“It is what it is – things can always be worse” according to Lloyd VanRaden. As a long-time Moorhead resident and owner and operator of Lloyd’s Auto Body, VanRaden has been involved with change for over 50 years. There are situations that you cannot change, so it is necessary to discover a way to manage it the best we can. “Let’s move forward with the next steps and do the best we can with those,” he explained.
Among the changes he has witnessed from his early 1980’s automotive service training from the Moorhead Technical College (now M State Community and Technical College) to the high tech automotive technology of today, there has been a sea of change in the way that the world now operates. The auto body repair industry had to adapt to those changes as well. There were no doubts that those adjustments have been made in visiting with the confident and mild-mannered VanRaden.
He expressed a great deal of gratitude for the many opportunities that have come his way and to his wife Karla and son Tyler, who is attending MSUM and works along side of dad at the shop. VanRaden enjoys the family time to the mountains of Montana near West Yellowstone, Island Park skiing, snowmobiling, and fishing with family and friends.
VanRaden explained that the Car Body Shops industry has been driving a bumpy road over the past five years. The recession has produced many lingering effects on his industry, including customers holding off on essential repairs and postponing discretionary services.
Lloyd’s offers paintwork repairs to scratches, scuffs and dents to vehicle damage as well as damage caused by collisions and major accidents that includes estimating, metal repair, welding, refinishing and detailing.
He further explained that auto body repair is very different from just replacing parts. It actually requires a level of artistry along with fit, finish and safety. If you have ever tried to patch a spot or spot paint a wall, you have a good idea and respect for the skills of an auto body shop and its staff. On the smooth skin of a car, any blemish shows. Therefore, precision is very critical below the surface.
In addition, the knowledge and skills of good body shop technicians and estimators must cover a wide range of subjects including the properties of metals and plastic to new welding methods, paint tinting and blending methods.
Several challenges of the auto body repair industry include hiring and retaining qualified technicians. The need is great and the supply is limited. VanRaden has worked closely over the years with the M State Detroit Lakes, MN and the Wahpeton, ND campuses for trained auto body repair employees.
A second challenge is insurance companies’ procedures. Some insurance companies maintain lists of “preferred” auto body repair shops, which the insurance company might recommend the consumer to use. Each insurance company has their own procedures and processes that must be followed that require strict attention in order to be processed on a timely basis. The industry promotes a more unified reporting system to keep the costs down.
Whatever the challenge, “it is what it is. Let’s move forward and do the best we can.”
