AASP-MN News January 2016

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January 2016January 2016

PLUS:AASP-MN Hits

Record High Membershipfor Second Consecutive Year

PLUS:AASP-MN Hits

Record High Membershipfor Second Consecutive Year

AASP0116.qxp_AASP News 12/29/15 12:36 PM

AASP-MN News2 January 2016


AASP-MN News January 2016 3


CONTENTSVol. 24 No. 1

AASP of Minnesota is an association ofindependently-owned automo-tive service businesses and industry suppliers dedicated toimproving the state’s automo-tive service industry and thesuccess of its members.

AASP-MN News is the official publication of the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, Minnesota, Inc. 1970 Oakcrest Ave., Suite 102 • Roseville, MN 55113 Phone:612-623-1110 • Fax: 612-623-1122 email: [email protected] • website: aaspmn.org. All rights reserved. To keep its readers better informed, AASP-MN News allowsits columnists to fully express their opinions. All views expressed are not necessarily those of the publication. AASP-MN News is published by Thomas Greco Publishing,Inc. Cover image © www.istockphoto.com.

AASP-MN BOARD MEMBERS 2015 - 2016

PRESIDENTTom Gleason

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENTJerald Stiele

SECRETARY-TREASURER Greg Kasel, AAM

COLLISION DIVISION DIRECTORJim Siegfried, AAM

MECHANICAL DIVISION DIRECTORWayne Watson

ASSOCIATE DIVISION DIRECTORKevin Martin

COLLISION SEATSJoyce WeinhandlWill Latuff

MECHANICAL SEATMars Overlee

STAFFEXECUTIVE DIRECTORJudell Anderson, CAE, AAM

OFFICE ADMINISTRATORJodi Pillsbury

MEMBERSHIP COORDINATORTom Kluver

PUBLISHED BY: Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc.

244 Chestnut St., Suite 202 Nutley, NJ 07110PHONE: 973-667-6922 • FAX: 973-235-1963

PUBLISHER: Thomas Greco ([email protected])DIRECTOR OF SALES: Alicia Figurelli ([email protected])MANAGING EDITOR: Jacquelyn Bauman ([email protected])EDITOR: Joel Gausten ([email protected])ART DIRECTOR: Lea Velocci ([email protected])OFFICE MANAGER: Donna Greco ([email protected])

www.grecopublishing.com

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE ......................................................6Putting Our Money Where Our Mouth Isby Judell Anderson, CAE, AAM, AASP-MN Executive Director

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE ......................................................................7Preparations Ramp Up to Renew Efforts to Prohibit Certain Insurance CompanyClaims Practicesby Kevin Walli, AASP-MN Lobbyist

LOCAL NEWS ................................................................................8

COMPLETE HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL & SAFETY SERVICES (C.H.E.S.S) ........10Walk Around Your Buildingby Janet L. Keyes, MS, CIH and Carol A. Keyes, MA, CSP, CRC

INSURANCE I.Q. ............................................................................11New Year’s Resolutionsby Dennis Spindler

NATIONAL NEWS ............................................................................14

DEG ESTIMATING TIPS ....................................................................19

CASH IN ON YOUR MEMBERSHIP!........................................................22AASP-MN’s Insurance Program with United Fire Group


April 14, 2016Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference

Ramada Plaza, Minneapolis

June 21, 201622nd Annual Golf Outing

Keller Golf Course, Maplewood

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

aaa Auto Parts ............................................................17AmeriPride ................................................................15Axalta Coating Systems..............................................OBCBlue Net, Inc. ............................................................3Buerkle Hyundai ........................................................11CBIZ ..........................................................................IFCChoice Auto Rentals ..................................................18Dentsmart ..................................................................15Inver Grove Honda / Inver Grove Toyota ............................14Jack McClard ............................................................18Keystone ....................................................................19Lowell’s PCE ..............................................................21Maplewood Toyota ....................................................16Meadowbrook Insurance ............................................IFC

Mercedes Benz of Maplewood....................................20Mills Parts Center ......................................................20Morrie’s ....................................................................9Motorwerks BMW ......................................................IBCMotorwerks MINI ......................................................IBCMPA..................................................................................................12-13PAM’s Auto ................................................................16Proven Force..............................................................7Rosedale Chevrolet .....................................................3Roseville Chrysler ......................................................20Straight & Square ......................................................21Toyota Group..............................................................4United Fire Group ......................................................IFC

UPCOMING EVENTS

For more information, contact the AASP-MN office at 612-623-1110or visit the Association’s website, www.aaspmn.org.


“I’m really having a tough time finding a technician.” “I just lost my service advisor – do you know of anyone who’slooking?” “Do you have any suggestions for the best way to go aboutfinding a detailer?” “I just can’t find a qualified person to staff my parts counter.”

