NAFA Connection
NAFA Fleet Management Association
Economic Stimulus Provides Funding for Fleets
President Obama has signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which includes significant funds for fleets. Included are $300 million for Diesel Emission Reduction Act grants; $300 million to establish a grant program through the Department of Energy's Clean Cities Program; and $300 million for acquisition of vehicles by the federal fleet.
The funding is expected to move on a very fast implementation timeline.
Diesel Emission Reduction Act
This program makes fleets eligible for $20-30K or more toward the purchase of each new hybrid medium duty or heavy duty truck, and fleets may purchase multiple trucks.
EPA expects to issue competitive announcements for the DERA funds in late February 2009. NAFA Members should visit http://www.epa.gov/otaq/diesel/grantfund.htm often, for important updates and competition schedule information. EPA expects a 30-day application period for all competitive announcements.
NAFA is eager to help fleets apply for funding. If you are interested, please e-mail Pat O'Connor (patoconnor@kentoconnor.com) as soon as possible, as the application period will last only 30 days.
This funding is limited to public and non-profit fleets. A private fleet would have to partner with a non- profit; for example, a private bus company for a school district would need to have the school district apply for the funds.
Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
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Verified and/or certified retrofit technologies and engines by EPA or CARB. See www.epa.gov/cleandiesel (select Verified Technology List).
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Engine Repowers, Engine Rebuilds, or Engine Replacements (engine sent to be remanufactured or scrapped).
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EPA-verified Idle Reduction technologies (e.g., Auxiliary Power Units, Truck Stop Electrification).
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Cleaner fuels.
EPA advises that prospective grant applicants should begin preparations now for the upcoming competitions by completing the following steps, prior to the competition announcements:
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Assess diesel fleets and identify eligible vehicles.
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Establish eligible partnerships.
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Prepare fleet and proposal descriptions.
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Evaluate public health benefits, cost effectiveness, and emission reductions of the proposed project.
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Review prior DERA competitive announcements.
Clean Cities
Interested NAFA Members should contact the local Clean Cities Program immediately and visit http://www1.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/ for updates. The application deadline may be the end of March 2009.
The economic stimulus provides $300,000,000 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. This grant program may provide up to 30 geographically dispersed project grants. Grant recipients include state governments, local governments, metropolitan transportation authorities, air pollution control districts, and private or nonprofit entities. 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. The installation or acquisition of infrastructure necessary to directly support an alternative fueled vehicle, fuel cell vehicle, or hybrid vehicle project funded by the grant, is also eligible.
Federal Fleet
The agencies are strongly urged to use the funds to purchase plug-in hybrids. Vehicles must be replaced on at least a one-for-one basis. Each vehicle purchased must have a higher fuel economy, as measured by EPA, than the vehicle being replaced; and the overall government-purchased vehicles must have an improved fuel economy at least 10 percent greater than the vehicles being replaced.
Last April, at the 2008 Institute & Expo, a large crowed gathered as NAFA handed out its first-ever Green Fleet Awards. Recipients of the award implemented pioneering, innovative, and creative programs to help with their company's overall "going green" initiative. Be one of those recipients this year! NAFA is looking forward to rewarding the best and most innovative ideas, in New Orleans this April.
The deadline for Green Fleet Award submissions is Wednesday, February 25, 2009. No applications will be accepted for judging after this date. Four awards will be offered: two for a sedan/light truck fleet, and two for a truck/equipment fleet.
Who may enter? Entrants must be NAFA Members. Applications may be submitted by any individual who is directly employed in a vehicle management role by any company, utility, government agency, or not-for-profit organization in the United States or Canada. A NAFA Member can nominate themselves and/or their fleet team. NAFA Members and Affiliates may nominate other fleet managers for their work in this area; however, such nominations must be verified and signed by the person being nominated.
How are entries judged? A distinguished panel will include industry judges from an OEM manufacturer, an automotive publishing company, a leasing company, and fleet managers from the private and public sectors. The criteria for judging will include originality, innovativeness, and demonstrated accomplishment for reducing energy consumption.
To be considered a candidate for the Green Fleet Award, please complete the application located at www.nafa.org/greenfleetawards. There is NO entry fee. All entries must include this completed entry form and six copies of any additional materials sent along with the entry to further explain the green program that is being submitted.
Deadline for Green Fleet Award submissions is Wednesday, February 25, 2009! Using one of the options below, submit your COMPLETE Green Fleet Award entry to:
- Email: info@nafa.org. To promote NAFA's initiative in "going green," we strongly encourage this email option!
- Mail to: Green Fleet Awards, c/o NAFA, Suite 200, 125 Village Blvd., Princeton, NJ 08540.
