Manuel Rubio Miracle Body & Paint manuelr@miraclebp.com (210) 843-9564
Darrell Smith McDaniel’s Quality Body Works Inc. darrell-mcdaniels@sbcglobal.net (903) 753-5391
Published by: Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. 244 Chestnut Street, Suite 202, Nutley, NJ 07110
Corporate: (973) 667-6922 / FAX: (973) 235-1963
PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER
Thomas Greco / thomas@grecopublishing.com
VICE PRESIDENT/SALES DIRECTOR Alicia Figurelli / alicia@grecopublishing.com
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Alana Quartuccio / alana@grecopublishing.com
SR. CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Chasidy Rae Sisk / chasidy@grecopublishing.com
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Joe Greco / joe@grecopublishing.com
OFFICE MANAGER
Donna Greco / donna@grecopublishing.com
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS: Burl Richards / Jill Tuggle
Robert L. McDorman / Mike Anderson
www.grecopublishing.com
President’s Message
Elixir for Rejuvenation
TThere’s no question about it – many of us are getting older, and generating high levels of energy just isn’t as easy as it used to be. But wow! There’s nothing that gets my blood flowing and sparks my energy and passion for the collision repair industry like attending the Texas Auto Body Trade Show each year, and it’s great that the ABAT Board of Directors is filled with so many passionate industry leaders who feel the same way.
At our most recent Board meeting, ABAT discussed how we can bottle that energy up to disperse it throughout the year and keep us all feeling fresh consistently. Our goal is to really focus on helping Texas shops, as it always is, and we’re really narrowing in on some of the ways we want to do that. A lot of our effort recently was focused on the legislation to make the Appraisal Clause mandatory in our wonderful state, and now that we have that huge accomplishment under our belt, it’s time to get back to the industry, back to the shops.
We want to know what’s going on with our members…and we want all Texas collision repair shops to become members, so we can elevate our industry together. Right now, many of us are facing this shift in the market; let’s just call it what it is: slow! So, what are some things we can do to help our members and other shops? How can we help technicians?
It really comes down to sharing information. That’s the most energizing ingredient at the trade show each year, but it’s not just about the things we learn in the classroom; it’s also about what we learn from one another when we’re able to chat in a casual setting.
ABAT wants to bring more of that to the Texas collision industry, and we’ve got some exciting things in store for 2026! In addition to the 2026 Texas Auto Body Trade Show and our Annual Skeet Shoot, we’re planning several new events in different markets, and we’ll also be hosting specialty training for shops and their employees.
If you’ve been feeling demotivated, worn down or just plain old sick-and-tired of it all, ABAT is here to help! Stay tuned to abat.us for more event info as it becomes available, and come on out! You just might be surprised by the energy boost you get from an evening of education and networking. This potion might not cure all your ails, but I’d be willing to bet you’ll learn something new to make your life easier if you’re willing to partake. Bottoms up!
Burl Richards burl@burlscollision.com
Getting Back to Our Roots and Growing Stronger Together
AAt ABAT, we’re getting back to our grassroots mission –connecting, educating and empowering Texas body shops from the ground up. For the next several months, we’re breathing life back into our local chapters and planning more events and webinars than ever before. We know how tough things are right now. Shops are slow, and the industry as a whole is feeling the squeeze. That’s exactly why ABAT is doubling down on hands-on training, regional engagement and real-world solutions that make a difference right now.
We’re taking the show on the road – bringing hands-on training and cool tools directly to your region so you can get the most out of your time, your team and your business. But we’re also making sure to have a little fun along the way! There’s talk of an East Texas golf tournament, and we’ve already started lining up events across the state: a meeting in College Station in January, our Ladies Night of Honor in Lubbock in February, glass training at Kaizen in Austin and a Houston meeting in Q1
Our focus is on real, tangible training that ends with certifications, action items and strategies to make more money. We’ll explore practical ways for shops to bring more operations in-house, better utilize their teams during slower times and capture every possible billable item on repair plans.
But to make this year truly impactful, we need to hear from you – the shops, the technicians, the owners and the managers. Tell us what training, topics and support you want most. Together, we’ll keep building an industry that thrives even in the toughest times.
ABAT is here, we’re listening, and we’re ready to get back to work, across Texas.
Please reach out and let me know how we can support your shop. Email me at jill@abat.us.
Jill Tuggle ABAT Executive Director
jill@abat.com
Local Feature
Car-O-Liner Southwest’s Tim Curran Retires, but His Legacy Lives On
Anyone familiar with Car-O-Liner Southwest is well aware of the dedication, experience and excellence that defines this company known for delivering the highest quality equipment, training and support. And none of that would be possible without Tim Curran’s lifelong commitment to the organization that he and his wife and business partner, Shelley, and family have built in the state of Texas and throughout the southwest region.
Tim officially retired this past September, but his legacy with Car-O-Liner Southwest will never falter as it’s been left in great hands. A lengthy search into finding the right people to succeed their business brought the Currans to Jim Karol and Nick Feinman, who share the same commitment to excellence and are poised to continue to see the business grow as intended.
Family has always played a huge role in Tim’s career which eventually led him to Car-O-Liner. “My second cousin, Pat Dorman, was my mentor and brought me into the business,” Tim reflects. His early days in Florida in the late 1970s consisted of working part-time during high school, his interest sparked by a love for hot rods and classic cars.
