Texas Automotive December 2023

The official publication of the Auto Body Association of Texas (ABAT)

December 2023 $5.95

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Contents

DECEMBER 2023

on the

cover

Official publication of the Auto Body Association of Texas

ABAT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ABAT’S EFFORTS EARN NATIONAL RECOGNITION

16

by Alana Quartuccio

DEPARTMENTS 4 6 7 8 9 10 14 17 18

President Burl Richards Burl's Collision Center burl@burlscollision.com (903) 657-8082

Vice President Eric McKenzie Park Place Dealerships emckenzie@parkplace.com (214) 443-8250

Chairman of the Board Corey Pigg S&W Expert Collision Repair coreyp@swcollision.com (936) 634-8361

Treasurer David Osburn “Ozzy” David McDavid Ford ozzy6384@gmail.com (817) 648-5759

Executive Director Jill Tuggle jill@abat.us (817) 899-0554

ABAT BOARD MEMBERS

EDITOR’S MESSAGE by Chasidy Rae Sisk My Little Pink Pickup Truck PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE by Burl Richards Disappointment with Mitchell’s Response to the SCRS Blend Study ABAT MEMBER APPLICATION

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE by Jill Tuggle A Year in Review UPCOMING ABAT WEBINAR REGISTRATION Financial Planning for the Whole Shop: Technician to Owner ABAT NEWS by Chasidy Rae Sisk Texas Shops Learn How to Make Money with ADAS Calibrations ABAT FEATURE ABAT Houston TopGolf FUNdraiser Highlights NATIONAL NEWS by Alana Quartuccio ABAT Joins SCRS in Remembering John Mosley at CIC ASK THE EXPERT by Robert L. McDorman Joe Collins: True Texas Hero

Bobby Beason DeMontrond Collision Center bobby.beason@demontrond.com (936) 577-2747

Robert McDorman Auto Claim Specialists rmcdorman@autoclaimspecialists.com (817) 756-5482

Larry Cernosek Deer Park Paint & Body lcwrecker@comcast.net (281) 930-1539

Chad Neal Innovative Collision Equipment Chadwneal@yahoo.com (817) 527-2143

Kevin Ellison Westway Ford kellison@vtaig.com (972) 584-9033

Logan Payne Payne & Sons Paint & Body logan@paynescollision.com­ (214) 321-4362

Brandon Gillespy Park Place BodyWerks bgillespy@parkplace.com 214-443-8250

Anthony Palomo West Texas Auto Color japalomo3@yahoo.com (806) 831-7765

Chad Kiffe Berli's Body & Fine Finishes chadk@berlisbody.com (512) 251-6136

Manuel Rubio Miracle Body & Paint manuelr@miraclebp.com (210) 843-9564

Greg Luther Helfman Collision gluther@helfman.com (713) 574-5060

Albert Salinas South Houston Nissan asalinas@southhoustonnissan.com 833-856-7871

Darrell Smith McDaniel’s Quality Body Works Inc darrell-mcdaniels@sbcglobal.net (903) 753-5391

Mike Williams All Star Collision Center sales@allstarcollision.us (903) 589-3160

Published by: Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. 244 Chestnut Street, Suite 202, Nutley, NJ 07110 Corporate: (973) 667-6922 / FAX: (973) 235-1963 PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Thomas Greco / thomas@grecopublishing.com VICE PRESIDENT/SALES DIRECTOR Alicia Figurelli / alicia@grecopublishing.com EDITORIAL/CREATIVE COORDINATOR Alana Quartuccio / alana@grecopublishing.com MANAGING EDITOR Chasidy Rae Sisk / chasidy@grecopublishing.com PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Joe Greco / joe@grecopublishing.com

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

OFFICE MANAGER Donna Greco / donna@grecopublishing.com

1SourceADAS....................................................6

FindPigtails.com................................................23

AkzoNobel.........................................................13

Paint Works Dallas...........................................IFC

All Clear Diagnostics & Calibration..............12

Petty Details.......................................................8

Auto Claim Specialists....................................19

Spanesi...............................................................9

Beacon Equipment Resources.....................23

Thomas Greco Publishing..............................22

CAR-O-LINER Southwest...............................15

Transparent Claim / Who-Owes-What........5

Classic Chevrolet.............................................24

USI........................................................................21

Ecotech...............................................................23

Womens Industry Network............................22 3 DECEMBER 2023 Texas Automotive

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS: Burl Richards / Jill Tuggle Robert L. McDorman / Mike Anderson / Jacquelyn Bauman @grecopublishing

www.grecopublishing.com TEXAS AUTOMOTIVE is published monthly and is sent to ABAT members free of charge. Subscriptions are $24 per year. TEXAS AUTOMOTIVE is published by Thomas Greco Publishing Inc., 244 Chestnut St., Nutley, NJ 07110. The editorial contents of TEXAS AUTOMOTIVE are copyright © 2023 by Thomas Greco Publishing Inc. and may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher and/or editor.

Articles in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Thomas Greco Publishing Inc. Stock Images courtesy of www. istockphoto.com.

