Truck’n America—headquartered in a 10,000-sq.-ft. facility in Waldorf, Maryland, with 25 employees and six locations in the Maryland and Virginia area—has been a family-run business for more than 40 years. The team is currently led by Chuck Morrison IV and his brother Dan.

Truck’n America specializes in truck accessory product sales and installations. Truck caps, tonneau covers and step bars are the company’s best sellers, along with exterior accessories that include sidebars, floor liners and bedliners.

Truck’n America—headquartered in a 10,000-sq.-ft. facility in Waldorf, Maryland, with 25 employees and six locations in the Maryland and Virginia area—has been a family-run business for more than 40 years. The team is currently led by Chuck Morrison IV and his brother Dan.

Truck’n America specializes in truck accessory product sales and installations. Truck caps, tonneau covers and step bars are the company’s best sellers, along with exterior accessories that include sidebars, floor liners and bedliners.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to repeal the estate tax, which impacts an estimated 5,500 families including many small-business owners. The bill would also reduce the top tax rate that is applied to gifts over $500,000 to 35%. Currently, the highest gift tax rate is 40%. A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate but no action is expected in the near term. However, the issue could become a component of comprehensive tax reform legislation that the Senate is currently seeking to address.

In 2012, Congress passed a compromise bill to lower the estate tax rate to 40% with a $5 million per person exemption (tied to inflation). If unable to permanently repeal the tax altogether, lawmakers may be willing to increase the exemption and reduce the tax rate. 

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to repeal the estate tax, which impacts an estimated 5,500 families including many small-business owners. The bill would also reduce the top tax rate that is applied to gifts over $500,000 to 35%. Currently, the highest gift tax rate is 40%. A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate but no action is expected in the near term. However, the issue could become a component of comprehensive tax reform legislation that the Senate is currently seeking to address.

In 2012, Congress passed a compromise bill to lower the estate tax rate to 40% with a $5 million per person exemption (tied to inflation). If unable to permanently repeal the tax altogether, lawmakers may be willing to increase the exemption and reduce the tax rate. 

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

RTM Productions Announces New “PowerBlock TV” Roku Channel

RTM Productions, producers of the “PowerNation” and “PowerBlock” automotive television programs, have announced the launching of the PowerBlock TV channel for Roku players in the United States and Canada, and Roku TV models in the United States. The streaming availability for PowerBlock TV features extensive on-demand programming and entertainment for automotive enthusiasts, from builds and mods to restorations and everything in between.

The PowerBlock TV streaming channel will give Roku customers on-demand access to the entire catalog of PowerBlock shows, including “Muscle Car,” “Horsepower,” “Trucks!,” “Xtreme 4x4,” “Search & Restore,” “Off Road Action,” and “Top Dead Center” Roku customers can find PowerBlock TV under “Sports” in the Roku Channel Store now on Roku players and Roku TV models.

The Monroe “Shockmobile” will be seen by baseball fans across North America during its 2015 tour.

Monroe “Shockmobile” to Join Opening Day Activities in Several Major League Baseball Markets

Starting at the Milwaukee Brewers home opener against the Colorado Rockies last week, the Monroe “Shockmobile” will continue to be seen by baseball fans across North America during its 2015 tour. The Monroe Shockmobile’s “Everything Gets Old. Even Your Shocks” tour includes several stops at Major League Baseball (MLB) stadiums this year, including games in Detroit, Chicago, Kansas City and Atlanta.

The Monroe Shockmobile plays a pivotal role in the Monroe brand’s “Everything Gets Old” campaign, which is designed to remind consumers that their vehicles’ shock absorbers and struts eventually wear out and need to be replaced. Because these ride-control components are “hidden” beneath the vehicle, the Shockmobile was designed to be an eye-catching, 25-ft.-long, 10-ft.-high, translucent Monroe OESpectrum shock absorber that helps remind consumers about the importance of inspecting shocks and struts at 50,000 miles/80,000 kilometers.

The Shockmobile will begin its next tour in June when it travels to Roanoke, Virginia, and continues to visit locations in the southeast, including Charlotte, Atlanta, Orlando and dozens more. To track the Shockmobile as it travels, consumers can visit the Monroe brand’s Facebook page, Twitter or Instagram feed.

Laurel Smith

Laurel Smith Joins Warn Industries as Vice President of Marketing

Laurel R. Smith has been named vice president of marketing for Warn Industries Inc., where she will have product management and marketing communications reporting to her. She will be responsible for the Warn brand and for engaging Warn’s off-road enthusiasts. She will also be responsible for developing product strategy and coordinating Warn’s advertising and promotion programs. Smith most recently was director of brand marketing for Smith & Wesson, where she was instrumental in the development of marketing plans and the use of extensive consumer metrics for evaluation and allocation of marketing direction. Prior to that, she worked with Easton-Bell Sports as a category manager at Easton Baseball Bats, and as the national product marketing manager at Beretta USA.

New Shelby American Baja 700 Edition Raptor to Deliver 700+ Street-Legal Horsepower

Shelby American has announced that it will offer a limited run of the new Shelby Baja 700, built on the ’11–’14 Ford SVT Raptor, which features 700+ supercharged horsepower, competition suspension and BFGoodrich Baja-proven K02 tires. Only 50 of these limited-edition trucks will be built exclusively at the Shelby American factory in Las Vegas. Powered by a 2.9L Whipple supercharger mounted on the 6.2L V8 engine and coupled with bigger throttle bodies and injectors, plus a more robust heat exchanger, the Shelby Baja 700 screams to life via the Borla exhaust system. Shelby American also takes the stock 411hp rating of the Ford SVT Raptor and kicks it up to more than 700 hp. The limited-edition Shelby Baja 700 starts at $45,000, not including the base Raptor.

Shelby American is now accepting orders for the limited-edition Baja 700. Those interested in reserving a truck should contact the sales team at (702) 942-7325 or visit www.shelbyamerican.com.

Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.

	Two different forms of qualifying materials showing you work for an auto-related company are required to complete registration for the 2015 SEMA Show.

• Be Prepared: Two different forms of qualifying materials showing you work for an auto-related company are required to complete registration. These include a business card, business license, business photo ID, Tax Registration Certificate, invoice from automotive companies doing business with your company or two recent paycheck stubs. Attendees can prepare by having two of these materials ready to be uploaded during registration.

• Register Today: Attendees who register today benefit by paying the advance rate of $25 as well as having their badges sent in the mail prior to the Show.

• Complete the registration: Finish the entire registration process. You can add your qualifying materials to your application at a later date, only if you have completed the entire process and received a confirmation email that your registration was received. If you do not complete the registration, you will receive an email letting you know you have a “partial registration.” Attendees with a partial registration will not be able to add qualifying materials and will not be able to officially register until they have gone back and completed the entire process.

	Two different forms of qualifying materials showing you work for an auto-related company are required to complete registration for the 2015 SEMA Show.

• Be Prepared: Two different forms of qualifying materials showing you work for an auto-related company are required to complete registration. These include a business card, business license, business photo ID, Tax Registration Certificate, invoice from automotive companies doing business with your company or two recent paycheck stubs. Attendees can prepare by having two of these materials ready to be uploaded during registration.

• Register Today: Attendees who register today benefit by paying the advance rate of $25 as well as having their badges sent in the mail prior to the Show.

• Complete the registration: Finish the entire registration process. You can add your qualifying materials to your application at a later date, only if you have completed the entire process and received a confirmation email that your registration was received. If you do not complete the registration, you will receive an email letting you know you have a “partial registration.” Attendees with a partial registration will not be able to add qualifying materials and will not be able to officially register until they have gone back and completed the entire process.