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Recyclers News Press
ARA Updates
Industry news from the national association
ARADirect Hosts Nationwide Towing
Program Online Auction
ARADirect is pleased to announce that it has been
selected by a nationwide towing program with thou-
sands of tow operators to host their online auction.
As ARA members well know, indi-
vidual tow truck operators through-
out the U.S. and Canada are often
left with vehicles on their tow lots
that have been abandoned by the
owner. To manage these vehicles,
tow operators follow an established process to obtain
the vehicle titles and then sell the abandoned vehicles
with title to recoup their costs and fees. ARADirect
will now provide a platform on which to sell these
vehicles. ARADirect is a service of ARA Product Ser-
vices, LLC (“ARAPS”), a subsidiary of the Automotive
Recyclers Association (“ARA”). The ARADirect plat-
form features multiple options to offer opportunities
with various insurance companies, wholesalers,
fleets, franchise dealers and others in a manner that
significantly changes the way automotive recyclers
acquire vehicles.
ARA Disappointed with Federal Trade
Commission Amendments to Used
Auto Parts Guides Vehicles
ARA expressed frustration with the Federal Trade
Commission's (FTC) ruling this week that failed to ap-
ply the Commission's Used Auto Parts Guides to mis-
leading advertising about recycled original equipment
manufactured (OEM) parts.
According to FTC, the Used Auto Parts Guides are
designed to prevent the unfair or deceptive marketing
of used motor vehicle parts and assemblies contain-
ing used parts, such as engines and transmissions.
Two years ago, FTC asked the automotive -related
industry whether the Guides were still needed.
ARA submitted comments expressing its support of
the continued publication of the Guides only if it in-
cludes better regulation of automotive vehicle manu-
facturer's deceptive advertising of recycled automo-
tive parts. ARA was one of just 12 organizations
which submitted comments. Almost two years after
the request for comments, FTC has decided to retain
and amend the Guides by redefining terms related to
remanufacturing, updating the sample list of used
parts and applying the Guides to used tires. Unfortu-
nately, FTC declined to make the changes ARA sug-
gested, noting their belief that the requests fell outside
of the Guides' jurisdiction/authority. ARA disagrees
with the Commission's assumptions and responses
and will continue to look for other opportunities to
work with FTC to approve policies that discourage
misleading advertising about the quality recycled
automotive parts market.
