January–March 2023

Communication Module: Streamlines customer communications for greater efficiency and better overall service

Service Module: Adds photos and videos to increase customer trust while protecting your dealership

Installation Module: Drives quality to every mobility installation

Training Module: Enables techs to become more efficient

Risk Management Module: Provides documentation to protect your dealership

Auditing Module: Allows you to audit any installation from your computer

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Christian Quandt, President Advanced Wheels

33 Bradley Park Road East Granby, CT 06026 860.653.8064 phone christian@advancedwheels.com

Sam Cook, Vice President Superior Van & Mobility 1506 Lakeshore Court Louisville, KY 40223 502.447.8267 phone scook@superiorvan.com

Eric Mansfield, Secretary MobilityWorks

810 Moe Drive Akron, OH 44310 800.638.8267 phone eric.mansfield@mobilityworks.com

Catherine Martin, Treasurer Ilderton Conversions 701 South Main Street High Point, NC 27260 336.841.6100 phone cmartin@ilderton.com

Gina Lewis, Manufacturer Rep. Adapt-Solutions

145 Damase-Breton St-Lambert, QC G0S 2W0 866.641.0419 phone ginalewis@adapt-solutions.ca

Todd Navarrete, Manufacturer Rep. VMI

5205 S. 28th Place Phoenix, AZ 85040 800.348.8267 phone toddn@vantagemobility.com

Chad Blake, Past President Ability Center 4797 Ruffner Street San Diego, CA 92111

858.541.0552 phone cblake@abilitycenter.com

Russ Newton, Canadian President Sure Grip 4850 Route 102 Upper Kingsclear, NB E3E 1P8 800.506.6666 phone russ@suregrip-hvl.com

Eva Richardville, Allied Health Professional Rep. Therapeutic Mobility Services, Inc. 311 N. Airport Office Park Fort Wayne, IN 46285 260.417.8399 phone eva@theramobility.net

Trevorr Jurgensen, Rep. at Large 1 MobilityWorks 810 Moe Drive Akron, OH 44310 800.638.8267 phone trevorr.jurgensen@mobilityworks.com

Dennis Charvat, Rep. at Large 2 Total Mobility Services 4785 Penn Avenue Boswell, PA 15531 814.629.9935 phone dennis@tmservices.com

Corey Kupsh Rep. at Large 3 A & J Mobility 333 Washington Street Valders, WI 54245 920.775.4104 phone coreyk@aandjvans.com

Dan Walsh, Rep. at Large 4 Bussani Mobility 500 Central Avenue Bethpage, NY 11714 516.938.5207 phone

dwalsh@wegetyouthere.com

NMEDA STAFF DIRECTORY

Danny Langfield CEO danny.langfield@nmeda.org

Kristen Clevidence Quality Program Manager kristen.clevidence@nmeda.org

Mikala Ballard Membership & Administration Coordinator mikala.ballard@nmeda.org

Chuck Hardy Director of Quality & Compliance chuck.hardy@nmeda.org

Trevor Jennings Director of Partner Relations trevor.jennings@nmeda.org

Amy Lane Director of Education, Training & Conference amy.lane@nmeda.org

Katie McDonald Director of Communications & Social katie.mcdonald@nmeda.org

Marilyn Myers

Senior Bookkeeper marilyn.myers@nmeda.org

Amy Schoppman

Director of Government Relations & Public Policy amy.schoppman@nmeda.org

As the old saying goes, “Time flies when you’re having fun.”

Well, the time has flown by over the twenty-plus years of serving on the NMEDA Board. They tell me I am the longest-serving board member ever. Having served as the southern representative (yes, we used to have regional representatives), two stints as Vice President, President, and Past President—you can say I know where all the bodies are buried!

All kidding aside, serving on this board has been one of the most enjoyable and rewarding things I have ever done. I gained a few mentors along the way and now have friends for life. When I first joined the board, John Quandt, our current president’s father, called me “the kid.” Now

OFFICER’S MESSAGE

I Know Where the Bodies are Buried

By Sam Cook, Superior Van & Mobility VICE PRESIDENT, NMEDA

they ask me what happened back in 2006. I have had the great fortune of watching, listening, and learning from so many smart people that have given their time to NMEDA. Marcus Smith, Martin Smith, John Quandt, Gene Morton, Bob Nunn, Bill Siebert, John and Dan Bussani, Michael Dresdner, Pete Zarba, Bill Koeblitz, Mark Lore, Richard May, Tom Wright, Nick Gutwein, Chad Blake, Tim Barone, Russ Newton, Ron Mohr, Jud DeMott, Eric Mansfield, Gina Lewis, and Mark DiRosa just to name a few. These people, along with many others, paved the way for NMEDA to be on the solid footing that it is today.

NMEDA has accomplished many things while I have been on the board. Primarily, NMEDA is the voice of the auto mobility industry. We are who government officials, service organizations, and third-party payers look to for standards and guidance on matters dealing with accessible vehicles. NMEDA has many lobbyists in Washington, DC and its own Political Action Committee. NMEDA’s paid staff is second to none and having these staff members allow many things to get accomplished promptly.

The two biggest concerns and challenges we face moving forward are as follows: One, pricing. The cost

to convert vehicles, because of the complexity of vehicles built today, keep many consumers from getting the vehicle they need. Another challenge is hiring and retaining technicians. We must work together to sell our industry to young people looking to make this industry their career. We have a lot to offer, we are not just turning a wrench, we are changing lives every day. The biggest question is, how do we tell the outside world our story and get young people to join our ranks?

So, as my time on the Board has concluded, I challenge you to get involved with NMEDA. The rewards you will get out of it will be much greater than the time you put in.

Check out pg 43 to learn more about the volunteer opportunities available!

Sam Cook with Becky Plank, NMEDA Founder, circa 2001.

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Driverge Acquisition

Last December, NMEDA member Driverge Vehicle Innovations announced that it has acquired US Upfitters, an Illinois-based business that specializes in converting commercial trucks, vans, SUVs, and sedans into work-ready vehicles.

According to the announcement, the acquisition will enhance Driverge’s national presence by adding new sales and operation locations in Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Colorado, in addition to its existing facilities in Ohio, Kansas, South Carolina, and California. It will also broaden Driverge’s product line to include commercial truck, SUV, sedan, and fleet vehicle conversions.

NMEDA CEO Transition News

The NMEDA Board of Directors announced late last year that Danny Langfield will be stepping down from his current position of CEO on July 1, 2023, to transition to a new role as the inaugural Executive Director of NMEDA’s recently formed 501c3 nonprofit Research Foundation. The Board has appointed a search committee, co-chaired by NMEDA Past Presidents Sam Cook and Chad Blake, to assist the Board in identifying Langfield’s successor. The committee will work with a national executive search firm to identify and vet qualified candidates for the CEO position.

“NMEDA has thrived under Danny’s leadership, and we are all grateful for his service,” said Chad Blake, NMEDA Past President. “While it is bittersweet to see his transition out of the NMEDA CEO role, the entire organization is excited about the possibilities of our new research foundation. We are optimistic that we will find the right candidate to lead NMEDA into the next phase of our industry.”

In his new role beginning next summer, Langfield will be charged with overseeing all aspects of the fledgling Research Foundation, including establishing its Board structure, bylaws, budget, mission, vision, and strategic plan, as well as its web and social presence and all branding and marketing collateral. As per the current NMEDA three-year strategic plan, the Foundation is expected to issue its first formal report, “The State of the Auto Mobility Industry,” in Q2 of 2024, utilizing anonymous data aggregated from the QAPx and Docutrack administration systems.

Partner with Your Local PVA

PVA members want to know more about electric vehicles, and NMEDA dealers can help. The NMEDA and PVA Government Relations teams partnered on a webinar in December—”Electric Vehicles are the Future. Are They Accessible?”—to educate veterans on the hybrid WAVs currently available for consumer purchase and to provide a forum for PVA’s members to ask questions about electric/hybrid vehicles and accessibility. Our industry experts—which included VMI’s COO Philip Angelechio, VMI’s Director of Operations Dale Deskins, and BraunAbility’s Director of Advanced Mobility Solutions Kevin Frayne—fielded nearly 30 minutes of questions from an audience eager to learn more about how an electric future might impact their transportation options.

Given the significant interest in this topic, we encourage NMEDA members to reach out to their local PVA chapter(s) and establish themselves as a resource for veterans seeking automotive mobility in an increasingly electrified automotive industry. This population wants to understand what their EV/hybrid options are and how EV/hybrid architectures might impact the installation of assistive technology, and NMEDA members are uniquely positioned to provide answers.

NMEDA DEALER MEMBERS

UNITED STATES

ALABAMA

Griffin Mobility 213 Chestnut Street NW

Hartselle, AL 35640

(256) 751-1365

1

Gulf States Mobility

1647 Coosa River Parkway

Wetumpka, AL 36092

(334) 514-6590

1, 2, 3

High Tech Mobility LLC

3351 Warrior River Rd

Hueytown, AL 35023-1304

(205) 491-2109

1, 3

MobilityWorksBirmingham 3747 Pine Lane SE

Bessemer, AL 35022

(205) 426-8261

1, 3

MobilityWorks - Huntsville 2150 Meridian Street North Huntsville, AL 35811 (234) 542-3022

1, 3

Superior Van & MobilityMontgomery

2015 Eastern Blvd. Montgomery, AL 36117

(334) 244-1011

1, 3

ARIZONA

A.D.E. Industries, Inc. 3621 S Palo Verde

Tucson, AZ 85713

(520) 571-7156

1

Ability Center - Goodyear 13765 W Auto Drive

Suite 125

Goodyear, AZ 85338

(623) 242-0552

1, 3

Ability Center - Phoenix 23606 N 19th Ave

Phoenix, AZ 85085

(623) 879-0800

1, 3

Ability Center - Tucson 4720 N La Cholla Blvd

Suite 150

Tucson, AZ 85705

(520) 293-3596

1, 3

United Access - Chandler

1825 E Germann Road Suite 24 Chandler, AZ 85286 (480) 999-5939

1, 2, 3

United Access - Scottsdale 14885 N 83rd Pl., Ste 105 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 (480) 941-4800

1 ____________________________

ARKANSAS

MobilityWorks - Bryant 3418 Main St Suite 400 Bryant, AR 72022 (501) 794-3100

1, 3

Superior Van & MobilityFayetteville 2887 N College Ave Suite B Fayetteville, AR 72703 (479) 521-8433

1, 3

Superior Van & MobilityJonesboro 2421 Sunny Meadow Drive, Ste D Jonesboro, AR 72401 (870) 933-7270

1, 3

Superior Van & MobilityNorth Little Rock

7323 Cock of the Walk St Suite B

North Little Rock, AR 72113

(501) 725-9070

1, 3

CALIFORNIA

Ability CenterSacramento 6550 Freeport Blvd Suite A Sacramento, CA 95822 (916) 392-1196

1, 3

Ability Center - San Bernadino

711 S Allen St

San Bernardino, CA 92408

(909) 383-3883

1, 3

Ability Center - San Diego

4797 Ruffner Street

San Diego, CA 92111

(858) 541-0552

1, 3

Ability Center - Santa Rosa

Ability Center - Stanton

11600 Western Avenue

Stanton, CA 90680 (714) 890-8262

1, 3

Economy MedicalLifestyle Mobility

2355 Whitman Rd Ste F

Concord, CA 94518-2542

(925) 671-4800

1

Gary E. Colle, Inc./dba

Goldenboy of San Diego

12130 Dearborn Place

Poway, CA 92064

(858) 748-9414

1, 3

MobilityWorks - Chico

7 Three Sevens Lane Chico, CA 95973

(800) 225-7361

1, 3

MobilityWorks - Fresno

120 North Diamond Street

Fresno, CA 93701 (559) 268-9394

1, 3

MobilityWorks - Hawthorne

3403 Jack Northrop Ave

Hawthorne, CA 90250 (310) 432-0700

1, 3

MobilityWorks - Oakland 1822 Embarcadero Avenue

Oakland, CA 94606 (510) 927-2860

1

MobilityWorks - Pasadena 325 North Altadena Drive Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 584-8181

