NAFA Connection
NAFA Fleet Management Association
Why Participate And Get Your Colleagues To Join?
- Build your network that may help in your next project!
- Get a chance to win a free trip to I&E including hotel and travel expenses! (The Membership Drive Grand Prize Pack including I&E conference registration, hotel, and airfare.)
- Get a chance to win a free I&E registration!
- Receive a $10 coupon good toward any NAFA product for each new NAFA Member you get to join!
- Strengthen your association that provides fleet solutions for all fleet professionals!
- Build your opportunity to become more involved in your association – and truly make it your association!
For each new fleet manager NAFA member that is recruited between July 1 and November 30, 2009, one ticket will be entered in a drawing to win a free trip (Grand Prize) and free registration to NAFA's 2010 Institute & Expo held in Detroit, April 24–29, 2010. In addition, collect NAFA coupon dollars for every new member you recruit!
For complete details and contest rules, visit www.nafa.org/2009drive.
- Get Started Today With Your Recruiting Toolbox!
Download our special Member application and don't forget to put your name on the "SPONSOR" line before distributing.
US and Canadian Member Application
International Member Application - Good webpages to refer to:
Top Reasons To Join
Testimonials
Membership Benefits
www.nafa.org/join - Spread the word. Here's some ideas how:
- Invite a colleague to a local meeting
- E-mail fellow professionals (see above links)
- Contact your local chapter chair for a list of prospective Members
- Research similar companies in your area and find out who runs their fleet
- E-mail NAFA's Membership Department directly for a prospect Member to contact
NAFA would like to honor the memory of James Ellis Barker, Fleet Manager for Gadsden, Alabama, who passed away Friday, June 26, at Gadsden Regional Medical Center. Barker, 60, served as the chair of NAFA's Chapter Safety Committee (2001–2002) and served several terms as chapter leader secretary (2003–2004, 2006–2010) for NAFA's Alabama chapter.
Barker graduated from the UNC-Charlotte, worked for the state of Georgia for 17 years and was fleet manager for the city of Gadsden for 13 years. He is survived by his wife, Arline, and four daughters. NAFA was deeply saddened to learn of Jim's passing and we would like to express our condolences to his family and peers.
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.
The Affiliates Committee would like to thank everyone for attending NAFA's 2009 Institute &Expo (I&E) in New Orleans. Despite the economic downturn for many businesses, NAFA had another terrific I&E this year. The 2009 I&E offered numerous networking opportunities, exhibits featuring the latest fleet products, and quality training and education.
The I&E seminar content comprised of more than 60 hours of training, education and workshops. The I&E's educational content was well received by attendees and customized to appeal to a wide variety of fleet interests and experiences.
The Fleet Expo featured more than 215 companies exhibiting their latest products and services. The Fleet Expo was packed with suppliers, manufacturers, and service providers focused on the fleet industry. The Fleet Expo also included the Green Zone, which showcased the latest in green fleet products and services. In addition, there was a Green Fleet Ride-and-Drive that offered attendees the opportunity to test drive various alternative-fuel vehicles. Another successful feature of the conference was the Public Safety Group Rodeo, which included the largest collection of emergency service vehicles offered at any fleet event.
The Grand Celebration was very well attended as attendees networked with their peers and business partners. This fun-filled evening included all the food and drink that makes New Orleans famous, as well as listening and dancing to a popular local band. The venue was perfect as was the food and beverages. Everyone enjoyed the band, which livened the evening festivities.
This year's keynote speaker was Graeme Maxton. This was a repeat appearance for Maxton, who last spoke three years ago at NAFA's annual conference. At that time, Maxton warned that the global auto industry needed a major model change and complete re-engineering to fix all that was wrong with it. According to Maxton, the past 12 months substantiated much of his dire forecast. Maxton, an internationally renowned authority on the global automotive industry, shared his insights about the future of the global automotive industry as the opening keynote speaker for the 2009 I&E, on Sunday, April 26.
At the 2009 I&E, Maxton's forecast for the auto industry was not bright. He made five predictions:
- Global car and truck sales will take more than a decade to recover.
- There will be fewer companies manufacturing cars and trucks and a more fragmented auto industry.
- Car prices need to almost double in real terms. "Cars are too cheap," he said. Maxton predicted tighter emission controls will drive up prices, governments will raise taxes, and interest on car loans will go up.
- The economic pressures on the auto industry and lower fuel prices will most likely cause environmentalism to take a back seat for now.
