College offers Awards Dinner and Career Day tours for potential workers

Centennial College's Toronto Ashtonbee Campus (at Warden Avenue), is the site of an almost $1 million remodeling of the autobody training and apprenticeship facility.

On Tuesday, February 28, 2006, the College and the collision repair industry will host an Awards Dinner to recognize those companies and individuals who have donated equipment, services and funds to the upgrading of the autobody training lab and to other schools across the country.

The 6:15 p.m. start allows for dinner guests to tour the new lab, see displays and demonstrations from
Car-O-Liner and others, and better understand the opportunities with apprenticeship and other autobody training at the College

With over 400 young people sending in applications for autobody training, the future looks bright for the College and the young people learning the autobody and collision repair trade.

Special guests from Canada Skills, government and industry are speaking at the dinner, with testimonials from former successful graduates being offered, donations to the training program being made public and a new industry program to better place young workers with a single-call help centre being unveiled.

In the afternoon, free school tours are offered with a chance to talk to the crew of the PPG Canada - sponsored, 2005 Scorelite Racer, the student entry that came 3rd in its class at the 2005 Baja 1000 in Ensaneada, Mexico.

The school with the highest number of attending students to the afternoon autobody lab tour will win a car, courtesy of Toyota Canada Inc. and frame dimensions software, courtesy of Mitchell International, for use in their school's automotive program.

Tickets for the dinner are going fast. For ticket ordering or to sponsor or donate to the College program please contact Maria at 416-289-5000 Ext. 7310 or Michelle at 1-866-309-4272.

Online ordering is also available at:
http://www.ciia.com/provinces/ontario/newsevents.html#industry

(see headlines)

CCIF Mississauga, January 21st, 2006, Delta Meadowvale, Mississauga, ON

Process & Innovation - that's the name of a CCIF committee brimming with suggestions and proven best practices in workshop and administrative efficiency - best practices that have a direct positive effect on shop profitability. CCIF's record turnout of over 300 participants at the Delta Meadowvale, Mississauga on January 21st were treated to practical, valuable advice from Ken Friesen, Tony Canade and Bob Dubreuil on process mapping, the seven types of waste and the Five S's, a way to address work place organization and standard operating procedures.

This first CCIF meeting of 2006 was packed with valuable information on things that matter, for example - new ways to access training on Collision TV, from Linda Brown of the CARS Network, delving into the process by which published repair times are established and taking a look at what keeps collision repairers awake at night when they think about people issues like keeping good staff motivated and how to attract young people.

I-CAR
In his update on the direction and new initiatives from I-CAR, President and CEO, Tom McGee, highlighted the importance of keeping up with rapidly changing technology. Technicians must constantly learn how to recognise and work with substrates like the new steels, composites and aluminum, as well as new paints, techniques and equipment.

Accreditation
Accreditation is a word that has become familiar to participants who travel to CCIF meetings across Canada. It has become clear that not only is there a desire for shop accreditation, but that some provinces already have programs in place. All power to the provincial programs, stated CCIF administrator, Mike Bryan, but we believe there would be value in a voluntary national program that would have sufficient critical mass to achieve consumer and insurer recognition, rather like a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. The first step towards the national program is almost ready to be taken; collision repairers will be invited to register on a training data base that will be administered by I-CAR and managed by the industry itself. Individuals and businesses will be able to track and manage their training records, see what training is available to meet their needs and even to assess what skills they would need to develop their career by taking on other roles in the business.

The training data base will provide data that will help the industry decide if it wishes to proceed with accreditation for training as the next step. If so, then debates will need to be held on accreditation criteria, certification of training providers and more. Mike emphasised that there was no master plan, just a vision of a better industry where consumers and insurers could make quality based distinctions between collision repairers. It was up to the industry to decide how far it might go along the accreditation path, stopping at training or continuing to develop criteria based on equipment, facility, service etc.

Top Insurer Supports Voluntary Accreditation
In his presentation on the state of the insurance industry, George Cooke, president and CEO of The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, supported the principle of shop accreditation by industry self-regulation, suggesting that government involvement might not lead to the result expected or wanted. He noted the success that brokers in Ontario have had with the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) model and he encouraged the industry to manage the program itself. He added that he could not imagine vehicles insured by his company being repaired by non-accredited shops. The Dominion already sets high standards for its preferred repairers, so support for a set of voluntary industry standards would not be a difficult step to take.

