$ Saving Programs, EVR Hammer Coming Down, EV Mandates Under Siege

December 19, 2024

Are You Taking Advantage of Our Programs?

The Spark Underwriters property-liability-auto insurance program:
Spark Underwriters, marketed through World Insurance, offers more than just insurance. The creators of this program, along with the underwriters, claims adjusters, and loss control professionals could all work at the shops they insure. They are leaders in the automotive industry, instructors and certified technicians. They know the business and the needs of auto service businesses. The plan has coverage which is hard to find in the industry, including extended garagekeepers’, false pretense on customer cars, coverage for loaner cars, dealer plates, cyber insurance, and employment practices liability. Higher limits are standard on  policies for important things like employee tools, pollution liability, and much more.

Ameritrust workers’ compensation program:
Ameritrust, marketed through World Insurance, has been offering NJGCA members workers’ compensation policies for many years. The plan covers medical costs and lost wages for employees who receive injuries from their work duties. The plan offers members dividend payments when the overall loss history is better than expected (dividends are not guaranteed, but when available they are exclusive to NJGCA members).

Triad Benefits health benefits program:
Marketed by World Insurance, this is a member-only health care solution developed to help businesses leverage their buying power as part of a larger combined group to purchase health benefits at competitive rates. It offers a choice of provider networks and multiple plan design options. Easy underwriting, simplified rating structure and easy to understand plan designs are all hallmarks of this plan.

If you’re interested in more details for any of these plans, don’t hesitate to reach out to njgca@worldinsurance.com 

EVR Hammer Coming Down 

The deadline for full EVR compliance for gas stations is this coming Monday, December 23rd. We have heard unofficially that DEP is already doing some preliminary enforcing (with warnings not fines), and that once Monday comes they plan on launching a full-scale wave of enforcement all over. We have heard repeatedly that they are looking at this as a zero-tolerance situation and treating compliance very seriously. 

Make sure you are fully, 100% compliant with the EVR regulation by Monday morning, or have a standing Administrative Consent Order (ACO) in place with DEP. This includes all paperwork needed for compliance, as they will be looking for it. For that matter, double check that you are fully in compliance with all rules and orders, since it sounds like inspectors will be out all over.

Contact Nick@njgca.org or 732-256-9646 for questions, Nick has been in regular touch with DEP for weeks over this issue, discussing it with them both in general and on behalf of some specific members. 

Battery EV Trucking Mandate Delay Bill Moves

Last Thursday we saw some welcome progress on a bill that would force a delay in the implementation of the “Advanced Clean Truck” (ACT) rule in the state. As with the phased-in ban on the sale of new gas-powered passenger vehicles, there is a similar regulation relating to the sale of new medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Both rules were set by the California Air Resources Board, and Gov. Murphy ordered the NJ DEP to opt in to both rules, as have a few other states. The ACT rules are scheduled to start phasing in on January 1, 2025, and manufacturers are telling truck dealers that they will only sell them diesel heavy-duty trucks if they buy a certain amount of battery EV trucks. 

The problems here are significant. The heavy-duty battery EVs that exist now are about 2-3 times more expensive than diesel trucks, and because of the weight of the batteries they have to carry a smaller load. Their range isn’t as far, they take far longer to refuel, and there’s nowhere near enough infrastructure–even some of the trucking companies that have been looking into installing their own chargers and have been met not only with massive costs but delays of 18 months and more from the utility companies. 

All these expenses mean higher costs for the delivery of every kind of good, which means higher prices for everyone. 

There was a huge coalition of different business groups who testified in favor of the bill, including NJGCA, you can read our testimony HERE. Despite strong opposition from the environmentalists and opposition from the Murphy Administration, not only did the bill get a hearing, but it was passed unanimously, with every Democratic member voting to roll back a Murphy Administration plan, a very rare rebuke for politicians of the same party. The bill next needs to be voted on by the full Assembly, and see action in a Senate Committee, but it’s clear that there is a bipartisan majority that consists of most members of the Legislature opposed to these EV mandates, which is a significant development. 