That was when he was first introduced to Car-O-Liner. “It was a very, very young company. A Swedish company, they had no headquarters set up in the US at the time. It actually originated in 1975 or 1976, and the distribution was brought to the US in 1979 or 1980. I was just one of a handful of technicians who knew Car-O-Liner. The shop I worked for purchased one through
Metropolitan Car-O-Liner, owned by Dave Demarest, who was the only distributor in the country at the time. He came down to Florida to train us.
“I very quickly learned that there was more to fixing cars and turning wrenches,” he recalls. “I put my name out there, stating that I would move to anywhere in the US where Car-O-Liner was being distributed to represent and showcase all aspects of it.” In 1981, Tim was hired by Mark McDonald and Bob Moore of Car-O-Liner Texas and made the move to Texas to serve as a tech representative for Car-O-Liner at a distribution center that had recently opened. After 10 years, Tim was offered the opportunity to move into a sales position.
“It was a big move for me because I started out as somewhat of an introvert. Over the years, I had come out of my shell and learned some things. The company provided me with great sales training, and this was a good opportunity and a promotion.”
The early 1990s was a challenging time for the industry, with “peaks and valleys and other ups and downs,” Tim remembers. There were other US companies leading in frame equipment, while “this little Swedish company was peddling the Car-O-Liner system, and it didn’t move as quickly. When the direct operation at Car-O-Liner was changed back to a distributor network in 1993, I was offered distribution. Of course, I was not going to decline as I had already invested 12 years of my life. So, I took over the distribution.”
With limited capital, he still achieved success and made a decent living for his family, earning 100 percent commission, but it was nothing to cheer about just yet. From there, he asked his wife Shelley to join him in the business. “I was a sales rep at the time, and I realized that while I could run a business or sell and handle distribution, I couldn’t do it all at once on my own, so I asked her to join me.”
“We converted our garage into an office where I had a typewriter and a fax machine. I wound up being full time for over 30 years,” shares Shelley, who retired about a year prior to Tim, shortly after they sold the business.
“It’s kind of funny. What I remember most from the beginning was not knowing what our expenses were when the CPA asked me,” she reflects. “I didn’t know what the expenses were or what our income was. I had absolutely no accounting experience. I would type invoices on the typewriter and keep things in a ledger. Back then, everything was done manually.”
“We put our office all together in one weekend with help from my brother, Chris Curran,” Tim reflects. “Shelley manned the phones, and I hit the road, and that’s how we started.” They kept inventory on hand in “two small mini storage units so that if we had a buyer, we could immediately deliver.”
At the time, they had two small children. “Shelley was multitasking to say the least," Tim notes, "trying to run the business for me and at the same time caring for the kids.”
It took about a year, but the Currans grew the business out of their garage into leased office space a couple miles down the road. This is where Car-O-Liner Southwest’s footprint began to grow. A big part of their growth early on resulted from their first distributor, Barry Addison, based in Louisiana “who had already been with the team prior to me taking over. He’d do anything I asked him to do in Louisiana. So, he anchored that state and did very, very well.” Soon after, they were responsible for the product line in Oklahoma as well, expanding to three states.
Their first installer, Jeff Goffeney, started from a temp agency in 1999 and was hired full time in 2000. After 25 years,
Tim with his oldest daughter Kayla and granddaughter Marlee
Shelley and Tim with new owners Nick Feinman and Jim Karol
Jeff is still with the team today. As the main installer, he is known for his attention to detail. Customers and distributors alike know that when Jeff does an installation, it will be perfect.
The success of Car-O-Liner Southwest goes back to its roots where Tim first learned about the company’s niche of service and training that goes beyond selling products, something competing companies didn’t focus on. “That philosophy I learned back in 1981 was really the foundation that we built the business on,” he believes.
More substantial growth came from investing and taking risks. In 2003, they were given the opportunity to take on more territory which was exciting but also challenging in they had to do what was needed to “keep our sanity while trying to run all over the Southwest part of the country to satisfy customers and continue to sell. We took steps to make sure we had the product on hand. We took some risks, and it was an investment.
“I recall telling Shelley that we needed to buy more benches to which she suggested we didn’t have space for, plus we already had plenty of inventory. But with a new distributor in Oklahoma and the chance of distributors in all three states making sales, we needed to have more product on hand, so we didn’t run out. That was the way we built the business. We took risks and put ourselves out there.”
Being active with local associations over the years also proved to be a fruitful move in their success and toward “becoming a leader in the industry,” according to Tim. He recalls committing to sizable booth space at one of the very first ABAT Texas Auto Body Trade Shows as a smart move; not only did he want to show Car-O-Liner’s commitment to the show, he wanted to set an example and draw competitors to the event.
“Tim Curran has been more than a supporter of ABAT; he’s been a true champion for our industry,” notes ABAT Executive Director Jill Tuggle. “Under his leadership, Car-O-Liner Southwest participated in every event, showed up as high-level sponsors and stood beside us as strong advocates for every initiative we pursued. Tim’s customers have always sung his praises, and for good reason. His integrity, dedication and passion set a standard we all admire. We wish Tim the happiest and most well-deserved retirement,
but we miss him already!”
After many more years of growth and distribution, now in Arkansas, Mississippi and southern Alabama – and eventually New Mexico – it came time to invest internally at the operation. Tim hired Pete McDowell, a partner with his sister’s consulting firm, Action Coach, to help streamline the front and back ends of the business. This wound up opening the door to a need for someone to help build up the service department. That’s when the Currans’ oldest daughter, Kayla, came on board.
“At the time, our techs were getting calls directly from customers, and they couldn’t keep up with the demand, so we needed structure,” reports Tim. “Kayla had just graduated college and was not able to find work in the field she studied. So, we asked her to come in and build a service department and she did very well putting together some internal systems that were easy to follow.”
