SELF-SERVE EXPANDS IN OREGON; COULD NEW JERSEY BE NEXT?
BE AWARE: AIR LINE INSPECTIONS
RIGHT TO REPAIR UPDATE
CAR THEFTS ON THE RISE: PROTECT YOUR CUSTOMERS
EMPLOYEE RETENTION CREDITS FOR START UP BUSINESSES--IMPORTANT!
SOUND PAYMENTS PARTNERS WITH SINCLAIR OIL
SELF-SERVE
As many of you already know, Oregon is currently the only other state with a self-serve gasoline prohibition; though this has relaxed over the years to allow it in most of the state. Recently, legislation has been introduced to legalize self-serve gas pumps throughout the rest of the state due to the ongoing labor shortage and rising wages that are affecting the entire nation. We are expecting legislation to legalize self-serve pumps to be introduced in the next few weeks in New Jersey to address these issues as well. When it is finally introduced, we will need our members and supporters to contact legislators and possibly even speak with the media on how these issues are affecting your businesses. As we follow current attitudes on this on social media, I see lots of misunderstanding on the proposed law and that this could take away jobs. This is why we need our members to start speaking out on what's going on at our stations to help change perception on this-the fact is we can't find people who want to work as gas attendants. Please reach out if you are interested in helping support these efforts eric@njgca.org.
AIR LINE COMPLIANCE
We have recently learned of Department of Labor Inspectors out in the field at shops and gas stations checking air compressors and air lines making sure they are "up to code." Air lines must be approved and certified up to 200 pounds, and are being checked for any safety hazards. If they find you out of compliance, they are fining business owners or giving 30-day warnings to correct the issues they find. To get into compliance with these regulations can be costly, make sure you are in compliance with these regulations should the state find themselves at your business. Please let us know if an inspector has already shown up at your business or if this happens to you, contact Joe Ocello at joe@njgca.org with any additional information you may have.
RIGHT TO REPAIR UPDATE
Right to repair is back in the news recently, as it was supposed to take effect this year in Massachusetts. As a reminder, the law would open up access to the wireless telematic data generated by cars and needed to perform repairs on the newest models. This is especially important as vehicles move to become more computerized. In November of 2020, voters overwhelmingly passed legislation 75-25% to expand right to repair telematics to allow vehicle owners and independent repair facilities access to retrieve data starting with model 2022 vehicles. Now, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a consortium of 37 automakers and suppliers (which includes BMW, Stellantis, Ford, GM and Honda) is looking to draw this out further to 2025 under the guise of being a "safety issue", and are moving legislation to delay the effective date. They are also suing the state to prevent implementation. They claim handing over data could make it easier for hackers to access this data, despite this claim being largely debunked. We will be closely following this issue as it continues to progress, and you can read more about what's currently going on with right to repair by reading the following:
It has come to our attention that there have been at least two instances of carjacking in Camden County related to the air pumps at gas stations. While drivers are out of their cars inflating their tires, criminals are able to enter the victim's vehicles and drive away. Both victims were injured in the process. While security cameras situated around your property can help identify and catch the perpetrators, police also remind those filling their tires to never leave the vehicle running with the keys inside and don't leave vehicles unlocked. Also, make sure your location is well lit, including in the area around the air pump.
This news comes on the heels of other crimes involving our industries. Catalytic converter thefts continue to be on the rise, as well as increases in car thefts in general and shoplifting in convenience stores. Some shoplifters in places like San Francisco and grabbing as much as they can carry and then reselling everything online. Retailers in other cities including our neighbors NYC and Philadelphia are noticing increases in shoplifting as well. We want to know, have you noticed an increase in crime of any kind either at your business or in your area? Please email Eric@njgca.org so we can continue to monitor these incidents and report back to our membership in order to be prepared and ready should they find themselves in a similar situation.
EMPLOYEE RETENTION CREDITS
More great news from our MBP Heartland Payroll regarding employee retention credits. Companies founded after February 15th, 2020 (called "Recovery Startup Businesses'' in the context of employee retention tax credits), are likely eligible for a special form of employee retention tax credit (ERC or ERTC's). The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, acknowledges that starting a company during COVID was difficult, and this effort attempts to help those companies with their cash flow. Read about Recovery Start Up Businesses and the Recovery Start Up Business Credit HERE, and for more information, reach out to Scott Seidman at Heartland Payroll today!
