| June 2012 | Past Issues/Subscribe | Printer-Friendly | Advertise |
UPCOMING EVENTS
June 20, 2012 VENDOR NEWS
 The Scaffold & Access Industry Association (SAIA) celebrates its 40th Anniversary at the 2012 Annual Convention and Exposition in Huntington Beach, Calif., July 15 – 18, 2012. According to SAIA's recent press release, "Attendees will celebrate SAIA’s past and current contributions to the scaffold and access industry as well as learn ways to improve their bottom line. SAIA will present the leading information, resources, tools, and ideas that will help its attendees be leaders in the industry."
Learn More...  Doosan Portable Power, a leading global provider of mobile power platforms, has produced an animated video that details how air compressors process air to store energy, and adapt it for use in countless applications. The video highlights the primary components and basic functionality of a single-stage air compressor; information that is also beneficial for properly maintaining and servicing portable air compressors by owners and operators.
Learn More...  Toro is proud to participate in the Professional Landcare Network's (PLANET) 16th Annual Renewal and Remembrance landscaping event July 9, 2012 at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Toro, along with their distributor Turf Equipment & Supply Company in Jessup, Maryland, will provide PLANET member volunteers use of its popular ride-on aerators to help restore the cemetery grounds. More than 400 volunteers are expected to spend the day aerating 200+ acres, as well as mulching, cabling and installing lightning protection for trees, pruning, planting, and liming.
Learn More...  The North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA) released its 2012 Dealer-Manufacturer Relations Survey last month and Kubota Tractor Corporation tops the charts across several key categories. In ten of the 12 categories measured in the survey, Kubota received the highest scores - compared to other major manufacturers - including the top rating in the highly coveted overall satisfaction category.
Learn More...  Deere & Company announced on June 4th that it will invest $47 million to expand manufacturing capacity in its Moline, Illinois cylinder operations, where the company builds a broad range of hydraulic cylinders used in the company's agricultural, construction, and forestry machines sold around the world.
Learn More... BUSINESS NEWS
A California Chamber of Commerce-supported job creator bill that encourages job growth by promoting government accountability and a transparent process when proposing new residential building standards passed the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee this week, the CalChamber's June 15th Alert newsletter reported. AB 1612 (Lara; D-Los Angeles) promotes government accountability and a transparent process by requiring proposed new residential building standards to include the cost of compliance, potential benefits of the proposed standard and the underlying model used to achieve those estimates.
Learn More... According to the June 8th CalChamber Alert newsletter, a number of California Chamber of Commerce-opposed "job killer" bills are likely dead for the year, having missed the legislative deadline to pass the house in which they were introduced.
Learn More... Two California Chamber of Commerce-opposed bills that unnecessarily increase workers’ compensation costs, incentivize litigation and drive up attorneys’ fees passed the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee on June 13. AB 1145 (Cedillo; D-Los Angeles) increases frictional costs in the workers’ compensation system by creating a two-tiered system for the supplemental job displacement voucher. AB 1687 (Fong; D-Mountain View) unnecessarily increases costs and incentivizes litigation by permitting the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) to award attorneys’ fees to an applicant who challenges a utilization review decision regarding a future medical treatment award.
Learn More... On June 12th, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) issued its June Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), which included significant downward revisions to the crude oil and petroleum product price forecasts for the second half of 2012. The changes come after a combination of concerns regarding economic growth and moderating supply-demand balance expectations contributed to a steep drop in global crude oil prices in May. As a result, EIA is now forecasting West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil spot prices to average about $95 per barrel for the rest of 2012. Similarly, the average crude oil refiner acquisition cost (RAC) is now expected to be about $11 per barrel lower in the second half of 2012 compared with the May STEO. The lower forecast for crude oil prices has translated into a lower forecast for product prices. Regular gasoline is now expected to average $3.51 per gallon nationally in the third quarter, down from the $3.76 per gallon forecast in May.
Learn More... CARB
The Air Resources Board is providing training for the In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation (Off-Road Regulation), which requires fleet owners to report to ARB and label their off-road vehicles now, and then requires fleets to reduce the emissions from their older equipment beginning in 2014. The training, Course #504, will provide an overview of the amended Off-Road Regulation, including the applicability of the regulation, requirements currently in effect, future compliance requirements, and will also include an overview of the Diesel Off-Road Online Reporting System (DOORS). ARB staff will also be available after the training to answer individual questions.
Learn More... For 2012, engine manufacturers are required to produce engines in all power categories that are certified to the Interim Tier 4 level. Engines that were produced under the "flex" provisions of either 40 CFR part 89.102 or 1039.625 will continue to be eligible for initial registration in PERP. ARB will accept initial registration applications for non-flex Tier 3 engines rated at 75 to 750 bhp and also non-flex Tier 2 engines rated over 750 bhp only until June 30, 2012. On July 1, 2012, to apply for initial registration in PERP, all non-flex diesel engines rated 50 bhp and above must be certified to the interim Tier 4 emission standard. The fleet standards from the Portable Engine ATCM take effect January 1, 2013.
Learn More... All diesel fueled trucks, buses, trailers and transportation refrigeration units operating in California, including those based out of state, have requirements to reduce air pollution and improve the state's overall air quality. What's new? Don't miss the fast approaching Tractor-Trailer GHG reporting deadlines! The reporting deadline for large fleets is June 1, 2012. The reporting deadline for small fleets is July 1, 2012.
Learn More... The regulation requires that you meet the Basic Engine Model Year Schedule requirements. There are other compliance options in the regulation that may give you more time to meet the requirements of the regulation if reported by March 30. Although the March 30 deadline has passed, you should still report per the regulatory requirements as soon as possible. ARB can exercise discretion in how we implement the regulation, and may take into consideration a good faith effort in determining compliance. The best way to report is to use our online reporting system as it is the quickest and most efficient method. Smaller fleets can enter their information directly online. Larger fleets can use an upload spreadsheet to report vehicle information in batches rather than one vehicle at a time. Fleet owners who already created an account with the Tractor Trailer GHG reporting or the Off-Road reporting systems, can use the same user name and password.
Learn More... What's New?: (Posted February 16, 2012) By March 1, 2012, large fleets (those with off-road vehicles totaling more than 5,000 horsepower and state and federal fleets) are required to submit a Responsible Official Affirmation of Reporting (ROAR) to ARB. The ROAR is a signed statement affirming that the information reported is accurate. Beginning in 2012 for large fleets, 2016 for medium fleets, and 2018 for small fleets, the In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation requires fleets to annually update and affirm their reporting information. In addition to the ROAR, the annual update must include reporting of engine hour meter readings for low-use vehicles and vehicles used for more than half their annual operating hours for agricultural operations. For more information on reporting low-use vehicles, see the Low-Use Vehicles DOORS user guide. The log for reporting hours for agricultural operations vehicles is available here and within DOORS. Also by March 1, 2012, nearly all on-road vehicles with two diesel engines must be reported and are subject to the In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation. Further information concerning this new requirement is available in Regulatory Advisory 12-02-B.
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... 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...  Driving Toward a Cleaner California (DTCC) is a coalition of owner-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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