And as 2015 comes to a close, the team at Ratchet+Wrench took a look at the most popular magazine and news stories of the last 12 months—the stories that highlighted the newsmakers, strategies and businesses that have helped shape the industry moving forward.
In the news...
Meineke, Maaco Partner with Uber. Driven Brands’ Maaco and Meineke franchises have announced a partnership with ride-sharing service Uber.
Alleged Faulty Inspection Leads to Manslaughter Charge. A mechanical technician in Vermont was arrested on charges of manslaughter and reckless endangerment for allegedly approving an inspection for a defective car that later crashed and killed a woman in 2014.
Businesses Unprepared for Credit Card Fraud Liability Shift. On Oct. 1, many small business owners found themselves unprepared when liability shifted to them for any fraudulent point-of-scale credit or debit card transactions after the newly issued EMV chip card technology came into effect.
Snap-on Releases Improved Pass Thru Pro-III. Snap-on has enhanced its new Snap-on Pass Thru Pro III (EETA113C) in September to make the J2534 vehicle reprogramming process easier.
Lawsuit Filed Against Hyundai for Disabling Blue Link Systems. The law firm of McCuneWright, LLP, filed a national class action lawsuit in March against Hyundai Motor on behalf of six class representatives who are among the thousands of Hyundai owners of select 2012-2015 models equipped with the Hyundai Blue Link Telematics System.
From the magazine...
The Shop of Tomorrow. Inside a technology-driven repair facility setting precedent for an ever-changing industry.
From Nearly Bankrupt to Profitable. Industry newbie Brenda Ayers embraced her role and turned around a struggling business through commercial work and selling preventative maintenance.
Seven Deadly Inspection Sins. Common missteps that stall your inspection process, and how to avoid them.
The Impossibly Profitable Shop. How a former engineer designed his shop to churn out satisfied customers and staggering margins.
The Legality of Flat Rate Pay. Two years after a California law banned traditional flat-rate pay models, a lawsuit against a shop shows the state is struggling to meet requirements.
