‘Peak Car’…It’s All Downhill From Here

There have been a number of recent research reports addressing the notion of ‘Peak Car’ – whether driving has peaked per person in the US. So here are a bunch of interesting tidbits and nuggets I have gleaned from the reports ‘A New Direction‘ and ‘Has Motorization in the US Peaked?’, as well as an update on miles driven….it’s all downhill from here.

Pedal to the Metal

–From the end of World War II to 2004 (known as ‘the Driving Boom’), Americans drove more miles nearly every year
–The driving boom coincided with the Baby Boom -  a bubble of those born between 1946 and 1964
–By 2004, the average American was driving 85% more miles than in 1970
–Between 1980 and 2010, freeway capacity (measured in lane-miles) expanded by 35%

Hitting The Brakes

–The peak driving age group is that of 35-54 year-olds
–The total number of 35-54 year-olds is set to tail off by the end of this decade
–Meanwhile, the share of the population of those 65 and older is set to increase dramatically by 2040

–In 1980, the age group of 65 and older made up 11% of the population. By 2040 this share is expected to reach 21%
–By 1992, 90% of the driving age population could drive, but by 2011 this had fallen to 86% – the lowest level in 30 years
–In 2011, 67% of 16-34 year-olds had a license, the lowest level since at last 1963
–Inflation-adjusted gasoline prices have doubled in the last decade
–Young people aged 16 -34 drove 23% fewer miles in 2009 than in 2001
–From 2001 – 2009,  the number of passenger miles traveled by those aged 16-34 on public transport increased 40%
–Americans took nearly 10% more trips via public transportation in 2011 than in 2005

Driving It Home

–The absolute number of cars peaked in 2008, at 236.4 million
–This translates to nearly 2 vehicles per household, over 1 car per licensed driver, and 0.75 vehicles per person

–Although ‘The Great Recession‘ is likely to blame for the drop-off in vehicles since 2008, a growing population (increasing 11% from 2011 to 2025) means we will likely see a higher number of vehicles on the road in the future

Conclusion

–Although we may not have peaked in terms of total vehicles in the US, we have likely peaked in terms of ‘Peak Car’ – aka miles driven per person
–Whether this slow-down is due to telecommuting, changing demographics, higher fuel costs, online shopping, or increased use of public transport, the evidence points to a turning tide in terms of miles driven:

Thanks for playing, and keep on trucking…or don’t, as the case may be…

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*Lead Software Testing Manager (El Segundo, CA)

Reply to: rwddf-3678680616@job.craigslist.org [?]

flag [?] : miscategorized prohibited spam best of Posted: 2013-03-13, 9:57AM PDT

Lead Software Testing Manager

Come work for an industry leader in financial customer acquisition- whose client range from a variety of Fortune 1000 companies across the US. We work with commonly known brands such as: American Express, ALLY bank, CITI, and Discover just to name a few.

As our Lead Software Testing Manageryou will work to improve and re-shape Quality Assurance testing. We continue to develop customized web, mobile and social experiences for consumers. Responsibilities include defining, implementing and executing test strategy; effectively building an in-house QA test team; improving, implementing and enforcing the right processes and procedures to continue to deliver top quality solutions.
Tasks performed will include but are not limited to test planning, being hands-on and performing a wide range of test activities, researching and implementing test automation, test environment setup/teardown, defect logging and verification.
In order to ensure the quality, effectiveness and completeness of our software, the ideal candidate for this position will have recent hands-on experience in software quality assurance in an Agile LAMP/Selenium/GitHub environment with both automated and visual testing.

Responsibilities
? Work collaboratively with project managers, technical leads, and architects to define and execute tests throughout the project life cycle.
? Conduct performance, stress, White Box and Black Box testing.
? Continuously re-evaluate test strategy to adjust for new information, changing risks, shifting priorities and schedules
? Review work completed to ensure quality standards are met
? Provide guidance and assign work to the other QA members
? Create, review, execute, and maintain test collateral: System Test Plans, System Test Procedure, test scripts
? Conduct Functional, Regression, Performance/Benchmarking, Stress/Load tests, and document defects
? Assist in the development and streamlining of quality assurance models, providing input based on relevant empirical information
? Automates tests where appropriate (including researching and evaluating open source options)
? Work with developers to perform root-cause analysis and preliminary problem diagnosis
? Take initiative and work across teams in an agile environment.
? Coordinate simultaneous test efforts across multiple development teams
? Provide knowledge regarding QA concepts, methodology, best process, tools and metrics
? Drive innovation and automation of testing processes by making use of scripting tools.
? Create use cases early in the ticketing process.

