NAFA Connection

Over the years NAFA has valued our members, and we would like to congratulate the following members on their recent retirement:

John Hoelzle, a NAFA member since 1996, and recently retired as Director of Parking and Fleet Services Department for the City of Fort Lauderdale. During his career in the automotive industry, Hoelzle held a number of positions including Director for the Office of Fleet Administration for the City of New York. He has served as Chairman of the American Gas Association National Automotive & Mobile Equipment Committee; Chairman of the Society of Automotive Engineers National Utilities Committee; was a prior member of the Society of Fleet Supervisors, Inc., in New York; a member of the International Parking Institute and the Florida Parking Association, the Association of Government Fleet Administrators and NAFA. While working for the City of Fort Lauderdale, Hoelzle made it possible for people to pay parking tickets over the phone and his fleet department was ranked ninth in the nation out of 38,000, which was one of only 12 in the nation to achieve this certification. Hoelzle plans to spend time with his family and five grandchildren. 

Dave Nichols, a NAFA member since 1981, and recently retired as General Manager for USA Today.  Nichols entered the fleet industry as a mechanic and vocational auto mechanics instructor. He was then hired as the Washington/Baltimore Zone Manager for Avis Rent a Car, in 1976.  In 1979, he accepted a position as Fleet Manager for the Washington Star Newspaper where he took over a large inner-city fleet operation which was remanufacturing their own trucks, converting old gas powered vans to Deustch diesels.  During his retirement, Nichols plans on consulting and dabbling in his hobbies of fishing, Skeet & Trap Shooting and "messing" with old cars and boats.

NAFA congratulates these members and wishes them well in the future!

NAFA Affiliate Bill Hoysgaard, New England Regional Sales Manager for Automotive Resources International (ARI), has retired from the company after more than 30 years of service. During his time at ARI, Hoysgaard was responsible for signing some of ARI's largest and longest-tenured accounts. He has been a member of the Circle of Excellence, ARI's league of top sales achievers, an unprecedented 20 times. He also was named ARI's top Salesperson of the Year four times, and the New England region was named Region of the Year six times under his leadership.

Hoysgaard joined NAFA in 1982. Through the years, Hoysgaard volunteered his time and contributed greatly to NAFA and the New England chapter. Among other volunteer positions, Hoysgaard was Chair of the Chapter Affiliates Committee, and Chair of the Chapter Program Committee numerous times. In 2006, NAFA recognized Hoysgaard for his Outstanding Contributions, citing his "expertise, professionalism and organizational skills to develop timely, educational, as well as informative fleet programs for the monthly chapter meetings."

While Hoysgaard collected many accolades during his career at ARI, his legacy will be his willingness to help his coworkers. Bill went out of his way to mentor new sales people and share his ideas with everyone.

"Throughout his ARI career, Bill demonstrated the keys to sales success – cold calling and prospecting persistence, unrelenting ambition to be the best, extraordinary willpower and determination, and a singular focus on his goals," says Vice President of Sales, Gene Welsh. "In that time, he also earned the esteem of all around him – his clients, his office staff, everyone at ARI and in the fleet industry."

As tough times fall on the economy, the Detroit 3 automakers are looking to the future with plans of creating more electric vehicles. This recent gain in popularity was seen at the 2009 North American International Auto Show where Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Chrysler, and several other automakers promoted their mass-production plans for future electric plug-ins. 

An aggressive plan by Ford Motor Company will bring pure battery-electric vehicles, next-generation hybrids, and a plug-in hybrid to market, quickly and more affordably during the next four years. Among the highlights are a new battery-electric small car in 2011, to be developed jointly with Magna International, and next-generation hybrid vehicles, including a plug-in version by 2012.

The automaker is partnering with high-tech partners, such Magna International, to bring a new lithium ion battery-powered small car to market in North America in 2011. The U.S. Department of Energy awarded a $10 million grant to Ford's development of PHEVs.  The DOE currently is road testing one of Ford's Escape Hybrid Plug-ins to support technological innovation related to the electrification of transportation.

General Motors announced its plans to build a U.S. factory to create lithium-ion batteries for the Chevrolet Volt plug-in sedan that will be on the market next year, and Chrysler LLC introduced three advanced electric-vehicle prototypes.

Chrysler's electic vehicles include: the Chrysler 200C EV, Chrysler Town & Country EV, and the new Jeep Patriot EV, as well as the Dodge Circuit EV and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited EV. At the Detroit show, Chrysler unveiled updated versions of those vehicles – along with two new electric vehicles – reinforcing a commitment to developing and bringing to market a broad array of advanced electric vehicles for the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands.

