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Archive for the ‘HD Repair Forum’ Category

Commercial Vehicle Tape Solutions for Box Truck Assembly and Repair

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St. Paul, Minn. – (April 25, 2023) – Since 1980, 3M™ VHB™ Tapes have been utilized in the transportation industry for permanent attachment of sidewall and roof panels on commercial vehicles such as cargo trailers, truck bodies, ambulances, fire trucks, buses, and rail cars. 3M pioneered the use of durable acrylic foam tapes to attach sidewall panels and roofs on cargo trailers.

3M™ VHB™ Tape gives manufacturers fast and easy assembly, high performance, and unmatched support and technical expertise. Industry leaders trust 3M to help build durable, dependable, and good-looking vehicles that their customers can rely on year-after-year.

3M is proud to support the box truck assembly and repair community with 3M™ VHB™
Commercial Vehicle Tapes. These tapes feature:

• A fast and easy-to-use permanent bonding method provides high strength and long-term durability
• A fully cured pressure sensitive adhesive that bonds on contact to provide immediate handling strength
• A proven alternative for liquid adhesives or mechanical fasteners
• The ability to seal against moisture and dirt intrusion
• A predefined tape thickness that eliminates starved-bond lines associated with manually-applied liquid adhesives
• A high strength, viscoelastic acrylic foam that provides unique energy absorbing and stress relaxing properties ideal for transportation applications

The 3M™ VHB™ Commercial Vehicle Tape products complement other transportation solutions such as 3M™ Extreme Sealing Tape used in roof repair and seam sealing
applications, as well as 3M™ Adhesive Sealants used for vertical and horizontal joint sealing. For more information, please visit 3M.com/VHBboxtruck.

3M and VHB are trademarks of 3M Company.

About 3M
At 3M, we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily. With $34 billion in sales, our 92,000 employees connect with customers all around the world. Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com or on Twitter @3M or @3MNews.

HD Repair Forum to Showcase OEM and Insurer Involvement

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The HD Repair Forum (HDRF) is in its 6th year and the level of engagement from OEM’s and insurers continues to grow. Previous conferences have highlighted information on new vehicle technology, repair resources, and parts information from several OEMs including PACCAR, Daimler, Ford Motor Company, Rivian, Great Dane, Volvo Group North America, and others.

“As the industry and technology continues to evolve, engaging with the OEM’s and insurers has never been more critical, ” stated Brian Nessen, HD Repair Forum President. 

Isuzu, MCI, Navistar and Prevost will take this stage this year to present during the 2023 general sessions on Tuesday, April 18th and Wednesday, April 19th in Fort Worth, Texas. “Their participation is a continuation of the support the event has received the past few years from the manufacturers.” Nessen continued. Speakers from our OEM supporters will provide insight on the latest in technology for newer model vehicles, where to find repair information for those vehicles, updates on the parts supply chain, and more.

The HD Repair Forum is a platform for all industry stakeholders to discuss common challenges and identify solutions, and that includes involvement from the industry’s insurance partners. “We have had a number of insurance and independent appraiser companies involved with the HD Repair Forum over the years.” Nessen emphasized. “Without their input, we would be missing a big piece of the puzzle.” 

This year’s insurance panel will feature representatives from National General, an Allstate Company, Great American Insurance Group, and Federated Insurance and will focus on challenges experienced by both repairers and insurers with the goal of identifying potential solutions, including audience participation and Q & A. 

Registration for the event is still open, and the opportunity to save on registration rates is still available. To access registration and gather more information go to hdrepairforum.com/event-registration

Those with questions or interest in getting more involved in the industry’s only collision-focused event may reach out to Jennie Lepore JennieL@hdrepairforum.com or Brian Nessen BrianN@hdrepairforum.com.

About HD Repair Group

HD Repair Group offers a dedicated source of focused-information for those involved in collision repair work of heavy-duty, medium-duty, commercial, and non-commercial vehicles in classes 4 – 8. This community is where industry stakeholders such as shop owners, company executives, managers, technicians, estimators, and others can network with industry peers and find the latest news, tips, trends, and best practices in the heavy- and medium-duty collision repair marketplace. The HD Repair Group serves this industry in numerous ways including hosting conferences, distributing a monthly e-newsletter, hosting webinars, videos, social channels, and more. 

Learn more or sign up here to get connected today. 

Progress in Heavy-Duty & Medium-Duty Collision Repair Continues

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The HD Repair Forum is gearing up for one of its largest events in the program’s history, April 18th-19th, in Fort Worth, Texas. Early registration numbers are higher than normal driven by a session line-up that covers topics such as addressing the technician shortage, improving profitability, and handling new vehicle technology during repair. “We are also very excited to announce two new OEMs, who are participating for the first time this year,” stated Jennie Lepore, HD Repair Forum’s Communications Director.