- Fax to: (609) 452-8004.
The Affiliates Committee is the recognized representation of all Affiliates to the NAFA organization. The committee's purpose is to present the interests and concerns of Affiliates to NAFA and to support the mission and goals of the Association. If you have issues, ideas, or comments you would like brought before the national Affiliates Committee, please contact the chair, vice chair, or Affiliate Trustee.
John Helman, Chair • Vice President Sales, Nagy FleetNet
jhelman@nagyfleetnet.com, 574.262.4479
Mary Sticha, Vice Chair • Vice President, Service Excellence, GE Capital Solutions Fleet Services
mary.sticha@ge.com, 952.828.2474
Deb Watkins, Affiliate Trustee • Vice President Business Development, PHH Arval
deb.watkins@phh.com, 410.771.2283
Did you know the term "affiliate" has two meanings? That's right. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, "affiliate" can be used as either a verb or a noun. As a verb, "affiliate" is defined as: a) to bring or receive into close connection as a member or branch, or b) to associate as a member. As a noun, "affiliate" is defined as: a branch organization; a person who is affiliated.
So what, you ask? Well, if you are applying either form as a NAFA Affiliate, you clearly understand the value of your membership and are maximizing every opportunity. You see, the key word in both definitions is "connect." And "connect," to me, requires action. What kind of action, you ask?
Forward-thinking NAFA Affiliates are working to enhance the organization through the professional, direct, and forthright sharing of information and expertise with the membership. These Affiliates can often be found working on NAFA committees and ad hoc groups; contributing to the content needed by the Education Development Committee or the Curriculum Committee; contributing speakers or resources for local NAFA chapter meetings or the annual I&E; and most importantly, identifying individuals new to fleet management and connecting them with the organization and its members.
There is no doubt NAFA Affiliation is a great way to interact with other Affiliates, take advantage of NAFA's resources, and meet great fleet management professionals, but all great organizations like NAFA need the contributions of many to enrich the professional lives of all. As one specific example, the NAFA Education Development Committee is looking for Affiliates to help them with their education projects. Have ideas to share? Looking for ways to get more involved? Let us know your thoughts!
NAFA's 2009 Institute & Expo in New Orleans, on April 24-27, is going strong! I&E registration is up more than 20 percent from the same time last year! Despite these tough economic times, the NAFA conference still remains the event of choice for fleet managers, and a good crowd is expected. Every year, NAFA attracts a couple of thousand fleet professionals to the four-day event, and that same number is expected this year.
Exhibit sales at the I&E are also doing well. Sales – both in terms of revenue collected and square footage sold – are on pace with last year's numbers in Salt Lake City. The NAFA sales team has done an excellent job attracting new exhibitors and convincing others to expand their floor space. If you are not on the floor at the NAFA Expo, you will be missing the opportunity to gain some valuable new leads.
NAFA's 2009 Institute & Expo is still the #1 place for fleet professionals to be for business, education, and networking. Whatever your industry, whatever vehicles comprise your fleet, whatever fleet services you need, whatever your experience level, I&E has it all! Visit www.nafaiande.org to review complete show details; this year, NAFA is saving on paper and postage - NAFA is not printing an advance program. To review full course descriptions or see what companies and suppliers are signed up for our Expo Floor; go online at http://www.nafaiande.org/.
Register for I&E Now!
To register online, click here.
To download a registration form, click here.
For a complete list of exhibitors and an interactive floor plan, visit: http://www.onlinefloorplan.com/nafa09.
Commercial Auto Insurance, offered Monday, April 27, 2009, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., is a joint effort of NAFA and NETS (Network of Employers for Traffic Safety). This session will provide attendees an in-depth study of insurance issues that fleet managers face, as well as strategies to successfully manage those issues, including MVR checks and specific policies and procedures. Learn the types of policies and coverage including business auto liability, physical damage, garage liability, and driver coverage, as well as the fundamentals and format of insurance contracts and the basis of commercial auto rates. Click here for more information.
DOT Compliance for Reliable Emergency-Ready Commercial Fleets, offered Monday, April 27th, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., outlines DOT regulations and who is liable, the ABCs of driver qualification file management, driver log auditing, and drug and alcohol program management. This session also offers information on how to eliminate downtime, unsafe practices and penalties, and how to manage compliance data. Click here for more information.
Practical Use of Telematics, offered Monday, April 27th, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., will provide the information on how companies have leveraged telematics technology to reduce their operating costs and improve their overall business productivity. In this session, attendees will learn how telematics technology can be used to improve customer service, fleet performance, and productivity of mobile workers, as well as provide case studies and discuss why key stakeholders in your business will be looking to this technology to solve challenges. Click here for more information.
