AmeriTrust Group Offers Dividend Policies to Eligible NJGCA Workers' Comp Policyholders
Qualifying NJGCA members with eligible workers’ comp policies for the 2021 dividend period will receive dividends approved by Ameritrust Insurance Corporation and AmeriTrust Group, Inc. Policyholder payments are now being processed and recipients should receive dividend checks in the mail soon. If you are an NJGCA member who has not taken advantage of the access to this valuable Association benefit, we recommend you inquire as soon as possible. The AmeriTrust carrier partners have offered dividend policies to eligible policyholders for the past 22 years. We are confident you will find that AmeriTrust provides flexible pay plan options, superior claims handling, online resources, and much more.
To get started, call World Insurance Associates, LLC at (732) 530-6740 ext. 412 and speak to one of the insurance professionals who can provide you a quote. AmeriTrust is honored to serve as the endorsed workers’ compensation insurance partner for NJGCA and be a part of such a powerful association member benefit lineup.
The AmeriTrust Group carrier partners have been partnering with insurance agencies and associations for over 21 years, operate in all 50 states, and have an A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating of “A-” (Excellent) with a Stable Outlook. The AmeriTrust mission is to serve as a global, innovative architect of risk management solutions for our clients. Learn more at www.ameritrustgroup.com.
EV Proposals
On Wednesday, President Biden announced one of his most aggressive proposals yet to combat climate change, two plans designed to force two-thirds of new passenger cars and a quarter of new heavy trucks sold in the United States are all-electric by 2032. First, the proposed tailpipe pollution limits for cars aims to ensure that 67% of sales of new light-duty passenger vehicles will be all-electric by 2032. Additionally, 46% of sales of new medium-duty trucks, such as delivery vans, will be all-electric or of some other form of zero-emissions technology by the same year. The other proposal would result in half of new buses and 25% of new heavy trucks sold to be all-electric by 2032.
The proposals are already facing pushback from automakers and autoworker unions saying that they go too far too fast, and not only is the national charging network not ready for scale up of this magnitude, but jobs are at risk, battery supply is not where it needs to be, and motorists are still apprehensive on purchasing EVs. That means these proposals may be scaled back before final adoption, and of course because they are being done through regulation they can be reversed or delayed by a future President. Recently, we have read and shared articles with you about private businesses working to scale up their charging networks in response to these policies, with Walmart, Subway, and 7-Eleven announcing extensive plans to roll out charging networks.
Flavored Vape Update
We mentioned in previous Road Warriors last month that letters were being sent from attorneys representing Reynolds Tobacco to convenience store owners who were selling vapes with flavors other than tobacco, which is illegal under New Jersey law. We have heard from a few members that they have officially received cease and desist letters from a local law firm claiming that they know they’re selling these unlawful vapes. We have spoken with the law firm who informed us that they intend to go after everyone, including vape and smoke shops that are in violation of the law. If you’ve received a similar letter, please contact Nick for guidance on the best way to handle it.
Jersey City ATV/Dirt Bike Gas Pumping Ban
The Mayor and City Council in Jersey City are moving to ban gas stations from pumping gas directly into the tank of an ATV, dirt bike, or snowmobile unless the vehicle is loaded on a trailer. We’ve talked about this issue before, as Atlantic City and Paterson have already enacted the same ban. While there does seem to be a genuine problem in certain urban areas of the state with these vehicles being illegally operated, we continue to feel that law enforcement should be focusing on stopping the motorists directly, rather than trying to put the burden on small businesses and their employees to do it. Thankfully this language does allow a station to fill the vehicle if the attendant feels in any way threatened, as long as they report the interaction to the police. If you are located in Jersey City you should be aware of this change and reach out to your councilmember with concerns. In other cities that have done this, the government and police proactively reached out to station members and got their support, the only way something like this can be slowed or amended is if officials hear directly from dealers. If your location is in or near an urban area, make sure to follow what the council is up to as they may be planning to follow suit.
Scholarship Applications/Fund
Our scholarship application is live and we are accepting both mailed and online applications. We have been able to award scholarship funds to children of NJGCA members and the children of employees of NJGCA members. Last year, $10,000 was awarded with $5,000 being contributed thanks to the generosity of Utica Insurance. Utica Insurance is the insurance company that insures many NJGCA members. The contribution was arranged by NJGCA MBP World Insurance. Once again Utica has contributed $5,000 towards a scholarship that is to be awarded to a student attending an automotive technical school or studying automotive technology. Each NJGCA member will be entitled to submit ONE application that will be reviewed by the scholarship committee. Applicants may be either the child of a member, or an employee, or the child of an employee that works for the NJGCA member. You can find both the mail-in application and the online application HERE. Do not forget to include the other documentation required (transcripts, essays, etc) to be considered.
This year we have also requested our membership to help contribute to the scholarship funds so more students will be able to benefit. We are still conducting our Scholarship Drive, and we need your help! Our goal this year is to raise $15,000 for the scholarship fund. No donation is too small or too big and remember, it is tax deductible! Just in time for tax season. Send in your donation today! The scholarship benefits your family and employees’ families. You can either mail a check or donate online. Potential applicants can apply online or mail an application to our office. You can read how to apply for the scholarship by visiting https://www.njgca.org/scholarship.
