In this month's The First Word, NAFA Executive Director Phil Russo, CAE reflects upon the recent State of the Union Address and sees bright promise for the fleet industry.
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Registration for I&E is going so strong NAFA's official hotels are quickly filling up. Most rooms at the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel have been booked up. There is no time like the present to secure your registration for the I&E, to lock in the hotel lodging of your choice, and to make the most of your experience, but good things come to those who don't hesitate!
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NAFA announced on January 30 its endorsement of the fleet benchmarking products of Utilimarc, a national consulting group based in Saint Louis Park, MN. Utilimarc offers internal and external fleet benchmarking, electronic reporting, and electronic analytical tools for large diverse fleets nationwide.
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Please consider a 2012 sponsorship role and help a student begin the journey to success in the fleet management industry. Many students have attended the annual Institute and Expo (I&E) as a direct result of the generosity of Chapters and Affiliates.
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The deadline to submit entries for NAFA's prestigious Larry Goill Memorial Quality Fleet Management Idea Award is February 15, and the deadline for Sustainable Fleet Award submissions is February 17. Submit your entries today!
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NAFA’s new Market Research and Survey Email Service will allow you to survey NAFA Members while giving membership the confidence of knowing their email addresses are secure. This service is available exclusively to NAFA Affiliates and NAFA Members!
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February 10, Chicago; February 14, North Central; February 15, Quebec and New York; February 16, Sunshine State; February 17, Greater Pittsburgh; February 21, Rocky Mountain; February 28, Wisconsin
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The Philadelphia Chapter welcomed representatives from several automakers for their meeting on February 2, hosted by Aramark at their headquarters off of Market Street. The PowerPoint presentations were a primer for what Chapter members would find afterward at the Philadelphia Auto Show held across the street at the Philadelphia Convention facility.
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According to a new report from Pike Research, the worldwide market for hybrids and plug-ins will grow at ninety-two percent in 2012, with total sales surpassing 19,000.
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Providing another sign that alternative-fuel vehicles are beginning to gain some traction among American businesses, AT&T Inc. says it now has 5,000 electric, hybrid, and mainly natural-gas-powered cars and trucks on the road.
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Ener1 Inc., which received a $118 million U.S. Energy Department grant to make electric-car batteries, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on January 26 after defaulting on bond debt amid heavy competition from Asia.
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Kelley Blue Book's www.kbb.com, a provider of new car and used car information, projects January new-vehicle sales at 900,000 units overall, stating sales would be up nearly ten percent year-over-year.
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On January 30, Pep Boys announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement under which it will be acquired by The Gores Group. Meanwhile, the law firm of Levi & Korsinsky is investigating the Board of Directors of Pep Boys for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of state law.
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The Savannah, GA City Council is considering paying part of the cost for cameras to be installed in local taxis in response to an uptick in cab robberies. Elected officials had mixed opinions on the idea, but cab company owners say it’s critical to public safety.
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On January 20, Honda delivered a 2013 Fit EV battery-electric vehicle to the city of Torrance as one of the first major steps in the Honda Electric Vehicle Demonstration Program. The automaker and the city will continue to further initiatives while studying local government fleet usage of an electrified vehicle.
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The U.S. Internal Revenue Service sets limits for vehicle personal usage; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closes their investigation on the Chevy Volt; and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee acts on highway reauthorization.
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The Honorable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources, has announced an additional investment of $117 million over three years for the ecoENERGY Efficiency Initiatives. Included as part of the benefits for Canadians through these initiatives are improving energy efficiency through vehicle labels and industrial practices, among others.
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Car dealers’ normal channels of finding low-mileage, high-demand used models are drying up, so they’re finding creative ways to fill the void. One retailer appraises any vehicle brought in for service and leaves an offer to buy on the dashboard--with the tantalizing appearance of a check.