Editor’s Message

My Little Pink Pickup Truck

M

My 20-year-old bonus kid recently bought her first car: a 2003 Lincoln Town Car Executive. So, basically a bus that’s the same age as she is – and also the same age as my high school diploma.

I bought my first vehicle back in high school, as soon as I turned 16 and got my license, with help from my Poppop who found it and loaned me the money. Each month, I’d write him a check for $85 and fill out a coupon from a receipt book that my mom bought me so that she could teach me about responsibilities. But that truck… shew, I loved that truck!

I don’t know exactly why I first got it into my head that I wanted a pickup truck, but that’s what I decided about a year before I was going to get to drive. I wanted a black Chevy S-10 or Ford Ranger, and I fully intended to get pink and purple flames painted down the sides (it’s okay to judge me; I now judge my younger self)! Alas, there were no small black pickup trucks to be found in my price range around my way, so my Poppop went on the prowl for me.

He was so excited when he called me to tell me that he’d found the perfect vehicle: a 1995 “maroon” Chevy S-10 for just $6,000 with something like 35,000 miles on it.

I was less excited. Maroon? Yuck. But I was 16, and a vehicle meant freedom, so I mentally prepared to drive something ugly – at least I’d be driving.

Mom conveyed me the two hours to the town where my grandparents lived, and Poppop was grinning like the Cheshire cat as we pulled up to his buddy’s car lot.

Before long, I was smiling even wider!

Turns out that “maroon” truck was actually more like magenta – my favorite color.

(That was also my first encounter with the fact that men’s eye for color is extremely different than a woman’s!)

Well, I was thrilled as I drove that little S-10 off the lot. And that joy never wore off over the next two years that it served as my transportation. I decorated it with pink leopard print seat covers and tacky fuzzy dice, even got a stereo put in (which was subsequently stolen from the school parking lot). That truck took me everywhere.

And the coolest thing about it? It was a truck! So while a lot of my friends would ride down Main Street over and over again, I’d do one loop down the one-way street and then park in the biggest shopping center, turn up my music and dance in the truck bed with my friends – we could basically throw a party anywhere we went.

And it was definitely a party because I had an unfortunate habit of cramming four or five of us in that little front seat for short distances.

It’s funny when I think about vehicles from that time. I remember my pink pickup like it was yesterday, and while I cannot tell you what any of my friends drive today, I can still picture my best friend Mike’s 1981 Mercury Capri; I can also feel the frigid temperatures that winter since his heat 4 DECEMBER 2023 Texas Automotive

didn’t work and Chasidy Rae Sisk his roof leaked, Managing Editor but he started driving before I did so it was better than the school bus!

And anyone who knew Missy (my other bestie) back then would recognize her Geo Metro from a mile away – the green car was pretty distinct with its red door and purple fender! As we reminisced about her first car, she reminded me that she had to “change lanes by putting my hand out the window while driving on the interstate. I may have been in the trunk at one point when it was picked up and moved…and driving over the Route 1 bridge was a deathdefying feat as I had to floor it to reach the peak and often got side-swiped by the wind!”

That S-10 was actually the only used car I’d ever owned until last year. I bought a Dodge Neon after high school, and my college graduation gift to myself was a Ford Mustang, my dream car at the time. I’ve since owned two Nissan Altimas – one black and one white. And I now own my second truck, which was my Poppop’s work truck.

He wasn’t here to loan me the money for that one, but thanks to his lessons, I had the cash in my savings account to hand over to my Mommom to prevent her from selling to a stranger. I love that truck because it was his. But I loved that S-10 because it was mine. I sold that little pink pickup truck just about 20 years ago, yet I still think of it fondly because it was my introduction to adulthood and freedom. I think most of us feel similarly about our first cars, and I’d love to hear about yours! What did you start driving? TXA

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5 DECEMBER 2023 Texas Automotive

President’s Message

E

Disappointment with Mitchell’s Response to the SCRS Blend Study

Ever since the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) released the results of their blend study last year, I’ve been watching to see what the information providers (IPs) were going to do with the data that SCRS, AkzoNobel, Axalta, BASF, PPG and SherwinWilliams gathered so meticulously and painstakingly. Overall, I’ve found their responses – or lack thereof – to be pretty telling, but we HAVE seen progress.

They all started off by saying they would check out the study, and CCC/MOTOR was the first to determine that they would make an update to their system, which we saw back in October when the IP released a new “edit blend rules” functionality which calls for an on-the-spot evaluation that allows users to input a default value for two-stage and three-stage blends, or it gives users the option to have the system prompt them for the blend time specific to that repair.

Then, Audatex promised that they’ll be making a change to their system that will allow shops to indicate their own blend

refinish percentage.

But what about Mitchell? Well, based on the latest updates from SCRS, it seems like Mitchell disagrees with the results of Burl Richards ABAT President the blend study, which just doesn’t make a lick of sense to me, so while I was in Las Vegas for SEMA 2023, I took advantage of my opportunity to corner some folks from Mitchell to find out what’s what.

