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Managing Your Sweeping Business By The Numbers
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Published date: 4/21/08
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Part of our Contractors' Coach series:
Take a look at what it takes, in terms of contact numbers, to get the results you want and need.
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Perception: Sweeping Contractors Cheat Business Customers at Night
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Published date: 4/12/08
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This 'expert writer' for a popular web-based ezine has a poor opinion of parking area sweepers in general. How would you answer his critique?
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California Air Resources Board Proposes New Rules for Sweeper Chassis Engine Emissions
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Published date: 4/09/08
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The agency has street-class sweepers included for impending regulation. Unless regulatory changes are made, the upshot is that most current sweepers over 14,000 GVW that are now in operation in California will be out of compliance starting in 2011.
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Outline of the 2008 Economic Stimulus Package
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Published date: 4/05/08
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The 2008 Economic Stimulus Act offers significant incentives to spur business investment.
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Customer Fuel Surcharges: When, How, and How Much?
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Published date: 4/03/08
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In a time of fast-moving fuel prices, don't let your margins erode because you haven't added in a fuel surcharge to customers. Four top contractors tell what they do in this regard.
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Tips for Improving Fuel Economy
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Published date: 3/22/08
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Fuel prices have never risen so quickly. Here are a variety of tips for conserving fuel usage, which will help you keep a line on costs and stay competitive with your bidding.
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Practice Makes Perfect - Especially With Conversations
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Published date: 3/18/08
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If you want to maximize your results and not get caught offguard, then practice all sides of an important conversation before it takes place.
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Five Ways to Keep Your Customers Coming Back for More
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Published date: 3/13/08
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At times it seems as though quality customer service is a
thing of the past. Some companies just don't appear to
care about keeping their clientele happy. If only they
knew how damaging this is to their business.
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Recession Marketing: The Rules Change
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Published date: 3/11/08
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In a recession, consumers become value oriented, distributors are concerned about cash, and employees worry about their jobs. But a downturn is no time to stop spending on marketing. The key, says professor John Quelch, is to understand how the needs of your customers and partners change, and adapt your strategies to the new reality.
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Gabriel Vitale presents: 'Selling Service vs. Selling Price' at NPE 2008
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Published date: 3/11/08
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Gabriel Vitale, principal in C and L Sweeper Service, provides a synopsis of the results of the discussion group he led on the ways to (and value of) selling service instead of relying on being the low bidder.
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Gerry Kesselring presents: 'Determining Your Costs of Doing Business,' at NPE 2008
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Published date: 3/06/08
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This year's NPE offered a seminar moderated by Uri Ben-Yashar, of East Coast Lot and Pavement Maintenance. During the seminar, attendees separated into groups and brainstormed on different selected topics.
This is the audio from one of the resulting topical presentations.
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Debbie Jacketta presents: 'Alternatives, Given the Current Cost of New Sweepers,' at NPE 2008
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Published date: 3/03/08
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This year's NPE offered a seminar moderated by Uri Ben-Yashar, of East Coast Lot and Pavement Maintenance. During the seminar, attendees separated into groups and brainstormed on different selected topics.
This is the audio from one of the resulting topical presentations.
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Mike Lucht presents: 'Alternatives, Given the Current Cost of New Sweepers,' at NPE 2008
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Published date: 2/28/08
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This year's NPE offered a seminar moderated by Uri Ben-Yashar, of East Coast Lot and Pavement Maintenance. During the seminar, attendees separated into groups and brainstormed on different selected topics.
This is the audio from one of the resulting topical presentations.
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Marketing Ideas That Work
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Published date: 2/21/08
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Part of our Contractors' Coach series:
To generate the volume of quality leads your business needs to achieve your sales goals, you need marketing systems for seven basic areas. Today, we cover what these are and how to fully utilize them.
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Elgin-Sponsored Women in Sweeping Breakfast, NPE 2008
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Published date: 2/20/08
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Catharine Cyr Ransom is a member of The Accord Group, which is the company hired by Elgin Sweepers to be their lobbyist for power sweeping interests. Ms. Ransom spoke at Elgin's Women in Sweeping Breakfast during NPE 2008.
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New Items for the Tip Clipboard
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Published date: 2/12/08
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Two new sweeping tips have been added. One covers a way to keep track of what your property managers need via your cell phone memo and photo functions.
The other is a tip from WorldSweeper.com's editor about what to do for hard starting engines.
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WorldSweeper.com's 2008 Award of Excellence for Power Sweeping Given Out at NPE
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Published date: 2/12/08
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This year's Award of Excellence winner is Davidson-Macri Sweeping, Inc., the Seattle area-based sweeping contractor that also publishes SweeperMarket magazine.
