Published in Texas Automotive Claim counts are down. Bays are quieter. And if the past few years have taught the collision industry anything, it’s this: the next disruption rarely looks like the last one. Diversification isn’t a move of desperation; it’s protection. It’s how shops reinforce their operations before the next crack forms. For many forward-thinking business owners, that means bringing strategic operations like glasswork in-house – tightening control over quality and cycle time and building new revenue streams that make their businesses not just busy, but shatterproof. “Claim counts are down across the country, and with many shops struggling to fill their bays, we need to think outside the…

Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing You wouldn’t close up shop for the day and leave your doors and windows unlocked, but are you protecting your accounts and data with the same diligence? Cybersecurity threats are on the rise. CDK’s “State of Dealership Cybersecurity 2025” study indicated that 21 percent of dealerships were the victim of a cyberattack in the preceding year with ransomware and email phishing making up the majority of incidents. According to eSentire’s “2025 Year in Review and 2026 Threat Landscape Outlook Report,” published January 15, phishing and malware attacks continue to be a threat, but account compromise rose 389 percent in 2025 over the…

Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing “Ask and you shall receive” – most are familiar with this saying, and although the accuracy of this statement is certainly debateable, its opposite seems to hold true; if you don’t ask, it’s unlikely that you’ll receive. The veracity of this can be seen repeatedly throughout the results of the 2025 “Who Pays for What?” quarterly surveys, provided free to the industry courtesy of CRASH Network and Collision Advice. These surveys explore, track and analyze how billing and negotiation practices vary between shops across the country by examining a variety of “not-included items.” “Our goal has always been to help shops become aware…

Published in AASPMN News – Thomas Greco Publishing A new year has rolled around, and as we begin 2026, the automotive and collision repair industries are facing continued evolutions at a neck-breaking pace. What exactly does 2026 have in store for shops, and how can you navigate the market? It all starts with the vehicles. In recent years, vehicle technology advancements have created challenges across the mechanical and auto body worlds. While federal incentives related to electric vehicles (EVs) expired last year, cooling the demand for these sustainable vehicles, projections still suggest that over a quarter of new passenger vehicle sales could be electric in 2026, necessitating that shops continue…

Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing To start a fire, it starts with three elements: fuel, oxygen and heat.  ABAT originated in 2014 when pressures – from insurers, rising costs and advancing technology – fueled a need for shops to come together and create a community focused on solving the problems that Texas collision repair facilities face each day.  Since then, the association has found myriad ways to oxygenate Lone Star repairers. From hosting training and networking events to advocating for legislation promoting consumer safety, ABAT has dedicated efforts to refreshing and sustaining repairers through the ups and downs in their businesses. And now it’s time to bring the…

Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing “Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.” The flux capacitor has been installed in Hammer & Dolly’s DeLorean, and we invite you on a journey “Back to the Beginning.”  While we may not need roads, it’s sometimes helpful to remember the roads that got us here. WMABA celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018 and is quickly approaching its 60th anniversary, but before WMABA, there was…WMABA! Though the association established to serve the interests of collision repairers in the Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC areas – and expanded to include West Virginia in 2017 – was officially founded in 1968, organizers first kicked things off in…

Published in AASPMN News – Thomas Greco Publishing “The automotive and collision repair industries need more young people to choose this career path, but no one wants to repair cars anymore!” If you’ve been involved in this field for any length of time, you’ve surely heard some variation of this complaint, and though there are a multitude of organizations around the country lending their support to this growing dilemma in hopes of alleviating the workforce shortage shops are facing, the majority of these efforts focus the high school and college age groups. But by the time students have reached this stage in their education, many already have a clear vision…

Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Remember when we were all kids, and sitting around in a circle, we’d whisper a message to the next person over? Bit by bit, that message would get pretty convoluted, and often, the last person in line would convey something that made no sense at all.  That often seems to be the case when dealing with the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance’s (DOBI). Yet, while it may feel like a game of “telephone” from a shop perspective, DOBI’s method of conveying insurance companies’ responses is more akin to “repeat after me,” mimicking exactly what the insurer says without any…

Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Operating a collision repair facility is similar to a marriage in many ways; both require commitment, communication and resilience, especially when times get tough. As we learned from local and national industry experts, in order to survive and ultimately thrive, shops now must get creative, adjusting strategies and riding the unpredictable waves of economic uncertainty to stay afloat and emerge successfully. After several years of nurturing a heavier workload than normal, the market began shifting downward last year. “Not since the pandemic year of 2020 have so many US shops reported six-month sales and net profit being below the same period a…

Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing Debate has raged between shops and insurers regarding the necessity of performing OEM procedures – particularly when the vehicle manufacturer identifies a procedure as “recommended,” instead of “required.” But does a mere shift in semantics really make that much of a difference? A Scanning Case Study The trajectory taken by scanning requirements provides strong evidence that makes all the difference. It began when multiple vehicle manufacturers took a stand…and started a movement.  Although OEMs began incorporating advanced technology in their vehicles in the 1990s, few position statements were issued about the need for scanning until 2016 when manufacturers began declaring the necessity of…

Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Meeting any goal begins with setting the goal, establishing steps to achieve it and then monitoring how well those actions help one move toward the objective. Businesses of all types often rely on specific key performance indicators (KPIs) to help them “keep score” and identify needed adjustments. Which KPIs are most important? KPIs can vary widely from industry to industry and even business to business, and while mechanical shops may find it useful to track some of the same KPIs as collision centers, dealerships and other companies, it may be helpful to look at things a little differently.  First, it’s imperative…

Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Gaps, misalignments, improper functioning…every collision repair professional recognizes the likelihood of encountering these challenges when dealing with aftermarket parts instead of OEM parts. Yet, collision repairers often find themselves being pressured to utilize these parts based on third-party payers’ insistence that they are of “like kind and quality.”  A simple Google search for “are aftermarket parts of like kind and quality” yields an AI overview response that reads: “No, aftermarket parts are not inherently of ‘like kind and quality’ as Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts; while some aftermarket parts are designed to meet OEM standards, many are not, and their…

Published in AASPMN News – Thomas Greco Publishing Not too long ago, it was extremely rare to see a woman working in a repair shop – mechanical or collision – but these days, more women are changing careers and lending their unique skill sets to the automotive industry. With backgrounds in a variety of fields, these ladies bring unique insights and perspectives to their businesses. Angela Wishard-Thomas co-owns Lancer Service (St. Paul) alongside her husband Carl, but before “stepping into the automotive world,” she enjoyed a sales career in the print and paper industry, helping corporations and marketing agencies with their marketing communications needs. “I absolutely loved working in that…

Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Right to Appraisal empowers policyholders to dispute unfair insurance claim settlements following a car accident, but as an increasing number of New Jersey carriers remove or limit the Appraisal Clause offered in their policies, AASP/NJ has voiced its support of Senate Bill (SB) 4534, legislation proposed by Senator Paul Moriarty (D-District 4) that seeks to require all automotive insurance policies issued in the Garden State to include the Appraisal Clause, providing policyholders with the means for a fair appraisal and adequate indemnification. (Read the bill in its entirety at bit.ly/SB4534.) Last month, New Jersey Automotive discussed why it’s so important for policyholders to retain…

Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Artificial intelligence (AI) seems to be everywhere these days. Call your credit card company to question a suspicious charge, and you’re likely to encounter an automated “customer service representative.” Or simply queue up Siri on your iPhone to initiate a search.  AI has also made its way into the automotive industry with many ADAS features – including lane assist, adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance and more – relying on this technology to analyze data from sensors and cameras to enhance vehicle safety and prevent accidents. Insurers have also embraced AI with an increasing use of chatbots and reliance on photo…

Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Collision repair is a diverse industry that offers a multitude of career opportunities, and while one may typically think of those options as including roles within the shop – owner, estimator, technician, refinish, admin, etc. – a whole world of possibilities exists outside of those four walls with a plethora of positions that offer individuals to play to their strengths as a part of this fascinating field. For some, the journey begins in the shop. Mike Johnson (Crown Collision Solutions) is a 42-year collision industry veteran who worked in various roles as a body, paint and frame technician, an independent appraiser, shop…

Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing While it may come as no surprise to body shop owners who deal with insurance companies every day, many consumers may be shocked when their carrier offers a significantly lower settlement to cover the cost of repairs after an accident. Instead of fully indemnifying them for the amount of loss, insurers employ tactics designed to increase insurer profits at the expense of their policyholders.  Of course, in this situation, consumers can turn to small claims court to sue their insurer for the difference, but litigation is expensive, time-consuming and overwhelming. Fortunately, there’s a better way! Many auto insurance policies contain the…

Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing Maintaining the health of your business is similar to nurturing your physical health; both require training, fueling it with the right supplies and managing stress. And when something seems out of whack, it just might be time to make a change. In last month’s Hammer & Dolly (available at grecopublishing.com/hd0725coverstory), several industry “doctors” prescribed repair planning as the right medicine for creating consistency and enhancing the customer experience, which results in improving profitability. An accurate repair plan allows shops to know exactly what to anticipate throughout the repair process, reducing administrative burden and preventing workflow interruptions. It is not surprising that shops focused on…

Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Every day, the collision repair industry changes. Shops face a heavy load of challenges that come in many forms – from consolidation and workforce shortages to technological advances and contention with third-party payers. Yet, the need for vehicle repairs remains consistent, demanding shops keep up with the constant evolution of the industry to remain competitive and profitable. Those unwilling to put in the work to strengthen their businesses just might see their doors shuttered before long.  But what are the biggest changes and challenges facing the industry? And how can shops make sure they’re strong enough to carry the burden? New Jersey…

Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing ABAT’s Texas Auto Body Trade Show has grown exponentially since it began in 2016, and its success can largely be attributed to the association’s willingness to branch out and try something new. This has been the case each year, and 2025 is certainly no different! Taking place September 12-13 in its new location, at the Marriott Dallas Allen Hotel and Convention Center in Allen, the 2025 Texas Auto Body Trade Show promises to deliver the same high-energy education presentations that attendees have come to expect from the event, but as always (in true Texan fashion), it just keeps getting bigger and better…

Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing OEM procedures – jump! ADAS – jump! EVs – jump! Insurer estimates – jump (and try not to fall)! Change is the only constant in the ever-evolving auto body industry, and it seems like clearing one hurdle only brings you closer to the next one on the path. As you spring over each one, the likelihood of stumbling and falling may seem like an inevitability, but shops determined to go the distance recognize the best way to overcome those obstacles is to “pole vault” over the barriers keeping them from moving forward. Association membership provides collision professionals with the right equipment…

Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing For nearly half a decade, body shops have been juggling more work than they could handle, and then suddenly – BOOM! Things shifted; volume has been decreasing in repair facilities across the country since last year.  “Not since the pandemic year of 2020 have so many US shops reported six-month sales and net profit being below the same period a year earlier,” Crash Network reported in April, citing its recent “Collision Industry Business Perspectives” survey. “Nearly half (46 percent) said their sales and net profit in the second half [of] 2024 were down from what they were in the second half of…

Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Running a collision repair shop is a tough gig – between contending with customers’ expectations, insurers’ demands and rising costs of, well, everything, many owners report struggles to turn a profit. Yet, for over a decade, consolidation has been ballooning forth in markets from coast to coast! How did the MSO boom begin, and are there any indications of implosion? Repairers first noticed an increase in consolidation in the late 1990s and early 2000s when Caliber, Gerber and Service King entered the market in California and Texas, purchasing independent shops and converting them to their brands. But beginning in 2013, more…

Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Running a collision repair shop is a tough gig – between contending with customers’ expectations, insurers’ demands and rising costs of, well, everything, many owners report struggles to turn a profit. Yet, for over a decade, consolidation has been ballooning forth in markets from coast to coast! How did the MSO boom begin, and are there any indications of implosion? Repairers first noticed an increase in consolidation in the late 1990s and early 2000s when Caliber, Gerber and Service King entered the market in California and Texas, purchasing independent shops and converting them to their brands. But beginning in 2013, more…

Published in AASPMN News – Thomas Greco Publishing Once upon a time, vehicles entered a repair shop – mechanical or collision – and could be repaired based upon the repairers’ knowledge and experience. Those days are long gone! With vehicles growing increasingly complex due to the use of new materials, inclusion of ADAS and telematics, not to mention the challenges related to electric vehicles (EVs), researching the OEM repair procedures for every job has become a necessity, even when the repair order calls for something as simple as replacing a bumper or a wheel alignment, either of which may require calibrations. Even if a shop performed the exact same repair on the…

Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Last month, New England Automotive Report explored the ineffectiveness of the Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board’s (ADALB) actions regarding its never-ending review of proposed revisions to 212 CMR 2.00 et seq (available to read online at grecopublishing.com/near0325coverstory). But are those regulations even enforced? Anyone who has witnessed their handling of complaints in recent years has certainly asked this question, and it seems to be a topic worth exploring more closely. Disorder. Mayhem. Hullabaloo. These are all synonyms for madhouse, which Websters defines as “a place of uproar or confusion.” Thus, the term madhouse certainly seems to apply to meetings of the Auto Damage…

Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing ADAS features have become pretty standard on most vehicles; in fact, around 95 percent of light duty vehicles manufactured in 2023 came equipped with automatic emergency braking, according to CCC Intelligent Solutions’ 2024 Q1 Crash Course Report (bit.ly/CCC-CC2024q1). These days, around 70 percent of vehicles being brought to a body shop require at least one calibration, but there’s a lot of debate about whether it makes more sense to sublet this task or to bring calibrations in-house. Simple answer: there isn’t one! It all depends on your business model and what makes sense for each shop.  “Calibrations are an absolutely integral part…

Published in AASPMN News – Thomas Greco Publishing Running a successful automotive repair business is similar to playing a game in that respect – only whether you win or lose ultimately comes down to whether or not the shop is successful, and the best way to “keep score” requires monitoring and tracking certain key performance indicators (KPIs). But with so many moving parts, how does a shop owner or manager know which KPIs are most important? Last month, AASPMN News explored this subject on behalf of collision repair facilities (available at grecopublishing.com/aasp0325coverstory), but while mechanical shops share some of the same KPIs, they typically need to look at things a little differently. Jeff…

Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing “I can’t find help for my shop.” “No one wants to be a technician anymore.” “Kids these days just aren’t interested in collision repair.” Nearly every shop owner in New Jersey and across the country shares the same complaint, but it just may be time to recognize the issue doesn’t lie with the next generation – shops are largely to blame for this ongoing problem! Although the number of collision repair educational programs have dwindled in recent years, the remainder report high interest in collision technology; however, instructors often fail to get the support they need from the industry to keep students engaged…

Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing It’s commonly said that “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results,” but how crazy is it to repeat the same actions and yield NO results? Yet, that’s exactly what happens at the Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board (ADALB) meetings time and time again! Seated under the Division of Insurance (DOI), the ADALB is charged with the regulation of motor vehicle damage appraisers in the Commonwealth. Although the Board is charged with a laundry list of duties, the bulk of its agenda in recent years seems to be consumed with two specific responsibilities: maintaining…

Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Getting in a car crash tends to be a traumatic experience for any driver, but when their insurance carrier – the entity sworn to make them whole after an accident – adds insult to injury by under-indemnifying them for the claim, many vehicle owners find themselves shivering with apprehension as to how they’re going to get their car repaired or afford a replacement. But then a ray of light appears amidst the clouds for those who learn that they have the ability to contest value through their policy’s Appraisal Clause without being forced to pursue costly litigation.  Unfortunately, few consumers realize they…

Published in AASPMN News – Thomas Greco Publishing How do you measure success in your shop? Some owners define success simply by looking at the dollars they have in the bank, while others take a more holistic approach of measuring a variety of key performance indicators (KPIs); however, with the many changes that shops have been forced to make in recent years – due to the pandemic, technological advances, the lengthening average age of the vehicles and changes in consumer behavior – it’s easy to fall into a pattern of collecting a ton of data and never doing anything with it. Those numbers mean something, but if your shop’s KPIs have become…

Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Your car is mangled, and your body aches…You just got into a minor car accident, but the initial damage may not be the most painful part of this experience! For many vehicle owners who’ve been in an accident, the real agony occurs at the hands of their insurance carriers – the entity contracted to indemnify them for their loss – due to tactics designed to increase insurer profits at the expense of their policyholders. Whether the vehicle is repairable or deemed a total loss, there’s an incredibly high likelihood of receiving a settlement offer that does not truly cover the cost of…