Tim didn’t intend for her to stay in this particular role, so he insisted she build the role in such a way that someone else could take over. “I told Kayla I’d have her selling Car-O-Liner in 12 months in my old territory in east Texas, taking over for a rep who was about to retire. I mentored her, and here we are 10 years later, and she is doing very well. She has a passion for the business just like I had. I see how passionate she is about making sure customers have everything they need to be profitable with our product.”
Their daughter-in-law, Briana Curran, started part time in 2016 helping Shelley in the front end. It was a perfect opportunity for her to move full time into the position that Kayla started and develop it from there. She currently heads up the service and training department, which includes a total
of eight trainers/technicians.
When Tim and Shelley began to give serious thought to stepping into retirement, they approached Kayla about taking over, but she opted to keep her current role –which she loves – and the opportunity to focus on raising her family instead of heading up the entire operation.
It took almost two years to find Karol and Feinman, and Tim vows, “It was a blessing because we talked to about 20 companies that wanted to acquire us, and Jim and Nick kept coming back. They had done very well for themselves financially, were in their early thirties and had been in pursuit of a business for about a year. What was unique is that they wanted to meet for lunch before they looked at our finances. It turns out that what they found from their longtime search is they wanted to find business founders who were authentic. They wanted to know about how Shelley and I built the business, about our kids and our family and how it all intertwined.”
In March 2024, they officially closed on the business with Feinman and Karol taking the majority of ownership. Tim still has a hand in the business he founded, serving on the Board of Directors. He agreed to remain active for 18 months in a coaching/consulting role before officially entering into retirement. Now, he still checks in weekly to help mentor his replacement, Jeff Horsman, who leads up operations.
“Jim and Nick had to find someone to fill every role I did, which was sales, tech, and operations.” Horsman took on the majority of the operations responsibilities, while Kyle Hollingshead took over sales, and Jimmy Combs maintains the high level technical side.
continued on pg. 16
Members of the Car-O-Liner Southwest team at Tim and Shelley's retirement party
Ladies in Collision
Jannifer Stimmel-Watkins, Caliber Collision
Women sure can do anything, and it’s proven time and time again by the many lovely ladies who are part of this collision repair world. This month, we feature Jannifer Stimmel-Watkins, who has worn many different hats in this field so far, including body tech, diagnostic technician, instructor and most recently, ADAS specialist. Read on to learn all about why she loves this industry.
Texas Automotive: You’ve worn quite a few different hats over years. What first interested you in a career in collision repair?
Jannifer Stimmel-Watkins: It’s the weirdest thing (laughs). I had tried a bunch of other careers, but I never really stayed with anything. When I was trying to get back to work after having my second daughter, I applied for jobs that were related to my college degrees, but I was told I lacked experience or that I had too much experience and was over-qualified. So, I was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
I’ve always been passionate about cars. My husband is a mechanic, and I grew up around my father’s shop, but he aspired for me to do something with my future that did not require me to work as hard as he had. After applying for jobs pertaining to my degrees at the time and receiving the same feedback repeatedly, I had to make a new plan. Attending a four-year college turned out to be a catch-22 for me. Every time I applied to a job that required a degree, I ‘lacked experience,’ but applying for positions that didn’t require my degree got me nowhere; in those cases, I was ‘overqualified.’ It appeared that I was at a fork in the road. I could either keep going down that path or choose a new one.
Acquiring my 1973 VW Transporter inspired me to consider completely changing my career path altogether. I wanted to restore it myself, including the exterior, but while I had spent a lot of my childhood around cars, Dad’s shop focused on mechanical repairs. Every now and then, we would replace the interior or something of that nature, but his friends always
repaired the body and painted the vehicles, so I had little exposure to the collision side of automotive repair. If I wanted to paint my VW, I would need to learn how to paint first. As I explored that idea, I began to wonder if returning to my childhood passion for cars would open the possibility of new opportunities. At the very least, it would be a welcome distraction while I continued my never-ending search for employment.
I began Googling local auto collision programs. It turned out the technical college nearby – which my husband had attended for automotive – offered one. I contacted them, and they offered to give me a tour. By the end of that tour, I had registered to start the refinishing program in two weeks; TSTC offers separate associate degree programs and certifications for refinish or collision repair students, allowing students to select and focus their education in the specialty they plan to pursue. Although I began in the refinishing program, I soon found that I didn’t enjoy painting as much as I’d expected, so with a little persistent persuasion from some classmates, I decided to switch to the repair specialization with the intention of earning my degree in collision repair before returning to the refinish program.
During my second semester, I attended my full course-load of repair classes along with one refinishing course. Participating in courses from both specializations was very eye-opening in discovering exactly where my passion lies. On the days that I had repair courses, they would have to push me out of the door at the end of the day. On the days I had paint class, it took motivation to make myself attend. I fell in love with collision repair. There was no turning back; refinishing had definitely lost its luster for me. Repair, on the other hand, was a new adventure with every entrance through those lab doors. During my last semester, I applied for a position as a body helper. When I went in to fill out the application, the manager told me that he had another type of position that he believed would suit me very well. He was looking for someone
Jannifer Stimmel-Watkins, ADAS Specialist
to help out around the shop and complete the scans for all of the vehicles. At the time, I had no clue what a pre- or post-repair scan was, but I was ready to work and always had a knack for technology, so I decided to try it out.
I grew to really enjoy scanning the vehicles and diagnosing electrical and light mechanical problems and decided to go down that path and pursue being a diagnostic technician. There were times when I almost gave up trying to become a technician, but after a while I was able to convince my boss that I could handle more responsibilities. When vehicles came in, I helped blueprint them, went over which sublets they would need, maintained equipment, dropped off/picked up, updated the tracker and checked on vehicles. You name it, I did it. I was half diagnostic technician, half floor production manager… and I loved every minute of it. That’s how I got my start.
TXA: What are some of the biggest challenges women face in this industry? Have you overcome any of these challenges yourself?
JSW: It can be difficult being a woman in this industry. There are times that people say things or don’t have confidence in you because you are a female. I don’t feel that I struggle with it as much as some of the stories that I have heard and even some of the responses when I would try to help my female students find employment. If I did, I may not have been as aware of it. I was diagnosed as autistic two years ago now. Apparently, there are several aspects where I lack awareness, and – fortunately for me – gender bias is one of them. I have always struggled with fitting into the framework of society’s gender norms. I have never really taken offense to discrimination in that way, most likely because I don’t recognize it. I am typically oblivious to subtle forms of discrimination and, on occasion, blatant actions.
I don’t accept the premise that we are not able to perform in any aspect and are confined to careers that have been historically less male-dominated. I learned at a very young age that the only person who has the ability to limit me, is me I remember a few times when gender played a factor in how I was perceived in this industry. I had a male co-worker who would not even speak to me when he needed me to do something for him. All of the guys at the shop were aware of it and would tease me about it. I would answer his question or ask him something, and he would respond to one of the guys standing next to me. Though it was okay when he was out in the parking lot trying to get a car to his bay, and I was the one who would get it started for him. When I was an instructor, my judgment was questioned about a student’s poor grade. He was not attending labs or completing coursework. His grandmother paid his tuition and called my supervisor asking why the welding instructor was “failing her grandson.” I had a great boss that came to me to find out the situation, and when I explained that the student was not attending labs or completing coursework, he returned her call to share those details. Apparently, when she learned my name, she expressed confusion and questioned why a woman had been hired as a welding instructor. Well, I’m not sure if he giggled as much on that call with her as he did while retelling it to me, but
he had a fantastic response to that question: “because she is qualified.”
I knew coming into this industry that there would be challenges; I had been warned by multiple people. But if you challenge me, I will go out of my way to prove that your preconceived notion was incorrect. I don’t back down. Although, while I believe we belong wherever we want to be, I also think that female collision repair professionals should expect to be treated the same and have the same expectations. I set the bar higher for myself because I do know that I will have to work harder to prove that I deserve to be here. Because my autism was undiagnosed most of my life, I never learned about the coping resources and tools available to make life easier; instead, I had to learn to adapt and create my own resources, and that has proven to be an asset in my career. I understand that there will always be challenges, but I’m prepared to meet them.
I think that all of us collision repairers – not just women – should be putting our best foot forward in everything that we do, and if that still isn’t enough to prove your worth, you are in the wrong place. There is a job down the road that will be elated to have you. It’s like a puzzle; you shouldn’t force a piece to fit in somewhere. Go where you will be treasured because you are the missing piece. My mother always told me, ‘If it doesn’t work out, it wasn’t meant to be.’ She has been right about everything so far, so I am not going to question her on that one.
TXA: What led you to transition from the body shop to auto body instruction?
JSW: I had aspired to return as an instructor after working in the field and acquiring experience. As a student, I used to sit on one of my instructor's stools in the lab and joke that I was just warming it up because it was going to be mine one day. I reminisced about that very thing when I would sit on that stool as an instructor. At one point, I became frustrated because I had not attained a technician role yet, despite performing the position’s responsibilities, so I applied for a teaching position that opened up. My co-worker had also applied and got the job.
by Alana
Ironically, after I officially became a tech – just as I had hoped for – another instructor position opened up, and the school contacted me, suggesting I apply. Our director was working on a pilot apprenticeship program and thought I would be a good fit to help build that and be the instructor for it. I did not really want to leave the job I loved, but I was not sure when another position would open at my alma mater, and I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity. It was also very intriguing that I would be able to participate in the apprenticeship program. I love new challenges and developing programs. I have built something in pretty much every job I have been in. I worked at the school for five years. I loved my students, and I loved teaching. I left last October when they cancelled the apprenticeship program. It was a very difficult decision. Perhaps, I will return to education in the future.
TXA: What role do you currently play?
JSW: I am an ADAS estimator and compliance specialist for Caliber Collision. I review estimates in an effort to make sure that we are performing the ADAS calibrations required after a collision or repair. We review which systems each vehicle has, and once we have identified them, we review the procedures being performed along with the details of the damage. Once we have verified the systems, we research repair procedures to find the supporting documentation, which we prepare and add to the file. We use that information to update the estimate. We joke that we are ADAS detectives. I am on a great team. They make it very easy to start work every day.
TXA: What do you love most about this industry?
JSW: Everything. I love the science of it. It is like a story, and I enjoy doing the best that I can to make sure the story has a happy ending. You have to be able to piece together the story that created the damage in order to repair it properly and cover all of your bases. Perhaps that is how I wound up in diagnostics. Puzzles and fixing things continued on pg. 21
The Right Ingredients for Every Job.
Whether it’s a minor touch-up or a full-scale repair, the right ingredients make all the di erence. With proper tools, hands-on training, timely servicing, and reliable support from RAE, your shop is equipped to deliver consistent, OEM-approved results. This Thanksgiving, we’re grateful for the professionals who turn quality repairs into a tradition.
Grateful for our incredible team. Thank you for all you do!
