nsurance denials aren’t just an estimating problem. They are a safety problem and a consumer problem. And according to Peyton Bell (Bell Auto Body, Oklahoma), the only scalable fix is state legislation that stops carriers from denying payment for documented OEM repair procedures and parts.

In Episode 6, Peyton breaks down why the popular advice to “just bill the customer” collapses in real life. Most customers cannot float thousands of dollars up front while they fight for reimbursement, and many will choose a faster, cheaper path even when it risks unsafe repairs. That leaves the shop holding the liability, the customer holding the confusion, and the insurer holding the leverage.

Peyton then teaches a practical “master class” on getting laws changed: how to identify and contact your local senator, how to earn meetings, how to explain the issue in plain language, and how to build enough constituent pressure to get a bill sponsored. He also shares how to draft a framework for a bill, then let legislative counsel tighten it into formal language.

If you want to stop losing one claim at a time and start changing the rules in your state, this is your roadmap.

X Games athlete turned high production collision shop owner is not a normal career path, but that is exactly what Ted Culbertson did at Top Gun Auto Body in Helena, Montana. And he brought a leadership philosophy most shops are missing: trust built through transparency.

In this episode, Ted shares how he attracts younger employees, why he interviews people with little or no experience, and how he brings them in through blueprinting and hands-on exposure to the work. We also unpack the daily and weekly routines he uses to keep expectations clear, reduce drama, and build a culture where accountability feels normal, not forced.

If you are trying to grow your team, develop younger talent, and create a shop environment people want to stay in, this conversation will give you practical ideas you can put to work right away.

Most shops run sales on gut feel. Shane Orlando runs it on a system.

In this episode of Operational Intelligence, Shane Orlando from Orlando Auto Body breaks down how he tracks closing ratios, why it matters to production and profitability, and how any shop can implement a straightforward workflow to monitor leads, estimates, follow-up, and sold jobs—so the business isn’t relying on assumptions.

If you want more sold jobs, more predictable scheduling, and fewer surprises in car count, this conversation gives you a practical model to start using immediately.