AASP/NJ Collision Director Jerry McNee and I ran into John Strong and Jerry Gastineau from Mitchell, and we figured it was time to figure out why they haven’t made any changes yet. Now, y’all probably know I’m pretty straightforward about things, so I came right out and told them that I’m pretty frustrated and don’t really understand why they haven’t addressed it.

These guys basically told me that Mitchell has done its own blend study and disagrees with what SCRS did! Now, I find that

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continued on pg. 20

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6 DECEMBER 2023 Texas Automotive

MEMBER

Join ABAT today in our mission to promote consumer safety, proper repairs and the success of the collision repair industry!

WE CAN’T WAIT FOR YOU TO SHARE YOUR IDEAS! 7 DECEMBER 2023 Texas Automotive

Executive Director’s Message

A Year in Review 2023 was a beautiful year for ABAT. I am so proud of the things we accomplished and where we are headed. The question I hear so often is “What is ABAT doing for me?” Let’s take a quick journey backwards to see just what we were up to all year.

So, let me tell you: January 10: Because of the advocacy work done by ABAT and its partners, Texas Office of Public Insurance Counsel (OPIC) makes a recommendation that legislature be passed to INCLUDE the Right to Appraisal in every insurance policy in Texas.

January 12: HB 1321 is filed, addressing safe and proper parts and repairs, and introduced to the Texas Legislature.

January 18: HB 1437 is filed, addressing the consumers’ Right to Appraisal, and is introduced to the Texas Legislature.

February 23: Nearly 30 collision repair professionals from every corner of Texas traveled to the state capitol to raise awareness for our bills, visiting over 150 offices.

March 1: ABAT attends career day at a local high school to raise awareness of the vast array of employment opportunities that exist in every area of the collision repair industry.

March 3: Collin College receives a Level 2 Glue Pulling System donation from KECO because of ABAT’s nomination.

March 18: ABAT brings the BIG SHOTS Competition to the NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show after it has garnered national attention from other trade shows.

May 11: ABAT hosts another record-breaking Clay Shooting event – the Dean Griffin Memorial Skeet Shoot, raising over $5,000 in scholarship funds for the daughter of late Board member, Dean Griffin.

August 25: More attendance records broken at the 2023 Texas Auto Body Trade Show with over 800 in attendance Jill Tuggle ABAT Executive Director and sold-out educational classes. ABAT secures its place in the top three auto body trade shows in the US. September 22: Large Austin news outlet airs a story on a customer who was under-indemnified by her insurance carrier, and shops are interviewed on the importance of making safe repairs.

October 1: ABAT announces year-end monthly webinar series aimed to equip shops to “Finish Strong in ‘23.”

October 31: ABAT wins Affiliate Association Award from the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) at the Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards ceremony. This was a very high honor that we are extremely proud of. (See page 16 for the full story!)

November 1: AUTEL offers a major giveaway to an ABAT member…a $10,000 ADAS equipment package! The prize is drawn on the SEMA floor and announced on Facebook Live. New ABAT member McCarley’s Hail & Collision wins the prize.

November 9: ABAT hosts Topgolf FUNdraiser in Houston, which is an awesome opportunity to engage with the local collision industry.

December 13: ABAT to close 2023 with its last installment of “Finish Strong in ‘23” full of bite-sized tips on how to start the new year with financial fitness, risk assessment and a full staff.

Whew! I’m tired just typing that all up!

As you read the timeline and accomplishments above, you can see that ABAT stays busy all year long investing in future talent, advocating for safe and proper repairs, providing training and product solutions and partnering with other organizations on a national level to advance the industry. We are often given accolades for our hard work, which doesn’t always lead to the outcome we expect, but it always brings awareness and education to the important issues we rally behind and that, to us, is still success.

jill@abat.com

TXA 8 DECEMBER 2023 Texas Automotive

Upcoming ABAT Webinar

Financial Planning for the Whole Shop: Technician to Owner December 13, 2023

12:00pm

with Rachel James of Torque Financial Group

To register for this webinar, please visit: https://abat.us/2023/09/webinars/

9 DECEMBER 2023 Texas Automotive

ABAT News

Texas Shops Learn How to Make Money with ADAS Calibrations What’s more exciting than an educational opportunity to learn more about profiting from ADAS calibrations? Winning an IA800 LDW30T ADAS Package from Autel!

ABAT recently held the first in a series of three webinars as the association helps members “Finish Strong in 2023.”

“Making Money with ADAS Calibrations” featured Autel’s Richard Zenteno along with Gary Machiros of Angie’s Service Center (Newbury, MA) who shared some tips on setting up a separate ADAS calibrations repair center.

Zenteno began by providing some collision facts: Over one million car accidents occur in the US every year, more than 90 people die in car accidents every day, and three million people in the US are injured in car accidents each year. “It takes an average of 4.6 seconds to send a text; that’s the equivalent of driving a whole football stadium blind,” he pointed out, noting that “94 percent of accidents are caused by distracted driving and poor judgment.

And ADAS is here to decrease that number of accidents by 30 to 40 percent.”