Local Feature
continued from pg. 9
“I needed those 18 months,” Tim admits. “They gave me time to begin to say goodbye to my customers and let them know how grateful I am for the years of business they trusted me with. And I also needed that time culturally to build a foundation for Jim and Nick so they could see me in action with my team.
“It's incredible what they've done,” adds Tim. “They’ve taken what we built and expanded it with ideas and investments.” He cites various improvements such as building a better fleet of vehicles, expanding staff, implementing service software and getting on track to expand from the existing 10,000-square-foot to a 24,000-squarefoot facility.
“Initially, Jim and I weren’t sure what type of business we were going to acquire,” shares Feinman. “We knew nothing about the auto body industry, but when we met Tim and Shelley who are just so honest, sincere and passionate about what they built, it gave us a lot of confidence that we’d have real partners in this venture to lean on and get us up to speed. That has absolutely been the case.”
“Tim’s passion for this industry is just incredible,” adds Karol. “Some of the most impressive people are those who are deeply invested and knowledgeable and that is Tim with collision and structural repair.“
“We're extremely thankful for the partnership we've enjoyed with Tim over this period of time and going forward because he's still an owner in our company and someone we lean on a lot,” states Feinman.
“He’s mentored a great team and we are proud to have promoted people internally who worked with him for decades and
now have been given more opportunity,” adds Karol.
With the acquisition behind them, Tim and Shelley have time to travel and enjoy more time with their grandchildren.
Days after Tim’s official last day, the couple celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with a 17-day trip to Europe. “That really helped Tim unplug and get away from the computer and the phones,” Shelley says.
Tim’s passion for classic cars, which first sparked his interest in the business, never wandered, and he now plans to devote time to restoration.
“I never had the time to do a hands-on restoration. So, one of the first things I bought was two rare model Mustangs – not one, but two. I couldn’t make a decision, so I bought them both. When Shelley and I moved to McKinney, part of the criteria in finding the right place was that I wanted space for my own shop. So, that’s what I plan to do now in my spare time.”
Looking back on his career, Tim has a long list of mentors he’s learned from, but his drive and determination mainly stems from what his father taught him.
“My dad worked for a retail giant. He was a vice president in the retail world. He always encouraged me to go out and do my own thing. In fact, my siblings and I all have our own businesses today, and that’s mostly because he built the dream by telling us to not do what he did and work for someone else. He told us to go build our own.”
And that he did! Tim built a business to be proud of and his legacy is sure to live on for decades to come. TXA
Mandatory RTA Update:
The Ball is in
For nearly a decade, ABAT and others advocated for legislators to amend the Insurance Code to add a mandatory appraisal provision, and earlier this year, their hard work came to fruition when Senate Bill 458 was unanimously approved by both the House and Senate, becoming law on June 20 and going into effect on September 1. The law dictates that all personal auto and homeowners insurance policies issued, delivered or renewed on January 1, 2026 and after “must contain an appraisal provision,” which “is intended to provide a type of dispute resolution process solely to determine the amount of loss when that amount is in dispute between the policyholder and the insurer.”
SB 458 also indicated that the Insurance Commissioner “shall adopt rules necessary to implement this chapter,” and as such, the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) was tasked with creating rules for Commissioner Brown’s approval by the end of the year, with three specific targets identified:
1. Rules mandating an appraisal for total loss and property damage,
2. The time period in which an appraisal must be completed, and 3. Qualifications and selection of appraisers and umpires.
In September, TDI published an informal working draft of their proposed rules (visit bit.ly/TDI-RTArules to view). When TDI solicited public commentary on those drafted rules, consumer advocates Robert McDorman (Auto Claim Specialists) and Ware Wendell (Texas Watch) were quick to weigh in on what was done well and which rules could use some refinement. McDorman views the rule making process as “critical and of the utmost importance. Errors in the rule making process could negate all the hard work we’ve invested in ensuring Texans have recourse for value disputes through mandatory Right to Appraisal.”
TDI first enforced the mandatory appraisal rule through Section 5.9802(a) - General Requirements by specifying that “every policy subject to this division must have an appraisal provision.” Furthermore, they indicated that the appraisal provision must allow “either party to unilaterally demand appraisal,” an inclusion that McDorman applauds.
“This is an essential element of these rules, and it must remain that either party is allowed to unilaterally demand appraisal for the appraisal process to work as intended,” he commented.
In the next subsection of the General Requirements, TDI sought to establish minimum qualifications: “Appraisers and umpires must be: 1) competent to evaluate the type of property loss or damage in dispute; 2) independent from the parties; and 3) disinterested in the outcome of the appraisal.”
McDorman believes these requirements “are a very important part of these rules,” noting that “on the auto side, several large carriers regularly require their independent appraiser to send their loss statement to the insurer for review and to make changes to, prior to their appraiser discussing the appraisal loss statement with the insured's appraiser. The insurers are also instructing that their appraisers choose specific umpires. This process corrupts the independent appraisal process.”
McDorman suggested TDI add language emphasizing that "appraisers and umpires must remain unbiased, independent, disinterested and not be instructed or coached by any outside interest during the appraisal process" to make this section more effective.
Section 5.9804 lays out the appraisal process for personal automobiles, including identifying the maximum timelines in which each step of an appraisal should be completed. This section begins by establishing that any “demand for appraisal under a personal automobile insurance policy must be made in writing not later than 120 days from the date the insurer gives the policyholder notice accepting coverage of the property loss or damage that is the subject of the appraisal.”
