New England Automotive Report February 2016

AUTAUT MM TIVETIVEN E WN E W E N G L A N DE N G L A N D

February 2016U.S.A. $5.95

MASSACHUSETTS

BUILDING THE SUCCESS OF THE AUTO REPAIR INDUSTRY

Serving the New England

Collision and Mechanical

Repair Industry

www.grecopublishing.com

Inside AASP/MA’sFirst Meeting of 2016

Florida RICOCase HITSA WALL

Keeping up withTECHNOLOGY

CHANGES

CONTROVERSIES &

2 February 2016 New England Automotive Report

CONTENTSFebruary 2016 • Volume 14, No. 2

ALSO THIS ISSUE

COVER STORY41 | CONTROVERSIES & COMPLIANCE:

INSIDE AASP/MA’s FIRST MEETING OF 2016

New England Automotive Report February 2016 5

DEPARTMENTSVICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE by Adam Ioakim8 | What’s the Deal with the AIB?

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT by Joel Gausten18 | A Platinum Partnership: Bald Hill Stands in Support of AASP/MA

NATIONAL NEWS

24 | Don’t Miss Out on NORTHEAST® 2016 by Jacquelyn Bauman

30 | RICO Suit Dismissed in Florida by Joel Gausten

LEGAL PERSPECTIVE by James A. Castleman, Esq.34 | Teardowns

TOOLING & EQUIPMENT by Jacquelyn Bauman47 | Equipment Experts Predict Trends for 2016

TECH CORNER by Jacquelyn Bauman49 | Cars like Computers: How to Adapt to Industry Changes

AASP/MA MEMBER SHOP SPOTLIGHTby Jacquelyn Bauman51 | Sliech Auto Body, Inc.

7 | TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES: I-CAR CALENDAR OF EVENTS7 | SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: 2016 AASP/MA VOCATIONAL GRANTS 10 | A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR16 | AASP/MA SPONSORS17 | AASP/MA PLANNED YEAR50 | AASP/MA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION54 | INDEX OF ADVERTISERS


February 3, 2016Corrosion Protection

February 9, 2016Vehicle Technology & Trends 2016

February 11, 2016Overview of Cycle Time Improvements for the

Collision Repair Process

February 17, 20162015 Ford F-150 Structural Repair Training Course

February 23, 2016Plastic & Composite Repair

February 25, 2016Color Theory, Mixing Toners & Tinting

in Massachusetts

All classes held at Fuller Auto Body, Auburn, MA

For more information, visit i-car.com


STAFF

PUBLISHED BY: Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc.244 Chestnut Street, Suite 202, Nutley, NJ 07110 Corporate: (973) 667-6922 / FAX: (973) 235-1963

www.grecopublishing.com

AASP/MA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEPRESIDENT

Molly Brodeur

VICE PRESIDENT

Adam Ioakim

SECRETARY

Gary Cloutier

TREASURER

Kevin Gallerani

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Paul Hendricks

AASP/MA STATEWIDE DIRECTORSCOLLISION DIRECTOR

Rick Starbard

AASP/MA DIRECTORSAlex Falzone

Kevin Kyes

Michael Penacho

Darlene Andrade

Tom Ricci

Ray Belsito, Jr.

Peter Langone

PUBLISHERThomas Greco ([email protected])

DIRECTOR OF SALESAlicia Figurelli ([email protected])

EDITORJoel Gausten ([email protected])

ART DIRECTORLea Velocci ([email protected])

MANAGING EDITORJacquelyn Bauman ([email protected])

PRODUCTION Donna Greco ([email protected])

WWW.AASPMA.ORG

AASP/MA EXECUTIVE DIRECTORJillian M. Zywien

12 Post Office Square, 6th Floor • Boston, MA 02109

Phone: (617) 574-0741 Fax: (617) 695-0173

Email: [email protected]

MASSACHUSETTS


New England Automotive Report is published monthly by TGP, Inc., 244 Chestnut Street, Suite 202 Nutley, NJ 07110. Distributed free to qualified recipients; $48 to all others. Additional copies of New England Automotive Report are available at $5 per copy. Reproduction of any portions of this publication is specifically prohibited without written permission of the publisher. The opinions and ideas appearing in this magazine are not necessarily representations of TGP Inc. or of AASP/MA. Copyright © 2016 by Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. Images courtesy of www.istockphoto.com


SPECIALANNOUNCEMENT:2016 AASP/MAVocational Grants

For 2016, AASP/MA is revising its Vocational Grant programto now make the funds available to Massachusetts vocationalschools that wish to send auto body/collision repair students to theSkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Louisville, KYthis June. The event is for those students who win the SkillsUSAState Conference this spring. Raised at the AASP/MA MidState BBQlast September, the 2016 AASP/MA Vocational Grant funds will beused to help with the costs of hotel, airfare and other travel expensesto and from the National Leadership & Skills Conference. Massa-chusetts vocational schools can apply directly to AASP/MA for theGrant. For additional information, please contact AASP/MA at (617)574-0741.

More on the new Vocational Grants will be featured in nextmonth’s New England Automotive Report.


What is the AIB? This is a question I didn’t

even have the answer to until just recently. The AIB is

the Automobile Insurers Bureau, and unfortunately,

they’re now at our doorstep. The AIB has just come

out with a model auto policy that was newly approved

by the DOI and significantly changes our industry in

a potentially negative way. You can read about this

updated policy in the Message from the Executive

Director on page 10 and in our cover story on page 42.

While no insurer is currently using this new policy

(and the changes don’t go into any mass policies just

yet), the language would adversely affect consumers

and body shops if it does get accepted and filed into

an insurer’s policy.

There are four points to the policy that I believe

directly impact body shops. The first is the new lan-

guage regarding Labor Rates – in which they state

that the cost to physically repair the vehicle is based

on “competitive prices” derived from shops on their

direct payment plan. I am also concerned about the fact

that this model policy would limit towing and storage.

The new language additionally caps reimbursement on

bodily injury claims. Although that doesn’t affect the

shops, it certainly impacts our customers. Lastly, it

would affect Assignments of Rights, and I know a lot

of shops are undertaking cases of this sort at this time.

Now, I don’t want to get everyone in an uproar

just yet. Although the policy has been approved, no

one is using it yet. However, I just want to stress the

impact that this could have for shops if it does get

VICE PRESIDENT’S

MESSAGE

WHAT’S the DEALwith the AIB?

ADAM IOAKIM

accepted by any of the major insurers. This issue

affects all of us – referral and non-referral shops –

equally. It doesn’t matter what your business

model is; we all need to unite behind this cause. I

encourage our membership and non-members to

read the new policy, which is available on our

website (aaspma.org), keep informed through our

news-letters and to attend any upcoming meetings

we have on this topic. We have a very thought-out

plan in place to fight these changes, and we might

need a call to action from shops in the Common-

wealth to help us out. If and when the time

comes, we may need you to be ready so you can

keep control of your business and prevent the in-

surance companies from interfering more than

they already do.