USA Industry News
Rick Tuuri, chair of the Collision Industry Conference (CIC), the US equivalent of CCIF, updated participants on the issues facing American collision repairers. Electronic communication, fraud, estimating, marketing, human resource, parts and legislative and more were all key issues for CIC participants who were lining up to take part in the committees addressing each of them. It's always useful to share ideas and solutions, said Rick, and to adapt them to our respective markets. Both CCIF and CIC are the only national inclusive, open and neutral forums that provide the means for industry stakeholders to address issues of importance to collision repairers.

Ontario Industry Update
In her update on the state of the industry in Ontario, Rosanna Armata, executive vice president of the Collision Industry Action Group, outlined her association's goals and current activities. First and foremost our goal is to protect the well-being of our members, said Rosanna. CIAG is campaigning for standardization of claims and repair processing. CIAG is also working with the provincial government on ways to centralize ministerial regulatory requirements and to minimize the cost of compliance with forthcoming environmental emissions standards. With regard to the public face of the industry, steps being taken to educate consumers and help them understand their rights will improve the industry image and build new levels of trust.

Next CCIF Meeting
The next CCIF meeting is on Saturday, April 22 at the Delta Edmonton Centre in Edmonton. If you really want to know what's going on in the industry, have your say and to meet the industry's brightest and best collision repairers, insurers, suppliers and service providers, you just have to be there. There will be updates and presentations on repair times, process and innovation best practice, accreditation and much more. For details or to register for the meeting, just complete the attached registration form, go to www.ccif.net or call Mike Bryan at 905 726 9027.

Sponsor Support
The breadth of industry support for CCIF is just fantastic, said Mike Bryan. Whether they be individual Maple Leaf Sponsors or corporate sponsors, their support is essential and a barometer of the value that CCIF provides as the national voice, promoter and catalyst for action in this important industry. There are a few sponsor opportunities available for 2006. For details contact Mike Bryan. CCIF extends a huge thank you to:

AADCO Automotive Ltd
ADP Claims Services Group
Akzo Nobel Coatings Ltd.
Automotive Retailers Association of British Columbia
Auto Parts Plus / Auto Plus
BASF Automotive Refinish
Bodyshop Magazine
Budget Rent A Car
Canadian Underwriter
Car- Part.com
CARQUEST Canada Ltd
CAR-MS QRP
CARS Network
CARSTAR Automotive Canada
CertifiedFirst™ Network
C.K. Collision Centres Inc.
Collision Repair Magazine
Discount Car & Truck Rentals Ltd.
DuPont Performance Coatings
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Fix Auto
Impact Auto Auctions Ltd.
Keystone Automotive Industries
Manders Appraisal Inc.
Mitchell International
NAPA-CMAX
PPG Canada Inc.
Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes
The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company
3M Canada Company

Mike Bryan
CCIF Administrator
Tel: 905 726 9027
Fax: 905 726 9038

Sam Mercanti keeps a golden shovel in his office ready for the next CARSTAR groundbreaking.

Sam Mercanti has a passion for bodies -- the ruined kind with four wheels Behind the scenes of a successful local business

Sam Mercanti has so much faith in the pace of expansion of his auto collision repair business that he has a golden shovel wrapped in a ceremonial red bow leaning up against the wall in his office -- ready for the next groundbreaking.

His confidence isn't surprising. CARSTAR Automotive Canada has grown from seven Hamilton-area locations owned or franchised by Mercanti in 1994 to 112 franchises in 10 provinces across Canada today. The projection is to have 200 locations within five years.

There are market development managers scouting out locations in every province, looking for potential sites for start-ups or for existing independent shops with good operators and strong reputations. Mercanti says converted franchisees who strictly follow the CARSTAR approach can increase annual sales by 50 to 100 per cent.

CARSTAR used to have to convince independent owners to come on board.Mercanti says that's hardly the case anymore. One shop owner in Lucan, Ont. laughed when CARSTAR approached him ten years ago. He said he had plenty of business and didn't need to pay fees or royalties. Then he called and said CARSTAR had taken too much business from him. He joined six months ago.

