By Steve McDonald

A House Joint Resolution to create a mileage-based user fee study committee to determine the feasibility of implementing such a program instead of the gas tax was introduced. The resolution would require a study of a mile-based user fee and require the committee to submit a report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2018.

In addition to creating privacy concerns, the results of the committee’s study could penalize national efforts to create a more fuel-efficient vehicle fleet by taxing drivers based on vehicle mileage. As gas tax revenues decrease due to hybrid and electric vehicle ownership, states are looking for new sources of funding for pet projects.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By Steve McDonald

Legislation to provide for the issuance of a single rear-mounted license plate for motor vehicles that were originally equipped without a bracket, device or other means to display and secure a front license plate was introduced.

The bill will be considered by the Montana House Transportation Committee. 

For more information, go to the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By Steve McDonald

Legislation to provide for the issuance of a single rear-mounted license plate for motor vehicles that were originally equipped without a bracket, device or other means to display and secure a front license plate was introduced.

The bill will be considered by the Montana House Transportation Committee. 

For more information, go to the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By Steve McDonald

Legislation was introduced to reduce motor-vehicle excise tax rates by 10% each year beginning with the 2018 registration year until the rates reach half of the current rates in 2022 and subsequent years. Under the law, an excise tax is levied for the privilege of operating a motor vehicle or camper trailer on the public ways.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By Steve McDonald

Legislation was introduced to reduce motor-vehicle excise tax rates by 10% each year beginning with the 2018 registration year until the rates reach half of the current rates in 2022 and subsequent years. Under the law, an excise tax is levied for the privilege of operating a motor vehicle or camper trailer on the public ways.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By Christian Robinson

Join your fellow SEMA members in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, May 17, to demonstrate to congressional lawmakers the importance and strength of the $39-billion specialty-equipment industry.

Standing up for the RPM Act and your right to convert a street car into a racecar used exclusively at the track, pursuing a pro-growth and job-creation agenda, creating access to small-business loans and credit, finding affordable health insurance options for employees and combating counterfeit products. These are just a few of the issues facing SEMA members in the nation’s capital.

Join your fellow SEMA members in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, May 17, to demonstrate to congressional lawmakers the importance and strength of the $39-billion specialty-equipment industry. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to connect face-to-face with your legislators on Capitol Hill and inform them of the issues that matter most to you, your community and your business. The SEMA Washington Rally is exclusively for SEMA members.

Scheduled events include:

• Legislative briefing session with SEMA staff
• One-on-one meetings with legislators
• Capitol Hill luncheon
• Private reception with members of Congress
• Opportunities to visit attractions in the nation’s capital.

To register or for more information, contact Christian Robinson at 202-783-6007, ext. 20 or christianr@sema.org.

By Amelia Zwecher

Recruiters should host open houses, site tours and seminars to attract and evaluate qualified candidates.

Matching top talent with careers and fulfilling organizational needs is the leading goal of the talent-acquisition industry. Recruiters can easily get stuck in the same routines and methods of recruiting, and opportunities can be missed in a complacent state of mind. It’s a good idea to continuously re-evaluate practices and strive to improve.

Here are some additional best practices to consider in an ever-changing job market:

1. Offer internships and co-ops: Students often fill 44% of openings within organizations where they’ve interned.

2. Ensure that you meet with hiring managers often to improve the job description. Use an in-take session form to make sure all questions are answered.

3. Utilize LinkedIn paid and/or unpaid features optimally. There are several steps to achieving this.

4. Conduct only structured interviews and maintain consistency for all candidates.

For more information, contact Amelia F. Zwecher, TAS, SEMA manager, career services, at ameliaz@sema.org.

View Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of this recruitment tips series.

By SEMA Data Co-op

The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) has announced the completion of its updates to the recently released industry-standard PIES version 6.7, and is now offering fully compliant import and export formats to its members.

“Complimentary to our growing suite of data toolsets, this latest PIES release from the Auto Care Association features many useful changes, including more robust interchange and kits segments, item-level marketing features and benefits, additional digital assets fields that are especially useful for 360 images, and a new digital asset description segment,” said Stephanie Jones, SDC director of eBusiness.

Craig Schmutzler, SDC vice president of operations asks, “Are you ready to move to the industry’s newest PIES release? Manufacturers, retailers, distributors and resellers all can take advantage of this new format. We have completed a detailed integration of the new standards features into our Product Information Management System (PIMS), and those capabilities are now available to all SDC members."

The SEMA Data Co-op is an industry-owned and -operated project designed to bring full product-data management capabilities to participating suppliers at the lowest possible cost. Features include a secure, industry standards-based centralized data repository, extensive on-boarding tools, expert live training and technical assistance, and unlimited standard or fully customized data exports. 

