May 14, 2019

2020 EXPO REGISTRATION OPENS TOMORROW WITH EXTRA SAVINGS  COMMENT NOW ON AIRPORT FEES THIS IS WHAT POSITIVE FEEDBACK LOOKS LIKE THE FUTURE OF UBER IS SELF-DRIVING

MOTORCOACH EXPO | BUS & MOTORCOACH NEWS |   CALENDAR | NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

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Member Alert: FMCSA requests comments on industry petition to preempt airport permit rules

The United Motorcoach Association, Inc. (UMA) and The American Bus Association, Inc. (ABA) have requested a determination that certain vehicle inspection requirements for ground transportation operators imposed by the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on passenger-carrying motor vehicles in interstate commerce are preempted by federal law. See a copy of the joint letter. Currently, all vehicles operating at the Airport must display a transponder and permit-specific decals. Vehicles not registered at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) are subject to citations issued by the San Francisco Police Department-Airport Bureau ranging from $50 to $1,250 depending on the infraction as well as administrative fines issued by Landside Operations. The petition focuses on SFO’s vehicle inspection program which requires that "airport mechanics" inspect ground transportation vehicles upon application for a permit and annually thereafter. For fleets of 25 or more vehicles an offsite inspection is allowed, with fees attached. SFO does not state the standards to be utilized inspect vehicles nor the training or other qualifications of the airport mechanics possess to conduct inspections of commercial buses and motorcoaches. FMCSA is requesting comments in response to the petition and we encourage operators to comment independently in an effort to inform FMCSA the scope of the problem nationwide and of course, to submit the petition before them.

Comment Reminders for commenting While the comments should be original, we encourage you to point out in your comments: · San Francisco International Airport mechanics are not certified to inspect commercial motor vehicles by and regulatory authority. · By not adhering to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and the current Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Alliance North American Out-of-Service Criteria, San Francisco International Airport may cause a repair or modification that contributes to a crash resulting in bodily injury to passengers, loss of live, and property damage. · San Francisco International Airport inspection of interstate motor carriers is burdensome and interferes with normal interstate operations. · Access to the nation’s airports is increasingly burdensome through an array of inspections by unqualified inspectors, fees, decals, and/or transponders.  · Various inspection regimes defeat the purpose of uniform regulations and inspections subjecting interstate motor carriers to a panoply of unqualified inspections, unnecessary expenses, discourages interstate commerce, and inconvenience to the traveling public.

EXPO registration opens tomorrow Get tuned up for Nashville 2020 Wednesday, May 15, 2019 is the first day you can register to attend UMA Motorcoach EXPO at the low rate of $399--and through May 22, we'll take off an extra $25. Operator members only, of course! You know you want to be in Nashville, January 9-23, so sign up now and save! No discount code is needed, your rate of $374 will be reflected at check out!

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Please note: Registration does not open until tomorrow, Wednesday, May 15.

It's National Infrastructure Week, May 13-20: Get the facts

National Infrastructure Week, an annual campaign to draw attention to the nation's infrastructure needs, is adding heat to the fire Congress and the White House recently started as they agreed to pursue a $2 trillion spending package to address the nation's aging infrastructure. National Infrastructure Week, or IWeek as it is called, provides resources to underscore their message, including facts and figures like these: Voters across the political spectrum want elected officials to invest in infrastructure. Infrastructure investment is an urgent bipartisan issue that everyone can get behind. More than 79 percent of voters believe it is extremely important that Congress and the Administration increase investment in public infrastructure, according to a joint poll conducted by Politico and the Harvard Center for Politics. The benefits of investing in infrastructure far outweigh the costs. Every $1 invested in infrastructure generates $3.70 in economic growth, while repairing and modernizing our nation’s public infrastructure would add $1,400 in income to the average household annually for the next 20 years, according to a report by the Business Roundtable. Inaction is the greatest cost. Just because we’re not investing enough to modernize and maintain our infrastructure doesn’t mean we aren’t paying for it. While Washington debates how to move forward, Americans are footing the bill – The poor quality of our nation’s roads costs the average driver $533 each year in repairs accordind to a study by the national transportation research group TRIP. And the American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that commuters waste an average of 42 hours per year and millions of dollars in fuel stuck in traffic.

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Industry collaboration, data play key roles in FMCSA's work, according to secretary

Transport Topics | May 8, 2019 | by Mindy Long SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is focused on improving infrastructure and creating common-sense regulations, and open communication with the trucking industry enhances the government’s efforts. Ray Martinez, FMCSA administrator, made the remarks while addressing trucking industry executives at American Trucking Associations’ midyear management meeting. “My work at FMCSA depends on clear and honest communication with you as close to real time as possible,” Martinez said. He added that over the past year, the relationship between FMCSA and the industry has grown, resulting in a more positive and collaborative relationship. “It helps us make better decisions,” he said, adding that constant communication also provides insight into unintended consequences of well-intentioned actions FMCSA takes to meet its mandated obligations and safety mission. Read the full article at Transport Topics online

MANAGING PEOPLE

What good feedback really looks like

Harvard Business Review online | by Craig Chappelow and Cindy McCauley | May 13, 2019 According to a recent Harvard Business Review  cover story , it’s rarely useful to give feedback to colleagues. The authors argue that constructive criticism won’t help people excel and that, when you highlight someone’s shortcomings, you actually hinder their learning. They say that managers should encourage employees to worry less about their weaknesses and instead focus on their strengths. Our research and experience at the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) lead us to a different conclusion: Feedback — both positive and negative — is essential to helping managers enhance their best qualities and address their worst so they can excel at leading. There are several ideas in the article with which we agree: Harsh feedback does not help people thrive and excel. Indeed, effective criticism needs to be delivered with respect and care. Frequent or exclusively negative comments can spark defensive reactions that cloud perceptions and dampen motivation. Read the complete article at HBR online