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The Keys to Purchasing Sweeping Companies
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The Latest Emissions Regulations in California
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Published date: 2/08/08
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The latest regulations on emissions emerging from Southern California were brought up at NPE 2008 Roundtable. Elgin's Brian Giles also offers his insight onto this topic.
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National Pavement Expo Video Interviews
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Published date: 2/08/08
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WorldSweeper.com's editor conducted a number of video interviews with vendors at the recent National Pavement Expo in Nashville, Tennessee.
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Published date: 1/28/08
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Gale Holsman's tips for what process you should follow if you are considering purchase of a sweeping company, both as a start-up and purchasing a competitor's business.
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Make Your Crews Fix Their Own Interpersonal Conflicts
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Published date: 1/27/08
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You've got a headache on your hands because two of your best employees can't get along. What should you do?
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Look More Professional With An Email Signature
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Published date: 1/26/08
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If you communicate with others via email, a way to promote your business is to put your 'signature' onto your email.
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Top Ten Business Valuation Questions Asked of Business Appraisers
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Published date: 1/24/08
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Here are the answers to some of the most frequent business valuation questions that clients have on the topic of their company's appraisal value.
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Ethics: Does Your Organization Have It?
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Published date: 1/23/08
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As we enter a more socially responsible age of greater caring for others, this factor may count for more than you think.
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Evaluation of Street Sweeping as a Stormwater Quality Management Tool in Three Residential Basins in Madison, Wisconsin
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Published date: 1/22/08
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Recent technological improvements have increased the ability of street sweepers to remove sediment and other debris from street surfaces; the effect of these technological advancements on stormwater quality is largely unknown.
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the City of Madison and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, evaluated three street-sweeper technologies from 2002 through 2006.
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Customer And Employee Loyalty: How Do You Rate?
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Published date: 1/22/08
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The average company loses half their customers in 5 years and
half their employees in 4 years. This has significant impact to
overall customer, employee, investor and supplier loyalty.
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New Series Offers Audio Interviews With Featured Contractors
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Published date: 1/21/08
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Starting in January of 2008 we will have an audio interview with each of the sweeping contractors we feature each month. We are starting with our Featured Contractor for January, Immaculate Sweeping, LLC.
Our first discussion of the series, held with the president of Immaculate Sweeping, Derek Grieco, covers the company's experience with GPS, debris screening and the star-level service they offer for visiting 'property dignitaries.'
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Mini Sweepers Finding Their Place in America
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Published date: 1/20/08
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A fine snapshot of what the mini class of sweepers -- a relatively new class of sweepers to the U.S. -- can do. In light of the niche these mini machines fill, it's a good reminder to fleet managers to evaluate how their own sweeper mix might benefit from utilizing the mini class of machines.
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Branding Your Company - Building Value Into Its Name
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Published date: 1/16/08
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The term is familiar to us all: BRANDING. But what does it mean and, more importantly, why should you care?
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Cash Management Survey Shows Service Sector Down
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Published date: 1/8/08
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A major credit index dropped to its lowest point in its more than five year history. According to analysis from leading trade credit insurer, Euler Hermes ACI, the trade credit markets are now facing the same problems as the rest of the country's credit markets as more companies find it difficult to pay their bills due to insufficient cash flow.
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Introducing the WorldSweeper.com 'One Click' Equipment Financing Program
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Published date: 1/5/08
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WorldSweeper.com introduces the best way to get financing quotes from a number of finance companies. Fill out one form and have a variety of top lenders compete for your business. When lenders compete -- you win!
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Addressing the Challenge of Finding Good Help
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Published date: 12/28/07
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Here are some great tips on 'out of the box' thinking that will help you find good workers at every skill level.
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PAVEMENT Magazine Covers Value of NAPSA-Certification
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Published date: 1/8/08
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These articles from PAVEMENT magazine discuss NAPSA's Certification program and what it means for those who attain it.
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Entering the Information Age: The New Secret to Success is Attention Management
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Published date: 1/5/08
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For the last ten years the media have been making it clear that we are in the Information Age. Here's the 'new news:' We are no longer in the Information Age. We've already passed through it! Welcome to the Attention Age.
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How a Property Manager Assesses a Sweeping Contractor
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Published date: 11/23/07
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Massachusetts-based Laura Schmitt has been involved with property management for over 20 years, and currently manages a slate of properties for Equity One, Inc.
You'll want to hear what Schmitt has to say about what property managers look for in a power sweeping contractor.