Chrysler will produce at least one of these vehicles for North American markets in 2010 (and European markets after 2010), with at least three more models to follow by 2013.  Between its ENVI electric-drive vehicles and GEM neighborhood electric vehicles, Chrysler expects to have 500,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2013.

General Motors recently provided an update on company restructuring efforts included in the viability plan submitted to the federal government last month, and announced more conservative industry volume planning assumptions to ensure the viability plan is successful even in the most challenging of markets.

The updates were part of a comprehensive review of GM's global business by Rick Wagoner, chairman and CEO; Fritz Henderson, president and COO; and Ray Young, executive vice president and CFO; at the Deutsche Bank 2009 Auto Analysts Conference in Detroit. Their remarks focused on the global financial, operational and product portfolio actions GM is taking to restructure its business for greater competitiveness and long-term viability.

In light of the ongoing uncertainty of global market conditions, GM is adopting more conservative industry volume assumptions than those presented to Congress. For liquidity and viability planning purposes, GM will assume 2009 U.S. total vehicle sales of 10.5 million units and global sales of 57.5 million units. The initial plan included a downside scenario of 10.5 million U.S. sales in 2009, with a baseline scenario of 12 million sales. GM also revised downwards its assessment of global industry volume assumptions for 2010–2012 for liquidity planning purposes.

GM said that lowering the assumptions on U.S. and global industry volumes will drive tougher operational decisions that will result in a more robust viability plan, one that better positions the company for long-term growth as the auto market recovers. GM said it would continue to refine its plan in response to changing market conditions.

GM's detailed Restructuring Plan for Long-Term Viability was presented to Congress on December 2, 2008, and it formed the basis for the loan agreement with the U.S. Treasury signed on December 19. An updated plan is due to the Presidential designee on February 17, 2009.

Toyota has scheduled additional non-production days at several North American manufacturing facilities over the next few months, in response to high inventory levels caused by slow industry sales. The number of non-production days varies by assembly line and model.

On average, inventory of Toyota's North American built vehicles ranges from 80 to 90 days. With the new production adjustments, Toyota hopes to reduce inventory by about half in the second quarter of the year. Click here for more information.

"This is a tough environment, and it may continue for a while. We are making responsible business decisions now in order to sustain our business over the long term," said Jim Wiseman, vice president of external affairs for Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America (TEMA). "In addition to slowing production we are redoubling efforts to cut costs at each of our facilities. Further actions and sacrifices may be necessary, but we will continue to do everything possible to assure the viability of our plants and protect the long term employment security of our team members."

Hydro Aluminum's Extrusion Americas unit and Carbon Motors (Atlanta) announced plans to collaborate on design work for the new Carbon E7 law enforcement vehicle.

The two companies are working together to identify and develop innovative ways to use extruded aluminum in the car's frame and critical structural elements. Hydro will also supply extruded aluminum components when the car begins production.

The Carbon E7 represents the next generation of law enforcement technology. It is the first vehicle designed and engineered from the ground up specifically for law enforcement operations. The E7 debuted at the 2008 International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in November. 

"Carbon Motors and the Carbon E7 are all about innovation, and our partnership with Hydro Aluminum will enhance that core competency," said Alan Bratt, executive vice president and chief production officer for Carbon Motors. "With their engineering expertise, we will deliver a police cruiser that is technologically advanced, competitively priced, and safe for those who work to protect us."

Carbon's E7 was designed with input from law enforcement experts and comes fully equipped with a comprehensive suite of purpose-built, performance and safety features, utilizing the latest advancements in defense and law enforcement technology. It includes an ergonomically-correct cockpit; a high-power, clean-diesel engine capable of running on biodiesel (providing 40 percent improvement in fuel efficiency) that will accelerate the vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds with a governed top speed of 155 mph; integrated external and internal surveillance capabilities, radar; LoJack; an automatic license plate recognition system; radiation and biological threat detectors; and 360-degree, built-in LED emergency lighting.

Johnson Controls-Saft and Azure Dynamics Inc. (AZD) announced a new supply agreement that will provide some of the world's most advanced lithium-ion (Li-Ion) hybrid battery technology to power commercial vehicles in North America. The five-year supply agreement signals progress in the development of a U.S. supply base, to help build an infrastructure for development and manufacture of hybrid electric vehicles.

"As more and more consumers demand energy-efficient vehicles, it is also critical that commercial fleets do their part to reduce their reliance on foreign oil, while also improving the impact they have on the environment," said Mary Ann Wright, who leads the Johnson Controls-Saft joint venture and is vice president and general manager of Johnson Controls hybrid business. "This is great progress for the U.S. supply base."

Azure will utilize the battery pack on its current Balance Hybrid Electric and future hybrid platforms. The company's vehicles are in operation for major fleet customers like AT&T, Con Edison, FedEx Express, and Purolator Couriers.

Increased public pressure and government attention on more efficient, environmentally-friendly vehicles, is propelling the HEV marketplace. The complete battery systems, including electronics, electrical and mechanical components, will be assembled at the Johnson Controls-Saft facility in Milwaukee, WI.

The Chevrolet Volt will use battery packs manufactured in the United States by General Motors, Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner announced at the North American International Auto Show.

GM will establish the first lithium-ion battery pack manufacturing facility operated by a major automaker in the United States to produce the Volt's battery pack system. It consists of lithium-ion cells that are grouped into modules, along with other key battery components.

The plant will be located in Michigan, subject to negotiations with state and local government authorities. Facility preparation will begin in early 2009, with production tooling to be installed mid-year and output starting in 2010.

The Volt's lithium-ion battery cells will be supplied by LG Chem. Compact Power Inc., a subsidiary of LG Chem based in Troy, Mich., will build battery packs for Volt prototype vehicles until GM's battery facility is operational. A joint engineering contract with Compact Power and LG Chem also has been signed to further expedite the development of the Volt's lithium-ion battery technology.

Comdata  Corporation, a leader in payment innovation, has been selected by Donlen Corporation, North America's fastest-growing fleet management company, as its preferred fleet card provider. Comdata will provide fuel discounts, real-time reporting, and a one-card integrated solution for Donlen's fleet customers, helping them save on fleet-related costs.

Under a multi-year contract, Donlen will use the Comdata fuel card to track and regulate all its vehicle-related fuel, maintenance and repair expenses for the 125,000 fleet vehicles they manage.

Comdata's program enables Donlen to offer their customers a full range of fleet management solutions, the convenience of MasterCard universal acceptance, and real-time purchase controls designed to reduce costs and improve margins. The integration of Comdata's reporting capabilities and Donlen's PUSH (Prevent Unnecessary Spending and Hazards) program will give Donlen customers the ability to monitor expenses associated with their fleet programs. Utilizing Comdata's extensive reporting data, the PUSH system will alert drivers and fleet managers via e-mail of inefficient fuel and spending behaviors.

Customers may then leverage Donlen's innovative technologies and strategic consulting services to fully change driver behaviors.

"Comdata's robust fuel discount network, along with its fleet-centric tools, made it an easy choice for Donlen to welcome Comdata as our fleet card provider," said Dave Lodding, senior vice president, Donlen. "We believe that our alliance with Comdata will provide significant savings to our fleet customers as well as better reporting capabilities to help them manage expenses in this tough economy."

The Donlen Corporate Fleet Fuel MasterCard Card is issued by Regions Bank, pursuant to a license by MasterCard International Incorporated. MasterCard and the MasterCard Brand Mark are registered trademarks of MasterCard International Incorporated.

Inilex, a leading provider of intelligent telemetry solutions, announced the acquisition of SkyWay Systems' automotive telemetry business. SkyWay provides telemetry safety and security features for the commercial consumer automotive and enterprise fleet markets. The completed acquisition means expanded capabilities for in-vehicle safety and security services, and positions Inilex at the forefront of technological advances in the telemetry space.

Inilex combines the power of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) with the flexibility of a best-in-class wireless messaging system to provide onboard communication products and vehicle recovery services. Through the combined power of satellite and cellular technology, drivers have the ability to remotely monitor, control, and track their vehicle from virtually anywhere.

The acquisition will provide new opportunities for strategic partnerships with a variety of automotive companies throughout the United States. SkyWay currently has established partnerships with some of the nation's leading automotive dealerships, including the Van Tuyl Automotive Group, the Sam Pack Automotive Group, Galpin Motors, Sanderson Ford Lincoln Mercury, Cerritos Ford Lincoln Mercury, and the Future Automotive Group.

As part of the acquisition, Inilex acquired all of the SkyWay intellectual property and will continue to offer the SkyWay products under SkyWay's existing brands.

Innovation Fuels has announced it has closed on the purchase of a 310,000 barrel (43,000 metric tons) capacity terminal located on ten acres in the Port of Milwaukee.  This facility will be used for the sale and distribution of biodiesel and other renewable fuels into and out of the Midwest.

"We feel very strongly about the renewable fuels sector and understand the strategic importance for Innovation Fuels to establish a solid base here in the Midwest, and Milwaukee in particular," stated Spencer J. Mather, Vice President of Securant Bank & Trust.   The terminal, originally built as Shell Oil's Milwaukee headquarters in the 1950s, includes a 20,000-square-foot warehouse, executive offices, and a garage. 

The United States Patent Office has awarded Johnson Controls two new patents on an innovative, wireless connectivity technology for use in vehicles. The technology can rely on the Bluetooth communications protocol to allow wireless connection of a cellular phone to an in-vehicle audio system. This enables the driver or other vehicle occupant to place and receive calls in a "hands-free" manner.

The system offers a wide range of features connected to, and enabled through, the driver's personal mobile phone. It utilizes Bluetooth technology, an open standard for short-distance, wireless communications. The BlueConnect hands-free system works with a Bluetooth-enabled cellular phone, which can be placed anywhere in the vehicle. It includes an electronic control module and microphone. The electronic control module contains the voice recognition system, noise cancellation system and Bluetooth chipset.

The BlueConnect hands-free system is carrier-independent and service-independent. It requires no monthly subscription fees. The only fee consumers pay is their regular monthly cellular phone bill.  Other patent applications related to the technology are currently pending in the United States and Europe. The system has been tested and validated at the Johnson Controls WAVE acoustics laboratory in Holland, Michigan, U.S.A., and at the company's radio frequency test facility, the first of its kind to receive Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification in North America.

As part of its ongoing Alliance with the U.S. Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), the Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair (CCAR) announces the publication of a Quick Card, dealing with Hexavalent Chromium [Cr(VI)] safety in the automotive collision industry.

The CCAR-OSHA Alliance provides information, guidance, and access to training resources to the auto repair industry that will help protect employees' health and safety. Cr(VI) exposure is one of the areas of concentration of the Alliance agreement between CCAR and OSHA, which originated in 2004 and was renewed last year.

"We continue to look for opportunities through our Alliance with OSHA to reach the automotive repair community with pertinent materials on safety and health concerns," said Daren Fristoe, CCAR President and Chief Operating Officer. "Comments and suggestions from the industry are welcome, both on the new 'Quick Card' and on additional topics of concern that should be considered."

For more information on the CCAR-OSHA Alliance, go to:
http://www.ccar-greenlink.org/AllianceOSHA/index.html

For more information on OSHA's Alliance Program, go to: http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/alliances/index.html

Established in 1994, the Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair's mission is to work with the industry around the world, with career/technical schools, governments and other organizations to provide best practice information and training, and to measure improvements related to pollution prevention.

Fiat S.P.A., Chrysler LLC, and Cerberus Capital Management L.P., the private investment majority owner of Chrysler LLC, announced they have signed a non-binding term sheet to establish a global strategic alliance.

The alliance, to be a key element of Chrysler's viability plan, would provide Chrysler with access to competitive, fuel-efficient vehicle platforms, powertrain, and components to be produced at Chrysler manufacturing sites. Fiat would also provide distribution capabilities in key growth markets, as well as substantial cost savings opportunities.

In addition, Fiat would provide management services supporting Chrysler's submission of a viability plan to the U.S. Treasury as required. The alliance would also allow Fiat Group and Chrysler to take advantage of each other's distribution networks and to optimize fully their respective manufacturing footprint and global supplier base.

The proposed alliance would be consistent with the terms and conditions of the U.S. Treasury financing to Chrysler. Per the U.S. Treasury loan agreement, each constituent will be asked to contribute to Chrysler's restructuring effort. The alliance does not contemplate that Fiat would make a cash investment in Chrysler or commit to funding Chrysler in the future.

"A Chrysler/Fiat partnership is a great fit as it creates the potential for a powerful, new global competitor, offering Chrysler a number of strategic benefits, including access to products that complement our current portfolio; a distribution network outside North America; and cost savings in design, engineering, manufacturing, purchasing and sales and marketing," said Bob Nardelli, Chairman and CEO of Chrysler LLC.

Economic Stimulus Legislation

Last week, the House Democratic leadership released an $825 billion economic stimulus plan that consists of $550 billion in spending initiatives and $275 billion in tax cuts. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes $400 million to establish a grant program through the DOE Clean Cities Program to encourage the use of plug-in electric drive vehicles or other emerging electric vehicle technologies.  These grants may be used for the acquisition of alternative fueled vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, or hybrid vehicles, including buses for public transportation and ground support vehicles at public airports.  There is $300 million for Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grants and loans to state and local governments for projects that reduce diesel emissions. This includes technologies to retrofit emission exhaust systems on school buses, replace engines and vehicles, and establish anti-idling programs. There is $600 million to replace older vehicles owned by the federal government with new vehicles, including plug-in and other alternative fuel vehicles.  The congressional leadership hopes to have a final bill passed and sent to the president by the middle of February.

