Recapping NAFA's Legislative Presence Mid-2012

Month after month, new federal regulations impacting fleet managers are proposed. The staggering amount of changes each year is difficult to keep up with, but fleet managers who belong to NAFA Fleet Management Association are in good hands. NAFA Members have their own legislative team fighting for them in Washington, D.C. and Ottawa. A monthly newsletter, exclusively sent to NAFA Members, not only tells fleet managers about the changes but does so in simple, easy-to-understand language. In addition to reporting the news, NAFA’s legislative team regularly offers the "fleet perspective" on proposed changes and makes sure government agencies keep fleets in mind before making final decisions.

Here’s a brief look at some of NAFA’s legislative work performed in the first half of 2012.

In America:

NAFA wrote to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in support of the Edison Electric Institute’s (EEI) request for a three-month waiver from the FMCSA’s final rule restricting the use of cell phones by drivers of commercial vehicles.
NAFA submitted written comments to the Department of Energy (DOE) on their proposed regulation to allow fleets to earn compliance credits for the acquisition of hybrid vehicles. NAFA asked the DOE "to publish a final rule as soon as possible so that covered fleets can take advantage of electronic drive vehicles in Model Year 2012." NAFA also urged the DOE "to reconsider the proposed 1/2 credit allocation for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), non-AFV plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), and non-AFV medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles. Giving full credit for these vehicles would send a signal to the manufacturing community that these vehicles are becoming a ‘mainstream’ technology and a preferred vehicle by large fleets."
NAFA continues to engage in discussions with pipeline companies, DOE, and state regulators regarding the availability of E85, a motor vehicle blend of gasoline and ethanol that many state and utility fleets rely on to meet the fuel use of the DOE’s Alternative Fuel Transportation Program.
NAFA submitted written comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on their proposed federal underground storage tank (UST) regulations, which include requirements for determining that the UST system is compatible with the fuel stored.
NAFA recommended revisions to the Visual-Manual Driver Distraction guidelines proposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Association recommended that the guidelines address the unique requirements of federal, state and municipal government fleets, and emergency service vehicle fleets, including law enforcement, fire and rescue, utility, and emergency response.

In Canada:

NAFA continues to monitor the government’s progress with the Clean Air Regulatory Agenda (CARA) initiatives to see how they will affect Canada’s fleet sector. The government is investing $600.8 million over five years to renew CARA, which has provided the underlining framework for the government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality since 2006. The funding will be used to enact action on a number of different initiatives, including aligning greenhouse gas emissions regulations with the United States where appropriate, finalizing and implementing a national air quality management system, and strengthening commitments to reduce trans-boundary air pollution under the Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement.
NAFA alerted fleet managers to new fuel consumption labels, which will be introduced in 2014, as announced by the Canadian government. These new labels will highlight more comprehensive information to assist consumers in choosing more fuel-efficient vehicles and will alight with the labels used in the United States.
NAFA informed fleet managers about six new research and development (R&D) projects announced in the first half of the year as part of the Automotive Partnership Canada initiative. These projects will advance R&D in Canada’s automotive industry by sustaining new technologies that will offer lighter material alternatives for cars and improve battery efficiency for vehicles. NAFA continues to monitor the government’s progress on these auto innovation projects and their potential effects on Canada’s fleet sector.
NAFA is monitoring a proposal by the Honourable Peter Kent, Federal Minister of the Environment, to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from new on-road heavy-duty vehicles including large pick-up trucks, short/long-haul tractors, cement and garbage trucks, buses, and more, for the 2014 model year and beyond.

"Nobody fights harder for fleet managers than NAFA," said NAFA Executive Director Phillip E. Russo, CAE. "We are the eyes and the ears of fleet management -- our legislative support is unparalleled."