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Elizabeth "Betty" Linck, CFM, retires as Fleet Director for the Town of Greenwich, Conn., after 19 ½  years of service.

Linck has been involved in fleet management for the past 34 ½ years. She started her career in fleet in 1975 with a Fortune 500 company and joined NAFA in 1980, and within a year was involved in her local NAFA Chapter, Inter-County's governing board, and among other positions, served five terms as Chapter Chair. As Linck became more involved in NAFA, she served for more than 25 years on the National Board of Governors in various capacities. Other committees she has served on include the National Fuels & Technology Committee; National Truck, Van, & Equipment Committee; and the I&E Curriculum Committee.  Linck is one of the original Wharton CFM (Certified Fleet Manager) graduates. 

While employed as the Town Fleet Director, Linck's accomplishments included achieving the requirements for an ASE Blue Seal Facility since 2005, pay grade increases and additional stipends for the technicians, successfully outsourcing the parts room function, and implementing an Outcome Based Budget. Her department also received recognition as a Top 100 Best Fleet for four consecutive years. 

"Betty Linck has been an outstanding fleet director and made enormous contributions to the Town of Greenwich in attaining the highest industry recognition for our fleet Department. Betty will be missed and I wish her well in her future endeavors," said First Selectman Peter J. Tesei.

In 2006 and 2007, the Town of Greenwich Fleet Department received the award as one of the Top 100 Fleets in North America, and in 2008 it ranked number 15 in the Top Twenty.  In 2009, the Town of Greenwich Fleet was ranked number 14 in North America. Congratulations, Betty, on your many achievements and retirement! And thank you for your years of dedication to NAFA and the fleet management profession!
A fleet manager's job encompasses everything from purchasing and leasing vehicles to fleet maintenance and acquisition.

With today's business outlook of doing more for less, you may find yourself doing more. Accounting, administrative direction and support, conducting studies and analysis, and overseeing parking operations are just a few "extra" jobs fleet managers are finding themselves doing - especially now during rough economic times.

As a Fleet Manager for a small municipal fleet, Chris Burgeson, CAFM, Vice Chair of the San Francisco Chapter and Fleet Manager for the City of Napa, is constantly called upon to manage or perform tasks that normally would not fall under the title of "Fleet Manager."

"In my two positions as a Fleet Manager for a municipality, I also had [the] responsibility for the management of the Corporation Yard. This in itself requires wearing multiple hats," Burgeson said. "One of the most critical is managing storm water runoff from the yard and maintaining NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) regulatory compliance."

Burgeson also manages the performance of several inspection schedules, allocated across multiple city divisions as well as assembles a combined training program, and provides a report to the regional water quality board on all compliance issues as part of his management of the Corporation Yard. In addition to his fleet management jobs, Burgeson also served as a consultant for one of the leading fleet management software companies.

"Many large fleets have multiple layers of administrative and clerical support," Burgeson said. "With my current small fleet, most of the data gathering for management reports is performed by me. Support from the purchasing side of our finance department is also limited, so I personally handle all the new equipment specification writing."

Who else is multitasking different professions? Rachel Johnson, CAFM, Fleet Administrator/Accounting for Konecranes, Inc. in Ohio handles the administrative and accounting aspects of her company.  These duties include inter-corporate accounting reconciliations, billing and receivables, allocation and reconciliation of insurance, legal, and capital investments expenditures.  She also handles a variety of other cost allocations, such as phone and data costs, and computer expenses, as well as administers all their building leases from across the country and processes the property tax payments and business licenses. 

"I've been working towards being the full-time fleet manager, by obtaining my CAFM designation.  I think my company is moving towards that position, but with the economy and cut-backs, I don't see that happening until at least the first of next year," Johnson, Chair of the Tri-State NAFA Chapter, said. "Even then, my company works very lean, which has served it well, so I don't ever foresee not being involved in other aspects of the business."

With companies cutting back and trying to save – are you finding yourself doing more? Share your woes with your NAFA peers and tell us what hats you're wearing today.  Email Tina Perrotta, NAFA Communications Assistant, at tperrotta@nafa.org.