EPA Extends SPCC Compliance Dates

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is extending the compliance dates for all facilities subject to the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule as part of EPA's multi-phased strategy to address concerns with the current regulation. Specifically, this amendment extends the dates by which the owner or operator of an SPCC regulated facility must prepare or amend and implement its SPCC plan.  These amendments do not remove any regulatory requirement for owners or operators of facilities in operation before August 16, 2002, to develop, implement and maintain an SPCC plan in accordance with the SPCC regulations then in effect.  Such facilities continue to be required to maintain their plans during the interim until the applicable date for revising and implementing their plans under the new amendments.

For more information on the rule: http://www.epa.gov/oem/content/spcc/index.htm.

Cash for Clunkers

Owners of gas-guzzlers could receive vouchers worth up to $4,500 to purchase more fuel-efficient vehicles or to pay for public transit, under legislation recently introduced in both the House and Senate.

"If enacted, this bill would be an important part of helping get America's struggling automobile industry back on its feet – and help consumers who are concerned about covering the cost of buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle,'' said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., a chief sponsor of the bill.

The "Cash for Clunkers" program would provide a credit of $2,500 to $4,500 for owners who trade vehicles that get less than 18 miles per gallon for more fuel-efficient vehicles. Vouchers could also be redeemed for transit fares at participating agencies.

NAFA Members Meet With California Officials on Biodiesel USTs

On January 15, several NAFA Members met in Sacramento with officials from the State Water Resources Control Board to discuss the current state prohibition on storage of biodiesel in an underground storage tank (UST) system.  Presently, California does not permit UST storage of biodiesel unless the system and components have been certified for compatibility and structural integrity by Underwriters Laboratories.  The purpose of the meeting was to begin a fleet dialogue with state officials on measures that fleets could implement to reduce the risk of UST releases until such time as UL acts.  Although nothing was resolved at the meeting, NAFA participants felt that it was a productive first step.  For additional information on California and biodiesel, visit: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/ust/docs/biodiesel_update_jan09.pdf.

Government of Canada Invests in New Green Projects

In January 2009, the Honourable John Baird, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, announced that the Government of Canada will invest in 14 new projects across the country that support environmentally friendly transportation.

Fourteen municipalities will receive funding for projects through the ecoMOBILITY program.  These projects, which will respond to the individual needs and circumstances of each municipality, will promote greener transportation options for Canadians. 

Through the ecoMOBILITY program, working with provinces, municipalities and regional transportation authorities, the federal government is looking for innovative ways to help develop initiatives that encourage individuals to turn to other alternatives to personal vehicles, such as public transit.

The program is a component of the government's ecoTRANSPORT Strategy, which has goals targeted towards improving the health of Canadians and the environment, ensuring that critical transportation infrastructure is economically and environmentally sustainable, and promoting an efficient transportation system.

The OSU/A&M Board of Regents approved Clean Energy to construct, operate and maintain a compressed natural gas filling station on the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. 

The construction of the CNG station is important in the university's move to replace much of its buses and fleet with more energy efficient vehicles.

"We have been evaluating alternative fuel options for several years," said David Bosserman, OSU vice president for finance and administration. "We made the decision to include CNG as an alternative fuel option about a year ago. Clean Energy is a leader in the growing CNG arena and we look forward to working with them on this important initiative."

So far, the university has ordered ten 2009 sedans with CNG conversion option to operate as dedicated CNG vehicles in OSU's daily lease fleet.  OSU has 150 vehicles in the daily/monthly lease fleet which are on a three- to six-year replacement schedule.  Most current vehicles will be phased out or replaced within that schedule.

"Our goal is to have all new vehicles purchased capable of using CNG or an alternative fuel," Bosserman said.  

The station, which also will be available for use by the public, will house two CNG fast-fill dispensers and 24 time-fill posts.  The station is expected to be up and pumping by the fall of 2009. OSU plans to replace its 20 transit buses with CNG buses over the next five years and expects the first eight to be in operation by the fall of 2009. 

In addition to the CNG vehicles, OSU is also testing electric cars for use in its daily fleet.  The university has purchased one Miles electric sedan and have several electric demo models on its Stillwater campus for testing.  OSU Transportation Services, which maintains the university's fleet, plans to add ten hybrid sedans to the daily lease fleet in the near future.   

Oregon State University is poised to take a larger role in emerging electric car technology at a time when Nissan North America has announced a major zero-emission vehicle partnership with the state of Oregon.

As the campus with the largest statewide fleet, Oregon State is already embracing electric car technology, and, according to Justin Fleming, manager of the university's motor pool, OSU has agreed to provide the Oregon University System Chancellor's Office with a hybrid vehicle from its fleet.

