Please join us for the Meridian Yard Party, a joint terrritory event held by CRA and ARA of California on May 24th! Register today! The Yard Party is hosted by Meridian Pacific Sales, Inc./Meridian Utility Equipment Sales, Inc. in Sacramento. It begins at 6:00 pm, with a BBQ dinner served at 7:00 pm and a raffle and announcements held at 8:00 pm. Sponsorship opportunities are available... there is no better way to demonstrate your support for the rental industry! Click on "Learn More" for more information and to register for the event.

*Diesel trucks with a GVWR of more than 14,000 pounds that are privately and federally owned fleets are subject to the Truck & Bus Regulation. Do you own a lighter diesel truck that is a 2004 or older model year? Upcoming compliance deadlines may affect you.

An increasing number of employees are teleworkers these days. According to Global Workplace Analytics:

• 50 percent of the US workforce holds a job that is compatible with at least partial telework and approximately 20-25 percent of the workforce teleworks at some frequency.
• 80 percent to 90 percent of the US workforce says they would like to telework at least part time. Two to three days a week seems to be the sweet spot that allows for a balance of concentrative work (at home) and collaborative work (at the office).

 In another survey, 86 percent of teleworkers reported being more productive, with lower stress levels and a better balance between work and home life. Employers that allow telecommuting enjoy increased employee loyalty and lower costs. Despite these benefits, telecommuting does have some drawbacks. Teleworkers are as likely as other office workers to suffer from back injuries and repetitive strain problems. Your obligation to compensate employees for work-related injuries and illnesses applies no matter where they work.

ASV Holdings Inc., an industry-leading manufacturer of all-purpose and all-season compact track loaders and skid steers, has added RGW Equipment to its dealer network. The Livermore, California-based dealer will offer all ASV Posi-Track® compact track loaders, featuring best-in-class rated operating capacity, cooling systems and hydraulic efficiency. Among those machines are the new RT-40, an industry-leading small-frame CTL, the new VT-70, ASV’s first mid-frame vertical lift model, and the RT-120 Forestry, the industry’s most powerful CTL. RGW will also carry ASV’s full line of skid-steer loaders.

In the May Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts Brent crude oil prices will average $71 per barrel (b) in 2018 and $66/b in 2019, $7/b and $3/b higher, respectively, than was forecast in last month's STEO. Monthly Brent crude oil spot prices averaged $72/b in April, an increase of $6/b from March. April was the first month Brent crude oil prices averaged more than $70/b since November 2014. EIA expects West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices to average $5/b lower than Brent prices in both 2018 and 2019 (Figure 1). The higher price forecasts in 2018 result in increased forecast U.S. crude oil production growth compared with last month's forecast, which contributes to looser global oil balances in 2019.

The California Chamber of Commerce is asking legislative fiscal committees to stop a number of job killer bills from moving on in the legislative process. Several job killers already have been placed on the suspense files of the Assembly or Senate Appropriations committees pending a review of the bills’ fiscal impact. Others await committee action.

A California Chamber of Commerce-sponsored job creator bill that will enable businesses to avoid hiring repeat sexual harassment offenders, ending the cycle of harassment in industries across California, unanimously passed the Assembly this week. AB 2770 (Irwin; D-Thousand Oaks) protects an employer’s ability to warn potential employers about an individual’s harassing conduct without the threat of a defamation lawsuit when responding to a reference check.

An article on foxandhoundsdaily.com recently reported on the effort that three companies found to have sold toxic lead paint for decades—despite knowing it posed health hazards for children—are making to avoid paying the several hundred million dollars in liability that California courts have slapped on them. And they’re asking you, the California voter, to help them get their way. After losing an 18-year-long legal fight, ConAgra, NL Industries and Sherwin Williams are now working on two different fronts to overturn the ruling, which says they must pay to clean up lead paint in older homes in 10 cities and counties across California.

Thank you to all those who take time to participate in our surveys. CRA utilizes the information we gather to better serve you. If you have an idea for a survey for CRA members, please send your request to CRA at Info@CalRental.org. This month, we surveyed members about their business tax.

Robert Shipley from F & B Rentals is the winner of the May Survey Raffle. Congratulations, Robert!