NAPA Auto Care’s Post

Buckle up Tas! This weekend, Sara Clark and Peter V. are hitting the road to join Tasmanian transport leaders in discussions about industry challenges and groundbreaking solutions. What burning issues are YOU hoping to see addressed at the conference? Share your thoughts in the comments and let's keep the conversation rolling! #TasBus2024 #VDIontheMove #busandcoach

I am grateful to be a part of this incredible platform that allows us to share stories from within the industry. Over the past 25 years, I have had the privilege of meeting numerous remarkable individuals who have become lifelong friends. Together, we share a passion for our industry and a relentless drive to push boundaries and foster innovation. I would like to extend my gratitude to Trailer magazine and Robert Smedley engineers for creating this platform that allows us to come together. The transport industry is in a constant state of evolution, and Australia presents its own unique set of challenges. We cannot rely on "boxed" solutions, as our country's size and specific requirements bring about a multitude of obstacles when it comes to adopting new technologies. Unlike other regions, we don't have a global precedence due to our distinct vehicle configurations. Therefore, it falls upon us to challenge the status quo, drive change, facilitate adaptation, and promote education. As an industry, we must continue to move forward, leveraging our diversification to our advantage. We need to seek out and implement solutions that not only address the challenges we face but also add value to our operations. It is through collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to progress that we can pave the way for a thriving and sustainable future in the transport industry. Let us embrace this opportunity to forge ahead and create a brighter tomorrow. 

Our internal MBM April Fool's Day this year has surpassed all expectations 🏆 But what was it all about?   Last week in an article on our intranet, we called on our employees to submit creative names for the more than 10,000 high-power charging points we are establishing within our global Mercedes-Benz Charging Network. In fact, we claimed that an internal market study found that people prefer to charge their electric vehicles at charging stations with which they have a personal connection. The criteria were simple: we were searching for names that combine a famous person with the word "Charging" or "Charge".   And our colleagues really stepped up and commented diligently. To only highlight a few of the creative name submissions:   ◾ Charges de Gaulle ◾ Richarge Gere ◾ Charge Washington ◾ Charge Travolta ◾ Simon and Chargefunkel ◾ Charge Russell ◾ Charge Chaplin ◾ Leonardo DiChargio ◾ Charge Norris ◾ Charge Clooney   And they even came up with songs like “Charge you like a Hurricane”, “I'm charging on sunshine”, “Another One Charges the Car” or “Wind of Charge”. 🙌 Thanks to each and every colleague contributing to this not-so-serious-collab! Tell us, what other idea would you have come up with? Let the sparks fly in the comments below! ⚡🔌

Celebrating Independence, Innovation, and American manufacturing reshoring: Happy July 4th from Westward Vehicles! As we celebrate the spirit of independence and what it means to be great partners, Westward Vehicles is committed to delivering cutting-edge transportation solutions that embody freedom and innovation. In Q3 of this year, part of our battery supply chain will now be proudly built in the great State of Ohio. According to the Cleveland Busioness Journal, Ohio is ranked #2 in reshoring projects. We are very enthused at the possibility of having key battery supply chain based in the US. Our range of electric utility vehicles, like the MAX-EV, are designed to empower fleet operators with independence from traditional fuel sources, making a sustainable future possible. Here’s to a holiday filled with fireworks, freedom, and the future of electric mobility. https://lnkd.in/epgws-Z Hashtags: #July4th #ElectricVehicles #Sustainability #Innovation #FleetManagement

I figure many on my professional network may have seen me on TV or heard me on radio in recent days regarding the impending truck ban in Hahndorf and subsequent diversion of trucks down River Rd and Strathalbyn Rd. 5AA gave me 15 minutes of air time today, allowing the opportunity to articulate the issue in a level of detail that 5 second dramatic news grabs cannot. Whilst "going full Karen" isn't something I like to do, when you're backed into a corner it can happen. (BTW, I don't actually like the term in general, but as it is referenced in this interview I thought it relevant) My preference is to engage in educated conversations seeking to identify important information that can allow all parties to make informed decisions. Everything has been moving at such a fast pace in the last 2 weeks since the announcement, and we have less than 6 weeks until this unplanned idea is implemented, which will quite literally put lives at risk. So it has been a bit of a frenzy. I have analysed the 1300 pages of FOI documents, I have sat training modules available on the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator website to better understand their processes and needs, I have asked questions of our local council. it's all been a blur. So, to get 15 minutes to talk about the issue in detail in my usual calm and friendly manner has been an absolute delight. I encourage you to listen to this and hear about the broader issue. After listening to this, I hope you are better informed to make your own informed decisions about your position on this issue. #hahndorf #transparency #informeddecisions

[Green signal of future trucking in CA] Truck manufacturers are surpassing their zero-emissions vehicle sales targets, outpacing their schedule by two years, as per the California Air Resources Board (CARB). We're excited about adopting zero-emissions technology, the proactive response from manufacturers, and the success of the phased transition towards a cleaner future for trucking in California. Trucking companies are also moving toward a sustainable future and NGL is excited and will align with this trend. 🍀 Find more information 👇 https://lnkd.in/gbS8_yyn

We're looking forward to #FleetsInCharge where we'll talk about #FleetDecarbonisation #EVFleet #Decarbonisation #RoadToZero

🚌 #BuiltforYourBottomLine // “We are completely focused on what our customers need to be successful in today’s market. We continuously challenge the organization to ensure that our top priority is our customer’s bottom line. Put simply, we want to drive the best return for the investment customers make when doing business with ABC, whether it is motorcoaches, cutaways, parts, or service. Our goal is to make doing business with ABC a competitive advantage for our customers,” said Roman Cornell, Chief Executive Officer of ABC Companies. Link to full article >> https://lnkd.in/eF3fnDwn #ABCCompanies BUSRide Magazine

Always consider the total cost.

Continuing the Top 5 Reasons to connect with Ryder at ACT Expo 2024: #3 - MONEY! We can assist customers in North America with grant programs related to electric vehicles (EVs). There can be real $'s ranging from $7500 to $150k in the form of grants and incentives to help in your EV transition--listed below are 3 examples of EV programs in California, Canada and Massachusetts... 1) California HVIP (Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project) -- https://lnkd.in/gcJurvMF 2) Canada Incentives for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicles (iZEV) Program -- https://lnkd.in/gUcc3iXf 3) Massachusetts MOR-EV Program -- https://lnkd.in/gs6B5D-R Note: Each grant and incentive program have their own terms and conditions. While Ryder’s electrification advisors can assist in identifying and applying for these grants, qualification is not guaranteed, as these incentives are not directly controlled by Ryder. Additionally, funding availability and requirements may change based on state and jurisdictional policies.