ATLANTA – The Total Resource Auctions (TRA) network of salvage wholesale auctions has expanded to 18 Manheim auction locations nationwide with the addition of Greater New Orleans Auto Auction in Slidell, La.

“We’ve been running salvage sales for some time for various consignors, but never with this kind of emphasis,” said Mike Browning, general manager at Greater New Orleans Auto Auction. “Obviously [Hurricanes] Katrina and Rita have created an immediate need for local and national wholesale salvage services of a different magnitude. Our new TRA operations not only will help meet that need, but will also ensure that the flood-damaged vehicles moving through our auction are represented properly. The safeguards we have regarding vehicle disclosure are designed to protect our buyers and consumers, and to uphold the integrity of the industry in general.”

The auction is holding its TRA salvage sales every other Monday at 9 a.m. in addition to its weekly dealer consignment and fleet/lease sale (Wednesdays at 9 a.m.). Browning said consignors include insurance companies, commercial fleet/lease companies, and dealers.

“With 19 acres dedicated to salvage or inoperable vehicles, every vehicle that is viewed for sale sits on a paved lot, and bidders can participate comfortably from theater-style seating in the lanes or bid remotely online,” said Browning

Half of the auction’s six lanes are equipped with Simulcast, which allows buyers to securely participate in each sale from virtually anywhere. Browning said during a late February sale, 509 online bids were recorded from 52 Simulcast users, 17 of whom purchased vehicles. In all, 338 of 405 vehicles were sold to Simulcast bidders and to some of the 72 dealers in the lanes. Typical volume before the hurricane destruction last fall was about 100 units per month, he said.