NAFA Connection

Fellow NAFA Member and Director of Fleet and Surplus Property for the State of Utah, Margaret Chambers, is in need of your help.

Chambers was seriously injured in March while on vacation in Maui. A 10-foot wave crashed onto her, bursting two vertebrae, breaking four of her ribs, and rupturing her lung.  The accident has left Chambers paralyzed from the waist down.

On April 1, Chambers underwent a 7-hour surgery to repair the damage to her spine.  While the surgery went well and there's hope of her regaining the feeling in her legs, Chambers still faces a long road to recovery.

Currently, Chambers is stuck in Hawaii, since her injuries prevent her from using commercial airlines. A special Air Med flight is not covered by medical insurance and will cost approximately $50,000 out-of-pocket.  In addition to this expense, Chambers will also need significant modifications made to her home to facilitate her during a long and arduous rehabilitation process.

A website developed by friends and colleagues of Chambers has been created to collect donations for her flight home and expenses related to any rehabilitation or modifications to her home. If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.margaretchambers.org. In addition to generous donations, an auction will be held to raise additional funds to support Chambers.

Chambers manages nearly 7,500 state-owned vehicles and the resale of state property as the director of Utah's state fleet operations and surplus property. She has been a NAFA Member since 2005 and served as a Member of both the I&E Curriculum Committee (2006-2007) and the I&E Arrangements Committee (2007-2008).

There are just two days left to SAVE on NAFA's Fleet Management Seminars offered in Alaska. Mercury Associates Inc. will be presenting NAFA's Fleet Management Seminar (FMS) and Advanced Fleet Management Seminar (AFMS) this May at the University of Alaska Anchorage Conference Center.

Early bird savings end April 21,
so register today!

SAVE $100 on full registration price for NAFA's Fleet Management Seminar or the Advanced Seminar! Plus, SAVE $200 when you register early for both seminars with the special combination package deal. Reserve your seat today.

Enroll three people or more and save $150!

Receive a $150 group discount when you register three or more people from your organization. For information on this special offer, please contact: Diane Thomas at (301) 519-0535 or dthomas@mercury-assoc.com.

• On May 11-12, develop basic understanding of successful fleet management at the FMS.
• On May 13-15, receive a deeper level of fleet instruction and scholarship at AFMS.

Attend both seminars with the package deal!

Sign up today. Registration is now open at: www.nafa.org/seminars/alaska.

Hotel accommodations

Seminar attendees can stay at the SpringHill Suites in Anchorage, Alaska, for a discounted rate of $94.00 per night (plus 12 percent tax). When calling or booking online, please use the code "NAFA" to receive discounted rate. Cut-off date for discounted room rate is April 22.  The hotel is located across the street from the conference center, so people can leave their cars at the hotel if they are guests.

Call (907) 751-6300 to make reservations by phone or book online by clicking here.

NAFA's Institute and Expo
Cobo Center
Detroit
April 24-27
Register Now!

NAFA is pulling out all the stops to make 2010 I&E even better. If you attend only one event this year, make it NAFA's I&E! The Institute & Expo is just around the corner.  Our goal is simply to make I&E the most valuable networking, business, and educational event in the fleet industry. Come experience the difference at 2010 I&E!

• Arm yourself with cutting-edge training and education
• Stay connected: network with thousands of fleet professionals
• Plug in to the latest services and products on the expo floor
• Become a more marketable fleet professional by sharing and learning from colleagues in different fields and sectors
• Strengthen your skills with training created BY fleet managers, FOR fleet managers

NAFA's Expo floor at the 2010 I&E in Detroit has more than 230 exhibitors and hundreds of products to help maintain your fleet. Many exhibitors will be launching new products and services at I&E. Technology and merchandise featured this year include motor pool software, law enforcement vehicle equipment, and products to protect your truck, van, or SUV's spare tires and rim from theft. Want to cut costs and save fuel? Come to NAFA's Expo floor and talk to one of our exhibitors. Click here for more information on what's new on the expo floor.

In addition to new products, Ford's all-new Police Interceptor sedan will be showcased on the expo floor. The new sedan was designed to handle the rigors of police work, including industry-leading powertrain, safety, and technology innovations. Ford also plans to add a second Police Interceptor to the lineup, a utility vehicle to provide customers a choice depending on their needs.

Capturing Value for Your Money

I&E is a necessary investment this year! Review how you can get your money's worth of networking and innovative ideas:

• Strengthen your fleet knowledge and skills, with a wealth of NAFA training and knowledge created BY fleet managers, FOR fleet managers.
• Become a more marketable and essential fleet professional by sharing and learning from colleagues in different fields and sectors. 
• Track the winds of change! New technology, new rules and regulations, and higher costs are just a few of the issues that will be covered this year. Through sessions and speakers, see where the industry is headed in the future, something you can't afford to miss. Click here to register.

NAFA has arranged several transportation options to help you arrive at your hotel or the Cobo Center.  Whether you want to save money and travel with peers, or take a shuttle or a taxi, NAFA is here to help guide you.

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) to Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center & Courtyard by Marriott

Taxi Service: The cost for a taxi ride downtown to the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center or the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Detroit is approximately $55 per trip.

Airport Shuttle: NEW! Detroit now has airport shuttle service. Trinity is offering NAFA a discounted rate of $30 one way or $60 round trip. Reservations can be made online at http://trinitytransportation.com/main/reservations/airport_shuttle.aspx.  Just select shuttle bus, enter your personal information, and in the additional information field, type NAFA. This will get you the discounted rate. 

Shared Taxi Rides Arranged by the Michigan Chapter: Members of the Michigan Chapter are setting up a table at each baggage claim area so I&E attendees can walk over and sign up to share a taxi ride from the airport to the hotels. Members of the Michigan Chapter will be stationed in the baggage claim areas at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) on Friday, April 23, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. to help pair you up with other I&E attendees to share a ride. So look for the NAFA sign held by smiling Michigan Chapter members, who will be wearing burgundy shirts.

Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center & Courtyard by  Marriott to Cobo Convention Center 

NAFA Shuttle Bus: To get I&E attendees to Cobo Convention Center, NAFA will provide a shuttle bus. The bus will pick up passengers at the Motor Lobby at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance and at the main lobby entrance of the Courtyard by Marriott and take passengers to the front entrance of the Cobo Convention Center.

Detroit People Mover: Hop aboard the Detroit People Mover (DPM) at the Renaissance Center Station and discover just how easy it is to travel. The fare for Detroit's People Mover is 50 cents per ride, and any combination of U.S. nickels, dimes, and quarters may be used for entry or one token. Tokens are available in all DPM stations. 

We already have three dozen I&E attendees signed up to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. Come join your peers, roll up your sleeves, and help make a difference in the life of a family. Volunteers like you are the reason Habitat for Humanity has been able to make home ownership possible for families in need across the city.

Last year, dozens of I&E attendees came out and made the Habitat for Humanity project in New Orleans a success. Let's make our volunteer effort just as successful in Detroit this time around.

How can you help? Plan to arrive at the Institute & Expo a day early to join other NAFA community volunteers assist a Detroit Habitat for Humanity community project.  On Friday, April 23, buses will depart from the Marriott Detroit at Renaissance Center Motor Lobby entrance at 8 a.m. to take volunteers to the designated project location.

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. Click here for more information.

NAFA Fleet Management Association is making a contribution to help continue Habitat for Humanity projects after NAFA Institute & Expo leaves Michigan. Thank you for considering this opportunity to give not only to the fleet management community, but also to the Detroit community. We are grateful for your support!

Toyota Motor Corp. agreed to pay a fine of more than $16 million for failing to report the sticking gas petal problems to the government within a timely fashion.

The company had until April 19 to reach a decision: pay or contest the largest fine ever assessed by the government against an automaker. The auto manufacturer agreed to pay the fine but at the same time insisted they did nothing wrong.

NHTSA learned through documents obtained from Toyota that the company knew of the sticky pedal defect since at least September 29, 2009. That day, Toyota issued repair procedures to their distributors in 31 European countries and Canada to address complaints of sticky accelerator pedals, sudden increases in engine RPM, and sudden vehicle acceleration. The documents also show that Toyota was aware that consumers in the United States were experiencing the same problems. Automotive manufacturers are legally obligated to notify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) within five business days if they determine that a safety defect exists.

