SafTCart, a manufacturer of cylinder carts, cages, pallets, truck beds, and trailers, is based in Clarksdale, MS. Everything we make is built here in the U.S and started as an outgrowth of Walker Welders in the Mississippi Delta in 1969. Today, we send our products to all 50 states and beyond.

Just 15 days left to take advantage of early bird pricing for 2021 Membership. Renew before December 31, 2020, to get the Early Bird rate! Don't miss out!

Distributor and Supplier members who would like to renew their GAWDA membership online can log in to their account at gawda.org. Easy step-by-step online payment instructions can be found here.

If you need information on your membership status please contact Andrea Levy, Director, Member Services & Programs, at alevy@gawda.org.

If your company is not a member of GAWDA but would like to join, please click here for more information.

Registration is now open for Wednesday, December 16 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern. Click the button below to register. There is no cost for GAWDA Members to attend.

To register for this webinar, click here. For more information on this ongoing webinar series, click here.

To view the recordings and presentations from prior GAWDA COVID-19 Roundtables, please visit the COVID-19 folder in the Members-Only Section of the website. Click here to log-in.

GAWDA would love to hear about your business changes/adaptation examples, success stories, pictures, videos, and/or lessons learned during this unique time! If you'd like to share with your fellow GAWDA members — and be included in one of our upcoming roundtables — please click here to fill out our COVID-19 Roundtable Contact Form or email alevy@gawda.org directly.

FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. Employers Must Conduct Annual Queries by January 5, 2021.

Return-to-Duty Follow-Up Testing Plans. If a CDL driver has incurred a drug and alcohol program violation, he or she must complete the return-to-duty (RTD) process established in 49 CFR part 40 before being permitted to return to safety-sensitive functions.

FMCSA to Conduct Q and A Session on Driver HOS Rule. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will conduct an online Question and Answer Session on the new driver hours of service rule. The session will be held Thursday, December 17, 2020 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Eastern time.

UCR Registration for 2021 is Now Open. The Unified Carrier Registration Board has indicated that registration for the 2021 registration year is now open. There are no changes to the fees for 2021. Registration enforcement will begin January 1, 2021.

PHMSA Issues 2019 Civil Penalty Report. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has issued its Annual Civil Penalty Report for 2019.

FMCSA Grants Exemption for Pulsating Amber Brake-Activated Rear Warning Lamps. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted a request by Grote Industries, LLC for a 5-year exemption to allow motor carriers operating trailers and van body trucks to install amber brake-activated pulsating warning lamps on the rear of trailers and van body trucks in addition to the steady-burning brake lamps required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

FMCSA Proposes to Eliminate Annual Driver Submission of Violations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is proposing to eliminate the requirement that drivers operating commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce must prepare and submit a list of their convictions for traffic violations to their employers annually. 85 Fed. Reg. 80745 (December 14, 2020).

Every year, the First Quarter Issue of Welding & Gases Today features forecasts from GAWDA Distributors and Suppliers. To participate in the forecast, please click here. GAWDA Media has also conducted video interviews with some GAWDA members on what they expect to see in 2021. Click below to see more.

The GAWDA Online Buyers Guide often has great articles, videos, events and tutorials from GAWDA Suppliers that would be perfect for distributors to share with their clients via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram. In the 3rd Quarter Issue of Welding & Gases Today, we detailed how GAWDA distributors could use the Online Buyers Guide to find and share content to their social media feeds. Read the article by clicking here. Below are some great examples of content that would be good to share via social media.

If you have a classified item that you would like to post to the Online GAWDA Buyers Guide, email TimH@gawdamedia.com.

In our communications with members and research for the GAWDA publications, we often come upon links that are worth sharing. Check them out, and if you come across any interesting business or industry stories, please send them to editorial@gawdamedia.com.

Fortis Institute in Birmingham Announces Welding Technology Program - Fortis Institute in Birmingham is expanding its education offering with the addition of a Welding Technology Program. The program is open for enrollment and will welcome its first cohort in December 2020.

Dry Ice Demand Swells as Covid-19 Vaccines Prepare for Deployment - Coronavirus shots requiring ultracold temperatures, coupled with holiday food shipments, kick off ‘mad scramble’ for solid carbon dioxide.

Skilled Trades Report Highlights Significant Job Opportunities - Millions of Americans have either lost or are concerned about losing their job during the pandemic, and businesses large and small have closed this year. However, skilled trades in home services is a small business sector that is actually experiencing a labor shortage.

April 3 – 5. 2022