And on it goes. On countless occasions, the association re-ceives these kinds of phone calls and emails from members desper-ate to find the qualified employees they need to operate theirbusinesses. These calls have increased significantly in the past yearas the economy has ramped up. The auto service industry nowfinds itself competing in earnest with construction and other trades,recruiting from a limited pool of job candidates and future employ-ees. It’s clear that something has to change… Enter MNCARS – Minnesota Careers in Auto Repair & Serv-ice. This organization was created with the sole mission to increaserecruitment into Minnesota’s post-secondary automotive programs(both collision and mechanical) and industry careers. It aims to fillthe pipeline of future employees into Minnesota’s automotive serv-ice industry, from shops to suppliers/distributors and even insurers. To accomplish this, MNCARS has partnered with Risdall, aleading marketing and communications agency, to execute a com-prehensive, two-year campaign to attract young people and futureemployees to our industry. Important aspects of our recruitment ef-forts will include:

• Connecting with potential students, their parents andhigh school influencers, including counselors, to provide abetter picture of the pathways to success and opportunitiesavailable in the automotive industry;

• Developing a website to serve as a centerpiece in educating our target audiences and the broader community on the oppor-tunities available within the automotive industry. This hub,and accompanying printed materials, will share the excitingcareers, success stories and advantages that a two-year auto-motive program offers in getting started in the workforce;

• Hosting live events at schools and community locations to engage students in both fun and informative activities to allowthem to begin to think of automotive repair as more than ahobby;

• Creating an “influencer kit” to provide professionals that work with students a simple-to-use toolkit that presents posi-tive information on the industry and career options; and

• Media stories and outreach programs to address mispercep-tions and inform individuals throughout Minnesota of oppor-tunities within the automotive service industry.

This is a big initiative with a big price tag: $250,000 over thetwo years. And I’m so excited to tell you that, as this issue goes topress, we’ve received $230,000 in pledges towards this goal!

AASP-MN and the Minnesota Transportation Center of Excellenceled the way with contributions of $50,000 each. Dedicated AASP-MN members, large and small, have contributed anywhere from$500 to $25,000. I’m confident that additional pledges will beforthcoming as several industry companies who’d like to supportthe campaign wrap up their budgeting process. To be honest, what’s been more surprising to me is who hasn’tcontributed to the campaign, as opposed to those who have. Butbeing an eternal optimist, I am hopeful that once these individualsand companies have a chance to see the end product and the posi-tive impact it makes for the industry, they’ll step up in the future topitch in and support the effort. The campaign will launch in the first quarter of 2016, so watchfor further information at that time. I know you’re going to likewhat you see! In the meantime, one resource I’d like to remind you of isAASP-MN’s member benefit program with Assessment AssociatesInternational. Once you are fortunate enough to find a good candi-date or two, for just $15, you can have them complete an onlinequestionnaire that assesses their motivation, attitude, dependability,initiative and other “soft skills.” The results are a good predictor ofworkplace behavior and will provide additional insight as towhether the person will be a good fit for your business, leading toless employee turnover. Visit auto.aai.live.com/ for more informa-tion. The MNCARS initiative is significant and long-overdue workdesigned to address a critical need and I’m confident that it willhave a positive impact throughout Minnesota’s entire automotiveservice industry. My sincere and deepest thanks go out to the manyAASP-MN members, friends and supporters that have invested inthe future of the industry by contributing to this important under-taking. We couldn’t do it without you!

6 January 2016 AASP-MN News

Putting Our Money Where Our Mouth Is

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

by Judell Anderson, CAE, AAM, AASP-MN Executive Director

Platinum $50,000AASP-MNMN Transportation Center

Gold $25,000Heppner’s Auto Body

Silver $10,000AkzoNobelLake Marion CollisionLKQ/Keystone AutomotiveMaster Collision GroupPPG Automotive FinishesSt. Anthony Mobil

Bronze $5,000American Auto BodyCollision SpecialistsCrystal Lake Automotive

Ed’s Collision CenterHonest-1 Auto Care, New HopeHopkins Auto BodySuperior Service Center

OtherAutoworks Diagnostic & RepairDowntown Tire & Auto Infinity Laser Measuring SystemsLowell’s PCEMedi-Car Auto RepairModern Auto CarePearson Auto BodyPerry’s Auto SalonPeter’s Body ShopPro-Tech Auto RepairRick’s 36 Automotive Services Signal Garage Auto CareTwin City & Northfield Auto Body

MNCARS Sponsors to Date:


LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

by Kevin Walli,AASP-MN Lobbyist

AASP-MN is working to schedule a meeting with the HouseCommerce Committee Chair to request an early 2016 hearing onour legislative proposal to prohibit certain insurance companymandates in the claims process. In 2015, a lack of a hearing in theHouse Commerce Committee resulted in House opposition to theAASP-MN proposal. This ultimately prevented the proposal frompassing despite our success in moving the language through theSenate. Given the very tight timelines set for the 2016 Session, if weare to have success, we will need to secure a very early hearing inthe House Commerce Committee. Members of the AASP-MN Collision Advisory Committeeand the Government and Regulatory Affairs Committee recentlymet with Representative Bob Loonan (R-Shakopee) who hastaken on the lead role in the House as Chief Author of House File458 – the AASP-MN legislation. Representative Loonan is

working to build support for prohibitions on the insurers thatAASP-MN has proposed. He is reaching out to both the Depart-ment of Commerce and his House colleagues – including HouseCommerce Committee Chair, Representative Joe Hoppe (R-Chanhassen), to try to get the bill moving through the process. For our part, AASP-MN will be supporting RepresentativeLoonan’s efforts and we will continue to reach out on our own tomake contact with key legislators and representatives of the in-surance industry. We are working to get things heated up very early in the newyear in hopes of having the House take favorable action at theCommittee level in the opening weeks of the 2016 LegislativeSession – which is scheduled to start on March 8.

January 2016 7

Preparations Ramp Up to Renew Efforts to Prohibit Certain Insurance

Company Claims Practices

AASP-MN News


AASP-MN HITS RECORD-HIGH MEMBERSHIP IN 2015

For the second consecutive year, AASP-MN has reached an-other record-high membership level, ending the year with over775 automotive industry businesses on its roster. In addition tomaintaining a high retention rate, the growth is attributed to theAssociation’s advocacy efforts at the state capitol, outstandingeducation and networking opportunities, initiatives to build a fu-ture workforce and a long list of money-saving member benefitprograms. AASP-MN’s goals for 2016 include working to expand theworkforce talent pool available to the industry, expanding andenhancing its menu of member benefit programs and passing leg-islation to curb insurer control over collision repair shops. “The Association’s success starts with the outstanding lead-ership provided by the AASP-MN Board of Directors, committeemembers and other volunteer leaders,” Executive Director JudellAnderson states. “We look forward to serving the industry in thecoming year and to a achieving a ‘three-peat’ for record-highmembership!”

AASP-MN ANNOUNCES 2016 ANNUAL MEETING &LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

AASP-MN is pleased to announce its Annual Meeting andLeadership Conference will be held April 14 at the Ramada PlazaHotel, 1330 Industrial Blvd. in Minneapolis. The event, with atheme of “Lead the Way,” offers a line-up of seminars that arespecifically geared toward mechanical and collision repair shopowners and managers and presented by some of the industry’stop trainers. In addition to the impressive agenda of educational program-ming, there will be ample opportunities for attendees to networkand socialize with their peers and industry vendors as they show-case new products and services during happy hour.

Here’s what’s in store:8:00 – 10:00 am Mastering the 5 Skills for Effective Leadership, Richard Flint, Richard Flint International10:15 – 11:15 am Help - My Industry is Consolidating! Brad Mewes, Supplement!

11:30 am – 1:15 pm AASP-MN Membership Meeting & Keynote Address: “No More Excuses, It’s Non-Negotiable,” Sam Silverstein, Sam Silverstein, Inc.1:30 – 2:15 pm Building Your Accountable Organization,

Sam Silverstein, Sam Silverstein, Inc. 1:30 – 3:30 pm Increase Your Diagnostic Labor Sales, Kelly Bennett, Business Training International 1:30 – 3:30 pm Collision Workflow: Better Scheduling = Greater Success, Kent Carlson, Collision Resources, Inc. 2:30 – 3:30 pm Authentic Persuasion: Communication That Moves Others to Action, Josh Dye, Convene, LLC 3:45 – 4:45 pm Networking Roundtable 4:45 – 6:00 pm Social Hour & Vendor Showcase 6:30 – 9:00 pm Group Outing

SPONSORSHIPS SUPPORT AASP-MN’S EDUCATIONALPROGRAMS & OTHER ACTIVITIES IN 2016

Sponsorships are now available for the 2016 AASP-MN An-nual Meeting & Leadership Conference on April 14 (at the Ra-mada Plaza Hotel, Minneapolis), and for other events throughoutthe year. Sponsorships help AASP-MN deliver the quality pro-grams members expect and keep registration fees affordable. Sponsors are rewarded by increased visibility and recogni-tion within the AASP-MN membership and industry at-large. It’sa great way to stand out, expand marketing dollars and connectwith the best shops in the industry. To date, the following companies have made sponsorshipcommitments:

Gold Sponsors • Auto Value Parts Stores/Automotive Parts Headquarters

Silver Sponsors • LKQ/Keystone Automotive • Lowell’s Performance Coatings & Equipment • Meadowbrook Insurance • O’Reilly Auto Parts • PAM’s Auto Inc. • United Fire Group

Á La Carte Sponsors • Choice Auto Rental – Leadership Conference Vendor • Kukui Corporation – Race for Automotive Education

If you are interested in sponsoring an AASP-MN event in2016, sponsorship information can be found on the Association’swebsite, www.aaspmn.org or by calling the office at (612) 623-1110.