We recently received word from our MBP Sound Payments that they have been approved by Sinclair Oil to begin installation of their Sound Easy Pump at their stations. Sound Easy Pump is a semi-integrated secure solution that can easily and cost-effectively enable EMV at the pump in a couple of hours or less. It supports contactless via card tap or NFC, QR code scanning, PIN-on-glass, remote key injection, MSR, and EMV chip and PIN. Sound Payments does not require stations to change their in-store POS system or processors. Read more about the partnership in their most recent press release.
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!
A bill introduced in the Oregon Legislature would allow self-service gas for everyone in Oregon. House Bill 4151, a bipartisan measure introduced by Republican Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis and Democratic Rep. Julie Fahey, aims to address staffing shortages at gas stations by allowing drivers to fill up their own cars. Similar measures have failed in the past, but lawmakers believe it has a chance this time. . . The bill also requires gas stations to keep a certain number of pumps reserved for full service - operated by an attendant - depending on how many total pumps the location has. "What we're trying to do is giver consumers choice, just like they have to go through self check at a grocery store," said Gabriel Zirkle, the president of the Oregon Fuels Association. He said the bill would allow stations to open earlier and stay open later, and would not change the price of gas.
Sixty-four percent of small businesses surveyed expect to go cashless over the next decade, while 41% plan to not accept cash within the next two years, according to a new study by Visa. Eighteen percent of small businesses are already cashless. The Merchants Payments Coalition (MPC) says these findings by Visa show the importance of bringing swipe fees under control, as Americans move to more digital forms of currency. "As more purchases are made with cards, costs for merchants go up dramatically," said Doug Kantor, MPC executive committee member and NACS general counsel. The MPC also says that swipe fees exacerbate the record inflation in consumer prices.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it plans to issue proposed rules on two tobacco product standards-one prohibiting menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes and another prohibiting all characterizing flavors (including menthol) in cigars-by spring. In April 2021, the FDA announced its commitment to advancing these two tobacco product standards. Then in November, attorneys for the FDA appeared in court as anti-tobacco groups accused the agency of failing to implement a ban on menthol cigarettes. This week's announcement follows that case.
1/30/22
Why NJ Drivers Really Need To Wash Their Cars This Week (Opinion) I'm terrible when it comes to this myself. But even I will heed this warning coming from AAA this week. We just had a killer snowstorm this week and we still have more winter to come. There's a lot of brine and road salt out there. And it's damaging your car in ways it's easy not to think about. Brake lines. Fuel tanks. Exhaust systems. Exposed car parts on the underside of your vehicle are slowly corroded by the deicing chemicals used on Jersey roads. While we don't want to think about it, AAA's John Nielsen says, "Repairs to fix these problems are often costly, averaging almost $500 per occurrence." So a $20 car wash can more than pay for itself.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) formally responded to a request from NACS and other groups that asked the agency to publish the names of vapor products for which it has taken action in their premarket tobacco application (PMTA) review. In their letters to FDA, the associations expressed the critical nature of this list for their retail members who need to know which products are legal to sell and which are not. "Our retail members who sell ENDS products take the responsibility of compliance and operating in accordance with the law seriously. Publicly available information noting the status of individual products is the only way retailers can ensure compliance," stated the retail association letter.
The U.S. employment-cost index rose 4% last year, as costs for employers continue to rise at the highest rate in two decades, according to Labor Department figures, reports the Wall Street Journal. However, labor costs could be easing, as there was a seasonally adjusted 1% rise in compensation for the fourth quarter, down from with a 1.2% increase the previous three months. The core personal-consumption expenditures price index, which is how the Federal Reserve prefers to measure inflation, increased to 4.9% in December 2021 over the previous year, while household spending fell 0.6% in December, according to the Commerce Department.
NACS has filed comments with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) outlining the impact that channel price discrimination has on the industry and specifically how it can exacerbate supply chain issues, especially when it comes to packaged beverages. . . Pricing isn't the only form of discrimination that the industry is experiencing. C-store industry retailers often are unable to get similar packaging sizes from suppliers that are made available to other channels, often regardless of price.
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.
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
