The UMA offices will be closed this Thursday & Friday in observance of Thanksgiving.
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REGIONAL TOWN HALLS WILL TAKE ON ELDS AND COMPLIANCE REVIEWS
LEARN TO MINIMIZE RISK AND ENHANCE SAFETY AT UMA'S SAFETY MANAGEMENT SEMINAR
UNIFIED CARRIER REGISTRATION DELAY ANNOUNCED
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Discuss ELD data and compliance reviews
in UMA's next Regional Town Hall meetings
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Coming up in December, Motorcoach operators are invited to join colleagues from their region for Regional Town Hall meetings conducted on the Zoom video teleconferencing platform. Non-members are invited to participate, too. The topic is "You, ELD Data, and a Compliance Review." Dates and times are below.
The Town Hall will include an interactive discussion of ELDs and how they may impact your next compliance review, a brief overview of national and regional issues, a “Technology Corner” to look at a new app that may save time and money and make your next compliance review a little easier, and plenty of time to let folks know what’s on your mind. And we'll wrap it up in an hour because we know you're busy.
Participants can phone in to the meeting or log in from their desktop. Go to
www.uma.org/regional
to get more details or help logging in. And remember to invite relevant members of your team such as compliance and safety officers, to join the meeting.
Region I
Date: Wednesday, December 12
Time: 3:00 – 4:00pm
Hosted by UMA Board Members Dennis Streif and John Grzywacz
Meeting ID: 366-513-9797
Region II
Date: Thursday, December 13
Time: 12:00 – 1:00pm
Hosted by UMA Board Members James Brown and Alan Thrasher
Meeting ID: 366-513-9797
Region III
Date: Tuesday, December 11
Time: 12:00 – 1:00pm
Hosted by UMA Board Members Joan Libby and Tim Stout
Meeting ID: 366-513-9797
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TRAFFIC
Drivers beware:
New York City issues
'Gridlock Alert Days'
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The New York City Department of Transportation issued select “Gridlock Alert Days” today. It’s difficult to imagine New York City traffic when it is not gridlocked by most standards; however, the holidays are a special time in New York City and a favorite time of year for charter and tour groups. Drivers can expect that travel through Midtown will take twice as long as a typical day of the week; so plan accordingly.
Select days in November and December are designated Gridlock Alert Days, as traffic volumes increase with holiday shopping and travel, as well as special event street closures. Drivers can expect that travel through Midtown will take twice as long as a typical day of the week; so plan accordingly.
The remaining 2018 Gridlock Alert Days are:
- Wednesday, November 21, 2018
- Wednesday, November 28, 2018
- Friday, December 7, 2018
- Wednesday, December 12, 201
- Thursday, December 13, 2018
- Friday, December 14, 2018
- Wednesday, December 19, 2018
- Thursday, December 20, 2018
- Friday, December 21, 2018
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Please participate in ABA Foundation's Motorcoach Census
UMA encourages you to participate in the 2017 ABA Foundation Motorcoach Census.
UMA is encouraging all motorcoach operators to take a moment and fill out the calendar year 2017 ABA Foundation Motorcoach Census. The information gathered in the Census enables us to inform government decision makers and regulators, the media and the public of the importance of the motorcoach industry in terms of economic output as well as helping millions of American get to where they need to – safely and effectively.
As a thank you to all who fill out the Census survey, the first 300 companies that return a completed survey will be entered to win $1,000.
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Learn ways to minimize risk and hear from federal regulators at the 2018 Safety Seminar
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Are you responsible for motorcoach safety and compliance and seeking ways to minimize your company's risk? Then you need to sign up for the UMA Safety Management Seminar, December 5 -6 in Ashburn, VA. This is a can't-miss event for anyone who needs to be current on fleet safety best practices and regulatory issues.
The Safety Management Seminar is intended for busy motorcoach personnel and the agenda packs in the latest regulatory information, expert legal guidance, best practices, and updates from key federal regulators.
Attendance is limited to 150 participants and only a few seats remain. The cost is $295 for members of UMA and $465 for non-members. Go to
www.uma.org/safety for more information of click one of the buttons below.
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Unified Carrier Registration Delayed
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by Ken Presley
‘Tis the season, the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) season that is. Motor carriers are required to make their updated filings and pay for the following calendar year between October 1 and December 31; however, the 2018 registration period has been delayed.
The start of the 2019 UCR registration period is delayed until further notice while the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) completes its rulemaking process on fee levels for 2019.
Established in 2005, The UCR Act replaced the old Single State Registration System and requires motor carriers involved in interstate commerce to submit annual fees based on their fleet size. Fees are designated for state highway motor carrier safety and enforcement programs.
Earlier this year, the UCR Board of Directors sought to reduce fees as the statute mandates a maximum amount that the UCR Plan may collect. Annual revenues exceeded the maximum allowed.
Since the 2019 registration is delayed, the UCR Board is requesting states refrain from enforcement until 90 days after the fees go into effect.
Once registration is open, there is a new UCR National Registration System website. A number of UMA members have been contacted by commercial concerns that file UCR registration and process payment for a fee. Inasmuch as UCR is not accepting payments, it is likely wise to refrain from using these firms, at least until an announcement is made.
Meanwhile, most have found the registration and remittance of payment to be relatively easy, so again, we urge you to visit the website. Watch for updates in the
Bus & Motorcoach News
. Visit
www.ucr.gov
.
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Nominations open for 40 Under 45 Roundtable
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UMA is facilitating a roundtable program to allow a new generation of leaders to connect both at EXPO and throughout the year. The purpose of the program is to facilitate better connections for young leaders, so they can learn from each other, build a national network of support and identify trends in the industry through their eyes.
