Crash Management clients understand that technical repair quality is critical to ensuring vehicle fleet fit condition. New Health & Safety legislation has increased awareness that driving is the most dangerous aspect of work, so ensuring all company cars and trucks are fleet fit is more important than ever. With over 200,000 serious accidents and almost 300 fatalities last year, there is an increasing demand for Crash Management 24/7 response services as well as the range of preventative products and services we partner with and can recommend to clients.
Unfortunately the ability to ensure clients are fully fleet fit is an increasing challenge due to the critical skills shortage facing both assessing capacity and the wider collision repair industry. This was highlighted in the recent MERRILL LYNCH report last month along with a range of other market dynamics. If you’d like a copy of the report please let us know.
New vehicles are now very sophisticated and increasingly complex to diagnose, quantify & repair after an accident. Skill shortages are exacerbated by low Insurance payment rates have not kept pace with other trades, most likely due to downward premium pressure and low margins. See more at http://autotalk.co.nz/news/rising-collisions-causing-panelbeater-shortage.
The Merrill Lynch report states that the skills shortage is due to decades of under investment in training combined with the rapid development of changing vehicle construction using light weight steel alternatives and the resulting technological demands. Cars are safer than ever due to the wide range of built in safety features including structural features intended to absorb impact and protect passengers. These crumple zones flow the energy through the vehicle and this creates referred damage that can be difficult to identify – and this level of sophistication makes it increasingly difficult for repairers to be adequately compensated for this highly skilled work. Many insurance assessors also struggle to fully understand the technology, and this too is a serious threat to the fleet fit status of the wider vehicle fleet across New Zealand.
Rob
Agree with all this as a front line opinion and have been reading a lot lately about the focus on companies finally understanding that they must have a fleet fit for purpose. Most likely pressure from new H&S laws I guess. It’s good the public is getting the message that quality collision repairs (ie panelbeating) and I-Car and manufacturers specs are important. Fleet fit is a good way to describe it. One day quality panelbeaters might actually be appreciated and fair paid for car insurance claim repairs – still waiting.
Kerry
I’ve had excellent service and workmanship from every Crash Management experience, with my own car and our company vehicles so this sector is certainly appreciated and I expect they’re appropriately remunerated by insurance companies. Car repairs must be to the highest standards recommended by the manufacturers otherwise could be rendered dangerous to drive – a health & safety no-no for vehicle owners and other road users. H&S awareness must be kept in the spot-light. Well done Crash for profiling.