Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Kickbacks
CLEVELAND – Ulysses Bradley, manager of the vehicle maintenance facility (VMF) for the United States Postal Service (USPS) serving the Northern District of Ohio, was recently charged with one count of conspiracy to commit theft of U.S. government property and misappropriation of postal funds, according to a release by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Bradley, 42, oversaw local branch offices in Parma, Shaker Heights, Akron, Canton, and Youngstown and was responsible for approving payments for service and maintenance for all USPS vehicles, in addition to selling used USPS vehicles.
Prosecutors said Bradley approved fake invoices for high-dollar maintenance and detailing work on post office vehicles between May 13, 2004 and Aug. 15, 2008, reported the Plain Dealer.
According to the DOJ, Bradley and others allegedly prepared and approved false invoices submitted to the U.S. Postal Service in order to receive funds for vehicle washing/waxing work never performed and used the names of fictitious or third-party companies to prepare and submit fictitious payment requests to receive funds for high-end vehicle maintenance work never performed. Bradley, using his authority as a certifying officer, would reportedly approve the payments stating the work had been performed when he knew that it had not.
more...
CLEVELAND – Ulysses Bradley, manager of the vehicle maintenance facility (VMF) for the United States Postal Service (USPS) serving the Northern District of Ohio, was recently charged with one count of conspiracy to commit theft of U.S. government property and misappropriation of postal funds, according to a release by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Bradley, 42, oversaw local branch offices in Parma, Shaker Heights, Akron, Canton, and Youngstown and was responsible for approving payments for service and maintenance for all USPS vehicles, in addition to selling used USPS vehicles.
Prosecutors said Bradley approved fake invoices for high-dollar maintenance and detailing work on post office vehicles between May 13, 2004 and Aug. 15, 2008, reported the Plain Dealer.
According to the DOJ, Bradley and others allegedly prepared and approved false invoices submitted to the U.S. Postal Service in order to receive funds for vehicle washing/waxing work never performed and used the names of fictitious or third-party companies to prepare and submit fictitious payment requests to receive funds for high-end vehicle maintenance work never performed. Bradley, using his authority as a certifying officer, would reportedly approve the payments stating the work had been performed when he knew that it had not.
more...
Sunday, November 8, 2009
NORTH SALT LAKE, Utah (ABC 4 News) – Florida authorities shot a Utah man wanted for environmental crimes.
Larkin Baggett is the first ever eco-fugitive arrested in the nation.
In December, the Environmental Protection Agency listed Baggett as a wanted man.
Yesterday Baggett was wounded in a shootout at a trailer park in Marathon Florida.
Two years ago he emptied out his business in North Salt Lake and disappeared after being charged with dumping hazardous chemicals into the sewer system.
more...
Larkin Baggett is the first ever eco-fugitive arrested in the nation.
In December, the Environmental Protection Agency listed Baggett as a wanted man.
Yesterday Baggett was wounded in a shootout at a trailer park in Marathon Florida.
Two years ago he emptied out his business in North Salt Lake and disappeared after being charged with dumping hazardous chemicals into the sewer system.
more...
Wash Bay Fails
Penndot Pulls Plug On $300,000 Truck Wash
Taxpayers Stuck With Bill After Project Backfires
A massive machine meant to save money and go green at Penndot's maintenance facility in Greensburg hasn't been used in months.
The automated truck washing system was built at a cost of $278,000.
It's an elaborate system of pipes and sprayers connected to several huge water tanks housed in a building.
"When it was initially built it was a state wide pilot project to try to be more environmentally friendly with washing equipment, " said Penndot Manager Tim Cook.
Cook said the plan was to use the facility to wash all Penndot trucks in Westmoreland County. Trucks had been going to a local car wash where drivers pressure washed them by hand.
But there were problems from the very beginning.
The truck washing equipment was installed first, but because of permit issues it took another year to install the electrical system.
During that time, the warranty on the wash expired.
Shortly after it went on line, some of the equipment began to fail.
read more...