On Tuesday, April 28th, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Take-home Vehicle Policies: IRS Commuting Rules and IRS Publication 15B Compliance will provide attendees with federal guidelines and valuable insights about how states should comply with the IRS guidelines, effectively avoiding damaging audits and public scrutiny. An industry expert will provide real-time examples of effective strategies to comply with these complex guidelines. Also learn if motor pools and other fleet options are a better value for your fleet, and what other government entities and private fleets are doing to combat the rising costs of take-home programs and POV reimbursements. Click here for more information.
In 2009, make your mark by lending a hand with NAFA's I&E Habitat for Humanity project. With the help of many different groups and communities, New Orleans is coming back stronger than ever, and now NAFA has a chance to help in that transformation!
Now, NAFA Members and I&E attendees are signing up to help! How can you help? Plan to arrive a day early and join with other NAFA community volunteers to assist in a New Orleans Habitat for Humanity community project. On Friday, April 24, 2009, Team NAFA will partner and work with Habitat for Humanity on a local project. The work-day schedule is from 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., and buses will depart from the Hilton New Orleans Riverside and Doubletree New Orleans Hotels at 7 a.m.
If you would like to be part of the Habitat for Humanity team, just fill out your I&E Registration Form or register online and check the "Habitat For Humanity" box to participate. Exhibitors may consult their service kit for more information. For additional information on New Orleans Habitat for Humanity, visit www.habitat-nola.org.
In addition to the team of NAFA volunteers and their contribution, the NAFA Fleet Management Association is making a contribution to help continue Habitat for Humanity projects after I&E leaves the crescent city.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to give not only to the fleet management community, but also to the New Orleans community. We are grateful for your support!
Save money and gain knowledge at this year's I&E. Take advantage of several airline and rental car discounts by clicking on "Attendee Information" and then "General Information" on the left hand side at www.nafaiande.org.
Airline Discounts:
American Airlines is offering 5 percent off the lowest applicable published air fare.
For phone reservations: Call (800) 433-1790 and refer to authorization code: A7949AG (a $20 ticketing fee will be added to phone reservations). To book online: Log on to www.AA.com and refer to promotion code A7949AG. For tickets purchased at an airport, a $30 ticketing fee will be added. This amount is subject to change. International originating guests need to call their local reservations number and refer to NAFA's Promotion Code A7949AG.
Continental Airlines - Phone reservations: call Continental Airline's Meeting Works at (800) 468-7022 and provide the Z Code ZEYP and Agreement Code CMNM59 to save 2 to 15 percent off published fares (excluding tax). There will be a $15 service fee collected, per ticket, for all tickets issued through Meeting Works Reservations or any Continental Airlines ticketing facility. The service fee is non-refundable and applies to all itineraries one-way or round trip.
NorthWest Airlines - Phone Reservations: call (800) 328-1111, provide Worldfile number NYVFD. Book online: www.nwa.com.
Car Rental Discounts:
Enterprise has been named the "official car rental company" for NAFA's 2009 Institute & Expo. To arrange your car rental reservation, follow this link: http://www.enterprise.com/billboard/page.do?dspg=6948. For telephone reservations, call Enterprise at (800) 261-7331 and mention our Corporate Number 24E2998 for a discount. Please note: Online reservations may cost less than telephone reservations.
The New Orleans Hilton Riverside will serve as the headquarters hotel, and registrants are encouraged to make their hotel reservations early, as the I&E takes place the same time as New Orleans' famous Jazz Fest! Early hotel reservations can be made through NAFA's I&E website at www.NAFAIandE.org. For hotel information, online reservations and forms, visit the Hotel and Travel page.
The Hilton New Orleans Riverside, which is next to the New Orleans Morial Convention Center, offers group rates of $226 - $276. Online reservations can be made at http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/MSYNHHH-AFA-20090418/index.jhtml.
The DoubleTree New Orleans is four blocks from the New Orleans Morial Convention Center and offers a group rate of $226. Online reservations can be made at http://www.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/personalized/MSYTCDT-AFA-20090419/index.jhtml.
The first night's room rate is required as an advance deposit for all reservations. Credit cards will be charged at the same time that the reservation is made. The cut-off date for reservations is April 1, 2009. NAFA will be providing shuttle service between the hotels and convention center.
Attendance numbers for NAFA's I&E are significantly up - a 20% increase from this time last year. Register now! You still have time to secure a prime location at the largest fleet management event under one roof anywhere! To reserve your booth or request more information, contact Mark Miller at 703-934-4700, ext. 1107, or exhibits@nafa.org.