We Provide Hot Mix Asphalt Repairs YEAR ROUND!• Malls, Supermarkets and Retail Outlets, Hotels Restaurants, Apartments, Condominiums, Office Parks,

Leisure and Health Businesses, Hospitals, College & School Campuses, Municipal Facilities

• In short, anywhere there is a parking lot in need of a maintenance repair

EMERGENCYPAVEMENT SERVICE

AVAILABLE 24/7/365PERMANENT

Hot Mix Pot Hole & Pavement Repairs

A Division of G&M New England1-844-MR-POT-HOLE • 844-677-6846

www.mrpotholeman.com

MASSACHUSETTS


ADAM IOAKIM is the co-owner of Hogan & Van AutoBody in Medford, MA. He can be reached at (781) 436-0366 or [email protected].


Dear Members,At the time of this writing, AASP/MA is preparing

to host a Statewide Meeting to inform our membersabout the recently filed and approved standardizedauto insurance policy.

The Automobile Insurers Bureau (AIB) has filed anew Massachusetts Automobile Insurance Policy,which was approved by the Division of Insurance inOctober 2015. According to its website, the AIB hasbeen the automobile insurance industry’s service bu-reau in Massachusetts since 1925, offering support forrates, rules and forms, as well as actuarial and legalservices in private passenger and commercial autoinsurance. The Bureau’s members are comprised ofinsurance carriers, including some of the state’s majorcompanies: Allstate Insurance, Arbella, Liberty Mutual,MAPFRE, etc.

The model policy may be adopted by each carrier,either in whole or in part, to reflect an insurer’s cover-age and rules. This standardized policy does not auto-matically change insurance policies in Massachusetts;however, it sets the standard for insurers to use in theirown specific filings. Any insurer that wishes to adoptthe policy (in whole or in part) must still file with theMassachusetts Division of Insurance, but with therecognition that certain terms have already been ap-proved.

The current model policy contains new languagethat will adversely impact body shops and consumersif implemented. The last time the AIB filed a policychange was in 2008.

AREAS OF CONCERN:Labor Rate. The most alarming change to the

model policy is the addition of language to the collision,comprehensive and limited collision section, which

A MESSAGE FROM

THEEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

AASP/MA’s CONCERNSwith the NEW AIB POLICY

JILLIAN ZYWIEN


states, “The cost to physically repair the [vehicle] is thecompetitive price, which we secure from a licensed re-pair facility under our direct payment plan.” AASP/MAunderstands (and the AIB has confirmed) that this newlanguage means that the insurer will calculate its ratefor all body shops in the Commonwealth based on itsreferral shop program. Even if a consumer’s shop is notwithin the insurer’s direct payment plan, the con-sumer’s chosen body shop will automatically get their“competitive rate.”

Towing and Storage. If a consumer’s motor vehi-cle is towed or stored, the new model policy states aninsurer will only pay for amounts dictated by the De-partment of Public Utilities (DPU) relative to involun-tary/trespass towing. This includes a maximum $90rate for involuntary towing or trespass towing, whilethe storage rate for an involuntary tow is $35 a day,plus extra labor (if needed). Since the DPU cannot reg-ulate the rate of voluntary tows due to federal preemp-tion, the aforementioned rates do not reflect the actualmarket rate for voluntary towing. As a result, the poli-cyholder will be responsible for any additional towingcosts or costs for special equipment and hazardousmaterials clean up, like antifreeze or oil spills.

Bodily Injury. The model AIB policy includes new language that states “[i]nsurers will not pay punitiveor exemplary damages.” This new language has trou-bling implications for both individuals who have

caused accidents and, more importantly, those injuredas a result of an accident.

While the concerns outlined in this message willhave an effect on the Commonwealth’s auto repairshops, your consumers will also be significantly af-fected. It is imperative that our members engage withtheir customers and let them know about these policychanges. If you are a member of the association, you canfind a fact sheet and instructions on our website in theMembers Only section. You may also contact the of-fice with any questions you may have.

Since the policy was released, the association hasbeen engaged with legislators, other local and nationaltrade groups and the Attorney General’s Office on thisissue. Developments on this initiative will be featured in upcoming newsletters, member notices and New England Automotive Report.

Sincerely,

Jillian Zywien, Executive Director

AASP/MA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JILLIAN ZYWIEN hasbeen a senior account executive at Lynch Associates for over seven years. She

can be reached at (617) 574-0741 or via email at [email protected].

MASSACHUSETTS






Contact AASP/MA at (617) 574-0741 / [email protected] for information on becoming an AASP/MA sponsor!

AASP/MA NEWSLETTER SPONSOR

AASP/MA ASKS YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!

WOLPERTINSURANCE



MASSACHUSETTS

BUILDING THE SUCCESS OF THE AUTO REPAIR INDUSTRYPLANNED YEARJANUARY MARCH

MAY JUNE

JULY SEPTEMBER

NOVEMBER For more information, visit aaspma.org or

contact Executive Director Jillian Zywien at

[email protected] or (617) 574-0741

Check New England Automotive Report for

updated event info throughout the year.

January 6Board of Directors

MeetingStatewide Meeting

March 22Board of Directors


May 13

AASP/MABBQ

July 26

Board of DirectorsMeeting

September 23

AASP/MAClambake

November 12

AASP/MA CasinoNight & Annual Meeting

May 24Board of Directors


Date TBD

AASP/MAGolf Outing

Date TBD

New England AutomotiveRepair Training & Trade

Show Event

September 27Board of Directors


November 15

Board of DirectorsMeeting


A PlAtiNumPARtNERshiP:Bald Hill Stands inSupport of AASP/MA

by Joel Gausten

Although AASP/MA PlatinumSponsor Bald Hill is based in RhodeIsland, they are easily one of theMassachusetts collision repair indus-try’s truest and most dedicated sup-porters.

Stocking $2.1 million (includingover $50,000 in engines and transmis-sions) in Mopar & Kia parts under oneroof in Warwick, Bald Hill provideshigh-quality products for Dodge,Chrysler, Jeep, Ram and Kia. The partsdepartment’s 15 trucks cover RhodeIsland, Massachusetts, Connecticutand New Hampshire. Orders placedas late as 4:45pm can still receive BaldHill’s dependable next-day deliveryservice.

For the past two years, the BaldHill parts operation has been overseenby Parts Director Matt Jarvis, who as-sumed his current position after al-ready establishing a successful two-decade career at the company. Com-mitted to fighting the spread of after-market parts, Jarvis offers OEM pricematching through OEConnection.

“We’re behind the manufacturers100 percent with the programs thatthey’re pushing out,” he says.

Additionally, the Bald Hill partsteam is taking a strong stand againstthe use of aftermarket airbags by com-pletely refusing to offer price match-ing options for those items.

To help promote the benefits ofOEM products and procedures, BaldHill Wholesale Manager Don Cushingmakes sure that his customers haveaccess to manufacturer position state-ments if they encounter a question orconcern during a repair.

