For those of you who may have been in the program years ago but may not be participating now, it is incumbent upon you to revisit this opportunity, get a quote, and find out exactly how much you can save. AmeriTrust Insurance Corp. and AmeriTrust Group, Inc. announced a 5% dividend has been approved for the 2020 period to qualifying eligible policyholders who are members of NJGCA. We have many members that are receiving more than $1000 in a return check that will arrive in their mailboxes. We had a significant number with more than $2,000 returns and some that even received more than $4,000. If you are not in this program in a time where every penny counts you are making a big mistake. Contact Nick atnick@njgca.org to learn more.
PHASE 4 GRANTS
Last week we reported that NJEDA would be adding $84M into phase 4 of the CARES program. We want to remind you that pre-registration officially opened up on Monday and will close on April 29, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. In order to apply for a grant you must pre-register. If you have not done so already, be sure to pre-register at the link provided before April 29th. Phase 4 will provide grants to New Jersey small-businesses (50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees) that have been impacted by the pandemic.
EV STATE EFFORTS
We continue to see mounting evidence that the EV tidal wave is approaching, not just in public opinion but also in government action. Last week, Washington Statepassed a bill setting up a target to stop the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles by 2030, five years earlier than the California effort. The legislation is contingent on the state adopting a tax on vehicle miles traveled to help pay for new transportation infrastructure. This week, the governors of twelve states (including New Jersey's) followed suit, writing President Joe Biden this week to back ending sales of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. The governors also want Biden to set standards and adopt incentives aimed at ensuring 100% zero-emission sales of medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles by 2045.
As I have mentioned previously, I had every intention last year of hosting an event with charging equipment vendors as well as car manufacturers together to better prepare members to start being aggressive about making these changes. COVID changed that, though hopefully with vaccines more aggressively being rolled out, we can plan something for the near future. We were able to schedule several webinars on the topic that were well attended. I can't stress enough how important it is not just for those that sell gasoline, but our entire industry to look at the future. Repair shops - customers that come to your location to charge up will be more likely to take their EV to be repaired at your shop too. EV's will still need tires, suspensions, or computer and electrical repairs.
UNEMPLOYMENT
We know that our members have issues hiring employees, though we continue to see national data that shows that unemployment numbers are high. We have been bringing this issue to every meeting I have had with legislators; that NJGCA members can't find enough people to work in their shops, at the pumps, or in their stores. Yes, we see that unemployment numbers are high, but people seem to not want these jobs regardless of the fact that many of my members pay more than the minimum wage, and our shop owners are struggling beyond belief to find qualified technicians to fix their customers' cars. It is clear that our industries are not the only ones with this issue. We will continue to beat this drum in Trenton and Washington, and if you are experiencing this issue in your business, please reach out to us so we can continue to bring specific examples to our legislators.
NON-COMPETE AGREEMENTS
We have mentioned non-compete legislation several times in the past and we need to let you know that this is currently being revisited in Trenton. A survey of members says not many of you utilize non-compete agreements, which are contracts with employees to not leave to work at a competing local business. However, I firmly believe this will change, especially as I get more and more calls from members with stories of technicians that have been poached by other shops and gas pumpers poached from other stores (yes, even gas pumpers, see unemployment issue above). I have even gotten calls where delivery drivers and tanker truck drivers are also being poached. If the law passes the way it was originally put through, then it will prevent you from having an agreement at the time of hiring an employee from going to a competitor. We are negotiating changes that will be more palatable to us and will keep you updated. I firmly believe non-competes will become a necessity, particularly for shop owners with highly skilled technicians, to have agreements with your employees so they don't go down the street and take your customers with them. Though not many of you use these, I don't want the option entirely taken off the table for our members.
All classes held at NJGCA HQ -- 4900 Route 33 West, Wall Township, NJ 07753
Two-Day Emissions Inspector Training Class April 27th & 28th, 2021
If you, a colleague, or an employee technician wishes to become a NJ Emissions Inspector, now is your chance!NJGCA will offer a two-day class with all the information and training you need to become a NJ Emissions Inspector. On day one you will receive in-class instruction from NJGCA's instructor. We will break for lunch (provided), and the State will administer the written test in the afternoon. On day two will go over the hands-on test at an emission inspection location to fully prepare you for the hands-on test.