LOCAL NEWS

HAPPY NEW YEAR!From the AASP-MN

Board of Directors & Staff


January 2016 9AASP-MN News

INDUSTRY HELP SOUGHT FOR 2016SKILLSUSA COMPETITION

AASP-MN is facilitating the automotive-re-lated events at the upcoming SkillsUSA Compe-tition on Saturday, April 2. The collision repairand automotive service contests will be held atSt. Cloud Community and Technical College inSt. Cloud. High school and technical college stu-dents from around the state will be on hand todemonstrate their skills in automotive serviceand collision repair. Industry leaders play a vital role in the SkillsUSA program. You can help by doing anyof the following:

• Providing general guidance and help with automotive-related contests during the event • Volunteering to judge the contests • Encouraging high schools and community colleges in your area to get involved with the SkillsUSA contest • Promoting the event within the industry – and community!

The benefits you’ll receive for your involve-ment include:

• The satisfaction of being able to provide assistance and encouragement to the next generation of automotive technicians • Increased exposure to potential employees for your shop • An expanded network of personal business contacts

Please contact Judell Anderson at theAASP-MN office at (612) 623-1110 if you’rewilling to help out. It’s really a lot of fun!

2016 MEMBERSHIP DUES ARE DUE!

Annual membership renewals for AASP-MN were mailed in December. By now, allAASP-MN members have received at least twomembership renewal notices. If you have notpaid your 2016 membership dues, PLEASE doso today. Your timely payment will save AASP-MNthe additional cost and time incurred with re-billing and other collection efforts. We’d muchrather be dedicating those resources to programsand initiatives to improve the automotive serviceindustry – and your business. Thank you!


We recommend monthly buildinginspections – in fact, we’re so gung-hothat we send clients monthly reminders todo them. Why? For the same reason youcheck more than just oil levels when youchange the oil in your vehicles. It’s simplepreventive maintenance. So what shouldyou look for? Start with your exit lights and emer-gency lighting. Find and press the test but-ton to test if the unit’s battery is still good(a broom handle can be useful for this).How are the lights aimed? Will they lightup the way to the exit? Look at your exits. Can people get tothem without feeling like rats in a maze?And can they get out? It’s winter – is therea clear path out the door and away fromthe building, or is the door blocked bysnow? The exit should be able to beopened with one motion, so no one has tofumble with turning a deadbolt or findinga key. Can you readily get to each of yourfire extinguishers? That’s a common prob-lem in shops, where equipment and partsmove around and wall space is at a pre-mium. Make sure they’re easy to find andfully charged. They should have light-weight tamper seals on them to show thatthey haven’t been used. We’ve seen thetamper seals replaced with cable ties,which won’t pull off when needed. We’vealso seen partially-used fire extinguishershung back up – a bad idea, as you won’thave a full extinguisher when you need itnext. Check any auto-reverse on yourgarage doors. Do the doors have pressurestrips on the bottom? Make sure theyhaven’t torn away. If you have electriceyes, what happens when you block thebeam? How are you storing compressedgases? They need to be chained. Any notin use should have safety caps in place.Don’t store them under the stairs to yourmezzanine or right by an exit, as you don’tneed the kind of excitement they’d createin a fire. And if you have a spare cylinder

of oxygen, keep it far away from any-thing that catches fire easily (acetylene,flammable liquids, oils). Look at your vehicle hoists and yourjacks. Do they work smoothly? Are theylabeled with their capacity? Are you lifting engines? Do youhave a frame rack? Your cranes andhoists need to be in good shape, as doany chains or slings used with them.Frame rack slings take a beating; we see alot that should have been thrown awayyears ago. You should have an eyewash station.Is it clean and accessible? If it’s plumbedin, run it for a few minutes to ensure thewater runs clean. If it’s the type that needsto be filled up, don’t run it, but make surethat it has been flushed and refilled rou-tinely (most eyewash preservatives requirereplacing after 90 days). Is your first aid kit adequatelystocked? We don’t want to see any bulkcontainers, as it’s too easy for those to be-come contaminated. Check the expirationdates on ointments and eye flushing solu-tions. Take a look at your paint booths andprep stations. Are the sprinkler heads cov-ered with flimsy paper bags to protectthem from overspray? Cellophane bagscan be used, too. The bags are supposed tocome off when the sprinkler activates. Butwe’ve seen overzealous taping jobs, cov-ering the sprinklers with masking paperand almost a whole roll of tape. That’s toomuch. If the glass over any light iscracked, get it fixed. Make sure yourpainters are keeping the booth clean. How are flammable liquids beingstored? Gasoline should be in safety cans,and any quantity above ten gallons needsto be in a flammable liquids cabinet or inyour mixing room. If you have apartswasher that uses solvent, check thatnothing is stored in the basin, so the lidcan close completely if there’s a fire. It’sokay if some flammable liquid is storedoutside of the mixing room or cabinet. Butkeep that amount to a minimum.

