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UPCOMING EVENTS
December 1, 2011 VENDOR NEWS
 Hilti announced in a November 4th company press release that it achieved a top ranking in the Great Place to Work Institute’s international best employer survey. This comes on the heels of Hilti having achieved top rankings in both national and European employer surveys conducted by the Great Place to Work Institute. For the first time in company history, Hilti is ranked among the best employers worldwide by the international Great Place to Work Institute. The announcement was made at an awards ceremony held in New York at the end of October. Hilti placed 15th in the "multinational workplaces" category and was the second-highest ranked European company on the list. To qualify for participation companies had to have appeared on at least five national Great Place to Work lists. National rankings are mainly based on interviews carried out with randomly selected employees. Results of these interviews count for two-thirds of the scoring. Questions focus on topics including believability, respect, fairness and team orientation.
Learn More...  CaterpillarUniversity.com, a new online learning platform for all Cat® machine and engine customers, is aimed at adding value to the Caterpillar customer's business. Caterpillar recognizes that productive customer relationships in today's business climate depend on more than the fundamentals of supplying high-quality products and service. With the launch of CaterpillarUniversity.com, customers have another tool for enhancing growth and profitability in their businesses. The new learning site (www.caterpillaruniversity.com ) offers three basic schools of study— Safety, Operator Training, and Service—and also provides "Quick Link" access to other Caterpillar learning resources.
Learn More...  Anchor Industries recently announced that it has acquired Miami-based Economy Tent International, a leading manufacturer/provider of 10’ to 40’ wide frame tents, concession products and disaster relief shelters that combine quality, efficiency, versatility and affordability. Economy Tent has a strong reputation for quality and value that is attested to by its nearly $6 million in revenues from a customer base in the northeast and southeast U.S., the Caribbean and Latin America, Anchor's press release stated.
Learn More...  Case announced on November 1 the availability of the new SmartFit™ bucket teeth system for Case excavators and wheel loaders. SmartFit bucket teeth are now factory-installed, standard equipment on Case buckets purchased with all F and E Series wheel loaders, as well as excavators ranging from the CX75 up to the CX470B. Customers also may purchase additional SmartFit equipped Case wheel loader or excavator buckets, or upgrade older model buckets, at Case Construction Equipment dealerships. The SmartFit system provides stronger, more durable teeth and adapters, and hammerless, reusable locking pins.
Learn More...  On November 7, Deere & Company announced plans to invest approximately $32 million to expand its production capacity in Orenburg, Russia. Deere has purchased and will renovate a factory in the city and move existing operations in Orenburg to the new, larger facility. The investment will increase the available manufacturing space for John Deere in Orenburg by 600 percent, resulting in additional production processes being localized and an expanded product offering from four current models to 15 models of seeding, tillage and application equipment.
Learn More... BUSINESS NEWS
The CalChamber Alert newsletter reported that the California Supreme Court heard oral arguments on November 8 in a case that will have a major impact on how employers must handle meal and rest breaks. The issue in Brinker v. Superior Court is whether the employer must ensure that the employee takes the meal period or if the employer simply must make the period available to the employee. Specifically, the lawsuit centers on the language of Labor Code Section 512, which states: "An employer may not employ an employee for a work period of more than five hours per day without providing the employee with a meal period of not less than 30 minutes."
Learn More... Every Monday, the U.S. Energy Information Administration releases its "Weekly Retail On-Highway Diesel Prices." Retail prices are collected by telephone and fax from a sample of approximately 350 retail diesel outlets, including truck stops and service stations. The prices reported in this survey are subjected to automated edit checks during data collection and data processing and are released by 5 p.m. Monday, except on government holidays, in which case the data are released on Tuesday (but still represent Monday's price). The price chart shows the cost of on-highway diesel in dollars per gallon, including all taxes, for the different regions in the United States. Click on "Learn More" to see current prices.
Learn More... A November 8th article on Fox&Hounds by George Runner, a member of the California State Board of Equalization, District 2, reports on the status of California's high speed rail proposition. In November 2008 California voters narrowly approved Proposition 1A. The measure authorized nearly $20 billion in state spending to establish high-speed train service linking Southern California counties, the Sacramento/San Joaquin Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. The entire project was expected to cost about $45 billion. Proponents claimed funds from other public and private sources would cover the project’s remaining costs. Runner reports that "after years of waste and mismanagement, California’s High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has finally admitted what critics (like Tom McClintock, Jon Coupal and Runner) warned all along: 'Building the entire system will take longer and cost more than previously estimated.' In fact, the price tag for this risky transit gamble is now nearly $100 billion -- more than twice the original estimate."
