Speak Up for Safe Repairs

by Kris Burton, WMABA President

By the time you read this, we will just have had a membership meeting where we discussed the current collision industry environment and – more importantly – the costs of not getting paid.

I was fortunate enough to attend the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) in January, and the overarching message from every repairer was the downward pressure coming from bill payers on labor rates, repair procedures and part types, etc. What is most troubling is that the rates, procedures and safety inspections that have been standard for years are now being lowered, denied and not addressed without any justification. The reality is, customers are not being made whole after a loss. It is unfortunate and can no longer continue.

I’ve heard from repairers – who work for DRP shops and non-DRP shops – and they are all dealing with this to some extent. We always hear that non-DRP shops are treated differently, that we have it harder. At our company, we’ve chosen not to pursue DRPs and only serve the vehicle owner while adhering to the repair instructions via the manufacturer that made the cars, but DRP participation is a decision that each shop owner makes based on what they feel is best for their business…the most important thing is a safely repaired vehicle, and that’s a decision we must ALL make, regardless of your choice of business model.

My hope is that our member meeting is full of repairers networking, seeking knowledge and growing together. It truly is an amazing industry to be part of, with so much potential in the future. As my dad tells me, “Be happy you have repair instructions; we never did.”

We must stand together and be very vocal with our legislators. Whether you’re in Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia or West Virginia, we must all be willing to step outside of our comfort zone and speak up. There are a lot of people across this country who fight for the same things we all want and need. I look forward to connecting.

Want more? Check out the March 2026 issue of Hammer & Dolly!