ONLY 5% OF FLEET CARS CLOCKED IN NHTSA ODOMETER FRAUD STUDY

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that, in a one-year odometer fraud investigation, only five percent of a random selection from 96,000 off-lease fleet cars had their odometers clocked. This compares to a 1985 NHTSA study that revealed 50 percent of the tracked off-lease fleet cars were clocked. The dramatic decline was attributed to the federal enforcement of the Truth in Mileage Act of 1986 and the fleet industry's compliance with the law's recordkeeping provisions. The top three worst states for odometer fraud are New York, Arkansas, and New Jersey. Although fleet car clocking has declined, clockers have shifted their emphasis to repos and trade-ins.

GM SELLS 3-MILLIONTH PROGRAM CAR

A 1992-model Pontiac Grand Prix auctioned at the Anglo American's Aptco Auction in Detroit, MI, on December 17, 1992 was the three-millionth program car sold by General Motors during the past 10 years.

FIRST-EVER INTERNATIONAL LEASING CONFERENCE HELD

Lease Plan International hosted a first-even international leasing conference Dec. 2-4, 1992 in Atlanta, GA. Attending the seminar were 18 fleet managers representing companies that operate fleets internationally. Hugo Levecke, managing director for Lease Plan Holding in The Netherlands, spoke on the progress to ratify the Maastricht Treaty which, among other things, seeks to eliminate trade barriers among European Community nations. Freddy Hollander, managing director for Lease Plan Netherlands, spoke on lasing and taxes in Europe. Also discussed at the seminar was the Open Calculation System, presently used by Lease Plan Holding in Europe to lease fleet vehicles, which Lease Plan International hopes to introduce in the U.S. during the second quarter of 1993.

FLEETS PRECLUDED FROM CONDUCTING NEW EPA EMISSION TESTING

The EPA has issued final rules for vehicle emission testing requirements, effective 1995, which preclude fleets from doing their own testing the repair work. Although the new regulations prohibit self-testing, a fleet is allowed to contract with an independent company to conduct the testing. A fleet could choose to deliver vehicles to the testing company or the testing company could come to the fleet location and conduct on-site testing.

The new rule requires 177 metropolitan areas in 38 states to establish inspection stations to perform either basic or enhanced inspection and maintenance programs. The tests use new $150,000 computer-assisted dynamometers to measure a vehicle's emissions during a four-minute cycle of idling, accelerating, and braking.

Fast-Fill Station Is Portable and Convenient

The new RapidGas modular refill station from the National Energy Service Company in Zanesville, OH, provides all the equipment needed for refueling vehicles in one cabinet. It is lift truck portable and features plug-in installation. The pump comes in single or twin compressor versions and the internal motor/compressor module can be exchanged later for a larger size without having to replace the rest of the system.