1, 3

MobilityWorks - Riverside 7239 Indiana Avenue Riverside, CA 92504 (951) 686-3152

1,3

MobilityWorksSacramento 3127 Fite Circle Suite B Sacramento, CA 95827 (800) 225-7361 1, 3

MobilityWorks - San Diego 8130 Parkway Drive

LaMesa, CA 91942

(619) 474-4072

1

3285 Santa Rosa Avenue

Suite A

Santa Rosa, CA 95707

(707) 575-6997

1, 3

MobilityWorks - San Francisco 890 Cowan Road Suite B Burlingame, CA 94010

(800) 225-7361 1,3

MobilityWorks - Santa Clara 1245 Laurelwood Rd Santa Clara, CA 95054 (888) 473-5402

1, 3

MobilityWorks - Van Nuys 7720 North Sepulveda Blvd Van Nuys, CA 91405 (888) 473-5402

1, 3

SACVANS Mobility 5821 Florin Perkins Rd Sacramento, CA 95828 (916) 381-8267

1

COLORADO

Colorado Fleet & Mobility, dba Mobility of Denver 2311 S Platte River Drive Denver, CO 80223 (844) 289-2635

1, 3

Frontier Access & Mobility Systems, Inc. - Fort Collins 819 E. Mulberry St. Fort Collins, CO 80524 (970) 223-8267

1

Mobility Driven 832 Nth Crest Unit B Grand Junction, CO 81506 (970) 712-1435

1

MobilityWorks - Aurora 1640 S Abilene St Aurora, CO 80012 (720) 640-9989

1, 3

United Access - Colorado Springs 6285 Corporate Dr Colorado Springs, CO 80919 (877) 501-8267

1

United Access - Highlands Ranch 5910 E County Line Rd Highlands Ranch, CO 80126 (877) 501-8267

1, 2, 3

United Access - Wheat Ridge 9500 W 49th Ave Ste C107 Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 (877) 501-8267

1, 2, 3

NMEDA DEALER MEMBERS

MobilityWorks - Norfolk

6059 Virginia Beach Blvd

Norfolk, VA 23502 (757) 455-9889

1, 3

MobilityWorks - North

Chesterfield

7450 Midlothian Turnpike

North Chesterfield, VA 23225 (804) 220-0611

1, 3

Priority Honda Hampton dba

Priority Mobility

4115 W Mercury Blvd.

Hampton, VA 23666 (757) 838-1252

1

WASHINGTON

Ability Center - Everett 7202 Evergreen Way

Everett, WA 98203 (425) 353-6563

1, 3

Ability Center - Redmond 14640 NE 91st Street Suite A

Redmond, WA 98052 (425) 406-8484

1

Ability Center - Sumner

6015 160th Avenue East

Sumner, WA 98390 (253) 863-4744

1, 2, 3

Absolute Mobility Center 21704 87th Ave SE

Woodinville, WA 98072 (425) 481-6546

1, 3

Goldenwest Mobility

1815 E Francis Ave

Spokane, WA 99208 (509) 484-3842

1, 3

____________________________

WEST VIRGINIA

Total Mobility Services IncHurricane 146 Stricklin Rd

Hurricane, WV 25526-6734 (304) 727-9478

1, 3

WISCONSIN

A & J Mobility - De Pere 1330 Mid Valley Drive

De Pere, WI 54115 (920) 632-4882

1, 3

A & J Mobility - Eau Claire 2650 Prospect Drive Eau Claire, WI 54703 (715) 874-6630

1, 3

A & J Mobility - McFarland

4125 Terminal Drive

McFarland, WI 53558 (608) 579-1500

1, 3

A & J Mobility - Richfield

3058 Helsan Drive

Richfield, WI 53076 (800) 517-1024

1, 3

A & J Mobility - Valders

333 Washington Street

Valders, WI 54245 (920) 775-9333

1, 2, 3

MobilityWorks - Eau Claire

3115 Oak Knoll Dr

Eau Claire, WI 54701-8485 (715) 495-1310

1, 3

MobilityWorks - Green Bay 844 Ontario Road

Green Bay, WI 54311 (920) 491-8384

1, 3

MobilityWorks - Sun Prairie

222 Linnerud Drive

Sun Prairie, WI 53590

(608) 395-2350

1

MobilityWorks - Waukesha

N8 W22195 Johnson Drive

Ste 130

Waukesha, WI 53186

(888) 473-5402

1, 3

CANADA ALBERTA

ECO Medical - Edmonton

18303 107 Avenue

Edmonton, AB T5S 1K4

(780) 483-6232

1, 3

Silver Cross Automotive Inc. - Calgary

4216 54 Avenue SE Unit 60

Calgary, AB T2C 2E3

(403) 243-6300

1, 3

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Alliance Mobility Solutions - Kelowna

1075 McCurdy Road

Kelowna, BC V1X 2P9

(236) 420-1400

1, 3

Alliance Mobility Solutions - Richmond

12211 Vulcan Way #110

Richmond, BC V6V 1J7

(604) 370-7004

1, 3

Island Mobility - Victoria

750 Enterprise Crescent Victoria, BC V8Z 6R4

(855) 593-0959

1, 3

Medichair Northern BC

849 2nd Avenue

Prince George, BC V2L 3A6

(250) 562-8280

1

1

Sidewinder Conversions & Mobility Ltd.

44658 Yale Road West

Chilliwack, BC V2R 0G5

(604) 792-2082

1, 2, 3

Silver Cross Automotive Inc. - Maple Ridge

11393 Kingston St. Unit 4

Maple Ridge, BC V2X 0Y7

(877) 215-7609 1

ONTARIO

Conval-Aid/Liftability

2600 Lancaster Road

Ottawa, ON K1B 4Z4

(613) 738-2721

1

Courtland Mobility

1355 Artisans Court Unit B

Burlington, ON L7L 5Y2

(800) 354-8138

1, 2, 3

Goldline Mobility & Conversions

762 Industrial Road

London, ON N5V 3N7

(519) 453-0480

1, 2, 3

Northend Mobility

301 Aqueduct Street

Welland, ON L3C 1C9

(905) 735-5552

1, 2

Silver Cross Automotive Inc.London

2028 Dundas Street

London, ON N5V 1R2

(844) 799-5464

1

Silver Cross Automotive Inc.Ottawa

5300 Canotek Road Unit 42

Ottawa, ON K1J 1A4

(613) 290-5279

1

Silver Cross Automotive Inc.Toronto

14 Goodmark Place

Etobicoke, ON M9W 6R1

(844) 799-5464

Silver Cross Automotive Inc.Waterloo

675A Davenport Road

Waterloo, ON N2V 2E2

(844) 799-5464

1, 2, 3

1

QUEBEC

Adaptation 04 Inc

3025 rue Girard

Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 2M4

(819) 372-0102

1, 3

Centre d Autonomie

399 Ave De La Friche

Dolbeau Mistassini, QC G8L 2T3

(418) 276-8336

1, 3

Centre de L’auto St-Lambert

145 Damase Breton

St-Lambert de Lauzon, QC G0S 2W0

(866) 641-0419

1, 3

Eureka Solutions - Levis

107-829 J-Ambroise Craig

Levis, QC G7A 2N2

(866) 562-2555

Eureka Solutions - Longueuil

2755 Montee St Hubert

Longueuil, QC J3Y 4H6

(866) 562-2555

1, 3

Eureka Solutions - Sherbrooke

5018 Industrial Blvd

Sherbrooke, QC J1R 0P4

(866) 562-2555

1, 3

SMVR 2 Visions Inc

414 Blvd St Germain Ouest

Rimouski, QC G5L 3N4

(418) 723-9225

1, 3

TVR Technologies Inc.

20 Rue des Metiers

Lavaltrie, QC J5T 0H4

(888) 919-2555

1, 3

Van Action 2005 Inc

4350 Autoroute 13

Laval, QC H7R 6E9

(800) 668-8705

1, 2, 3

1 = Mobility Equipment Installer 2 = Structural Vehicle Modifier 3 = High Tech Driving Systems Installer

Normally my columns don’t have any prerequisites; one can dive immediately into the finely crafted prose and absorb the attendant wisdom instantly. But for this piece, I have a request before proceeding: please have a look at the Officer’s Message penned by outgoing NMEDA Vice President Sam Cook found on pg. 8. I’ll wait.

[insert sounds of foot-tapping, exasperated sighs, watch-checking, etc…]

Interesting, eh? Sam Cook is stepping down from the Board after many, many years of dedicated service. And how about that part where he talked about serving on the Board under TWO President Quandts, father and son (or as John might phrase it, the Greater & the Lesser)? Almost like LeBron James looking to stay in the NBA long enough to play ball with his kid…anyway, bear with me—I am going somewhere with this.

Did you notice how Sam, at the end of his article, challenged folks to get involved with NMEDA? His timing was perfect, as we are even now soliciting volunteers for our 2023 committees, which will be holding their first meetings of the new committee season starting in April.

So, Who’s Next?

So my question is: Who will be the next Sam Cook?

I’m not trying to put Sam out to pasture just yet, of course. I’m certain he will still be around, willing to lend a hand to his association just as he always has. But who’s next? Who will be the next volunteers to lean hard into the role of real leadership and impact the next 20 years of NMEDA the way Sam has the last 20? Many unbelievably influential and charismatic individuals have stepped

And that starts with our committees. Serving on a committee is the ideal way for a person to start to have his or her voice heard on industry matters. Our committees are the breeding ground for the future leaders of NMEDA. They are where our association’s lofty goals meet the ground-level practicality of strategic implementation. Put a simpler way: the goals articulated in NMEDA’s three-year strategic plan are largely aspirational; our committees work

down from their prominent leadership roles with NMEDA during my sixplus years here. Tim Barone, Richard May, Nick Gutwein, Bill Koeblitz, Jud DeMott, just to name a few…and now Sam. Folks, those kind of leaders don’t grow on trees. It is incumbent upon all of us to find that next generation of talent, those folks who will lead NMEDA and the auto mobility industry into the coming decades, and to GET THEM INVOLVED.

with staff to ensure the goals are actually achieved, in the real world.

NMEDA is fortunate to have a really good staff. Like, really good (not that I am biased). But I have worked for associations for going on 20 years, and I can tell you this for a fact: no staff, no matter how talented and hardworking they are, can do it by themselves. We are knowledgeable about the industry we represent, but that is very different from actually

By Danny Langfield NMEDA CEO

Our committees are the breeding ground for the future leaders of NMEDA. They are where our association’s lofty goals meet the ground-level practicality of strategic implementation. ”

CEO’S MESSAGE

working in the industry itself. Make no mistake, NMEDA staff is in the association business, not the auto mobility business. And, as stated above, they are good. But they (we, us?) need input from the real world— and that is exactly what committee members provide. When an association is hitting on all cylinders,

staff is working seamlessly with volunteer leaders to craft solutions, programs, events, policies—you name it—that meet the real-world needs of the membership.

Ok—time to climb down off this soapbox. Hope I have not belabored the point. But I’ll close with this:

MEMBER BULLETIN

FTC Deadline Extension

NMEDA needs you! Heed Sam’s counsel and please, get involved.

(see pg. 43 to sign up for a committee, or visit www.nmeda.org/joincommittee).

Though we have shared information on this topic a few times, both here in the Circuit Breaker and in our e-newsletter, the Short Circuit, it’s an important one—so we wanted to get this in front of you once again!

The Federal Trade Commission announced it is extending by six months the deadline for companies to comply with some of the changes the agency implemented to strengthen the data security safeguards financial institutions must put in place to protect their customers’ personal information. The deadline for complying with some of the updated requirements of the Safeguards Rule is now June 9, 2023.