We are offering the class: Tuesday, April 27th, 7:00am to 4:00pm & Wednesday, April 28th, 12:30
ASE-Prep Training (for NJ ASE-track ERT/ETEP Re-Certification)
NJGCA will offer an ASE-prep class for Emission Repair Technicians (ERTs) seeing to continue their existing accreditation. Students will meet twice a week for the entire five-week period (ten sessions), and review the required material for the A6, A8, and L1 exams. While we anticipate most students would appreciate preparing for all three tests together, we can also accommodate technicians who only need to prepare for a specific section.
All classes will meet in Wall Township, from approximately 9:00am to 3:00pm, on the following dates:
May Dates:
Class 1 - Tuesday, 5/4
Class 2 - Thursday, 5/6
Class 3 - Tuesday, 5/11
Class 4 - Thursday, 5/13
Class 5 - Wednesday, 5/19
Class 6 - Thursday, 5/20
Class 7 - Tuesday, 5/25
Class 8 - Thursday, 5/27
June Dates
Class 9 - Wednesday, 6/2
Class 10 - Thursday, 6/3
Prices:
NJGCA Members: $1,995.00 (plus the price of books)
Several changes to U.S. regulations regarding cigarettes are being considered by the Biden Administration, including lowering the amount of the addictive substance nicotine that cigarettes can legally contain, reports TheHill.com. Administration officials are reportedly considering the nicotine reduction mandate, as well as a ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes, which are already banned in several countries. Some experts say that the menthol flavor is attractive to underage consumers, similar to other flavored tobacco products.
America is going green. Recently, President Joe Biden unveiled plans to accelerate the transition toward electric cars. The move - neatly packaged as the American Jobs Plan - is being sold as a way to "unify and mobilize the country to meet the great challenges of our time: the climate crisis and the ambitions of an autocratic China." In recent years, Beijing has fared well in the race to build, and sell, green technology. . . The White House wants $174 billion of that directed toward boosting electric car sales. Fossil fuel use in transportation is significant, and gas-guzzling autos are one reason why. Electric cars - admittedly cleaner by almost every metric - offer relief. Well, they would if people could actually afford them. Forgoing gas is pricey, preserving the status quo less so. Which explains why only 2% of autos sold annually are powered by electricity.
With the goal of improving air quality and reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, New Jersey has proposed a requirement for owners of commercial fleets to start purchasing and using zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks. The proposal could lead New Jersey to adopting essentially California's Advanced Clean Truck program, a first-of-its-kind regulation designed to transition delivery trucks, box trucks and the biggest rigs, which move most of the goods on its roads, to electric vehicles.
The head of New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission faced another grilling from lawmakers who said their constituents continue to be frustrated with frequent office closures and other difficulties securing appointments for services during the ongoing pandemic. During a hearing Monday that was supposed to be about her agency's latest state budget request, MVC chief administrator Sue Fulton instead was peppered with questions about its ongoing struggles to adapt to challenges posed by the health crisis. "Something has got to get done," said Assembly Budget Committee Chair Eliana Pintor Marin (D-Essex). "There's got to be something we can do in order to make sure that people are getting what they need."
There are two distinct, and completely opposite, ways of looking at the American job market.One would be to consult the data tables produced every month by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which suggest a plentiful supply of would-be workers. The unemployment rate is 6 percent, representing 9.7 million Americans who say they are actively looking for work. Alternately, you could search for news articles mentioning "labor shortage." You will find dozens in which businesses, especially in the restaurant and other service industries, say they face a potentially catastrophic inability to hire. The anecdotes come from the biggest metropolitan areas and from small towns, as well as from tourist destinations of all varieties. If this apparent labor shortage persists, it will have huge implications for the economy in 2021 and beyond. It could act as a brake on growth and cause unnecessary business failures, long lines at remaining businesses, and rising prices. What explains the disconnect?
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.
Property For Sale: Gasoline Retail and Auto Repair Facility. Family Owned and Operated Since 1976. FOR SALE - Inquire via EMAIL for details: MontvilleValero@gmail.com
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