• FleetFOCUS saves you valuable time and effort with its comprehensive scope, relaying headline news, legislative updates, career network opportunities, and the latest association happenings at the local and national levels!
• Twice each month, your issue of FleetFOCUS is e-mailed to your attention, putting critical information on the fleet management and automotive industry directly in your inbox!
• Each issue groups quick reading articles into eight major sections, making accessing information easy to locate.
  • NAFA News
  • Headline News
  • What's Green in the Industry
  • Chapter Highlights
  • Membership Benefits You
  • Legislative News
  • Online NAFA Store
  • Career Corner
• Review and applaud key Membership Milestones of your friends and NAFA colleagues!
• Plan to attend your next NAFA Chapter meeting with FleetFOCUS' quick list of the latest month's local happenings at all NAFA Chapters.

NAFA's official bi-monthly magazine, FLEETSolutions, features in-depth stories written to educate, inform, and help fleet managers excel in their jobs. Educational articles are based on the eight disciplines and related core competencies comprising NAFA's Education Competency Model developed by the Association's FleetED Advisory Council. These disciplines have been specified as the required knowledge and skills for successful fleet management.

FLEETSolutions Helps You Excel! 

• NAFA Members and Affiliates share their experiences, giving you interdisciplinary knowledge cutting across all  industries! Comprehensive educational content keeps you informed on:
• Asset Management
• Business Management
• Financial Management
• Fleet Information Management
• Maintenance Management
• Risk Management
• Vehicle Fuel Management
• Professional Development
  
• Color-coded tabs help you locate information on the specific, professional disciplines. Important results of NAFA surveys allow you to compare your practices, policies, and experiences against those of your NAFA colleagues.
• Spotlights on leasing companies, remarketing strategies, industry leaders, and key partners provide the latest perspectives in the profession.
• The publication gives you valuable, well-rounded, comprehensive education of the subject matter, no matter your industry or fleet!
• NAFA's magazine is a great resource for all experience levels.

Among other valuable benefits, your NAFA membership dues and fees pay for an annual subscription to FLEETSolutions. In addition to the print and digital versions of the magazine sent directly to your attention, you'll find each issue of FLEETSolutions archived online. This online archive is available only for NAFA Members and Affiliates, so you'll need to log in with your unique NAFA username and password. Just go to www.nafa.org, find the "Resource Center" tab, and click on Publications and References. This link will provide you with a list of NAFA publications.  Click on FleetFOCUS and all issues will be listed according to date.  Remember, with FleetFOCUS being an exclusive benefit of NAFA membership, you'll need your unique NAFA username and password.  Or click on FLEETSolutions and all issues will be listed according to date.  Did you know NAFA's recent 2009 Green Fleet Sustainability Survey showed (of the respondents polled) 72.6 percent currently have a green fleet/sustainability initiative in place? Nearly 70 percent said the fleet department requested and created the initiative on their own, while 40 percent answered that upper management requested it. 

Fleet managers who said they use alternative fuel vehicles reported using biodiesel the most (63 percent) followed by E85 (59.1 percent), and CNG (37.8 percent).  The use of LPG (11 percent), hydrogen (3.9 percent), and LNG (1.6 percent), and electric was also noted.

 NAFA's Fleet ED Advisory Council conducts surveys throughout the year and the results are featured in every issue of FLEETSolutions.To read more about the Sustainability Survey, see the latest issue of FLEETSolutions.



When you participate in the 2009 NAFA Membership Drive and recruit a new NAFA Member to join, you could win a free trip to NAFA's 2010 Institute & Expo! This Membership Drive Grand Prize Pack includes full conference registration, hotel for all conference nights, and your roundtrip travel/airfare. Plus, there are five additional I&E conference registrations that will be drawn. This 2009 Drive contest is "win-win-win" for all involved  – especially you.

Why Participate and Get Your Colleagues to Join?

• Build your network that may help in your next project.
• Get a chance to win a free trip to I&E, including hotel and travel expenses. (The Membership Drive Grand Prize Pack including I&E conference registration, hotel, and airfare.)
• Get a chance to win a free I&E registration.
• Receive a $10 coupon good toward any NAFA product for each new NAFA Member you get to join.
• Strengthen your association that provides fleet solutions for all fleet professionals.
• Build your opportunity to become more involved in your association – and truly make it your association.
  

As a NAFA member, you know the value of membership best and we want others to experience the same benefits of NAFA that you do! Let them know NAFA is Fleet Solutions for Fleet Professionals  – we're all about fleet!

For each new fleet manager NAFA member that is recruited between July 1 and November 30, 2009, one ticket will be entered in a drawing to win a free trip (Grand Prize) and free registration to NAFA's 2010 Institute & Expo held in Detroit, April 24–29, 2010. In addition, collect NAFA coupon dollars for every new member you recruit.