Join the Following Companies Who Are Pledging to Both Exhibit and Sponsor at NAFA's I&E:
- Adrian Steel Company
- ALD Automotive, Inc.
- ARI, Automotive Resources
- Assetworks, Inc.
- Comdata
- Fleet Response
- Merchants Leasing
- Safelite AutoGlass
- SuperFleet
- Toyota Fleet
- US Bank/Voyager Fleet Systems
- Valvoline Instant Oil Change
Here are the forms you will need to reserve your booth space today:
2009 NAFA Institute & Expo Floor Plan
2009 NAFA I & E Exhibit Space Application
Look at the vendors already signed up!
Sponsorships are also at the same number from last year and on the rise. We have 24 current sponsors and continue to grow by the day! Click here to view sponsors. I&E sponsorship packages are designed with maximum return on investment in mind. We have designed valuable sponsorship packages that consider budgets of all sizes. Become an I&E sponsor! Contact Mark Miller at 703-934-4700, ext. 1107, or exhibits@nafa.org.
Have you had a really good idea that saved your fleet money or made it unique? Maybe it's an idea you came up with that you share with your friends and family around the dinner table. Your creative ideas have already helped your employer - and now it's time to receive the recognition you deserve! Previous winning ideas have included:
- Innovative use of Internet technology.
- Cost and efficiency savings realized by restructuring personnel.
- Streamlining tasks or eliminating marginal activities.
- Forming both internal and external strategic alliances.
- Designing unique vehicles to meet unique needs.
- Innovative lifecycle analysis and decision-making.
- Unique hiring and retention practices.
Submit your entry today for this year's Larry Goill Memorial Quality Fleet Management Idea Award, sponsored by NAFA and Bell Canada. NAFA's Larry Goill Memorial Quality Fleet Management Idea Award honors individuals whose creative ideas improve fleet management by increasing productivity or creating bottom-line cost savings. Submit your idea and be in the category of these past recipients: Christopher Amos, CAFM; Jack Harris; David Carr, CAFM; J.J. Keig, CAFM; Oleg Cytowicz; Jon Crull, CAFM; Robert Stanton; John Alley, CAFM; and David Bragg. Click here to review a complete list of our past award recipients.
Applications may be submitted by any individual who is directly employed in a vehicle management role by any company, utility, government agency, or not-for-profit organization in the United States or Canada.
To be considered a candidate for the Quality Fleet Management Idea Awards, please complete the entry form located at www.nafa.org/goill or click here for an entry form. All entries must include a completed entry form and six (6) copies of any additional materials sent along with the entry to substantiate the entry (e.g., CD, video, reports, etc.). There is NO entry fee. You may submit up to three separate ideas for consideration; each idea, however, must be submitted on a separate entry form with its own corresponding documentation. Deadline for entries is March 12, 2009.
It is recommended that you send your entry via a secure delivery method that provides evidence of delivery to NAFA. All entries must be sent to:
Larry Goill Memorial Quality Fleet Management Idea Awards
c/o NAFA
Suite 200, 125 Village Blvd.
Princeton, NJ 08540
General Motors
General Motors dealers in the United States delivered 129,227 vehicles in January, down 49 percent compared with a year ago. Retail sales were off 38 percent, but retail market share held steady compared with December. GM January total car sales of 43,943 were off 58 percent and total truck sales (including crossovers) of 85,284 were down 42 percent compared with a year ago. Additionally, retail sales for GM cars and crossovers combined were about 65 percent of sales mix in the month and a total of 923 GM hybrid vehicles were delivered in January.
GM has announced reductions in first quarter production to adjust inventories for marketplace demand. This strategic move helped reduce inventories and related costs for GM and its dealers during this historic downturn, but the lack of production also meant that fleet vehicles, which typically are built to order, have been delayed. GM's fleet sales of just more than13,000 vehicles in January, were at their lowest levels since 1975. GM's fleet sales numbers include rental car agencies, not simply corporate and government fleets.
In January, GM North America produced 65,000 vehicles (6,000 cars and 59,000 trucks). This is down 232,000 vehicles, or 78 percent, compared with January 2008. The region's 2009 first-quarter production forecast is 380,000 vehicles (118,000 cars and 262,000 trucks), which is down about 57 percent compared with a year ago.
Chrysler LLC
Chrysler LLC reported total January 2009 U.S. sales of 62,157 units, down 55 percent versus the same month in 2008, and down 31 percent from December 2008. Total sales were suppressed by a significant reduction in fleet sales, which is aligned with the company's sales strategy of trying to help to maintain or improve the overall residual value of Chrysler vehicles. Fleet sales were down 81 percent for January compared to the same time last year. Chrysler's fleet sales numbers include rental car agencies, not simply corporate and government fleets.