MCI representative Tim Barnes, will take the stage on Tuesday, April 18th to discuss how to access repair information, find parts, and  share opportunities for engagement with the OEM. Presenting on the main stage Wednesday, April 19th, is Prevost’s Robert Hitt, who will explain the advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) features common to their latest vehicles and underscore proper repair.

OEMs like Navistar will continue their long standing involvement with the forum and deliver information about new vehicle technology. Component suppliers like Bendix, whose ADAS technologies are embedded within a wide range of vehicle makes and models, will supply attendees with need-to-know education that will help prepare the industry for more complex repairs.  And 3M, AkzoNobel, Axalta Coating Systems, Evercoat, I-CAR, PPG, and TEXA will also deliver educational seminars throughout the two day event. Their support of the market and year-around efforts to provide solutions for this industry has been pivotal to improvements in the marketplace. To see the full agenda go to www.hdrepairforum.com/agenda

“We are encouraged by the level of engagement from so many of the industry’s leaders. As the market continues to evolve there is an even greater need for collaboration among stakeholders, and the HD Repair Forum is the perfect conduit.” stated Brian Nessen, co-founder of the HD Repair Forum.

Registration for the event is open and provides attendees with discounted hotel rates at the Hilton Fort Worth. To access registration and gather more information go to hdrepairforum.com/event-registration/

Companies interested in getting more involved in the industry’s only collision-focused event may reach out to Jennie Lepore JennieL@hdrepairforum.com or Brian Nessen BrianN@hdrepairforum.com for more information.

HD Repair Forum Opens Registration for 2023 Collision Conference

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On April 18th & 19th, 2023, members of the heavy-duty and medium-duty collision repair industry will travel from all parts of North America to hear the latest information on collision industry trends and how technology is redefining the industry.

The two day conference returns to the historic Hilton in downtown Fort Worth, Texas and will follow a similar format as in years past, with presentations and panel discussions involving OEMs, repair experts, insurers, and other collision industry leaders. Unique to the event are a diverse set of focused learning tracks, providing more in-depth information on topics that address the industry’s repair demands and business growth opportunities.  

Similar to previous Heavy-Duty Repair Forums, the advisory board plays a critical role in developing the agenda, speakers, and content. Rodney Rowland,  Body shop manager at Lakeside Trucks in Wisconsin, “I’ve been attending the HD Repair Forum since its inception in 2018. It has become the place for the leaders in the industry to gather to share knowledge, identify trends, and drive improvement for the entire  industry.”

The HD Repair Forum is the only collision-focused event for heavy-duty and medium-duty repairers, making it a must-attend event for collision shop owners, managers, lead technicians and estimators. These stakeholders and other industry partners including executives from OEMs, insurance and appraisal companies will also not want to miss this exclusive, once-a-year in-person opportunity to gather information, network with peers and business partners, and better equip their business for the  challenges experienced by everyone in the market. 

Registration for the event is now open. Early registration discounts and group hotel rates are available for a limited time. To access registration and gather more information go to hdrepairforum.com/event-registration/

Companies and organizations interested in sponsoring the industry’s only collision-focused event may reach out to Brian Nessen @ BrianN@hdrepairforum.com or Jennie Lepore, formerly Lenk, @ JennieL@hdrepairforum.com.

HD Repair Forum Fall Conference to Tackle Industry’s Biggest Challenges

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The Fall HD Repair Forum will take place September 26th and 27th and it will address the industry’s biggest challenges including staffing issues, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), electric vehicle repair information, new model vehicle technology advancements, and more. The complete agenda can be found here.

The advancement and adoption of electric vehicles and ADAS continues to evolve. As their presence and complexity in the industry grows, it is the HD Repair Forum’s mission to make sure the heavy-duty and medium-duty collision repair industry is prepared to handle and repair these vehicles for safe and proper repair.

Taking the stage in September is a well-known list of companies, organizations, and industry experts who will provide education, training, and insight on these key topics. Organizations represented include: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Big Rig Alignment, Ford, Great Dane, I-CAR, the RV Dealers Association, Penske, Progressive and many others.

The HD Repair Forum will take place alongsideTMC’s 2022 Fall Meeting and National Technician Skills Competitions, which offers attendees a chance to participate in both events. Those involved in heavy-duty & medium-duty collision repair looking to prepare yourself, your team, and your business for growth and success should make plans and head to Cleveland.

