Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, family gatherings, and delicious feasts. But before we sit down to our turkey dinners, millions of us will be hitting the road—making Thanksgiving one of the year's busiest travel times. According to AAA, this will be a record-setting travel season, with 71.7 million people hitting the roads and driving 50 miles or more. 

For those of us in the collision repair industry, this increased travel means more cars on the road, which statistically means more collisions will occur. This year, more cars on the road will make this year even busier than last. So, as we enter the busiest travel week of the year, what are some things we can do as shops and drivers ourselves to prepare?

Factors That Fill The Shop’s Lot

More cars on the road at the same time will mean more collisions. However, Thanksgiving travel often has additional factors that make this number even higher. The good news is that you can avoid some of the more common contributors with a bit of planning.

An unfortunately common cause of holiday accidents is intoxication. Spirits often come with celebration, and many people make the unfortunate decision to drive afterward. Similar to intoxication is fatigue. Powering through a long trip may get you there faster, but driving while tired can be as bad as driving under the influence. The CDC notes that being awake for 17 hours is equivalent to having a blood alcohol content of 0.05%. In most areas, 0.08% BAC is considered drunk driving.

Other factors that can contribute to increased accidents during the holidays are driving in unfamiliar areas and inclement weather. Drivers in unfamiliar areas often split their attention between where their next turn is and what they’re doing at the moment. The Thanksgiving season is also when many regions get their first big weather blasts for the year. Driving in inclement weather, especially if the driver isn’t accustomed to it, can dramatically increase accident risks. 

Planning Ahead As A Driver

As a collision repairer, you never want to be your own customer. Like everyone else, most of us will either be on the road to see someone, or they will be on the road to us. Keeping the ‘Factors that fill the shop's lot’ in mind, here are some proactive planning tips to make the holiday travels a little safer. 

• If you're planning to drink, designate a driver or arrange for alternate transportation ahead of time.
• Consider planning for little breaks every few hours if the drive is long. Stop, grab a coffee, stretch, and move a bit. 
• Review driving instructions beforehand and know what alternate routes are available if necessary. 
• Monitor the forecast and know if you should expect inclement weather while driving. This allows you to plan additional travel time and safely accommodate lousy driving conditions. 
• Carry an emergency kit with jumper cables, a flashlight, and a portable phone charger for unexpected breakdowns.

Finally, check your car for common troublemakers before taking a long trip. Tires, batteries, and brakes are all components that should be in prime shape before leaving. Blowouts, dead batteries, and excessively worn pads can all leave you stranded or involved in a collision that could have been avoided. 

Prepping As A Shop

If you’re like most shops, Thanksgiving week is tough. It’s a short week, and everyone has to have their car before the holiday (even the ones you told there was no way it would be done by Thanksgiving when they dropped off). To make matters worse, you probably have a few people out on vacation or with whatever illness is floating right now. To make it worse, we know this week is often just the lead-up. After the holiday, the new losses will come in fast.

A sudden uptick in business can be “a good problem to have”. A little planning can just make the situation just good to have. Knowing there will be an influx after the holiday, what are some things you can do to prepare to take care of the customer rush as efficiently as possible?

First, know your capacity. How many hours per week can your team reasonably turn? As the post-holiday week kicks off, estimators should communicate the hours they write to the production manager. Knowing when to stop grabbing keys and start scheduling out is the first step to a good customer experience. Beginning the first week of December with a month of sales as WIP may not get you on Santa’s naughty list, but it will get on on the customers. 

While a holiday spike is not the ideal time, it is time to start if you’re not blueprinting repairs. Estimators running on panic and energy drinks do not create the best repair plans. A solid blueprinting system will cut supplements and make scheduling a breeze, as they can quickly and accurately update how many hours you have moving through the shop. Creating your schedule from curb sheets will lead to being overbooked. 

Finally, remember that ADAS planning is a part of the blueprint. These operations generate hours and must be figured into the cycle as early as possible. ID these operations and ensure they’re included in the blueprint so production can start planning for them early. This becomes even more important if you use a sublet provider for calibrations, as they deal with many of the same challenges you do. 

Post-Thanksgiving jobs are already at a disadvantage because they face the Christmas season. December is another short month with holiday and flu prospects, so any delays will compound quickly. Proper capacity planning and blueprinting can smooth the bumps and make it a profitable time. Let the collision repair holiday gauntlet begin!

Put A 1Source ADAS Account In Your Stocking

With the coming rush, a 1Source ADAS account is a great way to treat yourself and help smooth your repair process. The 1Source ADAS platform reviews your repair estimate and then generates a report that details the calibrations, pre-calibration requirements, and safety inspections that the manufacturer requires for each repair based on the damage. These reports feature links to the necessary documentation and procedures for each operation listed, saving you time and generating revenue on every repair. 

With no minimums or contracts and a tiered pricing structure that rewards regular usage, the 1Source ADAS platform is perfect for streamlining your shop's ADAS identification process. Already in use by many of the largest ADAS service providers in the US, you’ll find the accuracy to be industry-leading. Start your free seven-day unlimited-use trial today at http://1sourceadas.com.