“We make copies of those positionstatements and try to hand them outas much as possible to the shops,” he

says. “As the new position statementscome out, shops are able to show themto the insurance companies. As an ex-ample, we had a customer who neededan airbag and wanted to know whatelse was required. We were able to gointo moparrepairconnection.com,look up that information and send itto him. What started out as an airbagsale turned into an airbag sale with allthe sensors and a steering column beingreplaced. At first, the insurance com-pany balked until we sent those posi-tion statements and an article fromChrysler saying, ‘This has to be re-placed.’ The insurance companyended up paying for the whole thing.”

Away from their shops, Massa-chusetts repair professionals havecome to know Bald Hill through thedealership’s extremely active partici-pation in AASP/MA, which isstrongly encouraged by owners JimHagan and Bob Petrarca, Jr. When youpull into the parking lot at any majorassociation event, it is very likely that

a Bald Hill truck will already be there.Not only will you encounter Cushingat these gatherings, but you’ll have achance to say hello to familiar facesAnthony Pickett and Sid Simoes, twoBald Hill delivery/sales veterans whorecently transitioned to full-time sales.Typically, the three parts pros are alsojoined by members of the wholesalesales team who take the time to be apart of AASP/MA’s after-hours activi-ties.

“This allows them to meet a wholebunch of our customers at once,”Cushing explains. “They get to meetthe people they talk to on the phone.”

“We like to support those whosupport us,” adds Jarvis. “We doknow that not everybody who goes tothe association [events] does businesswith us, but we feel that our presencethere is needed. It allows us to openup avenues of information in a groupatmosphere. We want our customers –the people who are members of the as-sociation – not to see us as guys who

Left to right: Anthony Pickett, Don Cushing and Sid Simoes

[SPONSOR] SPOTLIGHT


are knocking on doors all day long.We’re the human side to the industry.”

Looking ahead, Jarvis hopes towork with repairers in building agreater understanding between theshop and dealer sides of the industry.For one thing, he stresses that thewholesale parts business isn’t just arace to offer the biggest discount. Justlike a successful body shop, Bald Hillneeds a fair and reasonable amount ofoverhead in order to provide exem-plary service.

As Jarvis says, “I can’t give youthe best service if I can’t afford to giveyou the best service. It’s just like theguy out there painting a car. If he can’tget his Labor Rate from the insurancecompany, how can he produce an ex-cellent product?”

Despite facing common dilemmas,the Bald Hill parts team is already en-joying a thriving 2016. In addition tonow offering more engines, transmis-sions and other powertrain items thanever before, the department has seenan increase in business thanks to therecent addition of a three-bay com-mercial truck center in Bald Hill’s

service department. Due to increasedInternet sales through their populareBay store (found under “bhparts_wholesaleparts”), Jarvis and his crewplan to welcome an internet manager– the first hire of its kind for the de-partment – to the Bald Hill family inthe not-too-distant future.

From ongoing sponsorship ofAASP/MA to one of the fastest partsdelivery systems in New England,Bald Hill offers shops in the Com-monwealth and beyond a level of

unmatched service that shows justhow much a professional wholesaleparts enterprise can achieve.

The Bald Hill parts team is available7:30am-5:30pm Monday-Thursday,7:30am-5pm on Friday and 8am-4pm on Saturday. For more information, pleasecall (800) 822-3015 Option 1 for a live advisor or visit baldhill.com. Like themat facebook.com/baldhillparts.

MASSACHUSETTS


Members of the Bald Hill wholesale parts team. Front row (L-R): Kyle Girardi, Eric Rodriguez, ArtClark and Emery LaPlante. Back (L-R): Joe Nunes, Randy Lavoie, Joe Menge and Lee Miles




Trying to get away from the shop can be hard, even if itis for important industry events that can help you in yourbusiness. Having the disposable finances or available timeto fly out to national trade shows can be exceedingly diffi-cult. Yet for repairers in the Commonwealth, there’s a busi-ness-changing event occurring just a car ride away.

Held March 18-20 at the Meadowlands Exposition Cen-ter in Secaucus, NJ, AASP/NJ’s 39th Annual NORTHEASTAutomotive Services Show will provide industry profes-sionals with the same level of personal improvement thatcan be found at a national gathering. From networking op-portunities with peers and experts to investigating thenewest and best shop technologies in the Northeast to at-tending invaluable seminars/panel discussions, this is anevent that will help better every aspect of your day-to-dayoperations.

This year, one of the biggest draws to the show is theimpressive vendor attendance, as NORTHEAST is sellingout booth space at a record-breaking pace. In addition tonational entities such as American Honda Motor Co., BASF,Ford, PPG, AkzoNobel, Sherwin-Williams, Accudraft andmore, there are also a number of area businesses that willbe strutting their stuff to thousands of attendees.

Rhode Island-based Walcom Thermodry (Warwick)will be one of many New England businesses found on theNORTHEAST show floor. Walcom Thermodry producestechnology for water- and solvent-based systems that helpto ensure faster drying times for both paint forms. Theirproducts help improve production by cutting down thetime spent on each job and diminishing the electricity costsassociated with running compressors. Shops from Woburnto Chicopee to Brookline have all found the value in havingWalcom products at their facilities, and Operations Man-ager Roman Skorik is excited to bring that opportunity toother body shop owners in the Northeast.

“The best part about [the show] for us is the customers,”

he explains. “The face-to-face time you get with them thereis unrivaled. We want to introduce our newest products tothe market, and since the show is right in our backyard, it’sthe perfect place to do so.”

As the industry evolves, Skorik recognizes that theneeds of repairers change as well. This year, Walcom willbe introducing their carbon fiber spray gun at the show.

“Things are changing,” Skorik says. “We’re trying tostay at the forefront of our industry so that our customerscan stay at the forefront of theirs. We were ecstatic whenwe found out this new technology would be ready by thetime NORTHEAST came around. There’s no better venuefor us to get the word out about this product.”

Even if your shop is equipped to your satisfaction,NORTHEAST still has plenty to offer. In addition to indus-try-leading exhibitors, the show is also home to a widearray of educational opportunities and association-relatedevents. Industry mainstay and CollisionAdvice PresidentMike Anderson will be presenting at the show on Fridayand Saturday. As anyone who has ever attended one of An-derson’s seminars before knows, they are can’t-miss discus-sions. Aside from Anderson, NORTHEAST will also hostan OEM repair panel in which major players from the in-dustry’s leading manufacturers will gather to discuss theins and outs of their certification programs. For shops inthe Commonwealth, one presentation that will stand out isa special examination on the implications of photo estimat-ing to repairers, facilitated by CollisionHub Founder andCEO Kristen Felder. With such a hot-button issue permeat-ing the local auto body field, this is guaranteed to providethe pertinent information that you need to know if photoestimating has impacted your business.