"We now have proof that Toyota failed to live up to its legal obligations," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Worse yet, they knowingly hid a dangerous defect for months from U.S. officials and did not take action to protect millions of drivers and their families. For those reasons, we are seeking the maximum penalty possible under current laws."

Approximately 2.3 million vehicles in the U.S. were recalled in late January for the sticky pedal defect.

Toyota is expected to pay the full amount of the fine within 30 days as a way of avoiding going to court against the government, the AP reported. 

Inaddition to the recalls due to the sticky petal, Toyota recently launched a voluntary Safety Recall involving approximately 600,000 first- and second-generation Sienna 2WD minivans sold in the United States to address potential corrosion in the spare tire carrier cable.
 
This condition may appear on certain 1998 through 2010 model year Siennas that have been operated in cold climate areas with high road salt use.  Continued prolonged exposure to road salts may cause excessive corrosion of the carrier cable in some of these vehicles.  In the worst case, the carrier cable may fail and the spare tire could become separated from the vehicle, a road hazard for following vehicles that increases the likelihood of a crash.
 
Steve St. Angelo, Toyota Chief Quality Officer for North America, said: "Toyota is listening to its customers attentively, and we want to make sure their voices are heard.  As part of that commitment, we are providing free inspections of the spare tire carrier cable even in states that are not included in this recall.   We are also working diligently to develop a remedy as soon as possible."

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., announced it has established a new SMART business process using existing product engineers, field technical specialists, and specially trained technicians to quickly and aggressively investigate customer reports of unintended acceleration in Toyota, Lexus, and Scion vehicles in the United States.
 
The rapid-response Swift Market Analysis Response Team will attempt to contact customers within 24 hours of receiving a complaint of unintended acceleration to arrange for a comprehensive on-site vehicle analysis.

Members are drawn from a group of 200 technical associates located across Toyota's North American operations and will work in close partnership with Toyota and Lexus dealers. As part of the SMART program, dealerships will use structured business processes and materials to address owners' concerns or reported experiences with unintended acceleration.
 
Steve St. Angelo, Toyota Chief Quality Officer for North America, said, "As Toyota's President Akio Toyoda told Congress in February, we are committed to listening to our customers even more intently and addressing their concerns even more promptly. Our multi-tiered SMART approach is just one of the many steps we are taking to make sure that Toyota sets an even higher standard.
 
"There has been a great deal of confusion, speculation, and misinformation about unintended acceleration in the past several weeks. We believe judgments should be based on reliable evidence, and our SMART business process is there to help provide information upon which such judgments can be made. As we did in two recent, much-publicized cases in San Diego, Calif. and Harrison, N.Y., we will continue to work in close partnership with law enforcement agencies and federal regulators with jurisdiction over accidents whenever requested," St. Angelo said.

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse now has the Blind Zone Alert system built in to prevent accidents when drivers change lanes.

The Blind Zone Alert system uses radar-equipped sensors to provide an extra set of "eyes" to monitor the vehicle's side blind spots.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says improper lane changes are a factor in up to 85 percent of all crashes.

When the system detects a vehicle in the adjacent lane, it will illuminate a symbol on the side view mirror alerting the driver to a potential collision. If the driver activates the turn signal in the direction of the detected vehicle, the symbol will flash. Otherwise it remains illuminated until the other vehicle has left the blind zone.

"The blind zone technology system enables the car to see where it is difficult for the driver to see," said Kent Lybecker, a GM Active Safety Systems Engineer. "This technology makes lane changes safer because it alerts drivers to vehicles that otherwise might escape their vision."

The system uses alternating radar beams that sweep outward from the vehicle, covering a zone of about one lane wide on both sides of the vehicle. The zone also extends back approximately 10 feet from the rear of the vehicle for an added layer of protection.  

The LaCrosse is one of 27 new vehicles to be named a Top Safety Pick for 2010 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  Other GM vehicles offering Side Blind Zone Alert for the 2010 model year are the Buick Lucerne; Cadillac STS, DTS, and Escalade ESV; Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL.

NAFA hopes the information provided during the U.S. Legislative Update Webinar was helpful. We are offering both the audio recording as well as the slide presentation for your convenience.

