| Greetings!
Summer time is over. Ok, the official day is September 21 and unofficial day is Labor Day. My kids went back to school today so today summer is over. Back to business not that anyone here has stopped working but as I mentioned in another newsletter, summer time is a great time of year just difficult to progress on business deals.
So what is up with Social Networks? Do you belong to any? I belong to LinkedIn and Facebook. Facebook let's me keep up with my family and friends. I look once every couple of days and can sort of see the world easily. With LinkedIn, I have found it to be a great tool for meeting people and doing business with them. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to market themselves, company or meet people that can help you in your business. What does this have to do with fuel, you might be asking yourself? Well on LinkedIn, Fuel Management Sokolis Group is part of the groups section. I think it's a spot to become a member, heck its free. Also, feel free to network with me.
When you want help in your fuel planning or fuel management, you know what I say, you need a fuel expert, fuel consulting company, you need Sokolis Group. Enjoy this months articles. The time to start planning and cutting cost is now Sokolis Group.  Glen Sokolis
President
If you have an idea or topic you would like to see discussed here or if you would like to contribute an article for future issues, please e-mail me at gsokolis@sokolisgroup.com
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Sokolis
Solutions
Be familiar with
school zones
Stop for school bus lights
Obey crossing guards
Anticipate the worst
Be careful around parked vehicles
Turn your headlights on
Avoid using cell phones when driving
Avoid reversing
Don't speed
Don't honk at pedestrians or bicyclists
Visit: ww.sokolisgroup.com for help. |
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CenAtl = $ 2.779
LwrAtl = $ 2.649
Midwst = $ 2.649
GulfCst = $ 2.618
RkyMt = $ 2.692
WCst = $ 2.802
CA = $ 2.893 |
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Sokolis Strategic Alliances
Here is a selection of companies with whom we share a strategic relationship. These companies do not pay to be promoted by us, however, we feel strongly that they can help your company.
Maverick Energy
Natural Gas & Fuel Hedge Programs
Philabundance
Non-profit company, helping to feed people in need
FDR
CarbonFund
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NOT A SOKOLIS GROUP CLIENT?
Contact us online or call 267-482-6155
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Your company can help lead the country in Environmental Stewardship with these 3 Golden Rules.
-Recycle
-Reuse
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As a company that trys to do the right thing when it comes to the environment, we like what this new fuel card has to offer. Take a look at it, it might be right for your company.
877-360-FUEL (3835) | |
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Fuel Floods Market but Fleet Fuel
Cost Remain Solid
In An Era of Just in Time Fuel Planning, Fuel Management is Flowing with Fuel
What do you mean by that? How can we be flowing in fleet fuel when the national fuel price for gas is $2.613 and diesel fuel price is $2.697? If we were really flooded with fleet fuel wouldn't we have gas prices in the $1.80 range or lower like we had late last year and for that matter wouldn't diesel fuel be near $2.00 a gallon?
Your right it should be and it's not, why? Why?
- Speculation
- Crude Oil is a good hedge with world currency
- Fear
Ok, for you fleet management people looking at your fuel planning why is this happening you ask. Speculators are best viewed in our mind as day trades in stocks. One minute they are in with the fuel purchase and the next minute they are selling the fleet fuel. The biggest difference with these people and day traders without going into a ton of detail is that they buy such massive amounts of fleet fuel that they can move the market.
Crude oil as a good hedge for world currency, well it's liquid, ha-ha. Really, it's a product everyone needs so it's easy to trade. Just like gold or silver.
Lastly there is the old fear factor, no one wants to be short in the pants with their fuel planning so they buy now thinking that tomorrow is going to turn around for the economy.
Let's look at the numbers:
This will help make fuel planning a little easier. Based on the DOE update, crude stocks are now some 38 million bbls, or 11%, above year-ago levels and are "above the upper boundary of the average range for this time of year." With your fuel management program this is a good thing as long as you know what you're looking for.