Free pre-registration is now open for NORTHEAST2016 at tinyurl.com/NEreg16. For more information aboutthe show, please visit aaspnjnortheast.com.

Don’t Miss Out on NORTHEAST 2016

Hyatt Place-Secaucus575 Plaza DriveSecaucus, NJ 07094Phone: (201) 422-9480Fax: (201) 422-9443tinyurl.com/Hyatt-NE16(Special room rate of $149 per night ifyou mention NORTHEAST. Deadline isFebruary 22.)

Courtyard by Marriott455 Harmon Meadow Blvd.Secaucus, NJ 07094Phone: (201) 617-8888Fax: (201) 319-0035tinyurl.com/Marriott-NE16(Special room rate of $149[king]/$159[double] per night if you mention NORTHEAST. Deadline is February 19.)

Embassy Suites455 Plaza Drive Secaucus, NJ 07094Phone: (201) 864-7300Fax: (201) 864-5391tinyurl.com/Embassy-NE16(Special room rate of $169 per night ifyou mention NORTHEAST. Deadline is February 16.)

MASSACHUSETTS


by Jacquelyn Bauman[NATIONAL] NEWS

Coming in from out of town? The following NORTHEAST® 2016host hotels are within walking distance from the show:

Networking.

Education.Innovation.Technology.

IT’S ALL HERE.March 18, 19, 20, 2016 | Meadowlands Exposition Center | Secaucus, NJ

www.aaspnjnortheast.comOnline FREE Registration is NOW OPEN!

AASP/NJ’s


For Original BMW Parts, contact one of these authorized BMW centers:

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER WAY TO BUY THEWORLD’S BEST ENGINEERED PARTS.

BMW of West Springfield 1712 Riverdale St.West Springfield, MA 01089PH: 413-746-1722FAX: 413-304-9009www.bmwwestspringfield.com

BMW of Darien140 Ledge RoadDarien, CT 06820PH: 203-656-1804FAX: 203-656-1802www.bmwdarien.com

New Country BMW1 Weston Park Ave.Hartford, CT 06120PH: 860-240-7881FAX: 860-240-7873www.newcountrybmw.com

BMW of Stratham71 Portsmouth AvenueStratham, NH 03885PH: 603-772-0000FAX: 603-772-9436www.bmwofstratham.com


Original BMWParts

The UltimateDriving Machine®www.bmwusa.com

They’re called “Original BMW Parts” for good reason. For uncompromising precision and incomparable quality, your BMW center is your One-Stop shop for everything BMW.

BMW of Warwick1515 Bald Hill Rd.Warwick, RI 02886PH: 401-821-1510FAX: 401-823-0530www.bmwofwarwick.com

BMW of SudburyWholesale Parts68 Old County RoadSudbury, Ma. 01776PH: 800-338-3198FAX: 508-881-7578www.bmwofsudbury.com

BMW of Cape Cod500 Yarmouth RoadHyannis, MA 02601PH: 508-815-5500FAX: 508-790-3551www.bmwofcapecod.com

Wagner BMW of Shrewsbury770 Boston TurnpikeShrewsbury, MA 01545-3202PH: 866-438-3997 FAX: 508-925-2291www.wagnerbmwofshrewsbury.com




www.firsthyundai.com www.firstfordma.com www.firstchryslerma.com

Prompt & Dependable DeliveryParts Line:508.699.4700Fax Line: 508.699.4761Parts Hours:Mon-Sat: 7:30-5:00270 East Washington St. North Attleboro, MA 02760

Experienced andProfessional Parts TeamParts Line:774.888.6666Fax Line: 508.673.6338Parts Hours: Mon-Sat: 7:30-5:00292 William S. Canning Blvd. Fall River, MA 02721

Ask about ourCompetitive PricesParts Line:508.316.8410Fax Line: 508.316.8397Parts Hours: Mon-Sat: 7:30-5:00280 East Washington St. North Attleboro, MA 02760


A high-profile class-action RICO lawsuitbrought against the top insurers in the nationhas been dismissed in a Florida court.

As previously reported in New England Automotive Report (“Frustration & Litigation:The Insurance Industry Gets Served,” October2014), the Crawford’s Auto Center Inc. and K&MCollision LLC et al. v. State Farm Mutual Automo-bile Insurance et al. litigation alleges that StateFarm, Allstate, GEICO, Progressive, Farmers,Liberty Mutual and Nationwide conspired tocontrol the cost of automobile repairs and alsoviolated the Racketeer Influenced and CorruptOrganization Act (RICO) by creating artificial“prevailing” rates based on their DRP shops’

use of products by the industry’s threeleading Information Providers (Audatex[AudaExplore], CCC or Mitchell). The164-page suit, which also names thethree IPs as well as USAA, Travelers and

American Family as conspirators, claimedthat the Defendant insurers (together with

the three conspirator carriers) collectivelyhold 70 percent of the market “and control all

aspects of collision repairs, including establish-ing the industry standards for compensationpaid to repair facilities.”

Additionally, the suit alleges that the Infor-mation Providers “serve two masters” – theDefendant insurers as well as “the repair facili-ties, which must use the estimating programsto perform their work because the estimatesare the only means by which insured repairsare paid.” The Crawford’s case was originallyfiled in the US District Court for the NorthernDistrict of Illinois, Eastern Division on April30, 2014. Later that year, the case was trans-ferred into the much-discussed MultidistrictLitigation (MDL) heard in the US DistrictCourt for the Middle District of Florida, de-spite the Plaintiffs’ objections.

In a 19-page decision (available online attinyurl.com/nwynnwv, courtesy of RepairerDriven News), Middle District of Florida JudgeGregory A. Presnell criticized the Plaintiffs forfiling a “shotgun pleading,” a term commonlygiven to a legal complaint (or an answer to acomplaint) that presents an excessive number

RICO SUIt DISMISSED IN FLORIDA

by Joel Gausten[NATIONAL] NEWS


MASSACHUSETTS


of facts without clear organization to de-scribe a defense or cause of action. Callingthe complaint “likely 100 pages longerthan it ought to be,” he noted that thePlaintiffs failed to effectively show thatthe Defendants participated in an illegalenterprise through a pattern of racketeering:

The reader who makes it all the way throughthe Amended Complaint comes away with detailed knowledge of automobile repair in-dustry minutiae but little information aboutwhat any Defendant did that was actually improper. For present purposes, however, thePlaintiffs’ failure to properly plead a pattern of racketeering activity overshadows their fail-ure to describe the workings of these allegedenterprises.

Presnell dismissed the case “withoutprejudice,” meaning that the Plaintiffshave an opportunity to file an amendedcomplaint. New England Automotive Reportwill provide updates on the case as it develops.



tEARDOwNS


There is an old saying that “bad facts make bad law.”

This applies to courts and government agencies that make

questionable legal interpretations in order to avoid what

they perceive to be unfair results in cases where the under-

lying facts of the situation are odd or extreme. The problem

is that once that legal interpretation is made, it becomes

precedent and has to be applied in the future to cases with

more mainstream fact patterns.

