HD Repair Forum

Registration and Check-In Begins

Networking Breakfast & Vendor Fair

Meet us for coffee, breakfast, and networking. It’s the perfect time to meet industry leaders and discover the array of products, equipment, and services available to the HD repair market.

Welcome and Overview of the Event

Brian Nessen, President, HD Repair Forum
Robert Braswell, Executive Director for TMC, American Trucking Associations

Industry Trends & Insights

Aggregate data in the heavy-duty collision repair industry has been absent in years past. Recently, HD Repair Forum supporter, PPG began assembling and analyzing data from its commercial estimating system to share with heavy-duty collision repair professionals. During this session, attendees will gain insight into the heavy-duty collision repair industry trends, including various KPIs, from pre-COVID to the current business climate.

James Heil, Fleet & Truck MSO Strategic Account Manager, PPG
Jennifer King, Manager, Business Analytics, PPG

Seat Belts: Proper Repair Procedures & Assessing Damage

This session aims to ensure proper steps and considerations are being taken when undertaking repairs to heavy-duty-commercial trucks, school buses, and fire and emergency vehicles at your repair facility. IMMI designs and manufactures seat belts and advanced safety products like roll over protection products and frontal air bags for commercial, fire, and emergency vehicles, along with seats and seat belts for school buses and restraints for many other markets. IMMI’s On Highway Sales & Service Manager, Steve Lovelady will outline important and applicable information to consider, when it comes to the repair of seats, seat belts, and airbags.

Steve Lovelady, Director of Sales-Truck & Bus Markets, IMMI

Daimler Trucks North America - What to Expect

Len Copeland, Product Marketing Manager, Detroit Products

Pre- & Post- Scanning: Why You Should Prepare

This presentation will cover everything you want to know about commercial truck pre and post scanning. You’ll learn about current industry positions statements, the importance of a pre & post scan, what to look for in the data, and much more. We will also cover all the available options that currently exist in the marketplace, along with new technology that is quickly arriving.

Tyler Robertson, Chief Executive Officer, Diesel Laptops

Networking Break With Our Sponsors

Sponsored by Axalta Coating Systems

RV Industry Association's Interest & Support

Curt Hemmeler, Executive Director/ SVP of Operations, RVIA

Panel Discussion: RV and Fleet Repair

Moderator, Ron Kuehn, Collision Business Solutions
John Spoto, National Heavy Duty Truck / Commercial Fleet Manager, 3M
James Svaasand, Vice President Collision Repair Operations and Development, Penske
Karl Copenhaver, Owner, Premier Coach Works - El Mirage

Heavy Duty Collision Repair Roadmap

HD Repair Forum advisory board member and Chair of TMC’s Study Group S17 Collision Repair and Corrosion Control, takes the stage to share how heavy-duty truck collision repair topics like frame correction, refinishing, an HD repair roadmap, and Advanced Driver Assistance System technician training are finding a place within the ATAs Technology Maintenance Council. Chris will also touch on how the creation of documents within the Task Forces are vetted and how they can be applied in your business.

Chris Sterwerf, CFO/COO, Fairfield Auto & Truck Service

Networking Lunch with our Sponsors

Sponsored by Evercoat

During our event luncheon attendees are given the time and opportunity to discuss relevant industry topics with peers, industry leaders, equipment suppliers, and service providers. Sponsors will be back at their tables at 1:00. Please be sure to visit each of them, thank them for supporting the industry and learn more about the value they can bring to your business.

Panel Discussion: Claims Handling

Panelists will provide insight for developing a deeper understanding of the claims handling process, the associated challenges, and what can be done to improve the process for all industry stakeholders

Tom Farney, Regional Claims Manager – Specialty Vehicle, National General Insurance
David Willett, Head, Dealership & Repairer Programs, Prosight Specialty Insurance
Phil Langley, Vice President - Client Services, SCA Claim Services
Mark Polzin, President, Budget Truck & Auto

Current Technology and What the Future Holds

In this session attendees will hear about the latest technology on today’s vehicles, where to find it and how they work together.  Jim Barber will provide valuable insight when repairing vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that include options such as – Lane Keep Assist,  and Active Steering technologies.

Jim Barber, Director, Fleet Sales, Service & Training, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, LLC

HD Repair Forum: Future Plans & Goals for the Industry

Brian Nessen, President, HD Repair Forum

Networking Break with Our Sponsors

Sponsored by Axalta Coating Systems

Track A: Measuring & Increasing Production Throughput to Improve Sales & Profitability

“If you can measure it, you can improve it” stands to be true in any business. Creating operational and administrative efficiencies within the HD market has shown to face many challenges. In this session learn how HD Repairers can improve by:
– using proven problem solving techniques
– implementing production systems
– improving administrative efficiencies
– monitoring improvement with measuring methods and reducing ‘process creep’.

If your business can benefit from an improvement in sales, cash flow, profit, quality, and customer/employee satisfaction you won’t want to miss this workshop.

