| December 2011 | Past Issues/Subscribe | Printer-Friendly | Advertise |
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 17 - 19, 2012 VENDOR NEWS
 Jenkins Insurance Group has partnered with Digital Insurance to provide rental operations of all sizes with a full-service Benefits Resource. These changes will allow Jenkins to provide CRA members with additional staff and services, as well as take their employee benefit services to the next level as the passage and implementation of Healthcare Reform continues to get more and more complex. Digital Insurance delivers value-added, innovative services, in addition to client discounts on dental, life, disability and other products. There's a comprehensive Online Benefits Resource Center, a Wellness Management Center and a unique way of helping to ensure members are getting the most out of their employee benefits investment.
Learn More...  United Rentals, Inc. and RSC Holdings, Inc. announced on Dec. 16, 2011 that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which United Rentals will acquire RSC in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $18 per share, or a total enterprise value of $4.2 billion, including $2.3 billion of net debt. The Boards of Directors of both companies have unanimously approved the proposed transaction,and both Boards recommended that their respective stockholders approve the proposed transaction. The proposed transaction will create a leading North American equipment rental company with a more attractive business mix, greater scale and enhanced growth prospects. The combination is also expected to accelerate United Rentals’ growth with industrial customers as well as provide a lower cost base and a less volatile revenue profile to better position the company through all phases of the business cycle.
Learn More...  Multiquip announced Nov. 14 that four new generator models powered by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compliant Tier4i engines, announced earlier this year, are now shipping. These new MQ Power models are the DCA150SSC (150kVA), DCA180SSC (180kVA), DCA220SSC (220kVA) and DCA300SSC (300kVA). Each are equipped with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) to trap particulate matter, or soot, from the diesel engine exhaust. "With the DPF, the new units produce zero grams per brake horsepower-hour (gr/bhp-hr). This is a significant improvement when compared to previous models that produced between 0.07 to 0.015 gr/bhp-hr," said Torsten Erbel, vice president product management, engineering and customer support for Multiquip. "We continue to be a leader in sound attenuation, fuel efficiency and reliable portable power."
Learn More...  Atlas Copco began the construction of a new manufacturing facility on Nov. 9, for compressors in Wuxi, China, to meet the growing demand for compressors from the Chinese and other Asian markets. The investment of approximately MSEK 150 includes the construction of a new compressor assembly factory, a test lab, and a center for research and development. The new factory and the upgrade of existing facilities will allow for increased production of portable compressors, industrial and oil-free air compressors as well as compressor elements.
Learn More...  Genie is expanding its family of rough terrain scissor lifts to introduce a new electric scissor series designed to increase operator efficiencies both indoors and outdoors, according to a recent company press release. The three new scissor lifts (GS™-2669 DC, GS™-3369 DC and GS™-4069 DC) offer similar increased capacity and jobsite performance to that of the RT family, but now in an electric model. The GS™-4069 DC scissor were seen and demonstrated for the first time at the Lift and Access Showcase & Symposium, Nov. 8 – 9, in Scottsdale, Ariz. The GS™-4069 DC scissor is the world's first 40-foot, full drive-height electric scissor lift in its class designed to offer increased operator productivity and increased uptime while on the jobsite. The GS™-2669 DC and the GS™-3369 DC also offer the full drive-height feature.
Learn More...  Graco Inc. was informed Dec. 15 that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will file a complaint to challenge Graco's proposed acquisition of the finishing businesses of Illinois Tool Works Inc. "I am disappointed with today's decision by the FTC. Graco strongly believes this transaction is pro-competitive and intends to vigorously fight for approval in court," said Graco's President and CEO Patrick J. McHale in a company press release. "The liquid finishing industry is highly competitive with many serious, quality competitors in each product category. Graco has proposed to the FTC that existing U.S. Graco and ITW distributor practices would remain unchanged, with distributors remaining non-exclusive and retaining the ability to distribute products from other manufacturers of their choice. We are confident in our position and believe the facts of the case warrant defending this matter in court."
Learn More...  Briggs & Stratton Corporation announced in November that it has acquired Premier Power Equipments and Products Private Ltd. of Tamil Nadu, India (Premier) for approximately $3 million in cash, subject to adjustments. Premier is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of tillers, weeders, harvesters, transplanters, pumps and portable generators used primarily in agricultural applications throughout India. In addition, Premier currently uses Briggs & Stratton engines on its products and distributes Briggs & Stratton engines in India. Its products are sold through a network of approximately 60 dealers in India.
Learn More...  Kubota Tractor Corporation, the U.S. marketer and distributor of Kubota tractors and equipment, announced plans on Dec. 8 for a new $73 million manufacturing plant in Jefferson, Ga. Construction of the 500,000 square-foot plant on the 88-acre site plant will begin in January 2012 for production of Kubota's 30-50 horsepower compact tractor models. Completion of the plant and full production is anticipated for January 2013. The announcement comes on the heels of Kubota's recent milestone of 1.5 million units sold in the United States. The company began marketing in the U.S. in 1972, initially introducing a 12-horsepower, compact tractor. Today, Kubota is the industry leader in the under 40-horsepower tractor segment.