- Innovation will cause a resurgence in the auto industry.
In addition to his knowledge of the automotive industry, Maxton is a writer, presenter, and events moderator who specializes in Asian business and economics. Maxton chairs many of The Economist's meetings and conferences and is the presenter of the "Doing Business in Asia" video series. He writes for a variety of publications including The Economist, The South China Morning Post, Scotland on Sunday, Business China, and Business Asia. Maxton holds a degree in economics and operations research, as well as an MBA and is a member of the economic policy committee of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. He lives in Vienna and Hong Kong.
NAFA and the Affiliates Committee would like to thank the following companies and NAFA Chapters for their sponsorship and support of the 2009 I&E and the Grand Celebration.
Manufacturers
Gold Level
- Chrysler LLC
- Ford Motor Company
- General Motors Corporation
- Toyota Fleet
Platinum Level
- ARI (Automotive Resources International)
- CEI global vehicle risk solutions
- Corporate Claims Management
- Emkay, Inc.
- Federal Signal Corp.
- GE Capital Solutions Fleet Services
- LeasePlan USA
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- PHH Arval
- Wheels Inc.
- Wright Express
- AssetWorks
- FLD, Inc.
- Adrian Steel
- ALD Automotive USA
- Auto Driveaway
- Comdata
- Environmental Defense Fund
- Fleet Response
- Gerber Collision & Glass
- GreenDriver
- Harley-Davidson Motor Company
- Merchants Leasing
- Safelite Auto Glass
- SuperFleet
- US Bank Voyager Fleet Systems
- Valvoline Instant Oil Change
- ADESA Corporation
- Leggett & Platt Commercial Vehicle Products
- Nagy FleetNet, Inc.
Platinum Level
- San Francisco
- Sunshine State
- Tri-State
- Chicago
- Mid-America
- Mid-West
- New York
- Pacific Northwest
- Rocky Mountain
- St. Louis Gateway
- Inter-County
- New England
- Old Dominion
- Wisconsin
On behalf of the Affiliates Committee, we congratulate all those whose accomplishments were recognized at the 2009 I&E conference in New Orleans! It is your support and involvement that made this year's I&E a success!
Everyone on the Affiliates Committee is looking forward to 2010 I&E to be held in the heart of the auto industry – Detroit, Michigan.
NAFA Institute & Expo Priority Period in Full Swing – Deadline is 7/31/09!
Show Dates: April 25–26, 2010
COBO Center
Wayne & Oakland Exhibit Hall
Detroit, MI
Three Reasons to Reserve Your Booth Today:
- SAVE, SAVE, SAVE
Past exhibitors receive a $100 discount for every 100 sqft reserved and can secure their booth for 2010 before the general sales campaign opens. Deadline is 7/31/09. - Meet Fleet Decision Makers
NAFA Members are composed of both commercial (60%) and government (40%) fleet managers and are responsible for more than 3.5 million vehicles! - Green Zone is Hot
With alternative fuels being in the headlines, the NAFA I&E Green Zone will draw buyers to the floor!
No matter what type of fleet you have, fleet managers all face the same issues with regard to maintenance. Just published, this guide will enhance your understanding of the essential maintenance principles of in-house, contracted or outsourced maintenance. Whether you work for a large corporation, a government entity, utility, or university, the Fleet Maintenance Operations Guide provides you with valuable information and resources. More than 500 pages of information, articles, codes, checklists and guidelines examine:
- preventive maintenance & warranty operations
- shop operations
- environmental issues
- inventory management
- benchmarking staff performance
- outsourcing
- maintenance staffing
Available in two formats to meet your project needs!
- The e-download gives you instant access and portability – store it virtually anywhere: in your own "NAFA document folder," on your computer, or on your flash drive to take with you!
- The CD version offers the same practical abilities as the e-downloadable format and is a product ready to share with other members of your fleet management team or add to the department's reference shelves!
Due to its size, it will not be available in print. Order Today!
To better answer your questions and concerns, Impact Public Affairs, NAFA's Canadian legislative counsel, has established a new toll-free phone number with dedicated live response and a new centralized e-mail address: nafa@impactcanada.com.
Now, NAFA Members can call 866-935-9969 with any questions or concerns and receive a guaranteed 24-hour response (excluding weekends and public holidays).
