URG creates Pinnacle upgrade to help recyclers with federal reports

The United Recyclers Group (URG) has announced a new benefit for members that will help them remain in compliance with upcoming Federal requirements for all automotive recyclers. At no cost to URG members, a server based program has been developed that will be able to extract the required data from the widely used Pinnacle Auto Recycling Trading System and automatically forward the data to the National Motor Vehicle Titles Information System (NMVTIS).

“We are always looking for ways to help URG members prosper and maintain their leadership positions within the automotive recycling industry,” says Michelle Alexander, URG executive director. “This new feature for Pinnacle, the professional salvage yard management system, does just that. Once a month the data required by the Federal government will automatically be sent by a program on the user’s Pinnacle server, to the URG server and then forwarded on to the Federal government, in a complete and timely fashion, in compliance with all federal requirements. For our members, that means little or no effort required.“

Established by federal law in 1992, NMVTIS is a United States Department of Justice (DOJ) system that is operated on behalf of DOJ by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. NMVTIS is an electronic system that enables users to access automobile titling information, including brand history and certain historical theft data. A “brand” is a descriptive label assigned to a vehicle by a state that identifies the vehicle’s current or prior condition, such as “junk,” “salvage,” or “flood.”

By standardizing and centralizing information collection from various state motor vehicle titling agencies, automobile recyclers, junk and salvage yards, and insurance carriers, NMVTIS protects states and consumers from title fraud, keeps stolen vehicles from being re-titled, and makes it more difficult for criminals to conceal stolen vehicles for criminal purposes. As of March 1, 2009, there are 37 states (representing 73% of the United States vehicle population) that are fully participating, providing data only, or are in the development process.

The National Salvage Vehicle Reporting Program (NSVRP) is a not-for-profit (501c3) organization created to work with third party organizations, such as URG, who will be reporting data to DOJ on behalf of automotive recyclers.

Howard Nusbaum, NSVRP administrator, said, “What URG is doing is benefiting Pinnacle users, because they don’t have to make any extra effort to comply with the new federal reporting requirement. Even better, as the system continues to evolve and change, Pinnacle customers can feel comfortable that URG will be looking after them.”

URG has created a training tool to promote understanding of the modern automotive recycling industry. The PowerPoint presentation, “Green, Lean, and Sustainable: The New Era of Automotive Recycling,” is now available from URG.