I thought of “bad facts make bad law” when I was

reading the reported discussion of the Auto Damage Ap-

praiser Licensing Board (ADALB) regarding collision repair

shops tearing down damaged vehicles before getting the

approval of their customer’s insurer (“ADALB Targets Pre-

Insurer Teardowns,”NEAR January 2016). The Board was

looking at reports of possible improper behavior by some

shops when deciding how to interpret its existing regula-

tion language relating to teardowns. I became concerned

that the Board would ignore what appears (in my opinion)

to be the correct way to read the regulation, in order to di-

minish improper actions by a minority of shops. Moreover,

I became concerned that the majority of shops – the ones

that do it the correct way – would suffer if the ADALB ac-

tually adopts such an interpretation. (And it is possible that

the ADALB may have made an interpretation by the time

that this article goes to press.)

thE tEARDOwN ISSUE

One sentence of the ADALB’s regulation says, “If the

appraiser determines that preliminary work or repairs

would significantly improve the accuracy of the appraisal,

he or she shall authorize the preliminary work or repair

with the approval of the claimant and shall complete the

appraisal after that work has been done.” The issue is

whether this sentence applies to all appraisers, or only to

insurance appraisers. Is it proper for a body shop to tear-

down a car so that it can write a more accurate appraisal,

even if the appraiser for the insurer covering the loss has

not authorized it? Or can the shop’s own licensed appraiser

be the one to authorize the teardown? Of course, in either

situation, the claimant has to give his or her approval.

In my opinion, it is clear that the sentence in question

applies to all appraisers. If the shop’s appraiser believes

that a teardown is necessary to be able to write an accurate

appraisal, then he or she should be able to authorize the

shop to tear down the damaged vehicle to the extent need-

ed to be able to write an accurate estimate. My belief is

based on two factors.

First, the sentence says “appraiser,” not “insurance ap-

praiser.” By definition, as set out earlier in the regulation,

the word “appraiser” means “any person licensed by the

Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board to evaluate motor

vehicle damage and determine the cost of parts and labor

required to repair the motor vehicle damage.” Body shop

appraisers are obviously included in this definition.

Second, under the regulation, every appraiser is sup-

posed to specify “all damage” attributable to a loss when

writing a damage appraisal. Body shop appraisers are re-

quired to write their own appraisals for the purpose of ne-

gotiation. Under the regulation, they “must” prepare an

appraisal. It would appear to be impossible for a repair

shop appraiser to be able to write a required appraisal with

accuracy unless he or she could authorize a necessary tear-

down. In fact, it would seem to be more cost-effective for a

shop appraiser to be able to authorize a teardown before

the insurance appraiser comes to view damage to avoid

the possible need for that appraiser to come back for a

supplement.

Despite all of this, there are reported abuses of the sys-

tem, as noted in the ADALB’s discussion. Some shops may

improperly tear down vehicles to such a degree that the

insurer cannot tell what the true damage actually was,

whether there may have been old damage or whether there

might be other reasons for the insurer to deny part or all of

by James A. Castleman, Esq.[LEGAL] PERSPECTIVE


the claim. Additionally, some shops may unnecessarily tear

down vehicles that are clearly total losses and then ask to

get paid for it.

whAt ShOULD A ShOP DO?

If you are a body shop appraiser, what should you do if

you believe that a teardown is needed for you to be able to

write an accurate appraisal?

First, get your customer’s authorization for it. This is

required by both the ADALB’s regulations and the Attor-

ney General’s regulations if you are going to charge for the

procedure.

Second, consider at least letting the insurer know in ad-

vance before you perform the teardown. If the insurer ap-

proves, then they have no excuse for disapproving of your

actions. Even if they do not approve, they have been put on

notice of what you are going to do.

Third, take detailed pictures of the vehicle before you

conduct the teardown. That way, you have evidence to

present the insurer if they claim that they didn’t know

there was unrelated prior damage, or if they question

whether there is coverage for it.

Fourth, if a vehicle is clearly a total loss, don’t tear it

down. If you do, all you may be doing is aggravating the

insurer and your customer. If the insurance appraiser

comes out and doesn’t believe that it is a total loss, then

they are almost certainly going to approve a teardown at

that time anyway and you have a better claim for charging

for the procedure (and maybe even for some additional

storage).

GEttING PAID FOR thE tEARDOwN

A final issue is whether a shop should be entitled to re-

imbursement for a teardown, even if it has not received an

insurer’s authorization. In my opinion, if the teardown is

legitimate, then the shop should be entitled to payment.

After all, the work needed for the teardown has been done,

and it was necessary in order to properly assess the dam-

age.

But let’s see what the ADALB says.

Attorney James Castleman is a managing mem-

ber of Paster, Rice & Castleman, LLC in Quincy,

MA. He can be reached at (617) 472-3424 or at

jcastleman@ prclawoffice.com.

MASSACHUSETTS








On January 6, AASP/MAhosted its first gathering of2016 at the Assabet ValleyRegional Technical HighSchool in Marlboro. TheStatewide Meeting servedto inform attendees of criti-cal insurance industry de-velopments and stateefforts to help shops stay incompliance with evolvingsafety and environmentalregulations.

A PROBLEMATIC POLICYAASP/MA executive team mem-

ber Peter D’Agostino got the Wednes-day night event off to a rousing startby offering an extensive – and trou-bling – discussion on the recent modelstandardized auto insurance policyfiled by the Automobile Insurers Bu-reau (AIB), an association comprisedof numerous insurance carriers operat-ing in Massachusetts. Filed by the AIBlast May and approved by the Divi-sion of Insurance five months later, themodel policy is open for adoption byan insurer to reflect that company’scoverage and rules. According to amessage on aaspma.org posted priorto the meeting, the AIB document“does not automatically change insur-ance policies in Massachusetts; how-ever, it sets the standard for insurers touse in their own specific filings. Anyinsurer that wishes to adopt the policy[in whole or in part] must still file thesame with the Massachusetts Divisionof Insurance, but with the recognition,[that] certain terms have already beenapproved.” This is AIB’s first modelpolicy filing since 2008.

Although no insurance company

had officially filed this policy at thetime of the meeting, D’Agostino notedthat AASP/MA is actively following astrategic plan to address “some signifi-cant changes to the policy” that are“very concerning to the industry andto the consumers.” On the top of AASP/MA’s list of issues is the AIB’s policylanguage related to the cost of a repair,which if adopted, could result in an in-surer reimbursing Labor Rates basedon pricing determined by their directpayment plan.

D’Agostino warned that the AIBpolicy is also targeting towing andstorage.

