Don’t Miss It — 2024 ACRA D.C. Car Rental Conference Almost Sold Out
Join your car rental industry colleagues at ACRA’s 2024 D.C. Car Rental Conference – the largest D.C. conference in ACRA’s history! There are still about 10 spaces left for late registrants, although the ACRA hotel room block is sold out. To register for the conference, click here: Registration for 2024 ACRA D.C. Conference. Also, there are a couple of hotels that are easy walking distance from the Westin Arlington, so securing a nearby room shouldn’t be an issue.
Click here to review the updated draft schedule
OSHA Publishes Heat Proposed Rules
The Occupational Health & Standards Administration (OSHA) of the Department of Labor published its proposed rule on heat working condition standards for employees on August 30, 2024 (Attachment #2). Comments on the proposal will be due December 30, 2024. ACRA likely will join with other business groups in filing comments on the proposed rule – unless members identify industry-specific issues that should be addressed separately in ACRA-only comments.
Groups File Joint Letter on Catalytic Converter Theft Bill
120 organizations filed a letter to Senate leaders urging them to include an amendment on catalytic converter theft in the Senate’s FY 2025 defense authorization bill (Attachment #3). ACRA has supported the catalytic converter theft bill for the last 2 years and hopes that Congress can find an appropriate legislative vehicle to see the bill enacted into law in 2024.
State Activities
- Delaware – Delaware’s governor signed legislation on 8/12/24 prohibiting car rental companies – including peer-to-peer car rental companies – from seeking to recover “loss of use” fees from renters when a vehicle is damaged during a rental. The bill (Attachment #4) does not go into effect until August 1, 2025, so there is an opportunity to ACRA members operating in Delaware to seek and amendment or repeal of the new law prior to its 2025 effective date.
- Colorado – ACRA’s Board of Directors continues to discuss a potential judicial challenge to the $3/day Colorado rental vehicle fee that is due to take effect on January 1, 2025. ACRA lobbied against the bill in the Colorado legislature, but Colorado’s governor and legislature were not persuaded by the arguments of ACRA and other stakeholders that such a fee is pre-empted by federal airport anti-revenue diversion laws. Stay tuned for updates on this front in the coming weeks.
ACRAPAC D.C. Congressional Reception
ACRAPAC’s Congressional Reception at the D.C. Car Rental Conference in September will be on the evening of September 17, 2024 at Charlie Palmer’s Steak on Capitol Hill. Attendees are limited to 2024 ACRAPAC contributors. The following legislators have been invited to join ACRA regular and associate member executives at the ACRAPAC reception:
- Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and author of the “Graves Amendment” on vicarious liability;
- Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), Ranking Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee;
- Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL), Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee;
- Rep. John Curtis (R-UT), Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Republican Nominee for Utah’s Senate seat that is open due to the retirement of Sen. Romney;
- Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL) – Member of the House Appropriations Committee; and,
- Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) – Member of the House Appropriation Committee.
If you have questions about ACRAPAC, please contact Sharon or Greg either before or during the D.C. conference.
FTC Cracks Down on Fake Reviews: The Final Frontier of Fake Testimonial Takedowns
Guest Column by Jon Dill, Director of Operations, NP Auto GroupEmail: jon.dill@npfranchisegroup.com
August 14 – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has officially unleashed its new secret weapon against the scourge of fake reviews and testimonials. That’s right, folks—no more shady reviews written by your mom’s best friend’s cousin, and certainly no AI-generated nonsense. The FTC’s final rule is here to weed out the phonies, and they’re ready to slap some serious penalties on violators.
Why Should You Care?
Fake reviews aren’t just a bad look—they’re customer kryptonite. They undermine trust, alienate potential customers, and can even turn your business into a sinking ship. Here’s why playing fast and loose with reviews is like shooting yourself in the foot:
Customer Acquisition Costs Are Skyrocketing
If you think getting new customers is pricey now, wait until your reputation is in tatters because of a few fake reviews. It’s like burning money just to keep a bad reputation afloat. Plus, once you’ve lost that trust, good luck getting it back.
Unhappy Renters = Unhappy Life
Nothing screams “disaster” like setting your customers’ expectations too high, only for them to be crushed by reality. A disappointed renter is a costly renter. Happy renters are like golden geese; unhappy ones are like ticking time bombs—ready to explode all over your bottom line.
Ad Costs: Going Up When They Should Be Going Down
Long-term, your advertising dollars should be getting you more bang for your buck. But with a trail of unhappy customers, expect those costs to climb faster than you can say, “fake review.”
The Word on the Street
Your customers are supposed to be your biggest cheerleaders, not your worst critics. People do business with those they know and trust, and if you’ve lost that trust, they’re more likely to badmouth you than sing your praises. And trust me, those repeat customers? They’re the ones who make your balance sheet smile.
The Verdict
It’s a bummer, but let’s be honest: it was inevitable. The FTC had to step in, and if these fake review shenanigans continue, expect more rules and regulations to roll out. So, let’s not give Uncle Sam a reason to tell us how to run our businesses, okay?
Bottom Line
There’s not an infinite supply of customers out there. Treat them well, and they’ll stick around. Treat them poorly, and at best – they just won’t rent from you again. Success isn’t just about getting customers; it’s about keeping them coming back for more.
Outsourcing Fine and Toll Management can Optimize Your Car Rental Business
Guest Column by Kennedi Philson, Operations Assistant, SAFO Group Email: k.philson@safogroup.com
Much like unexpected potholes in the road, fine and toll violations catch rental car operators off guard and damage financial resources. While your business and fleet grow, effective management of fines, toll penalties, and compliance related costs can become increasingly more challenging to manage.
Instead of taking on these frustrations, consider these reasons on how outsourcing toll management can relieve the burden and allow you to focus on essential business processes:
- Cost Savings: Cost savings are the most direct benefit of effective fine management. Over time traffic fines can represent a significant cost of fleet management, especially when they are numerous. A small fine that is left unpaid or not paid on time can result in several violation costs, even leading to a hold on a vehicle’s registration. By proactively outsourcing management, companies can remove the hassle of dealing with avoidable costs that result from processing fines.
- Administrative Efficiency: Managing fines and tolls tends to be a cumbersome and error-prone process. It involves tracking multiple vehicles, verifying violations, billing customers, and making sure payments are made on time. By using commercial toll experts that utilize advanced analytics tools, business intelligence, and other technologies, it ensures these tasks can be handled efficiently and accurately. Rental operators can reduce the burden on their staff, which allows them to focus on other core aspects of business.
- Legal Compliance & Risk Mitigation: Car rental companies must comply with several legal requirements pertaining to fines and tolls. Failure to do so leads to additional penalties and legal complications. Effective management guarantees the company stays compliant. The systems used also help operators mitigate risks of financial losses and legal disputes from nonpayment of tolls and fines.
- Enhancing Customer Satisfaction: Effective fine and toll management systems contribute to a positive customer experience by providing transparency & convenience. Clear communication about potential fines and toll charges at the time of rental helps customers understand their conditions and avoid surprises later. Maintaining fine management also shows a company’s commitment to regulatory compliance and ethical business practices, which in turn leads to a positive reputation.
Partnering using toll management services is a strategic move that allows companies to focus on their core business activities while ensuring that their toll and fines are handled by experts. As the car rental industry continues to evolve, outsourcing fine and toll management contributes to the overall success and sustainability of a company.
ACRA Membership Activity
New Regular/Operator Member
- Regent Rent A Car, Kingdom of Bahrain