CARSTAR employs 150 in seven locations in Hamilton, including a head office on Rymal Road. There are 1,200 employees nationwide.

The conversions require thorough investigation and a lot of training for the franchisee, says Mercanti. CARSTAR has ISO-certified protocols for ethics, standards and consistency. He says that's vital in his industry, not always known for any of them.

"One of the biggest issues in the collision business is that when a customer has an accident and has to go to a body shop, he's not confident. Our industry doesn't have a good reputation. Ethics has to be No. 1," says Mercanti.

Training for CARSTAR staff happens at the company's two-year-old Mississauga site, a place Mercanti refers to as the "starship location." CARSTAR 401 hosts seminars and workshops aimed at helping franchises boost sales and profits. There are also monthly training broadcasts on CARSTAR TV, a live satellite feed to each store, and CARSTAR University on the web which trains existing employees and tests the potential of new hires.

"We've suffered sometimes by not choosing the right guy. So now we have a lot of training and our market development managers keep their eyes and ears on the road."

Mercanti has had to remove franchises from more than 30 locations where operators didn't live up to the company's expectations. Those standards are based on contracts with 15 insurers in which CARSTAR promises to do quality repairs for less money and in less time than industry averages, while treating customers well.

In return, the insurance companies will recommend CARSTAR to people who don't have a preferred choice. That's key, says Mercanti. "People don't get in accidents every day. Nine in ten people don't know where to go."

Mercanti, twice nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year and a two-time Hamilton Chamber of Commerce award winner, religiously keeps on top of the numbers contained in monthly reports to head office and insurance companies. A gold plaque on his desk says it all: "What gets measured, gets done."

He rhymes off some of the measurements: CARSTAR has a national customer satisfaction record of 4.8 out of 5; one in 20 banged up cars - 6,000 a month - are repaired by CARSTAR; the company enjoys 17 per cent brand awareness; CARSTAR's cycle time (time between when customer dropped off keys and picked them up) is seven days, compared to the industry average of 11.

Within five years, Mercanti wants to see 1 in 10 cars repaired at CARSTAR locations, with brand awareness hitting 50 per cent.

To accomplish that, CARSTAR has hired a Toronto marketing company that will start an ambitious TV, print, radio and web campaign next month.

"The goal is to have CARSTAR be top of mind for the consumer; to have collisions equated with CARSTAR."

Mercanti, who immigrated to Hamilton from Italy with his family at nine, started in the autobody business as a teenager working for his uncles at Ontario Auto Collision in 1964. He became president of the company and starting building and purchasing locations. He focused on getting insurance business and presenting a professional, welcoming image in the gritty, sometimes intimidating bodyshop world.

He started franchising locally in 1992 and bought the Canadian rights for CARSTAR two years later. There are more than 300 locations in North American now.

'Ethics and honesty are No. 1, followed by hard work'

Biggest challenge:

"There are three. Convincing collision shops that we can add value to their business, breaking into new markets across Canada and delivering consistency across the country."

Biggest surprise:

"When we started out with this vision, we were laughed at by insurance companies, other shops, our vendors. They said, 'You're going to try to take a bunch of shop guys - it's like herding cats - and get them going in the same direction?' But we've been able to find shop operators with the same ethics and standards as us and point them in our direction."

Best decision:

"There's two. No. 1 was building this place up here (Rymal Road). Again, we were laughed at. 'You're building an auto mall, you've lost your marbles.' No. 2 was the vision to start franchising. When we went with our first franchise, it was unheard of."

Worst decision:

"Doing acquisitions of other shops before I had the right processes and the right people to run them. It cost us very heavily. At one point, we had 17 corporate stores and we ran them for five years. It was the wrong decision. Now there's one corporate store, the starship.."

Learn the most:

"By running a facility from 1964 to 1988. Being there, doing it myself.

The second place was a group I was asked to join called the Coyote Vision Group. It's about 20 multistore owners across North America and we used to meet every quarter somewhere in North America.

For two to three days in a closed room, we would talk about business and exchange numbers.

Getting together with the best of the best in the industry made me see I could take the business to the next level, run it ethically and professionally and get better at delivering profits."

