will also show your customers that your business is more than just opening doors and answering the phone and selling parts. You are demonstrating that you do these things to make sure you are sell- ing the best product you can sell. We are the care- takers of the End of Life vehicle and we follow the rules, standards, and regulations set by agencies to make our business as safe and environmentally- friendly as possible.

“If we are the voice of the industry, then we need to make sure we not only ‘talk the talk, but we walk the walk,’ Talk is cheap, but CAR certification will set you apart from the junkyards. We can learn from our Canadian friends and be ahead of the curve. Right now with Automotive Recyclers of Canada [ARC], they are getting OEM cars for one reason alone and that reason is that they are required to be Certified. Will this happen in the USA? I think it will one day so why not be ahead of the curve?

“For example,” Swift cites, “in Iowa, in order to be a member of Automotive Recyclers of Iowa [IAR] it is required to be I-CARE [Iowa Certified

Auto Recycler Environmental]. All members are ahead of the curve. It is not the standard yet, but we have proved that we are ahead of the curve. The advantage that it has is evident when we lobby for legislation. Our lobbyist knows that all of his members are certified, not 20 percent, but 100 percent. When it comes to affecting decisions on rules and regulations, that number makes a differ- ence and the legislators and regulators know that we are the voice of the industry. “I would tell everyone to get CAR certified today. If you need help, ask. ARA is working for all of us to get what they have in Canada. Be ready for when this happens in the USA.”

Other initiatives that Swift backs includes updat- ing the Gold Seal certification, and keeping the lines of communication open with the OEM’s and helping them to embrace auto recyclers as viable partners in the repair chain. He also plans to ask them to promote Green Recycled Parts® alongside their own parts.

In addition to the certifications and Green Recycled Parts®, Swift says he is “very excited”

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