Wendell suggested increasing the deadline for requesting an appraisal to 180 days to reflect ”the reality of the amount of time that it may take for a carrier to inspect a vehicle, adjust the loss and assess coverage. The consumer has no control over this and should not be prejudiced or time-barred if the carrier takes more time to complete these phases. Extending this particular deadline by 60 days will preserve the consumer's right to mandatory appraisal in accordance with Section 1813.003 of the Texas Insurance Code.”
Subsection 5(b) 1-3 specifies time triggers – all based on the date the written demand for appraisal is made – for when each party must hire their own appraisers (20 days), for how long those appraisers have to come to an agreement on the amount of loss or damage (75 days) and if an agreement is not reached, for the length of time before they select an umpire (105 days). The time triggers proposed by TDI do not differentiate between vehicles that can be repaired and those deemed a total loss.
Based on his considerable research, McDorman identified what he views as optimal time triggers for repair procedure disputes in his August “Ask the Expert” column (available at bit.ly/ATE-0825). Although TDI’s proposed time triggers are less stringent than those suggestions, the only area with which McDorman expressed concern was 5.9804 (b)(5) which reads, “If an umpire is engaged, the appraisal award must be issued not later than 180 days after the umpire is selected or appointed. If an appraisal award is not issued by the deadline, the appraisers may select a new umpire.”
He pointed out that extending the appraisal process by an additional 180 days for the umpire and appraisers to issue the appraisal award “allows the appraisal to last over one year. The
umpire's role does not require this amount of time,” he explained. “The estimates have already been created, and the umpire should be able to complete whatever work they need to do within 30 to 60 days. We feel the 180 day timeline will unnecessarily delay the resolution of auto appraisals.”
Wendell agreed that the time trigger should be reduced to 60 days. “Shortening this deadline will help to resolve the dispute faster so the consumer may have their repaired vehicle returned to them more quickly, allowing it to be utilized for employment and familyrelated duties. Sixty days should be a sufficient amount of time for the umpire to perform their work and issue their award.”
McDorman and Wendell both offered suggestions related to Section 5.9805, which (as drafted) requires insurers to “provide written notice of the appraisal process, applicable deadlines and the right of either party to demand appraisal in the notice accepting coverage, which is described in Insurance Code §542.056, concerning Notice of Acceptance or Rejection of Claim.”
Wendell felt it would be wise to alert the policyholder earlier in the process, suggesting the written notice be provided in “the notice acknowledging receipt of claim, which is described in Insurance Code Section 542.055, concerning Receipt of Notice of Claim.
“This change points to a well-defined moment in time that carriers, policyholders and their counsel are all familiar with, avoiding further delay in the process,” Wendell explained the revision.
McDorman thought it would be beneficial to ensure the notice is conspicuous enough to draw the policyholder’s attention by requiring stylistic changes. “We believe the notice required in this section should be required to be in a larger, different font that is italicized and bold.”
One important shortcoming in the draft came to these diligent watchdogs’ attention – “This informal draft does not include an enforcement mechanism,” Wendell noted. “The Department should include administrative penalties for carriers that contravene the law by failing to include mandated appraisal provisions in their policies or violate deadlines. The Department may also look to Section 2210.574 (g) of the Insurance Code for a model when appraisal is corrupted or prejudiced.”
McDorman agreed on the necessity of identifying how the rules will be enforced. “Some clear penalties for violations [of these rules] would be very helpful.”
Next up? TDI will use the public commentary provided by all involved parties to finalize the rules for mandatory appraisal before those rules are officially published, open for comment and ultimately implemented by Commissioner Brown.
McDorman is eager to see the final version. “We are thankful for TDI's work on these rules. And I’m hopeful that they’ll be able to use the feedback they received to revise and strengthen those rules to ensure they are as effective as possible. With the right data, I’m confident that they’ll make the right decisions and that Commissioner Brown will implement them without a doubt.”
Stay tuned to Texas Automotive for updates as they become available. TXA
Ladies in Collision
continued from pg. 13
are two of my favorite pastimes. It bodes well in this career. I was in healthcare before moving into collision. It’s always been important that my career allows me to help people. I get bored quite easily. I am quite routine personally, but in my profession, I thrive when I encounter variety, where I’m challenged. Collision repair definitely offers that – every car, every repair is different. I love that.
TXA: You definitely keep busy with work, family and the baby kangaroos. Many may remember seeing you walk around with them at the Texas Auto Body Trade Show in September. I heard you had a podcast as well. So, what is life like outside of the collision repair world?
JSW: Before I started working for Caliber, I started a podcast called AutiBody Texperience. I was hoping to continue to reach out to the younger generation about this industry and cover topics that would make them interested in going into this field. I also wanted to reach others in the autism community and talk about how being in this industry has improved so many of the traits that I struggled with before. There are many benefits that a physically active, precision career in this industry can offer to others like me. It would also be beneficial for our shops that are facing shortages. We have many traits that align with the requirements to complete a thorough, accurate, procedure-based repair.
I plan to add more videos about what photos should be taken to document ADAS systems and ensure that the necessary calibrations are performed and other topics like that, but I have been so busy since I started this job. I’m someone who completely throws myself into whatever job I have. I’m a perfectionist; I like to be among the best. Because I am still rather new in my current role, I am constantly learning and of course building tools to increase my productivity. If I’m not at work or doing some type of event, I’m doing something with the kids or the kangaroos. The kangaroos –Rusty and Patina – are on bottles and need to be fed five times a day, so there isn’t really any life outside of them right now; it’s like having two infants.
TXA: What encouraging words would you give to another female interested in pursuing this field?
