SPILL CENTER AND CDI SERVICES LINKED
IN NEW EMERGENCY ROADSIDE SUPPORT
PROGRAM FOR AMTRALEASE MEMBERS

Acton, Mass.–The Spill Center®, specialists in spill cleanup,
regulatory reporting, and containment of costs and liabilities
related to over-the-road environmental releases, is participating
in a new emergency roadside support program for Amtralease
members. The program enables stranded truck operators to get
prompt, round-the-clock assistance with breakdowns and acci-
dents – even those involving spills of diesel fuel and other
hazardous materials – with a single, toll-free phone call.
    Amtralease®, an association of truck leasing and rental
companies operating 50,000 vehicles and 300 service facilities
throughout North America, announced it would expand its
roadside breakdown and accident support for members by link-
ing the services of The Spill Center and CDI Services. CDI
coordinates emergency road services for Amtralease members
and other clients.
    "This consolidation of emergency services is something our
members have requested," said Chuck Cavanagh, Amtralease
VP Purchasing. "A driver doesn't want to be fooling around
with different phone numbers, trying to find the right one to
call for help with each aspect of his problem. Now one phone
call puts the driver in touch with the people who can handle it
all, 24 hours a day, anywhere in the U.S. or Canada," he added.
    Local Truck Leasing of Hicksville, N.Y., an Amtralease
member with 150 units in a full-service leasing and rental oper-
ation, participated in a pilot program prior to the system-wide
roll-out, according to owner Michael Kiviat.
    "The new link gives us faster response time during emergen-
cies, plus added convenience. One call can do it all, whether it's
a mechanical breakdown or something related to a fluid spill,"
he said. "Prior to this, if one of our trucks was involved in a
spill, we would have to make separate calls. We're not pro-
fessionals in dealing with spills, and we don't really know the
right way to handle them," noted Kiviat.
    The Spill Center, staffed by legal, technical and environmen-
tal specialists, maintains a database of more than 3,000 private
clean-up contractors, according to Bill Cumming, director of
corporate development. In addition to Amtralease members,
Spill Center subscribers include for-hire carriers and private
fleets, as well as insurance and chemical companies, he noted.
    In the new Amtralease program, members dial a hotline that
is answered by CDI's ASE-certified service advisors. They
coordinate an immediate response to the incident, using a
computerized database of over 40,000 pre-screened service
providers, according to Steve Breen, general manager.
    CDI Services, whose customers include other truck leasing
and rental organizations, handles over 6,000 tire and mechan-
ical failures a month, reported Breen. The company's goal is
to have the disabled vehicle rolling again within two hours
of the phone call.
     If a spill is involved, CDI notifies The Spill Center and a
custom spill contingency  plan, prefiled by each member fleet,
is activated, explained Cumming. "Our proprietary environ-
mental claims reporting, tracking and documentation system
helps level the playing field for spill generators who have to
deal with regulatory authorities, cleanup contractors and
claimants," he added.
    Spill Center staff members can handle all regulatory report-
ing, coordinate spill cleanup efforts, document compliance
activities, and even audit contractor invoices, said Cumming.
    Amtralease's Cavanagh is confident the new emergency
support program will meet the needs of its 95 member com-
panies, he said. The association also offers group purchasing
programs, educational services, and sales and training support
for members.
    For more information, contact the Spill Center, 100 Powdermill
Road, Suite 323, Acton, MA 01720. Telephone: 978-897-6461.
Fax: 978-897-9163. Or visit the website: www.spillcenter.com.
 
 


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