Benefits of working with us:
? Excellent growth opportunity with a growing and profitable E-commerce company
? Bonus plan
? Medical, dental and vision plans
? Paid vacation, holidays, and sick days
? 401k- We match 3% of employee's salary!
? Free Gym Membership for elite Spectrum Clubs
? this is an on-site job for Los Angeles-area locals only, please. This means:
? No offshore or domestic development shops.
? No contractors.
? No telecommuters.
? We will not pay for re-location.
? If you live in or around the Los Angeles County area we invite you to apply today!
Location: El Segundo, CACompensation: Highly Competitive Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.Please, no phone calls about this job!Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.Posting ID: 3678680616

Posted: 2013-03-13, 9:57AM PDT

Edited: 2013-03-13, 9:57AM PDT

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Line Cook (Valencia)

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Menu. You must have experience.

All candidates must be: friendly, outgoing, self-motivated and team players. Please have reliable transportation.

We are looking for long-term employment with future candidates with the opportunity to grow within the company.

Breakfast and dinner cooks needed! Must have endurance, the ability to move fast and experience in a fast-paced kitchen. We are looking for cooks with a passion for cooking and pride in presentation. We want our cooks to have free-range of making daily lunch and dinner specials... so be creative! There is plenty of room to grow in this company, so show us what you've got!

If you fit into the above positions by meeting the requirements we are looking for, and would like to join a fun team, send us over your resume. Please COPY AND PASTE your resume into your inquiry; we will NOT open any attachments. Only apply if you meet the above requirements.
California Food handling card is needed. Posting ID: 3679442377

Posted: 2013-03-13, 3:24PM PDT

Edited: 2013-03-13, 3:24PM PDT

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Coiled Tubing Service Operator - Cudd Energy Services - Robstown, TX

The primary role of the coiled tubing service operator is to help with the operation of coiled tubing equipment, rig up and rig down equipment, perform maintenance of equipment, maintain and submit drivers' logs and time sheets in a timely fashion, and follow required safety and operational procedures.
Responsibilities: Promote and participate in all required safety, compliance and certifications programs. Participate in rig up of connection hoses and high-pressure iron equipment. Maintain all required log books and inspection reports. Complete pre- and post-trip inspections, and fuel and service units. Maintain assigned equipment and perform daily inspections to ensure compliance with operational and safety requirements. Report all operational deficiencies to supervisor and maintenance personnel. Proficiently perform equipment inspection and maintenance as requested and complete paperwork. Operate equipment in accordance with company procedures. Monitor well control parameters and calculations before and during job applications. Follow proper rig-up and rig-down procedures. Maintains general housekeeping, clean up, repair, and preparation of equipment for the next job. Practice safe driving procedures when travelling to and from locations. Participate in required company training and service line career development training.

Qualifications:
Skills: Excellent communication, technical writing, and public speaking skills Able to be on call 24/7 when scheduled to work Willing to work long hours Able to pass DOT physical and drug screen Able to understand and carry out routine oral and written instructions Able to lift 50 pounds on a regular basis Safely operate, maintain, and perform minor repairs on equipment Maintain effective working relationship with other employees
Education: High School Diploma or equivalent General knowledge of the oil and gas industry
Certifications: Class "A" CDL license with hazmat endorsement, and a satisfactory driver record with no DWI convictions within the past three (3) years or current DWI charges
Environment: The coiled tubing service assistant will work in a physically demanding role, often under harsh environmental conditions.
Cudd Energy Services - 17 hours ago - save job - block

Energy is the key to growth for Key Energy Services, one of the US's largest well-servicing and workover companies. The company provide...

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Entry - Level Office Assistant (Inglewood, CA)

Reply to: bjh6p-3679366883@job.craigslist.org [?]

flag [?] : miscategorized prohibited spam best of Posted: 2013-03-13, 2:45PM PDT

If interested in this position, please respond to this advertisement and submit your resume (MS Word attachment).

Location: Inglewood, CA
Pay: $10-12 per hour
Shift: Full-time (40 hours); Monday -- Friday (8am-5pm or 9am -- 6pm)

TITLE: Entry-Level Office Assistant

Purpose
Provide administrative and clerical support to security department to maintain an efficient office environment.

Main Job Tasks and Responsibilities (not limited to)

? Liaise with HR Associate
? Answer phones
? Take and distribute accurate messages
? Assist with security staff inquires
? Receive, sort and distribute incoming mail
? Monitor incoming emails and answer or forward as required
? Prepare outgoing mail for distribution
? Fax, scan and copy documents
? Maintain office filing and storage systems
? Update and maintain employee databases such as mailing lists, contact lists and employee information
? Verify I-9 employment eligibility and review all new hire paperwork for completeness
? Coordinate and maintain staff administrative records such as staff timecards (PTO, early out, missed punches, leave requests, etc.)
? Prepare documents, reports and correspondence
? Monitor and maintain office supplies

Education and Experience

? High School Diploma or equivalent
? Ability to handle sensitive/ confidential information
? A minimum of one year entry-level office experience
? Knowledge in MS Office, Outlook, Intranet, and data-entry

Key Competencies

? Organization and planning skills
? Work management and prioritizing skills
? Verbal and written communication skills
? Problem solving ability
? Attention to detail
? Accuracy
? Flexibility
? Reliability
? Teamwork Location: Inglewood, CACompensation: $10 - $12 per hourPrincipals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.Please, no phone calls about this job!Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.Posting ID: 3679366883

Posted: 2013-03-13, 2:45PM PDT

Edited: 2013-03-13, 2:45PM PDT

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Deep-water drilling expansion will strain workforce, study says

Chevron’s Tahiti platform (Simone Sebastian/Houston Chronicle)

Global spending on deep-water wells will surge to $114 billion by 2022, compared to $43 billion last year, creating a critical need for offshore rig workers, according to a new analysis by Wood Mackenzie.

