CollisionCast

ADAS Liability: What Collision Repairers Need to Know

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, or ADAS, have aided driver safety and prevented or lessened the severity of collisions. At the same time, they require specific procedures to ensure they’re working as designed post-collision. What is the shop’s liability, and how can an operator lessen that risk?
In this episode, we're joined by Rebekah Cooper of The Cooper Firm, a nationwide catastrophic injury and wrongful death law firm, based in Marietta, Georgia; and Sean Preston, founder and managing attorney of Coverall Law, specializing in legal services for the collision repair industry and headquartered in Wareham, Massachusetts.
This podcast does not constitute legal advice and is provided only for informational purposes.
Find contact information for Rebekah here and for Sean here.
And look for the article on this same subject with Rebekah and Sean in the August issue of FenderBender magazine.

Drive More Customers to Your Collision Repair Shop

As more customers turn to AI chatbots and search engine reviews to decide where to bring their car after an accident, if your shop doesn’t have a strong digital brand, you’ve lost a customer before they’ve even had a chance to walk through your door. 
In our July case study in the magazine, Noah Brown interviewed Megan Fulkerson, founder of 3P Marketing, on how to build a strong online presence and attract more customers.
In today’s episode, Megan and host and FenderBender Editor-in-Chief Jay Sicht expand on why marketing needs to be a priority for your business. For more information on 3P Marketing's services, visit 3Pmarketing.com. 

GM Enhances Collision Assistance Tool

Whether you’re wanting to order a sandwich delivery or look up specs on the newest power tool at the big box store, there’s an app for that.
General Motors’ Brian Wakefield, director of Global Digital Service Solutions, joins the CollisionCast to talk about the enhancements to its Collision Assistance tool, and how it can help motorists needing a collision repair find your GM-certified shop.For more information, go to GM Collision Repair Network Info Page.

Changing Lives with NABC

As the National Auto Body Council celebrates its 30th anniversary and looks to the next 30 years, we talk with Executive Director Debby Robinson about NABC's various programs and how your shop can get involved. Learn more about the Recycled Rides program, the First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.), and the Changing and Saving Lives Foundation Keys for Change program, which can help you dispose of abandoned vehicles on your lot. 

The Plastic Repair Decision

There are a number of reasons why you might consider repairing certain plastic parts, including lack of availability of replacement parts, their prohibitive replacement cost, and the rise in customer pay work.
How plastic automotive parts are repaired has evolved, but with concern over affecting ADAS functionality, it’s also important to view each repair on a case-by-case basis.
To learn more about the state of today’s plastic repairs, in today’s episode I talk with Frank Phillips Jr., CEO of 4Plastic.

Helping Close the Technical Gap with BackBay Estimator

Built around proactive microlearning, Collision ProAssist's BackBay Discord community replaces one-size-fits-all training and opinion-driven social media advice with documented, expert-backed answers that improve estimate accuracy, capture overlooked operations, and strengthen communication between the front office and the shop floor. 
In this episode, Collision ProAssist's Jason Bartanen explains how BackBay and its newest extension, BackBay Estimator — addresses a critical gap in the collision repair industry by connecting technicians and estimators directly with OEMs, equipment manufacturers, and product experts for tailored, real-time guidance. 
By helping repair planners or estimators understand the technical “why” behind required procedures, Back Bay Estimator supports better customer and insurer conversations, increased shop profitability, and technicians being paid for all work performed, and that ultimately creates safer repairs and a more aligned, knowledgeable repair team.

Give Up What You Don't Need

Are you ready to let go of beliefs, habits, emotions, and stories that no longer serve you?
In this special Endeavor to Discover episode, Endeavor B2B’s Chris Messer is joined by Mike Jones of Discover Leadership and Louie Sharp, owner of Sharp Auto Body in Chicago.They emphasize that past struggles, negative motivation, anger, fear, or even past success can initially drive achievement—but holding onto them eventually limits progress. True leadership and fulfillment come from awareness, self-reflection, and consciously choosing how to respond to events rather than reacting emotionally.
By changing the internal narrative, practicing self-worth, and being curious instead of judgmental—especially in leadership situations—people can build trust, stronger relationships, and healthier cultures. The discussion highlights that everyone controls their response to circumstances, and that lasting success requires releasing control, punishment, blame, and outdated motivations. Growth is a lifelong process, and moving forward means giving up what once helped you but now holds you back.
 
 

Collision Repair's Compliance Burden

How do you manage safety, human resources, and environmental regulations and management?
Wayne Curtis, CEO of KPA, has over 20 years of firsthand experience working with collision centers and auto body shops to help them balance compliance with the challenges of focusing on daily operations. He explains the reasons why although the Trump administration has softened certain safety and environmental regulations, now is not the time to grow complacent.

Fearless to Courageous

He built 14 stores. Then he sold 10 of them — one by one — during one of the toughest economic downturns in modern history.
In Fearless to Courageous, James Baxter reveals the sleepless nights, payroll fears, and hard leadership decisions that reshaped his company, and why focusing on four strong stores made him more profitable than ever before.
If you’re an entrepreneur navigating growth, succession, or tough calls about the future of your business, this episode delivers real-world insight on vision, culture, and the courage it takes to right the ship.

Empowering Excellence with WIN

The Women’s Industry Network’s mission is to attract, develop, and promote women into collision repair professions. And there is still time to register for Empowering Excellence, the 2026 WIN Conference, May 4-6 in Tucson, Arizona. Blair Womble, director of strategic account services with Caliber Collision; and Nicole Carpenter, head of marketing at VIVE Collision, join the CollisionCast to tell our listeners what to look forward to at the event!For more information on WIN or to register for the conference, click here. Registration is open through the end of April. The early bird registration has been extended to March 16, so don't delay!