Lifetime W
hen it comes to automotive recycling history, champions of the industry heyday are retiring and handing off new opportunities to technology-minded next generation
leaders. These legacy businessmen transitioned their sal- vage businesses from the days when regulations were non-existent, and walk-in customers and phones attached to the wall were the only way to conduct business … and inventory management was kept on index cards or liter- ally in the memory of the owner. In their day, the fax machine was revolutionary, com- puters were suspicious technology, and government aggressively challenged them on every level (maybe that hasn’t changed much). They managed to survive the rise of OSHA, the EPA and all levels of licensing and taxa- tion. They fought hard for their business, enjoyed healthy profit margins they set themselves, and didn’t mind so much when their business was called the “J” word. These legacy leaders brought the industry through to where it is today … 75 years later. Automotive Recycling recently had the chance to speak with Herb Lieberman, a 62-year veteran of automotive recycling, an ARA past president, industry advocate and insightful leader. When we first contacted Lieberman, known for his insight and candor, he sent a message that he was not available at the time, “I am currently in
Africa...it has been an amazing adventure.” I would think that he also would say his life’s work was the same.
46 // March-April 2019
Herb Lieberman witnessed the transformation of the industry in his 62-year career – 42 as a progressive auto recycler and twenty as industry liaison for LKQ. This year marks his retirement from a career that to him “never felt like a job.” By Caryn Smith
The Early Years In 1952, the father-son team of William and Alex Lieb- erman established a scrap metal company and property to store and process scrap metal from industrial accounts in Southern California. Soon after, old cars started coming into what was then Lakenor Scrap Metal and Auto Wrecking. In the early years, the business focused mostly on the scrap metal, and not the salvaging of end-of-life vehicles. The business transitioned to become Lakenor Auto & Truck Salvage, Inc. and in 1999 became LKQ Lakenor Auto & Truck Salvage, Inc. “In 1957 after my time of active duty in the U.S. Army, I was looking at opportunities. My father offered to pay for my college or make me a partner in the business. I liked the idea of joining the family business, but I didn’t necessarily enjoy the scrap side. I asked my father, ‘If you would let me take on the auto salvage, I would do it,’” says Herb, and the rest is history.
Automotive Recycling
Adventure of a
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