For complete details and contest rules, visit www.nafa.org/2009drive.

1. Get Started Today With Your Recruiting Toolbox!
   Download our special Member application, and don't forget to put your name on the "SPONSOR" line before distributing.
   US and Canadian Member Application
   International Member Application
2. Good web pages to refer to:
   Top Reasons To Join
   Testimonials
   Membership Benefits
   www.nafa.org/join
3. Spread the word. Here's some ideas how:
   
   • Invite a colleague to a local meeting
   • E-mail fellow professionals (see above links)
   • Contact your local chapter chair for a list of prospective Members
   • Research similar companies in your area and find out who runs their fleet
   • E-mail NAFA's Membership Department directly for a prospect Member to contact

Three Reasons to Reserve Your Booth Today:

1. SAVE, SAVE, SAVE
   Past exhibitors receive a $100 discount for every 100 square feet reserved and can secure their booth for 2010 before the general sales campaign opens. Deadline is 7/31/09.
2. Meet Fleet Decision-Makers
   NAFA Members are composed of both commercial (60%) and government (40%) fleet managers and are responsible for more than 3.5 million vehicles.
3. Green Zone is Hot
   With alternative fuels being in the headlines, the NAFA I&E Green Zone will draw buyers to the floor.

Be part of the premier fleet management event! Visit www.nafaiande.org/.  Call our sales team at (703) 934-4700 or e-mail nafa@cmgexpo.com for help selecting your booth. Donald Callum served as NAFA President from 1973-75 and was the first Canadian to hold this office.  He was also a Distinguished Service Award Recipient. Callum passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the age of 93. Callum has three daughters and resided in Thornhill, Ontario.  NAFA sends our regrets to his family, friends, and peers.

Find out which Members recently celebrated a five-, 10-, or 20-year anniversary with NAFA by logging online to the Membership Milestones page. This page will provide you with anniversary dates along with bios on those celebrating milestones.

Most recently, Earl B. Mitchell of Mitchell & Associates Travel Consultants in Toledo, Ohio celebrated his 40th anniversary with NAFA, and Douglas Ward of Coburg, Ontario celebrated his 30th. In May, Allen M. Mitchell, Fleet Manager at the Everett, Wash. Department of Public Works in Snohomish County, celebrated his 30-year anniversary. To see additional members celebrating milestones, please click here. Thanks for being part of the NAFA family!

NAFA Member and volunteer, Steve Anderson, who was employed with the Omaha Public Power District in Nebraska, has retired.  Anderson joined NAFA in 1982 and served on several national and local committees, including as a member of the National Public Service Fleet Committee (1992-1994) and co-Chair of the Chapter Membership Committee (1997-1998). He served as Chair for the Chapter Public Service Fleet Committee (1992-1997) and Chair of the Chapter Program Committee (2001-2002), and he served on the NAFA Legislative Group from 2007-2008.

"The biggest change I've seen in the industry since 1978 is in the quality of the vehicles and equipment," Anderson said. "In 1970, it took 42 mechanics to maintain the OPPD fleet of 700 units.  We now maintain more than1,400 units with 40 mechanics."
 
His advice to new fleet managers: listen and learn from others. "Almost every good idea we implemented in our fleet originated somewhere else," he said. "Network with other fleet people as much as possible.  They are the most sharing professionals I've ever met."
 
Anderson is currently involved with the Omaha Public Power District's program for high school students to build and compete with one-person electric vehicles (www.oppd.com/aboutus/powerdrive), which started 12 years ago. 

"I have been involved since the beginning and will continue to direct that program in my retirement," Anderson said. "In fact, we've applied for a federal grant to take some of our ideas to start similar programs nationwide.  We'll know about that in a few months."

No matter what type of fleet you have, fleet managers all face the same issues with regard to maintenance. Just published, this guide will enhance your understanding of the essential maintenance principles of in-house, contracted, or outsourced maintenance. Whether you work for a large corporation, a government entity, utility, or university, the Fleet Maintenance Operations Guide provides you with valuable information and resources. More than 500 pages of information, articles, codes, checklists and guidelines examine:

• preventive maintenance & warranty operations
• shop operations
• environmental issues
• inventory management
  
• benchmarking staff performance
• outsourcing
• maintenance staffing

Available in two formats to meet your project needs! Order Today!

