Sweeping Changes for the 2010 Institute & Expo -- by Rich Wanders, National Accounts Manager, Leggett & Platt CVP

NAFA is making the I&E even more attractive to fleet managers -- your customers and prospects.

There's one month left to participate in NAFA's 2009 Membership Drive.

At NAFA, we aim to provide fleet solutions for you and all fleet professionals. From ways to incorporate sustainable practices to cost-effective programs and services, NAFA is your fleet management community for success.

More than 75 exhibitors have already reserved space for NAFA's Institute & Expo, to be held April 24-27 in Detroit, Mich.

These two programs round out PHH's already existing suite of violations management products.

The new sensor detects events such as engaging Power Take Off, door opening, auxiliary engine shut off, and more.

FMCSA announced 77 commercial bus and truck drivers are off the road, and over 80 carriers face enforcement action as a result of FMCSA's first national drug and alcohol strike force.

Results of Virginia Tech Transportation Institute's naturalistic driving study found that text messaging on a cell phone has an estimated combined crash and near-crash risk of 23 times higher than normal.

ATA is concerned with the support of various investment banks for cap-and-trade. These firms would profit from volatility in the energy futures markets and a carbon derivatives market. Congress must reform commodity trading before creating new derivative carbon markets.

The study indicates that truck industry executives believe smart systems will play an increasingly prominent role in trucks as well as transportation networks.

Figures from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) clearly demonstrate that the trucking industry is now the safest it has been since the DOT began keeping crash statistics in 1975. The number of truck-involved fatalities on our highways has decreased by 19 percent since the new HOS rules took effect.

* Distracted Driving Law Introduced in British Columbia

* Climate Change Legislation
* IRS Raises Driver Per Diem
* NTSB Makes Sleep Apnea Recommendation

With the addition of these SUVs, the Cincinnati Police Department will have a total of eight Highlander Hybrids in its vehicle fleet.

The utility industry's pledge focuses on the following components of plug-in electric vehicles (PEV): infrastructure, customer support, customer and stakeholder education, vehicle and infrastructure incentives, and utility fleets.

Fisker's investment in Delaware is expected to create thousands of assembly and parts supplier jobs, with a capacity to produce 100,000 electric vehicles per year by 2014.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is making the grant possible as part of a $2.4 billion effort to accelerate the manufacture and deployment of electric vehicles, batteries, and components across the United States.

Evolution Fuels, Inc., has developed a plan to allow its facility -- located in Durant, OK -- to process relatively low-cost animal fats into biodiesel. The company is in the process of negotiating a contract for the supply of these fats.

Written by Fleet Managers, for Fleet Managers. Now available, NAFA's Information Technology Guide provides fleet managers with the tools they need to function in a data-rich, information-poor work environment by better using technology tools they probably have at their disposal.

The NAFA Personal Use CD-ROM is a comprehensive tool to instruct and assist you in gaining a greater understanding of this core competency for successful fleet management.

One place to gather job postings, jobs wanted; and a resume bank!

Did you know that three out of four of the largest executive fleets are NAFA Members? And that seven out of 10 of the largest commercial truck fleets are NAFA Members, too? NAFA Members hold in excess of $90 billion in combined assets.

The guide is available in two formats to meet your project needs. NAFA has received 85 orders!

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.

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.

Congratulations -- you just got a promotion! Best wishes on your retirement! Now what do you do?

Three online, searchable networking databases will easily put you in touch with all your NAFA colleagues. These databases are exclusively for NAFA Members.

From asset management to maintenance management, benchmarking, and shop operations; NAFA's FleetED covers all fleet management disciplines and competencies.

NAFA cares about your privacy. As such, NAFA does not sell or rent e-mail addresses or phone numbers of its Members or Affiliates.