Table of Contents PAGE 3 - The Fitz Report PAGE 4 - President Bill’s Message PAGE 7 - Rubber Ball Pictures PAGE 10 - Federated Risk Management Corner PAGE 19 - Bosch Training Flyer

November 2015

Tire Trax E-Newsletter

OFFICERS

President

Bill Schwartz

412-352-7222

Fax-412-664-4455

bill@statestire.com

Executive Director

Jack Greiner

724-834-8164

Fax 724-836-0309

tiredealers@hotmail.com

Vice-President

Shaun Fitzgerald

Secretary-Treasurer

Marcia Guttilla

Directors

Sherry Evans

Ron Fischer

Christy Lewis

Bob Richey

Sperry Schemm

Trustee

Pat Sheridan

Photographer

Cindy Richey

Website

www.tdaofwpa.com

TIRE DEALERS ASSOCIATION OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

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If You Are Not A Member of The Tire Dealers Association Of Western Pennsylvania You Should Be!

We Support You And Your Business! Contact Any Of the Below

Ron Brutt, Jack Greiner, Any Board Member

TPMS TRAINING ANYONE INTERESTED IN TRAINING AT YOUR FACILITY?

DAVE HARRINGTON OF EASTMAN TIRE SUPPLIES WILL ARRANGE TRAINING AT YOUR SHOP

DAVE AND HIS PEOPLE ARE TIA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS CONTACT DAVE AT 724-822-4722 TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS

THE TRUE PROFESSIONAL IS PROPERLY TRAINED

Do You Have Something To Sell? Used Equipment, Service Truck, Service Tools, Office Supplies?

Let Us Know We Will List It in The Newsletter. This Is A Free Service To Our Members.

INTERESTED IN TRAINING YOUR AUTO SERVICE PEOPLE?

FEDERAL MOGUL HAS SOME GREAT WAYS TO DO IT ALL THE DETAILS AND INFORMATION ARE AVAILABLE AT

fmgaragegurus.com

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Passage of the PACE Act: This legislation allows states the option to maintain the current definition of a small group market as covering employers with 50 or fewer employees. Without this passage, under the Affordable Care Act starting January 1, 2016 the definition of the small group would have expanded to include plans of businesses with up to 100 em-ployees. This definition change would have negatively impacted businesses with 51 to 100 employees. The Congres-sional Budget Office concluded the PACE Act will likely result in lower premiums for these small businesses.

Highway Funding: Congress opted to pass another short-term funding extension for the highway trust fund. This short-term extension gives Congress time to negotiate toward a long-term extension. Earlier the Senate passed a 3 year bill that would fund transportation. The House plans to draft their own bill that will fund the system for 5 years through interna-tional tax reform and the creation of an infrastructure bank. Congress is at odds on this issue and it remains unclear what the next bill will look like and whether it will be another short-term extension or a long-term bill. TIA supported the Sen-ate bill until the mandatory tire registration language was added. Thankfully, the provision that could have reinstated the mandatory tire registration program was not included in the most recent short-term extension. Other proposals still being considered in a long-term bill include:

• Reinstatement of FET on passenger tires. • Reinstatement of FET on tread rubber. 5 to 15 cents per pound. • Increase the FET on truck tires by 10% • Increase the FET on new trucks and truck parts by 10%. • Increase the Federal Motor Fuel Tax.

EMV Chip Encrypted Credit Cards: October 1st, 2015 was the date merchants should have all card readers (except fuel dispensers at service stations) switched over to equipment that will accept chip encrypted EMV cards. The old non-enabled readers will still work but liability for fraud will switch over to the business owner if the terminal is not chip en-abled. If you have not made the switch contact your credit card processor for details.

Overtime Proposal: The Department of Labor proposed a change in defining and delimiting the exemptions for execu-tive, administrative, professional, outside sales and computer employees. This change would raise the salary threshold from $23,660 to $50,440 annually. TIA believes this change will drastically increase labor costs and ultimately the cost of doing business; which will be felt by many small businesses in our industry. This proposed rule may cause businesses to:

• Raise the prices of goods and services to pass on the cost to consumers. • Lay-off employees. • Change employees from salary to hourly. • Reduce base pay to account for overtime pay. • Turn full-time employees into part-time employees. • Reclassifying of job duties. • Provide less flexibility in hours worked.

Estate Tax Update: It appears that any vote on Estate Tax Repeal in the Senate will not be until 2016. The TIA contin-ues to push for a full Estate Tax Repeal. Recently Representative Andy Harris (R-MD) introduced the “American Solu-tion for Simplifying the Estate Tax Act of 2015”. The proposed bill does not repeal the estate tax, it helps to lessen some of the requirements and regulations surrounding the tax. The bill would allow an annual elective surcharge in lieu of es-tate tax. The current method of collecting Federal estate tax often cripples family-owned businesses by forcing the sale of the business in order to pay the tax liability arising from the death of an owner.

The FITZ Report by Shaun Fitzgerald

Legislative update on issues impacting tire dealers. This page is dedicated to keeping our members informed of legislation and regulations that our elected offi-

cials and bureaucrats in Harrisburg and Washington are proposing.

President Bill’s Message

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Hello members,

In one of the best months of the year for giving thanks, and historically one for selling tires, I give my first newsletter. First, I’d like to give a special Thanks to Mr. Ron Brutt for all he has done for our association and myself. Mr. Brutt is responsible for bringing me into The Western Pennsylvania Tire Dealers Association by essentially stating as he has many times prior, “How can you not support an organization that supports an indus-try in which you earn a living.” Since this realization, I’ve been a loyal supporter and thank you again. I’d also like to thank all members of the association whose efforts have established and maintained the association’s strength and continuous growth. In this newsletter I’d simply like to introduce myself so you can get to know me, and hopefully I can get to know you.

My name is Bill Schwartz and I currently am representing the association as our new President. I have been in the tire industry as in independent tire dealer since 1991. I started in the lower 10th ward of McKeesport in a single stall garage and now have settled at our third location (601 Lysle Blvd McKeesport PA) since the early 2000’s. For the life of our business, I’ve served the local community as an independent tire dealer with the active help of my family. Starting with my wonderful Wife of twenty six plus years Theresa, our five great children (Christina ,Mark, Brittnee, William Jr & Brandon), three grandchildren, and great employees, we’ve all made possibilities, and to you I give thanks.

I am very proud to have and hold this position appointed to me by our great board of di-rectors and look forward to the opportunities ahead. I would like nothing more than to be amongst a group of individuals that have survived almost depressions, recessions, stock market crashes, tariffs, etc., and yet still remained standing. This only represents the heart of past/current members of this association and what this organization truly represents. As President, I will do my best to represent you the member to the best of my abilities. Any decisions made by myself will only be made to benefit The Tire Dealers of Western PA and all of its association. I will not use this position to preach or practice per-sonal beliefs in with respect to all of our members. In closing, I can only think of one thing to say. Thank you, and let all have a Happy Thanksgiving. Let’s sell some tires!!!

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