“They now have tied the rate ofreimbursement for towing and storageto the rate set by [the Department ofPublic Utilities] for involuntary tows,”he explained. “The language specifi-cally says that the insurance companywill only reimburse its consumer therate established by law or regulation.There are no laws in the Common-wealth that establish the rate; there isonly a regulation, and the regulationonly applies to involuntary tows. It’s$90 for the hook and $35 a day for thestorage; that is their maximum rate ofreimbursement under this policy. Ifyou charge your customer for sitecleanup, glass cleanup [or the removalof] antifreeze [or] hazardous material,all those other charges – in theory –may not be covered.”

If this language is embraced by in-surers, repair shops may be faced withhaving to charge their customers thedifference in costs associated withthese services.

“If a consumer is told, ‘Hey, yourinsurance company doesn’t cover haz-ardous material,’ they would feel obli-gated to pay that bill,’” D’Agostinoobserved. “But if [shops] say, ‘Your in-surance company does cover storage,but not at the rate I charge, so you oweme the difference,’ I think that’s wherethe challenge [exists].”

Perhaps the greatest sting thatconsumers could feel from the AIB’splan is in the form of new languagethat excludes carriers from having topay “punitive or exemplary damages”which, in Massachusetts, usuallyrefers to statutory penalty damages,like 93A damages for the insurer fail-ing to settle a claim in good faith.

With so much at stake for Massa-chusetts repairers and policyholders,AASP/MA is taking a proactive ap-proach in combating the AIB’s initia-tives. This includes (but is not limitedto) asking various committee members

AASP/MA executive team memberPeter D'Agostino updated members

on controversial actions by theAutomobile Insurers Bureau (AIB).

CONTROVERSIES& COMPLIANCE:Inside AASP/MA’sFirst Meeting of 2016

by Joel Gausten

in the Legislature to sign a letter to At-torney General Maura Healey askingher to investigate the legality of someof the Bureau’s suggestions. The asso-ciation is also working to build a coali-tion with customer advocacy groups,personal injury attorneys, tow indus-try representatives and other partiesthat would be affected if an insurermoved forward with the AIB’s guide-lines.

“The reason this is significant isbecause [the AIB’s plan] hasn’t beenimplemented,” D’Agostino said. “Toget the Legislature and the AttorneyGeneral to [look into] something that’sproposed is very difficult. But we feltthat it’s so important to get ahead ofthis, and the people we’ve spoken toagree.”

AASP/MA plans to host an exten-sive meeting on the AIB policy inMarch. Once finalized, information onthe event will be posted on aaspma.org.The AIB’s policy is available online attinyurl.com/hqmhuvm. For more in-formation on the Bureau, visit aib.org.

KEEP IT CLEAN In an effort to assist collision re-

pair businesses in staying on top ofnumerous environmental health andsafety requirements, the January 6meeting included a presentation fromthe Massachusetts Office of TechnicalAssistance (OTA) following the AIBupdate. The OTA is a non-regulatoryagency within the Executive Office ofEnergy and Environmental Affairs(EOEEA) that provides free, confiden-tial, onsite technical and complianceassistance to manufacturers, busi-nesses and institutions.

In addition to assisting with issuesrelated to the Toxics Use ReductionAct (TURA), the OTA also helps com-panies with energy efficiency andwater and resource conservation. Re-cently, it put together the MassCarguide, an updated version of itsCRASH Course publication developedin the ’90s with input from the Massa-chusetts Auto Body Association(MABA). The goal of MassCAR is tohelp auto shops understand andachieve compliance with require-ments, and also help these companiesgain insight into pollution preventiontechniques and best practices. As

previously reported in New EnglandAutomotive Report (“AASP/MA Mem-bers Sought for Environmental Com-pliance Project,” May 2015), the OTAcalled upon collision repair facilityowners and employees for their helpin the review and revision processes.This endeavor was named the Sustain-ability Training and Auto RepairShops (STARS) program. Shops thatparticipated in the development ofSTARS became members of the Massa-chusetts Clean Auto Repair (Mass-CAR) Partnership and received specialrecognition for their contribution.

The newly revised MassCAR man-ual is broken into three parts:

• The MassCAR checklist, which is asummary of actions a shop can take toensure that requirements are followedand to show its good-faith efforts tostay in compliance while protecting itsworkers and the environment.

• MassCAR fact sheets, which includedetailed information about key autobody and repair topics identified bythe project partners. These fact sheetsare intended to provide users with in-formation, benefits, possible obstaclesand steps forward for implementingeach topic outlined.

• The MassCAR EnvironmentalAchievement Statement, a down-loadable self-certification documentthat shops can use to advertise and celebrate their environmental

practices. Shops that provide feed-back or participate in training will receive a MassCAR certificate to ac-knowledge their efforts and contribu-tions to this program and theenvironment.

During her overview of some ofthe common hazards and mistakesfound on the shop floor, OTA Environ-mental Analyst Tiffany Skogstromurged attendees to make sure theyhave Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for allchemicals used in that facility.

“You have to have those availablefor every chemical and in a placewhere all of your employees knowwhere they can find it,” she explained.“If they spill something or somethinggoes down the drain, they need toknow how to handle it accordingly.”

Additionally, Skogstrom warnedshops about methylene chloride, acompound found in paint strippersand thinners.

“There’s a skull and crossbonesnext to it for a reason,” she said. “Itcauses cancer, but everything thatcauses cancer has a secondary healtheffect...It kills you. There have actuallybeen fatalities from people who haveused methylene chloride. If you cansmell it, you’re already being over-exposed.”

And here’s another crucial tipfrom Skogstrom: “Latex gloves are de-signed to protect you from germs, notchemicals.”

Offering perspectives on themuch-discussed 6H Rule, OTA Envi-ronmental Engineer Marina Gaylnoted that shops can petition the EPA


OTA Environmental EngineerMarina Gayl discussed theimportance of accurate

recordkeeping and reporting.

Tiffany Skogstrom, environmentalanalyst for the Massachusetts Office

of Technical Assistance (OTA), detailed some of the common safety

issues found at body shops.


for an exemption from the regulationsif they can demonstrate that they donot spray coating containing chromium,lead, manganese, nickel or cadmium.However, she stressed that the exemp-tion must be properly filed in order totake advantage of it.

“It has to be done,” she said. “Youcan’t just assume, ‘If I don’t have thechemicals, then I don’t need to doanything.’ You have to send in the pe-tition.”

The January 6 presentation wasthe first in a series of statewide educa-tion events that were scheduledthrough early February. (Remainingdates are available at tinyurl.com/gtwmfzy.) Attendees will receive ahard copy of the MassCAR book,while the digital version will soon bemade available at tinyurl.com/jjxqx5w. For more information, pleasecontact Tiffany Skogstrom at (617)626-1086 or [email protected].

MASSACHUSETTS





As technology on vehicles continues to evolve, so mustthe equipment that is used to service them. Last year saw amultitude of changes hitting the industry, from new tech-nological systems in commercial vehicles to aluminum be-coming more widely used on one of the nation’s mostpopular vehicles, the 2015 Ford F-150. To address thisrapid evolution in the field, equipment manufacturers aredeveloping ways to solve the newest problems hittingshops.