Microsoft Office Live Meeting recording: view recording

Recording Details:

    Subject: Legislative Update
    Recording URL: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/nafa/view
    Recording ID: LegislativeUpdate
    Attendee Key: MarchLU2010

ULSD Survey Results

The Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) released the results of a survey conducted to examine the transition to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) among North American fleets, fuel suppliers, service providers, and others. NAFA was among the organizations that requested its membership respond to the survey. The results found that of the 1,192 respondents, 58 percent reported no increase in problems associated with the changeover to ULSD fuel in the last several years. Of the remaining 42 percent, those who chose to offer comments reported a variety of issues including some related to corrosion and equipment operability in storage tanks, fuel distribution systems, and vehicle components. However, the survey results were inconclusive as to the potential causes of these issues.  The survey also found that respondents who reported problems were geographically dispersed throughout the country. Following the release, the organizations involved are continuing to review the results to determine the next steps.  In the meantime the Clean Diesel Fuel Alliance will develop guidance on monitoring and maintenance of fuel distribution and dispensing equipment as well as explore the best ways to gather additional information to get a better understanding of the nature of the issue.

FMCSA Pushes Back Start of CSA 2010

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced that it was pushing back the start of its new truck safety monitoring system, Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 (CSA 2010), until late this year, with some portions delayed until 2011. Under the new schedule, while truck fleets will be able to see the data FMCSA will be using to calculate their relative safety performance beginning on April 12, 2010, they will not be able to see where they stand until August.

"FMCSA had originally planned to roll out CSA 2010 beginning in the summer of 2010," the agency said a Federal Register notice scheduled to be published Friday. "However, the agency has received valuable feedback . . . [and] has decided to move the beginning of CSA 2010 rollout from the summer to the fall of 2010," FMCSA said.

The new schedule calls for a so-called "data preview" to begin this month and run through Nov. 30, at which time FMCSA will begin issuing warning letters and using CSA 2010 scores to target fleets for compliance reviews and extra roadside enforcement.

FMCSA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, said that full, nationwide implementation of all of CSA 2010's new enforcement tools would not begin until 2011.

DOT Issues EOBR Rule

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a new rule that amends the agency's Hours of Service (HOS) rules with regard to commercial truck and bus companies that show serious patterns of HOS violations. Effective June 1, 2012, these companies must install electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs) in all their vehicles.  Under the final rule, carriers found with 10 percent or more HOS violations during a compliance review will be required to install EOBRs in all their vehicles for a minimum of two years. The rule also provides new technical performance standards for EOBRs installed in commercial vehicles, including requirements for recording the date, time, and location of a driver's duty status.

Also under the latest rule, carriers that voluntarily adopt EOBRs will receive relief from some of the FMCSA's requirements to retain HOS supporting documents, such as the receipts used to check the accuracy of driver logbooks.

Senate Climate Bill Expected In April

A climate change and energy bill is expected to be introduced in the U.S. Senate by the end of April by  Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Joseph I. Lieberman (I-CT). To appeal to moderates in both parties, the three Senators are looking to couple a plan pricing and limiting industrial carbon emissions with expansions in nuclear power, offshore oil and gas drilling, and other domestic energy production. The outline is in place to put a cap-and-trade program on the electric utility sector -- and later on manufacturers and other industries -- while levying a carbon tax on the transportation sector. But major details are being worked out, including regarding how a carbon market would work, where that transportation tax should be levied and the extent to which a bill would pre-empt greenhouse gas regulations from EPA and states.

Private Member's Bill Introduced to Make Large Vehicles Safer

On April 15, 2010, Newfoundland and Labrador Member of Parliament Siobhan Coady introduced Private Member's Bill C-512, An Act to amend the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (side guards).  Coady's Bill would amend the Act to ensure that all vehicles in higher weight categories that are manufactured or imported to Canada would be equipped with side guards to keep people from slipping beneath them.

The Transportation Safety Association of Canada completed a study that revealed that improved frontal and side truck design reduces pedestrian fatalities by 20 percent.  In addition, the severity of injuries is lessened by 25 percent.

Currently, such legislation exists in the European Union and Australia.  Such legislation does not exist at the national level in Canada; however, provincially, Newfoundland and Labrador is currently installing side guards on its new fleet of snow-removal equipment.

This bill would come into force once it receives Royal Assent.