"Chrysler LLC received the first $4 billion installment of our $7 billion bridge loan from the U.S. Treasury in early January," said Jim Press, President and Vice Chairman – Chrysler LLC. "However, it wasn't until later in the month that Chrysler Financial received its $1.5 billion loan, greatly enhancing its ability to support our dealers and provide credit to our customers."
Chrysler estimated in its submission to Congress last year that the industry would sell 11.1 million units during calendar year 2009. However, the Company currently believes that if the January trend continues, the industry could see 10 million units or fewer sold during the year, due to the reduction of consumer credit and tightening of the lending standards.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., announced recovery actions designed to enhance the company's performance during the current global economic and financial crisis. The company also revealed a new organizational structure to guide Nissan through current challenges and support its future direction.
Despite actions taken last year to respond to the global crisis, worsening conditions are prompting the need for further changes to the company's cash management strategy, business structure and investment plans. Countermeasures include: suspending Nissan GT 2012; zero-emission vehicles will be retained; reducing labor costs; eliminating bonus payments to the board of directors; implementing a work sharing scheme for staff; reducing global headcount by 20,000 through this year; implementing shift eliminations, non-production days, and shorter working hours; and a new organizational structure.
Toyota Motor Corporation financial results for the third quarter, ended December 31, 2008, show a decrease of 28.4 percent compared to the same period last fiscal year. In North America, vehicle sales were 521,000 units, a decrease of 235,000 units.
"Both revenues and profits declined severely during this period. The negative results are largely due to lower vehicle sales volume under difficult market conditions, mainly in the U.S. and Europe, and the rapid appreciation of the yen against the U.S. dollar and the euro," said TMC Executive Vice President, Mitsuo Kinoshita.
Consolidated vehicle sales for the third quarter amounted to 1.84 million units, a decrease of 443,000 units compared to the same period last fiscal year.
The 2010 Ford Transit Connect will be unveiled at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. The vehicle was built on a dedicated front-wheel drive commercial vehicle platform to meet and exceed the needs of small business owners and entrepreneurs.
"This workhorse is like nothing available today in the American market," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of Global Product Development. "We're offering small business owners a real choice to meet their needs, instead of asking them to pull seats out of minivans or compromise on one or more of their needs. Transit Connect is good news for small business owners nationwide."
During the next four years, Ford will introduce in North America: the Transit Connect battery electric commercial vehicle in 2010; a new battery electric small car in 2011; next-generation hybrid vehicles in 2012; and plug-in hybrid versions in 2012. Ford is working with Smith Electric Vehicles, the European market's leading battery electric upfitter of commercial vehicles, which is part of the U.K.-based Tanfield Group of companies.
The newest members of Chrysler LLC's ENVI electric-vehicle lineup made their political debut at the Washington Auto Show Public Policy Day. Media, government officials, and key opinion leaders had the opportunity to learn about and test-drive Chrysler's ENVI vehicles during a media briefing and an industry ride and drive.
"We are committing our resources and funding on electrifying existing models, such as Chrysler's Town & Country minivan, to achieve speed to market, in addition to exploring all new vehicle concepts, such as the Chrysler 200C EV. Chrysler's ENVI team is in Washington this week demonstrating the customer benefits of electric-drive technology by providing policy makers the opportunity to drive the future," said Lou Rhodes, Chrysler LLC Vice President - Advanced Vehicle Engineering and President - ENVI.
Last month, at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Company showed five ENVI vehicles, reinforcing a commitment to developing and bringing to market a broad array of advanced electric vehicles for the Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge brands.
GM is notifying its employees that it will reduce salaried employment globally, from a current level of 73,000 to approximately 63,000. These reductions are expected to take place in 2009 and approximately 3,400 of GM's 29,500 salaried employees in the United States, will be impacted.
These difficult actions are necessitated by a severe drop in vehicle sales worldwide and by the need to restructure GM for long-term viability. GM outlined the need for the reductions in its restructuring plan submitted to Congress in December 2008.
These reductions will be made using GM separation programs and policies, which provide for severance payments, benefit contributions and outplacement assistance. The majority of the reductions are expected to take place by May 1, 2009. GM also announced a temporary pay reduction for a majority of U.S. salaried employees. This begins May 1, and will be effective through the end of the year, when it will be reviewed. In the United States, executive employees will have their base pay reduced by 10 percent, and many other salaried employees will see reductions of 3 to 7 percent. Other countries are currently reviewing compensation and benefits for salaried employees.
Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Award Winners Announced
The 2009 recipients of the ecoENERGY for Vehicles Awards were officially revealed at the Canadian International AutoShow on February 11th. Announced by the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources, the awards recognized the most fuel-efficient cars and light trucks available in Canada.
The Minister highlighted the importance of fuel-efficient vehicles, outlining their environmental benefits and helping drivers to save money on gas. The ecoENERGY for Vehicles Awards are a component of the Government's ecoENERGY initiative. This initiative consists of targeted methods to help Canadians use energy more efficiently.
The winners of the 2009 Awards in each of the 10 vehicle classes are summarized below.
Two-seater car: Smart fortwo/cabriolet
Subcompact car: Toyota Yaris and MINI Cooper/Cooper Clubman/Cooper Convertible (co-winners)
Compact car: Honda Civic Hybrid
Mid-size car: Toyota Prius
Full-size car: Honda Accord Sedan and Hyundai Sonata (co-winners)
Station wagon: Volkswagen Jetta Wagon TDI Clean Diesel
Pickup truck: Ford Ranger and Mazda B2300 (co-winners)
Special purpose vehicle: Ford Escape Hybrid
Minivan: Mazda 5
Large van: Chevrolet Express Cargo/GMC Savana Cargo
The National Biodiesel Board unveiled a formalized list of principles to guide the industry on issues of sustainability for its annual conference. The national trade association's Sustainability Task Force had developed and passed the principles that demonstrate the industry's commitment to climate change mitigation, human rights, food security, and respect for natural resources.
"Biodiesel improves air quality, it's renewable and it's creating green-collar jobs in our communities. The NBB is committed to keeping biodiesel on the cutting-edge of sustainability," said Emily Landsburg, Chair of the Sustainability Task Force.
Joe Jobe, CEO of the NBB, has described San Francisco as an "inspiration" to the biodiesel industry. In addition to the 1,500 city vehicles operating on B20, and a city-led Biodiesel Task Force, San Francisco has a number of high profile users and locations that makes it the ideal city to host the biodiesel conference. The Red and White ferry fleet and familiar double-decker tourism buses use B20.
Tellurian Biodiesel, a biodiesel company, is headquartered in San Francisco, and nearby Oakland is home to biodiesel producer, Blue Sky Biofuels. In May 2001, CytoCulture and World Energy opened the first B100 retail station in San Francisco, and today there are several retail pumps in the area that sell biodiesel blends.
Legendary Texas energy executive T. Boone Pickens praised U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for comments advancing the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel for the nation's heavy-duty fleet vehicle market. Pickens praised the comments in a special email to the nearly 1.5 million members of "The New Energy Army" who have enlisted to help win support for the plan.
Pickens joined Reid and John Podesta, who heads up the Center for American Progress, in a special telephone conference call with reporters, to call attention to an upcoming energy summit on February 23 to highlight the nation's energy problems and to focus on near- and long-term solutions.
In the call, Reid highlighted natural gas as a domestic alternative to foreign oil/diesel in heavy duty fleet applications, a key element of "The Pickens Plan." His remarks called for government leadership and support in making that happen.
"If we're going to convert these big trucks into natural gas, there needs to be some big kick in the rear to get it done; it can't be done in the private sector alone, and this is something that we need to take a look at," Reid said. "We need to see incentives, grants, planning dollars and some serious effort put into public-private partnerships to accelerate the deployment of heavy-duty natural gas vehicles and other clean-fuel vehicles and infrastructure."
Pickens noted that there are about 6 million heavy-duty vehicles in the United States, and that the United States can achieve a nearly 5 percent reduction in foreign oil/diesel use if just 350,000 begin using natural gas as a domestic alternative. The Pickens Plan is a detailed solution for ending the United States' growing dependence on foreign oil, and calls for investing in power generation from domestic renewable resources such as wind and using our abundant supplies of natural gas as a transportation fuel.
Driving cross-country or even around town in an alternative fuel vehicle used to require drivers to do a little homework to find the nearest fueling station – but not anymore. Consumers on-the-go can now access the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fueling Station Locator using their cell phone, BlackBerry, or other personal digital assistant.
The Mobile Alternative Fueling Station Locator allows drivers to find the five closest biodiesel, electricity, E85, hydrogen, natural gas, and propane fueling sites. This convenient tool uses well-known, easy-to-navigate Google Maps to automatically generate maps to fueling sites and lists each station's contact information and business hours.
"Most drivers don't realize alternative fuels are readily available in their areas, so the goal of the mobile station locator is to show them that alternative fueling sites are conveniently located," says Dennis Smith, National Clean Cities director.