As Kevin Lombard of Massachusetts-based ProSpotdistributor Lombard Equipment, Inc. notes, one of themost pervasive issues in the industry at the moment is thelack of good-quality technicians. To remedy at least someof the problems that accompany this dilemma, ProSpot hasdeveloped the i5, which has what Lombard refers to as“auto weld/smart weld” technology.

“This machine adjusts the power, the squeeze pressure,you name it,” he explains. “All a technician has to do ispull the trigger and the machine starts welding. Our indus-try is so starved for experienced technicians, so this systemhelps to take B- and C-level techs and make them weld likean A-level tech because the machine is making all of theadjustments for them. You don’t have to have a lot of skillto weld like a skilled guy.”

In the same vein, Tim Morgan of Spanesi outlines oneof the ways his company is working to make the demand-ing on-the-job work of a body shop technician a little lessstrenuous for an aging labor pool.

“Of course, a big frame rack is going to be used forheavy structural or aluminum repairs, but as of right now,a lot of minor repairs are being done on the floor,” henotes. “Our Multi Bench system, an electrohydraulic liftsuitable for lifting any type of vehicle, allows techniciansto work on their feet as opposed to on their knees. As ouremployees age, we want to adapt to have some comfortsfor them. Getting technicians off of their knees makes themmore productive, because the work is less physically de-manding. By improving the quality of their work environ-ment, they can accomplish more.”

Looking ahead, Morgan and Lombard agree that thecreation of more universalized tools is an equipment trendcoming down the road. Lombard believes that universaljigging will become more popular as more vehicles adaptto aluminum technology, while Morgan predicts OEM cer-tification programs will require more straighteningbenches with universal fixtures.

Although Lombard points out that many of theserapid changes hitting the industry have been a wake-upcall to a number of shops (causing them to pick their feetup and invest in new training and equipment), Morgan believes there is one aspect of the industry that is still lacking.

“If they’re not already, technicians need to make surethey’re measuring a car electronically both before and afterthe repair,” he says. “When a car comes in, you need toknow exactly what it needs, and you need to be sure whenthe repairs are over that it’s received all of those things.How can you know that if you’re not measuring? There’s alot of repairs or small tweaks that are being done to makethings fit as opposed to properly measuring from the be-ginning. That’s the key to the measuring system, to do itthroughout the process. Measuring systems are going tobecome increasingly important in the technologicalchanges facing our industry.”

It is undeniable that recent years have been revolution-ary in the automotive repair field, and Lombard and Mor-gan are not alone in predicting that the next two to five aregoing to continue to bring massive changes for shops. Tocontinue to stay ahead of this constantly evolving market,training, self-reflection and consistent research are neces-sary.

To find out more about the equipment mentioned in thisarticle, visit spanesi.com and lombardequipment.com.

EqUIPMENtExPERtSPREdict tRENds

foR 2016

MASSACHUSETTS



“By improving the qualityof their work environment,they can accomplish more.”

- Tim Morgan

by Jacquelyn Bauman[TOOLING]& EQUIPMENT



Only a few decades ago, computersused to be the size of an entire room.Fast-forward to 2016, and a computerwith the same power can now fit inyour back pocket. With a society thatis becoming increasingly dependenton technology, it is no wonder that vehicles on the roads today are becom-ing more and more like the computersthat help us run our everyday lives. Sohow do we stay ahead of the curve?New England Automotive Report touchedbase with Jake Rodenroth, director ofclient services at Collision DiagnosticServices (creators of the asTech scantool) to help answer this question.Having presented on this topic at mas-sive industry events like SEMA, Ro-denroth has a unique perspective onwhat it takes to stay on top of the tech-nology hitting your shops.

In his mind, vehicle electronicsrequire the same type of investigationas any other change impacting themarket.

“Like with any piece of vehicletechnology – whether it’s an exoticmetal that you’re working on like alu-minum or ultra high-strength steel, orelectronics like convenience systemsor safety features – research is requiredto understand how the system works,how the various parts on the vehicleinterface with that system and howany repairs to those parts can affectthe way these electronics work,” heexplains.

Rodenroth notes that conveniencesystems on cars are hidden in manyplaces, such as in a mirror assembly ora door handle.

“As an industry, we’re accustomedto taking those parts out for repairs,and when we cycle a key and move acar with that part unplugged, the

control module senses an issue andcan disable the system,” he offers. “Wetrigger a lot of electronic fault codesand we’re not aware of it because thedashboard tells us that everything isokay.”

The disconnect within the industryon electronic systems is a training andawareness issue, which is why Colli-sion Diagnostic Services has workedwith I-CAR to update their diagnosticscurriculum. For those who are curiousas to what vehicles they should specif-ically be aware of when looking atelectronic systems, Rodenroth givesthe following examples:

However, it should be noted thatalmost all modern vehicles on the roadtoday have features that can be dis-rupted by basic repairs. Bluetooth is astandard feature in most vehiclesbeing offered due to hands-free legis-lation in a number of states. Roden-roth notes that the wiring forBluetooth is often affected during trimprocedures, as it tends to come out

when removing quarter panels.When dealing with any new pro-

cedure on the market, looking at OEMinformation is the most importantstep.

“If shops don’t have access toOEM information, they won’t be ableto stay in business,” Rodenroth warns.“You look at sectioning procedures andwhere the cut lines are on a quarterpanel. If you’re not looking at the OEMinformation in those aspects of yourbusiness, you’re going to struggle withelectronics.”

Other than researching OEM in-formation, Rodenroth’s biggest pieceof advice is to scan a vehicle beforeand after the repair.

“How do you know if the vehicleis correct if you didn’t pre- or post-scan the car?” he argues. “How do youknow what it came with? How do youknow what it left with? If you scan thecar and there are no faults, at leastnow you know there are no faults.”

To illustrate his point, he cites oneof his clients in Montana, who scanned100 vehicles pre- and post-repair. In allbut one case, he found a code on thevehicle. While he would prefer yourscans be done with an asTech, Roden-roth simply cares that it’s being doneat all.

“If you don’t want to scan with anasTech, I’m okay with that,” he says.“Just scan it with something. Don’t scanit with nothing. It’s a considerable in-vestment to use scan tools. You should

continued on pg. 54

Highly optioned cars(Acura, BMW, Lexus)

Luxury vehicles with advanced safety systemsor convenience systems(hands-free, etc.)

Hybrid and electric vehicles with systems likeregenerative braking andelaborate cooling systemsfor battery packs

CARS LIkECOMPUtERS:how to Adapt toIndustry Changes

by Jacquelyn Bauman

[TECH] CORNER

As a member of the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Massachusetts (AASP/MA), I will abide by the association’s bylaws and code of

ethics. I understand that membership in AASP of Massachusetts is non-transferable, and I must remain current with my dues in order to be a

member in good standing. I understand that if I discontinue my membership that I must immediately cease using any association promotions,

logos or materials. Additionally, I understand that as part of my AASP of Massachusetts membership, I will receive New England Automotive

Report, the official publication of AASP of Massachusetts, faxes, emails and other mailings.