"This kind of forward thinking has brought OSU to the attention of Nissan," said Fleming, who was involved in preliminary discussion with Nissan representatives and the Oregon Department of Transportation's Office of Innovative Partnerships regarding Nissan's latest project.

Nissan North America is launching an electric car partnership with the state of Oregon to bring zero-emission electric cars to government agencies by 2010, and expand the availability of electric car charging stations around Oregon. OSU already has two electric charging stations on campus for its smaller electric vehicles. Fleming said they'd be eager to build stations for larger cars like Nissan is proposing, if they're asked to participate in the project. 

Fleming is waiting to hear from the Oregon Department of Transportation's Office of Innovative Partnerships to see where OSU might fit in Nissan's project. The university would have to commit to purchasing or leasing electric vehicles, and to installing kiosks where the vehicles could be charged.

Larry Burns, General Motors vice president for Research & Development and Strategic Planning, called for the creation of a new public/private partnership to rapidly commercialize key U.S. automotive technologies.

In a speech to the Transportation Research Board at the 88th Annual Meeting, Burns said such a partnership should be focused on collaboration to ensure that U.S.-developed technologies reach the commercial "tipping point" where markets will naturally sustain volume growth.

"Markets must ultimately drive the high-volume supply and demand of advanced technology vehicles," Burns said. "Governments cannot afford to subsidize high volumes, companies cannot afford to price below cost at high volumes, and consumers will not purchase in high volume if prices exceed value. What is needed is a mechanism to share the public/private risks and rewards of transitioning to 'tipping points' through early commercialization of transformational technologies."

Burns said the partnership should include the U.S. government, auto manufacturers and suppliers, the energy and infrastructure industries, and other key stakeholders. He said its focus should be on enabling technologies for electrically driven vehicles such as advanced batteries, electric motors, power electronics, fuel cells, hydrogen infrastructure and storage systems; and connected vehicle technologies such as sensors, actuators, wireless communications and GPS systems.

Officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Air Resources Board, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District met this month at the Puente Hills Landfill to showcase cleaner burning tractors, bulldozers and other earth moving equipment that is ahead of schedule in meeting the state's new, stringent diesel emissions standards.

The state's estimated 180,000 pieces of off-road equipment emit nearly as much smog-forming and fine particle pollution as the one million diesel trucks that ARB recently adopted regulations for.

"This equipment is no longer just moving earth--it's moving California toward better air quality," said Wayne Nastri, administrator of the U.S. EPA's Pacific Southwest region. "And with the $1 million we're giving to the South Coast Air Quality Management District to clean up 700 heavy duty trucks, more and more vehicles will be driving toward a future of cleaner air."

The funding for the equipment highlighted today resulted from enforcement actions that the U.S. EPA took against Chevron, Valero, Cosmed and ARCO for violations at their California facilities. As part of their settlement, these companies agreed to use funds that otherwise would have been paid as penalties to conduct environmental projects that directly benefit the community where the violations occurred.

The ARB adopted a precedent-setting regulation in 2007 that will reduce toxic and cancer-causing diesel emissions from the state's estimated 180,000 off-road vehicles used in construction, mining, airport ground support and other industries. The regulation requires the installation of diesel soot filters and encourages the replacement of older, dirtier engines with newer emission-controlled models. By 2020, diesel particulate matter will be reduced by 74 percent and smog-forming oxides of nitrogen by 32 percent, compared to what emissions would be without the regulation.

ZeaChem Inc., a developer of biorefineries for the conversion of biomass into fuels and chemicals, announced that it has raised $34 million in initial Series B financing. ZeaChem is developing a cellulose-based green fuels and chemicals biorefinery platform that converts renewable non-food biomass into market-competitive products such as ethanol. The new funds will be used to build ZeaChem's first cellulosic biorefinery.

ZeaChem's unique and sustainable approach combines the best of biochemical and thermochemical processes to produce 40 percent more ethanol per ton of biomass over any known competitor. Compared to corn ethanol, ZeaChem delivers nearly six times the land productivity and nearly three times compared to second generation cellulosic ethanol. ZeaChem will begin construction in 2009 of its first plant.

The North Central Texas Council of Governments has been awarded $1.5 million, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will receive $500,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency to help reduce diesel emissions. 

EPA and the Blue Skyways Collaborative awarded the grants as part of the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program.

"Blue Skyways and the EPA clean diesel program are delivering cleaner engines and cleaner air for America's heartland," said EPA Regional Administrator, Richard E. Greene. "This program gives communities another effective tool to improve air quality and public health."