For more information on the organization, event educational sessions, and industry resources sign-up for our e-communications
To register for the event, visit the HD Repair Forum website or go here

HD Repair Forum Advisory Board Welcomes New Members in 2022

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For the past five years, stakeholders in the heavy-duty and medium-duty collision repair industry have met annually at the HD Repair Forum to discuss the greatest challenges impacting this market. Leading the conference’s focus and direction and the industry’s requests for progress is the HD Repair Forum’s advisory board; a diverse group of collision repair facility owners, managers, and executives from across North America.

This year the advisory board welcomed four new board members; Jamie Cole, President and Owner of Ace Truck Repair, Randy Johansson, Body Shop Manager at Rihm Kenworth, Bernie Obry, General Manager of Coach USA- Perfect Body, and John Spoto, Director of Collision, Premier Truck Group.

“We are very fortunate to add four dedicated individuals to our strong group of board members. Their experience and perspective sheds additional light on the industry’s challenges and drives the industry toward solutions and best practices,” explained Brian Nessen, HD Repair Forum President and Co-founder. “We are grateful to these forward-thinking and passionate individuals. It is their leadership alongside industry peers and supporting partners that is driving the industry’s progress.” 

The upcoming Fall HD Repair Forum will take place alongside the American Trucking Associations© (ATA) Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) 2022 Fall Meetings in Cleveland, Ohio. The two-day conference, taking place on Monday and Tuesday, September 26 & 27th, will address the industry’s call for staffing solutions; updates on repair demands from vehicle technology developments; repair information on substrate and material advancements; the need for industry connection, and much more. 

Collision repairers and industry stakeholders serving the heavy-duty and medium-duty repair markets, including tractors, trailers, RVs, buses, and delivery & emergency vehicles, are invited to join in on the educational sessions, conversations, and opportunities presented at the Fall HD Repair Forum. This includes shop owners, shop managers, estimators, fleet managers, dealer repair shops, commercial vehicle manufacturers, insurance providers, and service, equipment, and technology companies.

Early bird registration is available for a limited time. Discounted hotel rates are available to HD Repair Forum attendees at the Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade, recently ranked “One of the Best Hotel Lobbies in the World.”

Save money and plan ahead! Register at www.hdrepairforum.com/register 

If you would like to receive industry news and event updates for the heavy- & medium-duty collision repair industry, sign up for e-communication here

Registration Opens Fall HD Repair Forum

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The Fall HD Repair Forum 2022 conference will take place Monday and Tuesday, September 26th & 27th, 2022, in Cleveland, Ohio and will be co-located with the American Trucking Association’s Technology & Maintenance Council’s (TMC) fall meetings.

Attendees of the event will hear presentations and panel discussions that give insight and speak to trends in the heavy-& medium-duty collision repair marketplace. Speakers involved include truck manufacturers, insurance carriers, collision repair experts, and many other collision industry leaders.

The fall event begins Monday with a networking breakfast and vendor fair enabling those in attendance a chance to fuel up for the day and catch up with friends, colleagues, and industry partners. Following will be an agenda filled with educational sessions that speak to industry executives, shop owners and managers, insurance partners, and other company leaders. This year’s sessions and presentations will look deeper at topics involving ADAS repairs, Ford’s e-Transit in the medium-duty market, solutions to the technician shortage, welding newer substrates, and many other key topics and trends.

Also unique to the Fall 2022 program is the organization’s partnership with the American Trucking Association’s TMC Fall Meetings. Registration to the HD Repair Forum’s event in Cleveland will also include access to TMC’s s17 Heavy-Duty Collision Task Force’s meeting. 

The partnership with TMC speaks to the HD Repair Forum’s continuous efforts to work with all stakeholders in the market. ”Collaboration is vital to the success of an industry and we are pleased to partner with TMC this year,“ stated President and co-founder, Brian Nessen. “Hosting a collision industry event alongside TMC provides both audiences with a unique opportunity to attend a wider array of sessions.“

The HD Repair Forum is the only event dedicated to heavy-duty & medium-duty collision repair and is the only place where stakeholders in this market can gain access to available industry specific training, equipment and service providers, receive information on topics that matter most to this industry, and have important and affirming conversations with peers. 

Registration to the HD Repair Forum is now open and access to the early bird rate is available for a limited time. To access HD Repair Forum registration, go to www.hdrepairforum.com/register

For those offering equipment, services, and educational opportunities to this industry, be sure to check out our 2022 sponsorship opportunities. Or to find out how your company can get further involved in the evolution of this industry, please reach out to via email or call 281-819-2332.

