Beyond Repair: Crashing The Conversation S2 E9 – I-CAR Canada: Are Collision Shops Falling Behind?

The vehicles have changed. Has the collision repair industry changed fast enough with them? How many shops have clear, intentional direction around ongoing training and keeping up with modern repairs? The answer is quite surprising! In this episode of Beyond Repair: Crashing The Conversation, the crew sits down with Scott Sinclair, Business Development Manager for I-CAR Canada, for a candid conversation about where collision repair stands today — and where the industry may be falling behind. Modern vehicles have outpaced the way many technicians were originally trained. ADAS, EVs, OEM repair procedures, specialized equipment and increasingly complex repairs have fundamentally changed what it takes to perform a safe and proper repair. But training is only part of the conversation. Scott joins Todd Regier, Norm, JoJo Dechaine and Lenny to dig into some bigger questions facing Canadian collision repair: • Are shops investing enough in ongoing technician development? • Why is training still treated as a cost instead of an investment? • Can a strong learning culture actually help shops retain technicians? • Has the industry reached “certification fatigue”? • Are OEM certification programs becoming too fragmented and expensive? • Should Canada have greater consistency in training and repair standards? • What responsibility belongs to the shop — and what belongs to the individual technician? • And are we putting too much emphasis on having the right equipment instead of knowing how to properly use it? One statistic stops the conversation cold: when asked how many shops he believes have clear, intentional direction around ongoing training and keeping up with modern repairs, Scott estimates about 10%. That leaves a pretty big question for the rest of us: If vehicle technology isn't slowing down, how long can the industry afford to play catch-up? This isn't about another certificate on the wall. It's about developing people, creating professional career paths, performing safe repairs and building an industry capable of keeping pace with the vehicles arriving on our shop floors. Join the conversation. Beyond Repair: Crashing The Conversation — real conversations with collision repair owners and industry leaders about what it takes to move the industry forward. #BeyondRepair #CollisionRepair #ICARCanada #AutoBody #CollisionIndustry #TechnicianTraining #ADAS #OEMRepair #Leadership #ShopCulture