Malcolm Sissmore of Delphi Products & Service Solutions will keynote CAWA's 2016 Gala Dinner to "kick -off" Industry Week in Las Vegas. The gala will be held at Caesar's Palace on Sunday evening October 30, 2016. All proceeds from the event, which is exclusively sponsored by Motorcar Parts of America, will benefit the CAWA Memorial Scholarship Fund (which promotes quality and high standards through education within the auto care industry).

To register for the event click here.

Our Phoenix based legislative advocate, Stuart Goodman of Goodman Schwartz Public Affairs, has published a voting guide to the ballot propositions to be decided during the November general election in Arizona. The focus is to provide interested parties with an unbiased review of the ballot propositions along with the commonly used arguments utilized by the proponents and opponents of each measure ( click here). For more information or further explanation of the ballot measures contact Mr. Goodman at sgoodman@goodmanschwartz.com or 602.617.5708. Another member benefit.

 

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Regulatory Relief for Small Businesses, Schools and Nonprofits Act ( H.R. 6094) to delay the implementation of the U.S. Department of Labor's overtime rule from Dec. 1, 2016 to June 1, 2017. 

The bill passed by a vote of 246-177, just before Congress adjourned for its pre-election recess. The bill was introduced by Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich. and quickly gathered 76 co-sponsors. Upon passage Congressman Walberg said, "We all agree we need to modernize our nation's overtime rules, but small businesses, nonprofits, and colleges and universities should not be hurt in the process." 

The rulemaking, released this past May, made significant changes to the existing exemption from overtime regulations, including doubling the salary threshold to $913 per week ($47,476 per year). There are currently two lawsuits pending on the rulemaking that were filed in the state of Texas on Sept. 20. The bill has moved to the Senate where its future is unknown. President Obama has already threatened to veto the legislation.

 

There is a significant change in workers' compensation which will impact those that currently have coverage excluded for owners, partners or managing members. If you currently have corporate owners with less than 15% ownership, you will not be able to excluded them. If you are an LLC you can only exclude managing members. Many LLCs have members who are not managing members so this will need to be changed. Note, all excluded people on a workers' compensation policy will need to sign a new waiver of coverage prior to January 1 2017. 

For further information click here and to discuss how this may impact your business, please contact our insurance partner, Glen Dailey of Armstrong & Associates at 800.632.2777 or gdailey@armstrongprofessional.com. Another member benefit. 

"As the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) light vehicle market recorded a modest sales uptick from 2010 to 2015 at user-price, a significant portion of DIY product share shifted among the six major groups of DIY outlets. Half of the six DIY outlet groups increased their DIY product share, while DIY share losses were suffered by the other three outlet groups. Retail Auto Parts Stores achieved the largest DIY product share gain, followed by the residual category of Other Outlets (which includes Internet sales) and Discount Stores/Mass Merchandisers. Jobbers, Vehicle Dealers, and Drugstores/Supermarkets each controlled less DIY product share in 2015 than five years earlier." For further information regarding DIY impacts, click here. Source: Jim Lang, Aftermarket iReports

A repair garage customer paid me, via company check, for parts he had purchased through my business. Obviously, the customer had a business account at the bank. The check bounced. Now I cannot collect the money he owes me. Isn't this illegal? Is there a statute that says it's so? Is my only option to take him to small claims court? However, if it's illegal and criminal, is there any authority I could turn to in order to report this law violation? 

See our attorney's answer to this problem ( here). Recall, as a member you can receive up to ½ hour each month of FREE legal consultation regarding situations such as the one described here. See www.cawa.org for the attorney in your state. Another member benefit.

The following message could be important for any of our members that import through Seattle or the Los Angeles/Long Beach gateways that are saddled with empty Hanjin containers they've been unable to return. Effective immediately, Hanjin Shipping will allow ALL Hanjin OWNED empty containers to be terminated at either Terminal 46 in Seattle or Pier T in Long Beach. This DOES NOT apply to leasing company containers OR Hanjin SALS/LEASE-BACK containers. 

The attached list ( here) indicates Hanjin OWNED containers that are in the Southern California / Pacific Northwest vicinity and are eligible for return to HJS at the TTI facilities. If it is not on the lists, it cannot be terminated to HJS! Also attached are contacts for all of the major leasing companies; contact them for disposition of their containers ( here).

See the enclosure for more information on our products ( here). Another member benefit.

 

The CAWA Careers Industry Job Board is not only a source for invaluable information, including standards, guidelines and education, but we are also one of the best resources for finding the most qualified candidates in the industry. With the Industry Job Board, you'll have the tools to find experienced applicants at your fingertips. For more information on this industry specific career center for companies recruiting and individuals looking to see what auto care jobs are available, contact our President & CEO, Rodney Pierini, at 800.332.2292, ext. 1 or admin@cawa.org. Another member benefit.