In Memorium – Joseph Knight
With heavy sadness mixed with the joy of decades of friendship and professional interaction, we mark the passing of Joseph “Joe” Knight on November 25th, 2023. Joe was a long-standing board member (2005-2022) and supporter of ACRA, serving as president of the association from 2014 to 2017. Joe was quoted as saying: “In my experience working with ACRA, I learned that while the big guys certainly have been able to build an industry, the independents and licensees carry the spirit of that success through their continued and dynamic growth of the off-airport operator.”
For the past 22 years, Knight served as vice president of Airport Concessions and Properties at Fox Rent a Car. He was involved in the planning and development of all 26 US locations that are currently in operation. Prior to Fox, Knight worked for Budget, Dollar and Thrifty in various executive positions. He also owned and operated his own consulting company, Car Rental Concepts, providing fleet and financing programs to independents and licensees. Just this past June, Joe joined Easirent as its new Business Development Consultant.
“Joe Knight’s many years of service to the industry and to ACRA are truly appreciated and his personal and professional guidance that he offered to so many in the car rental industry for decades will be sorely missed,” said Sharon Faulkner, executive director of ACRA.
ACRA’s past president, Bob Barton wrote: “An association can only be as strong as its underlying members. Uniformity and cooperation can be a very powerful influence on those who hear our cause. ACRA’s creed of acting as the voice of the American car rental industry can only be accomplished with your continuing membership and economic support. Together, we can make a difference.”
Joe Knight embodied the heart and soul of ACRA by being involved and supportive and proving that together the car rental industry can and does make a difference. He was a legend who left a legacy for all to admire and emulate.
2024 International Car Rental Show
Planning is well underway for the 2024 International Car Rental Show in Las Vegas from April 15 – 17, 2024 at the Horseshoe Las Vegas. Please note the change in the standard days of the 2024 show – it will run from Monday through Wednesday (rather than Sunday through Tuesday). ACRA members again will receive a special discount registration rate for the 2024 ICRS – a discount that for many is more than your 2024 ACRA membership dues! So – don’t delay! When you receive your 2024 ACRA membership dues invoice from Sharon, process it quickly to take advantage of the 2024 ICRS registration discount. See you in Las Vegas in April 2024!
Mark Your Calendars – 2024 ACRA D.C. Car Rental Conference – September 15 – 18, 2024
Building on the tremendous success of the 2023 ACRA D.C. Car Rental Conference – overwhelming positive feedback on operational and political education, record attendance, record fundraising for ACRAPAC, and dozens of meetings with legislators and their staff on key ACRA federal policy issues – the ACRA Board of Directors has set the 2024 ACRA D.C. Car Rental Conference for Sunday through Wednesday, September 15 – 18, 2024. Mark your calendars! ACRA will return again to the Westin Gateway Arlington and will focus a day on operational education session from expert speakers, a day on political education from key stakeholders and legislators, and a day of “citizen lobbying” on Capitol Hill to build relationships and advance the interests of the car rental industry as a whole.
Stay tuned for additional details. Remember, the 2023 and 2024 ACRA D.C. Conferences sold out and the hotel ran out of rooms for attendees. So, when the 2024 registration and hotel information is published, jump on it so be sure you are not excluded from the conference next year!
DOL/DOT EV Working Group Meeting Set – December 12 – 13, 2023
The DOT/DOE Joint Office on Energy and Transportation has set the second meeting of its Electric Vehicle Working Group for December 12 and 13 in Washington, D.C. Members of the Working Group will meet in person, while members of the public will be invited to join the meeting virtually. Please see the attached Federal Register Notice (Attachment #1) to register in advance for the next Working Group meeting.
Governor Vetoes NY VLF Bill – Again!
Governor Hochel again vetoed New York legislation to permit car rental companies to line item separately vehicle licensing fees (VLF) in the state. The governor vetoed the bill despite the fact that it received unanimous approval in the state’s Senate and Assembly. Her veto message is attached (Attachment #2). ACRA will be working with a bi-partisan group of state legislators on an effort to override the governor’s veto in the coming weeks.
House GOP Members Signal Support for Full Expensing
Over 150 Republican members of the House of Representatives signed a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson encouraging him to include an extension of full expensing for personal property in a year-end tax package that is starting to take shape on Capitol Hill. A copy of the letter is attached (Attachment #3). ACRA strongly supports the extension of full expensing through 2025 and is working with legislators in both chambers to come up with a consensus year-end tax package that would include such an extension.
Legal and Legislative Efforts to Overturn NLRB Joint Employer Rule Pile Up
Several business trade associations sued the National Labor Relations Board in federal court to overturn the agency’s new “joint employer” rule – a rule that has special significance to ACRA members engaged in franching and licensing. A copy of the complaint is attached here (Attachment #4).
At the same time, efforts on Capitol Hill to overturn the “joint employer” rule through the Congressional Review Act are moving forward. ACRA signed onto a letter (Attachment #5) with 90 other trade associations support a CRA Senate Resolution introduced by Senator Cassidy (R-LA).
ACRA Joins Comments on DOL Overtime Proposal
ACRA joined with over 200 other national, state and local business trade associations in filing comments with the Department of Labor opposing its proposed ‘overtime” rule. The comments are attached here (Attachment #6). If adopted, DOL’s proposal would triple the threshold level of salary for an employee to become eligible for overtime pay. DOL is pursuing this proposal despite the fact that a revised overtime proposal – one that has survived judicial challenge – was adopted at the end of the Trump Administration in early 2020.
FHWA Finalizes State Mobile Source GHG Rule
Despite the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down several Biden Administration efforts to regulate GHGS without specific congressional authority and the fact that several other federal agencies have held back on aggressive GHG regulation, the Federal Highway Adminstration finalized its mobile source GHG regulation on November 19, 2023 (Attachment #7). The FHWA GHG rule is sure to face judicial challenges in the near future. If the rule survives, it will empower individual states to adopt restrictions on GHG emissions from mobile sources – including rental cars – which could lead to a patchwork of diverse and potentially conflicting GHG mobile source programs across the states. ACRA will be following efforts to overturn the FHWA rule and the Board may consider joining an amicus brief with other associations opposing the new rule.
ACRA Membership Activity
New Associate/Supplier Member:
- Northland Auto Solutions, Burnsbille, MN
- Correction – Prohire Software Ltd., Sittingbourrne, UK (dern auto-correct!)
Associate/Supplier Member Renewal:
- VRCG, Royal Oak, MI