Best advice given:

"Was from my mother, who said in life when you are dealing with people, do them good and then forget about it. Don't expect anything in return. And from my bank manager, the late Jim Kells, who said take calculated risks, even if you don't have all the numbers."

Best advice to give:

"Make sure you understand the business. You should be working for somebody and breathing it internally. Make sure you surround yourself with three great advisers, an accountant, a lawyer and somebody that understands business. ... And walk the talk. Ethics and honesty are No. 1, followed by hard work."

By Meredith Macleod
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jan 16, 2006)

(see headlines)

January 10, 2006

Western Secondary School in Amhurstburg had a problem. It's spray booth, over 30 years old and desperately in need of repairs, was shut down by the Greater Essex School Board for environmental and safety reasons in the summer.

Now 78 students in the autobody program would no longer be able to be trained. Many more students that relied on the spray painting booth to help them in painting for industrial, technical, art, metal working or other subjects now found they could not have their own projects completed.

In stepped the local collision repair trade association, PACRA (Professional Automotive Collision Repairers Association of Essex County) who took the initiative to solve the situation.

Within a matter of a few weeks, the group had organized a major meeting at the school, with industry assistance, suppliers, shop owners and school officials to map out a plan of action.

Two weeks later, the Director of the Greater Essex County District School Board at a special meeting in Windsor, heard an incredible story from almost 20 attendees:

- An almost new spray booth that matched the same size as the old booth was being donated
- A plasma cutter was being donated by a car dealership
- A coatings firm was donating material and some paints
- A spray booth firm was going to help install the new booth
- Some frame rack equipment was being donated
- Vehicles were being given to the auto body program
- A complete electronic estimating system worth $5000 was being supplied free
- Discounted engineering help and industry management assistance was offered
- Options for a possible new apprenticeship model using the school as a base were being considered

The outpouring of school and industry support seemed to overcome the hurdles previously identified by the school board and a commitment was made to get this new package up-and-running by the next semester, so that Western Secondary School could graduate 78 more automotive painters that the industry desperately needs.

With 3 weeks the new booth had been delivered to the school and the work on this new initiative getting started.

"This is a success story on how industry suppliers, shops and school officials can co-operate and ensure that many students can be trained for good careers with a great future as apprentices," said Roger Beaulieau, President of the Windsor area collision repair association.

Special thanks to: Formula One Collision, Gus Revenberg Pontiac Buick, Mitchell International, JES Sales Agencies, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes, Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, Ontario's Youth Apprenticeship Program, Steve Challoner, ciia.com, Trisk Lamps, DevilBiss, Hutchins Manufacturing as well as the principal and staff at Western Secondary School for their hard work, donations and assistance.

For more information on the Western Secondary School program, contact Jamie Legault, Autobody Instructor at the school at (519) 726-6138.

(see headlines)

(see headlines)

NEW PILOT AUTOBODY TRAINING PROGRAM ANNOUNCED BY HARA AND MOHAWK COLLEGE JOBCONNECT

Collision shop owners receive subsidies, hiring bonuses and tax credits

January 5, 2006

Collision repair industry managers and owners constantly report the same two problems. Indeed, BODYSHOP magazine says that body shop owners identify this as their single largest problem.

How do you find qualified staff/apprentices, familiar with your type of work and how do you afford them?

The Hamilton District Autobody Repair Association (HARA) in conjunction with Mohawk College and the local apprenticeship office of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities apprenticeship offices are introducing a new pilot program to answer that problem for six local shop owners.

This unique pilot program works like this:

Young people who have not finished Grade 12 (the required educational level to start apprenticeship in collision repair) are selected to work part time in a collision repair shop with their employers receiving a wage subsidy. When not working, the young people attend academic upgrading part time to meet the requirements to be signed as apprentices.

Once their academic upgrading is completed these young people would be eligible for a $1,000 academic scholarship and the shop owner eligible for a $2,000 signing bonus if the young person is hired as an apprentice ($1,000 at signing, $1,000 after 6 months).

The shop owner would also be then eligible for a tax credit of up to $5,000 for each of the next three years that the young person continued to be employed. As well the apprentice would also be eligible for a tax deduction for the cost of tools and an $800 interest-free loan from the province to offset tool costs.