Remember that aerosol cans are usuallyhighly flammable. We don’t want to seethem next to anything that could heat up. Label any unlabeled containers. Inspect the electrical cords throughoutthe facility. Remember that electricalequipment needs to be grounded; if yourextension cord is missing that third prong,the equipment plugged into it won’t begrounded. Tape on the cord is a red flagfor us: is it an inadequate attempt to repairdamage? What ventilation systems do youhave? Tailpipe exhaust? Wall-mounted ex-haust units? Spray booth and mixing roomexhausts? Hold a piece of paper to themwhen they’re on, to verify that they do ac-tually work. Make sure they aren’tblocked. Storing a five-gallon drum underan exhaust unit blocks the airflow. And finally, look at your waste, bothhazardous and regulated. It needs to be la-beled and kept closed. Any signs of leaks? Doing these regular inspections takessome time, particularly at first. As you be-come proficient at doing them, you proba-bly will find yourself catching things thatyou used to overlook – until it caused aproblem. Consider farming out the work:have employees do the monthly inspec-tions, so they start learning what to lookfor. The result: A facility in better shapeoverall. If you have questions about buildinginspection requirements, safety, require-ments for personal protective equipmentor general safety issues, call CHESS at(651) 481-9787 or email us [email protected].


By Janet L. Keyes, MS, CIH and Carol A. Keyes, MA, CSP, CRC

COMPLETE HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL & SAFETY SERVICES (C.H.E.S.S.)

Walk Around Your Building



INSURANCE I.Q.

The start of a new year brings all sorts of new planning, res-olutions and changes that individuals want to make in their lives.If we made a list of some of the things we want to do, or accom-plish, it might look something like this: 1. Lose weight 2. Quit smoking 3. Quit drinking 4. Finish my basement 5. Finish restoring my collector car

I imagined myself as a shop owner and what resolutions Imight consider from an insurance perspective. Here is a list ofhot-button items in the insurance world that came to mind: 1. Am I getting the best value for my premium dollar? CBIZ and AASP-MN have a very comprehensive, competitive insurance program with our partners – Meadowbrook and United Fire Group. Both programs give discounts to members and are dividend-bearing programs. 2. Do I have sound procedures when it comes to preventing claims? Do I do background checks and MVR checks on new employees? Do we have regular safety meetings? If we have rental cars for customers, is our rental agreement

sound? Are our building and our equipment well maintained? These are just a couple areas that can go a long way when it comes to loss prevention. Most insurance companies will give higher credits when these procedures are in place. 3. Am I taking advantage of the safety and loss-control benefits provided by my agent or carrier? Most carriers have free loss-control inspection services, along with resources via the Internet, to help with safety and loss control. CBIZ also has a dedicated loss-control employee on staff to assist with any questions or issues that may arise. 4. Is my employee handbook up-to-date? An updated handbook can help with the prevention of potential Employ- ment Practices Liability claims. 5. Is my customer data secure? Do I have to worry about a breach like Target or Sony? This is probably the hottest topic in the insurance industry today. If you retain or store customer data on your system, even if it is only for a short time, you have an exposure. If you have a breach, you are responsible to notify everyone that may have had his or her information compromised. The average cost just to

New Year’s Resolutionsby Dennis Spindler

continued on page 17



NATIONAL NEWS

STUDY FORECASTS SELF-DRIVINGCARS TO TAKE OFF BY 2021

A new study from Juniper Researchforecasts almost 20 million fully au-tonomous or self-driving vehicles on theroad by 2025, with consumer adoption setto take off in 2021. Driven by increasedsafety and convenience for drivers, devel-opment has progressed to live trials, withNorth America and Western Europe set tobecome the first to witness driverless carsin use on the road. The research found that in the in-terim, consumer usage of Advanced Driv-ing Assistance System (ADAS)technologies such as adaptive cruise con-trol and automated braking will becomekey, serving to prepare drivers for the psy-chological change from the role of drivinga car to operating a driverless car.

