If you cannot see the message, please click here
Road Warrior Newsletter
 




 

July 5, 2018

Dear NJGCA Member:

Thank you for reading this week's NJGCA Road Warrior!

Here is what you will find in this edition:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE:
• Reminder: Ban on Lead Wheel Weights; DOL Investigation Finds Violations in Gas Station; BP Investments in Battery Charging Companies; NJ Budget Round-Up; Diner Tour/Young Professionals; Appreciate July 4th

NJGCA CLASSIFIEDS
- Monmouth County: Gas Station and Repair Shop Business Since 2001
- Asbury Park: Commercial Building for Sale. Possible Sale of Business
- Bergen County: Shell Gas Station with 6-Bay Repair Shop for Sale

NEWS AROUND THE STATE
Gas Pump Skimming on the Rise
• Fuel-Cell Tech, Infrastructure On The Rise With Nationwide Investment
• Pump Prices Heading into Fourth of July Highest in Four Years
• Is Phil Murphy Moving To Ban Plastic Bags In New Jersey?
• Every US-Made Car Is An Import. That's Bad News For Automakers
• Murphy Signs $37.4B Budget After Months-Long Feud With Lawmakers

• Business Community Surprised, Upset To See ‘combined Reporting’ In Corporate Business Tax
• Senate Passes Legislation to Reauthorize SNAP
TRAINING CLASS SCHEDULE!
??????• ETEP Re-Cert Class, THURSDAY June 21, 28, July 5, and WEDNESDAY July 11th
??????• Emissions Inspector Training Class, THURSDAY, August 9th, WEDNESDAY September 19th, THURSDAY October 18th

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD
• The Amato Agency: Garage Insurance and Workers Compensation! 
• ATS Environmental: Confidence in your Tank & Compliance Testing

• Bellomo Fuel: Exceptional Service, Aggressive Petroleum Marketing
• CBIZ Insurance: Our Business is Growing Yours!

• Gill Energy: Getting you There!
• Lending Capital: "Commercial Loans Made Easy" Program
• Salomone Brothers: Tank Testing and Environmental Compliance
• TMP Energy Solutions: Another Way to Save On Your Energy Bills

POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
• Participate in the NJGCA PAC today and help us keep our Agenda rolling in Trenton!

Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices

JOIN NJGCA ON FACEBOOK -- CLICK HERE
TO SEE OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL -- CLICK HERE

                                                                                                                                       

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE:

REMINDER: BAN ON LEAD WHEEL WEIGHTS
DOL INVESTIGATION FINDS VIOLATIONS IN GAS STATION
BP INVESTMENTS IN BATTERY CHARGING COMPANIES
NJ BUDGET ROUND-UP
DINER TOUR/YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
APPRECIATE JULY 4th
 
I spoke about this when it passed in to law, now I need to remind you that this will go into effect by the end of the week. On Saturday, July 7th, the state’s ban on mercury and lead wheel weights goes into effect. On that date, you can no longer install or sell these products. This bill passed the Assembly unanimously in January 2017, the Senate December 2017, and was signed into law on January 8, 2018. It did not take effect for 180 days, which ends on July 7. Please make sure not to install these products on your customer’s cars.
 
In the upcoming weeks you will be receiving your July On The Road newsletter in the mail. A subject I will be discussing has been in the works since our planning meeting for this newsletter two months ago. It is regarding properly paying your employees. Coincidentally, this past week, the Department of Labor sent out a press release highlighting a case of an employer improperly paying his employees. You can read the press release HERE. The name of the owner and the location have been redacted as sadly, (and I mean very sadly), this is an NJGCA member. It breaks my heart to know the effort we have made here at NJGCA to keep members aware of the dangers involved by improperly paying your employees sometimes falls on deaf ears. Please make sure you are keeping yourself informed on employment laws to avoid these kinds of issues. You can read more of what I have to say when the OTR newsletter arrives.  
 
I know I have been talking about alternative energy a lot lately, I have been trying to focus on it because I truly believe that electric, hydrogen, and autonomous vehicles are going to be the biggest disruption to the industry that we have seen in a long time. BP has taken note of the changing industry and recently purchased electric vehicle charging firm Chargemaster, and has invested in another battery company StoreDot. BP did not make these investments without having a vision of their own. You can read about Chargemaster HERE and StoreDot HERE.
 