7 Tips for a Successful Mentoring Program

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June 20, 2022, Overland Park, Kansas – Ninety-five percent of automotive service, heavy-duty/diesel and collision repair businesses agree: the technician shortage is here, and it is severe. 

There are precisely ZERO skilled technicians wandering the streets asking themselves, “Where will I possibly find a job?” You can poach from your competitors – which you’re probably doing already, while your competition is simultaneously poaching from you. This does not add a single new person to the technician workforce.

In the heavy-duty/diesel industry, there is an expected need of at least 32,831 new technicians for 2023 alone. Poaching technicians is nothing more than musical chairs and cannot fill the need. 

Alternatively, you can actively recruit and convince career tech students that you are the right first employer to launch their career. 

But what happens when those students enter the industry? According to research from the ASE Education Foundation, 42% of career tech graduates will leave the industry altogether within their first two years. 

The one sustainable competitive advantage is to implement a systematic and repeatable technical mentoring and apprenticeship program. Want to prove to young techs that your business is the right one for them? Being able to tell an entry-level technician (and their instructors) that you have a written mentoring program and career path sets you apart from everyone else.

“Vehicle technology is growing exponentially. Entry-level technicians need an employer who is ready, willing, and able to train and prepare them for the industry,” says Lirel Holt, CEO of Mentor Mentee. “Creating your own pipeline of technicians will differentiate the good shops from those that are going to be left behind as experienced technicians retire at an ever-increasing pace.” 

Here are 7 tips to give you the best chance of implementing a successful mentoring program:

1. Prove to your local CTE instructors that you are for real. Anyone can tell an instructor they have a mentoring program. Invite them out to your shop and show them how you will continue to enhance a young technician’s understanding, further the instructor’s training efforts, and how you develop a plan specific to each student. The rest of your competition will call up the instructor begging for their ‘best student,’ while you’re showing the instructor how you are committed to launching their students’ careers. Now who’s getting the best students?!

2. Get buy-in and understanding from staff and ownership before implementing a technical mentoring or apprentice program. Seventy percent of workplace initiatives fail due to lack of leadership commitment. If you are going to build an on-the-job training program, communicate with all stakeholders early on, get all staff to understand that there is a plan and why they should be on board. Without buy-in, staff can undermine the goal. Show them how mentoring programs create upward momentum for the business, which benefits all staff.

3. Have two plans for each mentee: long-term (what you can become) and short-term (what you’ll do daily to get there). Sell a career vision to a mentee and set realistic expectations along the way. Show – in writing – to the entry-level technician where they can go and how you will help them get there. Everyone wants to know, “What’s the plan?” Don’t forget: A plan is not a plan unless it is in writing!

4. Use a task list. This is the best way to put your day-to-day plan in writing. Many programs will start without direction or standard duties. The program’s manager and mentors should identify 30 to 50 tasks for a mentee to focus on from the beginning. Be sure to include often-overlooked items like safety, vehicle placement in bays and soft skills. Do you still have to work with what is coming in the door each day? Of course! But with a task list, both the Mentor and Mentee are looking for opportunities to work on the core, foundational tasks in front of them.

5. Track training progress against the task list. Whether you use paper, Excel, or a total software solution, it is essential to track task progress to understand what task areas mentees are winning, losing, and needing more exposure. Mentors and Mentees should work together to track the number of repetitions a Mentee has on each task, as well as their quantitative and qualitative improvement in time and quality of each task performed.

6. Use the mentee’s progress data to celebrate wins and offer incentives. You can’t do #6 if you don’t do #5! When a mentee develops a new skill, publicly point it out and celebrate. Provide incentives for Mentors and Mentees to reach their goals. These can be monetary or non-monetary incentives. Small efforts to recognize their success as a team, and to celebrate those with the whole staff builds positive feedback loops, and keeps your whole staff engaged in the success of your program.

7. Do not allow bullying. Celebrate successes, but when a Mentee makes a mistake, provide constructive feedback in private. The same goes for Mentors. And do not allow anyone in the shop to bully a young tech. The days of hazing a young technician when they make a mistake are gone. As a society, we have made bullying an unacceptable practice in school. Why would you allow it in your shop? Bullying only makes it look like management doesn’t really care about the success of their own trainees or program.

The shortage is real and will continue. But while the rest of the industry faces staff shortages, a successful mentoring program can dramatically increase your odds of success. 

Mentoring and apprenticeships have worked for thousands of years, and there are new ways to implement these programs without having to reinvent the wheel. If you can implement these seven tips, you can give new life to your business’ technician recruiting and retention efforts! 