Deep-water markets are expanding rapidly, the research and consulting firm notes, projecting a 150 percent jump in the number of exploration, appraisal and development wells drilled by 2020. It also projects expansion of Arctic drilling by the end of the decade, though Arctic wells will remain a fraction of all wells drilled — just three percent through 2022.

Recruiting: Energy company hopes video game will help fill long list of job openings

“To meet the forecasted well demand, the fleet will require 95 additional deep-water rigs to be constructed between 2016 and 2022, representing $65 billion of investment,” Malcolm Forbes-Cable, senior management consultant at Wood Mackenzie and author of the study, in a written statement. “This will require the longest period of deep-water rig construction to date, representing a change for the deep-water sector from cyclical to sustained growth.”

The Future of Global Deepwater Markets report projects rig contractors will need to expand their payrolls by 37,000 workers over the next decade to meet demand for rigs. That’s an impossible target to meet under the current rate of recruitment, Wood Mackenzie says.

Subsea: Feds hope more rigs will become reefs with policy revisions

The analysis notes that deep-water projects have become central to growth plans for many international oil companies, but that creates challenges for budget constraints, risk management and human resources.

“Deepwater has accounted for most of the discovered volumes during this time, but this has not been without increasing technical and commercial challenges,” said Malcolm Forbes-Cable, Senior Management Consultant at Wood Mackenzie and author of the study.

Also on FuelFix:

Shell is moving mountains for deep-water Gulf oil

Shell's Olympus platform prepares for Gulf journey

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System Administrator (Security Expert)

Reply to: see below

flag [?] : miscategorized prohibited spam best of Posted: 2013-03-13, 2:47PM PDT

Engineering
We need a security crackerjack to keep us safe. Someone who can deploy Linux servers like our lives depended on it; who can build code and do code pushes with their hands tied behind their back. Someone who can optimize server topology like a boss and spot network bottlenecks from a mile away. (And someone who knows what all of this means. . .) Are you up to the challenge? Then we need YOU to be ONTRAPORT's new System Administrator (Security Admin).

Required Skills:

Deploy Linux Servers
Able to build code and do code pushes
Keep security patches to OS and software up to date
Optimize server topology (TCP/IP)
Patch and test different versions of 3rd party software
Identify bottlenecks in network (network card, router, servers)
Monitor all servers and recommend where improvements are necessary
Design Multi-Location Clustered Solutions and deploy
Ability to deal with hardware and software.
Install new / rebuild existing servers and configure hardware, peripherals, services, settings, directories, storage, etc
Design Systems standards
System Administrator (Security Expert)

This position is responsible for the installation, configuration, administration and maintenance of the servers and technologies that support our web-based software application. We are looking for someone who will provide best practices and keep current of all new server and related technologies, while consistently and proactively maintaining the security of all our clients' data.

Job Description

Why get a JOB when you can play in paradise? ONTRAPORT (ONTRAPORTcareers.com) is looking for smart, fun, engaged, and like-minded people to join our team of innovators. Work in a beautiful environment that focuses on collaboration and encourages all employees to voice their ideas and perspectives.

At ONTRAPORT we want happy employees just as much as we want happy customers; we take immense pride in our employee culture. We offer an amazing benefits package and competitive salaries. Believing in a collaborative and playful work environment, we highlight each employee's uniqueness and support their personal development. We want people who are as excited about our product as we are and want to be a part of a growing company.

In addition to the playful and beautiful work environment, the relaxed hierarchy of the workplace encourages all employees to voice their ideas and perspectives, enabling innovative discussions and constant improvement of our core product. Not only that, but the ONTRAPORT office itself was designed with interaction in mind; there's no cubicle isolation up in here. There is, however, a terrace overlooking all of the American Riviera and the Pacific Ocean. And yes, you're encouraged to work out there.

We're not just coworkers here; we're friends. Real friends who spend time together as much outside of work as in -- whether it's to work out, play on a kickball league, hit the town, or just plain hang out.

Benefits Include:

-Daily Catered Lunches -- In Office
-Free Drinks & Snacks
-Gym Memberships
-Stock Options
-Full Medical, Dental & Vision Plan
-Kickball Team
-Weekly basketball court rental (indoor)
-Beautiful view at the office

Please apply at ONTRAPORTCareers.com Compensation: Depending on exeperiencePrincipals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.Please, no phone calls about this job!Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.OK to contact me about appearing in CL documentary seriesPosting ID: 3679371473

Posted: 2013-03-13, 2:47PM PDT

Edited: 2013-03-13, 3:01PM PDT

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