Boom! Lightning and your equipment According to the National Weather Service, thereare 1,800 thunderstorms in progress somewhere on the earth at any given moment, which amounts to 16 million storms each year. And with thunderstorms come wind, hail, flooding and lightning – all of which have the potential to cause damage to property and people. [...]

Historically, most states regulated the carrying of concealed weapons in public either by a complete ban or by discretionary licensing statutes that permitted the local police chief or some other designated authority to issue permits. A license or permit could be issued to anyone with “good character” and who could demonstrate a “good purpose” or [...]

If someone asks if your automotive business is a manufacturer, your first instinct is probably to say “no, I’m in the automotive aftermarket parts and service industry.” But under certain circumstances, the courts could determine that for tort liability purposes, you are a tire, brake or perhaps a wheel manufacturer, or at least stand in [...]

If you can’t spot them or don’t know they’re there, your business may be in jeopardy. You, the dealer, are viewed as the “expert” in the retail automotive field and are held to the highest standard in your dealings with the public. Whenever you buy, sell or repair autos, as a professional in the automotive [...]

For many people in the United States, winter means hot chocolate, warm fires and the holidays. But it also inevitably means colder temperatures, snow and ice, which can pose significant risks to your automotive business. That’s why it’s important to prepare your business for winter to help protect against potential property damage and liability claims. [...]

Today is the first day at work for your new employee. What do you want him or her to learn in their first few hours? Are you hoping they’ll be taught the safest way to do the job? Will your best employees have the greatest influence on them, or will they learn from the “others?” [...]

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics report, floors, walkways and ground surfaces were the source of 20.2 percent of all nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work in 2009. This represented the single largest source of occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work. In addition, [...]

Due to the continued high price of precious metals, catalytic converter thefts continue to be a common crime that can be very costly to auto dealers and automotive service businesses if not addressed. In addition, many insurance policies are carrying higher per vehicle deductibles and higher per occurrence deductible aggregates, which require the insured to [...]

ALG, a subsidiary of DealerTrack, has found through its proprietary modeling and research that high rental fleet penetration levels not only have had a negative impact on residual values, but on perceived quality and brand image as well. According to ALG’s September/October Industry Report, “Fleet sales have served many functions over time; some manufacturers used rental [...]

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enacted Standards for Safeguarding Customer Information (“Safeguards Rule”) on May 23, 2003. By now, most dealerships should have implemented their information security programs and taken steps to ensure compliance with the Safeguards Rule. If you have not, we recommend taking steps to get in compliance immediately. If you have, it’s [...]

Highlights from the August OPENLANE Market Index report include: for the U.S. market index, overall US auction prices decreased by two percentage points in July from the previous month, but ended 3 points above July 2010 levels. Dealer interest in SUVs and Trucks rose during July, but interest in Cars and Minivans declined. U.S. Pricing/Dealer [...]

According to OPENLANE Market Index for May 2011, During May New Vehicle Retail Sales declined 8% from April levels, while Used Vehicle Retail Sales increased by 12%. Year-over-year, OPENLANE said May New Vehicle Retail Sales were down 4% while Used Vehicle Retail Sales decreased 1%. U.S. Pricing Trends: Car prices increased in May, ending 3 [...]