The gas draw was slightly larger than expected and left stocks 12.6 million bbls above last year's level and 9.2 million bbls above the five-year average. Gas demand numbers were uninspiring, dropping 100,000 bpd. Just before the release of the DOE data, a warning about upcoming gasoline consumption came from the American Automobile Association (a client of ours) which predicted that there could be a 13% drop in Labor Day weekend driving this year. Based on a four-week average, gasoline demand is off .3% from last year.
Breaking down the distillate data, low sulphur diesel was .600 million bbls lower, heating oil increased 1.1 million bbls while ultra low sulphur stocks increased .300 million bbls. This news for your fuel management program is good. We know that when we usually have too much of something we sell it for a lower price.
Here is some more numbers from the 28th of this month.
Frontline, the world's biggest independent oil tanker shipping group, said it estimated that 40 to 45 very large crude carriers (VLCCs), or around 10 percent of the world fleet, were storing crude oil.
Frontline had told Reuters on Aug. 6 that around 50 VLCCs were being used to store around 100 million barrels of oil, down from a peak of around 60 VLCCs in April.
"There's still demand (for storage)," Frontline Chief Executive Jens Martin Jensen told a conference call on Frontline's (FRO.OL) second-quarter results on Friday.
These tanks for your information carry 172 million gallons of fleet fuel. Now that is a lot of fleet fuel just sitting around isn't it. Especially, when you put it together with the numbers in the above paragraph.
The final fleet fuel, fuel management and fuel planning fear issue.
The Commerce Department says consumer spending rose .2% in July, in line with what economists anticipated. This is the third consecutive monthly increase in consumer spending. Personal income, which has been hammered during the recession, was unchanged while a slight increase had been expected.
In Europe this morning, the UK reported a slightly better than forecasted decline in GDP of .7% while the European Confidence Index increased more than expected to 80.86, which is the highest level since October 2008.The figures indicate European economies are stabilizing and could recover later this year, thus boosting oil demand.
The final words are this. When you think prices will go up, bet on the down and when you think they will go down bet on the up. The best idea of all is have good fuel planning program with a fuel management solutions behind it. Make sure that your fleet fuel is always looked at by a fuel expert or fuel consulting company. This way your company will always be ahead of the game and not behind. |
"I always thought that we were buying our fuel at the best possible price, and was skeptical that the Sokolis Group could save us money. We took a chance and engaged their services. We were able to save enough money in the first two months to cover the cost of their services for the entire year with all of the savings now going straight to the bottom line."
Jared Stancil
Anchor Trailways
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As a company that tries to do the right thing about going green and reducing ours and clients footprints, we interviewed Steve Fowler VP Business Development at 360Fuelcard.com. We should point out that we work with all fleet fuel card providers at Sokolis Group. At one time 360Fuelcard.com was a client during their start up stage.
Q. What makes 360 Fuel card different then the other card offerings?
With 360FuelCard our goal is to provide the right program for both the fuel marketer and the fleet that purchases fuel. We offer different fuel card products depending on need. For a fleet that wants to purchase fuel at their local stations yet have complete control we have a Fleet Master Card. This allows the fleet manager to have immediate on-line control of their cards. They can limit some drivers to just fuel during certain hours or days of the week while allowing others to have a card that can purchase fuel as well as lodging and meals. It is all up to the fleet on how they want to manage their program.
Q. That sounds great but what if the fleet has heavy trucks and uses mostly truck stops for their fuel?
If the fleet needs access to truck-stop locations we give them the 360 Fuel card Over the Road card. This card is good at most all truck-stops in the US and we have built relationships with over 1,500 locations to give special pricing to all 360 Fuel card carriers. Combine this with low transaction fees and a full slate of ancillary products and we have the OTR market covered. Q. I noticed on your web site www.360Fuelcard.com that you are a green program. What does that really mean?