NAFA's Canadian legislative counsel serves membership by monitoring federal legislation and regulatory activities that might impact fleets, to be on-call to fight key issues as they develop and to conduct significant direct dialogue with members as requested. Impact Public Affairs monitors legislation in all 10 provinces and three territories, and drafts regular legislative updates and bi-weekly member updates for electronic bulletins and articles for NAFA publications.
This latest service will provide NAFA Members with immediate answers and even better service.
Find out which Members recently celebrated a five-, 10-, or 20-year anniversary with NAFA by logging online to the Membership Milestones page. This page will provide you with anniversary dates along with bios on those celebrating milestones.
Most recently, Earl B. Mitchell of Mitchell & Associates Travel Consultants in Toledo, Ohio celebrated his 40th anniversary with NAFA, and Douglas Ward of Coburg, Ontario celebrated his 30th. In May, Allen M. Mitchell, Fleet Manager at the Everett, Wash. Department of Public Works in Snohomish County, celebrated his 30-year anniversary. To see additional members celebrating milestones, please click here.
Congratulations to the following members who are celebrating membership milestones! Thanks for being part of the NAFA family!
This landmark bill will revitalize U.S. economy by creating millions of new jobs, increase national security by reducing dependence on foreign oil, and preserve the planet by reducing the pollution that causes global warming.
The bill will invest $190 billion in new, clean energy technologies and energy efficiency; including energy efficiency and renewable energy ($90 billion in new investments by 2025), carbon capture and sequestration ($60 billion), electric and other advanced technology vehicles ($20 billion), and basic scientific research and development ($20 billion), as well as reduce carbon emissions from major U.S. sources - by 17 percent by 2020, and over 80 percent by 2050 -compared to 2005 levels, among various other provisions.
The U.S. Department of Transportation proposed a new, consumer-friendly replacement tire label which would include, for the first time, information about the tire's impact on fuel economy and CO2 emission reductions. Tires with lower rolling resistance – and proper inflation pressure – can contribute to improved fuel economy.
In addition to the new fuel efficiency ratings, the proposal by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also would provide consumers with two other key pieces of tire performance information, wet weather traction, and tread wear. All three ratings would be prominently displayed on a removable label attached to the replacement tire at the point of sale.
The new, three-tiered ratings also will appear on safercar.gov to help consumers in compare ratings as they shop for new tires. NHTSA is required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to issue a final rule by December 2009. Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini said Governor Jon Corzine should follow Delaware's example by cutting the number of cars, vans and trucks in the state fleet then auctioning off the vehicles, a move that brought in more than half a million dollars for Delaware.
"Reducing the bloated state fleet will cut maintenance and gas costs," explained Angelini, R-Monmouth. "Those savings, coupled with funds raised by auctioning the vehicles, could be used to keep the property tax rebate program viable and pay down state debt. If Delaware made more than half a million dollars by auctioning 197 vehicles imagine how many New Jersey could auction and the profit we could realize.
"We have more than 15,500 vehicles issued to state employees, an increase of 144 since January 2007 and Governor Corzine expects us to believe he has 'scrubbed' the budget for wasteful spending?" she continued. "Instead of cutting what little property tax relief middle class families have been depending on to survive and shutting schools for severely disabled students, the governor ought to look in his own backyard and begin making real, tangible spending cuts."
The Associated Press reported that Delaware auctioned off 197 vehicles for a $519,000 profit. Its fleet of 4,900 vehicles was reduced 20 percent and it expected to drop to 3,920. Angelini, noting that Delaware state officials used an Eatontown, New Jersey-based auction liquidation service, said, "Our neighboring state has even laid the groundwork for us. This is an excellent measure for reducing state costs and one that Governor Corzine should have already done."
Angelini said that in light of Delaware's success in cutting its fleet of state vehicles for profit, she is calling for immediate action on legislation she introduced last month to control the use of New Jersey state vehicles.
The bill, A-3914, would require state departments and agencies to submit a request to the state Treasurer for the use of state vehicles before they are assigned to or used by officers or state employees. The written requests must include the name of the employee, a description of their job responsibilities, an explanation of why they require a vehicle, the time period that the vehicle will be used, and a cost analysis. This measure provides that the Department of the Treasury will manage, control, and supervise the assignment and use of each vehicle that is owned or leased by the State for the conduct of official business. American consumers' opinions about the Ford Motor Company have been positively influenced by the company's decision not to accept government bailout funds, and by the bankruptcy filings of rivals General Motors and Chrysler. Automotive research and analysis firm AutoPacfic conducted an online survey of more than 900 U.S. consumers regarding their purchase intent and opinions of individual car companies.
Highlights include:
- Asian and European manufacturers scored highest when the survey asked, "How concerned are you about buying/leasing a vehicle from a particular maker?"; with an average of 61% "Not concerned at all." Ford scored 48%, far ahead of GM's 15% and Chrysler's 14%.
- Ford matched or scored higher than its Asian and European competitors in response to the question "How likely are you to buy/lease a new car from (a specific manufacturer)?"
- Toyota – 43% Likely/Very Likely
- Ford – 43% Likely/Very Likely
- Honda – 41% Likely/Very Likely
- Volkswagen – 33% Likely/Very Likely
- Hyundai – 22% Likely/Very Likely
- General Motors – 15% Likely/Very Likely
- Chrysler – 7% Likely/Very Likely
- 39% Agreed/Completely Agreed that Ford Motor company was simply lucky to have "cleaned house" before the economic downturn
- 39% Agreed/Completely Agreed that Ford has yet to prove it won't ask for a bailout in the future
This decision is dependent on the successful outcome of ongoing economic incentive negotiations between GM and state and local government officials.
"Small cars represent one of the fastest-growing segments in both the U.S. and around the world," said Troy Clarke, president of General Motors North America. " GM will be the only automaker, foreign or domestic, to build small cars in the U.S ., and we believe Orion Assembly and Pontiac Stamping are well suited to deliver a high-quality, fuel-efficient car that competes with anything in the marketplace."
A selection team comprised of leaders from several of GM's functional areas, including manufacturing, labor relations and finance, made the final decision based on a specific set of criteria. Orion Assembly will be retooled and is anticipated to be a two-shift operation, building 160,000 cars annually – a combination of both small and compact vehicles.
Donlen Corporation has developed and launched a way for companies to further manage fuel costs with new and innovative fuel card discount functionality.
Existing Donlen customers who are utilizing the Donlen MasterCard Fuel Card can now access an online Find Fuel Discount tool to further leverage fuel discounts offered through Donlen's fuel program. Donlen created this propriety tool to give their customers better options when creating fuel program strategies to track and manage driver fuel transactions.
Accessed via Donlen's online fleet management tool FleetWeb, Find Fuel Discount allows the user two ways to access information: by viewing all stations offering discounts, and locating the best fuel discounts in their area by entering criteria as broad as their state, or as specific as their zip code. It is further enhanced with mapped locations and turn-by-turn directions to the best discounts available.
"The Find Fuel Discount tool is helping us to control our fuel spend," said Phil Samuelson, Purchasing / Asset Manager, United States Infrastructure Corp. "Donlen has developed an easy and accessible way to help us manage and reduce our operating expenses."
"We're quite pleased to lead 10 segments and Lexus' top position overall," said TMS President Jim Lentz. "The dependability of our vehicles has always been a major factor in the company's success. The IQS 90-day feedback is just one measurement – along with warranty claims, long-term durability, resale value and buyer loyalty – that helps us gauge our overall quality."
Lexus received awards in all five segments and it finished first overall, the Toyota nameplate finished sixth overall and earned four segment awards, the Scion nameplate moved up in the study to 20th overall and Toyota production facilities took the top three Asia Pacific honors.
LeaseTrader.com announced a shift in customer demand for vehicles that may shed light on the economic recovery. LeaseTrader.com's Q2 customer activity report shows a modest rise in people assuming mid-size and luxury vehicles.
Beginning with the gas crunch in the spring of 2008, LeaseTrader.com customers downsized into a smaller, less expensive vehicle at a nationwide increase of 25-30 percent. Since the beginning of Q2 (April 2009) this percentage increase has slowed to 10-15 percent.
The LeaseTrader.com trend coincides with the automotive industry which may be seeing a small light at the end of the tunnel for car sales. According to media reports, new car sales in June saw its smallest decline in any month so far this year (28%) suggesting further evidence of a possible bottom in the market. Low inventories, incentive programs and rising consumer confidence are all playing into this shifting automotive trend.
New fully accessible, hybrid transit buses for the Transit Windsor fleet have officially been unveiled. The 18 diesel-electric hybrid buses are the first alternative fuel buses for the City of Windsor's transit system. The main focus of these new buses is helping to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving fuel economy.
Funding for this project was provided by all levels of government. Sandra Pupatello, Windsor West MPP highlighted that the Government of Ontario remains committed to helping green the community. The new hybrid buses will improve transit services, all the while providing a cleaner and greener option for Windsor.
