In the diesel fuel business, it is all about pennies.  Fifteen, twenty years ago a price increase of a penny was a big jump and there were sequences of days when fuel prices did not change.  So, when I saw the video on the link below about the National budget it really struck a chord.  I get pennies and often spend time on the far right side of the decimal but when you get up in the millions, billions and trillions frankly it is harder for me to conceptualize.  I thought this would be a great way for my kids and their friends, not to mention my coworkers, to understand the numbers we are hearing about in the news.

What I did not expect is one of the responses I got back from a friend of mine.  She requested that I not send her any more political emails. Now, I admit, I can get on my dad’s soap box and rant a bit with the occasional unsolicited opinion about the current world order.  What a scary realization- I did not even notice a political bend to the video.  If you click on the link it does show the President pledging to reduce the National budget by $100,000,000. My first response was applause and frankly, so was my last response.  (Again I like pennies, so saving even a $0.0025 is good by me!)  What my friend, who tends to lean a little more left then I do, saw in the first 15 seconds was an attack on the President and that framed her opinion of the video, not the remaining minute, twenty three seconds.

I have watched it a number of times and if it were done 3 years ago and the President at that time was featured in the first 15 seconds, I realize that I would have considered it political too.  This would have been compounded by the fact that my leftward leaning brother-in-law is the one who shared it with me!  It really is just a great learning tool.  I am a huge fan of learning, but realize my genetic skepticism would have made me miss this opportunity too.  What a great lesson for me about education.   Information is good, regardless of who shares it with you.  I still applaud budget cuts wherever we can get them, especially since we just sent in our latest donation to the state and federal government…. don’t even get me started….

 http://www.wimp.com/budgetcuts/

My Best, Mary

Mary Fleet Manager Wall DeWitt, diesel, economic recovery, fleet, fuel price increases, petroleum, policy

It seems that no matter how much you train, prepare, establish guidelines accidents happen. There is a new product on the market for hazmat clean-up. It is called the Hydrocarbon spill clean-up (FM-186) program available from Environmental Chemical Solutions Inc. (ECS)

Traditional Methods of Clean-Up – In the past if there is a spill, the only resource was to use “kitty litter” to soak up the spill and dispose of the used absorbent material as hazardous waste.

Our future – This new product breaks-down the spilled diesel or gasoline and makes it easy for the naturally occurring surface bacteria to digest the spilled material. Thus, the treatment chemicals and the resultant wastes are non-hazardous. (Source: California Environmental Protection Agency).

We have implemented the use of FM-186 at our fueling locations and aboard our on-site fuel delivery trucks. FM-186 is also available for purchase from our Lubricants warehouse.

At DeWitt Petroleum, we like to do our part to minimize the impact of nonpoint pollution and protect our environment. Just another reason to purchase fuel from DeWitt Petroleum.

Bobby Fleet Manager Wall diesel, FM-186, on-site fueling, petroleum

U.S. Commerce Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

WASHINGTON D.C., June 8, 2009 — DeWitt Petroleum has been selected for the 2009 Best of South El Monte Award in the Gasoline & Oil Bulk Stations category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)

U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Commerce Association

CONTACT:
U.S. Commerce Association
Email: PublicRelations@us-ca.org
URL: http://www.us-ca.org

admin Fleet Manager Wall Bulk Stations, petroleum

Well leave it to the federal government to streamline processes, reduce redundancy and make our lives easier and more efficient . . . What? You don’t think the government absolutely excels in this arena?

Good news for some of us, a little relief may be on the horizon. Please see the excerpt below from the Petroleum Marketers Association of America (www.pmaa.org). The US Small Business Administration has identified the duplicative background checks and finger printing required for drivers HazMat Endorsement and TWIC ID as one of their top ten federal rules needing reform. Entrance to the ports requires the drivers have a TWIC card at the cost of $132 or $105 if you have already paid for your HME at a cost of $75.

PMAA Regulatory Report SBA 1- March 5, 2009

TSA Background Checks
The U.S. Small Business Administration wants the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to waive duplicative security background checks for drivers applying for both a CDL Hazardous Material Endorsement (HME) and the Transportation Worker Identity Credential (TWIC) identification. According to the SBA, the security background checks and finergprinting are identical and place unnecessary duplicative costs and administrative burdens of small business.

The duplicative background checks add nearly $100 per driver in unnecessary compliance costs in addition to lost productivity due to the day long application and fingerprinting process.
The SBA is asking the TSA to waive the second security background check altogether, which is consisten with Section 1556 of the 9/11 Commission Act that states that drivers with a valid HME are deemed to have met the security requirements of TWIC (and vice versa). The SBA estimates that the cost of these duplicate background security checks could be as much as $28 million each year for small business trucking operations.

Now if we can find a way to get them to efficiently run some other segment of the government. Think TARP funds. . .

My Best – Mary

Mary Fleet Manager Wall background checks, Federal Government, hazmat endorsement, HME, marketers, petroleum, pmaa, TARP funds, TWIC ID, US Small Business Administration