Rarely does an autobody shop have the capacity, or the desire, to handle everything from a small car to a highway tractor. In the first place, it requires two different mindsets, and two almost separate sets of spaces to accommodate the differing requirements of area and equipment.

First Choice Collision and Frame in Red Deer, Alberta, has established over the years, a reputation for excellence in both car and heavy truck repair and refinishing in the small but bustling city midway between Calgary and Edmonton. Owner, Brian Mattson had plenty of experience before he started First Choice in 1988. Starting as an apprentice in a similar Red Deer business, he was a painter for six years, a bodyman for another six, and then a manager for about 10. He started his business in a 6,500 sq. ft. building and Mattson kept buying adjacent properties and adding to the original building as the years went on until he now owns about 1.25 acres of prime industrial land. The original building grew, by a series of additions, to a 25,000 sq.ft. shop, including, the sand blasting facility he needs for large vehicle repair and restoration. "As the volume grew, and as we became more cramped, we expanded on our own land" Mattson explained. The fenced, secure outside storage area can handle at least a hundred vehicles up to full size busses. Including the owner, staff at First Choice numbers 24 people; eight licensed bodymen, two apprentices, four licensed painters (who are responsible for prepping as well), three estimators, a parts person, and three office help. Dwayne Knight has been there since day one and is now in charge of day to day operations.

While the business is run under one company name, there are two distinct sides to it. Repair on large units requires workers who are attuned to a different 'culture', for example, one person cannot manhandle a front bumper on a rig, and the removal of a sleeper cab needs either a crane or a forklift. "Heavy duty people don't care to work on passenger cars, and passenger/light truck people really don't like to work on the big rigs, which means we almost have two workforces."

Inside the shop, equipment is everywhere; a frame rack and floor rail setup, a Hunter 4-wheel alignment machine, spray gun cleaners, a paint/thinners recycling unit, two De Vilbiss compressors that have a combined 45 h.p., and 2 De Vilbiss downdraft and semi-downdraft paint booths (two truck paint booths being 40 ft. long and 16 ft. high inside). We also have one semi-downdraft car booth.

Altogether, the shop has 35 stalls of various sizes, the heavy truck/bus repair and refinishing areas are naturally larger than for those of light trucks and cars. Sikkens refinish products are used no matter the size of the vehicle.

Towing is sublet, as is half of the upholstery and air conditioning service. Thirty percent of the mechanical work is handled internally and glass is sublet. Heavy duty framework is also done off-premises by an expert shop close by.

First Choice's business is almost equally divided between automotive and heavy duty, although a single job worth $90,000, done a couple of years ago (that took eight weeks to complete) can tip the balance as can a $70,000 job done just two months ago.

Digital imaging is a must in today's market and First Choice has both Mitchell and A.D.P. system capability. The business management system is Mitchell. New equipment purchases are always being considered, mainly for the paint booth and frame rack area, serious looking will have to be deferred until completion of a recoloring project of 76 vehicles can be completed for a local oilfield company.

Although much of the business is insurance paid, and the shop has several DRP's, on the heavy duty side insurance deductibles can run as high as $10,000 - meaning a trip to the bank for the unlucky individual truck owner, or some other kind of repair financing.