At 360 Fuel card we care about the environment. Whatever your thoughts are on what is happening today I think we can all agree that it is important to do our part to pass on a cleaner planet to our children. It is just a fact that transportation takes fuel to work and if you move goods or supply a service you will probably burn fuel. At 360 Fuel card we have pledged 10% of all profits will be used to help the environment. We have partnered with Carbonfund.org to be sure our money is going to projects that are verified to work. Carbonfund.org is a nonprofit organization where over 93% of all monies collected go toward helping build a cleaner place for us all to live. I want to thank Steve for taking the time to talk to us. If you need any information about their programs, their number is (866) 360-FUEL (3835) or their web site is www.360FuelCard.com, Steve Fowler email is sfowler@360fuelcard.com.
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Quote
There is only one boss.
The Customer.
And he can fire everybody in the company from the Chairman on down, simply by spending his money somwhere else.
- Sam Walton
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Sokolis Group joins ATA, NPTC.
Glen Sokolis to guest speak at OPIS Fleet Fueling Show
In our companies effort to continue to help companies save money on their fleet fuel cost; Sokolis Group joined 2 great organizations in the American Truck Association and the National Private Truck Council. These organizations have a wealth of knowledge that can help educate Sokolis Group and will provide us with excellent network opportunities.
Additionally, Sokolis Group became a founding member of Greater Philadelphia Green Business Program and continued its dedication to the Carbonfund.org for another year. While working through this difficult economy you still need to think about the planet for the future. We can help you with your fuel management, fuel planning needs as well as your company's efforts to reduce CO2.
Glen Sokolis, President of the Sokolis Group will be a guest speaker at the OPIS Fleet Fueling Conference in Atlanta on September 20-22. The topics will include fleet fuel buying, fuel planning, fuel budgets, fuel management as well as other fuel programs. This is the 15th year for OPIS to hold this annual event. For more information OPIS Fleet Fueling. |
Fuel Management 101
2010, DEF is coming, You Ready?
I wanted to make you all aware that 2010 trucks except Internationals will need Diesel Exhaust Fluid- DEF(Urea)
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) is an operating fluid for Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology, which will be in new heavy duty commercial vehicles from 2010.
DEF is not a fuel or fuel additive; it is injected into the exhaust system to chemically reduce NOx emissions from diesel powered vehicles.
DEF is a high-purity urea solution complying with the Standards of ISO 22241. This is the highest quality and safety standard in place which ensures the correct functioning of Selective Catalytic Reduction equipment.
Most engine manufacturers chose SCR over competing technologies due to the fuel economy benefits of SCR as compared with other options. SCR is expected to improve overall fuel economy by approximately 5%.
We have the top supplier set up who will be able to provide this to you in small storage tanks, totes, a couple of gallons jugs.
Please click here. |
Please visit our blog!
Sokolis Group
in the News |
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CONNECT the DOTS:
In what has been a crazy year with fleet fuel prices over $148 a barrel, Lehman Brother, Washington Mutual, General Motors just to name a few all gone or in Chapter 11. The economy is getting better but isn't nice to have friends and connection. I can't think of a better time to do the following:
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If your already LinkedIn to a person at Sokolis Group give them a recommendation if you think they are doing a good job for you
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Forward this newsletter or send us names and we will send it out for you to your clients, associates, friends or people you don't even
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Yes, lastly there is Twitter. We Tweet. We don't Tweet a lot yet but we will soon and you can tweet with us at Sokolis Group
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Ok, one more thing, Sokolis Group would like to cross link with your company. Our web site links to yours and yours to ours. If we find each other mutually acceptable, like a date.
This newsletter goes to all of our clients, potential clients, friends, and associations. We have a span of about 8,000 people. Can you image if we all knew each other how easy it would be to get something that you needed from a friend. Maybe something like Fuel Management or Fuel Consulting or maybe something else accounting, IT help does it really matter after Fleet Fuel.
Steve Jobs once said, "You can't connect the dots looking forward. You can only connect them looking backwards, so you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.
I believe they will so let's start connecting our DOTS. For a copy of his speech which was wonderful click here.
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