Terry McCauley of Niterra North America, has been Appointed to CAWA’s Manufacturers’ Advisory Council

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Terry McCauley of Niterra North America, has been Appointed to CAWA’s Manufacturers’ Advisory Council

During the appointment process, Young Suhr Jr., Chair of the Board of Directors, commented: “I have known Terry for some time, appreciate his commitment to the industry and am pleased to announce that he is joining the CAWA Manufacturers’ Advisory Council. I look forward to his participation and contributions to CAWA in assisting the Association in achieving its goals as an effective and valuable automotive care industry organization”, continued Suhr.

Mr. McCauley, is a seasoned veteran in the automotive aftermarket industry with an impressive track record spanning over 38 years in Southern California. His journey began at the young age of 15 when he embarked on an apprenticeship as a technician, honing his skills in an automotive and RV repair shop in the picturesque Huntington Beach, California. During his college years, his passion for the automotive world led him to embrace a career as a Parts Professional. He excelled in this role at a jobber store, where he demonstrated an innate understanding of automotive components and their intricacies. After earning a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Cal State University, Long Beach, Mr. McCauley’s heart remained firmly set in the automotive industry. He continued to thrive, transitioning into the role of a Service Advisor, serving customers with his expertise at an independent repair facility and later at a reputable GM dealership. See complete press release here.

It's Time to Celebrate Industry Week and Register for CAWA's Annual Dinner Gala

CAWA is holding our Annual Dinner Gala in Las Vegas on October 29, 2023 to celebrate our leadership and scholarship awards to students & automotive high school teachers. Enjoy networking among industry colleagues and a fast pace live auction all benefiting our scholarship fund. We would like to thank our exclusive sponsor Motorcar Parts of America who has again graciously sponsored our event. This year we are starting a little later in order to not conflict with other events, in particular the AWDA Awards ceremony that you may want to attend. To register click here.

Help CAWA Raise Funds for its Two Scholarship Programs – For Students and Automotive High School Teachers

This year, Sean Ruitenberg, of Premium Guard, is Chair of the Scholarship Fundraising Committee. See his request for donations (here) and the form (here) you can use to donate prizes and/or funds for this year’s event. Fundraising will be the focus of this year’s annual gala dinner the Sunday night before AAPEX on October 29, 2023 sponsored by Motorcar Parts of America. Register for CAWA's Annual Gala Dinner here.

UPDATE: U.S. House Committee Passes Bill to Stop California’s ICE Vehicle Ban

Encourage support from lawmakers on this proposal:

The U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee passed the SAN-supported Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act” (H.R. 1435). This bill seeks to preserve vehicle choice for consumers and prevent the federal government and the State of California from choosing only one form of technology (such as electric vehicles) over the many others to achieve their emission reduction goals.

The "Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act" prohibits the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from issuing a waiver to California for regulations that would ban the sale or use of new motor vehicles with ICE (internal combustion engines) in the state by 2035. The bill is essential to stopping California's plan to ban of new ICE vehicles. Send a letter to your Congress members asking them to support the bill.

H.R. 1435 awaits consideration by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Lawmakers Must Hear from You Right Away!

Use the following button for an overview and lawmaker contact.

ACT NOW

UPDATE: CAWA Legislative Positions in California

See the enclosed report of what legislative proposals CAWA is following and what position the Association is taking on each bill. For further information, contact CAWA’s Legislative Advocate in California, Gary Conover at gary@garyconover.com or 916.233.9655.

Arizona Won't be Able to Require Only Electric Vehicles by 2035

Arizona lawmakers and the governor are giving up the right to try to force motorists away from carbon fuels as part of a deal to extend the Maricopa County road tax. A provision in the deal House Speaker Ben Toma said was negotiated with Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs forever precludes the state from restricting the use or sale of a vehicle if it is "based on the vehicle's energy source.'' But the language goes even farther, blocking local governments from imposing their own standards. The net effect would be to bar Arizona from enacting legislation like California which spells out that all new cars sold in 2035 and beyond are zero-emission vehicles. That includes battery electric vehicle, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles. See more here. Source: KAWC

Commercial Auto Insurance Rates Spiking

SKYROCKETING CLAIMS costs and higher accident rates are pressuring the commercial auto insurance market. As insurers impose increasingly larger rate hikes, others have either pulled out of the market or are more restrictive about who they will cover. While rate increases have been the standard for nearly a decade, since 2022 hikes are growing larger – often in the 20% range, and that’s for firms with few or no claims.

The final three months of 2022 marked the 45th consecutive quarter – or more than 11 years – of increased premiums for commercial auto.

Here's what's going on and what you can do if faced with higher premiums. Contact CAWA’s insurance partner in California for more information and receive your non-binding quote. Contact Glen Dailey at gdailey@Armstrongprofessional.com or 916.690.6425. Source: Our partners at Armstrong & Associates

The American Workforce Transformation – Challenges and Opportunities

As headlines in The New York Times and other major news media tout increases in the number of employed non-farm workers, a deeper dive reflects that the labor force participation rate in June was 62.6% for the fourth consecutive month, and the employment-population ratio was 60.3%, unchanged from May.