Although ADAS strives to decrease the number of accidents, the complexity of repairs is increasing, according to Zenteno, who spent a bit of time offering insights and clarification into some common ADAS myths and misconceptions. First, he asked what’s calibrated – the ADAS technology or the sensor – and explained, “The answer is the sensor. When you calibrate the sensor, all the software that uses the sensor as an input is calibrated at the same time.”

Another myth is that there’s no need to calibrate if the camera or radar sensor is unplugged. Calibrations are also necessary even when there are no warning lights on the dash. If a DTC is present, it’s clear that a calibration is needed “because these systems and sensors are not smart enough to know that you’ve removed it from each bracket,” he said.

When it comes to ADAS, shops are dealing with different types of calibrations: static and dynamic. “The biggest issue here is the environment when you’re dealing with dynamic,” Zenteno said.

“It’s not that the system is not working. It’s that it’s just too slow to react and so when we are calibrating, what we’re doing is we’re giving this sensor a reference point. That reference point is going to be used by the software to actually make the calculations. The pitch,

the yaw and the roll are basically the variables that this camera and, in the case of radar, pitch and yaw that we have.”

Looking at what happens when shops fail to calibrate, Zenteno turned to a study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), where they tested multiple vehicles equipped with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking as they drove toward another vehicle at 25 miles per hour. A slight rotation of the camera reduced the average collision warning from 3.38 seconds to 2.78 seconds, and it reduced the automatic emergency braking time from 1.47 seconds to 0.89 seconds.

Pre-collision systems are the number one ADAS that shops are likely to see on vehicles in coming years. Earlier this year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed adopting new standards that would require new vehicles to be equipped with automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning systems. Projections indicate that by 2030, 75 percent of all vehicles will have ADAS…and the ADAS calibrations industry is anticipated to grow from $27.2 billion to $75 billion in the same timeframe, so “there’s a lot of profit, a lot of money to be made,” Zenteno stressed the potential, indicating that a center could earn around $378,000 in a year by performing just five calibrations daily for 252 days out of the year.

Yet, more than half of shops are not working on vehicles with ADAS, according to an industry survey that Zenteno cited. “There’s a lack of training, so we definitely have to talk to our personnel and train them on how to identify the ADAS sensors on these vehicles because it’s very important.”

Machiros assumed control of the presentation to provide some information on how shops can make money through ADAS calibrations, stressing that the most important components are investing in the correct equipment and proper invoicing. When it comes to purchasing ADAS equipment, he advised shops to steer away from equipment that they never own and are required to pay royalties on every time they use it.

Who currently does calibrations, what the cost is and if the shop wants to do ADAS calibrations and alignments are some of the things shops should consider before deciding to bring calibrations inhouse. They also need to determine where they will perform the ADAS calibrations. Tooling is another important

10 DECEMBER 2023 Texas Automotive

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

factor, and in addition to determining what type of scan tool to use, Machiros stressed that shops need access to service information and recommended shops utilize adasThink to “generate a report that shows you the vehicle information, a summary of what’s required for the vehicle and a list of the ADAS features that could be equipped on that car.

“What’s great is they’ll tell you what’s required,” he added.

“It will say on the report that this radar is required to be calibrated by the OEM, and then the OEM procedure is right here through a link from OEM1Stop. It links the actual repair order to the adasThink report and calls out by line why it has to be done and also references a way to look up the OEM procedure. When you do ADAS inhouse, everything is in your control.”

When asked how he comes up with his pricing index, Machiros explained that he bills by the procedure, not by labor hour. And if a vehicle needs three separate calibrations, “that’s three different charges. I’d charge for a front radar calibration, a front camera calibration and a blind spot calibration if all three are needed.”

Machiros recommended that any shop interested in getting into ADAS calibrations begin by starting another company to maximize their profit. He stressed the importance of consulting an accountant and an attorney to properly establish that separate business entity.

From there, calibration centers can choose to perform calibrations only for their own shops, or they may elect to expand and service other local shops.

In terms of a checklist of items a shop should consider before bringing calibrations inhouse, Machiros suggested shops should determine if they have enough space and proper lighting, in addition to setting up the right business entity, determining how to invoice correctly and investing in tools that offer good training and support.

Of course, it’s also necessary to hire someone to perform the calibration, but a calibration technician “doesn’t have to have automotive experience,” according to Machiros, who suggests shops

11 DECEMBER 2023 Texas Automotive

continued on pg. 20

12 DECEMBER 2023 Texas Automotive

Season’s Greetings and best wishes for 2024!

At this festive time of year and as 2023 ends, we would like to say thank you to all our customers and distributors for their loyalty and ongoing support.

We are proud to be your vehicle refinishing partner and look forward to working together with you in 2024 and beyond.

Thank you!

From all of us at AkzoNobel’s Vehicle Refinishes. akzonobel.com

ABAT Feature

ABAT Houston TopGolf FUNdraiser Highlights The second annual ABAT Houston Topgolf tournament, held November 9, really put the FUN in FUNdraiser!

ABAT pulled out all the stops – tons of amazing raffle prizes, top team winnings and even a hole-in-one contest!

