Auto Service World Conversations

AIA Canada is working with industry to convince the Ontario government that mandating the certification of collision shops will help reduce the hight cost of insurance in that province. If the initiative is adopted -- and it looks like it might -- they think it would be a good idea for mechanical shops to face mandatory certification too. We spoke to AIA president J.F. Champagne to understand what's behind the initiative.

Support the show

Tim Cifelli is the marketing director for shop software company Bolt On Technology, which has led the way with things like digital inspections and text-based communications strategies. Tim says modern tools have opened up a world of new opportunities for aftermarket shops, and that, ironically enough, the Covid-19 pandemic has helped prove how effective they can be.

Support the show

Bill Hanvey and his team at the Auto Care Association face a huge challenge in mounting the giant Automotive Aftermarket Parts Exposition in Las Vegas this fall. With Covid-19 still in the air, the show is going to look a lot different than it normally does. Bill walks us through what to expect when we arrive for what is often described as Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week.

Support the show

Ray Proulx is chairman of the High Five for Kids Foundation, a charitable arm of the Automotive Industries Association of Canada. During Covid-19, High Fives has more causes to support and fewer sources of revenue. We called to find out how aftermarket companies can help make a difference for food banks, children's charities, and scholarships across Canada.

Support the show

Todd Hack is executive vice president of sales and marketing for Mevotech, the Toronto-based manufacturer of aftermarket chassis components. With more than 30 years of experience at all levels of the aftermarket, he’s in a unique position to see how the threat of Covid-19 has impacted the industry – from fellow manufacturers… to warehouse-distributors… to his end-customers at auto repair and service shops throughout the continent. We asked what he expects to see for the balance of this year.

Support the show

Jeremy O'Neal gets to work early every day, to clear his head, get inspired, and get all his ducks in a row. The manager of Freedom Auto Repair in Hesperia, Calif., and president of automotive management training firm AdvisorFix, he calls it The Golden Hour of Power. We called him to find out what makes it so powerful.

Support the show

Brian Wheeler is vice president of business development and marketing for Fort Smith, Arkansas-based Cloyes. A supplier of timing drive system kits and components, Cloyes really has to stay on top of new-vehicle trends and technology. We thought I’d ask Brian what’s coming down the O.E. track, and why technicians should be paying attention.

Support the show

Daren Hodgson, owner of Atelier D.H. Tech Pro in Ste-Marthe, Que., has remained closed to thwart the spread of coronavirus... even though he's legally allowed to open. Closing the shop indefinitely was a scary proposition for him, but not nearly as scary as the prospect of infecting his family. He's waiting until it's truly safe to return to work. We asked him for an update on how it's going.

Support the show

Management consultant Bob Greenwood has long spread the word about the importance of raising billed hours, rather than increasing car count. His message should really resonate with shop owners who can keep their staff busy, but have a hard time making the shop profitable. We chat about the principle of increasing average billed hours and why it works so well.

Support the show

Mark Lemay is the owner of Auto Aide, a training operation based in Barrie, Ont. In March, when society shut down out in defence against the coronavirus, his live training events were cancelled... and have remained so. We talked to him about the move to webinars and how effective that is in keeping technicians up-to-date on the latest technology.

Support the show