Let’s show this year’s recipients the generosity of NJGCA members!
Scan the QR code (by opening your camera on your phone and holding it over the image) or visit the link to find the scholarship donation page.
Association Member Trust (AMT), one of our recommended health insurance providers, has announced an upcoming webinar to kick off AMT’s quarterly Lunch and Learn Wellness Webinars. Please see below for more information if you are interested in joining:
AMT is excited to announce our upcoming webinar on April 20th at 12pm featuring Nutritionist Jacqueline Gomes of Jacqueline Gomes Nutrition. The webinar, titled "AMT Lunch and Learn: 8 Health Habits that will Change your Life featuring Nutritionist Jacqueline Gomes," will cover a range of topics related to nutrition and weight loss.
At AMT, our goal is to provide More Options for More Health, and we want to supply our members with educational materials to improve their health in all areas of their lives. We're confident that Jacqueline's expertise and insights will help our members make informed decisions about their diets and lifestyles. During the webinar, Jacqueline will share tips and strategies for making healthy food choices, managing cravings, and creating sustainable habits that can lead to extending your “feel good years.” She'll also discuss the importance of self-care and stress management in achieving optimal health.
We encourage all members to attend this informative and engaging webinar. Whether you're looking to improve your overall health, lose weight, or simply learn more about nutrition, you're sure to benefit from Jacqueline's expertise. Mark your calendars for April 20th at 12pm and join us for this exciting event!
We want to use space in our newsletter to highlight the businesses we feature in our Member Benefit Partner Program and the amazing programs and deals they offer our membership. Look for our newly updated brochure arriving soon!
All classes held at NJGCA HQ -- 615 Hope Road, Building 2, 1st Floor, Eatontown, NJ 07724
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!
Walmart announced it’s building an EV fast-charging network across thousands of Walmart and Sam’s Club locations by 2030. The fast-chargers would be in addition to the almost 1,300 EV fast-charging stations currently available at more than 280 Walmart and Sam’s Club locations. . . Walmart says the chargers will allow the company to offer customers “the convenience of being able to pick up essentials for their families or grab a bite to eat while they charge.”
“We have been working closely with our police department as this issue has become increasingly alarming, and our residents are being put in harm’s way due to reckless ATV drivers,” Mayor Steven Fulop said in a statement. “This is a necessary deterrent as part of our broader, multi-layered efforts that have substantially improved safety on our roadways citywide.” The measure is being co-sponsored by Councilwomen Denise Ridley and Mira Prinz-Arey in part due to the JCPD responding to 100 calls for service involving dirt bikes and/or ATVs since June, 10 of which involved motor vehicle accidents. Per the ordinance, owners/employees of gas stations and storage facilities in violation are subject to a maximum fine of $2,000.
As the popularity of electric cars grows, some experts are concerned that the heavy weight of electric vehicles could cause multi-level parking lots in the UK to collapse. Due to the aging infrastructure of many parking garages in the country, engineers said that the amount of weight the buildings can hold should be raised and that maintenance of parking lots should be improved, according to a report by The Telegraph. . . Electric vehicles are significantly heavier than gasoline-powered cars, given the weight of the batteries necessary to power them. Ford's F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck, for example, is 2,000 to 3,000 pounds heavier than the same model's non-electric version, according to the Associated Press.
Catalytic converters were stolen from three cars in the township sometime overnight on Sunday, April 2, police reported. Two thefts took place on Dortmunder Drive. One resident, age 60, said the theft happened at about 5:30 a.m.; another resident, 50, reported to police the valuable auto part was taken sometime between 9:30 p.m. on April 1 and 10:30 a.m. April 2. The parts were each valued at between $1,000 to $1,200.
The method of theft begins at your car’s headlight module, but the only reason thieves have chosen this point of entry is because it offers them the easiest way to get hooked into a vehicle’s CAN bus system. For those unfamiliar, the CAN bus system of a vehicle is the method by which the numerous ECUs throughout a modern vehicle communicate with each other. Thieves are using this central nervous system to their advantage by executing an attack referred to as “CAN injection.” Someone has developed a tool (disguised as a JBL Bluetooth speaker and sold on the dark web) that when wired into a vehicle’s control CAN bus, can impersonate the vehicle’s key fob. The vehicle used as an example is a current-generation Toyota RAV4, but it’s vital to note that this vulnerability is not specific to any particular OEM or model — this is an industry-wide problem at the moment. Thieves are pulling bumpers and trim pieces away from a vehicle, which allows them access to the CAN bus near the headlight connector. Much of a vehicle’s CAN bus systems will be found hidden deep inside a car, but since modern headlights are so smart these days, they require their own ECUs, which means they’re going to be wired into the whole car’s CAN bus system. Once thieves find the correct wires to tap into, the theft device does the work for them. A simple “play” button on the fake JBL speaker injection tool is programmed to instruct the door ECU to unlock the doors, as though you have the actual key to the car in your hand. You turn the vehicle on in a similar fashion, and a thief can simply drive away with your car without ever coming into contact with the vehicle’s actual key fob.
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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