The unveiling of the hybrid buses took place on June 22, coinciding with the annual summer schedule change. Following the official unveiling, the hybrid buses went into service as older buses arrived at the downtown transit terminal. Passengers who were riding on one of the older model buses pulled into the terminal on an old bus, and transferred to a new hybrid bus to continue along their route.
EPA Grants California Waiver
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted California's waiver request enabling the state to enforce its greenhouse gas emissions standards for new motor vehicles, beginning with the current model year. The first California waiver request was made in December 2005 and was subsequently denied in March 2008. This previous decision was based on an interpretation of the Clean Air Act finding that California did not have a need for its greenhouse gas emission standards to meet "compelling and extraordinary conditions." Shortly after taking office in January, President Barack Obama directed EPA to assess the appropriateness of denying the waiver.
Last month, President Obama announced a first-ever national policy aimed at both increasing fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in the United States. The new standards would cover model years 2012–2016. When the national program takes effect, California has committed to allowing automakers who show compliance with the national program to also be deemed in compliance with state requirements.
President Obama has signed into law the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) that directs $1 billion toward rebates for consumers who trade in their cars or trucks for new, more fuel-efficient vehicles. The trade-in vehicle must be less than 25 years old and drivable, and it must be registered and insured for the full year before the trade-in date. The Act focuses on fuel economy, requiring most trade-in vehicles to have a combined fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon (mpg) or less. Rebates will be awarded directly to dealers, who will pass on the savings to their customers. Additional information is available at http://www.cars.gov/.
The House of Representatives has passed H.R. 2454, "The American Clean Energy and Security Act." The legislation sets national targets for greenhouse-gas emissions under a cap-and-trade system and gradually lowers the overall level of greenhouse gas emissions. The legislation reduces carbon emissions from major U.S. sources by 17 percent by 2020 and over 80 percent by 2050 compared to 2005 levels.
Provisions of particular interest to fleets include:
- Gives authority to EPA to require certain fleets to report greenhouse gas emissions – fleets with annual GHG emissions of more than 25,000 metric tons of CO2.
- Authorizes EPA's SmartWay program. Currently SmartWay is a discretionary EPA program that could be terminated by EPA. This legislation requires EPA to implement SmartWay.
- Provides funding for plug-in electric vehicles, including funding for fleets. Very little detail on how the funding will be provided other than through an EPA grant program of some type.
- Prohibits EPA from going forward with methods for calculating indirect emissions from land-use changes from Biofuels production as part of a final renewable fuels standard.
- Requires states to set greenhouse gas reduction goals as part of transportation planning.
For passenger automobiles, the car to be traded must be drivable, have a fuel economy rating of 18 miles per gallon or less, and be registered and insured for the full year prior to the trade in. To get a rebate, the new car must be priced at $45,000 or less, and, to receive the maximum rebate of $4,500, the new car must have a fuel economy rating of at least 10 miles per gallon greater than the car to be traded. To receive an incentive of $3,500, the same car would be traded for one that gets at least four miles per gallon better gas mileage.
For most vans, SUVs and pickups, the vehicle to be traded must have a fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon or less. To receive an incentive of $3,500, the new vehicle must get at least two miles per gallon better mileage. To receive the $4,500 incentive, the same vehicle would need to be traded for one getting at least five miles per gallon better mileage.
The purchaser does not receive the money directly from DOT. Instead, the dealer reduces the purchase or lease price by the allowed amount, and the government reimburses the dealer for that amount.
The incentive program begins within 30 days of June 24's bill signing by the President. The final day for an eligible purchase or lease is November 1, 2009, or when DOT exhausts the funds set aside for the program, whichever occurs first. The credit is not retroactive prior to the start of the program and cannot be applied toward the purchase of used vehicles. The U.S. Department of Energy announced the selection of seven cost-shared research projects for the development of advanced batteries for electric drive vehicles. The total DOE investment for these projects is up to $10.96 million over three years, subject to annual appropriations. Private sector contributions will further increase the financial investment for a total of up to $19.36 million.
The projects are being funded by base annual appropriations and will focus on improving battery material performance, developing manufacturing processes to increase performance, and decreasing the cost of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle batteries. These projects were selected under the battery materials and manufacturing topic area from the Vehicle Technologies Program Wide Funding Opportunity Announcement, released on February 29, 2008. Click here to view additional selections.
