The WomenCertified® Award is issued to businesses who meet a higher standard of customer experience among women. The Award is the WomenCertified Seal of Excellence signifying that they have scored on average a good plus rating among women. How did we determine this rating system? Based on surveys of tens of thousands of women from our own MedeliaMonitor as well as with research providers such as the Wharton School of Business and JD Power.
Through this Seal, women are helping women identify businesses that value the customer experience and appreciate the needs and preferences of their female consumers. The Seal is a symbol of empowerment for women as collectively we can change how businesses treat us and women in generations to come.
Even though women account for 85% of all consumer purchases, most women say that businesses are not meeting her needs and delievering the customer experience they seek. Now women and their families can identify businesses that do care about making their shopping experience a good one, and are working to exceed her expectations.
Ram Truck today announced a new trim package aimed at one of the pickup truck category’s largest traditional customer bases: the Ram Tradesman.
The Tradesman is a value-priced option package designed to meet the hard-working needs of small businessmen, construction jobsites and commercial fleets.
“The Ram Tradesman is named for – and aimed at – the heart of our business,” said Fred Diaz, President and CEO – Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “This is a hard-working truck for hard-working people. Durability, reliability and value for the money are the top three considerations for our customers. Their truck is the most important tool they own and one they’ll use every day. The Ram Tradesman is a truck they can depend on.” [Read the rest of this entry...]
By end of this week, owners of recalled vehicles and customers awaiting new vehicle delivery will have access to remedy for recalled vehicles.
Toyota Canada Inc., (TCI) announced it will begin fixing accelerator pedals in recalled Toyota Division vehicles by the end of this week. Toyota’s engineers have developed a solution that involves modifying the pedal assembly to eliminate the excess friction that has caused the pedals to stick in rare instances.
Toyota Canada announced, on January 21, it was recalling approximately 270,000 Toyota vehicles equipped with a specific accelerator pedal assembly and suspending delivery of the eight models involved in the recall on January 26. The company also announced that Toyota would stop production of the affected models on North American production lines for the week of February 1 allowing the company to focus on fixing vehicles for customers whose models are involved in the recall.
Toyota vehicles affected by the recall and delivery suspension are:
No Lexus Division or Scion vehicles are affected by these actions. Also not affected are Toyota Prius, Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Highlander hybrids and certain Camry models, including Camry hybrids.
Should a driver experience a sticking accelerator pedal while driving, the vehicle can be controlled with firm and steady application of the brakes. The brakes should not be pumped repeatedly because it could deplete vacuum assist, requiring stronger brake pedal pressure. The vehicle should be driven to the nearest safe location, the engine shut off and a Toyota dealer contacted for assistance. Although the accelerator pedal action may return to normal, NO further attempt to drive the vehicle should be made.
Information and answers to questions about issues related to this recall are available to customers at www.toyota.ca and at the Toyota Customer Interaction Centre at 1-888-TOYOTA-8.
How Toyota Will Fix Recalled Vehicles
Toyota has pinpointed the issue that could, on rare occasions, cause accelerator pedals in recalled vehicles to stick in a partially open position. The issue involves a friction device or lever, in conjunction with a spring in the accelerator pedal assembly, that is designed to help control the force necessary to depress the pedal and the return force necessary to release the pedal to allow for smooth operation of the accelerator pedal. Due to the materials used, wear and environmental conditions, surfaces may, over time, begin to stick and release instead of operating smoothly. In rare instances, the friction of the accelerator pedal may increase to a point where the accelerator pedal may become harder to depress, slower to return or, in the worst case, become stuck in a partially depressed position.
Toyota’s solution for current owners is simple, effective and quick to deploy. A precision-cut steel reinforcement bar will be installed into the assembly that will reduce the surface tension between the friction shoe and the adjoining surface. With this reinforcement in place, the excess friction that can cause the pedal to stick is eliminated. The company has confirmed the effectiveness of the newly modified pedals that had previously shown a tendency to stick.
