FEDERAL UPDATES
*Special RVDA Legislative Alert*
IN the News...
Go RVing Dealer Program 2010
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ST. LOUIS,
MO FALL RV SHOW 2010
For its 21st year, the St.
Louis Fall RV Show will set up at South
County Shopping Center located at the busy
intersection of Lindbergh and Lemay Ferry in
the south county area of St. Louis. click here for more info.
 Web
Seminars with Jan Kelly of Kelly Enterprises.
Updated 10-23-09
30-50 minutes of education
brought to you with Jan Kelly's Web Seminars!
Turn downtime into educational opportunities
with Web Seminars! (read
more)
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RV Dealerships Face
a Number of Issues on Forklifts
by: Brett Richardson (RV
Executive Today)
A fatality at an RV dealership has set off a
chain of events that has many dealers reexamining their use
of forklifts to move RV trailers. The dealership involved in
the forklift accident faced stiff fines and problems with
heir insurance coverage.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
regulations specifically address the use of forklift
attachments. RV dealerships often use attachments that cover
the forklift tines, are connected with a crossbar with
either a trailer hitch or fifth wheel pin, and secured to
the forklift. RVDA is forming a member task force to get
more information on the issue. As RVDA understands the OSHA
regulations, unless a forklift manufacturer specifically
approves the use of one of these attachments, it is against
OSHA regulations to use the attachment. RVDA is not aware of
any forklift manufacturers that have approved the use of
this type of attachment. OSHA regulations provide a means
for a business to receive approval through a Qualified
Professional Registered Engineer if the business receives
either no response from a forklift manufacturer or a written
denial for a dealer to use the attachment. No response is
probably better for the RV dealer, because then the engineer
only needs to approve the use of the attachment (and change
the forklift data plates) rather than refute the forklift
manufacturer's rationale for denying certification of the
forklift attachment. This is becoming a larger issue for RV
dealers for a few reasons.
1. There is liability for an RV dealer using a non-approved
forklift attachment, should an injury occur during its use.
There is a real life example of an RV dealer whose employee
died in an accident involving a non-certified forklift
attachment.
2. RV dealers are reporting that their insurance carriers
are specifically indicating that insurance does not cover
injuries caused when a dealership uses unapproved forklift
attachments.
3. RV dealerships face OSHA fines for using these devices if
they are not certified. Massachusetts boat dealers found
this out the hard way when state OSHA officials fined many
boat dealers for their use of unapproved forklift
attachments.
WHAT DEALERS SAY ABOUT THE PRACTICE:
Dealers have varying opinions about whether it is a smart
business decision to use forklifts to move RVs.
Many dealers told RVDA that forklifts are the best means to
move an RV, particularly when tight spaces are involved.
Many respondents stress how important it is for an RV dealer
to use forklifts that are only appropriate for the load.
Some dealers believe that forklifts are the only safe and
practical method to move RVs on uneven lots.
However, several RV dealers do not use forklifts and
forklift attachments to move RVs around a dealership. Others
say they do not use forklifts because they are not designed
for that purpose. The most common alternatives are trucks
and tractors. If you would like to participate in the task
force that is working on this issue, please send an e-mail
to info@rvda.org or call the dealer services hotline.
See
More about Fork Trucks here!
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From the offices of the Recreation Vehicle Industry
Association: |
Conference Committee Version of Economic
Stimulus Bill Includes Motorhome Sales Incentive.
In news that marks a substantial legislative
victory for the RV industry, RVIA has learned that the conference
committee final version of the $789 billion economic stimulus
package includes a provision to specifically help the RV industry.
Motorhomes are included in a tax provision that allows a portion of
the sales or excise tax paid on the purchase of a new motorhome to
be deducted. The deduction is attributable to taxes applying to the
first $49,500 of the purchase price. Individuals with an adjusted
gross income of up to $125,000 and joint filers with an adjusted
gross income of up to $250,000 are eligible for the deduction.
The inclusion in the legislation of a sales or excise tax deduction
for motorhomes is a significant accomplishment for the RV industry,
particularly since there were no RV sales incentives in either the
House or Senate versions of the stimulus bill. Congress is expected
to vote on the final version of the bill today, and an approved bill
is expected to make it to President Obama's desk for signature into
law as early as Monday, February 16.
RVIA Vice President of Government Affairs Dianne Farrell said, “the
RV industry is especially thankful to Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN),
Congressman Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) who, along with their staffs, have worked
tirelessly over the past several weeks to ensure that the RV
industry is included in the stimulus legislation. Their efforts on
behalf of their constituents will make a real difference for the
industry.”
She added, “RVIA worked with government affairs consultants, member
companies, state RV associations, RVDA and RV dealers to ensure that
the RV industry received help from the economic stimulus package. We
are thankful to all of our partners for their commitment to this
effort.”
TALF Funding Increased
In another positive development, RVIA succeeded in having RV
consumer loans and dealer floor plan loans added to the Term
Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF). RVIA argued to policy
makers that the lack of credit was reaching a critical stage and
noted that if consumers and dealers can't borrow money to buy
product, manufacturers will plunge into further financial
difficulty.
The Federal Reserve Board's February 6 announcement to include RV
loans will stimulate new lending to RV buyers and dealers and was a
significant industry victory. The government has announced that they
will purchase securitized RV loans along with car loans, student
loans and other consumer loans. Financial institutions will be
encouraged to make RV floorplan and consumer loans because they can
be assured a secondary market exists for those loans. Thus, this
TALF facility will attract investors back into the securities market
and will stimulate demand for new loans to be securitized.
Also of interest, on February 10 the Federal Reserve Board announced
a substantial expansion in the TALF program. The expansion could
increase the size of TALF from $200 billion to as much as $1
trillion. Again, Joe Donnelly was a tireless champion for the
industry, sending a letter with Congressman Mark Souder (R-IN)
requesting the inclusion of RV loans in the the TALF. Congressman
Peter DeFazio also led an Oregon delegation letter to the Treasury
Department and FED making the same request. And Mr. Donnelly and
DeFazio also added language to a House banking bill that, while
ultimately did not become law, helped pave the way for the FED
including RV loans in the TALF.
Welcome our New Members!!
Mike Hill
Quality RV Inc.
309 E. Valley Drive
Linn Creek, MO 65052
If you would like to start or renew your
Sponsorship with MRVDA,
please contact us at (573) 659-7808.
See our 2009 Convention
Sponsors.
Click for UPDATE...
The Missouri Recreational Vehicle Dealers
Association completed a very successful annual convention October 18th through the 20th in 2009 in Branson, MO.
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