14 DECEMBER 2023 Texas Automotive

15 DECEMBER 2023 Texas Automotive

Cover Story

ABAT’s Efforts Earn National Recognition ABAT has been going to battle for consumers and shouting its mission for safe and proper repairs for close to a decade. As a result, this group has become one of the most well known, dedicated and passionate organizations around the country. Whether they are fighting for legislation at the Capitol, challenging the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) or bringing in the best of the best vendors and speakers from around the country to the Lone Star State for their annual Texas Auto Body Trade Show each year, the ABAT team is committed to the cause in a big way – a Texas-sized way!

Therefore (with the exception of the ABAT leaders in attendance who were, in fact, surprised), it was no surprise that their efforts were recognized by the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) who presented ABAT with the Affiliate Association Award during the Collision Industry Conference’s 40th Anniversary Red Carpet Award celebration held in conjunction with SEMA week in Las Vegas last month.

From L-R: SCRS Chair Amber Alley (Barsotti’s Body and Fender), ABAT’s Jill Tuggle, Tony Adams (AkzoNobel) and Andy Tylka (TAG Auto Group) ABAT is only the seventh affiliate association to receive this coveted award in SCRS’ 33-year history. As SCRS Board Member Tony Adams (AkzoNobel) explained, “This award is intended to recognize one of our 33 state affiliate associations who really displays exemplary actions across their state and member engagement and helps to lift up professionalism.”

As he spoke of ABAT’s work to advocate for legislation, Adams championed the group for “not just advocating, but specifically the work that they do with lawmakers to make sure they understand the issues that collision repairers are having in their state and how they are impacting consumers. The numerous events that they run, including their trade show and online webinars, to exchange that information across their state keep: their members informed,

From L-R: ABAT President Burl Richards, ABAT Executive Director Jill Tuggle and SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg educated and engaged.” He also commended their work to standardize TDI complaint forms.

“Jill is selfless, and she holds the door for everyone in this industry,” SCRS Board member Andy Tylka (TAG Auto Group) said of ABAT Executive Director Jill Tuggle as he presented the award. “She’s progressive thinking and encourages people to learn from what they are doing.”

“I’m shocked and excited,” exclaimed Tuggle as she accepted the award on ABAT’s behalf. “It’s me who is humbled to have a seat at this table. It’s a pleasure to fight the good fight and represent independent shops.”

Referring to the “empty chair” which sits on the CIC stage to represent the consumer, Tuggle added, “The empty chair is what our associations support every single day, not just four times a year. Thanks for giving ABAT this honor. It’s my pleasure to work for the association I do and work with the people I get to interact with.”

ABAT President Burl Richards is equally proud of the organization they have built and gives credit to all involved.

“I have been involved with the creation of ABAT, along with Board member Chad Neal, from ABAT is only the seventh to the very beginning,” he shared. receive the coveted SCRS “It’s very rewarding to see our Affiliate Association Award

16 DECEMBER 2023 Texas Automotive

by Alana Quartuccio achievements be recognized nationally. Everyone involved with ABAT has played a role…from our members to our Board, and especially Chad and Jill.

“As our executive director, Jill’s personality and willingness to work hard and make things happen is a huge asset,” Richards continued.

He reflected on the early days of bringing Tuggle on Board when the young association decided to launch the first iteration of what is now the fastest growing trade show in the south.

“Jill was referred by a couple of Board members to help Janet Chaney with the show,” he explained. “We saw her ability to communicate and organize events right off the bat. I also knew that I couldn’t continue to do everything, and in order to be successful, we needed a full time director as soon as we could afford one.

“Initially, Jill turned me down but later came to her senses,” he quipped. “That first trade show helped catapult our finances, and although there was not a lot of money in our account, there was enough to guarantee for about six months, so she accepted the challenge, and here we are today.”

“I did turn Burl down the first time he offered,” Tuggle laughed. “But only because I had just started my business.

It was my baby, and I didn’t want to give it up. It turned out that I didn’t have to. I can do both, and I am glad I said ‘yes’ to ABAT. I love this job so much, and I love those who serve on our Board, our members and the safety of Texas drivers. I also absolutely can’t do it without Burl, his ideas and his passion for this industry, so I’ve threatened him that he can never resign.”

Richards also noted the launch of the popular annual skeet shoot event and executing his idea for customer complaint forms as just a few other achievements Tuggle has hit out of the park.

“I say all of this because it takes a team, and no single person can take credit for our success - we’re successful due to how we work together,” he stressed. “I am very proud of our association and our members. There is no way we could accomplish our goals without having the complete buy-in from our association members.“ Tuggle agreed that it takes a whole ABAT village to achieve what they have thus far. “I may be the one sitting at the table with other associations and industry people, but I just happen to be a really creative water-carrier. These guys (and gals) are the ones with all the ideas. I just have the gumption to pull it off and add a little pizazz along the way.

This is all because we have an amazing team. I didn’t win this award; ABAT did. I was thrilled to accept the award on behalf of our association, but the honor truly goes to everyone involved, including our members.”