• 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!

Take part in NAFA's new Certified Automotive Fleet Supervisor (CAFS) certification program or Certified Automotive Fleet Manager (CAFM) program.  Both certificates will give you a leg up on your peers.

If you're interested in a career as a technician or assistant, or in other positions in the fleet-related field, the Certified Automotive Fleet Supervisor certification program is for you. The CAFS program is open to any individual with at least one year of experience as a fleet manager, assistant manager, fleet supervisor, or other fleet-related position, and it is open to those enrolled in a college or university program in a fleet-related discipline.

This CAFS certificate is awarded to those who show a proven proficiency in four specific aspects of fleet management and who may ultimately continue their educational path towards the completion of a CAFM designation – the highest and most comprehensive certification in the fleet industry.

"The CAFM program is the only certification program that proves an individual's expertise in fleet. Other certification programs may attest that a person has minimum basic knowledge of fleet, but the CAFM program proves the person is an expert," stated Phillip Russo, CAE, NAFA Executive Director.

To earn the CAFM designation, an applicant must pass a series of comprehensive examinations to demonstrate expertise in the eight disciplines of automotive fleet management:  Fleet Information Management, Maintenance Management, Professional Development, Vehicle Fuel Management, Asset Management, Business Management, Financial Management, and Risk Management.  Designed to identify and recognize exceptional fleet management professionals, many employers now require fleet managers to obtain the CAFM designation prior to, or shortly after, employment.

"After 13 years and a variety of positions in the fleet industry, I felt it was time to challenge myself. After looking at the opportunities available, it was evident that the NAFA CAFM program was the most respected program available in the fleet industry. My employer stood behind me throughout the CAFM experience and understood that attaining this certification adds value to my position," said Donald M. Lubinsky, CAFM, Director Automotive for AMTRAK.

A CAFM certification clearly makes a fleet professional stand apart from the competition.  Currently, fewer than 400 fleet managers have joined the exclusive ranks of CAFM certification holders.  For more information about the CAFM or CAFS program, click here.

Headline News

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded millions of dollars to communities across the country to reduce diesel emissions, protect human health, create jobs, and help the environment.  The funds are provided under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009 National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program.  The program received $156 million to fund competitive grants across the nation.

Initial grants awarded included City of Houston; Mid-Atlantic regional Air Management Association;  Kansas Department of Health and Environment; Port of Baltimore Clean Diesel; Allegheny County Diesel Project; Railroad Research Foundation;  Grace Hill, Missouri,  Kentucky; Oklahoma; Mother Slug Locomotive Repower; New York & New Jersey long haul trucks; Columbus, Mississippi; Chesapeake Bay Marine Engine Repower; Lincoln-Lancaster Health Department; Johnson County, Kansas; Maryland School Bus Grant Program; Virginia Diesel Emissions Reduction Initiative; VIA Metropolitan Transit; Arkansas; and Albuquerque.

Projects include the replacement and retrofitting of old school buses and transit buses with new buses; retrofitting vehicles with diesel oxidation catalysts and replacing engines; retrofitting dump trucks with diesel particulate filters; upgrading construction equipment; and the promotion of advanced emission reduction and energy efficient technologies.

"Innovative clean diesel projects can create jobs, cut fuel costs, keep people healthy, and move our country into a clean energy future," said EPA Acting Regional Administrator George Pavlou. "Projects like these help rebuild the economy while contributing to cleaner, healthier air quality."

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on Feb. 17 and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability.  Americans can see where each dollar invested is going at www.recovery.gov.  For more information on EPA's clean diesel initiatives, visit http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel.

The new General Motors Company began operations on July 10 with a new corporate structure, a stronger balance sheet, and a renewed commitment to make the customer the center of everything the new GM does.

Created from the old GM's strongest operations in an asset sale approved by the bankruptcy court on July 5, the new GM is built on:

• Four core brands in the U.S. and the largest, strongest dealer network in the country.
• A fresh lineup of Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC cars, trucks and crossovers.
• A competitive cost structure, a cleaner balance sheet, and a stronger liquidity position that will enable GM to invest in new products, key technologies, and its future .
• A winning culture focused on customers and products.
  

Despite the recent downturn, GM has maintained its cadence of strong new products and announced its intention to build a new small car at a plant in Orion Township, Mich. As part of its reinvention, the new GM has also focused its resources on four core brands and a stronger, more effective dealer network. General Motors' core brands -- Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC -- will have a total of just 34 U.S. nameplates by 2010.

