By Caroline Fuller
Truckers Ask NHTSA to Limit Speed
The American Trucking Association (ATA) has asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to limit the maximum speed of large trucks to 68 mph. The ATA also requested that all new large trucks include a tamper-proof governor to limit speed. Bill Graves, ATA president, claimed that the nearly 43,000 annual highway deaths is a large incentive for the changes. However, Mac McCormick, ATA's first vice chairman, expects that the changes will "not be popular within our ranks."
ASA-Washington Protects Repairers in Scrap Metal Bill
ASA-Washington was successful in acquiring language that exempted automotive repairers from upcoming 2007 scrap metal legislation. The exemption protects repairers from extensive recordkeeping and other requirements.
N.J. Repairers Oppose Right to Repair
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has contacted thousands of New Jersey repairers and strongly urged them to contact their assembly members to oppose New Jersey Assembly Bill 931, Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act.
N.J. A 931 would rely on a state agency and the court system to assist repairers in acquiring service information. ASA believes that a viable industry solution is already in place for the service information issue and that service information opportunities have expanded under the ASA-Automaker agreement. N.J. A 931 would strongly promote more government bureaucracy, regulation and litigation.
On the federal level, ASA has opposed Right to Repair legislation and the legislation has failed to move forward in the last several Congresses. ASA continues to oppose Right to Repair legislation on the state level.
Energy Dept. Increases Use, Availability of Alternative Fuels
Samuel W. Bodman, secretary of energy, revealed that more than 16 projects that promote the use of alternative transportation fuels will be funded by $8.6 million in grants.
These grants, combined with others, will allow for $25 million to be devoted to the United States' alternative fuel infrastructure. Part of the Clean Cities program, three topic areas were selected to be the focus of the grants: Refueling Infrastructure for E85 and Alternative Fuels, Incremental Cost for Alternative Fuel Vehicles, and Idle Reduction Training and Awareness for School Districts. The 16 projects are diverse in both recipients and geographic location.
Bodman said, "This public-private partnership helps bring diversity of supply to our transportation fuel market. We need to integrate a diversity of supplies and a diversity of suppliers to reduce our reliance on any particular type of fuel or particular supplier. By building our energy infrastructure, we create an environment in which American consumers have more choices in the transportation fuel they use."
If you are a repairer in New Jersey and you haven't already done so, please go to ASA's legislative Web site - www.TakingTheHill.com - to send a pre-written letter to your representative in opposition to Assembly Bill 931, the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act. Let's stop more government intrusion in our shops now.