The mobile station locator is part of the Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center (AFDC) website (www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc). It was developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which manages the AFDC. The tool is sponsored by the Clean Cities initiative (www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities), a government-industry partnership sponsored by DOE's Vehicle Technologies Program.
The Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) applauded the House for its support of electric drive vehicles in the stimulus bill it passed, and called on the Senate to add provisions to reach and exceed President Obama's goal of 1 million fuel-efficient plug-in electric drive vehicles by 2015.
"The stimulus bill is a historic opportunity to accelerate the electrification of America's transportation sector, create green jobs, and reduce our oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions," said EDTA President Brian Wynne. "The House provided critical support for battery manufacturing, recharging infrastructure and electric drive vehicle deployments in the U.S."
EDTA urged the Senate to provide additional investment for electric drive vehicle manufacturing in the United States, expansion of the consumer credit ceiling for the purchase of plug-in electric drive vehicles, and greater investment in accelerating electric drive technology. EDTA's Electric Drive Road Map for Energy Security outlines the key elements of a comprehensive strategy to accelerate the growth of hybrid, plug-in, battery and fuel cell vehicles in the United States. Wynne cited Road Map recommendations included in the House-passed American Reinvestment and Recovery Plan:
Support for U.S. Battery Manufacturing—Providing $2 billion to support investments in U.S. manufacturing of advanced batteries used in electric drive vehicles;
Enhanced Tax Incentives for Recharging—Increasing the refueling property credit to 50 percent of cost up to $50,000, and increasing the value of hydrogen infrastructure credits to $200,000 for fueling stations;
Expansion of Electric Drive Vehicle Deployments—Allocating $400 million to the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities program for regional efforts to deploy plug-in vehicles; $200 million to support deployment of vehicles beyond light-duty to include transit, ground support and ports, as well as the deployment of electric drive infrastructure. Another $600 million is provided to speed up the federal government's effort to replace older vehicles with more fuel-efficient vehicles, such as hybrid, plug-in, and battery vehicles.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., announced it will test two new types of heavy-duty commercial hybrid trucks and two different alternatively fueled heavy duty trucks, as a part of the company's efforts to build on its progress in developing a more sustainable trucking fleet.
The new trucks include a full-propulsion Arvin Meritor hybrid that will initially operate in the Detroit area; and fifteen trucks operating in a Buckeye, Arizona distribution center near Phoenix, will be converted to run on Reclaimed Grease FuelTM, made with the waste brown cooking grease from Wal-Mart stores.
In addition, the remaining trucks located in the Buckeye distribution center will operate on an 80/20 blend of biodiesel made of reclaimed yellow waste grease; five Peterbilt Model 386 heavy duty hybrid trucks with diesel-electric hybrid power systems developed by Eaton Corporation and PACCAR that will be based in Dallas, Houston; Apple Valley, California; Atlanta, and the Washington/Baltimore regions; and four Peterbilt Model 386 trucks, and one yard truck, which operates only on the distribution center property, will operate on liquid natural gas. These trucks are part of a partnership with the Mojave Air Quality Management District and will operate out of the distribution center in Southern California.
Johnson Controls-Saft will supply the complete battery system for Ford Motor Company's first series production plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, which will be introduced in 2012. Ford announced plans for the battery partnership at the Washington Auto Show.
"This is a great day for the automotive industry in America," said Alex Molinaroli, President, Johnson Controls Power Solutions. "Today, nearly all batteries for hybrid electric vehicles are manufactured offshore. As the United States works to build a manufacturing infrastructure and supply base for hybrid and electric vehicles, this contract signals significant progress for our industry here."
The battery will power the car on full electric for 40 miles, and can be recharged through a standard 120 volt electrical outlet. The battery packs are to be designed and manufactured by Johnson Controls-Saft.
Johnson Controls-Saft is presently partnering with Ford, as well as Southern California-Edison (SCE) and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), on a 20-vehicle test fleet of PHEVs to demonstrate the capability of PHEVs as part of a complete vehicle, home and grid energy system. Data from this demonstration fleet will be used to support the PHEV production program. The five-year supply agreement includes delivery of battery packs for committed production in 2012 with a target of five thousand units per year, with the potential to ramp up to meet customer demand.
Representatives of Hilarides Dairy announced, at the World Agricultural Fair, that the company is converting cow waste to fuel trucks and generators while minimizing pollution and diversifying energy sources.
Rob Hilarides, the dairy owner, earned a $600,000 grant from the California Air Resources Board's Alternative Fuel Incentive Program, which subsidizes projects facilitating greater use of non-petroleum fuels.
"It's energy projects like this that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and get us off our dependency of foreign oil," said Air Resources Board Chairman, Mary Nichols. "It also addresses sources of long-term air and water pollution problems."
Hilarides converted two heavy-duty diesel trucks to run on clean-burning bio-methane produced from his cows' manure. Using an anaerobic-lagoon digester that processes the run-off of nearly 10,000 cows, the project generates 226,000 cubic feet of bio-gas per day and enough fuel to run two heavy duty trucks that make daily runs. This has reduced the dairy's diesel consumption by 650 gallons a day. Hilarides intends to convert five pick-up trucks to use the same fuel. The Hilarides project was supported by state officials because the process reduces volatile organic compounds and greenhouse gasses, generates compressed natural gas, an alternative to diesel, and minimizes two sources of the valley's air pollution problem.
Order by February 28 and Save 25% on NAFA's FADG
Fleet Acquisition and Disposal Guide
A NAFA collaboration with NTEA & IARA, this guide investigates the acquisition and disposal process, illustrating how both functions are equally important and mutually dependent. Save time and effort by using this comprehensive source, as 360 pages cover topics ranging from methods of reducing lifecycle vehicle costs by minimizing net acquisition costs, to maximizing net disposal revenue and selecting vehicles. ORDER TODAY!
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 opportunity, make your listings 200 words or fewer. Links to complete job descriptions on the company's website 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.
Job Wanted Listings Provide New Networking Opportunities!
Are you looking for a new job or a motivated, hard-working employee? NAFA's Job Wanted Listings is an exclusive benefit for Members and Affiliates who are looking to make a career change. PLEASE NOTE: This new and exclusive benefit is FREE! To take advantage of this service, e-mail your Job Wanted posting to Maureen Smith at msmith@nafa.org.
February Job Postings
Equipment Bureau Chief - Arlington County, VA
Fleet Manager - Nassau County, NY
Lead Mechanic - Delta, CO
Fleet Administrator - Kansas City, MO
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
NAFA's 34 local chapters across Canada and the United States offer you numerous opportunities to meet colleagues and receive valuable fleet management education to keep you informed! Each year, more than 100 NAFA Chapter meetings provide top level education and training on a wide variety of timely topics!
February is a busy month for NAFA Chapters! Chapter meetings will take place, including:
February 18
New England Chapter - Fleet Manager Roundtable Discussion
Location: Holiday Inn, Mansfield, MA
Contact: Karen Kearns, P: 401.392.1000 ext. 2060 or karen.kearns@gtech.com
February 19
San Francisco Chapter - Building Successful Surveys and Chapter Elections
Location: Bold Knight Bistro, San Jose, CA
Contact: Dave Snow, P: 408.299.2357, email: dave.snow@faf.sccgov.org
RSVP by February 13, 2009
February 19
New York Chapter - The Path to Electric Vehicles
Location: 1000 Roosevelt Avenue, Carteret, NJ
Contact: Arthur Kappel, AKAPPEL@cablevision.com
RSVP by February 12, 2009
February 19
Mid-America Chapter - Reducing Your Carbon Foot Print
Location: Black and Veatch, Overland Park, KS
Contact: Becky Hanna, bhanna1@hallmark.com, P: 816.274.4288
February 24
Wisconsin Chapter Meeting, Auto Show, and Term Elections
Location: Meeting will be held at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center and the Auto Show will be held at Midwest Airlines Center, both in Milwaukee, WI.
Contact: Mary Daniel, P: 414.385.5212, mdaniel@sssf.org
February 24
Atlanta Chapter Meeting
Location: Mansfield Oil, Gainesville, GA
Contact: Patsy Brownson, P: 404.313.3323, patsy.brownson@comcast.net
February 24
Arizona Chapter and Rocky Mountain Fleet Management Association
Location: AZ-DOT facility, Phoenix, AZ
Contact: Dan Johnson, djohns19@ford.com, P: 602.790.8598
February 27
Alabama Chapter - Meeting and Workshop
Location: Hoover Public Safety Center
Contact: J.E. Barker, P: 256.549.4705, jbarker@cityofgadsen.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.
Three online, searchable networking databases will put you in easy touch with all your NAFA colleagues. Exclusively for the use of the NAFA membership! Our three databases help YOU find:
- Fellow Members and Affiliates based on name, geographic area, or chapter.
- An expert who has volunteered to answer questions from colleagues on specific topics that are important to you.
- An Affiliate product or service; you can choose from more than 50 categories!
You must be a Member or Affiliate to utilize the online networking databases. To start your search, click here.
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 January 31, 2009. 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.
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.