In the U.S., the new GM will be a far leaner company. By the end of 2010, the company will operate 34 assembly, powertrain, and stamping plants, down from 47 in 2008, and capacity utilization is expected to reach 100 percent during 2011. Overall U.S. employment will decline from about 91,000 at the end of 2008 to about 64,000 at the end of this year, creating a company sized to respond quickly to changes in the market while still retaining the global scope necessary to develop world-class products and technologies.

General Motors will also end its regional operating structure, moving decisions closer to the customer. This eliminates the regional president positions and the regional strategy boards. Nick Reilly will be named executive vice president of GM International Operations (GMIO), which will be based in Shanghai. Passage of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act will allow small businesses to compete on a level playing field and ensure the long-term survival of a competitive automotive repair industry, according to Paul Fiore, executive vice president of the Service Station Dealers of America and Allied Trades (SSDA-AT).

"We often hear members of Congress talk about the challenges facing small businesses and the need to help them compete.  Passage of the Right to Repair Act is a chance for Congress to demonstrate their commitment to small businesses throughout the country," said Fiore. "Millions of car owners trust local repair shops to provide affordable and convenient automotive repair service.  The Right to Repair Act ensures that these small businesses can complete fairly by requiring equitable access to the tools, software, safety alerts, and repair information required to diagnose and repair today's vehicles."

The Right to Repair Act offers protections for vehicle owners and their trusted repair facilities by making it illegal for vehicle manufacturers to withhold information necessary to diagnose, service or repair motor vehicles.  A complete list of Congressional co-sponsors and a copy of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (HR 2057) can be found by visiting www.righttorepair.org.  U.S. trucks would be more fuel efficient and emit less greenhouse gases if they were more productive, like trucks in Europe, Canada and Australia - according to the preliminary results of a multi-nation study.

These findings reaffirm results from 2008 using the American Transportation Research Institute's higher productivity vehicle model. As countries around the world prepare for increasing freight volumes, many have already instituted programs that increase truck size and weight and have seen great productivity and environmental gains, with continuing improvements in safety.

At a recent conference hosted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, truck industry experts from across the globe found that the U.S. is lagging in several truck productivity and sustainability categories when compared with international counterparts. Current U.S. truck size and weight regulations serve as a limiting factor, preventing trucks from utilizing the full potential of our infrastructure. Increasing truck size and weight standards to align more closely with international standards would improve truck productivity and the ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and carbon output.

"Existing restrictions on truck size and weight are unreasonably low and harm the U.S.," said Bill Graves, President and CEO of the American Trucking Associations (ATA). "We must raise our standards to maximize the productivity of our transportation system if we're to remain competitive in global markets."

ATA supports allowing States to authorize more productive vehicles to operate on the Nation's highways, consistent with sound engineering standards, improved safety and cost responsibility. To address the potential for greater productivity, ATA has proposed a program to allow 6-axle vehicles to carry 97,000 pounds in states that agree to permit them; allow states to permit 33-foot trailer combinations; harmonize the use of longer combination vehicles in western sates and expand their use where appropriate; and allow a 10 percent increase in auto-hauler weights to account for today's heavier vehicles.
The National Auto Auction Association (NAAA) announced the release of a proposed industry-wide standard for the Electronic Condition Report (ECR) to be used in vehicle inspections prior to a sale at NAAA auctions. The draft of the new guidelines will be available to all participants in the automotive remarketing industry for their review, before being finalized. The intended implementation will take place during the first quarter of 2010.

The ECR standard is designed to be a set of acceptable values that covers such important sections of an inspection as basic vehicle information, images, damages (if applicable), and available options. The goal of establishing the standard is to streamline processes within remarketing to reduce costs for all participants, improve the buyers' experience, and make exchange of vehicle data easier among participants in the remarketing industry, noted NAAA President Bob McConkey.

NAAA worked with the foremost auction firms, leading independent software vendors, and the OEMs to produce the standard. A major aim of the NAAA in developing the draft was to gather broad industry input and gain mutual support for a collective practice.

One of the keys to success is the backing of the OEMs for the new standard. Mark Mathews, director of Rental and Used Vehicle Activities for General Motors, one of the OEM supporters of the new standard, stated that "in order to maximize the efficiency of this industry to the advantage of all, including the OEMs, standardization is absolutely necessary. We're proud to be supporting the NAAA's efforts to introduce greater efficiency to the industry in a way that benefits everyone."