Mentor Mentee (mentormentee.com) provides a systematic mentoring toolset that shops can tailor to their specific needs. Marc Brune serves as Business Development Manager for Mentor Mentee and helps auto service, collision, and heavy-truck businesses implement mentoring and apprenticeship programs to grow their own technicians.
marc.brune@mentormentee.com

Commercial Collision Claim Trends – Q1 2022

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The following data provides benchmarking insights and trends compiled from the PPG ADJUSTRITE® Commercial Estimating system for the 1st quarter of 2022. This data reflects information compiled from both insurance and shop estimates from the United States and Canada. For all metrics, this information excludes known total losses, estimates with only one line item, and estimates <$100. Severity for Q1 2022 averaged $12,499—a 31.4% increase over Q1 2021.

 

The Sales Mix Percent for Q1 2022, shown in Table 1, reflects percentage increases for Parts and Sublet, compared to the same quarter last year.

Table 1.  Sales Mix Percent for Q1 2019 – 2022

 

Referring to the Labor Mix Percent in Table 2 for Q1, you’ll notice there were increases in  Mechanicial and Frame Labor compared to Q1 2021.
Table 2.  Labor Mix Percent for Q1 2019 – 2022

Average Labor Dollar categories, reflected in Table 3, all experienced increases in Q1, relative to 2021—with the exception of Miscellaneous.  Body and Paint had the largest increases.
Table 3.  Average Labor Dollars for Q1 2019 – 2022

The chart for Average Dollars by Quarter shows year over year increases  for Sublet, Paint Materials and Shop Supplies. Shop Supplies had the highest percentage increase, compared to Q1 2021.   

Thank you for your continued interest in following the latest trends for commercial collision claims.

About PPG ADJUSTRITE®:
The PPG AdjustRite Commercial Estimating system is an industry-leading platform in the medium-to-heavy-duty equipment repair and claims industry. This system is a web-based, fully mobile application, driven by a comprehensive database of commercial vehicles and equipment including: tractors, trailers, trucks, boxes, motor coaches, RVs, and buses. To learn more about the PPG AdjustRite Commercial Estimating System, visit www.adjustrite.com .

The PPG Logo and Adjustrite are registered trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. © 2022 PPG Industries, Inc. All rights reserved.

HD Repair Forum Recognizes Mark Polzin as “Collision Repairer of the Year”

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The Spring HD Repair Forum (HDRF) took place in Fort Worth, Texas on April 5th & 6th at the Historic Fort Worth Hilton. Industry leaders and executives from the United States and Canada gathered to network and participate in the only conference solely dedicated to the heavy-duty collision repair industry. 

On Tuesday, HDRF leadership recognized Mark Polzin as the Collision Repairer of the Year. This award is presented to an individual for outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to advancing the heavy-duty collision repair industry. Mark joins a select group of industry leaders that have been presented with this distinguished award. 

Mark is the current owner and CEO of Budget Truck and Auto in Janesville, WI. He is one of the inaugural HDRF advisory board members and continues to selflessly give his time and knowledge to the benefit of the entire industry. His contributions to the advisory board have led to greater participation and support from collision repairers, insurers, and manufacturers. Mark’s passion and desire to improve the industry is evidenced by a growing list of participation and support of various industry groups and associations. 

The award presentation was extra special as Mark’s son, Aaron, was in attendance. Aaron is also active with Budget Truck and Auto. Mark’s passion for the industry can only be rivaled by his love and commitment to his family. We are thankful for people like Mark, because they give without expecting anything in return.

About HD Repair Group
HD Repair Group offers a dedicated source of focused-information for those involved in collision repair work of heavy-duty, medium-duty, commercial, and non-commercial vehicles primarily in classes 4 – 8. This community is where industry stakeholders, such as shop owners, company executives, managers, technicians, estimators, and others can network with industry peers and find the latest news, tips, trends, and best practices in the heavy- and medium-duty collision repair marketplace. The HD Repair Group serves this industry in numerous ways including hosting conferences, distributing a monthly e-newsletter, hosting webinars, videos, social channels, and more. Dates for the Fall HD Repair Forum later this year will be announced in the coming weeks. Stay connected with the heavy-duty collision repair industry by signing up for our e-newsletter and visiting https://hdrepairforum.com/

About Budget Truck and Auto
Budget Truck and Auto has been a family owned and operated business since 1973. Starting with only one building and growing to a 40,000 sq ft repair facility. The current operation includes four paint booths with three that measure over 65 feet long, and one of the largest frame machines in the country. The company is committed to producing the highest quality repairs along with impeccable customer service.