ASA Podcast (Episode 65): Talking to the Future
One of the greatest challenges facing the automotive service and collision repair industries is finding the qualified, motivated technical and business talent we need for the future.
Author: AutoInc.
Lang Aftermarket iReport: Amazon aims at mobility domination
Amazon’s recent acquisition of the auto-tech startup Zoox has expanded its footprint in three key sectors of the fast-changing multi-trillion-dollar consumer mobility market: autonomous vehicles (AV), electric vehicles (EV), and ride-hailing.
9th Annual MSO Symposium announces major changes to program format
The 2020 MSO Symposium will take place Nov. 9-13 as a series of webinars, scheduled to start daily at 12 p.m. PDT, 2 p.m. CDT and 3 p.m. EDT.
Report: 70,000+ children, teens died in car accidents in 15-year period
More than 70,000 American children and teens ages 19 and younger died in fatal motor vehicle accidents from 2004 to 2018 (latest year of data available) according to a new report from ValuePenguin.com by LendingTree.
AAA: National average holds steady as demand grows slightly
The latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) report measures demand at 8.52 million b/d, which is a slight uptick from the previous week’s 8.48 million b/d.
Report: 68% of hackers initiate attacks to be challenged – 71% opt for websites
Survey data acquired by Finbold.com indicates that about 68% of hackers initiate attacks in order to be challenged. The survey featured over 3,150 respondents from at least 120 countries and territories.
Protection Against Coronavirus: Continental to sell partition panels for cars
Technology company Continental is helping to improve the drivers and passenger’s safety when traveling.
Blog: 6 steps for lowering your risk of car theft
Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that presents various methods that help policyholders to keep their cars safe against thieves and save car insurance money at the same time.
Work Comp Insights: 5 strategies for reducing workers’ compensation costs
When a company experiences significant increases in workers’ compensation costs, it usually triggers internal activities aimed at reducing insurance costs and spending.
U.S. House reviews PPP processes & loan forgiveness
The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business Subcommittees held two back-to-back hearings entitled “Paycheck Protection Program: An Examination on Loan Forgiveness, SBA Legacy Systems, and Inaccurate Data” and “A Review of PPP Forgiveness."
The Latest: Car recalls for Sept. 17-24
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued recalls for September 17 through 24, including a Hyundai recall involving 180,000 units and a Volvo recall involving 15,156 units.
Winter is Coming – Top 8 questions your customers will ask about winter tires
Winter brings the potential for unpredictable weather and harsh conditions. Thus, it’s critical that drivers know the basics of winter driving safety. Driving with care during cold weather starts with educating your customers about the only part of their vehicle connected to the road: their tires.
Jody DeVere: True North – What’s Your Declination?
Operating without being pointed towards true north leads to polarization, lost time and lost opportunities.
California governor calls for ban on gas-fueled cars by 2035
California Gov. Gavin Newsom released an executive order yesterday requiring that by 2035, all new cars and passenger trucks sold in California will be zero-emission vehicles.
ASA Podcast (Episode 64): Taking the Hill Update
In this episode, ASA Washington representative Bob Redding reports on the latest legislative developments in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Senate committee revisits need for federal data privacy legislation
The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation convened today in a hearing to discuss the renewed need for federal data privacy legislation.
ASA Podcast (Episode 63): ASA Mechanical Operations Committee Update
In this episode, ASA Mechanical Division Director Tom Piippo reports on the latest topics and projects on the agenda of the Mechanical Operations Committee (MOC).
TakingTheHill.com: House Republican E/C Committee members introduce AV legislation
Today, U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee Republican Members introduced Autonomous Vehicle legislation to address numerous automaker concerns relative to research and deployment of autonomous vehicles.
Lang Aftermarket iReport: Consumers compare garages & dealers
The vehicle repair-age sweet-spot embraces cars and light trucks 6 to 10 years old. These vehicles average the highest replacement rates across many types of automotive products. Big changes will occur in the number and types of light vehicles populating the repair-age sweet-spot between 2016 and 2021.
Government Accountability Office predicts trouble with PPP loan forgiveness
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report Monday warning of potential delays and bureaucratic difficulties for businesses attempting to convert their Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans into forgivable grants.
ASA’s Trivia Tuesday: Know the answer?
Know the answer to this Trivia Tuesday question?
Federated Insurance: Pay salaried non-exempt employee for actual hours worked?
If a salaried non-exempt employee works more than 40 hours in a workweek, the employer must pay overtime. If a salaried non-exempt employee works fewer than 40 hours in a workweek, may an employer pay them based on their actual hours worked (e.g., 38 hours)?
ASA Podcast (Episode 62): Collision Operations Committee Update
In this episode, ASA Collision Division Director Mike Levasseur reports on the latest topics and projects on the agenda of the Collision Operations Committee (COC).
Report: The best vehicles for car seats
Cars.com (NYSE: CARS), a leading digital automotive marketplace and solutions provider, releases its annual Car Seat Check Honor Roll to arm parents and caregivers with vital information on which family vehicles best fit car seats and have the easiest-to-use Latch systems for car seat installation.
AAA: Low demand at pump continues to pull national average lower
The latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) report measures demand at 8.48 million b/d, which is a slight uptick from the previous week’s 8.39 million b/d. However, the small increase — likely due to holiday road trips — is still 461,000 b/d lower than last year at this time.
Report: How lighter vehicle components are driving technology in the automotive sector
Rapid changes across the automotive supply chain is being driven by tough legislation, carbon emissions and fierce competition.