SPOTLIGHT ON LEGISLATION

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has announced a plan to offer rebates of between $4,000 and $10,000 for plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles purchased after July 1st, 2010.  McGuinty stated that the goal is to help people buy the innovative cars first, once they begin to roll off the assembly line.

It has also been announced that public charging facilities at Ontario government and GO Transit parking lots will be built.  In addition, those who are driving electric vehicles will receive green license plates that would permit them to use less-congested carpool lanes until 2015, even if there is only one person occupying the vehicle.

To demonstrate the government's own commitment to the new technology, the provincial government will be adding 500 electric vehicles to its own Ontario Public Service fleet.  McGuinty highlighted that Ontario wants to become a world leader in driving electric cars and hopes that the incentives will assist to broaden the electric vehicle market for manufacturers and ultimately create more jobs for Ontarians.

The cash incentives will come into effect in July 2010, just before the new hybrid-electric Chevrolet Volt is planned to appear on the roads.

Research and development of natural gas vehicles would get a boost under legislation scheduled for a vote this week in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The bill would direct the Energy Department and Environmental Protection Agency to focus research on commercial vehicles. The legislation would charge the agencies with developing procedures and national standards for the vehicles and for natural gas fueling stations.  The bill would authorize $30 million a year from fiscal 2010.

Meanwhile in the Senate, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) have introduced legislation that would boost vehicles that run on clean natural gas. The NAT GAS Act would extend and increase tax credits for natural gas vehicles and refueling.  The bill also would allow state and local governments to issue tax exempt bonds to finance natural gas vehicle projects.

ENVIRONMENTAL UPDATE

As part of an innovative partnership aimed at increasing economic development in urban and rural areas while setting the nation on the path to energy independence, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Energy announced on July 9 an estimated $3 billion for the development of renewable energy projects around the country and made available the guidance businesses will need to submit a successful application.

Funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the program will provide direct payments in lieu of tax credits in support of an estimated 5,000 biomass, solar, wind and other types of renewable energy production facilities.

The Recovery Act authorized the Treasury to make direct payments to companies that create and place in service renewable energy facilities beginning January 1, 2009. Previously, these companies could file for a tax credit to cover a portion of the renewable energy project's cost; under the new program, applicants would agree to forgo tax credits down the line in favor of an immediate reimbursement of a portion of the property expense. This direct payment program allows for an immediate stimulus in local economies. The United States officially joined the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) on June 29, increasing the number of countries participating in the organization to 136. IRENA was initially founded on January 26 with 75 member nations, and its membership now includes most of Africa, the Middle East and Europe, as well as Australia, Greenland, India, Japan and parts of South America.

The new agency will engage governments around the world in promoting a rapid transition toward the widespread and sustainable use of renewable energy on a global scale. The U.S. participation is an important element of the Obama Administration's effort to support clean energy technologies and the development of the low-carbon economies needed to address climate change.

While the United States is becoming more involved in worldwide renewable energy efforts, it is also expanding its international efforts closer to home. In late June, DOE hosted the first U.S.-Canada Clean Energy Dialogue Roundtable at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper established the U.S.-Canada Clean Energy Dialogue in February, with the specific goals of expanding clean energy research and development; developing and deploying clean energy technologies; and building a more efficient electricity grid. DOE issued solicitations in late June for $3.9 billion in grants to support the development and demonstration of smart grid technologies. DOE's new solicitations include a $3.3 billion Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program, which is intended to enable smart grid functions on the nation's electrical grid as soon as possible.

The cost-shared grants will support the manufacturing, purchasing and installation of existing smart grid technologies that can be deployed on a commercial scale, with a maximum award of $200 million. Applications are due on August 6. DOE also issued an FOA for $615 million to identify and develop new and more effective smart grid technologies.

The Smart Grid Demonstration Program will support demonstrations of the innovative use of emerging technologies in the power grid, with a maximum award of $100 million. Applications are due on August 26. Both solicitations are funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Coulomb Technologies announced the County of Sonoma, CA, has become the fourth Bay Area location to deploy their ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations for electric vehicles.  The seven charging stations are now installed throughout the county and will be used for fleet and consumer use.   Along with several regional partners, the County of Sonoma has applied for grant funding to install up to 200 additional stations in the next two years.