Learn More...  Doosan Portable Power announced that it has released four models in their Tier 4 Interim (Tier 4i) mobile generator portfolio. The G150, G190, G240 and G325 mobile generators are new to the lineup of 10 Doosan models ranging from 25 to 570 kVA and became available Dec. 1, 2011. These models complete Tier 4i development from Doosan Portable Power for products with power ratings greater than 174 horsepower and have been designed for the implementation of Tier 4 final (Tier 4f) technologies effective in 2014. In addition, Doosan is finalizing the development of new G70, G85 and G125 models to meet the 2012 Tier 4i regulations for the respective power ratings. New G25 and G45 models will meet Tier 4f regulations required in 2013.
Learn More... BUSINESS NEWS
The California Chamber of Commerce last week released a list of new employment laws scheduled to take effect in 2012 or earlier that will have an impact on businesses in California. In addition to the new employment laws, an order by the National Labor Relations Board(NLRB) also has an impact on businesses in California. By Jan. 31, 2012, most private-sector employers must begin displaying an 11"x17" poster that provides information to employees about unionizing and their right to strike.
Learn More... The Dec. 16 CalChamber Alert newsletter informed readers that an initiative has been filed that will undo Proposition 13 protections for businesses in California, bringing back an unpredictable method of assessing property taxes. If enacted, this "split roll" initiative could cost California taxpayers billions of dollars annually. The measure has been dubbed by its proponents as the "Protect Homeowners and Close Corporate Tax Loopholes Act."
Learn More... On Dec.14, Governor Jerry Brown presented his Department of Finance’s revenue forecast for 2011-12 pursuant to Chapter 41, Statutes of 2011 – the so-called "trigger cuts" that were approved as a component of the 2011-12 state budget package. Department of Finance Director Ana Matosantos outlined both the revenue forecast and the resultant reductions that will take effect on Jan. 1, 2012. Of note, reductions to K-12 schools were far less dramatic than had been anticipated.
Learn More... Joe Mathews of Fox & Hounds Daily recently provided this guide to the measures and up-to-date weekly rankings of the initiatives (based more on politics, progress and perception than policy). Joe is a journalist and Irvine senior fellow at the New America Foundation, Fellow at the Center for Social Cohesion at Arizona State University and co-author of California Crackup: How Reform Broke the Golden State and How We Can Fix It.
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... CARB
Truck owners across the nation should have received ARB’s postcard titled "Diesel Truck Owners: Act Now" sent in August as a reminder of the end-of-year air pollution compliance deadline. Requirements are based on gross vehicle weight rating. Lighter trucks and buses with a GVWR of 14,001 to 26,000 lbs. do not have any compliance requirements until 2015. Heavier trucks and buses must comply starting Jan. 1, 2012. This does not apply to trucks that transport marine cargo, containers, or transport chassis that must comply with the Drayage Truck Regulation.
Learn More... The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Dec. 15 that a CalPortland cement plant near Mojave has agreed to pay a fine of $1.4 million and spend $1.3 million on equipment needed to reduce emissions of pollutants that cause asthma and generate smog, according to latimes.com. The penalties were part of a settlement following an investigation by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice into the CalPortland Co. facility, one of the largest emitters of nitrogen oxide pollution in California.
Learn More... The Truck and Bus regulation will reduce diesel exhaust emissions from privately owned and federal government diesel trucks and buses. Privately and publicly owned school buses have different requirements and do not need to be reported. Please refer to the Truck and Bus Regulation User Guide for what information is needed and how to report online at no cost. Click on "Learn More" for the reporting page for the Truck and Bus regulation. When you login, you will be able to enter company and vehicle information directly. ARB will be adding an upload feature for larger fleets soon. Fleet owners who already created an account with the Tractor Trailer GHG reporting or the Off-Road reporting sytems, can use the same user name and password. Reporting and clean-up requirements differ by gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).
Learn More... An article posted Dec. 15 on FoxandHoundsDaily.com by Willie Galvan, State Commander, non-profit American GI Forum of California, discussed his and other veterans' viewpoint on CARB's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) rule. He stated, "Perhaps no Californians are more sensitive to the issue of energy security than our veterans. As one of the most essential commodities in the world, it is critically important that we have ample domestic energy supplies to free us from dependence on foreign imports from parts of the world that may be less than friendly to us. That is why the American GI Forum of California takes notice when the government pursues policies that will hamper in-state production and increase the need for imported fuels. One such rule currently entering the implementation phase is the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)..."
Learn More... The ARB's Heavy-Duty Vehicle Inspection Program and Periodic Smoke Inspection Programs were adopted in 1988. The HDVIP program requires heavy-duty trucks and buses to be inspected for excessive smoke and tampering, and engine certification label compliance. Any heavy-duty vehicle traveling in California, including vehicles registered in other states and foreign countries, may be tested. Tests are performed by ARB inspection teams at border crossings, CHP weigh stations, fleet facilities, and randomly selected roadside locations. Owners of trucks and buses found in violation are subject to minimum penalties starting at $300 per violation.
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 Feb. 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 Feb. 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 Dec.14, 2011 to make a determination.
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.
Learn More... |
|
| calrental.org |  |
