Fleet work, pickup and delivery, loaner cars, DVIs, and ADAS aren’t just operations choices—they’re marketing decisions that shape how customers see your shop, how often they return, and who they refer. In this Origin & Impact episode, AAPEX 2025 Shop Owner of the Year Tom Palermo of Preferred Automotive Specialists in Philadelphia, PA breaks down how convenience and communication built a brand fleets and retail customers fight to stay with.

Tom shares how he grew up in his dad’s three-bay service station, worked every nasty job in the building, went to Penn State, and eventually took over diagnostics and leadership in the shop. That “never ask anyone to do a job you wouldn’t do yourself” mentality now shows up in how his team handles runners, loaner cars, and customer-facing processes—every touchpoint is part of the brand.

From there, he dives into the real tension: how do you grow fleet work without abandoning Mrs. Jones—and how do you market both sides of the business when technology, ADAS, and data access keep raising the stakes? Tom unpacks the learning curve of building a loaner fleet, doing 5–10 pickups a day, and keeping vehicles clean and presentable so your customers’ brand (and your reputation) looks sharp wherever those vehicles show up.

You’ll hear how Preferred Automotive Specialists layered in DVIs, alignment/ADAS checks, pickup and delivery, and tight documentation so that customers understand what’s urgent, what can wait, and why it matters. Then Tom zooms out to industry-level marketing: the Right to Repair fight, who really owns vehicle data, and how tools like ASE certification and Auto Care’s advocacy resources give independents a way to signal professionalism and protect their customers’ right to choose where they get service.

By the end, you’ll have practical ideas you can deploy this week: how to make convenience your core differentiator, how to talk about ADAS and DVIs in plain language, how to position yourself for fleet work without drowning your team, and how to mobilize your staff and customers around Right to Repair so your marketing, operations, and advocacy are all pulling in the same direction.

Guests:
Tom Palermo — Preferred Automotive Specialists (Philadelphia, PA) linkedin.com+2AAPEX 2025+2

What you’ll learn:

• Why convenience-first service is a powerful marketing advantage.

• How DVIs help customers clearly see value and urgency.

• Ways fleet work can stabilize your car count and leads.

• How to start outreach to fleet managers and CFOs.

• Using loaner cars and pickup/delivery as brand assets.

• How ASE certification boosts trust in your messaging.

• Why Right to Repair is a customer-choice marketing issue.

• Simple steps to rally staff around industry advocacy.

Links
Next Step Guide: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aashopmktg/public/next-steps.aspx
Grid Request: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aashopmktg/public/grid-request.aspx
Request a Call: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aashopmktg/public/request-a-call.aspx
Join the Podcast Panel: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aashopmktg/public/join-panel.aspx
Partnership Info: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aashopmktg/public/partnership.aspx
Garage Grit Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/forautorepairshopowners
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aashopmarketing
Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/garagegrit

Keywords
auto repair marketing, auto repair SEO, auto repair ads, auto repair shop branding, auto repair customer communication, auto repair online reviews, auto repair retention, fleet repair marketing, fleet manager outreach, loaner car marketing, pickup and delivery service, auto repair DVIs, ADAS customer education, right to repair auto, ASE certified shop marketing, independent auto repair growth, auto repair podcast, Garage Grit Podcast

Episode Metadata
Episode: GGP #059
Guest: Tom Palermo
Shop: Preferred Automotive Specialists
Location: Philadelphia, PA