“Walker Automotive of Alexandria earns national recognition - Alexandria Daily Town Talk” plus 4 more

Walker Automotive of Alexandria earns national recognition - Alexandria Daily Town Talk
The Government Issues No Set Guide For Automotive Insurance Companies ... - Best Syndication
Rental cars in short supply - Tulsa World
Showing off some fancy wheels - Sterling Journal-Advocate
Business Log: Berks Saturn franchise signs on with Penske - Reading Eagle

Walker Automotive of Alexandria earns national recognition - Alexandria Daily Town Talk

Posted: 19 Sep 2009 12:44 AM PDT

Walker Automotive Group of Alexandria has been recognized as one of the nation's most successful used-car dealerships by a leading trade publication.

Ward's Dealer Business releases its rankings of used-car dealerships each September based on revenue. This year, Walker Automotive ranked No. 21. It was the only Louisiana dealership in the top 150.

"This ranking marks a significant achievement for our business," said Foster Walker, president of Walker Automotive. "In a year when the industry is showing signs of slowing, Walker Automotive continues to excel in all of our operations. This is a real testament to the people in our organization. We are fortunate to have a great sales and management team.

"They work hard each day and are passionate about their profession. Their enthusiasm shows through our continued growth in a time when the industry as a whole is struggling."

In 2008, Walker Automotive sold more than 2,100 used vehicles with a total revenue of more than $40 million. It was recently ranked No. 64 on the Ward's list of the nation's largest dealerships.

Walker Automotive, founded in 1919, carries several new-car lines, including BMW, Honda and Mercedes-Benz.

Ward's Dealer Business is distributed monthly to more than 25,000 automobile dealers.

On the Web: www.walkerautomotive.com and www.wardsdealer.com.

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The Government Issues No Set Guide For Automotive Insurance Companies ... - Best Syndication

Posted: 18 Sep 2009 02:43 PM PDT

September 11, 2009 — Insurance Companies Let You Know How to Reduce Your Premium by Improving the Safety of Your Vehicle. It is mandatory for you to buy an automotive insurance policy when you purchase a new or used vehicle. Anyone can find auto insurance. The hard part is finding the right amount of coverage for an affordable rate. Your state will require you to carry a certain amount of auto insurance on your vehicle. This is known as the minimum amount you can have. This is not to say this is the best amount of coverage for you as that will have to be based on your own person needs.

The government does not have a basic guideline that all automotive insurance companies must abide by. Due to this, each insurance company sets their own rates as they want to for gaining profit. This is why your insurance rate can vary so much from one company to the next.

Currently, it has come to the attention of many that the type of vehicle you drive will dramatically affect the quotes you will receive. The less expensive a car is, the less your insurance premium will be since this will require them to pay out less if the car has to be replaced. The auto insurance companies will decide, on an individual basis, what your risk amount is. This will cause your premium to go up or down. If you have a brand new Corvette and you are 18 years old, your premium will be much higher than a 30 year old that drives a Honda.

Insurance companies have given a list of things that you can do to help reduce the amount of your insurance premium. Following these guidelines can help to save you some money when it comes to making sure you have the best coverage for you.

1. Replacing your expensive SUV with a less expensive car can make your payments much lower.

2. Keep a watch on the amount of miles you use within a year. The less miles you use, the less chance they assume you will be in an accident.

3. Whenever possible, ask your parents to add you to their existing policy if you are 25 years of age or younger. This will reduce the amount you will have to pay on a new policy.

4. If you are currently a student, they will offer you a discount for continually having good grades.

5. Having a security alarm, air bags, and anti-lock brake system on your car can dramatically reduce your premium.

6. Change your deductible to a higher amount. This will make the insurance company have less to pay when you file a claim. Keep in mind that this will be the amount you are required to pay before the insurance will kick in.

It is always recommended to speak with your automotive insurance agent to inquire of other discounts that might be available to you. Not all insurance companies will let you know upfront if you qualify for a discount. Asking is the only way you will get it.

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Rental cars in short supply - Tulsa World

Posted: 19 Sep 2009 12:30 AM PDT

Rental cars are getting harder to find on some weekdays at Tulsa International Airport and throughout the nation, airport and rental car executives said.

"We're getting complaints that rental cars are not available," Carl Remus, deputy airports director of finance and administration, told airport trustees Thursday. "Throughout the country, rental car companies' inventory is very thin."

In response to the recession and decreasing airline passenger traffic, rental car companies have reduced their fleets during the past year, company executives said.

Tulsa-based Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc., the parent of Dollar Rent A Car and Thrifty Car Rental, operated an average of 104,648 vehicles during the first six months of the year, a 12.9 percent decrease compared with the same period a year ago, according to company documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

"Rental fleets are running very tight this year and I expect will continue to be very tight for some time to come," said Scott L. Thompson, Dollar Thrifty's president and CEO. "With the increases in interest cost that lenders have passed on to the rental car industry, the rental car companies have had to run higher utiliiztion and be more conservative in their fleet plans.

"Customers should book a little further in advance of their trip to ensure they have the needed vehicle."

Alexis Higgins, marketing director at Tulsa International Airport, said all of the rental car operators at the airport —

Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty — were out of rental cars on Wednesday.

"I e-mailed all the rental car managers and they told me there is a smaller (rental car) supply than needed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It's a weekly thing," Higgins said.

John Barrows, spokesman for Avis Rent A Car System LLC in Parsippany, N.J., said customers who reserve vehicles in advance are able to find them.

"We have been managing our fleet in this economy so we have vehicles in line with projected demand," Barrows said. "Demand, obviously, is significantly down and our fleet is smaller as a result."

His advice?

"Make a reservation as far in advance as you are comfortable doing," Barrows said.

In other airport business reported, airline passenger traffic at Tulsa International Airport continues to lag behind the traffic of 2008 although last month it rose above double-digit decreases, airport executives said.

In August, 248,726 passengers boarded or deplaned commercial aircraft in Tulsa, a 9.8 percent decrease compared with August 2008.

For the first eight months, airline passenger traffic totaled 1.88 million people, a 14.3 percent decrease compared with the same period last year.

"It's going to be a slow climb back" to pre-2008 passenger levels, said Airports Director Jeff Mulder.

Trustees of the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust this week welcomed a new member, Bruce G. Bolzle, principal, KMO Development Group Inc., a real estate development firm at 224 E. Eighth St.

He succeeds Dewey Bartlett Jr., who resigned last month to run for mayor of the City of Tulsa.

Trustee Charles Sublett said he was pleased to have onboard Bolzle's construction and development expertise — an area in which Sublett said he lacked experience.

During the next five years, trustees will be overseeing more than $80 million in passenger terminal and runway construction projects, airport executives said.

Bolzle received a Bachelor of Architecture degree with honors from Rice University, Houston, Texas, in 1972.

He served as a member of the board of directors of the Economic Development Commission from 2006 until he was named chairman earlier this year.

Bolzle is a real estate broker in Oklahoma, a registered architect in Texas and a member of the Greater Tulsa Association of Realtors.

D.R. Stewart 581-8451
don.stewart@tulsaworld.com

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Showing off some fancy wheels - Sterling Journal-Advocate

Posted: 18 Sep 2009 11:47 PM PDT

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Business Log: Berks Saturn franchise signs on with Penske - Reading Eagle

Posted: 18 Sep 2009 09:02 PM PDT

Reading Eagle

The owner of Saturn of Reading confirmed Friday that her firm has received, signed and returned sales and service agreements from Roger Penske.

The agreements signal that the automotive icon is nearing the completion of a deal to buy the brand from General Motors Co.

"I think things are pretty much wrapping up," said Kate G. Goodman, owner of the Muhlenberg Township franchise.

Goodman noted that the initial agreement between Penske and GM in June stipulated that the deal was to be finalized by the end of the third quarter.

"I think they're very close to that," Goodman said. "They're organizing some rollout launch meetings for the first week of October. So I think we're a go."

The June agreement - a memorandum of understanding - would give Penske's dealership chain, Penske Automotive Group, Saturn's 350 dealerships.

Penske said at that time that he expected to offer all the dealers new franchise agreements.

GM's sale of Saturn was part of the troubled automaker's turnaround plan.

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Steve Rotay, owner of Paul Davis Restoration & Remodeling, Lancaster, opened Paul Davis Emergency Services Reading, a division of disaster restoration services based in Wyomissing.

Previously Paul Davis Restoration served Berks County from its headquarters in Lancaster.

The new company specializes in immediate response services for property damage. Services offered include clean-up of water/flood damage, fire/smoke damage, emergency board up/structure stabilization, structural drying, mold removal and prevention.

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Fidelity Technologies Corp., Muhlenberg Township, announced it has refurbished a flight simulator motion system at the Naval Air Station in Norfolk, Va.

The simulator is for the MH-53E Helicopter and used primarily for Airborne Mine Counter-Measures.

Fidelity Technologies provides services and products to government clients in the areas of simulation and training, field support services, military and aerospace manufacturing, and meteorological products and systems.