations. There also cannot be any intermingling of employee duties. If done correctly, there can be a major difference in premium.

When an auditor contacts you to perform your audit, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns regarding the proper classification of your employees.

NJA

Mario DeFilippis, AAI Vice President (732) 686-7020 (office) (908) 513-8588 (cell) mdefilippis@whartoninsurance.com

continued from pg. 11

Then I saw her. I had remembered her from my college days. It was across the bridge in Lyndhurst. I remembered going there once or twice and liking her. So, what the hell, I went on Tinder (actually Slice. Try this app. You can have the pizza EXACTLY the way you want it) and put in my profile (order). At first, she was a flirt. Not exactly what I wanted, but I was patient. By the third date, she was more than I could have hoped for. Now, a year or so later, I’m thinking of taking the next step. It may be time to commit. Jo Jo’s Pizza and Pasta Kitchen, I’m yours.

It’s good to be in love again.

NJA

continued from pg. 14

You own that liability for the life of that automobile. It’s not worth throwing away everything you’ve worked for to unjustly enrich an insurer. So, how do we fight back against these things and get back to focusing on repairing vehicles – the thing we’re all in business to do in the first place? It all comes down to getting consumers involved. I can tell you that I’ve seen my customers become more knowledgeable over the past few years in regard to their policies, what they expect their insurers to do and the level of quality repairs they should expect every time they file a claim. They are beginning to understand that the insurance industry has turned the claim center into a profit center at their expense. They’re seeing through the smokescreen clearly.

If we’re going to add one more job to our plates, let it be to serve as consumer advocates and educate vehicle owners that they have the power to change the insurance industry. Once that finally happens, we can go back to just fixing cars. Imagine that. It’s not a dream.

NJA

E.D. MESSAGE

continued from pg. 16

be drawn, or a rule must be created, to prevent this type of improper activity by the insurance industry.

The two examples I used were reported to the AASP/NJ Hot Line, which ultimately assisted the members in coming to a resolution. The problem is this type of activity is going on across New Jersey at shops that are not members or at member facilities that are unaware that the AASP/NJ Hot Line exists. Therefore, I would encourage more shops to join AASP/NJ. For those who are already members, utilize the AASP/NJ Hot Line to resolve improper activity before it becomes a way of doing business. It can be reached at (732) 922-8909.

Association (WMABA) is hard at work developing this year’s NORTHEAST education and training schedule via its popular Collision Professional Repairer Education Program (Collision P.R.E.P.).

“WMABA is proud to return to NORTHEAST with a live Collision P.R.E.P. series for the third time,” WMABA Executive Director Jordan Hendler comments. “Although we’ve all been able to conduct business and offer training via virtual events since last year, nothing compares to doing these things in a one-on-one format. Repairers are hungry to get out of their four walls, and these events will give them the chance to experience the familiar while also getting a handle on new trends. Ideas and practices that will help them build a more productive and profitable future. Collision P.R.E.P. will be one of only a few live educational opportunities even offered to the industry in 2021. With much of the normal options being virtual, there are only a couple of groups even meeting in person before the year ends. WMABA and AASP/NJ are making every stride they can to bring the education and show forward.”

One of the Collision P.R.E.P. courses confirmed at press time, “Collision Repair 2035: Trends and Technologies That Will Force the Collision Industry to Reinvent Itself by 2035!” will feature Frank Terlep of Auto Techcelerators, LLC, who will walk participants through what the automotive and insurance fields could look like in 14 short years. Having already delivered a similar overview during an intriguing presentation at the most recent Collision Industry Conference (CIC), Terlep was a clear choice for WMABA as the industry professional to do a deep dive into what the industry will very likely face in the future.

This year’s Collision P.R.E.P. will also feature a panel discussion on the Right to Appraisal, otherwise known as the Appraisal Clause. The discussion will feature industry experts and leading repairers who will detail their experiences and processes surrounding what was once considered the taboo part of an insurance policy but has now become a powerful consumer-protection tool. Updates and additional information on Collision P.R.E.P. will be featured in next month’s New Jersey Automotive. AASP/NJ thanks these generous sponsors for their support of NORTHEAST 2021: Platinum Sponsor: BASF; Gold Sponsor: Ford; Silver Sponsors: PPG, NJ Parts of Flemington; Lanyard Sponsors: Innovative Solutions and Technology, Spanesi; Attendee Prize Sponsor: Axalta Coating Systems; and General Sponsors: Harbortouch and SherwinWilliams Automotive Finishes.

Pre-registered NORTHEAST 2020 attendees will not need to re-register for the 2021 show, as badge data will be carried over to these new dates of September 10-12.

For updates and information on NORTHEAST (including available lodging), please continue to visit the official event website at aaspnjnortheast.com.

NJA