"It's no secret that the County of Sonoma is a model in the United States for the greening of fleet vehicles," said Richard Lowenthal CEO of Coulomb Technologies.  "Having anticipated the county's need for an EV charging infrastructure, Coulomb worked with the county over the past nine months on fleet features for our networked charging stations.  We thank the County of Sonoma for their collaboration and for making stations easily available to anyone that needs charging." 
 
Coulomb's "Fleet Management Portal" displays performance data and graphs for their plug-in fleet managers. The networked charging stations report greenhouse gas savings and gasoline savings to fleet managers. Coulomb's charging stations notify drivers and fleet managers when individual vehicles are overdue for charging, when charging abnormally terminates and when charging is complete. Azure Dynamics Corporation announced it has been awarded a 16 vehicle contract from the Hybrid Truck Users Forum's (HTUF) Small Hybrid Bus Working Group. HTUF's Small Hybrid Bus Working group is a joint program between CALSTART and the U.S. Army TARDEC's National Automotive Center (NAC) and is supported by the Federal Transit Administration. HTUF works to encourage further commercialization of hybrid drivelines and benefits from the participation of over 80 fleets representing roughly one million trucks and buses. Azure Dynamics partnered with bus body builder StarTrans Bus, a Supreme Indiana Operations Inc. company, on the bid.

The Small Hybrid Bus Working Group includes the Missouri Department of Transportation, which served as the lead agency for the procurement; City of Aspen, Colorado; City of White Plains, New York; Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts; Marin County Transit, San Rafael, California; Sacramento Regional Transit, Sacramento, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; Tahoe Transportation District, Stateline, Nevada; and TriMet Transportation District, Portland, Oregon.

The 16 vehicles included in the purchase are 23-foot, gasoline-powered hybrid electric cutaway buses using Azure's BalanceTM Hybrid Electric powertrain on the Ford E450 chassis.

"This is a great opportunity for Azure to work with a team of organizations that are central in advancing alternative technologies in the United States and beyond," said Scott Harrison, Azure Dynamics Chief Executive Officer. "Between CALSTART, HTUF, U.S. Army TARDEC's National Automotive Center and the long list of customers, all of whom are conscientious fleet managers, we are setting the stage for additional collaborative efforts. We look forward to helping these new customers achieve considerable cost and environmental benefits." Tesla Motors has received approval for about $465 million in low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Energy to accelerate the production of affordable, fuel-efficient electric vehicles. 

Tesla will use $365 million for production engineering and assembly of the Model S, an all-electric family sedan that carries seven people and travels up to 300 miles per charge.  Tesla expects to start Model S production in late 2011 in a state-of-the-art assembly plant employing about 1,000 workers. 

Tesla will use $100 million for a powertrain manufacturing plant. The facility will supply all-electric powertrain solutions to other automakers, greatly accelerating the availability of mass-market EVs. The new facility will employ about 650 people. 

Tesla is in the final stages of negotiation for facilities in California.  The loans are part of the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program, which provides incentives to new and established automakers to build more fuel-efficient vehicles.  Vancouver's city council has unanimously approved new regulations that will require electric vehicle charging stations in new condominium and apartment buildings, according to the Green Car Congress.

A report by CBC News said that under the plan, at least 20 percent of parking stalls in new condominium and apartment buildings, as well as some city-owned parking lots, must include plug-in charging outlets for electric vehicles.

The city council doubled an original proposal that would have required only 10 percent of stalls to have the charging infrastructure.

Developers are being given a grace period of 18 months before the charging outlets are required, according to CanadianDriver.

NAFA Online Store

Order by July 31 and Save 25% on NAFA's Request for Proposals Guide

 

 

 

 

Request for Proposals Guide

CD-ROM

 

Instructional CD-ROM with step-by-step instruction for preparing an effective Request for Proposal. Save time by directly accessing numerous reference documents and samples, including Process Flow and Statement of Work. Valuable tool for experienced RFP writers and novices alike. 

Did you know about NAFA's other products, such as the NAFA Vehicle Classification System, Personal Use for Fleets CD or Request for Proposals Guide CD? Review all NAFA products at the online store (www.nafa.org/store), or to download the current catalog, click here. Get the most from your NAFA membership by taking advantage of substantial discounts on all products in our online store.

New 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, comprised of additional references, makes this an "evergreen" learning tool, as links to current websites provide you direct access to the most 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.