These measures remain below their pre-pandemic February 2020 levels based on data from the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.
As the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports, U.S. businesses are “facing unprecedented challenges trying to find enough workers to fill open jobs.”
As of the end of May 2023, there were 9.8 million job openings in the United States, with .6 unemployed individuals per job opening, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey.

What is contributing to this shortage, which areas are most impacted, and what does this bode for the future of work? See further information here. Source: Littler

Car Data Mining Industry Profits off Personal Information

California Privacy Protection Agency announced it is conducting a review under the California Consumer Privacy Act, which empowers consumers with new rights California’s privacy enforcement agency is investigating how car companies that collect personal data — a ballooning multibillion dollar industry — are complying with data privacy laws. The California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) announced it is conducting a review under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which empowers consumers with new rights, including the right to know what personal data is collected, the right to delete that data, and the right to stop the sharing or selling of it. See more details here. Source: aftermarket MATTERS

Intermittent Family Leave May Include Transfer to Different Position

Can we transfer an employee to a different position if the employee needs to take intermittent FMLA/CFRA leave for his medical treatments?

See the answer here. Source: Our Friends at the California Chamber of Commerce

An “AI Summer” in California?

What’s in store for artificial intelligence (AI) in California? Will there be an “AI summer” hiatus as the Assembly recommends, or will legislation and regulatory proposals go forging ahead? Regardless of whether California bills to regulate the use of AI advance, the issues addressed in such legislation underscore issues employers that have adopted AI in employment decisions—or are contemplating doing so—should consider. Such topics include the intended use and benefit of an automated decision system, data privacy and the types of information or data used by the AI system, and protections in place to mitigate against the risk of inaccurate, discriminatory, and biased results of the AI system. Learn more. Source: Littler

Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act Takes Effect

If you have not yet done so, it’s time to update your employee handbooks and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” poster to account for changes to workplace anti-discrimination laws. The Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act, signed into law last year, came into effect June 27 and the EEOC has announced that it will start accepting complaints on day one. Here's what you need to know about the law and where you can get the new posters. Source: Our partners at Armstrong & Associates

Understanding First-Mile vs. Middle-Mile vs. Last-Mile Delivery

Each stage of the last-mile delivery process is crucial, carrying its own set of complexities and challenges. In the vast and interconnected world of global commerce, the movement of goods from origin to destination is the lifeblood that fuels delivery operations. However, this logistical journey isn't a singular, straightforward process but rather a series of three interconnected stages - from when an order is placed to the customer receiving their package and leaving a review. Read more. Source: Food Logistics

Free HR Services for CAWA Members

CAWA has partnered with HR360 to provide you with a comprehensive yet easy-to navigate and understand human resources library. The website has a wonderful array of "help" areas for any company. The site covers topics such as: Employee Benefits, Human Resource Issues, State and Federal Employment Law, Hiring and Termination. There are also hundreds of downloadable HR forms, posters and even a selection of frequently asked questions. To access your online HR information library, please visit www.HR360.com or contact Mat Nabity of CoreMark Insurance Services at mnabity@coremarkins.com or 916.835.1676.

Looking for a Fishing Guide or a Celebrity Impersonator or an Automotive Professional?

Tell your company’s HR Department (or the person in charge of hiring your associates) that CAWA has an industry specific job board. We created the job board and participate in conjunction with the Auto Care Association, MEMA, SEMA and ASA to name a few national associations. So, your job opening would be viewed by a great number of candidates given the exposure, through not only CAWA distribution, but the other industry association’s communications vehicles, as well.

CLICK FOR DETAILS

Affordable Health Insurance for CAWA Members in Nevada

Choose this Association Health Plan for Better Rates! CAWA members with 2 (unrelated) to 50 full-time employees can now offer insurance coverage for their employees and their families with a high-quality, affordable Association Health Plan from Prominence. See details here.

Grow Your Arizona Business with the CAWA Association Health Plan for the Automotive Industry in Arizona

We have some good news to share with you. Automotive industry businesses can enhance their health plan benefits for their employees with the CAWA Arizona Health Trust (CAWA) Association Health Plan through Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Arizona (AZ Blue). An Association Health Plan (AHP) pools groups in similar industries to provide healthcare coverage typically only available to larger employers. These plans offer more robust benefits, plus extra service, and support to reduce plan administration—bill paying, compliance filing, managing participant eligibility, and benefit enrollment. CAWA members get access to medical and dental coverage, as well as industry-specific training seminars, and discounts on business services and supplies. The CAWA AHP offers a portfolio of 21 fully insured AZ Blue medical plan options that can be paired with the Statewide, Alliance, or PimaConnect networks. AZ Blue dental plans, vision and Life/AD&D plans are available to groups that select a medical plan. See details here.

"CAWA - Representing the Automotive Parts Industry