The initial meeting for the roundtable will be held on Monday, January 7 during UMA’s Motorcoach EXPO in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
If you would like to nominate someone to the 40 Under 45 Bus & Motorcoach Industry Roundtable, requirements are:
- Must have been a manager or operator at a bus or motorcoach company for at least one year
- Should be under 45 years of age (exceptions can be made if someone is close in age)
- Is willing to serve and participate at their own expense (or on behalf of their company)
Please send nominations or questions to UMA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner via e-mail at
stetschner@uma.org by December 15.
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Bus & Motorcoach News
is mailed twice monthly to all UMA members. In addition, it's available online 24/7 at
www.busandmotorcoachnews.com
and by email, on a schedule you choose! Invite everyone on your staff to stay informed about the industry by signing up for email updates from
Bus & Motorcoach News
.
Sign up here.
You can choose daily or weekly updates! Below is a sampling of what's in our latest digital and print editions.
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It's what's on the inside that counts:
Add color to your trips with fabric that wows
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Competing coach salesmen were imbibing at a convention when one asked, “What’s the ugliest bus you’ve ever sold?”
“Anvil Bus Line,” they yelled in unison (name changed to protect the artistically impaired).
This successful company’s coaches were blah on the outside but hideous on the inside. Beauty may be skin deep, but “ugly is to the bone.” The owner allowed three family members to pick seat fabric, and they compromised by alternating three different colors by row. Inside the bus, it felt like you were being pummeled by a rainbow.
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Trip ideas for adventurous travelers
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Traveling is exciting in and of itself. But those travelers who like to infuse their trips with a little extra adventure are oftentimes rewarded with exclusive views. Encourage your tour-goers to strap on snorkeling masks to witness a magical underwater world teeming with aquatic life. Or, nudge them to lace up those hiking boots so that they’re spoiled with panoramic views their quads earned. You can also help them chart territory the motorcoach can’t cover by planning a paddle excursion, where intrepid types can gain access to otherwise hard-to-reach caves via a kayak.
Hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, biking, safaris, rafting and cultural tours all fall in the adventure travel category — an area of travel that continues to garner more interest. That’s according to a study conducted by Travel Leaders Group, a travel agency company, in partnership with the Adventure Travel Trade Association. Perhaps most noteworthy? Interest in adventure travel isn’t confined to one demographic bracket. The average age of adventure travelers is expanding, and interest is equal between men and women.
Ready to add some adventure to your next trip you plan? Here’s a few itinerary adds worthy of the highlight reel.
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2019 Motorcoach EXPO
The future of the motorcoach industry!
INNOVATE - EDUCATE - CELEBRATE
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The best beers are the ones we drink with friends! There will be craft beer tasting in the EXPO hall from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 8. And if beer is not your thing, join us for ice cream sampling from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Or enjoy both! These are just a couple of additions to make the event more fun and lively for operators and exhibitors alike.
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Discounts on ASCAP/BMI licensing
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UMA members receive meaningful discounts for ASCAP and BMI Licensing for on board music. UMA collects the fees and license agreements from members and passes the information and payments along to ASCAP and BMI. Operators benefit from being able to offer a great passenger service knowing they are operating within the law and saving money, too.
The renewals take place during February and March every year. If you missed out last year, watch the newsletter and your email inbox early next year as we roll out the 2019 program.
Did you know?
In order to legally play recorded music on a motorcoach, operators must obtain permission from the license holder. By playing pre-recorded music (or movies that have music, and virtually all do) for the passengers on a coach, an operator is essentially providing a public performance of that material. The penalty for playing copyrighted music or showing movies without permission or a license can be stiff, so obtaining the proper licensing is essential. U.S. copyright law provides that a court can assess damages and require the operator to pay the copyright owner’s attorney fees and court costs, as well as enter an injunction against the violator. A license must be obtained for each coach that plays pre-recorded music or movies with music for passengers.
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Motorcoach Industry Calendar
DECEMBER 2018
JANUARY 2019
FEBRUARY 2019
MARCH 2019
- 26 PBA Board Meeting – Wyndham York, York, PA http://pabus.org/
- 26 PBA Investing in the Motorcoach Industry: Increasing your ROI seminar, Wyndham York, York, PA http://pabus.org/
- 26 PBA Drivers & Employees of Distinction Awards Program – Wyndham York, York, PA http://pabus.org/
- 27 PBA Marketplace Group Leader Show, Wyndham York, York, PA
JUNE 2019
- 18-21 PBA Annual Meeting, Resorts Casino, Atlantic City, NJ (Hosted by Atlantic City/MeetAC)
- 21 PBA Board Meeting, Atlantic City http://pabus.org/
AUGUST 2019
- 6-9 IMG Strategic Alliance Meeting, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- 14 PBA Safety & Preparedness Workshop, York Springs, PA http://pabus.org/
- 14-18 NAMO Annual Conference & Marketplace – Springfield, MO http://www.namo-coaches.org/
JANUARY 2020
- 19-23 UMA Motorcoach EXPO, Nashville, TN
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YOU ARE UMA
Remember, as a UMA member you have the power of discounts on the best products and services, access to relevant education, targeted professional resources, and colleagues all over the map. Remember to consult your member directory when you need help on the road, access to more vehicles to meet demand, or services out of your area. We are UMA! Want to find other members to do business with? Use the
online directory.
Reach the UMA staff by calling (703) 838-2929 or by email at
info@uma.org. We love to hear from our members!
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