LATEST LINKS: Interesting vehicle-related reading and video

Speaking at a recent conference, David Strickland of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said his agency will decide next year whether to mandate vehicle-to-vehicle communication technologies in new cars to improve crash avoidance. “We have been...

CUSTOMER SERVICE: Vehicle-owners like follow-up

Chip Lackey of J.D. Power and Associates says too few consumers are receiving some sort of follow-up after their insurance claim and vehicle repair. Based on J.D. Power’s 2011 survey of nearly 12,000 Americans who had placed an auto insurance claim within the...

PARS PDR TechConnect: A roaring success

PARS PDR TechConnect 2012 took place February 12-13th in Arlington, TX, and was a roaring success. Technicians had the rare opportunity to come together, network, and learn in an open and friendly environment. PDR TechConnect demonstrated the relationship PARS has...

BROADER TRENDS: Rebound in leased vehicles is good news

Because leased vehicles tend to be insured and repaired, a continued uptick in vehicle leasing is good news for collision repairers. Only about 13 percent of new vehicle transactions in 2009 were leased; that rebounded to 19 percent in 2010, and increased again, to 20...