"This is a great opportunity to take advantage of the reduced risk and reduced costs of hiring a motivated future auto body apprentice just as our busy season starts," says Tony Nigro, owner of Wentworth Collision and president of the collision repair association.

It is hoped that if the pilot is successful, a similar program would be offered across the province to help shop owners and interested future autobody apprentices.

An open house meeting of all interested young candidates is to be held at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, January 18 at Careerworx, Main and Hughson Streets, Hamilton.

Only 6 shop owners will be able to qualify for this subsidized employment program and would need to call 1-866-309-4272 or info@ciia.com for more information

(see headlines)

JOB CONNECT

Are you interested in a career in autobody repair?

Are you 16-24 years of age, out of school and out of work?

Did you leave school before meeting the requirements for your grade 12 diploma?

If you said YES to the above questions, join us for an information session:

Wednesday, January 18th or Wednesday, January 25th at 6:00 p.m.

CareerWorx, 23 Main Street East (corner of Main & Hughson)

Please call 905 318-4295 mailbox # 8010 to confirm you will attend.

NEW PILOT AUTOBODY TRAINING PROGRAM - a partnership between Mohawk College’s Job Connect and College & Career Preparation programs and the Hamilton District Autobody Repair Association

Program includes:

- Part-time paid on-the-job training

- Part-time academic upgrading to meet the requirements to be signed as an Apprentice

*Individuals who complete the academic upgrading within one year and are signed as an apprentice could be eligible for a $1,000 scholarship.

Program has limited enrollment – call now!

(see headlines)

OPP Charge Two in Multi-Million Dollar Fraud

TORONTO, Dec. 9 /CNW/ - Officers from the Ontario Provincial Police, Anti-Rackets Section have charged two Brampton men in connection with an estimated $16.7 million fraud relating to the operation of Econo-car Rent a Car franchise formerly located at 17 Kelfield Road in Toronto.

The intensive 13 month joint services investigation involved members from the OPP Provincial Auto Theft Unit, RCMP GTA Commercial Crime Section, the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council and the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

The investigation revealed that 595 new vehicles registered to Econo-Car Rent a Car in Toronto, and pledged as security on syndicated chattel mortgages, were sold and exported out of Canada well before the advancement of the mortgage financing. In total $15 million was advanced and $9,400,000 remains in default.

The two men are also charged with theft and fraud over $5,000 in relation to the sale and export of 166 leased vehicles from 16 automobile dealerships in southern Ontario. The combined loss to the dealerships is estimated at $1,723,000.

Charged is Murad DEWJI, 41, of Brampton. He is charged with two counts of fraud over $5,000 and one count of theft over $5,000. DEWJI has also been charged with an additional count of fraud exceeding $5,000 in connection with a cheque kiting scheme that resulted in a loss of $455,000 to the Bank of Nova Scotia.

Also charged is Zahir MURJI, 51, of Brampton. He is charged with two counts of fraud over $5,000 and one count of theft over $5,000.

A former employee of the car rental franchise, Gianni PORTANTE, 35 years, of Bradford, Ontario, has also been charged with one count of fraud over five thousand dollars in connection with the fraudulent purchase and subsequent sale of a GMAC financed vehicle.
All charged men are scheduled to appear in court at Old City Hall, 60 Queen St., W., Toronto on December 20, 2005. The investigation is continuing.

(see headlines)

January 10, 2006

Western Secondary School in Amhurstburg had a problem. It's spray booth, over 30 years old and desperately in need of repairs, was shut down by the Greater Essex School Board for environmental and safety reasons in the summer.

Now 78 students in the autobody program would no longer be able to be trained. Many more students that relied on the spray painting booth to help them in painting for industrial, technical, art, metal working or other subjects now found they could not have their own projects completed.

In stepped the local collision repair trade association, PACRA (Professional Automotive Collision Repairers Association of Essex County) who took the initiative to solve the situation.

Within a matter of a few weeks, the group had organized a major meeting at the school, with industry assistance, suppliers, shop owners and school officials to map out a plan of action.

