ATLANTA, Ga. — The Georgia Collision Industry Association (GCIA) has released the results of their labor rate survey of collision repair facilities in the Metropolitan Atlanta market. With recent changes occurring in the industry related to insurance DRP (Direct Repair Program) and concierge programs, GCIA wanted to determine the average competitive labor rate for the Atlanta market.

The goal was to survey over 500 shops with 300 completed surveys from the target area. After interviewing several market research companies, GCIA chose CSi Complete of Plain City, Ohio. The survey was conducted in March and April of 2007 and completed on April 23. CSi Complete contacted 628 collision repair facilities with 277 completing the survey. The following represents the average rates based on the survey responses:

• Sheet Metal Rate: $39.32

• Refinish Rate: $39.02

• Mechanical Rate: $70.02

• Frame Rate: $61.11

• Paint and Material Rate: $26.41

GCIA utilized a third party to guarantee objective results. The results represent the average competitive labor rate in the Metropolitan Atlanta market for all shops surveyed.

“CSi Complete has no bias or stake in the results,” says John Webb, senior vice president for CSi Complete. “The numbers are statistically reliable. Our goal is to make sure the data is credible and accurate.”

Based on the findings, the average rate for metal, refinish and paint and materials is higher in the Metro Atlanta area than the prevailing competitive rate used by the majority of insurance companies servicing the area, says GCIA.

GCIA says their goal is to use this information to help its members work toward improving relationships with all insurance companies so that everyone wins — the shops, the customers and the insurance companies. The GCIA board of directors plans to discuss the survey at their upcoming meeting on May 24 (7:00 p.m. at the Smyrna Community Center in Smyrna, Ga.).

For more information, contact Howard Batchelor, GCIA director of operations, at (770) 367-9816 or howard@gcia.org. For information on CSi Complete, contact Webb at (800) 343-0641 or jwebb@csicomplete.com.