February 2008
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT - LEONARD HUFFMIRE
Over the past few years, at a time of global unrest and economic turmoil which we all have had to grin and bear, the Society has and will be making changes in an attempt to improve the strength and integrity of the organization. The Executive Board is continuously looking for ways to bring this organization the highest level of recognition in the industry for which it deserves.
As you all know, the Executive Board is just a small portion of the entire Membership of this organization and for the Society to grow and improve it will need the help of the entire Membership. We all lead busy lives but I am sure most of us could dedicate a little time to help strengthen this organization.
The Society of Fleet Supervisors has a long history spanning more that six decades which is a testament to the founding Members, but now it is our hands. We are in the 21st century and changes will be in our future, but remember we will not compromise the ideals of those founding members.
We are back at the Immaculate Conception Center through the May 2008 General meeting as well as the EXPO which will be held on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. I am already receiving table reservations so don’t wait and get your table reserved now. With the new location for the EXPO, we will have an outside display area that is covered with a canopy to set up tables for the vehicle exhibitors. Please send in your EXPO applications which are available on our web site or call me for further information at (718) 388-0426.
We are accepting Bylaw change proposals and have received three Bylaw change proposals to date. The last date we will accept Bylaw change proposals is the March meeting on March 19, 2008.
Excerpts from our Constitution and Bylaws:
Article VI
1. The finances of the Society shall be derived from dues and other sources
as may be approved by the Executive Committee.
Article VII
1. The Society shall make such Bylaws, as it may deem necessary for the proper
conduct of the Society.
Our present Membership is comprised of:
Members 112
Life Members 17
Editorial Members 0
Associate Members 43
Honorary Members 3
Original Equipment Manufacturer 3
Apprentice Fleet Supervisors 0
Student Members 18
Total Membership 195
Current CONSECUTIVE attendance records are:
Honorary Member Bill Misita, Retired – 99, 9/92 – 2/05
Member Robert Lagnese, Farmingdale University – 87, 1/97 –
Member George Pastor, H. John Davis, Inc. – 70, 5/94 – 5/03
Member Carl Orza, Advanced Fleet Maintenance – 70, 3/97 – 2/06
Life Member Nuno Tardo, Universal Ford – 63, 3/89 – 1/97
Member John Cigna, Retired – 50, 2/94 – 3/00
Life Member Nuno Tardo, Retired – 48, 1/02 –
Member Robert Spiotto, Frank Siviglia & Co., Inc. – 47, 11/01 –9/07
Member Pat De Martino, Con Edison – 44, 10/90 – 2/96
Member John Dozis, Fink Baking Co. – 37, 1/96 – 5/00
Attendance at the January meeting:
Members 54
Guests 13
Total 67
EDUCATIONAL - CLEMENT DRUMMOND
Hybrid Regenerative Braking
One of the ways hybrid vehicles achieve superior fuel economy is by using regenerative
braking to recover kinetic energy that would be given up as heat when the brake
is applied.
The hybrid vehicle brake system includes both standard hydraulic brakes and a unique regenerative braking system that uses the vehicles momentum to recharge the battery. As soon as the accelerator pedal is released, the high voltage electronic control unit initiates regenerative braking. The electric motor is turned by the wheels and used as generator to recharge the batteries.
During this phase of braking, the hydraulic brakes are activated to provide additional stopping power. To increase energy efficiency the system uses the regenerative brakes whenever possible. Selecting “B” on the shift lever will maximize regenerative efficiency and is useful controlling speeds downhill. “B” mode about 30% of the energy is recovered (Toyota Prius).
If either the regenerative or hydraulic braking system fails, the remaining system will still work. However, the brake pedal will be harder to press and the stopping distance will be longer. In this situation, the brake system warning light will illuminate.
The battery will accept charge up to an instantaneous rate of 20 to 21 KWH. Much of the energy from light braking at high speeds and harder braking at lower speeds can be recovered. Excess energy over the charging limits is wasted as heat in the brakes just as in other cars. At this time there is no way for the driver to know the limit of regenerative energy recovery.
We, the Journal Committee, would like to once again express our thanks to all those that contributed to the 2007 Journal which honored our Member of the Year, John Costantin. Through your generosity, you have assembled yet another successful Journal.
As you may or may not know, our Member of the Year for 2008 is Michael Cordiello. Michael has been a hard working Member of the Society since 2001 and has been the driving force behind our annual Kiddy Picnic and Scholarship Awards Dinner. Mike has time and time again unselfishly given his time and great efforts in making both of those events the success that they have had. Mike is most worthy of this honor that has been bestowed upon him. I know that our membership will honor Mike accordingly with your support.
It's never too early to start placing your ad in the 2008 Journal honoring Michael Cordiello. Together, we will make this year’s Journal the best yet!
