October 30. 2025, Katy, Texas – The October meeting of HD Repair Forum (HDRF) advisory board was hosted by 3M at their new training facility in St. Paul, MN. During this meeting, initial plans were discussed for the 2026 HD Repair Forum, which will take place in Nashville March 18-19 and will co-locate with the TMC annual meeting.
This month’s board meeting was focused on agenda planning for the annual forum. The board reviews topics that are of greatest interest to the heavy-duty and medium-duty collision repair markets. Some of the topics discussed include business leadership, regulatory/environmental/safety issues, parts procurement, and the always important need for repair procedures. The initial list of topics are being reviewed and will be discussed further at the next board meeting. The full agenda is expected to be available in December.
In addition to the board meeting, the group was given a tour of the 3M training facility and had the opportunity to oversee live classes on RV repair. 3M is offering heavy-duty collision repair training and wanted the HDRF board to provide some insight and guidance for future training programs.
One of the primary goals of the HDRF is to identify training and education specific to the heavy-duty and medium-duty collision repair markets. Board members were impressed with the facility, class options, and training personnel.
The board’s time in the Twin Cities concluded with an in-depth tour of the Rihm Kenworth collision repair facility. This is a relatively new shop with some of the latest technology available. Randy Johansson, HD Repair Forum board member, has been overseeing operations at this facility for a few years.