JSW: As much as some people may think that it’s not a field for women, that is not true. We’re growing more and more in this industry. I can’t say we’re taking over…but more women are definitely finding their place in the collision industry. Mental health is a big problem in society today with all the electronic devices and social media. The physical work, the skill and concentration involved in collision work has been the best thing for my mental and physical health. I have always had problems with coordination, and repair work has helped to fine-tune my motor skills, improve my muscle memory and increase my strength. I think every woman aspires to have a rewarding career that pays well. This industry has been the most lucrative and rewarding career that I’ve ever had. Technology is the way to go in my opinion. When you look at the salaries of office jobs compared to a trade, the amount of time it
takes to earn more income and the opportunities are much more prevalent in a trade. There’s also a certain satisfaction in overcoming challenges we face throughout the repair process. I rarely felt challenged at my other jobs, and if I did, it faded quickly – within a year at most. In collision, every day feels like a new day with a new possibility. That may just be my perception of it, but others might feel the same way if they tested it out. It’s definitely worth a try!
TXA
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Ask The Expert Keeping the Public Informed on Mandatory Right to Appraisal
Dear Mr. McDorman,
by Robert L. McDorman
I own and operate a collision facility in West Texas. I, like many others, have read your three editorials about the Texas Mandatory Appraisal Bill rule making and appraiser/umpire criteria phase. Thank you for keeping everyone informed and up to date on the process. I saw that on September 22, 2025, the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) posted an informal working draft of rules implementing Senate Bill 458 on appraisal provisions. I also noticed that TDI set an October 6, 2025, deadline for public comments. Did you issue any comments to the TDI working draft, and, if so, can you share them with the readers? We have become devoted to keeping our clients and other insured Texans informed about their Right to Appraisal when there is a dispute over their loss with their insurance carrier. Based upon everything I have read and my own research, the rule making and appraiser/umpire criteria phase is a vital part of the Mandatory Appraisal Bill everyone worked so hard to get passed. Will you please provide me and other readers with any updated information you have about this final phase?
Thank you so much for your comments and for wanting to help inform insureds of their legal Right to Appraisal in Texas when a dispute arises between them and their insurer over the loss. I could not agree more that the rule making and appraiser/umpire criteria phase is vital to the Mandatory Appraisal Bill. We did issue comments to the Texas Department of Insurance informal working draft of rules implementing Senate Bill 458 on appraisal provisions. Below are the Auto Claim Specialists’ comments related to the working draft. We graciously thank TDI for their work on these Rules.
Auto Claim Specialists Comments to TDI related to Informal Working Draft on Rules Mandating Appraisal Provisions for Home and Auto Policies.
5.9802. General Requirements. (a) (1) allows either party to unilaterally demand appraisal.
We believe this is an essential element of these Rules and it must remain that either party is allowed to unilaterally demand appraisal for the appraisal process to work as intended.
5.9802. General Requirements. (b) Minimum qualifications, Appraisers and umpires must be:
(2) independent from the parties: and
(3) disinterested in the outcome of the appraisal.
We believe these requirements are a very important part of these Rules. On the auto side, several large carriers regularly require their independent appraiser to send their loss statement to the insurer for
review and to make changes to, prior to their appraiser discussing the appraisal loss statement with the insured's appraiser. The insurers are also instructing that their appraisers choose specific umpires. This process corrupts the independent appraisal process. We think some additional language such as, "appraisers and umpires must remain unbiased, independent, disinterested and not be instructed or coached by any outside interest during the appraisal process" could make this section more effective. In addition, some clear penalties for violations of this clause and the other clauses in these Rules would be very helpful.
5.9804. Personal Automobile Appraisal Process. (5) If an umpire is engaged, the appraisal award must be issued not later than 180 days after the umpire is selected or appointed. If an appraisal award is not issued by the deadline, the appraisers may select a new umpire.
The way we interpret this section, it allows for the parties to wait an additional 180 days after the umpire is appointed, which could be up to 210 days after the appraisal begins. This allows the appraisal to last over one year. The umpire's role does not require this amount of time. The estimates have already been created, and the umpire should be able to complete whatever work they need to do within 30-60 days. We feel the 180-day timeline will unnecessarily delay the resolution of auto appraisals.
5.9805. Notice to Policyholders.
We believe the notice required in this section should be required to be in a larger, different font that is italicized and bold. It could be required to meet the "conspicuous" definition in the policy.
As a whole, we are thankful for TDI's work on these rules and appreciate that the residential property and auto appraisal processes have been somewhat separated to allow for the quicker resolution of auto claims. We look forward to seeing the final rules and appraiser and umpire criteria along with the punishment
Robert is a recognized Public Insurance Adjuster and Certified Vehicle Value Expert specializing in motor vehicle-related insurance claim resolution. Robert can be reached by phone at (800) 736-6816, (817) 756-5482 or via email at AskTheExpert@autoclaimspecialists.com. continued on pg. 24
Ask The Expert
continued from pg. 22
guidelines when one of the rules is broken. In my professional opinion, the tougher the rules and the bigger the fines when a rule is broken, the fairer and more efficient the appraisal process will be for all interested parties.
With the Mandatory Appraisal Bill rule making and appraiser/umpire criteria phase under review and in process, Commissioner Brown must adopt rules related to the period for appraisal, which is critical to the process. Our comments above address this important issue. Equally critical are the qualifications and selection criteria for appraisers and umpires involved in the appraisal process which is also addressed in our comments related to the working draft. As I have stated several times, we have done an excellent job making legislators problem-aware to give Commissioner Brown the backing she needs for adapting rules and requirements. We now must make her solution-aware. I am confident that, with the right
information and data, she will set the correct rules and qualifications in place for motor vehicle loss disputes. I have complete faith in her to do this.