The Latest: Car recalls for mid-September
From the Detroit Free Press The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued recalls for September 10 through 17, including a Hyundai recall involving 180,000 units and a Dodge recall involving 26,361 units. See the list of this week's…
Study: A quarter of all car accidents happen in the first 3 minutes of driving
The Austrian telematics provider Dolphin Technologies specializes in leveraging technology to prevent road traffic accidents. Drivers who use Dolphin's system receive incentives, such as a discount on their insurance premium, for engaging in low-risk driving behavior like not using a phone while driving, and respecting speed limits.
AAA: Gasoline demand plummets to lowest level in nearly 12 weeks
The latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) report measures gasoline demand at 8.3 million b/d, which is the lowest level since mid-June. As demand dropped for a second week, so did gasoline supply levels – down nearly 3 million bbl to 231 million bbl.
Aftermarket Matters: ASA Colorado golf tournament raises scholarship funds & smiles
The 3rd Annual 2020 ASA Colorado Golf Tournament brought members together for an eventful day of golf, contests, prizes, relationship building and networking opportunities this past weekend on Saturday.
Dori Eppstein: Leadership in challenging times
Great leadership on any given day is an art form that has been cultivated over time with significant effort and dedication to the craft.
IRS: Disaster Assistance & Emergency Relief for Individuals & Businesses
From the IRS Special tax law provisions may help taxpayers and businesses recover financially from the impact of a disaster, especially when the federal government declares their location to be a major disaster area. Depending on the circumstances, the IRS…
Survey: Service professionals adapting to changes in business climate due to COVID-19
LEESBURG, Virginia – Sept. 16, 2020 – The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) conducted a comprehensive survey last month to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the automotive service industry and its workforce. A key…
Lang Aftermarket iReport: 2021 Repair-Age Sweet-Spot Makeover
"The vehicle repair-age sweet-spot embraces cars and light trucks 6 to 10 years old. These vehicles average the highest replacement rates across many types of automotive products. Big changes will occur in the number and types of light vehicles populating…
ASA Podcast (Episode 61): Meet Chuck Searles, AMi President
The Automotive Management Institute Board of Trustees recently selected Chuck Searles as the new President of AMi. He succeeds Jeff Peevey, who recently returned to I-CAR.
TakingTheHill.com: NSC releases preliminary semiannual estimates for road safety
The National Safety Council (NSC) released their preliminary semiannual estimates for road safety today, and the results show a slight 1 percent increase in total motor-vehicle deaths in 2020 compared to 2019.
TakingTheHill.com: Congressman calls for GSA to halt sale of recalled vehicles
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, recently wrote a letter to General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Emily W. Murphy regarding the GSA policies of sale and lease of automobiles subject to manufacturer recall.
Report: 1 out of 5 vehicles (yes, 20 percent!) has an ‘Open Recall’
The number of vehicles on the road with open safety recalls is rising, after two consecutive years of declines, according to CARFAX data.
The Latest: Car recalls for Aug. 13-20
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued recalls for August 13 through 20, including a Ford recall involving 488,594 units and a Freightliner recall involving 5,374 units.
WSJ: Looking for a good deal on a new car? You’re probably too late
As the U.S. auto business restarts, car buyers returning to showrooms are likely to confront a frustrating reality: slimmer pickings and fewer deals on the new-car lot.
AAA Cautions Consumers: Don’t buy the hype
Motorists using active driving assistance systems, which combine vehicle acceleration with braking and steering, tend to overlook safety limitations when the branding and marketing used to sell it suggest an “automated” driving experience, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
J.D. Power: Top 10 problems affecting automotive multimedia experience are design-related
With the top 10 problems with automotive multimedia systems being design-related, owner satisfaction with such systems is among the least satisfying aspects of the vehicle experience, according to the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Multimedia Quality and Satisfaction StudySM, released today.
Today’s world unlocks an industry transformation — for now and time to come
Cancelled events, remote working, government guidelines, mandates, and legislation — every day a new COVID-19 challenge comes along.
WalletHub: Best & worst cities for number of repair shops, likelihood of accidents, maintenance costs
Most Americans rely on cars to get around, as “87 percent of daily trips take place in personal vehicles,” according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. In addition, during the Covid-19 pandemic, fear of public transportation has led to more reliance on personal vehicles than usual. Due to the pandemic, 20 percent of people who don’t own a car are considering buying one.
Maryann Croce’s Coach’s Corner: Work-life balance solution
What is work-life balance and is it worth striving for? Baby Boomers grew up during difficult times (World War II) and as a result many workers stayed with their place of employment for decades…
ASA Podcast (Episode 60): Talking With A Tire Engineer
Heather Mosier has successfully overseen and executed the development of several award-winning tires at Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, including those that have been selected as original equipment on Mercedes- Benz SUVs.
Lang Aftermarket iReport: Jobber population slide
The number of Jobber outlets in the U.S. fell by nearly 15% between 2000 and 2015. Since then, the annual pace of Jobber closings has slowed. However, Covid-19 will reverse this trend, with Jobber store closings spiking over the next few years.
Consumer Reports: How to fix your annoying mask
From Consumer Reports To help contain COVID-19, one of the most important things you can do is wear a mask. Especially when paired with physical distancing, wearing masks is “the single best way, short of a lockdown, to slow the…
U.S. Auto Dealers: Sentiment improves, inventory becomes top concern
According to the Q3 2020 Cox Automotive Dealer Sentiment Index (CADSI) released today, U.S. automobile dealers' view of the current automotive market shows significant improvement and has mostly recovered from the historic, pandemic-driven drops in the second quarter.
AAA: As summer fades away, cheaper gas prices here to stay
Motorists saw plenty of savings at the pump from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