While all market classes of vehicles are up significantly in pricing on a year-over-year basis, the first quarter of 2010 was especially significant for fleet managers as the strength in wholesale pricing broadened to include older and middle-priced units in addition to late-model units.

The pricing recovery is now being driven by an increase in demand, not only by a reduction in wholesale supply.

The values of vehicles in the middle price tiers are very sensitive to changes in the availability of subprime financing.  As such,  improvements in the Asset-backed security (ABS) market for retail loans in these credit tiers has helped fleet mangers achieve higher prices for their end-of-service vehicles. 

We expect retail credit availability will continue to improve because of:

• The reduced level of enhancements and over-collateralization that lenders need to make to get deals done.
• The lower delinquency rates on recent loans.
• Better recovery rates.
• A growing private market for ABS deals, which offset the expiration of the TALF program last month.
  

End-of-service fleet values have also gotten a bump from an improved labor market and another year of record tax refunds. As of April 2, total refunds are up 4.3 percent from the same period in 2009 – which in turn was up 15 percent from 2008. While the number of refunds in 2010 is falling behind 2009's pace, the average dollar amount is up nearly 10 percent because of programs especially important to used vehicle buyers – most notably, the Earned Income Tax Credit, which was increased and expanded.

The ability of manufacturers to raise average new vehicle transaction prices (for non-fleet purchases) has also help increase used vehicle values overall.  In effect, higher new vehicle prices have lifted the ceiling that some segments of the used vehicle market were bumping up against. Click here for more details.  

While the automotive industry is not out of the woods yet, the broadening price recovery for used vehicles and improved retail credit availability made for a strong start to 2010 and suggest continued improvements are possible.

Tom Webb is chief economist for Manheim Consulting. Contact him at Thomas.webb@manheim.com, follow him via Twitter at www.twitter.com/TomWebb_Manheim and read his blog at www.manheimconsulting.typepad.com.

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Federal Energy Management Program released its Federal Fleet Management Guidance, meeting a requirement of President Obama's Executive Order (E.O. 13514) on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance.

This is the first comprehensive guidance to address the environmental impact of the Federal fleet and will help agencies develop petroleum and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction strategies.

In signing E.O. 13514, President Obama called on Federal agencies to reduce petroleum fuel use by 2 percent each year from 2005 through 2020, for a total 30 percent reduction. The fleet guidance highlights a number of ways Federal agencies can reduce petroleum consumption by reducing vehicle miles traveled, increasing fleet fuel efficiency, and switching to lower GHG-emitting, and alternative fuels. Agencies will be accountable for meeting these goals, and are required to annually report on their progress and make adjustments as necessary.  Each vehicle purchase must demonstrate how it helps support the agency's mission and sustainability targets.

The guidance calls for innovative approaches to Federal fleet management by optimizing fleet and vehicle size, encouraging active transit options such as bicycling and purchasing alternative fuel vehicles — including electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.  The guidance also provides Federal agencies with methods to track petroleum reductions and alternative fuel use. 

The clean fleet guidance follows President Obama's announcement last month on the General Services Administration's plan to double the Federal hybrid fleet this year and purchase approximately 100 plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2011. The DOE is leading by example by replacing 753 vehicles with hybrids this year, even as the Department begins to reduce the overall size of its vehicle fleet.

Ford Motor Company announced three more engines with the company's patented EcoBoost fuel-saving technology are scheduled to be launched by the end of the year. By 2013 Ford expects to be producing approximately 1.5 million EcoBoost engines globally, about 200,000 more than originally expected.
 
Plans call for an EcoBoost engine to be available in 80 percent of the company's global nameplates and 90 percent of North American nameplates. About half of the 1.5 million EcoBoost engines are expected to be sold in North America, while the rest are to be sold in Europe, South America, and Asia Pacific regions.
 
"We are focused on sustainable technology solutions that can be used not for hundreds or thousands of cars, but for millions of cars, because that's how Ford will truly make a difference," said Barb Samardzich, Ford's Vice President of Powertrain Engineering.
 
While Ford is rolling out the first generation of EcoBoost engines, researchers are studying ways to further downsize future EcoBoost engines, while preserving performance and raising fuel economy. More efficient turbochargers, super-precise control of the direct-injection fuel system, optimum gearing of the transmission, and final drive will enable a smaller engine to run in what engineers call its "sweet spot" more often, said Dan Kapp, Ford's Director of Powertrain Research and Advanced Engineering.