A new report from Pike Research claims plug-in hybrid and other electric vehicles will surpass five million charging stations worldwide by 2015 with cumulative equipment revenues of $6.5 billion.
The research company predicts China will be the world leader in charging stations and the U.S. will be the second largest, with more than 1 million charge points installed by 2015. Other sources for electric vehicle charging infrastructure will include Israel and Denmark.
"While electric vehicles will be primarily charged at home, a strong funding push by governments will mean that more than half of all charge points will be public charging stations by 2015," said industry analyst John Gartner. "Retailers will also install public access stations primarily as a marketing tool, and many companies will also offer workplace charging stations for their employees."
The added demand for electricity will have little overall effect on grid reliability, according to the report, but it could diminish performance and accelerate capacity upgrades in neighborhoods with the highest concentrations of electric vehicles, including faster utility adoption of smart grid technologies. The California Air Resources Board adopted a regulation that will require new cars sold in California, starting in 2012, to have windows that reflect or absorb heat-producing rays from the sun. This will help keep cars cooler, increase their fuel efficiency and reduce global warming pollution.
Cooler cars mean less air conditioning thereby increasing fuel efficiency and preventing about 700,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere in 2020 – roughly the equivalent of taking 140,000 cars off the road for a year.
A variety of new and currently available approaches will be used to achieve the standards including adding chemicals to the glass during manufacturing to absorb the sun's energy and using laminated glass coated with invisible microscopic specks of metal to reflect it. Windshields that comply with the standard will continue to offer full visibility.
Compared to cars currently in showrooms, windows that comply with the standard will block 33 percent more heat-producing rays from the sun. Over a three-year period starting in 2012 windows in new cars sold in California must prevent 45 percent of the sun's total heat-producing energy from entering the car, with the windshield rejecting at least 50 percent of the sun's energy.
In 2016 car manufacturers will be required to install windows in new cars sold in California that prevent at least 60 percent of the sun's heat-producing rays from entering the cars interior, or propose alternative technologies to achieve an equivalent result.
Costs for the windows are expected to average $70 for the 2012 standard, and about $250 for the 2016 standard, with annual savings in gas of $16 and $20, respectively.
A new study shows that clean diesel technologies in engines manufactured beginning in 2007 not only reduced certain emissions by 90 percent over 2004 models, but far exceeded expectations in their performance in cleaning up the nation's air quality, according to the American Trucking Associations.
Emission reductions by 2007 model engines "exceeded substantially even those levels required by law," said the study, conducted by the Coordinating Research Council and the Health Effects Institute.
"These latest emissions figures are a testament to the trucking and engine manufacturing industries' deep commitment to the environment," said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. "We're proud of the significant progress that has been made and we look forward to building upon this foundation as we continue to work toward a more sustainable future."
In addition to reducing emissions through clean diesel technologies, the trucking industry's progressive environmental sustainability program will reduce fuel consumption by 86 billion gallons and CO2 emissions by 900 million tons for all vehicles over the next 10 years.
The study, sponsored by a multi-party group of government and industry organizations including the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Air Resources Board, and the Engine Manufacturers Association, is phase 1 of the Advanced Collaborative Emissions Study (ACES). This five year, comprehensive emissions testing program will test the emissions and health effects of new technology diesel engines to document the improvements that have been made and to ensure that there are no unintended emissions from these new technologies.
The Ford Motor Company's Blueprint for Sustainability includes the introduction of a range of global environmental technologies to provide more fuel-efficient vehicles that emit fewer greenhouse gases.
Some of the improvements to boost fuel economy outlined in the sustainability strategy are already on the road, while Ford continues to innovate for the future. The company will introduce technologies to further eliminate energy waste in vehicle systems by improving powertrain warm-up time, using vehicle control technologies like aggressive fuel shutoff during vehicle deceleration, and reducing engine workload through better battery recharging systems.
The cornerstone of Ford's near-term plan is a new generation of smaller-displacement turbo-charged gasoline engines with advanced fuel-saving direct injection technologies. Ford plans to deliver EcoBoost across the full range of its product portfolio, from small cars to large trucks and by 2013, will offer EcoBoost engines, V-6s and I-4s, on 90 percent of its North American nameplates.