The Safeguards Rule requires non-banking financial institutions, such as mortgage brokers, motor vehicle dealers, and payday lenders, to develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive security program to keep their customers’ information safe.

If you need assistance complying with this new rule, check out the free toolkit offered by the Texas Independent Automobile Dealers Association available at www.TXIADA.org/safeguards-toolkit

IN MEMORIAM

NMEDA is saddened to share the recent passing of some longtime members and pillars of the auto mobility industry.

KEITH HOWELL | HOWELL VENTURES

Friend, colleague, and NMEDA Hall of Fame member Keith Howell passed away in November 2022.

A long-time member of the association, Keith was the founder of Howell Ventures, best known for their Sure Grip Hand Controls.

His passion for exploring and independence led to the development of numerous driving control innovations. This coupled with his generous philanthropic efforts to support individuals with disabilities earned him induction into the 2019 class of NMEDA Hall of Fame inductees.

NMEDA, and the industry as a whole, will sincerely miss this pioneer of the mobility industry.

RODNEY WILSON | R&R MOBILITY VANS & LIFTS

Rodney Wilson, owner of R & R Mobility Van & Lifts Inc. passed away in early January 2023.

A NMEDA member since 1992, Rodney’s dedication to safety and quality exemplifies the mission of the association. Our thoughts are with the Wilson family, R & R Mobility, and the auto mobility industry as a whole.

My family’s winter holiday traditions involve cranberry champagne cocktails, a Lifetimeand/orHallmarkmoviemarathon, and an inevitable gathering around the fireplace during which my entire family roasts me for my (admittedly somewhat peculiar) childhood behavior. One year we reflected on my second-grade insistence on wearing Amish attire following a fieldtrip to Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Another year we read my childhood diary, discovering that my New Year’s resolution was to “get revenge.” Our most recent walk down Memory Lane involved recollections of The Turlington Company, a fictional business enterprise that operated under my direction as Founder & CEO.

Upon arriving home from school, I

RELATIONS REPORT

For the Win! The Inside Story of How the Auto Act Became Law

By Amy Schoppman DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS & PUBLIC POLICY

would loudly announce to nobody in particular that I was headed to “the office” (my bedroom) and was not to be disturbed. After applying a wellworn set of Lee Press-On Nails that I’d swiped from my mom’s vanity table, I would click my cherry red fingernails on my desk as I reviewed accounts payable (the mail), finalized contracts (did my homework), and composed Post-It Notes reminding my administrative assistant (little sister) to please stop eating the food I put in the breakroom refrigerator. I would also produce weekly Trapper Keeper-bound reports on The Turlington Company’s various projects, using my recently-acquired knowledge of 5W1H—Who, What, Where, When, Why (and sometimes How)—to summarize the company’s activities for its stakeholders (my G.I. Joe and Barbie Doll collection).

When Congress passed The Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act of 2022

three days before Christmas, I realized that my long hours at The Turlington Company could prove useful in summarizing our legislative victory. After contemplating my approach to this cover story over the holidays, I drew upon my early reporting experience, dusted off some acrylic nails, and composed this (slightly modified) 5W1H summary to convey the history, context, and impact of this significant new law.

WHAT happened?

We’ll begin with the end: on January 5, 2023, President Biden signed The Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act into law. Several auto mobility industry-related provisions were incorporated into this bill, specifically:

Authorization for VA to provide an additional auto grant to eligible veterans if 30 years have passed since they received their first auto grant (and in 2033, that timeframe decreases to 10 years). In other words, the VA auto grant is no longer a oncein-a-lifetime benefit.

A requirement that VA’s definition of “medical services” be updated to include certain vehicle

modifications (specifically “van lifts, raised doors, raised roofs, air conditioning, and wheelchair tiedowns for passenger use”) offered through the AAE program. The agency has not been statutorily required to provide such services, and the intent here was to protect and codify VA AAE benefits for nonservice-connected veterans. The designation of nonarticulating trailers designed to transport powered wheelchairs, powered scooters, or other similar mobility devices as “adaptive equipment,” which will allow VA to officially permit the purchase and installation of such products (including Bruno’s Chariot).

The bill’s passage was the culmination of a multi-year effort that included an education and awareness campaign, several hearings, and careful navigation of the frequently fickle legislative process. We’ll get into those details shortly.

WHY was NMEDA involved?

Conversations with Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) regarding the auto grant and nonservice connected provisions above have been occurring for years. In addition to the obvious alignment with NMEDA’s mission to increase transportation opportunities for people with disabilities, I welcomed the chance to again partner with PVA on a post-Veterans Mobility Safety Act (VMSA) legislative effort. Their influence on Capitol Hill, coupled with their highly capable staff and what we viewed as a favorable political climate, made the decision to collaborate an

easy one. Another contributing factor was the wonderfully uncomplicated nature of our fundamental position: the average useful lifespan of a new motor vehicle is approximately 11 years, and the frequency of the auto grant should keep pace with the practical reality of vehicle ownership and maintenance.

A final—and central—factor motivating this initiative was reports from both

WHO contributed to the effort?

NMEDA provided essential industry data, editorial review of legislative language and Congressional testimony, and support educating members of Congress during the cosponsor recruitment phase, but PVA was the indisputable—and indefatigable—leader of this initiative,

organizations’ members. NMEDA members shared with me instances of veterans continuing to use vehicles that were unsafe, unreliable, or that no longer met their functional needs because they were unable to independently finance a replacement. Morgan Brown, PVA’s National Legislative Director who spearheaded this effort, received similar reports. “Surveys indicated that what our members really needed was help buying a vehicle. One veteran, who was driving a 42 year old van with half a million miles on it, was repeatedly paying out of pocket for inevitable repairs and maintenance. A considerable number of others reported driving old vehicles with significant wear and tear because they couldn’t afford to make a down payment on a replacement. This feedback made us want to engage Congress right away.”

which was originally considered during a February 2020 House hearing just before COVID sidelined an overwhelming majority of planned Congressional business. Undeterred, the proposal was reintroduced at the start of the 117th Congress in 2021. Longtime NMEDA member Bruno Independent Living Aids also launched a separate initiative to secure classification of their Chariot product as “automobile adaptive equipment.” At the time, that product was classified as a “trailer”—which VA is not technically authorized to purchase for veteran use—and Bruno’s position was that VA’s misclassification of the Chariot was limiting veterans’ options for transporting heavier powered mobility devices. Chuck Beno, Bruno’s Director of Sales, had been meeting with VA for years, explaining that the Chariot was technically a “lift” and could fill

NMEDA members shared with me instances of veterans continuing to use vehicles that were unsafe, unreliable, or that no longer met their functional needs because they were unable to independently finance a replacement.”

a void in the market, particularly for veterans driving smaller SUVs, sedans, and other vehicles with lower hitch tongue weight ratings. “Eventually the Secretary told us we would need to go the legislative route to get it done. We knew that approach would be a tough path, but we decided to go for it,” Beno recalls.

(AUTO) for Veterans Act occurred relatively quickly (3,304th) given that it had already been written, sponsored, and introduced during the previous session of Congress.

Committee Referral

Fantasy: Once introduced, a bill is referred to a Committee (in AUTO’s case, the House and Senate VA

expected was one Veteran Service Organization’s full-throated objection to the mini auto grant provision based on their position that the auto grant was established to assist servicedisabled veterans and any expansion of eligibility beyond that cohort would drive up costs and cannibalize the program. AUTO would’ve died in Committee if we hadn’t dropped the mini auto grant provision, which we reluctantly did.

Legislative Purgatory

Fantasy: This phase never occurs.

HOW did the process unfold?

This may be best communicated by detailing how the process is supposed to unfold vs. how it actually unfolded.

Introduction

Fantasy: An idea is proposed, a bill is written, sponsors (at least one in the House and one in the Senate) are secured, the bill is filed by being placed into something literally called “the hopper” (a special box on the side of the Clerk’s desk) and, once the bill is assigned a number, it is considered “introduced.”

Reality: Bills are introduced all the time—17,812 times in this last Congress, to be precise—and address all manner of issues. The Horse Transportation Safety Act? Check. The Baby Switching Prevention Act?

Real. The Murder Hornet Eradiation Act? That happened. Point being, this is typically the “easy” part, and introduction of the Advancing Uniform Transportation Opportunities

Committees) for review and potential revision. If you’re lucky, your bill gets a hearing, is minimally revised, and is eventually sent to the full chamber for a vote.

Reality: AUTO was introduced with the expectation that it would get a hearing—the groundwork had been laid with the House VA Committee’s Chairman, Ranking Member, and Committee staff—and that’s exactly what happened in April 2021. AUTO’s initial legislative language was ambitious: we were pursuing (1) the increased frequency (every 10 years) of the Auto Grant for service-connected veterans, (2) the establishment of a “mini” auto grant (25% of the traditional grant, or $5,372.07) for non-service connected veterans, and (3) the definitional update of “Medical Services.” During the hearing, the ranking Republican mentioned his budgetary concerns (code for “this proposal is expensive”), but that acknowledgement was expected. Less

Reality: This phase almost always occurs. Unless your bill is addressing a matter of urgent national concern (the Families First Coronavirus Response Act went from bill to law in seven days), or is a real crowd pleaser (the Do-Not-Call Implementation Act to protect consumers from unwanted telemarketing went from bill to law in six weeks), it will likely languish in this intermediate state. This is also where you’ll typically encounter the Congressional Grim Reaper, aka the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which “scores” bills based on their economic and budgetary impact. A bill’s score (generally the lower the better) is a huge factor in its ultimate success and, with an initial CBO score of several billion dollars, AUTO’s primary purgatory-phase challenge was to demonstrate that, while costly, the proposal was necessary. After examining the analysis used to arrive at the initial score, it was discovered that CBO hadn’t taken ALS veterans [who will likely not pursue subsequent Auto Grants] into consideration.

Recalculations were made, auto grant eligibility timeframes were adjusted, and negotiators eventually reached an acceptable score by adding the “if

30 years have passed…” language. An unfavorable initial budgetary forecast represents a real danger, but AUTO ultimately dodged CBO’s scythe and lived to see another day.

Votes

Fantasy: Your bill, which has not been consolidated with any other bills or modified with any outside legislative language, is passed by simple majority vote. The other chamber quickly follows suit.

Reality: Congress has this super annoying tendency to make lastminute deals, and AUTO was no exception. With the anticipated lateDecember voting frenzy approaching, a decision was made to insert AUTO’s language into the Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act, which was expected to pass both chambers. This was also the legislative vehicle chosen by Bruno’s team, who worked with Senator Susan Collins to insert the “nonarticulating trailer” language. It is challenging to satisfy all stakeholders when consolidating proposals, especially under time constraints, but it is exceptionally challenging to secure inclusion in a viable

of other organizations and interests are jockeying for their own inclusion. Fortunately, our preparation paid off—lawmakers had been educated on the proposal, they understood its purpose and importance, their fiscal

and VA contacts to facilitate timely implementation.

WHERE can I find the latest information?

NMEDA’s communications channels—

concerns had been mollified, and they were ultimately not willing to exclude provisions directly benefiting both service- and non-service connected veterans. In a less than 48-hour period in late December, the House and Senate both passed what had mutated into the Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act (which was one of only 347 of the aforementioned 17,812 bills to cross the finish line). “Things happen very quickly in end-of-Congress situations. Usually it’s something bad, but that was not the case this time. To have this bill pass, and so quickly, is a Godsend,” said Brown. Amen!

WHEN will the changes go into effect?