Communities will use the grants for clean diesel projects that significantly reduce emissions through the use of retrofit technologies, engine replacements, and idle reduction technologies.

The Blue Skyways Collaborative is a group of businesses, communities and government agencies spanning 10 states that work together voluntarily to reduce air pollution in North America's central corridor.  Additional information on the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program and the Blue Skyways Collaborative is available at http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel and http://www.blueskyways.org/. 

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. has been awarded an 18-month contract extension to continue supplying liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel to Sun Metro, the public transit bus agency serving the City of El Paso, Texas, and neighboring New Mexico communities. Clean Energy has been under contract to Sun Metro since December 2003, with fleet fuel consumption now topping 4.6 million LNG gallons annually.

The LNG fuel is used directly to fuel certain buses as well as converted to compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel, which is used to power the balance of the Sun Metro natural gas fleet, which includes 144 natural gas buses, together with six diesel buses. The agency plans to expand the fleet to 227 natural gas buses within 10 years.

James Harger, Clean Energy Senior Vice President, said, "We are pleased to continue our supply relationship with Sun Metro, where we have provided reliable, cost-efficient LNG fueling services for five years, ensuring the agency and its riders that their buses roll out daily to meet community transportation needs."

With 600 employees and an annual budget of over $60 million, Sun Metro offers fixed route and paratransit bus service within the County of El Paso, TX, and throughout the City of Sunland Park, New Mexico. The agency -- recipient of the Texas Transit Association's 2008 Outstanding Metropolitan System Award -- operates service on more than 50 fixed routes in a region that spans 250 square miles. Annually, Sun Metro transit buses log more than 12 million passenger trips and travel 60 million passenger miles.

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) reaffirmed the U.S. biodiesel industry's ability to meet America's renewable fuels goals. 

The existing Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS-1) program establishes minimum targets for the use of renewable fuels in the marketplace.  For 2009, 10.5 billion gallons of renewable fuel must be entered into commerce. In response to skepticism that there might be a shortage of renewable fuel available to meet the 2009 requirement, the NBB noted that it is confident that the U.S. biodiesel industry is fully capable of meeting any RFS shortfalls that are not filled by the domestic ethanol industry.     

"The U.S. biodiesel industry's contribution to the nation's fuel supply will help ensure that the RFS targets for 2009 will be met," said Manning Feraci, NBB's Vice President of Federal Affairs.  "In 2008 alone, the U.S. biodiesel industry produced nearly 700 million gallons of biodiesel, which equates to 1.05 billion ethanol equivalent gallons for purposes of the RFS."

Currently, there are 176 plants in operation with the capacity to produce more than 2.61 billion gallons of biodiesel. In 2008, the U.S. biodiesel industry supported nearly 52,000 jobs in all sectors of the economy. This added $4.287 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP); displaced 38.1 million barrels of petroleum; generated $866.2 million in tax revenue for federal, state and local governments; and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 11.28 tons, the equivalent of removing 980,000 vehicles from U.S. roads.  

Standard Oil of Connecticut, Inc., based in Bridgeport, CT, will deploy the microGreen extended performance oil filter in its fleet of 60 service vehicles. Using the microGreen filter, Standard Oil's service vans can now operate up to 30,000 miles without an oil change, dramatically reducing automotive oil use and decreasing maintenance costs on an annual basis. SOMS Technologies LLC, a provider of engine oil filtration products, introduced the revolutionary microGreen oil filter in October, 2008. 

The microGreen oil filter combines a conventional filter with a second microfilter that captures particles down to two microns, so the oil is kept exceptionally clean and can last much longer.    Standard Oil initially tested the filter on several service vans and received oil analysis reports from an independent laboratory to monitor the filter's effectiveness. These analyses demonstrated that the cleanliness and quality of the oil was not only maintained over time, but actually improved. The microGreen oil filter is compatible with vehicles equipped with a traditional spin-on oil filter canister. 

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Driver Transportation Options

e-Download & Softback Versions Available 

This 154-page compilation of information examines the many facets that need to be considered when determining what is best for your organization and when providing business transportation to employees. Among other topics, the compilation reviews reasons to reject driver reimbursement, resale losses, and trends among commercial fleets. When ordering the e-Download format, please note: once your transaction is processed, your e-download will be available to you on the NAFA Web site, under the Store tab, on the My Documents page once you log in to the site.

Did you know about NAFA's other products such as the NAFA Vehicle Classification System or Personal Use for Fleets CD, or Request for Proposals Guide CD?  Review all NAFA products at the online store (www.nafa.org/store) or to download the current catalog click here.

