FIELD NOTES
October 22, 2026
Starting a vehicle inspection business? Antone Hempstock shares seven areas to plan before your first order, from inspection standards and pricing to inspectors, workflows, and clear reports.
October 18, 2026
Start with one recurring task, give it a clear owner, and explain what “done” means. Useful process documentation helps someone complete the work without having to reconstruct the founder’s thinking every time. Choose a task that causes repeat questions Do not begin by documenting the entire company. Pick a task the team performs regularly, such […]
October 18, 2026
A useful vehicle inspection workflow makes the next step clear to the customer, the inspector, and the person reviewing the report. This checklist helps inspection businesses find gaps between accepting an order and delivering information a customer can use. 1. Define the scope before assigning the job Record the vehicle identity, location, access contact, requested […]
June 10, 2026
A few months ago, my wife Raven and I made a decision that surprised a lot of people. We left Minnesota and moved to the Pacific Northwest. After spending most of my life in Minnesota, it wasn’t a decision I made lightly. Minnesota is where I built businesses, raised a family, formed lifelong friendships, and […]
April 18, 2026
Current update: Clunker Busters has launched. This article documents the earlier testing phase. For current services and information, visit Clunker Busters or explore the project. We’re getting close. Clunker Busters is officially in the final testing phase before launch. Right now we’re running everything through real-world use—booking inspections, assigning inspectors, delivering reports, and making sure […]
March 4, 2026
Current update: Clunker Busters has launched. This article records our pre-launch recruiting announcement; the openings and timing described below are historical. For current inspector opportunities and requirements, visit the inspector portal. For other roles, contact the company to ask about current availability. Explore the current Clunker Busters project ↗ After a tremendous amount of work […]
November 25, 2025
Let’s say the quiet part out loud: The vehicle inspection industry is broken. Not because the inspectors don’t know what they’re doing — but because the systems they’re forced to work under are outdated, slow, and built to serve the company before the customer. Today’s inspection companies are stuck in a 2008 mindset, selling a […]
November 25, 2025
The automotive inspection industry is changing fast, and most businesses that rely on inspections are still operating with outdated systems, inefficient workflows, and incomplete reporting structures. Whether you’re a dealership, lending institution, warranty company, startup in the inspection space, or an existing inspection business trying to scale, expert guidance can prevent costly mistakes and accelerate growth. My name is Antone Hempstock, […]
November 25, 2025
By Antone Hempstock After spending the last year designing, planning, and building the foundation, I’m finally able to share where things stand. My non-compete is now behind me, and we’re officially preparing to launch Clunker Busters in the first quarter of 2026. This time around, we’re building something the automotive inspection industry hasn’t seen before — a true inspector-first […]
October 30, 2025
For most of my life, everyone knew me as Andy — short for Anton Dabbs. My family called me Andy, my friends called me Andy, and for years, that was just who I was. But as time went on, the name started to feel like it belonged to another chapter of my life — one […]