Learn More... Joel Fox, editor of Fox & Hounds and president of the Small Business Action Committee, reported on various topics on November 11th. First he covered Fox and Hounds Daily contributor Joe Vranich's interview about why businesses leave California. In addition, Fox reported on California's missing revenue and some possible headaches for the upcoming Rose Parade and Rose Bowl.
Learn More... CARB
The regulation was initially considered in 2008 and requires fleets that operate in California to reduce diesel truck and bus emissions by retrofitting or replacing existing engines. Amendments were considered in December 2010 to provide more time for fleets to comply. The amended regulation would require installation of PM retrofits beginning January 1, 2012 and replacement of older trucks starting January 1, 2015. By January 1, 2023, nearly all vehicles would need to have 2010 model year engines or equivalent. The regulation applies to nearly all privately and federally owned diesel fueled trucks and buses and to privately and publicly owned school buses with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 14,000 pounds. ARB has posted the Final Rulemaking Package for the amendments to the regulation. The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) has until December 14, 2011, to make a determination. The package includes the final statement of reasons which includes ARB's responses to all comments received on the regulation during the public comment periods.
Learn More... Owners or operators of portable engines and certain other types of equipment can register their units under the Air Resources Board's (ARB) Statewide Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP) in order to operate their equipment throughout California without having to obtain individual permits from local air districts. Recently, there were revisions made to the PERP Regulation and Portable Engine ATCM. These revisions became effective on February 19, 2011, and all holders of PERP Registrations are now subject to the new requirements. Updated operating conditions reflecting the new requirements will be issued upon renewal for all existing registrations.
Learn More... On July 26, 2007, the Air Resources Board (ARB) adopted a regulation to reduce diesel particulate matter (PM) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions from in-use (existing) off-road heavy-duty diesel vehicles in California. Such vehicles are used in construction, mining and industrial operations. On February 11, 2010, ARB issued a delay of the regulation's NOx and PM requirements pending further notice. Staff have posted the Final Rulemaking Package for the amendments to the Off-Road and LSI Fleet regulations. The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) has until December 14, 2011 to make a determination.
Learn More... The California Air Resources Board (ARB) is testing heavy-duty trucks and buses (gross vehicle rating over 6,000 pounds) for excessive smoke and tampering. All heavy-duty trucks and buses are subject to California’s anti-smoke and tampering inspections -- any heavy-duty vehicle operating in California, including vehicles registered in other states and foreign countries, may be tested. Click on "Learn More" for a pamphlet with details about this program.
Learn More... This area of the Off-Road Mobile Sources website pertains to off-road large spark-ignition (LSI) equipment greater than 25 horsepower, including farm, construction and industrial equipment, powered by gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and other alternate fuels. Typical applications that use LSI engines include forklifts, specialty vehicles, airport service vehicles, large turf care equipment, portable generators, and a wide array of other agricultural, construction and general industrial equipment. The U.S. EPA has sole authority to control new farm and construction equipment under 175 horsepower. To find out more about the regulatory activities and related information, click on "Learn More."
Learn More... The On-Road Light-Duty Certification Section is responsible for the certification and production audit of new passenger cars (PC), light-duty trucks (LDT), medium-duty vehicles(MDV), on-road motorcycles (ONMC), off-highway recreational vehicles (OHRV) including off-road motorcycles (OFMC), all-terrain vehicles (ATV), off-road utility vehicles (UV), off-road sport vehicles (SV), and cars (SCAR), and electric golf carts (eGC). The Compression Ignition and Heavy-Duty Certification Section is responsible for the certification and production audit of new heavy-duty engines (HDE) and vehicles (HDV), including urban buses (UB), and new off-road compression ignition (OFCI) engines. Vehicles and engines (hereinafter, vehicles) are not legal for sale in California until certified. Violation of the requirement for certification can subject the vehicle manufacturers and/or selling dealers to enforcement actions including a fine of up to $5,000 per vehicle.
Learn More...  Driving Toward a Cleaner California (DTCC) is a coalition of owners-operators, farmers, construction contractors and other business and community leaders committed to working with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to craft a sensible truck and bus replacement rule that both cleans the air and keeps California's economy moving forward.
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