In Bob's blog he staes the beginning of "road work" starting around 1973 & I do agree with him. Back then the w/s was not a critical part of the car's structural & safety integrity as it is today. A good job was one that didn't leak. But structural & safety integrity aside, anyone realize this was the beginning of the end for the Nation's independents. The legitimization of "road work" allowed the major companies to reach into areas with no physical presence & grab large portions of market share. This opened the doors for TPAs to start steering work to shops with no physical presence in areas with out the customer realizing they aren't dealing with local merchants. I've said it before and explained why in the past, until Independents stop supporting "we will work in your driveway" thinking, the rope around their neck will just keep getting tighter.

Well said