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REMINDER: FEBRUARY MEMBERSHIP DUES

FEDERAL VACCINE MANDATE FOR BUSINESSES STRUCK DOWN

NJGCA'S WINTER ON THE ROAD NEWSLETTER

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

MEMBERSHIP DUES

All members who are scheduled to renew their membership in February will receive an email on or about the first of the month with an electronic invoice and a link to pay it. When you go to the site to pay you will have to retrieve your logon information as it has changed. You'll receive an email with the new information.

When you pay the invoice, you will receive a confirmation email. For all other members renewing throughout 2022, this is the new procedure for billing and payment. It is important to check your emails on or about the first of the month of your renewal. Reminder invoices will also be sent out on or about the first of the month. Any questions or concerns can be addressed by emailing accounting@njgca.org.

VACCINES

This week the Biden administration withdrew its Covid-19 vaccination and testing regulation for large businesses (those with 100 or more employees) following the Supreme Court's decision to block the rule earlier this month. The rule would have used the power of the federal government to enforce large businesses to mandate vaccination or weekly testing on its employees, in addition to wearing a face covering. While OSHA is withdrawing the policy as a nationwide standard, this does not mean that business's cannot enforce this as a rule. OSHA will instead turn its focus on prioritizing its resources to finalize a permanent COVID-19 Healthcare Standard.

WINTER OTR

The winter edition of our On the Road newsletter should be arriving in your mailboxes in the next day or so if you have not already received it, please take some time to read the updates on what's happening with electric vehicles. We are trying to keep you updated as quickly as things develop, but as long as major corporations are investing in EVs, they will become a bigger threat to the gasoline marketplace. However, we recently came across data that shows that Roughly one in five plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) owners in California (the state with the most EVs) switched back to owning gas-powered cars, due in large part to charging infrastructure issues. More and more people are getting into EVs, but not all of those people are sticking with them and are going back to gasoline vehicles. The major reason people are doing that is not because they don't like EVs, but because they are finding it is too inconvenient with the current limited infrastructure to charge their vehicles when they are away from home. This is gradually going to change over time as more investments are made into infrastructure and batteries and the more the government prioritizes climate change policies. I fear the bigger threat from this change will be to repair shops that do not invest in the training, equipment, and tools that will be required to service EVs. By nature they require less maintenance. However, if a shop is not servicing them, then the same as we lose a customer at the gas pumps we will also lose a customer in our shops. 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Another reminder that if you and/or your business is on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, please take a minute to follow us on each of the platforms. We want to be more aggressive with sharing news, information, and opinions on our social media platforms, including our legislative efforts. Also, we hope to highlight our members' efforts in their communities and beyond on social media as well. For example, we recently came across this story of NJGCA member Nick's Towing that rescued people from a burning vehicle. We shared this story on our social media platforms to highlight how outstanding NJGCA members are. We would appreciate the follow and welcome discussion and sharing!

***Final Note: Sal will be away for the next few weeks, but the staff will continue to send Road Warrior newsletters throughout his absence with any updates.***

Be Well -  

Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

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

ASE Training Course - Reach Out Today!

Are you (or an employee) getting ready to take your A6, A8, or L1 in preparation to recertifying your Emission Repair Technician (ERT) credentials through the State's Emission Technician Education Program (ETEP)?  

We can help --- but we need to hear from you, first! 
NJGCA wants to hear from students interested in our ASE-prep training program, so we can gauge demand and schedule our next session series. 

As you know, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has always maintained a "dual-track" system to allow technicians to earn their Emission Repair Technician (ERT) credentials through New Jersey's Emission Technician Education Program (ETEP). In doing so, technicians were allowed to certify as ERTs through either an ASE-test track or an ETEP-educational class track. Starting on January 1, 2020, NJDEP amended the ETEP criteria, and the ETEP-educational class track was abolished.  

Today, only the ASE-test track remains, and all ERTs must certify or re-certify their credentials though ASE to remain in the Program. 

NJGCA has recently offered an ASE-prep class to help you get ready for the A6, A8, and L1. In doing so, students were welcome to participate in a ten-session preparatory class that covered material for all three ASE exams. We also had a handful of students who joined us only for the A8 or L1 sections.  

Once completed, students took their ASE exams with a local ASE-approved test proctor (NJGCA can train you to prepare for the ASE exams, but are not permitted to offer the actual exam - students must make these arrangements individually themselves). 

Building on that success, we are now seeking student participation in our next training series session. To make arrangements and organize a session, we need to hear from you! 

If you are interested, please email us at training@njgca.org ASAP. 

We'll record your interest, inquire on your availability, and schedule a class once we have a full complement of students.   

Only with your feedback can we gauge student headcount and participation.  

Please reach out to us today, and thank you for your interest! 
 

Contact Nick De Palma at Nick@njgca.org to inquire about potential trainings and class dates

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1/20/22

New Jersey Governor Signs Auto Insurance Bad Faith Bill Into Law

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signed into law a bill that proponents have said makes the auto insurance claims process fairer for policyholders and businesses have warned will raise premiums. The New Jersey Insurance Fair Conduct Act gives motorists who are injured in car accidents the right to file civil lawsuits against auto insurers, without first waiting for the state insurance regulator to act. The law establishes a private cause of action for motorists against insurers for "unreasonably" denying or delaying claims for uninsured or underinsured motorist benefits.

1/24/22

Why the U.S. Can't Get on Board with EVs

Electric vehicle (EV) sales made up about 4% of car sales last year in the U.S., while EVs made up an estimated 14% in Europe and 9% in China, reports Wired. Although the sale of EVs rose 88% year over year in 2021, the U.S. still faces hurdles that are preventing the embrace of EVs. . . Barriers include resistance from consumers who want the convenience of fueling up with gas, a lack of awareness of the strengths of EVs, and cost, as electric vehicles can be more expensive than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Wired points out that the electric Ford Focus costs nearly twice the amount of gas-powered one.

1/25/22

OSHA Withdraws COVID-19 Vaccine-or-Test Rule

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration this morning announced that it is withdrawing its November 5, 2021, COVID-19 vaccine-or-test emergency temporary standard for large employers, following the U.S. Supreme Court's January 13 decision blocking enforcement of the rule while legal challenges play out in a lower court. The OSHA rule directed private employers with 100 or more workers to either require their employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or pass a COVID-19 test at least weekly.

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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.
 

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Parts For Sale: Incon TS-1000 tank monitor works well just taken out of service. Printer is aprox 2 months old. Also, Incon 8, tank probes. System replaced because on an Exxon upgrade. Call John Twin Towers Exxon (201) 224-8444

 

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