Division Newsletters Going Digital

If you are a shop owner-member of the Automotive Service Association, you are either part of ASA's Mechanical Division or Collision Division. And you have been receiving a newsletter from your division.

ASA is excited to announce that your monthly newsletter is "going green."

Starting January 2009, the Collision Repair Report and the mechanical Division Dispatch will be transforming their paper-and-ink format to digital - delivering timely news to you entirely online while saving a few trees along the way.

This new electronic format will bring division news straight to your e-mail box every month. It will be showcased within the ASA News-Network.

You likely already receive ASA News-Network, but if you are not already a subscriber, you may sign up for free at www.asashop.org/ news/news.htm or by calling ASA at (800) 272-7467, ext. 295. You need to do so to ensure you will receive your division newsletter.

TechHelp Replies Break Million Mark

Replies to TechHelp - where thousands of automotive technicians from all over the world exchange information and ideas - have exceeded the 1 million mark, setting a new record for the International Automotive Technicians' Network (iATN).

TechHelp replies are solutions and responses to the nearly 200,000 e-mail help requests from automotive technicians on iATN, www.iatn.net. Help requests, replies and fixes are archived in the network's FIX Database and are searchable by make, model, system, VIN, symptoms and many other criteria.

"One million replies is truly astounding and is the direct result of iATN members being willing to share their time and knowledge on the network to help other technicians," said Brent Black, iATN founder and president.

TechHelp is a standard membership feature on iATN and is offered at no cost to automotive repair professionals.

I-CAR Celebrates 25 Years in Canada

The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) celebrated its 25th year in Canada at its Canadian annual meeting Oct. 17 at the Hilton Montreal Airport in Dorval, QC. The daylong event, which attracted nearly 200 collision repair inter-industry professionals, was held in conjunction with the meeting of the Canadian Collision Industry Forum.

Seven ASA Shops Among Top 10

Aaron Clements, whose 35-bay shop in Augusta, Ga., has been named Motor Age magazine's Top Shop for 2008, is shown with Larry Silvey, left, the magazine's editorial director; and Terri McMenamin, group publisher. Clements will be featured in the December issue of Motor Age. Clements, a former ASA chairman, credits ASA for giving him the proper training and networking opportunities to achieve success.

Motor Age magazine has named its Top 10 shops for 2008, and seven out of the 10 are ASA members.

Aaron Clements' C&C Automotive of Augusta, Ga., has been named Motor Age magazine's Top Shop for 2008.

Six other ASA member-shops made the magazine's Top 10 Shops list. C&H Foreign Auto of Spokane, Wash., was named No. 3; Larry's Auto Works, Mountain View, Calif., No. 5; Cary Car Care, Cary, N.C., No. 6; Hubbard Woods Motors, Winnetka, Ill., No. 7; Camarillo Car Care Center, Camarillo, Calif., No. 8; and Certified Automotive Specialists, Glendora, Calif., No. 10.

Editor's note: Certified Automotive Specialists is the subject of the shop profile in this issue of AutoInc. Also, please see the ASA President's Blog - "Must Be Doing Something Right ..." - a commentary on Motor Age's Top 10 shops, at http://blog.asashop.org.

NASTF Adopts Service Information Standards: 12 Automakers Have Already Signed Agreements

The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) has established NASTF Service Information Standards and requested that each auto manufacturer renew its commitment to NASTF to make service and training information and tools accessible to all repairers on an equal basis by signing an agreement with NASTF. Many of the standards embody the practices that have been in place for more than six years, but one new element is a binding arbitration backstop in the NASTF Dispute Resolution Process.

Charlie Gorman, chairman of NASTF, said: "We have now met one of our major goals for both our organization and the service industry at large. We have clearly defined how NASTF will work in the future and empowered its diverse membership to solve problems. This also addresses several questions about putting 'teeth' into the NASTF process. We believe the time has come for everyone in the industry to support what really works - a unified, progressive, effective NASTF."

The standards have three parts: 1. Definitions 2. Automotive Service Information Standards and 3. Information Request and Resolution Process. "Definitions" clearly define what's covered and what's not covered. "Standards" stipulate how OEMs will ensure open accessibility. "Information Request and Resolution Process" provides checks and cross checks, including the possibility of binding arbitration if needed, to identify and assess any potential information gaps.

So far, 12 automakers have already signed agreements with NASTF, and the remaining manufacturers have the agreement in various stages of review and approval.

NASTF was established in 2000 to identify, communicate and resolve gaps in the availability and accessibility of automotive service information, service training, diagnostic tools, and equipment for the benefit of automotive service professionals and their customers. NASTF was incorporated in 2006. Additional details can be found at www.nastf.org. As a 501(c) 6 not-for-profit organization, NASTF takes no position on any legislation that may be proposed or pending in state or national legislative bodies.