2016 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

*** PLEASE tYPE OR PRINt LEGIBLY ***

12 Post Office Square, 6th Floor • Boston, MA 02109

Phone: (617) 574-0741 | Fax: (617) 695-0173|[email protected]

Primary Contact Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________________

Business Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Street Address ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone Number ( )____________________________________ Fax Number ( ) __________________________________________

E-mail Address ________________________________________ Web Site Address ____________________________________________

Street City State Zip

Street City State Zip

As required by the U.S. Tax Code, AASP of Massachusetts, Inc. informs its members that 75% of the dues paid to the associationare tax deductible. The remaining 25% is allocated to legislative activities and is not tax deductible.

MASSACHUSETTS


(3#s on back for Visa, 4 on front for AMEX)

MEMBERSHIP TYPE (check one)

Collision Repair Shop

Mechanical Repair Shop

Both, Collision & Mechanical Repair Shops

Vendor

RS Number (if applicable) ________________________________

AASP/MA CHAPTER (check one)MidStateSoutheasternNortheasternWestern

ADDITIONAL CONTACT FOR NEWSLETTERS AND LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Name: ____________________________________________________

Email: ____________________________________________________

Name: ____________________________________________________

Email: ____________________________________________________

Name: ____________________________________________________

Email: ____________________________________________________

Name: ____________________________________________________

Email: ____________________________________________________

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE CONTACT:Name: __________________________________________________

Phone Number: __________________________________________

Email:____________________________________________________

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES (The AASP membership year is from January 1 to December 31, 2016)

$40/month $115/quarter $425/year - BESt VALUE!Monthly & Quarterly Dues are Automatic Credit Card Transactions ONLY*

NEW! Political Action Committee (PAC) Donation ...............$_____

Check or Cash Credit Card: Visa MasterCard Amex

Card Number: __________________________________________

CID Number: ____________

Expiration Date: ________________________________________

Name on Card: __________________________________________

Billing Address of Credit Card: ____________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Signature: ______________________________________________

Date: __________________________________________________Name: ____________________________________________________

Email: ____________________________________________________

PLEASE COMPLEtE thIS MEMBERShIP APPLICAtION AND REtURN It wIth PAYMENt tO AASP-MA OFFICE.

Personal contributions only



When things fall apart, someoneneeds to put them back together.This is something that everyone inthe collision industry knows; formost repairers, it’s in their blood.John Sliech, Jr. of Sliech Auto Bodyin Feeding Hills is no different.

Like many other shop owners, he got into theindustry because of his father, who opened SliechAuto Body in 1985.

“I started in the shop when I was really young,”the second-generation repairer recalls. “I began bysweeping the floors, helping out around the shop,and eventually I got started working on cars. I didn’tgo to school or anything; I just learned the tradehands on.”

In the early 2000s, John and his brother Dennistook over the business after their father’s passing,and the rest was history. Recently, John was ap-proached by AASP/MA Board member Peter Lan-gone (Langonet Auto Body & Frame, Agawam), whoinformed him all about what the association doesand how it benefits area shop owners.

“Pete’s right down the road from me, so hestopped in one day to talk about the association,”he explains. “I was really interested in the work theywere doing at the Capitol. I think the legislation stuffis the biggest part of why I joined.”

Having been a member now for almost sixmonths, John has seen the value of the associationand its impact on the industry.

“When we band together, we have morepower,” he states. “There’s strength in numbers.”

Despite positive changes in the industrythrough the unification of Commonwealth-basedshops, he is worried about what the future bringsfor the field.

“The way they’re making cars nowadays, every-thing breaks,” he expresses. “It’s like the cars aremade of plastic. I don’t know what the next genera-tion of repairers are going to do.”

Regardless of the direction the next few yearswill bring for automotive technicians, John is grate-ful for this industry and everything it has broughthim and his family. Between his days at his shopand his spare time spent boating on the water, he issatisfied with the life he is leading. When all is saidand done, he has one piece of advice for those whoare looking to get the most out of the field they’rein.

“Put your focus on learning,” hesays. “No one can ever take yourknowledge away from you. Learnhow to repair cars right, learn howto run your business and learn howyou can make it better for everyonearound you.”

MASSACHUSETTS


MEMBER SHOPSPOTLIGHT

by Jacquelyn Bauman

“Whenwe band together,

we have more power. There’s strength in numbers.”

Sliech Auto Body, Inc.

MASSACHUSETTS





Allen Mello Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram ......28

AP Media ........................................................21

Audi Group ....................................................29

Audi Shrewsbury ..........................................23

Axalta Coating Systems ..................................4

Bald Hill Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram............19

Balise Wholesale Parts Express ....................20

Baystate Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge ..................31

Best Chevrolet/Best CDJR..........................IFC

BMW Group ..............................................26-27

BMW/Mini of Warwick ................................14

Clay Subaru ......................................................9

Colonial Auto Group ....................................22

Empire Auto Parts..........................................43

Enterprise ........................................................11

First Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram ..................30

First Ford ........................................................30

First Hyundai..................................................30

Ford Group ....................................................37

Honda Group..................................................36

Hyundai Group..............................................15

IkotecUSA ......................................................10

Imperial Ford..................................................37

Infiniti of Norwood........................................39

Ira Group....................................................12-13

Kelly Automotive Group............................IBC

Kia Group........................................................40

Linder’s, Inc. ..................................................54

Long Automotive Group ..........................OBC

Mazda Group..................................................48

Mercedes-Benz of Shrewsbury ....................23

Mopar Group..................................................44

Mr. Pothole Man ............................................10

Nissan Group..................................................45

PPG ....................................................................3

Robertsons GMC Truck ................................35

Sarat Ford Lincoln..........................................43

Sentry Group ..................................................38

Steck ................................................................21

Subaru Group............................................32-33

Tasca Group ......................................................6

Toyota Group..................................................52

Village Auto Group........................................46

VW Group ......................................................53

Wagner BMW of Shrewsbury ......................23

Wagner Kia of Shrewsbury ..........................23

Wellesley Toyota/Scion ..................................8

Wheel Collision Center ................................31

AD INDEX


continued from pg. 49

look at the bulk of manufacturersyou’re doing and what sort of solutionfits you best. Whether it’s an asTech,an OEM scan tool or it’s from a dealer-ship, there’s a lot of different ways foryou to do it.”

Collision Diagnostic Services isworking on a number of ways to helpthe industry in this avenue. In addi-tion to soon hosting four monthly blogposts with copious information on

pre- and post-repair scanning, theywill also be holding quarterly webi-nars that are open to everyone – notonly asTech owners.

As Rodenroth says, these systemsaren’t “something that’s going away.”

For more information on CollisionDiagnostic Services and asTech, visitastech.com.

MASSACHUSETTS


[TECH] CORNER

Documents

New England Automotive Report February 2016