Ideally, by the start of the government’s next fiscal year (October 1, 2023). VA’s Implementation Team met in midJanuary and will need some time to update procedures, adjust forms, and educate staff as this effort transitions from legislative fantasy to bureaucratic reality. The stakeholders mentioned in this article are also using their Congressional allies

the GR blog, this magazine, our weekly Short Circuit emails, and social media—will provide implementation updates, and readers should feel free to contact me directly with questions or comments. We will also keep members apprised of new legislative activity. My PVA counterparts and I have already discussed embracing our current momentum and pursuing an increase in the baseline amount of the auto grant or revisiting the notion of a non-service-connected auto grant. And there you have it. While this was a bit more detailed than my childhood 5W1H summaries it was, in my defense, also the first time I prepared one for a sentient audience. The bottom line is: NMEDA isn’t playing pretend on Capitol Hill, our partnerships are not makebelieve, and our legislative advocacy results are 100% more real than The Turlington Company. Happy New Year, indeed.

The bottom line is: NMEDA isn’t playing pretend on Capitol Hill, our partnerships are not make-believe, and our legislative advocacy results are 100% more real than The Turlington Company.”

Some things come easier than others, and this particular piece has been the toughest ever. A truly “Captain Obvious” moment would say that no matter how long you stare at a blank screen and no matter how much you will that those incredibly relevant words would just pop up, all you have is a blank screen.

Of more relevance is when Katie, NMEDA’s Director of Communications and editor of this magazine, so politely reminds me that I am now several days past the final deadline and the screen is still blank, well necessity does become the mother of the written word.

There were so many obvious subjects worth noting, Danny’s resignation, for one. I was not really sure how I felt about that, happy for Danny if that was what Danny wanted—not so happy for the Association as a whole that has very much thrived and matured under his tutelage. Most notably during last spring’s strategic planning session and the way that session evolved as the primary tool that would drive the Association’s direction for the next period of time. The process was brilliant, the resulting plan, bold and exciting.

CANADA OFFICER’S MESSAGE The Key to Progress is You

By Russ Newton, Sure Grip PRESIDENT, NMEDA CANADA

Another piece worth noting is NMEDA’s renewed training/outreach initiatives. People are meeting again and with that CAMS courses and MSS events are alive once again. This fall saw a couple of the biggest ever CAMS events in the history of the Association. This past fall

OK, here is where the rubber hits the road, more the genesis of the hours of a blank unpopulated screen. Thinking specifically about Canada, there is honestly some potential big wins for us in terms of causing some funders to make a decision for our association members both nationally

saw a couple of the largest CAMS events on both sides of the border. Attendees, including influencers and funding sources, all benefited from the industry relevant information. Nice work from Amy Lane, NMEDA’s Director of Education, Training & Conference, the sponsors, and the hosts, leading to a strong turnout and successful events. Also worth noting, is that the momentum appears to be continuing in both Canada and the US for more NMEDA-specific training events.

and provincially. The real problem is that those same candidates were candidates last year at this time. Truth is, we have not moved the dial very much over the past year. Reasons are many but primary is the simple truth that the entire NMEDA Canada Board is comprised of volunteers. We all have full-time jobs, and in most situations there is another core business with employees who we are accountable too, to ensure those business thrive.

We have made some good progress in a couple of areas. Our partner

Our partner relations initiatives were strong. We made appearances at a number of relevant events as sponsors and delivered a powerful message on behalf of our dealer group.”

“

relations initiatives were strong. We made appearances at a number of relevant events as sponsors and delivered a powerful message on behalf of our dealer group. The CAMS event in Saskatchewan has opened the door to a vigorous conversation with SGI about who we are and what we do, that conversation continues, in fact, next scheduled event with them is in a week.

So, what we really need is some member participation. We just need some folks to step up and allow us to populate a couple of committees. The request has been made before but with very little response….I get it we are all busy, heavy on the all part. But, and it is a big but, successful businesses invest time and resources

into business development. As a NMEDA Canada Dealer member, there are real revenue growth opportunities. For example, by assisting in an initiative directed at funders, you may impact their decision to utilize NMEDA members as sole source partners. When funders are engaged effectively, outcomes are positive: there are a significant number of States that mandate QAP; the Veterans Mobility Safety Act (VMSA) in the US is a massive achievement. In every case that a decision was made, including the two examples above, there were member volunteers at the heart of the initiative. NMEDA staffers are experts in guiding and pointing these volunteer efforts towards successful outcomes.

We need three or four of you to put your hand up and volunteer to jump into a committee that will work to increase revenue channels to members by working towards making those types of decisions happen. Folks like Amy Shoppman, NMEDA’s Director of Government Relations & Public Policy, stand at the ready to assist; she is so good at what she does. You can help me and the rest of your NMEDA Canada Board in creating a truly wonderful message a year from now by jumping in and making some good things happen.

To get going, please contact myself (Russ.Newton@suregrip.com) or Dave Hubbard (dave.hubbard@nmeda.org).

FREE Online Training Course: Introduction to Automotive Mobility

This 35-minute tutorial provides a brief overview of the automotive mobility sector for anyone who is new to this industry. It is a great on-boarding tool for new employees or a refresher training for both sales and technician personnel. Topics covered include:

• Overview of Automotive Mobility Industry

• Medical Diagnoses and Recommending the Right Product

• Funding Sources

Mobility Way

By Mike Savicki — Afterburner Communications NMEDA CONSULTANT

Through the Years, Across the Miles

Disabled veteran John Bollinger recalls his more than five decades behind the wheel

This story begins in the days of the Ford Torino, Chrysler Newport, Chevy Citation, Chevy Celebrity, Buick LeSabre, and Cadillac Coupe DeVille. Remember those cars? Driving one of those beasts was like cruising down the road as if your living room was on wheels.

Actually, this story begins even earlier than that. Let’s turn back the clock way back to the 1960s. Meet John Bollinger, a young Navy Ensign.

After growing up in Pittsburgh and graduating from Muskingum University, John received his officer commission in June 1969 and began serving in the US Navy aboard LST 1163, USS Waldo County, in Panama. His main job was to keep track of Russian submarines in the Caribbean. He says it wasn’t a bad gig for a young officer.

A short six months later, a spinal cord injury sustained in a diving accident changed everything. John became a

C6,7 quadriplegic. He returned to the States, was discharged from the Navy, sold his 1963 Austin Healy 3000, and went to work for the VA where he sat and worked in a cubicle for 16 years.

“I was one of two people in wheelchairs in a building of more than two thousand,” John Bollinger recalls. “I consider those years to be my crippled years. I didn’t know many others in chairs, I didn’t know what I could do, and I felt like I wasn’t a part of things.”

His sports car?

“It was a wonderful car but after my injury I just couldn’t get my quad body into it so I had to say goodbye,” he says.

His fast car gone, John’s life moved to the high speed lane. After a meeting with longtime PVA Executive Director, Gordon Mansfield, John joined the organization in 1987, first as Associate Legislative Director then Director of National Advocacy and finally as Deputy Executive Director. For more than a decade, he oversaw all PVA research, communications, and sports.

The National Veterans Wheelchair Games was in his wheelhouse. And his efforts helped catalyze the passing and implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

“What PVA gave me I could never give back,” he says. ”With PVA I was in the mainstream. Through the 1990s I was on airplanes twice a month, renting cars in cities across the country. I saw guys in chairs spending entire days on Capitol Hill then coming back to the office and putting in more hours, commuting like everyone else, sometimes upwards of two hours each way depending on DC traffic. I had skin in the game. We all did.”

For more than three decades, having a car was essential and John had two main rules to guide his purchasing choices. Two doors (the bigger the better) and a bench seat. Why? He would transfer in on the passenger side, slide across, fold up his chair, pull it in either to the back or front seat, then go. And go he did.

Remember the cars listed at the beginning of the story? John drove every one of them. He has stories for every vehicle. The Cadillac? Actually, John drove two different Coupe DeVille’s. Credit his son, John, for totaling the first one. John, the dad, had to buy a second.

As the new millennium arrived and bench seats disappeared, John‘s physical needs changed, too. He transitioned to a power chair and with it came a minivan. At first he would transfer from the power chair to a swivel driver’s seat. Then, when that became too physically demanding, he installed an EZ Lock system with Featherlite hand controls to drive from the chair. Being active in both DC and Florida, his winter escape necessitated the transition.

As far as steering devices, John has tried several different ones but still loves the original spinner knob his brother bought for him at a truckstop more than 50 years ago. Truckers call it a suicide knob. A little pine tar still keeps his sticky.

In the spring of 2022, while driving his BraunAbility Sienna minivan, John was rear ended and his van totaled. The accident, during the height of COVID and supply line shortages, made finding a shortterm replacement all but impossible. There were no rental vans available, delays on building new vans were taking months, and finding public transportation was expensive and limited.

“Being without a vehicle is devastating. You are at the mercy of others and in some places that is difficult,“ John says. “It is almost criminal what taxi services charge for an accessible vehicle regardless of where and how far you want to go.”

It took three months for him to get a Chrysler Town and Country but the 14” dropped floor was not ideal. He then owned a Dodge Caravan for a while.

“I grabbed it because there wasn’t much else available during COVID and I was afraid I’d be stuck because of the supply chain issues,” he says. “It is almost impossible to rent a van with hand controls and that needs to change.“

He then purchased his current ride, a 2022 Honda Odyssey, through MobilityWorks, who now service it both in Naples and Alexandria.

When I asked John to share one thought or take away from his years behind the wheel, his message was simple and direct.

“Driving is one of the most important aspects of living,” he says. “It never hit me until it was gone. Having access to a car is one of the most important aspects of life for the disabled.”

Now fully retired, John Bollinger spends his time with his wife, Judy, their daughter, Lindsey (and her children), plus his son, John. Road trips are important and visits to Lindsey in San Francisco and John in Austin are essential to their lifestyle, too.

So, too, is his daily writing in the journal which he began in 1990. If you are counting, the journal now totals more than 5,000 pages. I wonder what other mobility stories that journal contains. I wonder how listening to someone like John Bollinger sharing tips and suggestions might enhance, advance, and make the industry better for everyone.

Across the miles and through the years, John Bollinger has lived it all.

What’d You Say? Lot Lingo 101

by Eric Baker WISCONSIN DEALER LAW

{Editor's Note - this article Is being reprinted (with permission) from Defender Newsletter published by the National Association of Dealer Counsel (NADC), a professional association of which NMEDA's CEO Danny Langfield is a member.}

Recently, a newly-minted attorney was asking about the first dealership lawsuit I worked on. At the time I already had a fair amount of business litigation experience, and I recalled that one of the more difficult tasks in getting my feet under me was understanding what the heck some of the deponents were talking about—or for that matter, what our own client’s employees were describing—when they launched into the barrage of industry lingo that is so common in motor vehicle retailing. Fast-forward 15-odd years (“odd” connoting an estimated number and as well as the experience), and I still now and then run across an industry term I don’t recall ever hearing.

Thankfully for our colleagues entering our ranks, several years ago NADC started offering the “Dealer 101” preconference seminar (thanks to Past President Steve Linzer for spearheading this very well-received primer), and we pulled together a list of “lot lingo” to give attendees. I recently proposed that we augment this list and post it in our dealercounsel.com document bank as a living document for members to access and also for members to offer their favorite lingo to expand the collection. So, below is our debut collection of “lot lingo” for your consideration.

Addendum: An additional sticker posted near the Monroney Sticker (see below), that may be used to give notice of added dealer options or market pricing adjustments.

Adverse Action: The denial of requested credit or credit terms, which triggers a notice requirement.

AI: Artificial intelligence; used in vehicle systems and in development of autonomous vehicles (AVs).

Allocation: The number and mix of vehicles allocated to individual dealerships, or the formula by which number and mix of vehicles is determined.

APR: Annual Percentage Rate; the APR (disclosed on a RISC – Retail Installment Sales Contract) includes the interest rate charged by the lender

plus whatever additional costs of financing are included in the final deal.

AOR: Area of Responsibility (also called PMA – Primary Market Area); geographic region assigned by franchisor in measuring dealership performance.

Back End: Service, Parts, Collision Center; also may refer to profit from aftermarket sales (see F & I and Voluntary Protection Products (VPP)).

BDC: Business Development Center; often a telemarketing dept., sometimes a third party.

BEV: Battery Electric Vehicle.

Bird Dog: Referral fee, okay in some states but not others.

Blue Sky: Generally, in valuing a dealership, the value of good will and other intangibles, such as the customer list – valuation has become much more “scientific” in recent years.

Bookout: A detailed itemization of a vehicle’s specs and options used for determining the vehicle’s value. Used in connection with retail financing.

Bullpen or Bullpenning: Holding units in an area away from customeraccessible lots, because they cannot be marketed for sale due to lack of inspection, a recall, or some other quarantine-type issue.

Bushing: Increasing the cash price on the purchase contract or changing the financing terms to less favorable terms for the buyer after an agreement has been made.

Buyers’ Guide: Required by the FTC Used Car Rule; dealers must display specific forms on used cars, including information regarding warranties, if any; must be posted in Spanish if transaction is negotiated in Spanish.

Buy-Here-Pay-Here: A dealership that has in-house financing arrangements, usually catering to subprime customers that cannot be approved through a traditional lender.

Buy-Sell: Agreement for a dealer to sell a dealership to another party.

California Car: Vehicles meeting California’s stricter emissions standards (various states follow this instead of the federal rules; see CARB).

Captive Finance Company or Lender: A lender owned by or affiliated with an original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) and created for the purpose of making dealers’ and customers’ purchases of products more convenient, including floorplan and retail financing.

CARB: California Air Resources Board; sets the emissions standards for vehicles in California; these standards

are followed by “Section 177” states, which are: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia. Arizona adopted California’s standards in 2008, but the state repealed them in January 2012.

Cash Reporting: Transactions which involve more than $10,000 in cash (or cash equivalents) or suspicious transactions that appear to be structured to avoid this threshold amount which must be reported within 15 days to the IRS on FINCen Form 8300 (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network).

Chase Car: A car that follows another car when delivering a car or truck to a customer or transporting a car to a service facility.

Choke and Croak: Credit disability and life insurance policies sold in the F&I office.

CNG: Compressed Natural Gas; gas (mostly methane) that is compressed to 1% its normal volume to be used as an alternative (cleaner burning) fuel.

Cream Puff: High quality used car. The opposite of a sled (see below). Also referred to as a diamond or pedigree.

Credit Card Surcharges: Additional charges levied upon a consumer who pays using a credit card instead of by check or cash. Check state law and any updates to federal law regarding the legality of such surcharges.

CRM: customer relationship management. Often a software database program for managing the dealership marketing and sales process with individual customers.

CSI: Customer Service Index; goes by various names and is used extensively by OEMs to gauge dealer performance in delivering quality service center customer experience.

Curb-stoning: A dealer posing as a private seller of a vehicle. Oftentimes the seller is an unlicensed dealer.

Deal Jacket: The packet or folder of documents involved in a vehicle sale.

Dealer Principal: Owner of a dealership; may be a single person designated in the Dealer Agreement where there are multiple owners.

Dealer Trade: A vehicle transferred from one dealership to another dealership.

Demonstrator or Demo: Demonstrator vehicle for test drives, sometimes assigned to employees. Tax, liability, and sales disclosures issues may be associated with these vehicles.

DMS: Dealer management system; the specialized computer system that everything runs on, such as CDK, DealerTrack, Auto/Mate, etc.

DOC or Daily Operating Control: A tool that shows how much money is flowing into and out of the dealership on a daily basis, generally looked at for each department and often generated by the DMS.

Doc Fee: Fee to charge to customers on a sale for processing DMV work or otherwise permitted by applicable state law. Also known as a Service Fee in some states.

Down Stroke: Down payment.

Debt to Income or DTI: Financial calculation to determine the percent of debt a buyer has compared to their monthly income.

Equal Credit Opportunity Act or ECOA: Federal law prohibiting discrimination in granting credit or credit terms. Requires dealers to provide Adverse Action Notices to consumers in certain circumstances.

EV: Electric vehicle; also referred to as BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle).

F&I: Finance and Insurance unit in a dealership. Typically assists with customer financing and sale of voluntary protection products such as credit insurance, GAP, or extended warranty products. Also sometimes referred to as The Box or the Business Office.

Fair Credit Reporting Act or FCRA: Federal law that governs credit reporting practices. Requires businesses to have explicit permission or a permissible purpose to access a consumer’s credit report.

First Pencil: First offer written on paper presented to a customer to begin negotiations.

Flat Rate: Service technician pay by the job, not by the hour, based on “book” rates.

Floor Plan: The financing of dealer inventory.

Front End: Sales, Business, F&I, Clerical, Title Departments (showroom, offices, waiting area); also could refer to the gross profit made on the sale of a vehicle, not including F&I/VPP.

Front Line Ready: A vehicle that is inspected, tested, detailed, and ready for sale.

Gap Insurance: When a vehicle purchase is financed (through loans or leases), there is usually a “gap” between the market value (which is what insurance will reimburse) and the amount owing under the loan or lease contract at any given time during the term of the loan or lease. The purchaser or lessee can protect him or herself in the event of a loss (fire, theft, collision) by purchasing Gap Insurance or a Gap Waiver. In most states, this is regulated in one way or another, and dealers need to be sure to explain the limitations of whatever Gap product they sell.

General Manager or GM: Overall manager of the entire dealership operation. The dealership may also have a general sales manager, one or more sales managers, and a service manager.

Hi, I’m New Here

Green Pea: New, inexperienced salesperson.

Gross: Gross profit on a vehicle sale; the calculation can vary, but generally is the difference between the vehicle cost and its sale price.

Hazcom: Hazardous substance communication, such as labeling, SDS inventory, etc.

Hoopty: The single greatest term ever coined for a POS vehicle (see “Sled” below)

House Deal: A vehicle transaction involving an employee, family, or friend, usually making very little profit.

Hybrid: A vehicle with a gasoline engine that charges an electric batteryused for propulsion.

ITPP (Identity Theft Protection Plan): Required to protect consumers’ (and employees’) private information.

Juice: Interest paid by a consumer who finances a vehicle purchase.

LIFO/FIFO: Last In, First Out or First In, First Out; choice of accounting method that can result in tax deferment or liability for dealerships.

Locate: A vehicle that a customer is interested in that needs to be located in another dealer’s inventory and acquired through a dealer trade.

Lockout/Tagout: Practices and procedures to safeguard employees from the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities (putting a lock and name tag on equipment taken out of service for maintenance or repair).

Mini: the smallest commission a salesperson can earn on a sale presented as a flat amount, sometimes called a flat.

MLA: Military Lending Act.

MMR: Manheim Market Report

Monroney Sticker: (Price Labeling Law) Federally required window sticker from automaker. Describes car, origin, standard equipment, optional equipment, MSRP, taxes, destination charge, EPA gas mileage estimates, and insurance rating.

MSRP: An acronym for Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price.

NPPI (Non-public personal information): Personal information that is protected by law.

Note: Another term for a retail installment sales contract, such as used in the phrase “holding the note.”

Negative Equity: Circumstance where a customer owes more on their vehicle than it is worth. Also referred to as under water or upside down.

OEM: Original equipment manufacturer (the auto manufacturer or its contracted supplier)

OFAC (The Office of Foreign Asset Control); a department of the U.S. Treasury that enforces economic and trade sanctions against countries and identifies groups of individuals or entities (SDNs, Specially Designated Nationals) involved in terrorism, narcotics and other disreputable activities; dealerships must check the list when transacting business and decline sales to such persons or entities. Civil Penalties range from $11,000 to $1 Million per violation; criminal penalties are possible as well.

Out of Trust: Failing to pay-off a floorplan loan when a vehicle is sold from floor-planned inventory

Pack: The amount of marketing and overhead costs allocated to a vehicle in calculating salesperson commission. For example, a vehicle is sold for $2,500 gross profit; however, because it has a $500 pack, the salesperson’s commission is calculated on a profit of $2,000.

PAGA: Private Attorney General Actions; Statutory authority allowing a lawsuit to be commenced by private individuals instead of a government agency.

Paper: Another term for a retail installment sales contract, such as used in the phrase “holding the paper.”

Payment Packing: Unlawful, deceptive practice of burying extra services and products in the payment to increase the cost, that the consumer may not be aware of and hasn’t agreed to purchase, or has been told these services or products were “free”

PDI: Pre-Delivery Inspection

Plug-in Hybrid or PHEV: A hybrid that can also be recharged by plugging it into an electrical source, extending the range available on just electricity.

PMA: See AOR.

Point: Each separate franchise store; e.g., a Ford point. Also a term used to refer to a single percent of interest rate (e.g., the interest rate was increased by two points).

Power Booking: A discrepancy between the reported specifications and options associated with a vehicle and the actual equipment on the vehicle resulting in the vehicle being over-valued. Intentionally misrepresenting such specifications or options may result in liability for fraud on lender. If intentional, usually done in order to qualify a customer for financing.

PPE: Personal protective equipment, such as goggles, gloves and respirators

Privacy Notice: A document that reflects a dealer’s policies regarding sharing NPPI; model forms available at www.federalreserve.gov

RDR: Retail Delivery Registrations

Reg M: FTC regulation involving leased vehicles that expands upon the Consumer Leasing Act (CLA).

Reg Z: FTC regulation involving the sale of vehicles that expands upon the Truth-In-Lending-Act (TILA).

RISC or RIC: Retail installment sales contract. Also referred to as a “note” or “paper.”

Risk Based Pricing Rule: Federal law that requires certain disclosures to consumers who are offered credit.

RMA: Relevant market area; generally, an exclusive territory in which a competing dealer of the same linemake cannot be opened.

RO: Repair order used by the service department.

ROI: Acronym for return on investment.

Rooftop: Each physical location of a dealership group.

Sales and Service Agreement or SSA: A dealership sales and service agreement with an OEM. Also commonly referred to as the dealer agreement.

SDS: Safety Data Sheet for hazardous chemicals. These are now standardized and used to be called MSDS. Dealerships must keep an inventory and all SDS for chemicals used on site. Common area for OSHA violations and can affect handling of emergencies.

Service Contract: An agreement (contract) to perform maintenance or repair services; these are separate and distinct from warranties. Each term is regulated and should be used appropriately.

Sled: Any vehicle which, through attributes of age or condition, is less than highly desirable. Other terms include beater, bucket, clam, clunker, crate, heap, jalopy, junker, and toad.

Smog Sticker: Often included on the window sticker of a new car, giving emissions information.

Soft Pull: An inquiry on a customer’s credit that does not impact their credit score, as opposed to a “hard pull.”

SPIFF: A bonus or other form of remuneration given to salespeople for promoting sales. Some associate this term as an acronym for Sales Program Incentive Funds.

Spot Delivery or Spot: Immediate vehicle delivery prior to financing approval, which can have compliance complications. States are clamping down on this practice. See also Yo-yo sales.

SSI: Sales Service Index; goes by various names and is used extensively by OEMs to gauge dealer performance in delivering quality vehicle purchasing experience to customers.

Sticker: When used as a pricing term, means MSRP.

Stop Drive: Issued by NHTSA and/or the manufacturer for a serious safety issue, indicating those models must be grounded.

Stop Sell: Issued by the manufacturer to its dealers for a recall issue that may or may not be a serious safety issue, in instances where a fix or parts may not be readily available. State law varies on reimbursement to dealer, as do OEM policies.

Straw Purchase or Lease: Borrower/ lessor is a different person than the intended user of vehicle, such as grandmother “buying” a vehicle, but her grandson is the sole intended user the car.

Subprime Loans: Higher interest rate loans for those with riskier credit/ lower scores who don’t qualify for normal rates

Sweepstakes and Promotions: Sales programs that offer an opportunity for consumers to win something of value. Exercise care to avoid FTC prohibitions, gambling statutes, and “lottery” prohibitions. Some states require posting a bond in advance for these promotions.

TCPA: Telephone Consumer Protection Act; there is a federal version, and many states have similar laws.

TILA or Truth in Lending Act: Implemented by the Federal Reserve Board through Reg Z.

TO: Turn over, often the process of a salesperson sending a reluctant customer to F&I or the Sales Manager.

Trunk Money: Factory to dealer incentives that are not publicly advertised.

TSR (Telephone Sales Rule) and Telemarketing Sales Act: Federal law regulating telemarketing and faxing ads. The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 regulates email marketing.

TT&L: Acronym for tax, title, and license.

Twenty Group: A general term for programs where groups of dealership leaders or managers are formed in order to meet, exchange ideas, identify best practices, and explore opportunities for improving dealership performance. Oftentimes the groups will have certain common characteristics, such as market geography, population size, or demographics.

UDAP (Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices): Laws enacted in in many states that apply to consumer transactions and advertising; also called MINI-FTC Acts; sometimes referred to a PAGA (see above).

Up: A potential customer who appears at the dealership without a prior appointment.

Upside Down: When the customer owes more than the value of their current vehicle. If the negative equity is significant, they may be “buried” or “tanked” to the point where they can’t reasonably trade it in and finance another purchase.

Waiter: Customer waiting in dealership

We-owe: The dealership owes something to the customer (floor mats, hitch, touch up paint, dent fix).

Yo-yo Sales: Derogatory term used to describe dealership sales practice of spot deliveries (or conditional sales) that are later unwound due to “credit denial” and result in higher interest rate or otherwise more expensive deals when the consumer returns to the dealership (like a yo-yo).

ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle): Electric or hydrogen-powered.

Eric Baker is a private-practice attorney operating Wisconsin Dealer Law in Madison, Wisconsin. Eric represents automobile and equipment dealers in franchise litigation, and a variety of business and consumer litigation, in administrative proceedings, state and federal courts, arbitrations, and appeals. Eric also advises clients in litigation avoidance, and state and federal regulatory compliance, and teaches compliance seminars for dealer groups. Eric also represents dealerships in buy/sell transactions and succession planning.

The terms listed above, and industry jargon, generally, should never be assumed to be monosemy (the property of having only one meaning). Lawyers are well trained in this concept, but it is good to remember that the definition of any term may depend on how an attorney, contracting parties, or a legislative body defined that term in an applicable contract, statute, or regulation.

Each May, NMEDA champions the efforts to raise awareness for the auto mobility industry via National Mobility Awareness Month (NMAM). As we gear up for this year’s celebration, we want to make sure you mark your calendars and carve out some space on your social media and networking plans to spread the word on NMAM this May!

Stay tuned for our toolkit and more information. www.MobilityAwarenessMonth.com

2023 Board Election Results

Thank you to all members who voted in the 2023 NMEDA Board Elections. In addition to the board elections, proposed changes to the bylaws were presented and all modifications were approved. Included in these modifications was the elimination of a required second inperson board meeting annually and the addition of a new board member position for the Education/ Government/Non-Profit individual member type.

New board members will be installed at the March Board of Directors Meeting.

NMEDA Board of Directors

Re-Elected:

Secretary: Eric Mansfield, MobilityWorks

Rep. at Large 1: Trevorr Jurgensen, MobilityWorks

Allied Health Professional: Eva Richardville, Therapeutic Mobility Services, Inc.

Newly Elected:

Vice President: Dan Walsh, Bussani Mobility

Rep. at Large 2: Ron Mohr, Clock Mobility

Component Manufacturer Rep.: Steve Dawson, Harmar

Education/Government/Non-Profit Rep.: Michelle Szumski, TX Workforce Commission-Vocational Rehabilitation

Canadian Board of Directors

Re-Elected:

Director at Large: Shelley Pattenden, Silver Cross Automotive

Newly Elected:

Vice President: Pierre Côté, Savaria Vehicle Group

Secretary: Darin Ashby, Prairie Heart Mobility

Harry Baergen was previously the Regulation Enforcement Officer for Transport Canada. Currently, he acts as the Compliance Review Program (CRP) Coordinator for NMEDA.

If you have any questions about the contents of this article, or about the NMEDA CRP, contact Harry Baergen at 778.888.2210.

Converting Used Vehicles

By Harry Baergen – Autoregs Consulting NMEDA CRP COORDINATOR

In 2018, the Circuit Breaker magazine carried an Industry Advisor article explaining in detail the distinct legal differences between converting a used vehicle and converting a new vehicle.

NMEDA’s Compliance Review Program (CRP) is still receiving questions about this issue, but more about used vehicle modifications. Therefore, it may be time to reiterate some of the information from the 2018 article, focusing more on the legal implications in modifying used vehicles.

Most NMEDA manufacturer (industry) members that alter new vehicles also modify used vehicles, often on the same assembly line. This is

mandates that the company, as an alterer, comply with all applicable FMVSS, for vehicles prior to first retail sale and affix a certification label to each vehicle. In the case of the used vehicle production the Motor Vehicle Safety Act 49 U.S.C. section 30122 prohibits the company, as a modifier, from making inoperative a compliant safety standard previously equipped in the vehicle. These companies that alter new vehicles and also modify used vehicles are allowed to utilize the exemptions under 49 CFR Part 595.7, subpart (c), for the used vehicles only. It is also important to note that the used vehicles will NOT bear any compliance label or alterer label affixed by the modifier, except a make

common practice and has been for some time now. These companies are both alterers of new vehicles and modifiers of used vehicles. In the case of the new vehicle production the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act 49 U.S.C. section 30112,

inoperative label if an exemption is used.

To comply with the make inoperative prohibition for the used vehicle production a company must have an assessment program to screen low-mileage, used vehicles that are

A vehicle modified after first retail sale will NOT bear an alterer label or any federal certification label affixed by the modifier, except a make inoperative label if an exemption is utilized.”

relatively “like new,” so the used vehicle fleet is consistently the same from one vehicle to the next and the same as the new vehicle production. This way, the used modified vehicles are considered to be in compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS)

Standards do NOT apply to used vehicle modifiers.

under the make inoperative clause, because it is expected that they are covered under the umbrella of the test vehicles that were tested for the new vehicle production. This process may be considered “due diligence” for not making inoperative an OEM federal standard equipped on a used vehicle and the process provides more affordable adaptive vehicles for people with a disability. These previously titled vehicles CANNOT be certified. A vehicle modified after first retail sale will NOT bear an alterer label or any federal certification label affixed by the modifier, except a make inoperative label if an exemption is utilized.

However, NMEDA is recently encountering companies who, apparently, only modify used (preowned) vehicles and do not alter new vehicles at all. Modifiers of used vehicles are NOT manufacturers or alterers. Modifiers of used vehicles are NOT subject to any FMVSS and cannot certify to any FMVSS. In other words, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety

Modifiers of used vehicles are only subject to that part of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act that prohibits a modifier of used vehicles from making inoperative a compliant safety standard previously equipped in a vehicle. Therefore, a company that modifies only used vehicles can only make minor modifications that will not affect federal standards, such as installing a ramp or an FMVSS 403 compliant lift in some vehicles, installing F/CMVSS 124 compliant hand controls or modifying seats and head restraints under the Part 595 exemptions. Even some of these additions would require some thought

about adding or subtracting weight in relation to the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) tested weight. Modifiers of used vehicles are also allowed to use exemptions listed under the previously mentioned make inoperative clause, for a number of other minor modifications.

The make inoperative clause in the United States makes it legally impossible for a business to perform structural modifications on a used vehicle. This would include any modifications that interfere with federal standards and that require vehicle retesting – modifications such as lowered floors, relocation of fuel tanks, installation of seats and/or transfer seat bases, etc. The reason a used vehicle cannot be prototype tested to represent production is due to the unknown inconsistency from one used vehicle to the next.

A company who is performing structural modifications on used vehicles only and not altering new vehicles might still be able to claim due diligence by testing new vehicles

Modifiers of used vehicles are NOT subject to any FMVSS and cannot certify to any FMVSS.

In other words, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards do NOT apply to used vehicle modifiers.”

INDUSTRY ADVISOR (continued)

of the same model and establishing a strict, documented, screening criteria to make sure the used vehicles are like new and are consistently the same from one vehicle to the next. This way the modifier could claim that the used vehicles are the same as the test vehicles and that they all fall under the umbrella of the tested vehicles. Thus, the modifier would claim that the structural modification is not making inoperative federal standards. Again, the used vehicles will NOT bear any kind of federal compliance label affixed by the modifier, except a make inoperative label if an exemption is used.

Another possible way to structurally modify a used vehicle might be by installing a certified kit precisely

according to the kit manufacturer’s instructions and with all the specified parts, but as emphasized in this article the vehicle will not bear any kind of federal certification label affixed by the modifier.

In summary, the federal motor vehicle safety standards apply only

with some exemptions for adaptive modifications. Except in cases where used vehicles can be documented to demonstrate their condition to be like new and correspond with a new vehicle test program it is not legally possible to perform structural modifications on a used vehicle in the United States. Without a stringent

to new vehicles at the manufacturer/ alterer level prior to first retail sale. The FMVSS do NOT apply to used vehicles. The United States Motor Vehicle Safety Act prohibits modifiers

“like new” screening program, any testing to represent used vehicles would mostly be an exercise in futility. For broader details about this subject see Circuit Breaker article “New vs

The make inoperative clause in the United States makes it legally impossible for a business to perform structural modifications on a used vehicle.”

Volunteer for a Committee

Committees are essential to advancing the mission and goals of NMEDA. Participation on a committee gives you the opportunity to be a part of the force that drives the association forward.

We need your energy and industry knowledge to work with staff on the ongoing successful implementation of NMEDA’s three-year Strategic Plan.

If you would like to serve on a committee, please complete the information below (or visit www.NMEDA.org/ JoinCommittee) and return it to NMEDA by March 15, 2023. Committee service is open to all categories of membership. Committees meet via web meeting on quarterly basis. For practical purposes, the number of members on any given committee may be limited. We will do our best to accommodate your preference.

Listed below are the NMEDA Committees. Please mark the committee that interests you.

Any committee as needed

Bylaws

Conference

Government Relations

Education & Training

Guidelines

Industry and Public Relations

Hall of Fame

Quality Assurance Program

Manufacturers QAP

Mediation

Finance

Compliance Review Program

Canadian Committees

Ad Hoc as Needed

NOTE: If the committee you have selected is full, will you serve on another committee? ____Yes ____No

Name ____________________________________________________________________

Business Name ____________________________________________________________

Email _____________________________________________________________________

Mobile Phone ( ____ ) _____________________

To volunteer, please visit www.nmeda.org/joincommittee or return this form to NMEDA by March 15, 2023.

Email: info@nmeda.org

Questions? 813.264.2697

MEMBER BULLETIN

Welcome to the BOD: Steve Dawson

By Katie McDonald DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & SOCIAL MEDIA

As you read on page 39, NMEDA recently announced the results of our 2023 Board Elections. Among the newly elected officials is Steve Dawson. Steve is the CEO of Harmar and joins the board as our Component Manufacturer Representative. Get to know Steve below and keep an eye out in future Circuit Breaker magazines for a spotlight on our other new board members!

1. Tell us about your history in the auto mobility industry.

I joined Harmar as CEO in Dec 2016. I started my career in finance and have been in a variety of CFO roles before getting into manufacturing. I am sure this is a common view but I love that our industry makes a difference in people’s lives.

2. Why were you interested in joining the NMEDA BOD?

With supply chain challenges, industry consolidation, and a shrinking number of businesses I think NMEDA’s voice serves an important purpose in these challenging times. I am looking forward to working with the team.

3. What do you view is the #1 benefit from being a NMEDA member?

I believe the #1 benefit is access to customers and industry professionals. When you “join the club” you get exposed to the key people and businesses in our industry.

4. What are you looking forward to most in the next year/at the next NMEDA conference?

In addition to seeing friends and customers, I am always interested in learning about new technologies and trends.

5. Tell us something you like to do for fun/Last book you’ve read/Last movie you’ve seen….?

I will give you one of each. I like to collect coins, that is something I have enjoyed since I was a kid. I like business biographies “Where You Are is Not Who You Are: A Memior” by Ursula Burns (former CEO of Xerox) was interesting also Bob Iger’s (former and current Disney CEO) “The Ride of a Lifetime” was fun. And, lastly, a plug for my son in “Father of the Bride 2022” with Andy Garcia. My son Sean was in it.

6. Share about personal life? Family/children, etc.?

Very proud father of 5 boys, married to my beautiful wife for 28 years. Kids are spread out in CA, CO, and FL.

7. Something else you want to share that we didn’t ask?

Big NBA fan, hoping the Miami Heat at least make it into the playoffs!

Learn About Mobility Solutions and Earn CEU Credits for Free

Advocating Automotive Mobility for your Clients: Driver Rehabilitation and Automotive Mobility Solutions (AAM) Course

The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) is o ering an introductory level online course to provide allied healthcare professionals with an overview of a patient’s automotive mobility challenges, automotive mobility solutions, and the practitioner’s role in advocacy and referral. By learning about automotive vehicle modi cations, healthcare professionals will be able to suggest options for caregivers or persons who want to drive or be transported, but need accommodations. Topics covered include learning about the importance of Automobility and Related Services, Driving as an Instrumental ADL, Diagnosis, Assessment, and ve actual Client Case Studies.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the importance of automotive mobility independence for persons with disabilities

• Di erentiate the role of key industry professionals and organizations involved in the automotive mobility industry

• Identify the unique process involved in researching, evaluating, selecting, and purchasing automotive mobility solutions

• Distinguish between di erent program models used in driving programs to best meet consumer needs

• Explore a road map for assessment and advocacy in the mobility process

NMEDA’s AAM Course is:

• O ered online, for your convenience

• Brought to you by NMEDA and ADED, the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists

• Targeted for: OT, OTA, PT, PTA, Case Managers, ATP, Students, and Other Health Professionals

• Approved for AOTA* (.15 CEU) in the categories of Occupational Therapy Service Delivery and Professional Issues, ADED** and CCMC (1.5 Contact Hours), upon successful completion of post-test

With 2022 in our rear-view mirror and 2023 here, I thought I would share the fruits of the labor from the QAP and Guidelines committees and the changes to the NMEDA Rules and Guidelines you will see for 2023. But first I hope you all had a wonderful holiday to close out the year. After moving from Rochester, NY to Tampa, FL in 2010, I have been going back north in mid-December each year to visit my family. It was nice to see both my parents and two sisters, as well as nieces and great nieces and several friends in the one week I was there. Yes, it was cold. REALLY cold, and I thought I was going to avoid the snow, but Rochester didn’t disappoint, and I did have to renew my ice road trucker skills as I slipped along the highways for a few days. And as much as I miss my family, I don’t miss driving in the snow! For those lucky

QAP Changes for 2023

by Chuck Hardy NMEDA DIRECTOR OF QUALITY & COMPLIANCE

enough to live near and those like me who travel, I hope you were all able to spend some quality time with your families over the holidays.

So, what’s in store for 2023? Only time will tell, but what I CAN tell you about is the changes for our Quality Assurance Program. As you all know, each year our standing committees for QAP Rules and Guidelines examine opportunities to improve our programs and keep an eye on other market forces that could impact any of our existing rules and guidelines. And this year with QAPx rolling out, there was sure a lot on our plates, but overall, I think you will find there won’t be too much change to adapt to. All of the changes I am about to talk about are found in the 2023 release of the QAP Rules and Guidelines which can be found on the NMEDA website.

Probably the biggest change to the QAP Rules has to do with the Dealer QC manual. Prior to 2023, the Dealer QC manual was a template that the dealer made some simple updates to by adding their name and various employees to, then saving it, sending it into NMEDA for approval and then uploading to QAPx (or Docutrack, aka “DT”). Now with everyone using either QAPx or Docutrack, the committee thought that we could streamline the QC manual and make it easier for a dealer to make changes to their product and tools listing (appendices C & D) and the committee looked at the value in constantly updating the org chart (appendix A) and the facility layout (appendix B). What was decided was to simplify the QC manual and place it directly in QAPx (and DT), eliminate the need to complete the Org Chart and Facility Layout (more about that later) and separate the Product Listing and Tools Listing to make them easier to edit and upload into QAPx/DT. I know that’s a mouthful so let me go over it one more time and a little slower for you.

DEALER QC MANUAL CHANGES FOR 2023:

• Simplify the manual, make it ‘universal’ for all dealers, and place it directly in QAPx/DT.

• Make the Product Listing and

Calibrated Tools Listing separate documents that are uploaded into QAPx/DT.

• Eliminate the Organizational Chart and Facility Layout appendices.

Here is the rationale for these changes. First off, the QC manual is used “as-is” by 99% of all dealers, so making it “universal” just seemed like the right thing to do. For anyone in the 1% that wants to continue to use their own custom QC Manual, you can still do that! It just needs to be

The reason we eliminated the Org Chart is because we have all the information we need in our association management system (AMS) and QAPx/DT so there is no need to have you update that in your QC manual. And for the facility layout, the committee agreed that is not necessary as there is no longer a requirement for shop square footage. That’s it for the QC manual changes! The other updates for 2023 QAP Rules document are as follows:

• Some minor wording changes

are sealed, they provide an alternative to the gel cell batteries. In this same section the committee also updated the flammability (FMVSS 302) requirement for the battery enclosure. Here the guideline was updated to include battery enclosures that meet a more stringent US Coast Guard specification USCG DHS 111.15. Other minor changes to the Guidelines are as follows:

• Updated Electronic Left Foot Accelerator (section 15B) to “low tech”

• Revised the make inoperative section 1 to include FMVSS 111 (Rear Visibility) and FMVSS 216 (Roof Crush Resistance) under the available make inoperative exemptions

• Minor wording changes to After Sales Service section 4.5.1 to be consistent with the form

approved by NMEDA and uploaded into QAPx/DT.

For everyone else, you don’t have to do anything other than create the product listing and calibrated tools listing and upload these in the same place you have your insurance certificates. That said, you have time, we will not require you to create these separate documents until the first time you have to make an update. So, rather than ask everyone to do all that work now, you can wait until you need to make a change to the product listing or tools listing and upload them as separate documents at that time. We will continue to use the product listing and tools listing you have in your existing uploaded QC manual until you need to make a change.

to the “Out of Area Service Requirements” section to bring consistency between the rules and the wording on the form.

• QAP 1-2-3-4 Training is now just called “QAP Training”. In fact, if you don’t know or haven’t taken the training in a while, do it. The entire training module was redone and modernized. Now onto the Guidelines. Probably the biggest change to the Guidelines was the “Battery Installations” section 6.5.

What the committee realized is that the section did not provide accommodation for the newer AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries that are prevalent on the market. These AGM batteries are non-spillable and

• Removed appendix A (Out of Area Service Agreement) as this requirement is already a part of the QAP Rules

In conclusion, a new year is upon us! All of these changes are shown in the 2023 version of the QAP Rules and Guidelines found on the website. If you have any questions, or know of anything that any one of our committees should be addressing, please drop me a line.

I hope your 2023 is a good one and I am looking forward to seeing you at our next conference in Kansas City. I hear they got some good BBQ there and can’t wait to try it out. Until next time, keep on doing what you’re doing and moving life forward!

QAP 1-2-3-4 Training is now just called “QAP Training.” In fact, if you don’t know or haven’t taken the training in a while, do it. The entire training module was re-done and modernized.”

TOTAL

No new dealers were accredited in Q4 2022.

NMEDA INDUSTRY MEMBERS

INDUSTRY

____________________________

Accessible Vans of America, LLC.

334 Buckington Street St. Peters, MO 63376

(636) 294-1762

Adaptive Driving Alliance

111 Stow Avenue, Ste 103 Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 (330) 928-7401

Adaptive Mobility Systems, Inc.

2072 N. Bibb Drive Tucker, GA 30084 (770) 674-0776

Adapt-Solutions

145 Damase-Breton St-Lambert, QC G0S 2W0 (866) 641-0419

AMF Bruns of America

1797 Georgetown Road Hudson, OH 44236 (877) 506-3770

Bever Mobility Products 2885 Sanford Ave SW 41693 Grandville, MI 49418 (888) 959-6198

Brandl Mobility Finance Services

559 Hwy 10 South St. Cloud, MN 56304 (866) 581-3922

BraunAbility

P.O. Box 310 Winamac, IN 46996 (800) 843-5438

Bruno Independent Living Aids

1780 Executive Drive Oconomowoc, WI 53066 (262) 953-5316

Creative Carriage Ltd. 6 Ridgeview Street St. George, ON N0E 1N0 (519) 740-4801

Crescent Industries 191 Washington St. Auburn, ME 04210 (207) 777-3500

DealerTeam.com, LLC

2195 Larkspur Ln #203 Redding, CA 96002 (530) 232-3260

Driverge Vehicle Innovations

4199 Kinross Lakes Parkway Suite 300 Richfield, OH 44286

(330) 510-3069

Driving Systems, Inc. 16139 Runnymede St. Van Nuys, CA 91406 (818) 782-6793

Electronic Mobility Controls, LLC 26 Gabriel Dr. Augusta, ME 04330 (207) 512-8009

EZ Lock 2001 Wooddale Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA 70806 (225) 214-4620

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles 1000 Chrysler Drive Auburn Hills, MI 48326 (800) 255-9877

Ford Motor Company 777 Woodward Avenue, Suite 500 Detroit, MI 48226 (313) 202-6342

Fortress Partners 5005 Plainfield Ave NE Suite 400 Grand Rapids, MI 49525 (616) 447-2293

General Motors Corporation

100 Renaissance Ctr., MC482-A20-B98 Detroit, MI 48265 (313) 667-8682

Harmar Mobility 1500 Independence Blvd. Ste 220 Sarasota, FL 34234 (800) 833-0478

High Level Enterprises, Inc. 28767 Holiday Place Elkhart, IN 46577 (574) 343-2150

In Motion Mobility LLC

2299 NW 108th Avenue

Sweetwater, FL 33172 (786) 534-2046

Johnson Hand Controls LLC 3960 Locust Grove Rd

Columbia, PA 17512 (717) 449-0089

Joysteer USA, Inc.

6624 Clay Avenue SW Grand Rapids, MI 49548

(832) 783-9751

KEMPF 1245 Lakeside Dr. #3005 Sunnyvale, CA 94085 (408) 773-0219

Mahadev Metal Works & Fabrication Unit 124, 125 - 11071 Bridgeport Rd. Richmond, BC V6X 1T3 (604) 270-3317

Malley Industries, Inc.

1100 Aviation Avenue

Dieppe, NB E1A 9A3 (506) 859-8591

Manufacturing Production Services Corp.

