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Executive Directors Message
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MVC AGENCY, INSPECTION STATION CLOSURES:
EXTENDED UNTIL MAY 11
PROTECT OUR EMPLOYEES UPDATE
OIL PRICES
ECONOMIC RELIEF PAYMENT PLAN
PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT
MVC AGENCY, INSPECTION STATION CLOSURES
As you know, the recent raft of Executive Orders by Governor Murphy has extended the current State's shut down. Inherent in this extension is the continued cessation of services at the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). As such, agency brick n' mortar locations and inspection facilities remain closed to the public through May 10, 2020. That said, MVC Headquarters continues to operate for essential personnel, even as motorists and residents continue to submit renewals and related applications online.
It is important to note that, just as in all things COVID-19 related, this date is subject to change as State officials react to changing events on the ground. It is also worth mentioning that the previously designated two-month extension (for all drivers' licenses, vehicle registrations, and inspection stickers expiring before May 31st) is still in effect. If the shutdown lingers beyond May 11th, we anticipate revised extension numbers from State officials.
In light of the ongoing MVC shutdown, the only way for PIFs to purchase and obtain stickers is remotely through postal-mail via the MVC Headquarters in Trenton. You must use the official Inspection Sticker Order Form and submit it to Trenton. If you need to place and order, please click HERE. Fill out the form in its entirety, then mail the form and payment to the address listed on the form. Business checks and money orders are the only acceptable forms of payment. Sticker must be ordered in lots of 25 for the current and future base years. Please keep in mind that submissions to Trenton will be processed as soon as possible, so please be patient. If you should have any questions about mail orders, please call Trenton at 609-633-9474 or 609-633-9460 from the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
All PIF locations that are eagerly awaiting news on MVC's anticipated awarding of the new inspection contract will be disappointed to learn that the deadline date has been moved -- again. The deadline has moved at a few times, and the current pandemic has pushed the date back further from April 28th to May 28th. This news isn't surprising in light of the crisis, but like many Members, we continue to be frustrated with the ongoing delays.
PROTECT OUR EMPLOYEES UPDATE
Since March 15th, we have communicated with the governor's office with no success the issues that many of you are having with employees. Recently, our friend Senator Gerry Cardinale published a press release affirming that motorists should have the right to choose to pump their own gas during a pandemic. I will be communicating again with the governor's office, however, since our requests have been ignored, at this point I plan to ask the governor what his ideas are, and what can be done to accomplish the three things we pointed out are immediate issues gas stations are facing now:
- How do we safeguard our employees
- How do we safeguard our customers
- How do we remain open without employees
If you have any updates on the status of your situation with regard to employees who have contracted Coronavirus or cannot/will not work because of Coronavirus, or if you have had to close for any period it is still important that you update me with your exact situation.
OIL PRICES
Prices for oil and at the rack have been zig-zagging up and down all week. No one knows where it's going or can make a valuable prediction. Is the economy opening up in other states actually going to have a meaningful effect? How many people will actually start traveling again even when they can? One major concern driving prices right now is how much storage is left available anywhere in the country to keep the oil that is still flowing at a greater rate than needed. Reports early in the week made it appear that all the storage in the nation might be taken up by the middle of May, leading to negative prices again at the end of the month. Just today, oil prices spiked when it became clear that the storage situation was not that dire. In a few days, some news story may come out that causes the price to plummet again, we just don't know.
Over the last few years, Congress has been selling off portions of the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) in order to plug budget gaps. Recently there has been talk of refilling it; it currently has about 635 million barrels of crude oil with a capacity of about 720 million, but the impact would do little given how huge the oversupply is. So far Congress has not viewed appropriating money to purchase the oil as much of a priority. There was also talk about designating some of the oil in the ground as being part of the SPR and then paying the oil companies to not drill the oil, but both ideas appear to have been shelved.
ECONOMIC RELIEF PAYMENT PLAN
In response to American businesses struggling with the economic effects of the COVID19 pandemic, AmeriTrust Group Inc, the insurer for the official NJGCA workers compensation members-only dividend plan, has announced its "Economic Relief Payment Plan." Effective May 1, 2020, all new workers compensation policies placed in force by Amato Insurance Agency into the official NJGCA members only dividend program, will be offered a zero-down, 11-installment payment plan.
NJGCA members will not be required to pay the first payment for the insurance policy until the second month of the policy term. The annual premium will be split equally across 11 monthly installments, starting 30 days after the start of the policy.
This is a limited time offer. If you are not in the NJGCA program and If you would like to learn more about this benefit, please contact Amato Insurance Agency. Speak to Joe Amato Jr at 732-530-6740 extension 412 or email him at joejr@amatoagency.com. For more information on NJGCA's MBP program, contact Nick De Palma at nick@njgca.org.
PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT
For those of you that are interested in acquiring more PPE products or other products to help you open back up your doors, USP has a variety of products to be able to continue business while slowing the spread of Coronavirus. USP is now offering temperature screen systems and face shields and masks. If you are interested in acquiring some of these products, please contact Michelle at michelle@njgca.org to put you in touch with our contact at USP.
Be Well -
Sal Risalvato
Executive Director
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Training Class Schedule
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All classes held at NJGCA HQ -- 4900 Route 33 West, Wall Township, NJ 07753
ALL CLASSES CANCELED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Two-Day Emissions Inspector Training Class
April 22nd & 23rd
Want your technicians to become a NJ Emissions Inspector? We can help!
Our new two-day class will provide all the information for becoming a NJ Emissions Inspector. Day one will consist of written test training and the State will administer the written test the very same day at our offices. Day two will be a hands-on training course to prepare you for the hands-on test. Class will run from 7:00am to 4:00pm on day 1. Class will begin at 12:30 PM on day 2. Cost is $479 for members.
April class registration click here
FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT NICK at 732-256-9646 or NICK@NJGCA.ORG TO LET HIM 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! |
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News Around The State
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4/27/20
Mayor: N.J. Stopped Me From Temporarily Closing Bodegas, Mom-and-pop Stores During Coronavirus
The mayor of the city with the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in Middlesex County attempted to take actions several weeks ago to slow the spread of the virus but was prohibited from doing so by state officials. Wilda Diaz is the mayor of Perth Amboy, which as of Saturday had 56 coronavirus-related deaths and 1,323 positive cases despite its status as the sixth-most populous municipality in Middlesex County. Weeks after Gov. Phil Murphy ordered residents to stay at home and closed all non-essential businesses, the high infection rate in Perth Amboy compelled Diaz to attempt to temporarily close down small bodegas and mom-and-pop stores to help business owners comply with social distancing protocols.
4/27/20
Latest Money For Small Business Loans May Not Last The Week, N.J. Banking Group Member Says
The first wave of loans given to small businesses through the paycheck protection program lasted less than two weeks before the allocated $349 billion ran out. President Donald Trump on Friday signed a second bill expanding the program by another $310 billion. The legislation included a $60 billion emergency loan and grant program for small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
4/27/20
Oil Plunges More Than 25%, Extending Recent Losses As Storage Fills
U.S. oil prices plunged more than 25% on Monday on fears that worldwide storage will soon fill as the coronavirus pandemic continues to roil demand. West Texas Intermediate for June delivery fell 27%, or $4.58, to trade at $12.36 per barrel, while international benchmark Brent crude traded 8.2% lower at $19.69 per barrel. Each contract is coming off its eighth week of losses in nine weeks. WTI for July delivery fell more than 11% to $18.84 while the August contract slipped more than 7% to $22, suggesting the Street doesn't see a meaningful recovery in the next few months.
4/27/20
N.J. System That Handles Unemployment Benefits Is Still Down. State Says It's Working On The Problem
This is the first widespread outage for an antiquated system that's been flooded with an unprecedented number of claims during the coronavirus pandemic. The state Labor Department confirmed that workers seeking to claim their weekly benefits online or file a new unemployment claims have been unable to do so. "We have been working feverishly to identify the source of the problem and correct it as quickly as possible," the state said. "We expect to be fully operational by Monday when we will post an updated schedule for customers who were scheduled to certify for unemployment on Sunday."
4/26/20
New Coronavirus Symptoms Added To CDC List For Potential Signs Of Infection
Federal health officials have revealed several new potential symptoms linked to COVID-19 infection. While initial guidance included fever, cough and shortness of breath, additional symptoms listed online by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now include chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and a new loss of taste or smell. Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.
4/24/20
N.J. 'Still A Number Of Weeks Away' From Reopening From Coronavirus Restrictions, Gov. Murphy Says
New Jersey is still "a number of weeks away" from starting to reopen from the near lockdown restrictions to slow the spread the coronavirus, Gov. Phil Murphy said Sunday morning. Murphy also said he is still deciding whether the state will reopen as a whole or whether it could be a regional approach.
4/24/20
Morris County Gas Attendant Floats Petition To End Self-service Ban In NJ
Despite warnings that the coronavirus is putting gas station employees at risk, Gov. Phil Murphy has said he has no plans to lift the state law banning drivers from fueling their own vehicles. Tell that to Alberto Baragan, a gas attendant for 15 years, and the latest to join a chorus of voices from New Jersey's fuel industry calling for the suspension of the 71-year-old law, at least temporarily. Baragan is taking the issue to people, through an online petition launched Monday to end the ban. Within days he's on the cusp of reaching his 1,000 signature goal. And when he gets there, the petition is going straight to the governor's desk, he said. "Gas station attendants like me are on the front line the same way supermarkets and others in retail are, and yet we are not afforded the same protection," the petition reads.
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Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices
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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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Classifieds: For Sale and Help Wanted Ads
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New! 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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