CarmCast 022: TST Big Event | In the News with Chelsea Frey

CarmCast 021 with Guest Chelsea Frey

  • Last weekend attended the TST Big Event with over 678 technicians/shop owners in attendance.
  • Upcoming weekend attending CarFest in San Antonio, TX
  • Guest Chelsea Frey, Senior Associate Editor from Motor Age / UBM Americas | Automotive Group. We talked about some top news story of the day:
    • Missouri on track to cut safety inspection program
      https://www.searchautoparts.com/motorage/legislative-news-service-repair/missouri-track-cut-safety-inspection-program

      • HB 451 seeks to eliminate the Missouri vehicle safety inspection program, which for years has been lauded as the premier example of an inspection program in the state.
      • This is despite research by the Missouri State Patrol, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and most recently the Center for Transportation Research at the University of Texas that support the value of these programs in preventing accidents, injuries and deaths
      • To date, 15 state inspection programs remain
    • Duke Energy proposes $76 million electric transportation program in North Carolina
      https://www.searchautoparts.com/aftermarket-business/automotive-aftermarket-technology/duke-energy-proposes-76-million-electric-tran

      • To show its commitment to build a cleaner and smarter state, Duke Energy’s proposal will help fund electric school buses, public transportation and lead to almost 2,500 new charging stations in the state.
      • The program follows a similar $10.4 million program being considered in South Carolina
      • This further underscores the need of repairers to be up to speed on EV repairs and training
    • Aftermarket reviewing details of proposed new after-NAFTA import/export USMCA business pact
      https://www.searchautoparts.com/aftermarket-business/news-distribution/aftermarket-reviewing-details-proposed-new-after-nafta-import

      • US-Mexico-Canada agreement (USMCA), also known as NAFTA 2.0 or the new NAFTA, is slated to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement in 2020. It has already received tentative approval from top leaders of all three countries.
      • The agreement is important, as the supply chains in all industries — automotive included — depend on the ability to move good through all three countries. A strong North American trading economy is good for suppliers and helps support continued growth
      • Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of the Auto Care Association, testified before the U.S. Internal Trade Commission about the importance of the agreement, which has helped to grow the automotive industry over the past 20 years
      • The impact on repairers is indirect, but important. We need a competitive parts marketplace with choices and competition.