NAFA has provided space in each issue of the FleetFOCUS for companies and organizations to advertise career opportunities in the fleet industry. Members can also market themselves to potential employers. If you're interested in this oppertunity, make your listings 200 words or fewer. Links to complete job descriptions on the company's own Web site are suggested. Please note all of the materials a candidate must supply in order to be considered for the position (e.g., resume, salary history, municipal application, etc.). To take advantage of this service, e-mail your ad to Patrick McCarren at pmccarren@nafa.org.

January Job Postings

State Program Administrator Manager Senior - St. Paul, MN

Equipment Maintenance Supervisor - City of Grand Rapids, MI
Fleet Manager - Edmonton, AB

Resume Bank

NAFA is going one step further to help those in the industry gain employment. For a small fee, NAFA will send resumes to any prospective employer who places an ad on the Career Network Section of the NAFA Web site.  Employers will be provided with new, up-to-date resumes that fit the job, for a small cost.

There is still no charge to submit a resume to the Resume Bank. To be included in the Resume Bank, please send a current version of your resume to Maureen Smith, NAFA, Inc., 125 Village Blvd., Suite 200, Princeton, NJ 08540, or fax it to 609-452-8004. Resumes can also be e-mailed to Maureen Smith at msmith@nafa.org. A few tips and reminders: If you would like to include a generic cover letter to be sent to potential employers, please include that as part of your resume. Make sure your home address, home phone or cell phone, and personal e-mail address are included on your resume. Potential employers will contact you directly.  NAFA has a number of fleet-related job openings on the Jobs Wanted/Available page (click here).

Industry Calendar
Click here

January is a busy month for NAFA Chapters! Chapter meetings will take place, including:

January 22, 2009
Midwest Chapter Meeting
Location: The Old Mattress Factory Bar; Grill, Omaha, NE
Contact: Bob Eggerss, P: 515.270.3676 or Bob.Eggerss@Pioneer.com
RSVP by Friday, January 16, 2009

January 21, 2009
New England Chapter – Annual Business Mtg. and Trustee Presentation
Location: Holiday Inn, Mansfield, MA 
Contact: Karen Kearns, 401.392.1000 ext. 2060 or karen.kearns@gtech.com
 
January 23, 2009
Michigan Chapter – International Auto Show & Business Meeting
Location: Compuware Headquarters, Detroit, MI
Contact: Joel Neumeyer, joel.neumeyer@vpsiinc.com

January 28, 2009
St. Louis Gateway Chapter – Meeting
Location: Holiday Inn Select, St. Louis, MO
Contact: Bob Hornsey, 314.615.5333, RHornsey@stlouisco.com

Which new colleagues and suppliers might you benefit from? Welcome new NAFA Members and new NAFA Affiliates. Click here to view.

NAFA's FleetED is designed to help you quickly find references and educational resources that you need now.

From asset management to maintenance management, benchmarking and shop operations, NAFA's FleetED covers all fleet management disciplines and competencies, making this free Web site your fast online portal to all fleet management education.
 
Easily look up available resources, while scanning an overview of a particular fleet management discipline. Complete a brief self-assessment test, selected by discipline, to confirm your strengths and discover what areas may need a little more concentration. These quizzes provide real-time feedback, with suggested education content according to your assessment results.

Whether you are looking for something specific, or just trying to figure out what you need to know, NAFA's FleetED will guide you to valuable, comprehensive education content and reference materials. Visit FleetED at www.nafa.org/fleeted or www.fleeted.org.

Easily access NAFA colleagues with our directory files. Same content information as found on the Networking Databases, just downloadable! Print these files for use when you are traveling or save to your computer for times when you'll be without Internet access.

Directory of NAFA Members – listed alphabetically by surname
Directory of NAFA Members – listed by industry code
Directory of NAFA Affiliates – listed alphabetically by surname
Directory of NAFA Affiliates – listed by business code
 
Information for these directory files was gathered from NAFA's membership database on August 31, 2008. New members or record changes after this date may not be reflected in the files found here. Alumni, as well as Distinguished Service Award recipients and Honorary Members, are found within the Directory of Members.
 
To view and search our online Networking Databases, click here. Networking Databases are updated throughout the year.

Have you been promoted? Is your company moving? Did you get a new job? Are you retiring? Remember to notify NAFA about these and other changes.

If you are retiring, please contact NAFA, as you may be eligible to become a NAFA alumnus and stay in touch with your NAFA colleagues and friends.

There are two easy ways to both help your colleagues keep in touch and make changes to your membership record: 1) click on "My Profile" on the NAFA homepage and submit changes, or 2) e-mail info@nafa.org.