| LARGE TRUCK TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEETING |
| Date: April 7, 2009 |
| Attendees: |
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From SGI: |
Len Nargang – Technical Research Services
Brain Smuk – Regina Commercial Claims
Brad Relland – Regina Commercial Claims
Sid Petrisor – Saskatoon Central Claims
Lyle Poncelet – Saskatoon Central Claims
Eric Einarson – Saskatoon Central Claims |
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Industry: |
Jim Deck – Merlin Motors
Fred Neudorf – A-Line Frame
Brian Macpherson – Frontier Peterbilt
Gord Holten – Sterling Truck (absent) |
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| TOPICS DISCUSSED: |
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| Concern: |
| Final prints…Ways of getting returned quicker. (priority to the large claims?)
Is it possible for clerks to do entry work? |
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| Solution: |
| Probably not, because entry is different then on UltraMate, UltraMate has a lot
of more controlled entries. At some point, the truck system will be part of
UltraMate and will have a uniform data format. Industry commented Eric and
Lyle are doing superb job! Lyle stated that it works well with the two of them. |
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| Concern: |
| Are the two truck appraisers for Saskatoon full-time? |
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| Solution: |
| There are two Large Truck Appraisers on the road – finding it good. Everyone’s
happy and everyone’s a phone call away. |
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| Concern: |
| Report costs being posted after starting jobs? E.g. Claims started from out of
town; damage and parts missed then report cost put on job from road appraiser due
to cost overruns. Rural appraisers need more training. |
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| Solution: |
| Sid & Brian to re-send directives to Rural centers outlining that if repairs are
being done in the Major centers (Regina & Saskatoon) the estimates should be
left for the large truck appraisers in the respective centers. |
| When border line repairs are suspected the estimate is to be marked Report
Costs up front, do the PDA, then the adjuster can provide limit to repair, signed
guarantee’s can be provided. Then decisions can be made this it is repaired or
total loss. |
| Trailer, specialty places don’t understand the limits to repair / guarantee
process – maybe we can get help from Large Truck Association to educate
them on the process. |
| Trailer, specialty places don’t understand rates – mechanical, body, etc. –
Again maybe we can get help from Large Truck Association to educate them. |
| Jim commented that he has stated the education process at Canada West: |
| Discussion that we write “Best Practices” for trucks, trailers – Sid will take the
word document and send it to appropriate people to work on it and then it will
be shared with everyone else. Once it’s done, distribute it to the shops so they
will have a written document to refer back to. |
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| Concern: |
| Report cost agreement of 2.5 hrs needs revision? |
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| Solution: |
| When dealing with a $30,000 report cost, it’s hard to get done in 2.5hrs – need
more time. Considerable discussion took place that the additional time required
on these large hits comes as the shops has to do considerably disassembly in
order to complete a guarantee. When the vehicle is repaired these operations
are part of the repair process, however when the unit goes T/L many hours may
need to be invested by technicians. The appraiser can authorize additional
labour hours for R&I of components, interior, cabinets, etc as required to be
paid to the shop when a large unit goes Total Loss. |
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| Concern: |
| Update with the Mitchell Books? |
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| Solution: |
| Mitchell’s going to continue with books for a while still, until they eventually
cut them out. |
| Truck est gives updates quarterly on c.d. – faster than book |
| Talking about web-based estimate site when books are gone |
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| Concern: |
| Labour codes - Body vs. Frame still not getting frame rates for front axles, springs,
and hangers etc. Maybe make it easy by everything above frame being body and
everything below cab and bunk assy. Frame?
Is there a guideline? |
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| Solution: |
| Current guidelines outlined in the mechanical labour rate schedule. All
suspension components paid at frame rate, R &I of mechanical assly to
accommodate body or frame paid at frame rate. R&R or OH mechanical items
paid at mechanical door rates. 5th wheel discussed – doesn’t fall under
suspension agreed will pay frame rate on 5th wheels. |
| Many items Mitchell says “mechanical” i.e.: Rads, Grill densors, Aiming
headlights, etc. These operations are not mechanical and expected to be done in
the collision repair process. These items will be changed to body rates by the
appraisers. |
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| Concern: |
| Guidelines for fiberglass and smc repairs…how to handle times for these repairs.
Is there any grid system out there? |
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| Solutions: |
| NO – These are a judgement call from the appraisers and technician.
Discussion took place that technicians follow callback procedures for extra
time required as a result of spider cracking from the damages |
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| Concern: |
| Not getting paid by SGI |
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| Solutions: |
If you’ve submitted request for payment and discussed with the Adjuster and
payments are beyond 30 days of request no payment shop are to make list of
overdue payments. If in Saskatoon, send the list to Barry Lowes or Ernie
Karolat and they will see that it gets paid. If out of town, the list is to be
directed to the manager where claim is filed. |
| Sid will talk to Barry/Ernie to see how they want to handle this. |
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| Concern: |
| Do Farm trucks have to be inspected? |
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| Solutions: |
| Total loss units require a mechanical inspection. |
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| Brian Macpherson will contact the Regina representative and determine if a new
representative for Regina is required. |
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| Next meeting: September 22, 2009 |
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| Find out if Richard Bruce wants to attend meeting and maybe look at shops here
again. |
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