Thank you to the many sponsors who make I&E possible, including:

Click here to view a complete list of 2010 sponsors

The Expo Hall, located at the Cobo Center in Detroit, opens on Sunday, April 25, at noon.  Fleet managers will see and experience the latest in fleet products and services from national exhibitors, including top vehicle manufacturers, leasing companies, software suppliers, service providers, maintenance and repair companies, and many others.  The Expo Hall is also the home of the Green Zone, a special section where vendors spotlight the latest technology for clean diesel, alternative/renewable fuels, hybrid cars and trucks, electric cars, and other advanced technology designed for a cleaner, more environmentally friendly fleet.

Fleet managers are encouraged to join us Sunday for a special Networking Welcome Reception on the Expo Floor from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Affiliates and Manufacturers sponsor the reception, which provides great food and beverages and the opportunity to network with fellow fleet managers from throughout North America. 

Qualified fleet managers are welcome to attend the Expo Hall on both Sunday and Monday at no cost.  In order to qualify, a person must either manage a fleet or be involved with the managing of a fleet; those who provide a service or product do not qualify for free entry.

The Expo Hall is only one part of NAFA's Institute & Expo. Thousands of fleet professionals from all across the United States and Canada come to the I&E for more than 60 hours of fleet training, education, and workshops; events such as the Public Safety Roadeo and Ride-and-Drive; presentations of some of the most prestigious awards in the fleet industry; and countless hours of networking with the best and brightest of their peers.

Fleet managers are encouraged to take advantage of quick and easy online registration at http://www.nafaiande.org, but may also show a business card and driver's license (or other form of identification) at the Expo Hall for entry.

NAFA I&E exhibitors are encouraged to send I&E-related press releases to gary@nafa.org for inclusion in the I&E website online pressroom.  Let people know where they can find you at the I&E and what they can expect at your booth. Contact Gary Wien,  NAFA Communications Manager, at gary@nafa.org.

The CAFM Boot Camp sessions review the concepts in the curriculum with which most candidates have difficulty, based on their test results. CAFM and CAFS program participants can use this opportunity to reinforce their existing expertise and obtain assistance for concepts that might be problematic. The Boot Camp program covers the certification program's eight disciplines with a focus on exam preparation. The program is held at NAFA's Annual Institute & Expo scheduled for April 24 - 27, 2010. Attendees enrolled in the CAFM or CAFS programs are encouraged to study in advance and test on Friday, April 23, and/or Wednesday, April 28.

To facilitate networking, planning, and camaraderie for spouses and guests, NAFA's Michigan Chapter will host a Spouse & Guest Hospitality Room on Level 5 of the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center in the Joliet Room during NAFA's I&E. Make this your gathering place to pick up visitor's guides, coupons and brochures, maps, and a schedule of current local events. Continental breakfast will be provided for spouses and guests compliments of NAFA's Michigan Chapter.

Spouse & Guest Activities Planned by the Michigan Chapter

On Saturday, April 24: Complimentary transportation will take spouses and guests to the Somerset Collection Mall in Troy, Michigan, and bring everyone back to the Detroit Renaissance at the end of the day. Somerset Collection is a premier, upscale shopping mall with more than 180 specialty shops and restaurants. Click here for mall information.

On Sunday, April 25: Complimentary transportation will take spouses and guests to the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village and bring everyone back to the Detroit Marriott in time to join the 4 p.m. Networking Welcoming Reception at Cobo Hall. Click here for admission information.

On Monday, April 26: Stop by the Hospitality Room between 7:30 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. to pick up your complimentary Detroit People Mover tokens and a Detroit People Mover Guide listing the fun attractions you can visit on your own. The Detroit People Mover is an above-ground transit system that loops around downtown Detroit. Many of Downtown Detroit's attractions are within walking distance of the system's 13, artfully decorated stations. Click here for more information on the Detroit People Mover.

Call it green, call it sustainability, but being environmentally savvy is not a trend. It's an important business practice that's here to stay and NAFA is personally getting involved. 

We have taken several steps to be greener, especially during our Institute and Expo in Detroit.