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Using 1-800-SWEEPING Can Bring New Business
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Published date: 11/23/07
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In this audio interview, which was taped at the National Pavement Exposition, Mike Musto discusses his concept and the increase in business that can occur for the contractors who sign up with his program.
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Wayne Engineering Announces Intent to Build Street Sweeper
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Published date: 10/26/07
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Wayne Industrial Holdings has a new street sweeper division, Wayne Sweeper, which will be located in Traer, Iowa. This has been the announced location of an assembly plant for the company.
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When You Consider a Sweeper, Look at the Big Picture
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Published date: 10/29/07
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Allianz' Vice President, Dan Federico, provides some excellent tips for anyone to review prior to purchase of sweeper.
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Sweep Before You Treat
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Published date: 10/29/07
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In this article reprinted from Storm Water Solutions, noted sweeper researcher, Roger Sutherland, explains the many reasons why sweeping is more than just a cosmetic practice.
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The Added Value of Sweeping Contractors That Provide Extra Services
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Published date: 10/22/07
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Massachusetts-based Laura Schmitt has been involved with property management for over 20 years, and currently manages a slate of properties for Equity One, Inc.
You'll want to hear what Schmitt has to say about the added value she places on a parking lot sweeping company that provides many other, related, services.
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The Keys to Getting More $$ When You Sell Your Sweeping Company
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Published date: 10/22/07
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Gale Holsman, Jr., has been in the sweeping business for almost a quarter of a century. During that time, he has bought and sold numerous sweeping companies spanning several midwestern states. Here are Gale's tips for what process you should follow prior to selling your sweeping company.
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Places You Might Have Overlooked When Searching For
Workers
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Published date: 10/8/07
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One of the biggest headaches contractors face, especially when they're a non-union shop, is finding and hiring good help. If that's the case, the following suggestions could be a life saver for you.
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The Key to a Better Business AND a Better Life
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Published date: 10/8/07
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It's the ultimate dream! Owning your own business, being
your own boss, making lots of money. It's why you decided
to start your own small business. But...
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Toronto, Canada's, 'Clean Roads to Clean Air Program'
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Published date: 9/20/07
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The City of Toronto is successfully implementing a street sweeping program that significantly contributes to meeting clean air and stormwater standards. In an audio interview, Dr. Morgan discusses Toronto's process in developing a methodolgy for evaluating sweeper efficiency and operational best practices.
Interview was conducted in September of 2007. Includes pdf article reprinted from September 2007 edition of APWA Reporter.
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Protecting Your Crews in Traffic: Work Zone Safety Practices
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Published date: 9/20/07
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Improve your agency's overall safety record, including motor vehicle safety and hazardous exposures, by adopting measures and techniques to better protect employees in the work zone.
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Tracking for Success: Learning to be Better
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Published date: 9/10/07
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If you want better performance and empowerment in your public works department, take steps to get buy-in from your employees through developing meaningful and accountable performance measures.
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Fleet Washing and Stormwater Regulations
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Published date: 9/14/07
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In today's environmental climate, washing your sweepers and other vehicles without the proper procedures can result in more than just a large fine. Includes 20-minute .mp3 audio interview with one of the wastewater disposal industry's leaders.
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Modernizing Fleet Operations
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Published date: 9/17/07
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Here are some of the factors that will help you create a state-of-the art public fleet operation and establish a business enterprise that uses best management practices to compete successfully with private sector entities. Includes 19 minute .mp3 audio interview with 25+ year municipal fleet manager.
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Going Once, Going Twice -- Selling Used Fleet Assets For Top Dollar
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Published date: 10/29/07
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Get the lowdown on how to increase your revenue stream by understanding the ins and outs of disposing of fleet assets via pre-purchase arrangements as well as conventional and online auctions.
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Switching to Biodiesel in Your Vehicle Fleet
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Published date: 9/18/07
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Considering a switch to biodiesel? Hear about the experience of two Pacific NW agencies when they implemented biodiesel as a fleet fuel.
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Biodiesel's Impact on Public Fleet Operability and Economics
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Published date: 9/12/07
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Biodiesel has many advantages and will soon be available nationwide. Make sure you make the right decisions about implementing biodiesel as a fleet fuel.
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Construction Sweeping: Safely and Efficiently
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Published date: 8/23/07
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In this reprint of an article he did for Better Roads magazine, WorldSweeper.com's editor discusses the many factors to consider when hiring a construction sweeping contractor.
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Mystic Washer Provides New Take on Pressure Washing
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Published date: 1/17/08
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Product allows faster washing of flat or vertical surfaces and allows used water to be reclaimed in environmentally-sensitive areas and situations.
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