Ford plans to deploy different levels of hybridization and accelerated their strategy for delivering electric vehicles to market, including a pure battery electric (BEV) Transit Connect commercial van in 2010 and a BEV Focus in 2011, as well as a plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) and next-generation hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) by 2012. Nissan North America, Inc. said it has been conditionally approved by the U.S. Department of Energy for a $1.6 billion loan to modify its Smyrna, Tenn., manufacturing plant to produce zero-emissions vehicles and state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery packs to power them.
The loan, announced by the U.S. Department of Energy, is among the first three loans under the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program (ATVMLP), a $25-billion program authorized by Congress under Section 136 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
Construction at Smyrna is scheduled to begin by the end of this year, after an environmental assessment is completed. Production is planned to start in late 2012. Nissan will offer electric vehicles in the United States and Japan beginning in 2010. The first vehicles for the U.S. market will be built in Japan before production is shifted to Smyrna.
The modifications of the Smyrna manufacturing plant include a new battery plant and changes in the existing structure for electric-vehicle assembly. When fully operational, the vehicle assembly plant will have the capacity to build 150,000 zero-emissions vehicles a year and the new plant will have an annual capacity of 200,000 batteries. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. provided an update on its comprehensive environmental action plan, Nissan Green Program 2010 (NGP 2010), along with a preview of future actions. Among the new initiatives is the review of long-term CO2 emission reduction scenarios. Nissan also announced the introduction of an automatic transmission (AT) model - with a clean-diesel engine - in the Japanese market, planned for spring 2010.
Nissan already has produced results toward its goal of reducing CO2 emissions, one of the priorities of the NGP 2010, including the development of electric vehicles (EV), introduction of clean diesel and fuel-efficient vehicles, and energy savings in manufacturing, logistics and facilities operations. Nissan is also reviewing its long-term CO2 emissions-reduction scenarios. These will be reflected in the next mid-term environmental action plan.
Aiming to be a global leader in zero-emissions vehicles, the Renault-Nissan Alliance has positioned electric vehicles as a core business strategy. The Alliance is accelerating its efforts for vehicle development and for establishing sustainable mobility partnerships in cooperation with governments and municipalities worldwide. The Alliance has 27 such partnerships in place at this time. For more information, click here. The EPA released a first-of-its-kind guide to help states save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by adopting clean energy practices in their facilities, operations and vehicle fleets.
States spend about 10 percent of their operating budgets on energy bills, yet these costs can be greatly reduced by implementing well-designed energy management and greenhouse gas reduction programs. For example, in New York, where a 2001 executive order directed state agencies to reduce energy consumption by 35 percent by 2010 relative to 1990 levels, the state saved $54.4 million in energy costs from energy efficiency improvements between fiscal years 2001-2002 and 2003-2004.
The EPA's Clean Energy Lead by Example Guide helps states identify key strategies, resources and tools best-suited to their energy needs. Each strategy has been tested and is proven to be cost effective. The guide was created as part of EPA's State Climate and Clean Energy Program, which assists states in developing and implementing clean energy policies and climate change solutions. To download the guide and find out more about the program, visit http://epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-programs/state-and-local/index.html. Azure Dynamics Corporation announced Purolator Courier Ltd. ("Purolator") has placed an order for an additional 50 Balance Hybrid Electric trucks. The trucks will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2009 and will be deployed primarily in Ontario. Purolator previously received its initial order of 105 Balance Hybrid Electrics.
"In keeping with its commitment to minimize its environmental footprint, Purolator continues to upgrade its vehicle fleet with cleaner and greener Azure vehicles," said Scott Harrison, Azure Dynamics Chief Executive Officer.
"We're delighted with our relationship with Azure and the performance of our current fleet of Azure products," said Serge Viola, Director, National Fleet and Ground Line Haul for Purolator. "They are helping us reduce operating costs by improving our fuel economy and up time. We look forward to expanding our hybrid fleet in communities across Canada."
The purpose of the program is to evaluate the feasibility of the utilization of wastewater as a source of nutrients and water for the cultivation of algae, and its subsequent processing into feedstock for the production of biodiesel and other products. The Town of Gilbert will be offered all biodiesel produced from this pilot program at the actual cost of production and processing during the term of the program.
"The Town of Gilbert has a stated interest in expanding the sources for renewable and sustainable energy for the benefit of its citizens," stated Gordon LeBlanc, Jr., PetroSun CEO. "This wastewater pilot program is an important step in the commercialization of the algae industry."