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General Motors is back on top as the world’s biggest automaker, outselling Germany’s Volkswagen and Japanese Toyota to reclaim the crown it surrendered in 2009 after declaring bankruptcy.
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A panel of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) said on January 18 that federal auto safety investigators were justified in closing a probe into potential electronic causes of sudden acceleration of Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles.
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In a global survey of consumers, fifty-seven percent of consumers born from 1980 to the early 1990s, known as Generation Y, preferred an "electrified vehicle," Deloitte LLP, which conducted the study, said on January 17 in a statement.
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NAFA welcomes new Members and Affiliates into the Association.
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Joseph Clark, Keith E. Branner, CAFM, Michael R. Colbert, Bob Martines, and William K. Roberts mark big anniversaries with NAFA this month.
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Register for NAFA's 2012 I&E before February 29 and save $50! Read this article for information on the new registration options.
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The St. Jude Children's Hospital Silent Auction is a traditional favorite of the Expo attendees. Joining fellow exhibitors in donating an item to the auction will help them gain added exposure on the expo floor, as conference attendees visit their booths to take a closer look at the items they've placed up-for-bid.
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The black No. 03 Chevrolet that carried Dale Earnhardt Jr. to four NASCAR Nationwide series championships will boast a new American Ethanol paint scheme in several races during the 2012 season.
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The difference perceived by American consumers between the top car brands and the challengers is shrinking, according to the findings of the 2012 Car-Brand Perception Survey, conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.
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Lifecycle Cost Analysis for Fleets is available at twenty percent off regular price for NAFA Members and Affiliates through the month of February. Don't delay; sale ends on Wednesday, February 29!
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Chicago, IL; North Port, FL; Minneapolis, MN; Ventura, CA; Chatham, ON; San Jose, CA; Spruce Grove, AB; Victoria, BC; Austin, TX; Dearborn, MI; Regina, SK; and Houston, TX
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To meet new government fuel efficiency standards some vehicle manufacturers are omitting heavy spare tires and equipping new vehicles with an emergency sealant and inflator kit or tires that if damaged can run reasonable distances without air.
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The company has determined that select Toyo Extensa A/S tires distributed to retailers within the United States may have been produced with a kink at the bead area of the tires. Under certain circumstances, the kink may eventually lead to a crack in the bead area, which is near the rim. If a crack develops and is left undetected, the tire may fail, potentially causing loss of vehicle control and a crash.
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Dubbed Scosche, the manufacturer claims the device not only will prevent calls from being made from a moving vehicle but the technology also will prevent text messaging, the use of e-mail, even blocking the use of a cellphone’s camera and other apps.
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Submission periods for the Goill Awards and the Sustainable Fleet Awards end February 15 and February 17. If you believe you have a winning idea, don't hesitate to submit it for consideration. Time is running out!

FleetFOCUS Newsletter © 2012 NAFA Fleet Management Association

 

NAFA's Chapters are an important element to the Association, so now you can find your meeting listings in the Chapters department of FleetFOCUS!
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Congratulations, you just got a promotion! Best wishes on your retirement! Now what do you do?
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Three online, searchable networking databases will put you in easy touch with all your NAFA colleagues.
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These virtual neighborhoods allow members to easily email others within that community with specific fleet questions.
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Designed to help you quickly find references and educational resources.
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NAFA cares about your privacy. If you prefer not to receive email marketing information from NAFA Fleet Management Association, you have the option to request to be removed from our records by emailing info@nafa.org with such a request. NAFA may use the information you provide for additional NAFA programs, services, and products that we see as being beneficial for you. You will have the option of responding to such an email message with a "click here" directed to info@nafa.org, if you so choose to opt out of future email messages. NAFA does not sell or rent email addresses of prospects, nor does NAFA sell or rent email addresses of our Members and Affiliates.
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NAFA's Law Guide For Fleet Professionals provides the tools to enable a fleet manager to recognize legal challenges and discuss them with legal experts.
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