Senate Passes Energy Bill Mandating Higher Fuel-Economy Standards
The U.S. Senate on Dec. 13 passed a pared-down energy bill that includes a landmark
increase in fuel-economy standards for vehicles and a major boost for alternative
fuels.
The Senate passed the bill 86 to 8, after Democratic leaders agreed to a White House demand that oil industry tax breaks be left intact. The compromise reached between Democratic and Republican leaders also included dropping an earlier provision mandating that utilities generate more electricity from cleaner sources, the Los Angeles Times reported. The bill now goes to the House, which is expected to approve it this week.
The White House has said President Bush will sign the legislation, in light of the compromise reached.
The bill mandates a 40 percent increase in fuel efficiency for new cars and light trucks by 2020, for a fleet-wide average of 35 miles per gallon, and a fivefold increase in the amount of alternative home-grown fuels, such as ethanol, that must be added to the nation's gasoline supply by 2022.
Of the 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels mandated for vehicles by 2022, 21 billion would be produced from biomass diesel and cellulosic sources still under development.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Analyst Says Truck Sales Expected to Decline Further, but Fleet
Capacity Should Tighten
New-York based transportation market analysts at Bear Stearns say that Class
8 trucks sales could get worse in early 2008 before getting better, according
to the Web site www.todaystrucking.com. While there’s been an encouraging
jump in truck demand this fall, industry sources still predict a prolonged downturn.
While there was an “encouraging” spike in orders this past October compared to previous months, the boost was mainly a result of large orders from one or two fleets and may not represent a true upturn in overall industry demand.
Bear Stearns also said more capacity will come out of the industry as smaller trucking firms are forced to exit the market due to a weakened economy and higher operating costs, according to www.todaystrucking.com.
Trucks Will Continue to Move Most Freight, Said ATA
Trucking will boost its share of the United States’ freight pool into
the next decade, according to a recently published report by the American Trucking
Associations (ATA). The report, U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast to ...
2018, predicts that trucking’s total tonnage share will rise to 69.7 percent
by 2012 and up to 70 percent by 2018.
“Above-average growth in key truck commodities and the inherent flexibility and on-time delivery associated with trucking is driving industry growth,” according to ATA officials.
Latest Ethanol Casualty: Beer Breweries
Many farmers in the Pacific north-west, where America's hop production is concentrated,
have turned to more profitable lines — especially corn — which can
be made into ethanol. The decrease in hop production, put at some 50 percent
over the past decade, has sent hop prices through the roof, according to The
Economist.
The brew master of the O'Fallon Brewery near St Louis, says the variety he once bought for $3 a pound now costs five times that. Many smaller breweries cannot find what they need at any price. Industry giants like Anheuser-Busch and Miller are better off, thanks to long-term contracts. However, even Anheuser-Busch has been forced to raise prices.
The hops shortage is only part of the problem. Things are no better for barley, used to make the malt that yeast turns into alcohol. It too, has been ploughed under in favor of corn, according to The Economist.
Crop failures in Australia and Europe, combined with the weak dollar, have made it harder to replace the shortage with imports. Other price increases, of fuel, glass and metal, add to the pressure
Cooper Will Raise Passenger, Light Truck Tire Prices
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. will raise its passenger and light truck tire prices
up to five percent on Feb. 1. Rates of increase will vary between product lines,
according to Modern Tire Dealer magazine. Continental Tire North America Inc.
recently announced it will raise prices on its Continental, General, Semperit,
and private brand truck tires up to six percent on that day.
A number of tire manufacturers plan to hike prices on Jan. 1, including:
Hankook Tire America Corp., which will raise its passenger, high performance, and light truck tire prices up to five percent.
Nexen Tire America Inc., which will hike its passenger, light truck, performance, and ultra-high performance tire prices by two percent to seven percent.
Michelin North America Inc., which will raise prices on its Michelin and BFGoodrich brand medium truck tires up to six percent and its farm tires up to four percent.
Yokohama Tire Corp., which will increase its passenger and light truck tire prices up to seven percent, its medium and light truck commercial tire prices up to four percent, and its OTR tire prices up to five percent.
MEETING HIGHLIGHTS - BRIAN MARKSOHN
We offer a great big thank you to Patrick Glennon, President of Ethos Environmental East, LLC, for sponsoring the Cocktail Hour and presenting the January program on their company’s cost effective solution to help industry meet environmental regulations and relieve skyrocketing fuel prices using Ethos Fuel Reformulator.
The winner of the Big Draw of $50.00 was Member Dennis Madden who donated his proceeds to the Kiddy Picnic.
As we start a new year we are faced with same issues. How can we get new Members to join the Society? If anyone has any recommendations on what can be done to entice people to join I would appreciate your input.
I encourage all Members to speak to their co- workers, friends, customers and anyone in the industry who may benefit from joining the Society. If anyone is interested they can contact me for a membership application.