Two weeks later, the Director of the Greater Essex County District School Board at a special meeting in Windsor, heard an incredible story from almost 20 attendees:

An almost new spray booth that matched the same size as the old booth was being donated
A plasma cutter was being donated by a car dealership
A coatings firm was donating material and some paints
A spray booth firm was going to help install the new booth
Some frame rack equipment was being donated
Vehicles were being given to the auto body program
A complete electronic estimating system worth $5000 was being supplied free
Discounted engineering help and industry management assistance was offered
Options for a possible new apprenticeship model using the school as a base
were being considered

The outpouring of school and industry support seemed to overcome the hurdles previously identified by the school board and a commitment was made to get this new package up-and-running by the next semester, so that Western Secondary School could graduate 78 more automotive painters that the industry desperately needs.

With 3 weeks the new booth had been delivered to the school and the work on this new initiative getting started.

"This is a success story on how industry suppliers, shops and school officials can co-operate and ensure that many students can be trained for good careers with a great future as apprentices," said Roger Beaulieau, President of the Windsor area collision repair association.

Special thanks to: Formula One Collision, Gus Revenberg Pontiac Buick, Mitchell International, JES Sales Agencies, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes, Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, Ontario's Youth Apprenticeship Program, Steve Challoner, ciia.com, Trisk Lamps, DevilBiss, Hutchins Manufacturing as well as the principal and staff at Western Secondary School for their hard work, donations and assistance.

For more information on the Western Secondary School program, contact Jamie Legault, Autobody Instructor at the school at (519) 726-6138.

(see headlines)

City / HMP Autobody Donates Vehicle

City/HMP Autobody was proud to present Victoria Laberge with a reconditioned used vehicle. For over 40 years combined City/HMP Autobody has proudly served the Hamilton area, by providing quality custom work and using only the highest quality products. We are pleased to give back to our community in a truly meaningful way. City/HMP Autobody is a proud member of the National Benevolence program, sponsored by Akzo Nobel.

This year's recipient was chosen with help of wonderful people at Habitat for Humanity. This was made possible by the generous donations from our suppliers and our staff who donated their time to repairing this vehicle.

She has been recognized by City/HMP Autobody as a "Deserving Individual" for overcoming barriers and continuing to demonstrate outstanding commitment to her children and improving her financial status.

Click on thumbnails for pictures

(see headlines)

Based on a complaint by Ford Global Technologies LLC, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has voted to institute an investigation of certain automotive parts. The products at issue in this investigation are various automotive parts designed to be used for the Ford F-150 pickup truck.

The complaint by Ford alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain automotive parts that infringe patents owned by Ford Global Technologies. If the ITC decides in Ford's favor, it could have implications for the
aftermarket parts industry.

The ITC has identified Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc., U.S. Autoparts Network, Inc. and Depo Auto Parts Inc. Co. Ltd. as respondents in this investigation, in addition to three Taiwanese auto parts companies. By instituting this investigation (337-TA-557), the ITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case. The case will be referred to the
Honorable Paul J. Luckern, an ITC administrative law judge, who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. Judge Luckern will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337; that initial determination is subject to review by the Commission (courtesy of Bodyshopbiz.com)

(see headlines)

Airbag thefts raise safety flag for repairs
Gangs plundering cars for expensive crash bag systems

Removal damage may render them useless, police say

Dec. 17, 2005
IAN HARVEY, SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Organized gangs are prowling dealerships and parking lots in a dangerous but lucrative scam to steal airbags and resell them to unscrupulous body shops while putting drivers at risk, police say.

In fact, they have replaced stereo units as the No. 1 automotive theft target.

Aside from the damage to cars and the cost of replacing air bags - together up to $4,000 each theft - there are serious risks involved for those who buy black-market units to replace those deployed in collisions because the delicate units may no longer function.

On one November night alone, a gang pillaged a Scarborough car dealership, wreaking $180,000 damage and stealing air bags from 45 cars.

With new air bags costing between $750 and $1,500, stolen air bags are selling like hot cakes on the street.

"You can get 20 or 30 in a night and at $100 to $150 each, that's $2,000 to $4,500," said Detective Sam Cosentino of the Toronto Organized Crime Enforcement Unit.

