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PEI’s Service Technician Training Manual Level II is now available for purchase. The Level II manual is designed for technicians who have mastered the basic information and skills in PEI’s highly successful Service Technician Training Manual Level I, released in 2016. 

The 34-page Level II resource includes nine chapters with photos, diagrams and easy-to-read explanations that will help technicians develop the technical skills required to advance in their chosen profession:

1. Introduction 
2. Troubleshooting and Station Operations
3. Electrical
4. Point of Sale (POS) and Site Communications
5. Tanks, Piping & Hydraulics
6. Dispensing
7. Release Detection
8. Fuel, Fluids and Product Quality
9. Service Technician Safety. 

The Service Technician Training Manual Level II is $50 for PEI members and $250 for nonmembers. PEI thanks the association’s Service Technician Training Manual Committee for its work on this project:

• Denis Chaney, McKinney Petroleum Equipment
• Joey Cheek, Guardian Fueling Technologies
• Clif Coker, Seneca Co.
• Jim Ether, R.M. Dalrymple Co.
• Blake Hess, The Oscar W. Larson Co.
• John Keller, Petroleum Solutions Inc.
• Ed Kubinsky, Crompco
• William Logue, Tanknology
• Mike Mizicko, Western Pump
• Jody Porter, E.O. Habhegger Co.
• Ray Rees, PASS Training & Compliance
• Jay Ruth, PumpTex Inc.
• Ben Stallings, Fatboy Electric Inc.
• Jim Streitz, Tait Environmental Services Inc.
• Loren Swalheim, Franklin Fueling Systems
• Alex Ralston, Petcon Inc. (consultant to the committee)

California Invests in Clean Fueling Infrastructure

CALIFORNIA PLEDGES $82.7 MILLION FOR CLEAN FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE
The California Energy Commission (CEC) announced a $82.7 million initiative for clean fueling infrastructure. The CEC plan includes $32.7 million for light-duty electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, $30 million for medium- and heavy-duty EV infrastructure, and $20 million for hydrogen refueling infrastructure.

"This plan makes strategic investments in zero-emission fuels and technologies, including charging infrastructure, that will help the state reach its climate and clean air goals," said Patty Monahan, CEC commissioner.

DOL RELEASES FINAL OVERTIME RULE
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule Sept. 24, raising the threshold salary for exemption to the overtime requirements for executive, administrative, professional and computing employees. 

The rule, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2020, increases the minimum overtime-exempt salary from $455 per week ($23,660 annually) to $684 per week ($35,568 annually). Employers may count certain bonuses and commissions in the salary computations. 

The overtime exemption adjustments are the first since 2004. A 2016 Obama administration proposal that would have raised the annual salary threshold to $47,476 was struck down in federal court shortly before it took effect. 

The Obama-era proposal also would have automatically increased the salary threshold every three years. The final rule adopted this week commits only to “regularly” updating the salary threshold through the traditional rulemaking notice and comment process. 

The DOL estimates that 1.3 million additional U.S. workers will qualify for overtime as a result of its new rule.

PEI MEMBER NEWS
Cree Lighting named Dylan Cook regional manager of petroleum lighting for 13 states in the southwest and southeastern U.S. Cook, who has six years of industry experience, will work closely with Cree’s representatives, RJ Sales & Associates and Caliber Professional Sales.
Freedom Electronics named Patrick Jeitler CEO, effective Sept. 30. Jeitler has more than 20 years of industry experience, most recently as director of services for Wayne/Dover Fueling Solutions. Rod Smith remains as chairman of the board and will concentrate on strategic growth, mergers and acquisitions. Read more...
Jarvis Lighting is relocating its facility from Elk Grove Village, Illinois, to 1078 National Parkway, Schaumburg, IL 60173.
Jones & Frank acquired Texas-based Petroleum Solutions Inc. (“PSI”). The newly-acquired distributor will operate as Jones & Frank’s Southwest region under the continued leadership of Mark Barron and John Keller. PSI CEO Tom Barron intends to retire but will provide consulting assistance during the transition. Read more...
Jones & Frank opened a new service branch and distribution warehouse in Tampa, Florida. This new location will serve central and western Florida customers.
Jones & Frank hired Brad Crawford as director of business development for the midwest region, effective Sept. 30. He will be based in the company’s Dayton, Ohio office. Read more...
Matrix Capital Markets Group announced three appointments: Matt C. Oldhouser, CPA, senior analyst with Matrix’s Consumer & Industrial Products Group; Filip Zigic, analyst in Matrix’s Downstream Energy & Convenience Retail Group; and Duncan C. Rogers, analyst with the Consumer & Industrial Products Group.
Pine Run Construction announced that Gregory Dubas will step down as president after 35 years of leading the company he founded. His son Brian Dubas will take over the company’s ownership and management. Gregory Dubas will remain active in the company.
RDM Industrial Electronics Inc. will open a fully stocked branch at 1811 Executive Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46241, this fall. The branch will provide one-day UPS ground shipping to Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois and St. Louis. Read more...

