Oregon Collision Repair Association launches with focus on uniting industry

A new state-level collision association has launched in Oregon as a way to unite repair professionals across the state. 

The Oregon Collision Repair Association (OCRA) plans to provide a stronger voice for the state’s industry through collaboration, education, resources and legislative advocacy, a press release states. 

“Collision repair professionals across Oregon face many of the same challenges, but until now have had limited opportunities to come together with a unified voice,” said Bob Knodel, OCRA president, in the release. “OCRA was built by collision professionals, for collision professionals. Our goal is to support shops, strengthen our industry, and help ensure Oregon consumers receive safe and proper repairs.”

Knodel told Repairer Driven News that sometimes shops in the industry can feel alone. 

An email group was originally created by Knodel and three other shops as a way for shops to ask questions about problems they were having. It grew to more than 100 shops. 

However, Knodel said the group realized that many of the issues shops face require legislation, which made a unified voice necessary.

An association provides more power, he said. 

Knodel said Oregon leaned on other established associations, such as the Auto Body Association of Texas (ABAT) and Washington Independent Collision Repair Association (WICRA) for help. 

“There are a lot of steps you have to take to create an association,” Knodel said. “They helped us personally.”

This included helpful hints on how to talk to legislators, he said. 

Knodel said OCRA has already met with legislators about industry concerns and plans to have quarterly meetings with the state’s insurance commissioner and attorney general. 

Right-to-appraisal has been discussed and a legal definition for prevailing/market rate that requires insurers the type of survey was used to collect data. 

OCRA also plans to build a stronger industry community through collaboration and shared standards. This will include providing training, educational resources, and industry support to help shops navigate today’s increasingly complex repair environment.

Another goal is to help shops and consumers better understand the repair process and the importance of following proper repair procedures. 

Shops and industry partners can learn more about OCRA or express membership interest at oregoncollisionrepair.org. 

Sponsorship information can be found on the website or by contact [email protected]

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Logo courtesy of Oregon Collision Repair Association