CollisionCast

An 'I Will' Attitude is the Only Attitude

Do you have an “I can” attitude…or an “I will” one? You may recall the protagonist in the children’s book “The Little Engine That Could” overcoming a seemingly impossible task. But according to Mike Jones, president and master trainer at Discover Leadership, “I can” is a statement only of potential. And saying, “I will try” can set oneself up with an excuse for failure. In this special CollisionCast episode, listen to Jones’ conversation with Chris Messer, executive vice president of EndeavorB2B’s Transportation Group, to see how you can change to an “I will” attitude.

Fake Parts Can Have Real Consequences

Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized over 211,000 counterfeit auto parts, a whopping doubling from the number seized the previous year. This issue goes beyond selling an unlicensed copy of an emblem. NHTSA identified five known cases of death or serious injury in 2023 and 2024 in which the vehicle was equipped with a defective counterfeit air bag.
In this episode, Bob Stewart, president of the Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council and also aftermarket service support and brand protection manager at General Motors, joins CollisionCast to talk about the problem and how collision repairers can help identify these counterfeit parts.
To learn more or report a suspect part, go to:
GM Resource Website: https://www.gmparts.com/counterfeit-parts
A2C2 Website: https://www.a2c2.com/

Mark Allen Talks About Audi's New Roadside Events Platform

Owners of late-model Audis can better find your Audi Authorized shop with the OEM's latest offering. Mark Allen, manager of collision equipment and EV after sales service at Audi of America, joins the CollisionCast to talk about the Audi Roadside Events Platform, a telematics-based roadside assistance and collision notification platform available in all Audi vehicles from 2016 and newer. It's designed to increase brand loyalty and help drive business to Audi Authorized Collision Repair shops.
 

Lead from the Front Lines

Leadership isn’t just for those with a title. Every team member has a leadership role. Whether you're a manager or a technician, success comes from shared vision, ownership, and consistent action. Great cultures are built intentionally by people who lead from the front, together. Everyone, regardless of their role, has the power (and responsibility) to lead by example. In this special episode of CollisionCast, Chris Messer, executive vice president of EndeavorB2B’s Transportation Group and Mike Jones, president and master trainer at Discover Leadership, discuss being the standard instead of just setting one.

Preparing Your Shop for In-House ADAS Calibration

There are several reasons to consider adding ADAS calibration, including reducing cycle time, offering a profitable service, or gaining control over quality.
Steve Dawson, regional manager in the Washington, D.C., area for Hunter Engineering, joins the CollisionCast to talk about what you might need for a facility and the return on investment you can expect, which Steve says can be recouped in as little as a few months for higher volume shops. Conservatively, a shop can generate $140,000 in annual revenue doing just one calibration per day.
We’ll also talk about training needs for your technician and why ADAS calibration is a "team sport." Everyone in the shop, including estimators and front office staff, needs a basic understanding to properly communicate with customers and insurers on the importance of calibrations and the conditions under which they’re performed.
Check out Hunter's ADAS Learning Tool and other ADAS information here.

Follow Up, Follow Through

Are you a manager, or are you a leader? Do you know the distinction? If you are setting specific outcomes and making sure projects are moving forward, not just waiting until the deadline, you’re likely a leader, someone who follows up and follows through. For over 30 years, Mike Jones, president and master trainer at Discover Leadership Training, has urged his followers to follow up and follow through. To help his followers remember this, he uses the catchy term “motherFUFTer.”
In this special episode of the CollisionCast, Jones joins Chris Messer, executive vice president of Endeavor B2B's Transportation Group, to talk about one tip to help operate your business at a higher level.

Calibration Crisis: How Drivers' Safety May Be Placed at Risk

As it relates to ADAS calibrations in collision repair shops, what is the skill level of technicians?
AirPro Diagnostics conducted a survey and presented the data to professors at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida, for analysis.
The 26-page report from Dr. Debbie Wang and Dr. Pingying Zhang, "Skilled Labor Shortage in Auto Collision Industry Posts Motorist Safety Risk," was published in July and is available for download as a PDF at FenderBender.com. AirPro Diagnostics’ Michael Quinn, senior Vice President of business development, and Fred Iantorno, VP of strategic solutions, provided the data, contextual understanding and industry insights, and the paper draws on multiple industry resources.
We’re joined on the CollisionCast by Drs.Wang and Zhang and Michael Quinn to discuss the findings of the report, as well as some ways the collision repair industry can meet these challenges head-on.
Download the full report here.

How Training and Development Drive Success at CARSTAR

In this episode, we explore the critical role that training and development play in driving success at CARSTAR, one of the leading collision repair networks in the country. Our guest, a proud CARSTAR owner, opens up about the inspiration behind making employee growth a top priority and how this focus has transformed both their team and customer experience. 

Failure Isn't Fatal

For anyone who has ever uttered the words, “failure is not an option,” Mike Jones, president and master trainer at Discover Leadership Training, has a message you should consider. In this special edition of CollisionCast, Jones, who works extensively with small to medium-sized business owners and their teams on evolving to improve, talks with Chris Messer, the executive vice president of the Transportation Group at Endeavor Business Media, FenderBender’s parent company, on why “Failure isn’t Fatal.” If you’ve ever said the words, “failure is not an option,” then this episode is especially for you.

Slow Sales? Shop Profits' Greg Lobsiger Shares How to Help Turn Things Around

At a time when many across the country are experiencing slowing sales, Greg Lobsiger, owner of Loren's Body Shop in Bluffton, Indiana, and monthly FenderBender Shop Profits columnist, had the best sales month since his grandfather opened the shop in 1951. Lobsiger offers a message of hope and a few tips shop owners and operators can implement immediately, and at little cost, to help bring more dollars through the door.