For more information about the PIES 6.7 release, contact the SDC Data Lab at 888-958-6698, ext. 40. To learn more about how to join the SDC, visit www.semadatacoop.org, contact Allen Horwitz at allenh@semadatacoop.org or call 888-958-6698, ext. 9.

By SEMA Data Co-op

The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) has announced the completion of its updates to the recently released industry-standard PIES version 6.7, and is now offering fully compliant import and export formats to its members.

“Complimentary to our growing suite of data toolsets, this latest PIES release from the Auto Care Association features many useful changes, including more robust interchange and kits segments, item-level marketing features and benefits, additional digital assets fields that are especially useful for 360 images, and a new digital asset description segment,” said Stephanie Jones, SDC director of eBusiness.

Craig Schmutzler, SDC vice president of operations asks, “Are you ready to move to the industry’s newest PIES release? Manufacturers, retailers, distributors and resellers all can take advantage of this new format. We have completed a detailed integration of the new standards features into our Product Information Management System (PIMS), and those capabilities are now available to all SDC members."

The SEMA Data Co-op is an industry-owned and -operated project designed to bring full product-data management capabilities to participating suppliers at the lowest possible cost. Features include a secure, industry standards-based centralized data repository, extensive on-boarding tools, expert live training and technical assistance, and unlimited standard or fully customized data exports. 

For more information about the PIES 6.7 release, contact the SDC Data Lab at 888-958-6698, ext. 40. To learn more about how to join the SDC, visit www.semadatacoop.org, contact Allen Horwitz at allenh@semadatacoop.org or call 888-958-6698, ext. 9.

The following announcement from the Best in the Desert Racing Association is available at http://bitd.com.

With a sad heart, Best in the Desert announces the passing of our leader, Casey Folks, on January 12, 2017. Casey suffered a massive stroke on the morning of January 7 in Parker, Arizona. He was doing what he loved, living his passion for off-road racing, getting ready to drop the flag on the latest UTV race event. He was rushed to a hospital and transported by air to Las Vegas for care. Despite efforts by the best doctors in Las Vegas, Casey succumbed to the effects of the stroke five days later.

Casey lived a life most of us only dream about. He was a participant, promoter and friend to the off-road racing industry. An ardent competitor, Casey raced motorcycles between the ages of 21 and 45. He won 16 championships in his career and in 1980 was the first to Ironman the Baja 1000 and finish. He was the only person to finish every Barstow to Vegas race.

In 1968, Casey opened Sportsman Cycle Sales with his racing partner and friend, Tom Scales. The dealership opened as a Husqvarna dealer with only two motorcycles. One was Casey's race bike and the other was Tom's race bike. Many stories were told Monday mornings after a race about Casey and his Chippewa Charley's (boots) moving another competitor out of the way. Casey didn't gain many friends by this but it sure created a buzz about the guy from Sportsman Cycle. Over the next few decades, Sportsman Cycle grew into the premier motorcycle racing shop in Las Vegas. Through Casey's guidance and support, Sportsman Cycle birthed and nurtured many racers who went on to have very successful racing careers. In 1988, Casey passed the baton to his oldest son Daryl so he could focus on his next passion in life: the Best in the Desert Racing Association.  

He started Best in the Desert in 1984 for motorcycles. Then he introduced the “Vegas to Reno” race in March of 1996, adding for the first time cars, trucks and quads to his races. Due to Casey’s drive and strengths, Best in the Desert grew into North America’s largest and most prestigious off-road racing organization, aptly named “The American Off-Road Racing Series.”

Casey competed in almost every type of off-road event throughout the Western United States. His portfolio included over 30 races in Baja, Mexico, and the Tunisia Rally in Northern Africa. He served as the American Consultant for the Incas Rally in Peru and was the event coordinator for the Nevada Rally, representing the company “Acerbis Adventure,” based in Italy.

Casey was inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2012, joining the ranks of off-road racing’s greatest legends and honored by off-road racers worldwide.

His many friends at the Bureau of Land Management had respect and trust in Casey’s judgment and stated that Casey’s high standards established the rules for safety in off-road desert racing.

He is survived by the love of his life, Diane DeLauer, son Daryl Folks and daughter-in-law Sheri Folks, his son Bryan Folks, his sister Joan Ragona-Suarez, and three beautiful granddaughters, Adrianna, Morgan and Marlee.

Casey created memorable moments for thousands and thousands of people. We thank him for a lifetime of dedication to the sport we all love. As life goes on, and we continue to experience the passion of off-road racing, his legacy will live on.  Remember the words he lived by: “Life is an adventure. Come live your adventure with Best in the Desert.” Casey’s life was truly an adventure, and we will always treasure our memories of him.