Body shops typically mark up the bags and resell them, he said, and the sheer volume of thefts is costing U.S. consumers about $40 (U.S.) a year on their insurance policies, according to State Farm.

"We find them stacked up when we're investigating chop shops and those using stolen parts," he said.

In many cases the bags may not be functional, say police, with at least two deaths recorded in Canada because replacement air bags did not deploy in a collision. Also, they warn, many consumers are being charged full value for bags that were stolen in the first place.

Theft of the expensive safety systems has become a global phenomenon, but in both Canada and the United States, manufacturers and the insurance industry have not been able to come up with a winning counter-strategy.

They've instituted a database with serial numbers of authorized replacement bags sold but there's just no stopping the wave of thefts, which have now outpaced stereos as the most common item stolen.

No Canadian figures are available, but in the U.S. about 75,000 bags are stolen annually, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Despite the similar and apparent widespread problem in Canada, however, no one seems to be tracking specific numbers.

Cosentino said the incidents are listed as thefts from autos and there are no specific statistics readily available.

Damaged bags, or in some cases, missing bags replaced by "fake" ones, create
a huge problem for drivers. In 2000, a 53-year-old Vancouver woman was killed after the air bag in her car didn't deploy.

"It's not just the theft of air bag, it's the damage to the car," Cosentino said. "There're only four bolts to the driver's side, but for the passenger side or the side airbags, they'll rip through the dash or the seats."

A mid-November Toronto Police Services stakeout nailed three men in their 20s as they returned to a stash of stolen airbags taken a few nights earlier from Roadsport Honda in the Kennedy-Ellesmere Rds. area.

"They had hit 28 news cars and 17 used cars with about $4,000 damage to each car including the cost of replacement air bags," said Detective Rich Ryan of 41 Division Major Crime Unit. "We found they'd left a stash nearby and we staked it and nabbed them when they came back to get them."

The 401 corridor has become a rich vein for airbag thieves to mine, said Bill Cameron, national director for auto theft at the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

"They are going after the storage facilities used by auto manufacturers, in some cases getting hundreds of bags," he said.

Insurance companies should work more closely with manufacturers to reduce the cost of airbags and make them less attractive to thieves, said George Iny of the Canadian Automobile Protection Association.

"There are maybe three or four manufacturers of components and there is no universal solution so there's no aftermarket for airbags," he said. "And those making the parts have no incentive to bring the price down."

Consumers end up carrying all the risk and footing the bill, said Bill Davis, executive director of the Toronto Area Dealers Association.

He said there are no laws requiring airbags to be checked during a safety inspection and it's possible that stolen bags could be non-functioning.

"There's no requirement to tell any buyer of the car that the air bag was stolen or replaced."

He said removing the airbags is dangerous in itself since they have small explosive charges in them to trigger deployment.

While some cars have lights showing if the air bag is active, many installers simply short-circuit it so there's no way of knowing.

"It's a huge and ongoing problem," he said.

(see headlines)

October 7, 2005

The Collision Industry Information Assistance web site (www.ciia.com) announced today a new benefit program to kick-off the start of regional workshops across Ontario that help local association members and shops.  The 12 workshops will highlight issues such as environmental help, compliance assistance, CISCO updates (Collision Industry Standards Council of Ontario) and help shops meet or exceed standards.  They are being held in response to shop requests.  "ciia.com receives over 100 shop inquiries a week on our 1-866 information line and web sites and we are pleased to be going across the province with our assistance packages and speakers.  Our non-profit group wants to help association clients and their members be more profitable and encourage higher compliance to standards" says President Tony Nigro, a shop owner from Hamilton.

Workshops in Oshweken, Six Nations have been already completed. Future workshops include:

London on October 18 in conjunction with the Organization of Auto Body Rebuilders
Thunder Bay on October 25 with the Northwestern Ontario Collision Repair Professionals
and 10 other locations in Windsor, Sarnia, Oakville, St. Catharines, Guelph, Sudbury, Ottawa, Oshawa and Belleville..

Special products and services also featured at the workshops are discount programs for:

- Shop garage insurance policy offered through Canada Brokerlink
- Training discounts with suppliers
- Uniform discounts from Cintas
- Gasoline discounts offered by Shell Canada
- Phone line cost discounts through Primus
- Vehicle history searches
- Up to 70% off on office products from Grand & Toy
- Great deals on solvent purchasing from Cansol Services
- Collision repair equipment
- Special promotions items for your shop from Jutland
- Hardware and software discounts from Carrus and ADP
- Engineering help to get those permits
- Special forms and invoice discounts from NEBS
- Discounted legal help for storage and liens, pre-paid services or MTO problems
- Free health and safety audits and assistance and discounted isocyanate inspections
- Credit programs for cash-pay customers that return 102% of the invoice value

www.ciia.com also now offers front office and shop production expert firms who get paid only through your increased profits.

For more information, contact ciia.com at 1-866-309-4272 or info@ciia.com.

ABC Consulting

Tri Lateral Consultants

Wellington Medical Group

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By John Norris, Executive Director, HARA

The Collision Industry Information and Assistance (www.ciia.com) web site, operated by the Hamilton District Autobody Repair Association, handles over 10,000 hits a day. The phone lines often field 30 calls a day and at least 60 emails. Over 400 shops call regularly for environmental help with training, certification assistance, wage incentive information, hiring questions and inquiries from insurance contact lists to manuals on how to market to brokers all the way to requests for guest speakers at their local schools to getting a fax number to send copies of abusive towing invoices.

This is how a professional collision repair trade association works.

Individual association mandates may be different but their passion and vision should be clear and consistent: Help shops, serve the interests of repairers, represent them and provide opportunities to move member interests forward.

Let's face it -- it's a tough marketplace our there and many shops are struggling to stay profitable. They need more help right now and should recognize that although their voice may not be strong individually, their association's voice can be loud, active and successful.

Why then are there so few shop members in their trade associations? One reason is lack of communications. And it goes both ways. Some repairers only hear from their trade association when once a year an invoice shows up on the fax machine. Good professional associations communicate by holding regular neighborhood style meetings or surveys to gain better incite into shop needs -- yet often shops don't show up at meetings or respond to the very associations trying to help them.

Perhaps, shops haven't yet realized the practical benefits of membership in an active association. Can shop concerns be addressed? What's in it for a shop to be a member?

GAUGE YOUR REPRESENTATION

You should always ask yourself the two basic association membership questions:

What can you do for me now and what can you do for the industry in the future?

Most professional associations can provide you their answers quickly and the better associations have so many answers that it often has grown to a list of advantages for the shop.

For instance right now, do they provide services such as benefit programs, garage insurance, uniform and product discounts, office and stationary products discounts, forms, brochures, posters, manuals, training courses, available tax credits or grants that you can use right now to cut your immediate costs and put more money in your till?

What about down the road? Can they prove to you that they are handling the meetings and writing the letters and building the necessary support with media, insurers, suppliers or government? Does the association have the respect and trust it requires to solve your issues? For instance, can they show you or post on their web site or newsletters the meeting presentations or script or news releases showing their successes in addressing your concerns.

TOUGH SCHEDULE

Many professional associations struggle with the daily frustration that they are taking time away from working on needed industry projects that can help shops and instead, are out trying to raise funds to continue on with their good work- from the very shops they are trying to help. If shops better supported their professional trade associations with their membership dues, because of their recognized value for the industry, associations could solve your industry issues quicker.

If your professional trade association is working that hard for you, you should be working hard for them. Their membership dues are fair and you should not only pay their invoice when it arrives, but be calling them to ask to become a more active member. Volunteer to be school speaker, a letter writer or employer/mentor for young students interested in working in our trade on the association's behalf. Only through your help in adding to the
common strength can your professional association make your voice, join with other voices, and become stronger, more effective and listened to where it counts.

John Norris is Executive Director of HARA, the largest local collision repair and auto refinish industry trade association in North America, operating from Hamilton, Ontario. The association also co-chairs the Environmental Compliance Assistance program with government to reduce costs, improve compliance and provide easier help tools for shops at
www.autobodyhelp.ca and 1-866-309-4272.

HARA's mandate and industry objectives and their successes in meeting those objectives are featured at: http://www.ciia.com/provinces/ontario/hara.html

(courtesy of BODYSHOP magazine)

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