Luckily, a government shutdown was narrowly averted and a compromise was made last weekend on a $37.4 billion state budget. Last week, I mentioned how the governor and legislature were fighting over which tax should be raised and by how much. In the end, the compromise that settled the whole deal will be an increase in corporate taxes for companies that earn over $1 million and personal income taxes for individuals who earn more than $5 million a year. I can only pray that all of you fit this category. The governor also failed to restore the sales tax of seven percent. However, since we are proponents of free enterprise and capitalism, there is an economic ripple effect that these taxes will have on your business and the economy of NJ, even if you don't earn this much money.
 
I want to remind you all of the next diner tour we will be hosting at the Shore Diner in Egg Harbor Township on Wednesday, July 18th from 9:30 - 11:30Members in Atlantic, Cape May, and Ocean counties should mark their calendars and make every effort to join us. Don’t forget to bring your young professionals and next generation of your business along with you! Make sure you RSVP to Michelle at 732-256-9646 or email michelle@njgca.org.
  
Finally, I hope you all enjoyed your 4th of July, and remembered the true meaning of the holiday. Since 240 years have passed since America declared her independence, it is easy to forget why we formed our nation, and the sacrifices and risks that were made in order to win our independence, and ultimately the freedom that we all enjoy. We should cherish our freedom, and appreciate those who made it possible.

That's all for this week-
Sal Risalvato
Executive Director
 

                                                                                                                                     

TRAINING CLASSES!!
All classes held at NJGCA HQ -- 4900 Route 33 West, Wall Township, NJ 07753


ETEP Re-Certification Classes -- Sections 8, 9, and 10
This class runs on Thursdays from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM for 4 weeks
Class Dates: Thursday, June 21, 28, July 5th and WEDNESDAY July 11th
Stop turning away work!!  The New Jersey Inspection Program requires vehicles that fail emissions inspection to go to a Licensed Certified Emission Inspector for Repairs! When the new program begins, a list of Certified Emission Repair Shops will be given to vehicle owners! If you want your business name on the list – make sure you have a Certified Licensed Emission Repair Technician & an Emission Repair Facility License!

Fees for members are $675 and non-members are $795.
Click HERE for registration form. 


Emissions Inspector Training Class - One Day Only!
THURSDAY, AUGUST 9th, 2018 -- 7 AM to 3 PM
Want one of your technicians to become a NJ Emissions Inspector? We can help! Our one-day class will provide all the information for becoming a NJ Emissions Inspector, and the State will administer the written test the very same day at our offices!  We are offering the class: Thursday, August 9th from 7:00am to 3:00pm.
Cost is $275 for members.
Click HERE for the August registration form, HERE for September and HERE for October. 

FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT DEBBIE at 732-256-9646 or DEBBIE@NJGCA.ORG TO LET HER KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING A SPECIFIC CLASS.  THIS WILL ALLOW US TO GAUGE YOUR NEEDS AND KEEP TRACK OF THOSE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE!!

                                                                                                                                 

 CLASSIFIEDS! -- FOR SALE & HELP WANTED ADS

FOR SALE:

Business For Sale: Monmouth County gas station and repair shop in business since 2001 is for sale. Owner is relocating out of state and is interested in selling business and equipment. Owner is open to limited financing. Business has a strong 10 year lease. The building has two repair bays and the gas pumps are leased to a large independent tenant. Repair shop business currently employs a Manager and two full-time Technicians. For inquiries and more info, please call Mark at 908-670-7798.

FOR SALE:

Commercial Building in Asbury Park, Possible Sale of Business, Too!  For listing information, please click HERE.
 
FOR SALE:
Shell Gas Station with 6-Bay Repair Shop for Sale in Bergen County!

Business established in 1980. Fully equipped repair shop with 5 lifts including an alignment rack with a 2-year-old Hunter Hawkeye alignment machine. New Hunter tire machine & wheel balancer. AAA approved and very busy.
 