Available in three formats to meet your project and budget 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 for easy use, especially when sharing references with colleagues.

Other Items Featured in NAFA's Store: 

Keep cool this summer (and year-round) with NAFA's lunch bag and cooler. The zippered bag is insulated to help keep perishables fresh and drinks cold while a shoulder strap offers portability.

Show your support with a NAFA T-shirt! Our NAFA shirt features the blue NAFA logo with our tagline "Fleet Solutions for Fleet Professionals." The label is printed, not sewn in, and 100% cotton for ultimate comfort. The tagless label won't fade, wash off or itch!

Order today!

Career Corner

NAFA has provided space in each issue of the FleetFOCUS for companies and organizations to advertise career opportunities in the fleet industry. Members can also market themselves to potential employers. If you're interested in this opportunity, make your listings 200 words or fewer. Links to complete job descriptions on the company's Web site are suggested. Please note all of the materials a candidate must supply in order to be considered for the position (e.g., resume, salary history, municipal application, etc.). To take advantage of this service, e-mail your ad to Patrick McCarren at pmccarren@nafa.org.

Job Wanted Listings Provide New Networking Opportunities!

Are you looking for a new job or a motivated, hard-working employee? NAFA's Job Wanted Listings is an exclusive benefit for Members and Affiliates who are looking to make a career change. PLEASE NOTE: This new and exclusive benefit is FREE! To take advantage of this service, e-mail your job wanted posting to Maureen Smith at msmith@nafa.org.

July Job Postings

Fleet Manager - Glendale, CA
Senior Manager, Fleet Operations & Maintenance - Surrey, BC
Technical (Fleet) Analyst - Chesterfield County, VA
Regional Fleet Sales Manager – Western Region

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 Web site. Employers will be provided with new, up-to-date resumes that fit the job, for a small cost.

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 can also 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 address 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).

Chapter Highlights

Industry Calendar
Click Here

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

July Chapter meetings will take place:

July 23, 2009
NGV - Public and Private Fleet Workshop
Location: Energen Conference Center - Birmingham, AL
Registration: http://www.cleanvehic

July 29, 2009
Pacific Southwest Chapter - Meeting
Location: Sheraton Cerritos, Cerritos, CA
Contact: Leonie von Halle, lvonhall@csc.com, (310)615-1778

July 30,2009
Pacific Northwest Chapter - Meeting
Location: Busters Texas Style Barbeque, Igard, OR
Contact: George Cartales, (503)615-6559, georgic@ci.hillsboro.us

Early August Meetings

August 3, 2009
San Francisco Chapter - Annual Golf Outing
Location: Spring Valley Golf Course, Milpitas, CA
Contact: Jason Hicks, (209)883-8359, jshicks@tid.org
RSVP by July 17, 2009
 
August 5, 2009
Sunshine State Chapter - Meeing
Location: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Contact: Michele A. Wetherington, CAFM, mwetherington@co.volusia.fl.us 

August 6, 2009
Alabama Chapter - Meeting
Location: International Big Bore Engine Plant
Navistar Diesel of Alabama, LLC, Huntsville, AL
Contact: Greg Noah, (256)549-4705
RSVP: Friday, July 31, 2009

Membership Benefits You

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

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

Three online, searchable networking databases will put you in easy touch with all your NAFA colleagues. These databases are exclusively for NAFA members. Our three databases help YOU find:

• Fellow Members and Affiliates based on name, geographic area, or chapter.
• An expert who has volunteered to answer questions from colleagues on specific topics that are important to you.
• An Affiliate product or service; you can choose from more than 50 categories.

You must be a Member or Affiliate to utilize the online networking databases. To start your search, click here.

NAFA's FleetED is designed to help you quickly find the references and educational resources you need now.

From asset management to maintenance management, benchmarking, and shop operations, NAFA's FleetED covers all fleet management disciplines and competencies, making this free website your fast online portal to all fleet management education.
 
Easily look up available resources while scanning an overview of a particular fleet management discipline. Complete a brief self-assessment test, selected by discipline, to confirm your strengths and discover what areas may need a little more concentration. These quizzes provide real-time feedback, with suggested education content according to your assessment results.

Whether you are looking for something specific or just trying to figure out what you need to know, NAFA's FleetED will guide you to valuable, comprehensive education content and reference materials. Visit FleetED at www.nafa.org/fleeted.

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.
• 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.

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.