Supreme Court and President-Elect Looking at EVs

On Friday, the US Supreme Court announced that they will be hearing the lawsuit challenging California’s ability to institute the EV mandate that New Jersey and other states have opted in to. Back in the 1990s when Congress passed the Clean Air Act, they gave the state of California the ability to set a stricter standard to deal with smog pollution, and allowed state governments to choose to opt in to the California standard instead of whatever the federal standard set by the EPA was. 

Since then, the California government has used that power (designed to address smog) to work towards completely eliminating gas-powered vehicles from being sold. This legal challenge is based in part on the idea that California wants these standards because of the global problem of climate change, when the law is supposed to only allow California to change its standards to address state-specific problems. The current makeup of the Supreme Court has generally been interested in enforcing the “major questions doctrine”, which is basically the idea that certain major policy decisions must be made by Congress, not unelected regulatory agencies. 

The lawsuit is being brought by a wide coalition of different interests, including the National Association of Convenience Stores. The final decision should come in June 2025. 

Meanwhile, on Monday it was reported that the Trump transition team will recommend big changes to the federal government’s EV policies. They want to significantly increase tariffs on battery materials in order to help promote a domestic industry, though that would take years to develop and would make EV batteries more expensive in the years to come. Money that was appropriated by the Biden Administration to promote EV charger installations and the $7,500 tax credit for certain EV purchases will be cut and redirected toward other uses. 

As expected, they also recommend rolling back the Biden Administration’s tailpipe reductions, which were designed to be so high that it would force manufacturers to make a significant portion of their vehicles EVs. They also recommend blocking California from setting its own standards as it relates to EVs, which would also block those policies here in NJ. 

Reminder: Tell Congress You Need Lower Credit Card Fees

Our allies at the national level are continuing to push for a vote on the Credit Card Competition Act, which would lead to lower interchange fees for all businesses in the state. As part of their efforts, they are asking every individual business to sign onto a letter asking Congress to pass the bill. The feedback they have gotten so far is that it has been one of the most effective actions they’ve taken so far, since it proves that this is a fight between local small businesses and 30 of the largest banks in the world. You can add the name of your business HERE. 

Rack Averages

News Worth Knowing:

Member Benefit Partner (MBP) Spotlight: Gratus 

Let us show you how your business will benefit from our strength. GRATUS is your go to supplier of top-quality Sunoco gasoline and motor fuels. We are able to offer top tier fuel products while maintaining small company accessibility. GRATUS’ custom-tailored support allows you the ability and confidence to grow your gasoline volume. By leveraging our team’s 100+ years of retail fuel industry experience, along with a growing list of gas station partners, GRATUS is able to help put you in a strong position for future growth.

Contact: Maurizio Lo Piccolo 

Phone: (610) 202-9148. 

mlp@gratusdistribution.com    www.gratusdistribution.com

Available Real Estate

Cape Harbor Shell

**Price Reduction**

795 Route 109, Unit B, Lower Township, NJ, 08204

Contact: Jerry 609-425-8837 capeharborshell@comcast.net 

Station for Sale

Thriving High Profit Gas/Service Station close to Major Highway in Prime Location. 

This Exclusive Gas Station is the Sole Provider in the entire town, achieving a remarkable fuel profit of up to and sometimes over 1$ a gallon. Consistently selling 45,000 gallons monthly. Most fuel customers come from Highway so fuel prices do not have to be competitive. 

Also included with the Property is a Reputable High End Auto Repair Facility. Repair shop has all required Specialty and Diagnostic Tools for servicing mostly High End Vehicles. Advertising is no longer used do to an enormous Demand and large Customer Base. Repair Business has has potential for increased profitability and expansion, the business is open to experienced buyers for a possible partnership or profit sharing arrangement. Location is 1 out of 100. Fuel sales make 20-40K a month and repairs can do the same with the right operator. 

This one of a kind opportunity can include seller financing for those with High-Level Automotive or Gas Station Experience.

Contact Greg
908-291-7845

Our Road Warrior newsletter is brought to you by the following Member Benefit Partners: