Putting the "Right" in Right to Repair: A Distributor's Perspective

Auto Care ON AIR

Jerry Bender never set out to become a political advocate. As the Vice President of Midwest Wheel Companies, his journey from small-town Iowa to the halls of Congress reveals how ordinary industry professionals can make extraordinary impacts on critical policy issues.
Growing up in Pleasantville, Iowa, a town of just 1,500 where his graduating class had only 49 students, Bender was no stranger to politics. In a state where presidential candidates regularly visit local barbershops (including the one his wife Amanda owned), he developed a refreshingly pragmatic view of political engagement: "You can get a lot closer to politicians than people think. All you got to do is ask for meetings and they'll usually give you the time."
When Bender's company president asked him to attend an industry event in Washington D.C. a year ago, something clicked. After hearing about the Right to Repair movement throughout his 12 years at Midwest Wheel, he found his purpose in advocating for the independent repair shops who form the backbone of America's transportation infrastructure. "Our customers are fixing trucks and running their own businesses. They don't have the time to come to DC," Bender explains, "so I do it on their behalf."
The stakes couldn't be higher. One rural repair shop Bender contacted now sends trucks to dealerships 4-6 times monthly because they can't access necessary repair information. For communities where the nearest dealership might be 50 miles away, this creates substantial hardship. As Bender puts it when explaining to employees: "It's like being told you couldn't go see Dr. Johnson; you had to go see Dr. Jones because those were the rules." His advocacy has helped advance Right to Repair legislation to both the House and Senate for the first time.
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Chapters

1. Introduction to Auto Care On Air (00:00:00)

2. Jerry's Right to Repair Advocacy (00:00:42)

3. Politicians Are People Too (00:01:52)

4. From Small Town Iowa to Midwest Wheel (00:04:15)

5. Supporting Independent Repair Shops (00:08:54)

6. The Real Impact on Rural Businesses (00:14:02)

7. Politicians Are Accessible and Ready (00:19:28)