Also, we are looking for recommendations for Member of the Month. If you know of anyone who has showed outstanding performance in the Industry please send their name to Richard Chan or me.
Remember being a Member is important, but we must attend meetings to support the Society.
Our February program will be presented by Members Don Aull and Robert Crandall of Commercial Vehicle Consultants on the latest disc brake technology and the direction it will take us in our industry. CVC will also be sponsoring the cocktail hour.
Our program schedule will be:
March program
Cocktail hour being sponsored by Prestolite Electric and the program will be
presented by Jonathan Smith, Regional Sales Manager for Prestolite Electric
on their product line of Leece-Neville starters & alternators.
April program
Program being given by Scott Vandeweghe of Brigade Electronics and will be sponsoring
the cocktail hour.
May program
Program to be given by Associate Member Matt Konig from Amsoil products on their
product line and will also be sponsoring the cocktail hour.
If anyone is interested in doing the September program or has a vendor who might
be interested in presenting a program, please feel free to contact me.
I received a call from retired Honorary Member Alan Taub. Alan and wife Marion are residing in Paradise, Fl and they just returned from a two week stay in Aruba. Alan reports his son is now the Chief of Surgery in Ocala, Fl hospital. His oldest grandson just had his Bar Mitzvah in 2007 and celebrated the occasion with a trip to Italy. He also reports that on January 26, 2008, Marion will be celebrating ten years cancer free with a party with family and friends. Congratulations Marion!
Congratulations to the following Society of Fleet Supervisors,
Inc. Scholarship recipients:
Nicholas Cafiero, son of Associate Member Michael Cafiero, attending Albright
College
Erin Fagerland, niece of Member Frank Carpenter, attending Gordon College
Christopher Harte, son of Member Tim Harte, attending Farmingdale University
Kevin Huffmire, son of Member Leonard Huffmire, attending University of Connecticut
Ryan Markatos, nephew of Associate Member Nicholas Markatos, attending Manhattan
College
Amanda Rhodes, niece of Member Carl Orza, attending Hofstra University
We are now accepting applications for the 2008 Society of Fleet Supervisors, Inc. Scholarship. Please remember that you have an attendance obligation to meet to be eligible to receive a scholarship for yourself, your spouse, son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, niece or nephew. Applications are available on our web site or you can call Richie Chan or me for an application.
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES - MICHAEL CORDIELLO
Thank you and a job well done go out to all those who helped out selling Brick Raffle Tickets. We were once again able to sell all 200 tickets.
Congratulations and a great big thank you go out to our 2007 Bricks Raffle winners Nicholas Markatos and Michael Psallidas for donating $1000.00 to the Golf Outing.
We are booked at Leonard’s of Great Neck for the 2008 Scholarships Awards Dinner.
Our next event, the Kiddy Picnic, in June is in the planning stages and details will follow.
WELFARE & EMPLOYMENT – RICHARD CHAN
Congratulations to Member Frank Carpenter on the birth of his ninth grandchild, Justin Carpenter, on January 7, 2008. Justin weighed in at eight pounds, ten ounces.
Our condolences and deepest sympathies go out to Member Frank Almona on the loss of his aunt, Gilda Pepe, who passed away on January 14, 2008.
Get well and speedy recovery wishes go out to our Welfare & Employment Chairman John Costantin who is recovering from a concussion and bruised chest from an automobile accident on January 23, 2008.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY wishes for our following Members and their spouses:
03/01 Michael Calise
03/01 Grace Snyder (Robert)
03/03 Joseph Perin
03/05 Nestor Zaragoza
03/07 Emilia Bisciotti (Robert)
03/07 Alan Taub
03/08 Joseph Milea
03/08 Mauretta Scano (Michael)
03/10 Frank Almona
03/11 Roger Dent
03/11 Michael Scano
03/15 Donna Ferrara (Leonard)
0/318 Donald Aull
03/20 Marianne Perin (Joseph)
03/21 Susan Bellack (Larry)
03/22 Dolly Taddeo (Pasquale)
03/29 Bill D’Emic
03/29 Ronald Gulmi
03/30 Patricia Raff (Garry)
03/30 William Schneider
03/30 Taras Vysotskyy
03/31 Cynthia Roskop (Dennis)
Member Jack Lawson is proud to report that his daughter, Heather Lawson, recently graduated from Cleveland University with her Masters Degree and a 4.0 GPA. Heather was a Society of Fleet Supervisors, Inc. Scholarship recipient in 2000.
Meetings
Wednesday, May 16 2012
Koenig’s Restaurant
86 South Tyson Ave.
Floral Park, NY 11001
For directions, click here.
Cocktail Hour at 6 PM - 7 PM
Dinner and Meeting at 7 PM
Members - $35 Guests - $45
Program of the Month
Spotlight Supplier
Interested in becoming a Spotlight Supplier? Click here.