BRIEFLY NOTED
“A coalition of 23 states and the District of Columbia is challenging the Trump administration’s final rule preempting California’s vehicle greenhouse gas standards, filing suit in district court even before the policy has been officially published in the Federal Register.” — Inside EPA, Sept. 26, 2019
“Amazon’s plan to run on 100% renewable energy by 2030 will include 100,000 battery-electric delivery vans, which the e-commerce giant will purchase from Rivian Automotive Inc. ... This deal follows a $700 million investment in Rivian by Amazon earlier this year. The first Rivian vehicles would arrive in 2021.” — Fleet Owner, Sept. 23, 2019
“Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) is getting ready to launch its own network of petrol stations, which will be developed and operated by the state-owned petroleum company to compete against its Pemex franchise as well as new market players. The network will be called “Pemex Red” and will be formed by some 500 gas stations.” — PetrolPlaza, Sept. 20, 2019

DEATHS
John Chrien, 99, died Sept. 19. In 1961, Chrien founded Service Station Equipment Co., dba SSECO Solutions, which continues in business today under the leadership of his son David and David’s wife Diana. He also launched Preform Trench Drain Co. in 1970. Read more...
Joseph A. Petix, 76, died April 5, 2019. Petix’s 58-year career in the petroleum equipment industry included stints at AAMCO and Universal Valve. From 1985 until his retirement in 2016, he worked for PEMCO.
Gilbert “Gil” Wood died Sept. 25. Wood was involved in the petroleum equipment industry for more than 40 years, including work with Gilbarco and various distribution companies. In his last few working years, he managed c-store reimaging projects in the Houston area.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS
Egyptian manufacturer. NCSS, 12 A Hassan Sabri, Zamalek, Cairo 12211, Egypt, applied for service and construction division membership. Amir Emad Shoukry is the owner of the company, which was established in 1971. NCSS manufactures steel tanks and steel-related products for fueling equipment. Sponsored for PEI membership by Alain G. Rondeau, Durapipe, Cannock, UK.
www.ncss-eg.com

California manufacturer. Clean World Distribution Inc., 28462 Constellation Road, Valencia, CA 91355, applied for affiliate division membership. Allen Choi is CEO of the firm, which was established in 2003. Clean World Distribution manufactures mat cleaners. Sponsored for PEI membership by Robert Morris, Sonny’s Enterprises Inc., Tamarac, Florida.
www.rhino-mat.com

Missouri service provider. Third Party Testing, 652 Mistwood Bluff Road, Camdenton, MO 65020, applied for service and construction division membership. Michael McClain is the owner of the firm, which was established in 2013. Third Party Testing performs compliance testing for cathodic protection, tank tightness, line tightness, spill buckets, overfill equipment, automatic tank gauges and statistical inventory reconciliation (SIR). Sponsored for PEI membership by Chris Monroe, Monroe & Monroe Insurance, Arlington, Texas.

Texas service company. Tech Solutions, 14504 Long Shadow Ave., El Paso, TX 79938, applied for service and construction division membership. Juan Garcia is the owner of the company, which was established in 2012. Tech Solutions provides service and installation of petroleum equipment and is certified to calibrate in Texas and New Mexico. Sponsored for PEI membership by Bob Kempf, APS International Inc., Loveland, Colorado.

Colombian affiliate. Insepet S.A.S., Carrera 90 N 17B-75, Bodega 20, Bogota, Cundinamarca 110911, Colombia, applied for affiliate division membership. Sergio Mahecha Alvarez is key account manager for the firm, which was established in 1995. Insepet S.A.S. represents Gilbarco Veeder-Root in Colombia. Sponsored for PEI membership by Evan Reid, Gilbarco Veeder-Root, Greensboro, North Carolina.
www.insepet.com

California construction company. Armer/Norman & Associates, 2600 Williams St., San Leandro, CA 94577, applied for service and construction division membership. Pete Cochran is president of the firm, which was established in 1969. Armer/Norman & Associates provides construction of underground and aboveground fueling systems, convenience stores and car washes. Sponsored for PEI membership by Mark Able, Service Station Systems Inc., San Jose, California.
www.armer-norman.com

Thailand maintenance company. B. P. S. Maintenance Service Co. Ltd., 15 Soi Chaloeamphrakiat 48 Junction 4, Chaloeamphrakiat Rama 9 Road, Dokmai, Prawet, Bangkok 10250, Thailand, has applied for service and construction division membership. Pat Sapanon is representative for the firm, which was established in 1988. B. P. S. Maintenance Service Co. specializes in the maintenance of gas stations and tank farms. Sponsored for PEI membership by Brad Estabrook, Estabrook’s Inc., Essexville, Michigan.
www.bps-ms.com

ADMITTED TO PEI

• Combe90 Engineering, Johannesburg, South Africa (service & construction)
• Hughes Tank Co. Inc., Venus, Texas (manufacturer)
• Petroleum Line and Tank, Sperry, Oklahoma (distributor)
• Quality Petro Services, Danbury, Connecticut (distributor)
• Imagine Commercial Solutions, Centerton, Arkansas (affiliate)
• Your Environmental Specialist, Nederland, Texas (service & construction)
• Galen James, Quick Fuel/Flyers Energy, Townsend, Georgia (operations & engineering)
• Jason Shaw, Self Serve Petroleum, South San Francisco, California (operations & engineering)
• Toni Von Ruden, EG Retail (America), Cincinnati, Ohio (operations & engineering)
• Jose Garcia-Casas, GARCA Energy SA de CV, Mexico City, Mexico (operations & engineering)
• Michael Swartz, M. Swartz Co., Ewing, New Jersey (operations & engineering)

© 2019
Petroleum Equipment Institute
P. O. Box 2380
Tulsa, OK 74101-2380

The TulsaLetter (ISSN 0193-9467) is published two or three times each month by the Petroleum Equipment Institute. Richard C. Long, Editor. Opinions expressed are the opinions of the Editor. Basic circulation confined to PEI members.