2222 W. Enterprise St. Escondido, CA 92029 (800) 243-4051

MGA Research Corporation

5000 Warren Road

Burlington, WI 53105 (262) 763-2705

Mobility Credit Acceptance

1108 E Main St Suite 200 Richmond, VA 23219 (804) 505-4000

Mobility Innovations

51277 Celeste Dr. Shelby Twp, MI 48315 (586) 843-3816

Mobility Support Solutions 16212 Bothell Everett Highway Mill Creek, WA 98120 (877) 246-0979

PMG Technologies Inc. 100 Du Landais St. Blainville, QC J7C 5C9 (450) 430-7981

Pritchard Auto Group 1 Team Quest Way Clear Lake, IA 50428-2296 (352) 552-6674

PSA Insurance & Financial Services

11311 McCormick Rd. Hunt Valley, MD 21031 (443) 798-7495

Q’Straint/Sure-Lok 4031 NE 12th Terrace Oakland Park, FL 33334 (954) 986-6665

Royale Mobility LLC 100 Newark Street Haverhill, MA 01832 (978) 374-4530

Sure Grip Hand Controls 4850 Route 102 Upper Kingsclear, NB E3E 1P8 (506) 363-5289

Tempe Mobility

7975 S. Autoplex Loop Tempe, AZ 85284 (480) 598-2383

TMN 58 Hachermesh St. Haifa, Israel 31000 073-2229222-200

Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc 6565 Headquarters Drive Plano, TX 75024 (469) 292-4649

Twining Consulting, Inc. 18071 Mount Washington St Unit A Fountain Valley, CA 927086118 (562) 272-7231

Vantage Mobility International 5202 S. 28th Place. Phoenix, AZ 85040 (800) 348-8267

NMEDA ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS

ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

ARIZONA

Jennifer Nordine Driving to Independence LLC

1414 W. Broadway Rd #218 Tempe, AZ 85282 (480) 449-3331

CALIFORNIA

Sam Abbooushi Dynamic Repair Solutions 23615 El Toro Road X287 Lake Forest, CA 92630

Penny M. Anders Sharp Memorial HospitalRehab 1641 Borana St. San Diego, CA 92111 (858) 565-2437

Lula Capuchino Capuchino Therapy Group 3601 Marconi Ave. Sacramento, CA 95821 (916) 481-1300

Melanie Henry Driver Cognitive Assessment Center, LLC 4450 Black Ave Suite D Pleasanton, CA 94566 (925) 249-5947

Gregory Paquin

Gregory J. Paquin 5140 Florence Ave. Unit C Bell, CA 90201 (310) 337-1410

Stanton Toy Always Care Medical Supply Inc.

296 Highland Place San Pablo, CA 94806

COLORADO

Sarah Davidson Craig Hospital 3425 S. Clarkson St. Englewood, CO 80113 (303) 789-8117

Barry Doyle Craig Hospital 3425 S. Clarkson Street Englewood, CO 80113 (303) 789-8218

Colleen Knoll Craig Hospital 3425 S. Clarkson Street Englewood, CO 80113 (303) 789-8218

Natalie Uyeno 3425 S Clarkson St Englewood, CO 80113-2811 (303) 789-8218

FLORIDA

Stephen A. Emerson Stephen A. Emerson Inc. 1384 Wainwright Way Ft. Myers, FL 33919 (239) 633-0180

GEORGIA

Dan Allison 142 Lynford Ln Woodstock, GA 30189

Eilif L. Olesen Eilif L. Olesen 636 Frigate Dr # 9201 Ellijay, GA 30540-6335 (727) 424-7485

Rajesh Pagadala Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency 3586 Riverside Drive Macon, GA 31210 (478) 751-6272

ILLINOIS

Anne Hegberg Strive for Independence 1919 S. Highland Avenue Bldg. C, Suite 119 Lombard, IL 60148 (630) 909-6080

Danielle Czajkowski Strive for Independence 1919 S. Highland Avenue Bldg. C, Suite 119 Lombard, IL 60148 (630) 909-6080

Nicole Thonn Strive for Independence 1919 S. Highland Avenue Bldg. C, Suite 119 Lombard, IL 60148 (630) 909-6080

Darina Yakimec 2500 Archbury Ln APT 1K Park Ridge, IL 60068

INDIANA

Kathy Kachanoski

Columbus Regional Hospital 1732 Timbercrest Dr. Columbus, IN 47203 (800) 841-4938

Carin Mitchell Mitchell Driving Solutions PO Box 705 New Carlisle, IN 46552

Eva Richardville Therapeutic Mobility Services, Inc.

311 Airport North Office Park Ft. Wayne, IN 46285 (260) 417-8399

KENTUCKY

MaryFrances Gross On the Road, Again 4805 Hemlock Way Lexington, KY 40514 (619) 607-1142

LOUISIANA

Michael K Shipp MKS Consultants, LLC 1340 Mitcham Orchard Rd Ruston, LA 71270 (318) 245-7361

MARYLAND

Elin Davis

American Occupational Therapy Association 6116 Executive Blvd Ste 200 North Bethesda, MD 20852 (800) 729-2682

MASSACHUSETTS

Eugene Blumkin

Massachusetts Rehab Commission

600 Washington Street Boston, MA 02211 (617) 204-3721

MICHIGAN

C Kerry Jones

The Space Between 26875 Church St. Edwardsburg, MI 49112 (269) 663-0226

Kelby Lloyd Special Driving Services, Inc. P.O. Box 241 Okemos, MI 48805 (517) 862-1717

MISSISSIPPI

Nikki Simmons Driving Independence 5225 Crawford Rd Hernando, MS 38632 (901) 734-7472

NEW YORK

Gail Babirad Rehabilitation Technology Assoc. Inc - GB PO Box 540

Kinderhook, NY 121060540 (800) 987-2753

Jurgen Babirad Rehabilitation Technology Associates, Inc. - JB PO Box 540 Kinderhook, NY 121060540 (800) 987-2753

John Lorenzetti, OTR/L, CDI, DRS FLX Driver Rehabilitation, LLC 4144 High Banks Rd. Geneva, NY 14456 (315) 585-9198

Andrew Streit Stevens Driving School 4060 Seneca St. West Seneca, NY 14224

Raanan Zidile Tri-Boro Driver Rehabilitation & Mobility Services, Inc. 1642 Coney Island Ave Brooklyn, NY 11230

NORTH CAROLINA

Cyndee Crompton Driver Rehabilitation Services PO Box 448 McLeansville, NC 27301 (336) 697-7841

Mike Edwards North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation 5501 Executive Center Dr Suite 101 Charlotte, NC 28212 undefined

Liz Soles ADED 200 1st Ave NW #505 Hickory, NC 28601 (866) 672-9466

PENNSYLVANIA

Brenda Bennett Transportation Solutions 4202 Peach Street Erie, PA 16509 (814) 833-2301

NMEDA ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS

Amy Lane

Adaptive Driving Program/U of Pittsburgh

3600 Forbes St Pittsburgh, PA 15101 (412) 864-3068

Susie Touchinsky 225 Clark Drive

Orwigsburg, PA 17961

SOUTH CAROLINA

Alan B. Simmerson CDRS

WJBD VA Medical Center

3602 Deerfield Drive Columbia, SC 29204 (803) 776-4000

TEXAS

Chad Strowmatt Strowmatt Rehabilitation Services, Inc

11020 Katy Freeway Ste 217 Houston, TX 77043 (713) 722-0667

CANADA

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Larry Bowen

Larry Bowen PO Box 78095 Northside RPO

Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 4X5 (604) 996-4893

Dean Robertson Access Driver Rehab Specialists 3405 W 31 Ave.

Vancouver, BC V6S 1X6 (604) 263-5286

Lars Taylor InSight Rehabilitation Services Inc.

3002 Coachwood Crescent Coldstream, BC V1B 3Y4 (250) 542-3087 ____________________________

NEW BRUNSWICK

Maura DuLong

Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation

800 Priestman St. Fredericton, NB E3B 0C7 (506) 452-5876

ONTARIO

Shah Baqar, OT, CDRS

CBI Health Group 20 Linsmary Court

Markham, ON L6E 1L2 (416) 419-3031

F. Lortie F. Lortie 68 Bloomfield London, ON N6G 1P3 (519) 495-9541

Tamalea Stone

Ottawa Hospital 686 Vivera Pl Stittsville, ON K2S 2N1 (705) 741-7660

QUEBEC

Kristian Thivierge Centre de Readaptation Constance-Lethbridge 7005, Boulevard de Maisonneuve Quest

Montreal, QC H4B 1T3

NMEDA EDU/GOV’T/NON-PROFIT MEMBERS

EDU/GOV’T/NONPROFIT

Eric Bradley Texas A&M Transportation Institute

3135 TAMU College Station, TX 77843 (979) 845-7492

Timothy Brant

Brant’s Driving School 596 Goucher Street Johnstown, PA 15905 (877) 395-7011

Lance Bullard

Texas Transportation Institute A&M Univ. 3135 TAMU College Station, TX 77843 (979) 845-6153

Marilyn Clark MobilityWorks Foundation 3863 Lander Road M2 Chagrin Falls, OH 44022

Chelsea Hales

The Master’s Driving School W7366 Flambeau Point Rd Ladysmith, WI 54848 (715) 532-0327

Todd Keanan James A. Haley VA Hospital 13000 Bruce B. Downs. Blvd. Tampa, FL 33612 (813) 972-2000

James Kovar Texas A & M University 3135 TAMU College Station, TX 77843

Julius Lee SMCL Foundation & Associates Inc. Adaptive & Multi-services Organization 2910 Seine Street New Orleans, LA 70114 (504) 450-4014

Justin Maxwell Texas A & M University 3135 TAMU College Station, TX 77843

Torrey Morse

Connecticut Bureau of Rehabilitation Services 55 Farmington Ave, 12th Fl Hartford, CT 06105 (860) 424-5543

Tina Paff Bicks Driving School 6367 Glenway Ave Cincinnati, OH 45211 (513) 251-2100

Daniel Reid Grove Transit 1721 Hardy Street Hattiesburg, MS 39401 (601) 544-5403

James Rose

The John & Josephine Rose Living Network Foundation Inc 5541 E Grant Rd Tucson, AZ 85712

Jo’el Roth

WA Division of Vocational Rehabilitation 9600 College Way N Seattle, WA 98103 (206) 431-9681

SASKATCHEWAN

Susanne Adamson, OT/ CDRS

88 Tibbits Road

Regina, SK S4S 2Z1 (306) 766-5427

Suzanne Lendvoy SK Health Authority

2762 Francis St Regina, SK S4N 2R3 (306) 766-5968

Gerhard Schmidt 2441 Emmons Rd Columbia Station, OH 44028 (206) 431-9681

Stephen Sundarrao Rehabilitation Engineering & Technology Program 4202 E Fowler Ave ENB 118 Tampa, FL 33620 (813) 974-5346

Michelle Szumski Texas Workforce Commission - VR Division 101 East 15th Street 101 CT Austin, TX 78778 (512) 936-3462

Arthur Yeager US Army - Walter Reed Hospital 3835 Maple Hill Road Fairfax, VA 22033

Bill Youngman

Department of Social & Health Services 9600 College Way N Seattle, WA 98103 (206) 437-9681

Family-Owned and Operated Since 1958

• RED DOT Award (Design Award) Winner for 2 products in the Mobility Industry • Protektor Series – Red Dot Winner - New Cutting edge design wheelchair retractors available

Offering special needs products worldwide

Outstanding quality

Outstanding service • FREE training online • EST 1958 • ISO 9001 Registered

DATES TO REMEMBER

This calendar of upcoming events is provided as a service to NMEDA members. The Circuit Breaker cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided. Please verify dates and locations with the organizations listed.

NMEDA Board of Directors Meetings

February 16, 2023

March 16, 2023

April 20, 2023

NMEDA Manufacturer Service School (MSS)

March 6-9, 2023 – Dallas, TX

Visit www.NMEDA.org/MSS for more information.

NMEDA Comprehensive Automotive Mobility Solutions (CAMS)

March 17, 2023 – Chantilly, VA

Visit www.NMEDA.org/CAMS for more information.

NMEDA Comprehensive Automotive Mobility Solutions (CAMS)

March 22, 2023 – Everett, WA

Visit www.NMEDA.org/CAMS for more information.

NMEDA Comprehensive Automotive Mobility Solutions (CAMS)

June 9, 2023 – Saddle Brook, NJ

Visit www.NMEDA.org/CAMS for more information.

Abilities Expo - Los Angeles

March 10–12, 2023

Visit www.abilities.com/losangeles for more information.

Abilities Expo - New York

May 5–7, 2023

Visit www.abilities.com/dallas for more information.

2023

NMEDA Annual Conference & Auto Mobility Expo

September 30-October 2, 2023 – Kansas City, Missouri

Visit www.NMEDAAnnualConference.com for more information.

To have your information included in Dates to Remember, please submit at least 12 weeks before the event to katie.mcdonald@nmeda.org.