Congratulations ABAT! TXA

ABAT Joins SCRS in Remembering John Mosley at Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards Another highlight of the Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards was the time spent paying tribute to one of the most altruistic and devoted champions of this industry – the late, great John Mosley.

The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) presented their Lifetime Achievement Award in memory of Mosley, a former SCRS Board member, the founder of the Mississippi Collision Repair ABAT’s Burl Richards and Association founder and a dear Michael Bradshaw (K&M Collision) friend and supporter of the ABAT community. In the words of SCRS Board member Michael Bradshaw who made the presentation, Mosley was “one of the most generous individuals one could meet.”

Bradshaw told the audience of Mosley’s various accomplishments and his dedication to always doing what’s right and standing up for consumers.

“He cared deeply and always put the needs of others before his own,” stated Bradshaw. “It’s extremely rare to meet an individual like John, and he was taken from us far too soon. The things he did and the decisions he made were not for himself, but to make things better for consumers and body shop owners. He was always looking for ways to improve things for the people around him. That is just so rare in today’s world.”

ABAT President Burl Richards had the honor of accepting the award on behalf of his late friend’s family. ”I’m extremely honored to be able to accept this award on behalf of the Mosley family. I got a message here from his family which they have asked me to read: ‘Thank you for honoring our husband and father. He was a one-of-a-kind person.

He always believed in standing up for what was right, even if it meant standing alone. No matter how small or large an issue, he’d stand up for them equally. He was nurturing, yet tough, and he raised his children to have the same work ethic. He built his business with hard work, long hours and honesty, and he would stand behind everything he said and did. He was a leader who led by example.’

“John was family to me,” Richards shared. “I remember having dinner with John a few years ago here at SEMA. A guy across from us had a veterans cap on. John didn’t know the guy, but he went over to him and said, ‘Thank you for your service,’ and then John picked up his tab. That was John. I loved that guy. As Mike said earlier, John had a way of being so respectful and getting his point across; even if he thought you were wrong, it’d never come across that way. I learned so much from John. I appreciate the opportunity to honor him.” TXA

17 DECEMBER 2023 Texas Automotive

Ask The Expert

by Robert L. McDorman

Joe Collins: True Texas Hero Dear Mr. McDorman, I own and operate a collision facility in Texas. A few months ago in several trade association publications, I read articles concerning the Collins vs State Farm jury verdict which awarded Mr. Collins $277,000 in damages and penalties. What came of this? Did State Farm appeal the verdict, or did they pay up? What other fallouts could come from this verdict? I assume Mr. Collins was pleased with the outcome. Will he be coming to the Capitol this next legislative session to tell his story?

Thank you for your questions. State Farm did not appeal the verdict. Only Mr. Collins can answer some of your questions. It is my understanding that Mr. Collins was pleased with the jury finding and the message it sent. It is also my understanding Mr. Collins will be featured in the January 2024 edition of Texas Automotive concerning a special development that affects us all.

From the very first time Mr. Collins came to me for help with his sensitive situation, he was concerned that what happened to him could happen to others as well. I distinctly remember him saying to me, “You know Robert, I am not a wealthy man, but this small amount of money that State Farm cheated me out of will not break me; however, for many people in our community, it would be devastating. For this reason, will you help me move forward with my loss recovery? I want to make a difference and possibly make a change in the current claim handling process, so maybe one day, this will not happen to the single mom working two jobs living paycheck to paycheck.” Of course, he didn’t have to ask me twice. This was music to my ears. My immediate answer was “yes.”

From day one, the message Mr. Collins gave the jury presiding over his loss was the same as he gave me. “I am not doing this for the money; I am doing it to help the individuals who either can’t stand up for their rights or don’t know how.” The three-year journey Mr. Collins, his lawyer Mr. Phenix, many others and I traveled was well worth it. This verdict is now final and set in concrete as a precedent to help us all. In my eyes, Mr. Collins is a true defender of consumer rights and a hero. Until legislators step up and pass laws to make the Right to Appraisal mandatory in Texas, we will continue to see similar situations. It is my position any limiting or removal of the Right to Appraisal concerning a repair procedure dispute will be the Robert is a recognized Public Insurance Adjuster and Certified Vehicle Value Expert specializing in motor vehicle-related insurance claim resolution. Robert can be reached by phone at (800) 736-6816, (817) 756-5482 or via email at AskTheExpert@autoclaimspecialists.com.

nail in the coffin for safe roadways for us all.

I know I am repeating myself on this, but I cannot stress enough how critical this mandatory Right to Appraisal issue is for us all. Appraisal is the guardrail for indemnification of the loss when a dispute over the loss arises between the insurer and the insured.

Without legislation requiring mandatory time-sensitive appraisal rights, we can expect to see continued efforts by all insurers to limit or remove economic relief for the insured.

Over the years, as stark consumer advocates, Auto Claim Specialists has gone to agencies armed with well-documented facts to seek help and relief for our clients who have been harmed by their insurance carriers and to bring awareness to these systematic atrocities.

At each turn, we were told the only help was to seek legislation or a finder of fact. Until legislators pass laws to make the Right to Appraisal mandatory in Texas for all motor vehicle policies, we will continue referring clients to legal teams as necessary to help them be made whole for their loss. In my professional opinion, the more times these systematic under-indemnification schemes are exposed, and monetary punishment is levied, the quicker change will come about to help us all. I thank Mr. Collins for being part of this change.

The under-indemnification in total loss and repair procedure claims in Texas is rampant. Besides the higher settlements for total loss clients averaging 28 percent above the carrier’s undisputed loss statement, we have also reduced clients’ out-of-pocket expenses on repair procedure disputes such as the above example. These underindemnification percentages are staggering and harmful to Texas citizens.

The spirit of the Appraisal Clause is to resolve loss disputes fairly and to do so in a timely and cost-effective manner. The invoking of the Appraisal Clause removes inexperienced and biased carrier appraisers and claims handlers from the process, undermining their management’s many tricks to undervalue the loss settlement and under-indemnify the insured. Through the Appraisal Clause, loss

18 DECEMBER 2023 Texas Automotive

continued on pg. 20

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We are experienced in negotiating claims with insurance companies.

As a Licensed Public Insurance Adjuster Agency, we can ensure a fair settlement on your auto claim. It is our duty to act on your behalf!

CONTACT US FROM ANYWHERE IN THE U.S.!

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Founder Robert McDorman

If you need a recognized and qualified expert to provide testimony for you or your client, make sure you select one who’s certified!

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19 DECEMBER 2023 Texas Automotive

President’s Message continued from pg. 6 response to be even more irritating than the lack of a response because SCRS invited the IPs to participate in the study, but they declined the invite. OEMs participated. Paint companies participated. SCRS even enlisted the aid of a third-party auditor, DEKRA North America, to make sure the study was conducted in an unbiased manner. And in the past year, no one has come forward to demonstrate that it was conducted improperly in any way whatsoever. CCC and Audatex have acknowledged the need to make changes. But Mitchell disagrees?! I really don’t get how anyone could disagree with the SCRS blend study. And Mitchell won’t share their study, but they refuse to acknowledge the outdated times may not be accurate…despite the entire industry agreeing that 50 percent is completely unrealistic.

I think it was pretty obvious that Jerry and I were both extremely frustrated with the conversation as we pointed out that those labor times for blends haven’t changed in the past 30 years, but look at how far technology has come since then. We spray micas, pearls and some other pretty difficult colors nowadays. What about putting down the wet bed or a clear binder?

One of the guys from Mitchell actually mentioned that some items may entail additional labor during the blending process, that there are other processes and procedures that require additional

time. So, I asked why they don’t put that in their definition because we all know insurance companies see everything in black and white, so in their minds, blends are adjusted at 50 percent. But if Mitchell just adds a statement that additional time might be required based on specific paint systems or colors, that at least opens the door for a conversation between shops and insurers that might allow us to negotiate a bit better.

It seemed like a lightbulb went off above one guy’s head. I don’t know how much authority either of my new buddies actually have. I’m curious to see if Mitchell will actually make any changes or if the IP is going to continue doing a disservice to the collision repair industry by ignoring the complexities that have arisen in the refinish and blending process over the past decades. One thing is certain: I’ll be following up with my Mitchell pals to find out what’s going on, and you can be sure I’ll update Texas Automotive readers with anything I learn. And I encourage y’all to reach out to Mitchell too.

Ask The Expert

ABAT News

continued from pg. 18

continued from pg. 11

disputes can be resolved relatively quickly, economically, equitably and amicably by unbiased, experienced independent third-party appraisers as opposed to more costly and time-consuming methods such as mediation, arbitration and litigation.

In today’s world regarding motor vehicle insurance policies, frequent changes in claim management and claim handling policies and non-standardized GAP Addendums, we have found it is always in the best interest of the insured or claimant to have their proposed insurance settlement reviewed by an expert before accepting. There is never an upfront fee for Auto Claim Specialists to review a motor vehicle claim or proposed settlement and give their professional opinion as to the fairness of the offer.

Please call me should you have any questions relating to the policy or covered loss. We have most insurance policies in our library.

Always keep in mind a safe repair is a quality repair, and quality equates to value. I thank you for your question and look forward to any follow-up questions that may arise.

want to hire someone in their late 20s who is “pretty good with computers and can read, comprehend and execute.”

Shops should also consider the software and what it’s going to do. “How is it going to interface with your system, and will you be able to calibrate pretty much everything on that market that comes through your door?” Machiros asked, sharing his belief that “Autel’s software is awesome.”

In addition to walking away with tons of valuable (literally!) information, webinar attendees had a chance to win an IA800 LDW30T ADAS Package from Autel. On November 1, ABAT Executive Jill Tuggle and Zenteno did a drawing via Facebook Live from Autel’s booth at SEMA 2023. Out of nearly 80 entries, the winner was new ABAT member McCarley’s Hail & Collision LLC (Pampa), allowing Tuggle to quip, “Their membership is already paying off!”