Ron Kuehn, President, Collision Business Solutions

Track B: 7 Practical Ways to Use CSI in Your Business

The course is designed to be an introduction to Customer Satisfaction Indexing (CSI) and the Net Promoter Score (NPS), and to provide practical applications that attendees can immediately use in their businesses. The course will be tailored to HD repair facilities, but the principals are applicable to all of the stakeholders in the industry, such as OE’s, insurance companies, dealers and suppliers.

John Webb, Vice President | Partner, Ten Point Complete

Cocktail Reception and Sponsor Appreciation

Networking Breakfast & Vendor Fair

Meet us for coffee, breakfast, and networking. It’s the perfect time to meet industry leaders and discover the array of products, equipment, and services available to the HD repair market.

Track A: Scanning in HD - The Past, Present, and Future of HD Diagnostics

HD Truck diagnostics is seeing a quantum leap in technology, impacting virtually every aspect of vehicle repair. We will discuss the transition from the relatively independent analog onboard systems of the ’90s, which consisted mainly of Engine, ABS, and Transmission, to a more modern truck network with up to 20 or more interconnected ECUs, multiple CAN networks. Join us to learn some best practices for vehicle scanning as well as a look at remote diagnostics.

Lee Locklear , CEO, Cutting Edge Automotive

Track B: 7 Practical Ways to Use CSI in Your Business

The course is designed to be an introduction to Customer Satisfaction Indexing (CSI) and the Net Promoter Score (NPS), and to provide practical applications that attendees can immediately use in their businesses. The course will be tailored to HD repair facilities, but the principals are applicable to all of the stakeholders in the industry, such as OE’s, insurance companies, dealers and suppliers.

John Webb, Vice President | Partner, Ten Point Complete

Track C: ADAS Systems - Repair Needs and Applicable Practices

In this session, attendees will take a deeper dive into understanding the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that exist within today’s heavy and medium duty vehicles. It’s critical to the functionality and safety of these vehicles that the industry knows where these system are located, how they may or may not work together and what steps are necessary to perform a safe and proper repair. Identification of these systems early in the repair process will ensure cycle time isn’t impacted and the customer doesn’t have to return to your facility because a safety feature is inoperable or not functioning properly. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn more directly from the manufacturer of some of these systems and better prepare your staff for properly assessing damage and repairing these vehicles.

Jim Barber, Director, Fleet Sales, Service & Training, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, LLC.

Track A: Measuring & Increasing Production Throughput to Improve Sales & Profitability

“If you can measure it, you can improve it” stands to be true in any business. Creating operational and administrative efficiencies within the HD market has shown to face many challenges. In this session learn how HD shops can improve by:
– using proven problem solving techniques
– implementing production systems
– improving administrative efficiencies
– monitoring improvement with measuring methods and reducing ‘process creep’.

If your business can benefit from an improvement in sales, cash flow, profit, quality, and customer/employee satisfaction you won’t want to miss this workshop.

Ron Kuehn, President, Collision Business Solutions

Track B: Collision Repair for Trucks of the Future

Over the past 50 years, Heavy Duty Truck and Commercial Vehicle design, materials, and technologies have evolved. This seminar will discuss these evolutions and examine how collision repair materials and procedures are adapting to meet the needs of these ever-changing vehicles.

John Spoto, National Heavy Duty Truck / Commercial Manager, 3M Company
Todd Mathes, Application Engineer, 3M Company

Track C: ADAS Systems - Repair Needs and Applicable Practices

In this session, attendees will take a deeper dive into understanding the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that exist within today’s heavy and medium duty vehicles. It’s critical to the functionality and safety of these vehicles that the industry knows where these system are located, how they may or may not work together and what steps are necessary to perform a safe and proper repair. Identification of these systems early in the repair process will ensure cycle time isn’t impacted and the customer doesn’t have to return to your facility because a safety feature is inoperable or not functioning properly. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn more directly from the manufacturer of some of these systems and better prepare your staff for properly assessing damage and repairing these vehicles.

Jim Barber, Director, Fleet Sales, Service & Training, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, LLC.

Networking Break with Our Sponsors

Sponsored By Axalta Coating Systems

Track A: Scanning in HD - The Past, Present, and Future of HD Diagnostics

HD Truck diagnostics is seeing a quantum leap in technology, impacting virtually every aspect of vehicle repair. We will discuss the transition from the relatively independent analog onboard systems of the ’90s, which consisted mainly of Engine, ABS, and Transmission, to a more modern truck network with up to 20 or more interconnected ECUs, multiple CAN networks. Join us to learn some best practices for vehicle scanning as well as a look at remote diagnostics.

Lee Locklear, CEO, Cutting Edge Automotive

Track B: Collision Repair for Trucks of the Future

Over the past 50 years, Heavy Duty Truck and Commercial Vehicle design, materials, and technologies have evolved. This seminar will discuss these evolutions and examine how collision repair materials and procedures are adapting to meet the needs of these ever-changing vehicles.

John Spoto, National Heavy Duty Truck / Commercial Manager, 3M Company
Todd Mathes, Application Engineer, 3M Company