Order by July 31 and Save 25% on NAFA's Request for Proposals Guide
Request for Proposals Guide
CD-ROM
Instructional CD-ROM with step-by-step instruction for preparing an effective Request for Proposal. Save time by directly accessing numerous reference documents and samples, including Process Flow and Statement of Work. Valuable tool for experienced RFP writers and novices alike.
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.
New Fuel Management Guide!
Designed with you in mind, the guide will help you understand fuel supply and demand dynamics to better anticipate price changes; understand key fuel standards; and identify appropriate policies, activities, and technologies to improve fuel efficiency. A valuable appendix, comprised of additional references, makes this an "evergreen" learning tool, as links to current websites provide you direct access to the most current information on fuels and pricing, as well as from government authorities, non-profit and association websites, and manufacturers.
Information is easily accessible, as detailed chapters explore: the issues associated with the centralized fuel management of conventional fuels, a variety of tools to fuel decentralized fleets, and alternative fuels and advanced technology vehicles, including forms of hybrid drive trains currently available.
Available in three formats to meet your project and budget needs!
- The e-download gives you instant access and portability – store it virtually anywhere: in your own "NAFA document folder," on your computer, or on your flash drive to take with you!
- The CD version offers the same practical abilities as the e-downloadable format and is a product ready to share with other members of your fleet management team or add to the department's reference shelves!
- The more traditional, spiral-bound, soft-cover book provides for easy use, especially when sharing references with colleagues.
Other Items Featured in NAFA's Store:
Keep cool this summer (and year-round) with NAFA's lunch bag and cooler. The zippered bag is insulated to help keep perishables fresh and drinks cold while a shoulder strap offers portability.
Show your support with a NAFA T-shirt! Our NAFA shirt features the blue NAFA logo with our tagline "Fleet Solutions for Fleet Professionals." The label is printed, not sewn in, and 100% cotton for ultimate comfort. The tagless label won't fade, wash off or itch!
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 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.
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.
July Job Postings
Fleet Maintenance Manager - Los Angeles, CAFleet Management Administrator - Gurnee, IL
Director of Fleet Management - Cincinnati, OH
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 website. 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.
July Chapter meetings will take place:
July 14, 2009
Wisconsin Chapter Golf Outing
Location: Western Lakes, Pewaukee, WI
Contact: John O'Connor, P: (608) 288.5700, F: (608) 288.5701
July 23, 2009
NGV - Public and Private Fleet Workshop
Location: Energen Conference Center - Birmingham, AL
Registration: http://www.cleanvehic
As a service to NAFA Members, Patrick O'Connor and Huw Williams - NAFA's U.S. and Canadian legislative counsels, respectively - supply monthly updates on current legislative issues impacting the fleet industry. These updates, e-mailed to NAFA Members the first week of each month, are posted in PDF format at a MEMBERS ONLY SECTION on www.nafa.org.
Legislative Updates are issued monthly to NAFA Members and then archived online. With this e-newsletter, NAFA Members can easily check on the progress and status of current legislation. Click here for more information.
Three online, searchable networking databases will put you in easy touch with all your NAFA colleagues. These databases are exclusively for NAFA members. 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.
NAFA's FleetED is designed to help you quickly find the references and educational resources 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.
e-Communities offers members the chance to reach colleagues and share ideas when they need to — anytime, anywhere. These virtual neighborhoods allow members to easily e-mail others within that community, with specific fleet questions. As a subscriber to e-Communities, you can:
- View real-time activity between other subscribed members within the group(s) you subscribe to.
- Share your knowledge and assist a fellow member in need, access lists of subscribers for each group, and access a history of inquiries posted to e-Communities.
- Topics include alternative fuels, disaster relief, fleet maintenance, global fleet, law enforcement and many more! Come be a part of NAFA's community!
To visit e-Communities, please click here.
NAFA cares about your privacy. As such, NAFA does not sell or rent e-mail addresses or phone numbers of its Members or Affiliates. NAFA also does not endorse any particular product or service provided by fleet suppliers. If you receive an e-mail (or any other form of communication) from a supplier that implies a NAFA endorsement or uses the NAFA name or likeness to imply endorsement, please notify NAFA immediately. We will issue a cease and desist notice and pursue action as necessary. (You should know that e-mail addresses are part of the online PDF files NAFA posts each month for communication among NAFA Members and Affiliates. Access to these files is restricted to NAFA Members and Affiliates.)
For NAFA's complete privacy policy, please click here: http://www.nafa.org/Template.cfm?Section=Privacy_Policy.