As of October 26, 2009, Ontario’s new distracted driving law will make it illegal for motorists to use hand-held wireless communication devices or any hand-held electronic entertainment devices while driving.
This includes hand-held cell phones, texting and e-mailing.
Hands-free devices will still be permitted.
This new law also prohibits viewing a display screen unrelated to the driving task such as laptops or DVD players while driving.
HANDS-FREE DEVICES
The new law applies only to hand-held wireless communications and hand-held electronic entertainment devices. This means drivers must only use wireless devices that can be used in a “hands-free” manner:
a cell phone with an earpiece or headset using voice dialling, or plugged into the vehicle’s sound system
a global positioning system (GPS) device that is properly secured to the dashboard or another accessible place in the vehicle
a portable audio player that has been plugged into the vehicle’s sound system.
Some wireless devices require that users push a button to activate and/or deactivate the device’s “hands-free” function. This activity is permitted under the law.
HAND-HELD DEVICES
All drivers
Drivers will not be permitted to use hand-held communication and entertainment devices when driving, with the following exceptions:
Calling 9-1-1 in an emergency situation
When the driver has safely pulled off the roadway and is stationary or is lawfully parked.
Other devices not included in the ban:
Viewing a display screen used for collision avoidance systems
Viewing a display screen of an instrument, gauge or system that provides information to the driver about the status of systems in the motor vehicle.
Emergency Response Personnel
Police, fire department and emergency medical services personnel will be permitted to use hand-held wireless communications devices and view display screens in the normal performance of their duties.
The use of hand-held radios by amateur radio operators (who provide assistance, especially in emergency situations such as severe storms and blackouts) will be phased out within three years, to allow hands-free technologies to be developed.
Commercial Drivers
A small percentage of drivers in transport-related industries (e.g., school buses, taxis, couriers) and public service workers (e.g., transit and highway maintenance workers) rely on the use of certain types of wireless devices and display screen technologies in the performance of day-to-day operations.
To help these businesses stay competitive, Ontario is granting a three-year phase-out period for the commercial use of two-way radios, including mobile and CB radios, to allow for hands-free technologies to be developed.
The new law will not affect mobile data terminals, logistical tracking devices and dispatching devices. They will be exempt for commercial and public service vehicle drivers who are engaged in the performance of their duties.
Hand-mikes (push-to-talk systems) and portable radios (walkie-talkies) may be used in a hands-free mode. This would mean the driver can use a lapel button or other hands-free application as long as the hand-mike or walkie-talkies is not held while driving.
November 19 2009 — Foss National Leasing successfully tested Driver Identification Number technology today on its Foss Fleet Management platform. Foss is the first fleet management company in Canada to do so. Secondary tests are commencing with its internal fleet cards over a broader range of locations across the country. This new enhancement for our fleet management system provides a card that is harder to clone and reuse. It also paves the way for pay at the pump with improved security and enhanced driver convenience in the future. Foss expects to initiate client testing and launch in early December.
It has been an incredible 2009 so far in the automotive industry with inconceivably two of the “Big 3” going into and coming out of bankruptcy protection. Purse strings are still fairly tight on the credit side restricting the way companies were used to doing business in the mid 2000’s. We have all had to change business practices over the past two years and I believe out of these changes will come obviously resilient but also more efficient organizations regardless of sector.
While most have been disgruntled by all the bad news others have been able to take advantage of some positives that are occurring during these tumultuous times including you the customer. Because of the shortage of vehicles both in new and used and the fact that consumers are still uncomfortable with the state of the economy, those looking to replace or just purchase, for the most part are leaning towards used to save some money. Although most dealers have cut back on the amount of inventory they carry, they still need to have some around for potential retail sales and that is why the auction conversion rates and prices have been the highest we have seen consistently in decades. As we speak, there simply are not enough decent vehicles around to meet the consumer demand. [Read the rest of this entry...]
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