Towing business also available which includes 3 Freightliner/JerrDan flatbeds (2015, 2016 & 2017), a 2012 Dodge crew cab wrecker with a Jerrdan Quick Pick & dual cable winch & 2 service trucks (a 2012 GMC 2500 utility truck with a plow & a 2014 Ford transit battery/service vehicle).

Pumping over 1,000,000 gallons per year. 100x300 lot with plenty of parking. Excellent location!!! Call Jim @ 201-851-3084.

         
 

                                                                                                                                     

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

7/5/18
Gas Pump Skimming on the Rise
As many motorists are hitting the road over the July 4 holiday, the U.S. Secret Service announced an uptick in skimmers found in gas pumps, ABC News reports. Last weekend, the agency checked gas stations in 21 states for the devices and recovered 59 skimmers from 85 locations. . .The Secret Service estimated that millions of dollars annually are being stolen via such skimmers, which can be installed quickly. “It will take just a matter of minutes depending on the level of tradecraft that the fraudster has,” O’Neill said.

7/3/18
Fuel-Cell Tech, Infrastructure On The Rise With Nationwide Investment
The potential for fuel cells and hydrogen energy includes increasing the efficiency of national power generation, providing low-carbon energy sources for light- and heavy-duty transportation, and reducing the carbon intensity of industrial facilities such as refineries and steel mills. These are functions that are difficult to decarbonize with only electric-based renewables (e.g., wind and solar) and together account for nearly 80% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. . .Director Satyapal has announced that for 2019 the office will focus mainly on the H2@Scale initiative, which aims to expand the infrastructure necessary for a large-scale deployment of hydrogen and fuel cells nationwide. This will likely boost construction of retail hydrogen-refueling stations in the next 5 to 10 years, fostering the expansion of commercial fuel-cell electric vehicle models.

7/2/18
Pump Prices Heading into Fourth of July Highest in Four Years
As c-store customers gear up for July 4 travel, they’re facing the highest pump prices for the Independence Day holiday in four years. As of Monday, July 2, the national average price of gas stood at $2.86, according to AAA. Despite being the highest Independence Day prices in four years, gas prices are still 11 cents cheaper than on Memorial Day.

7/2/18
Is Phil Murphy Moving To Ban Plastic Bags In New Jersey?
Gov. Phil Murphy deleted language from the state's $37.4 billion budget Sunday that would have raised millions from a proposed 5-cent fee on plastic supermarket bags, signaling that he may support more stringent restrictions, including a ban. Murphy has about 30 days left to decide the fate of the 5-cent fee bill, passed hurriedly by the Legislature last month as lawmakers were scrambling to find new revenue sources. Dan Bryan, a spokesman for Murphy, said Monday that no final decision has been made regarding the bill.

7/2/18
Every US-Made Car Is An Import. That's Bad News For Automakers
The Commerce Department is considering tariffs on cars assembled at foreign plants and on foreign-made auto parts. Every car assembled in the United States contains a significant percentage of foreign parts, according to government data. Automakers are already warning that tariffs would raise their costs, in some cases by thousands of dollars per car. General Motors said last week that it could be forced to cut jobs.

7/1/18
Murphy Signs $37.4B Budget After Months-Long Feud With Lawmakers
Gov. Phil Murphy signed a $37.4 billion state budget late Sunday evening that raises taxes on multi-millionaires and corporations, officially ending weeks of bitter public debate that nearly shut down state government and left Democrats in open civil war. The governor heralded his effort, which fell short of his original goals, saying in a tweet just before midnight that the plan would lift up New Jersey’s middle class.

6/30/18
Business Community Surprised, Upset To See ‘combined Reporting’ In Corporate Business Tax
A compromise on the state budget’s revenue sources for fiscal year 2019 was reached Saturday evening, but details were scarce, and the business community was scrambling to understand the implications of what would end up being a $37.4 billion budget, with $765 million in surplus.
More specifically, it was trying to understand why “combined reporting” was included in the new corporate business tax — a tax that will be increased in the next four years (up 2.5 percent, to a total 11.5 percent, in the first two years, then 1.5 percent, to 10. 5 percent, in the final two years). The business community was frustrated that combined reporting, which prevents companies from shifting income to other states, was included after providing weeks of guidance on the CBT. The CBT not only includes combined reporting, it includes a tax on repatriated assets.