How to Monetize Driverless Cars The new research, “Autonomous Ve-hicles: Adoption, Regulation & BusinessModels 2015-2025,” finds that althoughthe market has progressed to live trials, adiscernible monetization strategy has notbecome evident. Stakeholders are cur-rently investigating multiple business

models, with manufacturers expected toengage in product licensing, self-produc-tion or open sourcing the systems.

Top Five Players Driving the Market Research ranked the top five mostpromising players in the driverless car sec-tor. They were scored on a number of keyfactors such as live trials, miles tested onroad, technology development, projectscale and scope, future potential and mar-ket opportunities. The results were as fol-lows: 1. Google 2. Volvo 3. Daimler 4. Tesla 5. Apple Google was ranked as the most prom-ising player, having been in developmentthe longest and having logged the highestamount of autonomous miles on publicroads.

Dealing with Dilemmas The research noted that concerns overthe decision-making capabilities of thesesystems have been raised and questionshave been asked about the decisions au-tonomous vehicles would take when

presented with the “Trolley Problem,”where the autonomous car will be forcedto choose between two disastrous out-comes. The Juniper study argued that thesiloed nature of technology developmentrequires stakeholders to collaborate andensure a minimum level of safety for thosein the hands of autonomous driving sys-tems. The report forms part of Juniper’s on-going analysis of connected cars andtelematics and is now available to down-load from the Juniper Research website.

CADILLAC TO LAUNCH ALUMINUM REPAIR NETWORK

Cadillac announced the Cadillac Alu-minum Repair Network in conjunctionwith the upcoming production of theCadillac CT6 at the end of 2015. The Cadillac CT6 uses an advancedmixed material approach for its light-weight body structure. The aluminum in-tensive structure also includes 11 differentmaterials to achieve strength, performanceand efficiency thresholds practically un-matched among the world’s elite luxuryperformance sedans. The new architecture,



advanced materials and unique joiningmethods used to create the CT6 will re-quire the collision repair industry to pre-pare accordingly. The Cadillac Aluminum Repair Net-work will ensure that authorized collisionrepair facilities have the required tools,equipment, processing procedures andtraining to properly repair the CadillacCT6 using the new mixed material, alu-minum intensive construction. To partici-pate in the network, authorized dealers andindependent body shops will undergo an-nual audits to verify all requirements fortraining, tools, facilities, etc. The auditswill establish a level of consistency be-tween all participating shops that allowsCadillac to promote the Cadillac Alu-minum Repair Network to Cadillac CT6owners. Axalta Coating Systems, LLC hasbeen selected to provide implementationand ongoing support for the program.Training will be primarily web based andorchestrated through a combined effort be-tween GM and I-CAR. In addition, GMwill support the collision repair industryby offering the CT6 collision repair infor-mation at no charge. Of note: Any auto body shop — in-cluding Cadillac dealerships — out of thenetwork won’t be able to buy CT6 struc-tural repair parts, and companies such asChief, Car-O-Liner, Spanesi and Celettewill restrict their CT6 measurement dataas well. So even if a network shop’s com-petitor says they’ll do structural CT6 re-pair, they’ll have no way of obtainingparts. According to a Cadillac brochure forCT6 customers, “All Cadillac AluminumRepair Network facilities use genuine

parts that are backed by GM.” It’s unclearif this refers to the restricted structuralparts or a ban on any aftermarket parts. The brochure also states, “In theevent of a collision, you will have all thesupport you need to get your vehicle to aCadillac dealer. With OnStar service orRoadside Assistance, we will help you infinding the nearest Cadillac Aluminum

Repair Network facility.” Enrollment is underway and detailscan be found in the latest GM Repair In-sights and on the Genuine GM Parts web-site.


notify one person is about $200. Most garage policies don’t offer this coverage, but it can be purchased separately.

6. Do I have an exit strategy/succession plan in place? If you are at the age where you are thinking about retirement, do you have a plan in place to sell or pass on the business? Or worse yet, what if something bad happens to you or one of your key employees? Do you have a plan in place to replace you or your key employees? While these are just a few general topics to consider, they are important andshould be considered by every shop, no matter what your size or specialty – and nomatter what time of year! If you have questions you would like to discuss in more detail, or suggestions for future articles, please contact Dennis Spindler at (763) 549-2238 or [email protected].

Blaine Tire & AutoBlaine

Dave’s Roseville Auto CareRoseville

Libson Twin City AutoMinneapolis

Luis Alvarez Auto RepairEagan

Nordgren AutomotiveMedina

Pace’s Auto ServiceWest St. Paul

Service Garage of BlaineBlaine

Tiremaxx Service CenterSt. Joseph

Transmission Shop of BlaineBlaine

Twin City Tire & Auto RepairBloomington

World Class Auto BodyElk River

Welcome New Members:DECEMBER 2015

WHAT’SWRONG

WITH THIS PICTURE?

