Are You Hail Ready? How to Prepare Your PDR Business for Storm Season

This post is based off of Episode #58 of The All Access Podcst. Listen Here

Hail season is closer than most technicians think. In many areas, the first real storms of the year can hit before spring even officially begins. When hail arrives, it can take a PDR business from a normal workload to full capacity almost overnight. If you're not prepared, the sudden increase in volume can create chaos, lost revenue, and unnecessary stress.

The technicians and shop owners who succeed during hail season aren’t always the most skilled — they’re the most prepared. A single storm can generate months’ worth of work, but only if you have the systems and relationships in place before the first dents appear.

Preparation starts long before the storm hits.

Talk to Your Dealerships Before It Hails

One of the best things you can do ahead of storm season is have conversations with your dealership accounts. Find out what their hail coverage looks like and help them understand what to expect if a storm hits.

These conversations position you as the local expert and build confidence that you can handle large volumes of work. Many dealerships only know you as the technician who handles their regular dents and dings. If they suddenly have hundreds of cars damaged by hail, they may assume you can’t handle the workload unless you’ve already explained your capabilities and network.

When hail hits, out-of-town companies will show up quickly. The relationships you build beforehand can determine whether you keep or lose those accounts.

Prepare Your Body Shop Relationships

Body shops face the same problem during hail season that PDR technicians do — their normal workload doesn’t stop just because a storm arrives. Many shops are already booked weeks in advance when hail hits, and the sudden increase in claims can overwhelm their systems.

Now is the time to talk about how hail repairs will be handled.

Discuss where repairs will be performed, how vehicles will move through the shop, and what the workflow will look like. Some shops prefer replacing panels like roofs or hoods, while others prefer repairs whenever possible. Understanding their preferences ahead of time helps avoid confusion later.

These conversations also allow you to plan realistic workflows that keep both businesses running smoothly during the busiest time of the year.

Make Sure Your Equipment Is Ready

Hail season is not the time to discover that your tools need attention.

Before storms begin, check your equipment and make sure everything is ready to go. This includes glue tabs, cold glue, hail lights, hood stands, and any specialty tools you rely on for larger damage. Make sure batteries are charged and replacement parts are available.

Many technicians use their full-size lights and specialty equipment only during hail season. If those tools have been sitting unused for months, now is the time to test them.

Being fully equipped allows you to move immediately when work starts coming in.

Have a Plan for Estimating

Estimating is one of the biggest profit drivers during a hailstorm. Rushed or incomplete estimates can cost thousands of dollars in missed damage or supplements.

It’s important to have a clear strategy for how estimates will be written and documented. Slowing down long enough to write accurate estimates saves time and money later.

Some shops choose to use estimating services, while others prefer to write their own estimates. Either approach can work, but the system should be in place before hail season begins.

Trying to figure it out in the middle of a storm almost always leads to mistakes.

Track Your Leads and Customers

Hailstorms generate a high volume of calls and inquiries. Without a system for tracking leads, it’s easy for customers to fall through the cracks.

You should have a process for:

• Tracking incoming calls

• Recording estimates

• Following up with customers

• Scheduling repairs

A good CRM or tracking system helps ensure that every potential job is accounted for and gives you visibility into your pipeline during the busiest weeks of the season.

Build Systems for Handling Volume

When hail hits, organization becomes critical. Shops that operate smoothly during storms usually have clear systems in place before the work begins.

This includes:

• Vehicle storage plans

• Key tracking systems

• Paperwork organization

• Parts management

• Workflow tracking

Capturing vehicles early is often one of the most important steps. Having a place to store cars safely allows you to secure work and schedule repairs efficiently.

Key management and paperwork organization become especially important as the number of vehicles increases. Without clear systems, simple mistakes can create major delays.

Plan Your Parts Strategy

Parts management becomes a major factor during hailstorms, especially when repairs involve replacements.

Before storm season, make sure your parts accounts are set up and ready. Decide how parts will be ordered, paid for, tracked, and stored.

Whether you use credit accounts or pay as you go, having a system in place prevents delays once repairs begin.

Learn From Every Storm

One of the best ways to improve storm performance is to review each storm after it’s finished.

Look at what worked well and where the bottlenecks occurred. Identify problems and create solutions before the next storm arrives.

Over time, these improvements compound and make each storm run smoother than the last.

Preparation Pays Off

Hailstorms are unpredictable, but your readiness doesn’t have to be.

For many PDR businesses, storms represent one of the biggest opportunities of the year. With the right preparation, hail season can be extremely profitable and run surprisingly smoothly.

Without preparation, the same storm can create unnecessary stress and missed opportunities.

The technicians who prepare early put themselves in the best position to succeed when the first hailstorm arrives.