This is actually good for us as fleet washers. Companies, fleet managers, and business owners are starting to see the benefit of hiring a professional environmentally compliant mobile truck washing company. These wash bays are not cost effective. The maintenance costs involved and chemical costs could cover the price of hiring a professional environmentally compliant mobile truck washing company. The costs for electricity, water and sewer swelled to $10,000 to $15,000 a month, definitely not the savings they hoped for. And the sprayers on the ground couldn't reach up under the trucks. WOW! That says it all! This doesn't even mention the EPA and the new attention they are drawing to themselves. You may be thinking... They have a full loop system that remains EPA compliant. Your right they do, but who needs that extra attention from enforcement agencies. We remove that liability from the client and make sure we stay compliant. That's are job!
Taxpayers Stuck With Bill After Project Backfires
A massive machine meant to save money and go green at Penndot's maintenance facility in Greensburg hasn't been used in months.
The automated truck washing system was built at a cost of $278,000.
It's an elaborate system of pipes and sprayers connected to several huge water tanks housed in a building.
"When it was initially built it was a state wide pilot project to try to be more environmentally friendly with washing equipment, " said Penndot Manager Tim Cook.
Cook said the plan was to use the facility to wash all Penndot trucks in Westmoreland County. Trucks had been going to a local car wash where drivers pressure washed them by hand.
But there were problems from the very beginning.
The truck washing equipment was installed first, but because of permit issues it took another year to install the electrical system.
During that time, the warranty on the wash expired.
Shortly after it went on line, some of the equipment began to fail.
read more...
This is actually good for us as fleet washers. Companies, fleet managers, and business owners are starting to see the benefit of hiring a professional environmentally compliant mobile truck washing company. These wash bays are not cost effective. The maintenance costs involved and chemical costs could cover the price of hiring a professional environmentally compliant mobile truck washing company. The costs for electricity, water and sewer swelled to $10,000 to $15,000 a month, definitely not the savings they hoped for. And the sprayers on the ground couldn't reach up under the trucks. WOW! That says it all! This doesn't even mention the EPA and the new attention they are drawing to themselves. You may be thinking... They have a full loop system that remains EPA compliant. Your right they do, but who needs that extra attention from enforcement agencies. We remove that liability from the client and make sure we stay compliant. That's are job!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Mobile Truck Washing Forum
FleetWashingAcademy
The FWA is a group of contractors in the mobile truck washing industry that have come together to network, share, learn and grow their business and their industry. They welcome new members and share with respect to this growing industry. The FWA is growing in members every day. The FWA is currently the only fleet washing forum on the web. There are bi weekly chats discussing structured topics and some not so structured. The chats occur every other Thursday night at 9pm EST. Some of the most respected names in the industry frequent the FWA.
The FWA is a group of contractors in the mobile truck washing industry that have come together to network, share, learn and grow their business and their industry. They welcome new members and share with respect to this growing industry. The FWA is growing in members every day. The FWA is currently the only fleet washing forum on the web. There are bi weekly chats discussing structured topics and some not so structured. The chats occur every other Thursday night at 9pm EST. Some of the most respected names in the industry frequent the FWA.
Wash.Reclaim.Recycle
Wash.Reclaim.Recycle
Wash.Reclaim.Recycle
We offer full reclamation of water which is then filtered and recycled with every wash. Our name says it all. Whether you are a professional trying to portray the right image to your clients or a home owner with a sense of pride, we can serve your needs. We have the experience, equipment, and know how to tackle any job thrown our way. Our goal at Clean Image is to provide our clients with the best that the industry has to offer. We are well equipped with top of the line machines and, spare no expense for the quality of our work. We work year round and provide services for those who do the same. We understand that our client's image is important and we take pride in doing our part to maintain their clean image.
Mobile Truck Washing and the EPA
This industry is increasingly becoming more and more environmentally conscience. If you own a fleet washing company chances are you know what reclamation is. BMP's (Best Management Practices) often include the reclamation of all waste water used in the mobile truck washing process. The methods for reclamation can be as simple as you make them. With that being said they can also be as difficult and expensive as you make them. Visit the Fleet Washing Academy to learn more on the processes and procedures.
What does this mean for the small fleet washing outfits? It's simple get compliant or risk everything. Make a sincere effort if nothing else to show the EPA in those bad situations that you are at least attempting to become compliant. You can become compliant with a small investment and some set up time before each job. Fleet owners and managers are becoming more and more aware of the EPA standards and requiring that their fleet wash contractor reclaim all waste water. This means if you do not become compliant large fleets will not even consider your company for the contract. This is a wave of regulations moving across the entire pressure washing industry.
Trevor W. Steel
owner
Clean image Pressure Washing
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