6/29/18
Senate Passes Legislation to Reauthorize SNAP
Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed its version of the Farm Bill (S. 3042) by vote of 86 to 11. The Farm Bill reauthorizes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other programs under the purview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that are set to expire on September 30.
                                                                                                                                             
MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD:

 
      






TMP Energy Solutions
Another Way to Save on Your Energy Bills
We have had a number of NJGCA members successfully reduce their rate per kWh signing up through our energy saving program. We know it's difficult to collect 12 months worth of previous electric bills to get an "accurate" analysis when comparing a variable rate to a fixed rate, but we now have another option available. 
 
This new solution is a power purchase option; the other program is still in full force and has saved members thousands of dollars. If you sign up for the power purchase option, you will be grouped with other NJGCA members until the minimum kW demand is acquired. By pooling the member's usage together, you will be able to take advantage, as large energy users do, and receive a lower kWh rate.
 
Each member will receive their own contract. Each member is responsible to sign and return the agreement the day it is received in order to secure the price for their group. Please do your due diligence, so when you receive the proposal and the agreement you will be able to make an intelligent decision.
 
If by chance, you still want us to assess you bills, to give you a price to compare, we will require 12 months of your most recent utility bills. There are no bills required, but we would still like to have one bill per meter on file to check account #'s, meter #'s  service addresses and other pertinent information incase there is a problem.
 
The term of the agreement is for 12 months. During this term period, you will have price protection against any energy price increases along with a low fixed kWh rate.
 
If you are interested in becoming part of this power purchase option, please contact Greg Cannon at the NJGCA.
Remember when you sign up your energy through the NJGCA Energy Program, TMP makes a considerable donation to the NJGCA Scholarship Fund through their proceeds. This has no affect on your rate, and costs you nothing out of pocket.
 
We hope to help hundreds of NJGCA members reduce their utility costs by participating in this and our other cost reduction programs.  Our purpose, in the endeavor, is to help NJGCA members lower their energy costs while supporting the NJGCA Scholarship Fund. 
 
Contact GREG CANNON at 732-256-9646 or email Greg at greg@njgca.org. Mention that you are interested in saving money on your energy bills. NJGCA & TMP Energy Solutions will handle all the rest. 
                                                                                                                                                                        


POLITICAL PARTICIPATION: THE NJGCA PAC
DEFENDING OUR MEMBERS.
PROTECTING YOUR INTERESTS.
ANSWER THE CALL & CONTRIBUTE TODAY!!
Promoting our agenda in Trenton is of utmost importance to NJGCA and our members.

However, in order to truly affect the debate, we must ensure our friends in the Legislature are re-elected. It is for this reason that your Association has established the NJGCA PAC.

For too long, the weight of funding our Political Action Committee, the arm of the Association responsible for political donations, has rested upon a few. This is not only unfair to those few members who have shouldered this burden, but means we are not utilizing our full strength to affect the debate in Trenton.
To truly understand the importance of supporting our allies, consider our successes in Trenton:
We defeated BELOW COST SELLING
We made history in getting FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL signed into law!
We have built large support for RIGHT TO REPAIR and got it passed out of the Assembly
We defended your small business against the false accusations of Attorney General Anne Milgram
We gained wide support to move New Jersey to an all PIF Inspection System and close the CIF lanes
...and MUCH MORE!!
In each instance, we achieved these goals with the help of our friends in the Legislature!

If every member contributes just $100.00 we will be able to provide the help necessary to ensure victory for our allies. 

 
PLEASE SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO:
NJGCA PAC
4900 Route 33 West, Suite 100
Wall Township, NJ 07753
Please make your donation payable to NJGCA PAC

 
I understand that times are tough for all NJGCA members, but this is just as important as any battle we have fought in the past.
 
We have made great progress in Trenton. I hope that you will answer the call. 
                                                                                                                                     
Each week, the Energy Information Administration publishes a list of average gasoline prices for the previous three weeks. NJGCA will begin including this list with the Weekly Road Warrior.  Remember, these prices are reflective of self-serve everywhere except NJ.