Answer: A fire extinguisher that nolonger has its tamperseal.

continued from page 11INSURANCE I.Q.




CCC Footnotes Take Precedence – Footnotes may contain ve-hicle specific information and the content of footnotes is in ad-dition to – and takes precedence over - information in the Guideto Estimating pages for the operation indicated. This can befound in DEG inquiry number 8659.

Adhesive Backing Removal in CCC - The labor time in CCCfor moldings, nameplates and emblems includes the installationtime only. It does not include the time needed to remove the oldadhesive backing. This can be found in the Motor Guide to Esti-mating on page G33 and also in DEG inquiry 7698.

The Material for Bagging a Vehicle in Audatex - Audatex in-cludes the time in the labor. However, the estimate preparer de-cides what is or is not included in the Paint Materials. This canbe found on page 182 of the Audatex Database Reference Man-ual.

Bleed Brakes in CCC - The estimated work time of 0.5 appliedto Bleed Brake System is for those situations when the BrakeHydraulic Line is open at one or all four Suspension Points. The.5 labor does not included bleeding the ABS system, if neces-sary. This info can be found in DEG inquiry 8843.

Complete vehicle refinish in Mitchell - Procedure 28 of theMitchell Estimating Guide states that Refinish times are fornew, undamaged parts and not intended for calculating completevehicle refinish.

Page 16 of the Mitchell Estimating Guide: Refinish times inthis Guide pertain to NEW, UNDAMAGED PARTS and arenot intended for calculating complete vehicle refinish – single –or multistage.

Note: The estimating databases are all intended to be used as aGUIDE ONLY – it is important to remember that the auto bodyprofessional performing the repair is in a position to thoroughlyinspect, diagnose and identify the methodology and their uniquecost of the vehicle damage repair.

You can view these tips and others on the DEG website, www.degweb.org.

ESTIMATING TIPS



LET US TURN THEMAROUND!

Contact AASP-MN NewsSales DirectorAlicia Figurelli

973.667.6922 /[email protected]



CASH IN ON YOUR MEMBERSHIP!

WORKERS’ COMP INSURANCEMeadowbrook Insurance GroupContact: Dennis Spindler763-549-2238 / [email protected] scheduled credit makes Meadowbrook one ofthe most competitive programs around for Worker‘sCompensation insurance. In addition, members areeligible to receive an annual dividend based on thegroup’s loss ratio. For more information, log on towww.wcpolicy.com/aaspmn.

PROPERTY/LIABILITY INSURANCECBIZ AIAContact: Dennis Spindler763-549-2238 / [email protected] AIA will present AASP-MN members with quotesfrom multiple carriers for property/liability insurance andmembers can choose the program that best fits their situa-tion. As an added bonus, CBIZ AIA will offer members anexclusive 10% discount on their property/liability insur-ance premiums.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITSCBIZ AIAContact: Dennis Begley763-549-2260 / [email protected] AIA will provide AASP-MN member with quotesfrom multiple carriers for life insurance, health insur-ance, long-term care and disability insurance.

UNIFORM & LINEN SUPPLIESAmeriPride ServicesContact: Jim Dillon651-955-1398 / [email protected] pricing to members on rental of uniforms,entrance mats, shop rags, etc. Purchases are also dis-counted. Members receive annual rebate equal to10% of their business with AmeriPride each year.

CREDIT CARD PROCESSINGAssociation BankCard ServicesContact: Mac Hardin952-933-2026 / [email protected] rates for AASP-MN members. Terminalsand printers sold at cost. Monthly rental of equipment

is also available.

INDUSTRIAL & PAPER PRODUCTSWipers & Wipes, Inc.Contact: Dennis Julson651-486-4866Discounts on industrial supplies and paper products.Free, next-day delivery is available in the metro area.Shipping free to outstate members with $100 pur-chase.

WEBSITE AND INTERNET MARKETING SOLUTIONSAutoshop SolutionsContact: Margaret Klemmer888-991-3449 / [email protected] Solutions offers custom website develop-ment, social media, SEO, PPC marketing and more,exclusively for the automotive industry. AASP-MNmembers receive a $500 discount off setup costs forservices.

Net DrivenContact: Jon Napoli877-860-2005, ext. 400 / [email protected] Driven is a market leader in website and internetmarketing solutions designed exclusively for the auto-motive industry. AASP-MN members who choose NetDriven are eligible for a $500 discount off their 1st yearsetup fees. For more information, contact Jon Napoli.

StormlogixContact: Paul Switzer732-364-1156 / [email protected] extends a discount on its website pack-ages to AASP members. Costs can be spread outover 6 months.

