In 43 years of shop management and ownership, I’ve made every mistake possible. There was a year when my accountant had to prepare 102 W2s. Imagine how broken my systems and procedures were to go through that many employees in…
Many complexities of our business are now front-and-center. Consider the following: The independent sector of the automotive service industry is experiencing a crisis of profitability, retailer attitude and public perception. Most shop owners have bought themselves a job, not a…
An ASA member writes: I have a customer who has spent thousands of dollars with me during the past several years. Eighteen months ago, we installed genuine Toyota brakes on his 4Runner. A month later, the customer returned to my…
When the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released its Federal Automated Vehicles (AV) Policy in September 2016, the focus was on NHTSA issuing a guidance document and its four key sections: vehicle performance guidance; model state policy; NHTSA’s current…
Jim Maddox learned a lesson growing up in rural Los Lunas, N.M., that he has not forgotten: The value of a good education. He uses that lesson every day as a guidepost for his…
Twenty years ago this December, the Prius was introduced to the world. Three years later, it came to America and the quintessential hybrid was born. Everyone has heard of Prius. The Plug-in Prius came out in model year (M/Y) 2012…
Make plans now to attend the one trade show in 2017 you can’t afford to miss! It’s NACE | Automechanika Chicago, and debuts this summer in the Windy City. A collaboration between the International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE), the…
Rich White, senior vice president of the Auto Care Association (ACA), will retire in June after an 18-year career at the association that includes overseeing marketing and communications, market research, member services, trade shows and education and serving as the…
This is my first article as ASA’s chairman of the board. And I thought this would be a great time to share how I got involved with ASA and with two of my mentors. First, I had the opportunity to…
Multiple collision repair shop operators and large, single-location collision repairers who want to grow their businesses have an opportunity to network and learn about the hottest issues facing the industry at the MSO Symposium in July. The Automotive Service Association…
