The Experience
Hard to imagine that it is already November. In northern tier states such as Minnesota, the leaves are gone. Frosty mornings are the norm, many days are gray, and we await the snow that usually brightens our landscape for months…
Columns
Congress Continues Review of Vehicle Safety
Safety legislation unlikely in the 113th Congress. The U.S. Congress continues to review vehicle safety concerns stemming from manufacturer recalls. This includes hearings, legislation and investigations. Although this review was intense during the final weeks of the 113th Congress, no…
ASA Solicits Top 10 Insurers on ‘Blend Within/Zone Refinish’ Issue
The Automotive Service Association’s board of directors and Collision Division Operations Committee have begun their second initiative as they continue to focus on refinish issues and the issues’ effects on collision repair facilities. ASA’s goal is to educate the industry,…
ASA Shops Can Now Provide Dental, Vision Insurance
ASA Partners with Keystone Insurers Group to Provide Coverage Through an agreement with Keystone Insurers Group, the Automotive Service Association is excited to offer a new member benefits package that will provide ASA member-shops with access to group dental and…
‘Test, Don’t Guess’ When Lightning Strikes
It’s your best approach to tracking down the problem(s). Problem description: Check electrical system. The battery goes dead after sitting a couple days. “Oh, yeah,” the customer said, “there was a lightning strike in the parking lot where I work…
Congressional Subcommittee Examines Small Business Health Options Program
Members Encourage Program Improvements On Sept. 18, 2014, the U.S. House Committee on Small Business’ Subcommittee on Health and Technology held a hearing titled, “An Update on the Small Business Health Options Program: Is It Working for Small Businesses?” The…
Generationally Speaking - October 2014
See what makes us different ... and the same! Valley Automotive Repair and Electric in Maple Valley, Wash., has been serving the Maple Valley, Wash., community since 1981. It is family owned and run by Bryan K. Kelley, who purchased…
ASA, AMI Move To New Location
ASA has moved! It is now located at 8209 Mid Cities Blvd., North Richland Hills, Texas 76182. It moved there from Colleyville, Texas. Formerly, for many years, it was in Bedford, Texas. ASA’s “800” number has been discontinued. The main…
A Sports Hero That Is More
As chairman, I’ve had the opportunity to do some special things and to meet some special people. As a speaker at a regional trade show recently, I had the opportunity to catch up with a featured guest, John Force. In…
What Would You Do? - September 2014
Every shop owner runs into ‘situations.’ How they handle them is important ... do you agree with these fellow ASA members? Dilemma: This scenario comes from a shop in Southern California: “A customer brought in her 2004 Toyota Camry with…
The New Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
Did Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mullaly do anything to improve the serviceability of his products? This month we will examine the Lincoln MKZ. Two years after I closed my shop to pursue my career full time in hybrid technical…
Farmers Drops MFN Clause from New DRP Agreements
ASA thanks Farmers for MFN policy changes Following Farmers Insurance’s decision to remove Most Favored Nation (Customer) clauses from insurer direct repair programs, Dan Risley, Automotive Service Association (ASA) president and executive director, sent a letter of thanks to Jeffrey…
Technology Expo Highlights Industry Cooperation
Auto Alliance offers shops latest look at future technologies. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (Alliance) sponsored the first Innovation, Technology and Telematics Expo at NACE|CARS in Detroit last month. The one-day conference had been planned for months to educate shops…
News Briefs - September 2014
New Battery Tester Program with AutoZone! AutoZone is offering another money-saving benefit for ASA members. The ASA Member Starting and Charging Program from AutoZone provides shop members with a rack, signage and their new ProPower batteries – a professional line…
Culture of Learning
Recently, I-CAR completed a survey. Over a long period they measured the performance of a number of collision shops while the staff went through many I-CAR classes. They were trying to establish the relevance of education to its return on…
Oh, the Joy of Being a Technician!
It brings adventures, like solving this Explorer’s problem. One of the great joys of being an automotive technician is the thrill each day brings. I know: That may be a much too cheerful interpretation…
How to Save Money and Increase Profits
(Hint: It starts with the ASA Marketplace.) ASA.bizunite.com The ASA Marketplace brings you a variety of savings and special offers on products and services exclusively for ASA member-shops. Click here to learn how to save money and increase profits.
Autonomous Vehicles Present Challenges for State, Federal Policymakers
Auto repairers must stay informed, engaged. While state legislatures are beginning to see their first round of telematics legislation and the U.S. Congress is asking questions about these new technologies – such as vehicle-to-vehicle communications – the next topic for…
