Following President Trump’s signing of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on March 27, SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin announced that the SBA and Treasury Department have initiated a mobilization effort of banks and other lending institutions to provide small businesses with the capital they need. The […]
Memorial Fund Announced for Former Collision Repair Education Foundation Executive Director Ron Ray
A memorial fund has been established by the Collision Repair Education Foundation in honor of their former Executive Director, Ron Ray, who passed away March 28. Ray was the Education Foundation’s Executive Director from 1997-2007. The fund will support the collision students and schools that Ron supported throughout his career. Industry members interested in making […]
SkillsUSA Cancels National Conference and Skills Competition, National Signing Day
SkillsUSA has canceled all in-person events at its 2020 National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) that was scheduled for June 22-26 in Louisville, Ky. due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Select leadership components of the conference, including state officer training, delegate sessions, national officer elections and other recognition programs to be determined, are […]
Automotive Repair and Business Groups Call on States for Consistency on Essential Business Designations
Business groups ask states to follow federal guidance on essential business and critical infrastructure to eliminate confusion and supply chain disruptions. Separately, a national group of business associations and a group of automotive repair and supplier associations sent letters to state leaders calling for consistent application of essential business designations based upon guidance provided by […]
OEConnection To Supply Gulf States Toyota with Part Sourcing Platform
OEConnection LLC (OEC) announced it will provide Gulf States Toyota (GST) with its part sourcing platform, D2DLink, for its dealer network. D2DLink will provide GST dealers with shared inventory access across the dealer network, allowing dealers to find and obtain parts with greater speed, while helping reduce idle inventory and improve OEM part sourcing and […]
Overall Parts Solutions Launches Mobile Collision Repair Parts Procurement App
Overall Parts Solutions (OPS) announced the launch of TraxMobile, bringing its OPSTrax parts procurement solution to iOS and Android devices. As the collision repair industry faces new workflow management challenges, OPS has accelerated the release of its TraxMobile app to quickly support industry needs. The new TraxMobile app allows suppliers to manage their businesses efficiently […]
SCA Announces Increase in Compensation to Appraisal Network to Offset Economic Damage Caused by Pandemic
SCA Appraisal Company announced it will increase compensation to its’ appraisal network to offset the economic damage caused by the COVID-19 virus. For the month of April, SCA will be increasing the percentage paid to its franchise and network appraisers, and paying them more expeditiously, while keeping rates to all clients steady. “At a time […]
GMG EnviroSafe Offers Free Coronavirus Training, Resources for Collision Repair Facilities
GMG EnviroSafe announced the release of free coronavirus training modules and resources for the collision repair indsutry. “For over 30 years, we have been a true partner to the collision repair industry by protecting shops, their employees, and their communities,” said Brandon Thomas, President of GMG EnviroSafe. “With the increased risk of COVID-19, this mission […]
U.S. DOT and EPA Announce Final Rule on 2021-2026 Fuel Economy Standards
Auto industry supports gradual increases in fuel economy, opponents promise lawsuits. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the final Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule setting corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) and CO2 emissions standards for model years 2021-2026 passenger cars and […]
Uni-Select Inc. Reports Locations Open Where Appropriate and Permitted
Third of Locations Closed, Half of Staff Furloughed Uni-Select Inc. (TSE:UNS), the parent of FinishMaster, today provided an update regarding its operations given the recent developments in the COVID-19 global pandemic. “Our first priority is always to ensure the health, safety and welfare of our 6,000 employees and customers and this is even more true […]