Posts by GBDA

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is taking steps toward regulating advanced impaired driving prevention technology. Deputy Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg announced a call for public comments before proposing rules on this technology. The NHTSA aims to collect information for performance requirements and potential mandates for new vehicles to include impaired driving prevention tech.…

Repairify, Inc., a Kinderhook Industries, LLC portfolio company, secures ASE accreditation for both online and in-person training, enhancing its role as a Continuing Automotive Service Education provider. This recognition from ASE positions Repairify to contribute significantly to training future automotive technicians, aligning its content with I-CAR objectives. Students completing Repairify courses now earn credits towards…

The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data analysis reveals that year-to-date production in the collision repair industry has increased by over 9%. In September, the total industry employment rose by 6.9% compared to the same month in 2022, with production employment seeing a 6.6% increase year-over-year. However, the overall production for…

As first reported in Repairer Driven News, one hundred and nineteen people pursuing careers in collision repair and other segments of the automotive industry have received help paying for their education through the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund. The 2022 winners include 103 students who received scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, and 16 employees of…

As reported in Collision Week, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) released a statement in the wake of the California Air Resources Board’s decision to require 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2035, reiterating its concerns that regulators were banning internal combustion engines (ICE) and restricting options for consumers. “SEMA believes that Californians should not be directed…

As first reported in Repairer Driven News, I-CAR has opened a new Chicago Technical Center to serve as a neutral, mission critical resource for inter-industry. Per CEO and President John Van Alstyne, “It’s an intentional step forward to continue our mission to deliver increasingly accessible, on-demand, and relevant education, knowledge, services, and solutions for the…

The vast majority of body shops (85%) are looking to fill at least one position in their facility, up from 79% a year earlier, according to a CRASH Network survey in mid-2022. Job openings for body technicians, including helpers, are the most common, with two-thirds of shops saying they are searching for at least one…

CRASH Network reports that the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows there were slight decreases in 2020 in the number of independent collision repair facilities as well as the total number of employees working in them.  There were about 247,000 employees working in just shy of 35,000 shops across the U.S., a drop…

According to the latest research from AAA, the average yearly cost to own and operate a new vehicle in 2022 is $10,728, or $894 per month. A considerable increase from 2021, when the average yearly cost was $9,666 or $805.50 per month. Not surprisingly, fuel prices are the most significant factor pushing this year’s average…