• The Show Guide & Final Program will be printed on paper stock that complies with the highest social and environmental standards set forth by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
• Speaker handouts will be available on the website only, and attendees will be encouraged to print out only what they absolutely must.  No handouts will be produced by NAFA.
• All paper provided at the Print Stations will be 100 percent recycled copy paper.
• Plastic name badges will be recycled at the 2010 I&E and will be reused for 2011.
• Bottled water will not be provided by NAFA, eliminating the use of more than 2,500 plastic bottles.

We are working with our various partners such as Marriott and Cobo Center to increase the number of green options and recycling opportunities.  Here is what they are doing:

The Cobo Center, the facility where our I&E will be held, is involved in "green" practices. Their lighting system was replaced with more energy efficient fixtures; paper recycling stations are located throughout the building; cardboard, cans, and plastic are also collected separately and picked up by a recycling company; and any waste not included above is incinerated by the Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Authority to create waste-derived fuel energy products. Air conditioning at Cobo Center is accomplished through the pumping of Detroit River water through "chillers" which then send the cool water to various air handlers that provide cooling to zoned areas of the building.

Marriott Hotels and Resorts have replaced light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs, installed low-flow showerheads and toilets, introduced water/energy saving linen program, and as part of Marriott's portfolio of brands they involve their global workforce in eco-volunteerism.

Click here to read more about NAFA's green initiative and see how you can be involved.

NAFA's Expo floor at the 2010 I&E in Detroit has over 230 exhibitors and hundreds of products to help maintain your fleet. Many exhibitors will be launching new products and services at I&E. Technology and merchandise featured this year include motor pool software, law enforcement vehicle equipment, and products to protect your truck, van, or SUV's spare tire and rim from theft. Want to cut costs and save fuel? Come to NAFA's Expo floor and talk to one of our exhibitors. Click here for more information on what's new on the expo floor.

The goal of the NAFA Fleet Information Management Guide is to provide fleet managers with the tools they need to function in a data-rich, information-poor work environment by better using the technology tools they probably already have at their disposal.  Order Today!

Fleet Services Coordinator - Surrey, BC

Senior Fleet Maintenance Supervisor - Laguna Beach, CA

Director of Fleet and Facilities - Edmonton, AB

Resume Bank

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

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 also can 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 addresses 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).

NAFA's local Chapters across Canada and the United States offer Members and Affiliates numerous opportunities to meet colleagues and receive valuable fleet management education. Each year, more than 100 NAFA Chapter meetings provide top-level education and training opportunities on a wide variety of timely topics.

April and May are busy with meetings!

April 29, 2010
New York Chapter – Meeting
Location: Woodside, NY
Contact: http://www.nafa.org/Source/ACF351B.pdf

May 4, 2010
North Central Chapter - Auto Auction and Maximizing Vehicle Resale
Location: TBD
Contact: Leroy Pavek, (952) 997-1276, Leroy.pavek@agstar.com 
 
May 6, 2010
New York Chapter – Meeting
Location: Newburg, NY
Contact: http://www.nafa.org/Source/NAFA_Manheim.pdf

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, composed of additional references, makes this an "evergreen" learning tool. Links to current websites provide direct access to 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.

The guide is available in three formats to meet your project and budgetary 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 easy use, especially when you're sharing references with colleagues. Order today!

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 legislative issues impacting the fleet industry. These updates, e-mailed to NAFA Members the first week of each month, are posted in PDF format in the MEMBERS ONLY SECTION on www.nafa.org.

Legislative updates are issued monthly to NAFA Members and are archived online. With this e-newsletter, NAFA Members can easily check on the progress and status of current legislation. Click here for more information.

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 them to your computer for times when you'll be without Internet access.

Information for these directory files was gathered from NAFA's membership database on Jan. 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.

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.
• Some of the 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.

Congratulations—you just got a promotion! Best wishes on your retirement!

Now what do you do?

Remember to notify NAFA about these and other changes. Notifying us will help you in many ways. If you are retiring, you may be eligible to become a NAFA alumnus and stay in touch with your NAFA colleagues and friends. Membership in the NAFA Fleet Management Association will follow you wherever you go, whether you change your position or place of work, or retire.

Just two easy steps can help colleagues keep in touch. To 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.

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.