ABAT’s final webinar of 2023 is scheduled for December 13 and features Rachel James (Torque Financial Group) and her presentation on “Financial Planning for the Whole Shop: Technician to Owner.” Register at abat.us/2023/09/webinars.

TXA

Sincerely, Robert L. McDorman TXA

burl@burlscollision.com

TXA

20 DECEMBER 2023 Texas Automotive

Russell & Smith Logging Big Paint Hours with USI Booths & Prep Station Buying a paint booth is a huge investment, and there are many factors to carefully consider before selecting one. Will the booth work well in a region where there’s a ton of humidity and with drastic changes in the weather? How long do you think the booth will last and will it require a lot of maintenance? Will your painters be comfortable using it every day and finally, will the company making the booth provide solid training and reliable customer service?

To answer these questions before acquiring two Chronotech spray booths and a prep deck from USI ITALIA back in 2004, Collision Center Manager Kevin McIllveen at Russell & Smith Body Shop in Houston, TX spent six months studying the market. He was looking for the best booths that matched his needs to use in a brand-new 36,000 sq. ft. facility that the company built from the ground up.

Mcllveen, age 56, entered the industry more than three decades ago as an estimator and has worked for Russell & Smith Body Shop since 1993.

His goal with his new spray booths was to improve the efficiencies in his paint department and to accommodate his production, he said, while simultaneously saving time and energy if possible.

The vetting process was arduous but worth it in the end. "We did our research so that we could make an educated decision," he said. "I went to NACE two years in a row and talked to literally everyone and asked a lot of questions. We knew that this was going to be a very significant investment, so we took the time to perform our due diligence to cover all our bases. We invested in their prep stations as well, which was another good decision, because my guys can work so much faster and effectively with five different places where we can spray. We put a curtain up in the prep booth that provides us two additional spaces that are heated and properly ventilated. So, when we are really jammed, we can handle the workload and maintain our cycle time without interrupting or slowing down our production."

After using them for a very short time, Mcllveen could clearly see that his Chronotechs were more than capable as they quickly became a centerpiece in his new, high-end, modern shop.

"We have four paint teams here, consisting of a painter and a painter’s helper and we consistently log approximately 600-700 paint hours weekly,” he said. “We switched to waterborne paint when we opened this facility because we want to provide a healthier climate for our employees and the community as a whole.”

Why was Mcllveen able to improve his numbers by simply adding two USI booths? “In the end, it all comes down to their airflow because we never need blowers or additional air to cure these vehicles. The fans in these Chronotechs are exceptional because they feature variable speeds, so we can switch depending on the parameters of each job. Our painters are producing an impressive product day after day, so these booths are saving us both time and money. We paint an average of 400 cars every month, so

we push these booths and they never let us down.”

Any issues that Russell & Smith Body Shop have encountered with their USI ITALIA booths have been rare and far between. But Mcllveen feels good knowing that if called upon, the company will respond and find solutions promptly. “If you do your scheduled maintenance and keep everything clean, these booths will last you 30 years and maybe even longer. The issues that we have encountered with the Chronotechs have been minor and quickly solved, which is impressive when you think that we have been using these booths daily for the last 16 years. I tell people that these booths will be here long after I’ve retired!”

After training provided by USI ITALIA, Mcllveen’s painters were able to start spraying after one day, he said. "The Chronotechs are designed to work with waterborne paint, which makes it easier for our painters to do their work.

After a very short time, all of our guys were comfortable and the results were consistently exceptional.”

Mcllveen is also impressed by the Chronotech's sturdy construction and durability.

"Some booths are just a box, but these are wellbuilt," he said. “I know, because I've seen them all and there isn't anything like a USI ITALIA booth."

His career in collision repair industry has been a great experience and products like his USI ITALIA spray booths and prep station are a part of that, he said. “We haven’t had to furlough anybody here and that’s because we value our people and, in the end, our Chronotechs are part of the team.”

USI of North America | 565 Commerce Street Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417 | 201-405-7761 | s.moretto@usius.com | www.usius.com 21 DECEMBER 2023 Texas Automotive

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Who is the most influential woman you know in the collision repair industry? Maybe you know several…and now’s the time to sing their praises by nominating them for the Women’s Industry Network’s (WIN) 2024 Most Influential Women (MIW) awards.

Nominations will be open through Friday, January 5, 2024, and winners will be celebrated during WIN’s 2024 Annual Conference, scheduled for May 6-8 in Newport Beach, CA. Women working in any segment of the collision repair industry across the US and Canada can be nominated for the MIW award; neither nominators nor nominees are required to be WIN members to be eligible. Nominees will be reviewed and interviewed by an independent selection committee which is comprised of collision industry professionals, and selection decisions are based on established criteria, including industry influence, professional womensindustrynetwork.com accomplishments, mentorship and community service.

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Established in 1999, the MIW award recognizes women whose leadership, vision and commitment to excellence have enriched the collision repair industry. Over 100 impressive women have been recognized to-date for their contributions.

Celebrate a strong woman in your organization (or within your network) by nominating her today at bit.ly/MIWnominees. TXA

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