AUTO EMPLOYEE ASSESSMENTAssessment Associates InternationalContact: Ron Page (952) 854-6551 / [email protected] to help facilitate and enhance hiring decisions. AASP-MN members receive 50 percent off

retail price and starts as low as $15 per assessment.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION HOTLINEIDENTIFIX800-288-6220Members enjoy discounted prices on the industry’s #1technical information hotline. One free call is extendedto all first-time AASP-MN member callers.

BUSINESS FORMS/CALENDARSAASP-MNContact: Jodi Pillsbury612-623-1110 / [email protected] rate on printed business forms and calendars.

SHOP SERVICESSummit eMarketing SherpasContact: Frank Terlep888-377-2661 / [email protected] members receive a 5% discount on all SummiteMarketing Sherpas’ services, including: websitedesign and development, search engine optimization,email marketing and communication, online reviewand reputation management and social mediamarketing.

INFORMATION PROVIDERSMitchell1Contact: Mitchell1 Representative888-724-6742 x 6986AASP members are eligible for special Mitchell 1 in-formation and management programs at significantdiscounts. For more information, log ontowww.mitchell1.com or contact the Mitchell 1 representa-tive at 888-724-6742, X6986.

Mitchell International Contact: Mitchell International Representative 800-238-9111

AASP members receive a 15% discount on anyMitchell RepairCenter TechAdvisor package. Visithttp://repaircenter.mitchell.com/Catalog/OEMRepair.aspx for more information.

PAYROLL PROCESSINGCBIZ PayrollContact: Carrie Hobrough612-436-4620 / [email protected] receive 20% discount off standard payrollproducts and services (excluding 401k). Memberswho switch prior to June 30 will receive first month ofpayroll processing free.

CHECK GUARANTEE SERVICESCertegy Check ServicesContact: Heather Ellis952-240-5017 / [email protected] rate of .75% to AASP-MN members. Use existing credit card terminal. Fast claim payments.

BUSINESS COACHING180BIZ540-833-2014 / [email protected] offers BUSINESS COACHING to AASP membersat a steep 20% discount! One Eighty Business SolutionsLLC (180BIZ) has been helping shop owners increaseprofits and car count while decreasing stress since 2003.AASP members receive a discount on very affordable one-on-one coaching plans without long-term commitmentsand complicated contracts. 180BIZ offiers a risk-free trialof their services. To learn more, please call or email us, orvisit our website.

REPLACEMENT PARTSDorman ProductsPhone: 800-868-5777, ext. 5329AASP members receive insider information, specialaccess and other perks from Dorman Products, aleading supplier of dealer “exclusive” automotive re-placement parts.

LEGAL CONSULTATIONFryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick800-496-6789Members receive free, over-the-phone legal assess-ment and consultation (some restrictions apply) withan attorney who specializes in the area of law that isthe subject of the call.

AASP-MN MEMBER BENEFIT PROGRAMS

In July 2012, the Minnesota Alliance of Auto ServiceProviders, in partnership with UFG, opened an insurance pro-gram designed specifically for mechanical and collision repairshops. UFG and AASP-MN partnered to give AASP-MN mem-bers the following benefits:

• A members-only insurance program endorsedby AASP-MN,

• Preferred pricing,• Broad coverage, and• An all-lines safety group dividend.

This year, participating members received a five-percent re-turn on their earned premium through the all-lines safety groupdividend. This return totaled $68,620. To date, there are 37 Minnesota agencies that have placedbusiness in the program, insuring AASP-MN members of localrepresentation. There are 130 AASP-MN members currently in-sured in the program. This program has grown steadily since 2012 and will haveover $1,800,000 of written premium by the end of 2015. AASP-MN and UFG are proud to count CBIZ of Brooklyn Center, Min-nesota as a program sponsor. Don’t hesitate to find out how your

shop can participate in this unique insurance program for AASP-MN members. For more information, contact Dennis Spindler at (763) 549-2238 or [email protected]. To find a UFG agent near you,go to www.ufgins.com and use the Find a UFG Agent tool at thetop.

AASP-MN’s Insurance Program withUnited Fire Group

Here’s what one AASP-MN Member has to say about this program…

“Crystal Lake Automotive has been with United Fire andCasualty for almost three years, saving us over $15,000 annu-ally. Plus, last year, the AASP-MN program paid us a dividendof over $1800! United Fire and Casualty visits our facility toperform walkthroughs and provide recommendations on creat-ing a safer work environment for our employees. We highlyrecommend United Fire and Casualty for their outstandingservice.” – Jim Siegfried, Owner, Crystal Lake Automotive


AASP-MN News January 2016

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Transcript of AASP-MN News January 2016