As an insured citizen in Texas, I will do everything in my power to educate my fellow Texans about their legal Right to Appraisal when a dispute arises between them and their insurer. These underindemnification issues on motor vehicle claims are harmful to Texans and can be detoured or stopped with widespread consumer awareness.
As I have spoken about and written about for many years, the underindemnification in repair procedure and total loss claims in Texas is rampant. Most of the estimates and supplements we see for repair claims have many overlooked (by design) safety and OEM-required operations needed to restore the loss vehicle to its pre-loss condition to the best of one's human ability. Now with the passing of SB 458, when a dispute arises over the loss on
a motor vehicle repair claim, there will be a binding Appraisal Clause in the policy allowing these disputes to be turned over to industry professionals to determine the loss.
The spirit of the Appraisal Clause is to resolve loss disputes fairly and to do so in a timely and cost-effective manner by unbiased industry qualified appraisers and umpires. Invoking the Appraisal Clause removes the inexperienced and biased carrier appraisers and claims handlers from the process, undermining their management’s many tricks to undervalue the loss settlement and under-indemnify the insured. Through the Appraisal Clause, loss disputes can be resolved relatively quickly, economically, equitably, and amicably by unbiased, experienced, independent third-party appraisers as opposed to more costly and timeconsuming methods such as mediation, arbitration and litigation.
In today’s world, regarding motor vehicle insurance policies, frequent changes in claim management and claim handling policies, and non-standardized GAP Addendums, we have found it is always in the best interest of the insured or claimant to have their proposed insurance settlement reviewed by an expert before accepting. There is never an upfront fee for Auto Claim Specialists to review a motor vehicle claim or proposed settlement and give their professional opinion as to the fairness of the offer.
Please call me should you have any questions relating to the policy or covered loss. We have most insurance policies in our library. Always remember that safe repair is a quality repair, and quality equates to value. Thank you for your question and look forward to any follow-up questions that may arise.
Sincerely,
Robert L. McDorman TXA
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Russell & Smith Logging Big Paint Hours with USI Booths & Prep Station
Buying a paint booth is a huge investment, and there are many factors to carefully consider before selecting one Will the booth work well in a region where there’s a ton of humidity and with drastic changes in the weather? How long do you think the booth will last and will it require a lot of maintenance? Will your painters be comfortable using it ever y day and finally, will the company making the booth provide solid training and reliable customer ser vice?
To answer these questions before acquiring two Chronotech spray booths and a prep deck from USI ITALIA back in 2004, Collision Center Manager Kevin McIllveen at Russell & Smith Body Shop in Houston, TX spent six months studying the market He was looking for the best booths that matched his needs to use in a brand-new 36,000 sq ft facility that the company built from the ground up
Mcllveen, age 56, entered the industr y more than three decades ago as an estimator and has worked for Russell & Smith Body Shop since 1993 His goal with his new spray booths was to improve the efficiencies in his paint department and to accommodate his production, he said, while simultaneously saving time and energy if possible
The vetting process was arduous but worth it in the end. "We did our research so that we could make an educated decision," he said "I went to NACE two years in a row and talked to literally ever yone and asked a lot of questions We knew that this was going to be a ver y significant investment, so we took the time to perform our due diligence to cover all our bases We invested in their prep stations as well, which was another good decision, because my guys can work so much faster and effectively with five different places where we can spray We put a curtain up in the prep booth that provides us two additional spaces that are heated and properly ventilated So, when we are really jammed, we can handle the workload and maintain our cycle time without interrupting or slowing down our production "
After using them for a ver y short time, Mcllveen could clearly see that his Chronotechs were more than capable as they quickly became a centerpiece in his new, high-end, modern shop
"We have four paint teams here, consisting of a painter and a painter’s helper and we consistently log approximately 600-700 paint hours weekly,” he said “We switched to waterborne paint when we opened this facility because we want to provide a healthier climate for our employees and the community as a whole ”
we push these booths and they never let us down ”
Any issues that Russell & Smith Body Shop have encountered with their USI ITALIA booths have been rare and far between But Mcllveen feels good knowing that if called upon, the company will respond and find solutions promptly “If you do your scheduled maintenance and keep ever ything clean, these booths will last you 30 years and maybe even longer The issues that we have encountered with the Chronotechs have been minor and quickly solved, which is impressive when you think that we have been using these booths daily for the last 16 years. I tell people that these booths will be here long after I’ve retired!”
Why was Mcllveen able to improve his numbers by simply adding two USI booths? “In the end, it all comes down to their airflow because we never need blowers or additional air to cure these vehicles The fans in these Chronotechs are exceptional because they feature variable speeds, so we can switch depending on the parameters of each job. Our painters are producing an impressive product day after day, so these booths are saving us both time and money We paint an average of 400 cars ever y month, so
After training provided by USI ITALIA, Mcllveen’s painters were able to start spraying after one day, he said "The Chronotechs are designed to work with waterborne paint, which makes it easier for our painters to do their work After a ver y short time, all of our guys were comfortable and the results were consistently exceptional.”
Mcllveen is also impressed by the Chronotech's sturdy construction and durability "Some booths are just a box, but these are wellbuilt," he said “I know, because I've seen them all and there isn't anything like a USI ITALIA booth "
His career in collision repair industr y has been a great experience and products like his USI ITALIA spray booths and prep station are a part of that, he said “We haven’t had to furlough anybody here and that’s because we value our people and, in the end, our Chronotechs are part of the team ”
