EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
The Collision Industry Has Changed: Get With It or Get Out!
by CHARLES BRYANT
Ten years ago, who would have thought a car would need to be scanned before and after a repair? Who would have thought shops would have to create a blueprint prior to commencing that repair? Who would have thought that an automobile could actually drive itself while the occupants – including the driver – sit back and read a book while on the way to work or elsewhere? These are all things that we see in the industry today. The problem is that the collision industry and the insurance industry appear to be failing to acknowledge and accept these ultramodern vehicles and their necessary repair procedures.
Collision shops that have been in the business 30 or 40 years can no longer repair the vehicles that are coming through their doors, basically because they don’t have the necessary training and equipment. The equipment that shops have purchased over the past 20 to 30 years is now basically useless when it comes to repairing these vehicles. There were only a few shops that had the foresight to make the investment in the equipment and training ahead of time in order to be prepared for these changes.
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16 | New Jersey Automotive | August 2021
Even the technicians who are used to fixing the highline vehicles in the past are not ready for the models coming out now and in the very near future. In reality, the best technicians can’t fix them because the shops don’t have the right equipment to perform the repairs. The bottom line is that these vehicles have the technology to avoid accidents. I remember years ago when vehicles changed over from body-on-frame to the unitized body. When that change took place, it was gradual and, yes, collision shop owners and technicians panicked because things were so different. However, the change that is taking place now is not gradual. It came all of a sudden, and it requires technicians to be trained all over again because these vehicles and equipment are completely different than those of the past. To add to the shops’ problems, the insurance industry is acting like this is no big deal. They are unwilling to increase the Labor Rates to cover the additional cost of the required equipment and training and pay for the necessary repair procedures. This is a problem that can be dealt with by way of legislation or by taking the insurer to court to force it to pay the cost of the repairs, whether it be the difference in Labor Rate or for the different procedures that are required to repair vehicles safely and properly. When shops are asked about how to deal with these changes, many say, “Well, we won’t repair those types of vehicles that require different equipment and training.” The problem is, it won’t be long before that is the only type of vehicle on the road coming into shops for repairs. So, what’s the answer? The answer is that shops will soon have no choice but to purchase the required equipment and send their people out to receive the required training if they intend to stay in the collision repair business. Shops have to get with it or get out! We will be watching and reporting on the changes in the industry as they take place to keep AASP/NJ members updated. NJA
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