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MARKETING

GoMotorcoach has the resources you need to expand your bookings of sightseeing trips

If your company is in an area where sightseeing is big business, you’re likely looking to put more camera-toting tourists on your coaches for trips around town. GoMotorcoach, now powered by UMA, has proven and professionally developed resources that can help. Just a reminder, as with any new strategy, there are issues you need to clarify and think through first. For example, you might wonder if you have to go with a per capita model or worry about making your key tour operators angry with you. The video resources of this GoMotorcoach campaign address those concerns and we also have memorable social media collateral that can help you sell more charters to sightseeing groups. From corporations to restaurants (and everything in between!), our tools will show your referral partners, advertising venues, and customers that “local tours” is your middle name.

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A bet on Uber is a bet on self-driving

Wired | by Aarian Marshall | May 10, 2019 On Friday morning,  Uber  executives rang the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange as their 10-year-old, $82 billion company went public. The IPO is significant, even in a year chock-full of important IPOs: It's the largest by a tech company in the past half-decade and the second by a ride-hailing company in the past two months. Uber shares fell 7.6 percent on their first day, from the IPO price of $45 to $41.57. But the most important activity Friday for Uber’s future may happen 370 miles away, in Pittsburgh, headquarters of the company’s Advanced Technologies Group. If Friday is like any other for ATG,  autonomous vehicle safety drivers will pilot a handful of sensor-laden SUVs on short test trips around the city’s Strip District. They will collect data on road situations and probably run through a few trials conceived by the company’s engineers to ensure their software is working properly. If it works, that self-driving technology might finally lead the ride-hailing company to the kind of profitability its investors—who have sunk more than $22 billion into Uber already—would like to see. At least some day. Read the rest of the story at Wired online

RECRUITING

Wage hikes, guaranteed pay, improved communication can have positive effect on driver shortage TB&P | by Jeff Della Rosa | April 29, 2019 S ign-on bonuses and guaranteed pay have worked to attract truck drivers to the industry, but the shortage remains, said Gordon Klemp, founder and CEO of National Transportation Institute. In a recent webinar, Klemp explained the most effective ways to combat the shortage have been increased pay, which reduces turnover; guaranteed pay, which removes pay variances; and improved communications with drivers to develop a connection with the company. A recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau downplayed the shortage, but Klemp said those in the industry know the shortage exists. And, the driver shortage has continued even as Walmart has started to offer an average of $87,500 for drivers in their first year. Driver pay rose over the past year, but it probably hasn’t risen enough, with driver turnover stuck at 100%, he said. The turnover rate for drivers of large carriers on truckload and irregular routes has ranged between 80% and 100%. The pool of drivers has been stagnant, and unemployment has been at a 50-year low. Klemp has tracked driver wages over the past 23 years and he’s not seen driver pay rise when freight volumes don’t increase. With demand and capacity in balance, Klemp doesn’t anticipate driver income to increase. But qualified drivers remain in short supply and he expects low freight rates to be non-existent. Read the full report here

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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.

National Park Service expands passenger fees Bus & Motorcoach News | May 9, 2019 | by Rick Stoff Permitting is expanding to 302 new national parks on October 1, 2019. The National Park Service (NPS) will impose permit requirements and entrance fees at all 417 of its parks this year, adding permit and fee requirements at the 302 parks that do not currently charge fees. The service also is increasing passenger fees at 35 parks at which fees already are charged. The operator who packages a trip—whether it's the tour operator that chartered the buses or the motorcoach company itself—is the one responsible under the new plan for obtaining an advance use permit and paying passenger fees. This clarifies uncertainties found in a previous plan. If the motorcoach operator leased the bus but did not market the tour, however, it still may be required to hold a permit to enter some parks, something allowed at the discretion of the park supervisor and seen as a “double dip for access” by industry advocates like Bronwyn Wilson, president of the International Motorcoach Group. Read the full story at Bus & Motorcoach News online

Report says 47,000 bridges in poor condition Bus & Motorcoach News  |  May 8, 2019  The American Road & Transportation Builders Association analysis of the recently-released U.S. Department of Transportation 2018 National Bridge Inventory database reveals 47,052 bridges are classified as structurally deficient and in poor condition, according to TheTrucker.com . Nearly 1,775 are on the Interstate Highway System. The report comes in the backdrop of ongoing discussions between Congress and the Trump administration about how to address the nation’s transportation infrastructure challenges. Absent congressional action, states could see a 40 percent cut in federal investment beginning in 2021.

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MEMBER BENEFITS

Workers' Compensation insurance created with motorcoach operators in mind

Open to UMA Members only, the UMA Comp program enables motorcoach operators to receive the same quality, comprehensive workers compensation programs as large companies, including competitive pricing and coverages specifically tailored to our public auto exposure. This is one of UMA's most popular programs among operators. For more information, contact Ron Schwarz  at rschwarz@kfbins.com  or 818-242-5100, ext. 140

Motorcoach Industry Calendar from Bus and Motorcoach News Online MAY 2019 8 - EXPO Registration Opens! www.motorcoachexpo.com 21 - UMA Region I Regional Town Hall Video Conference: AOBRDs to ELDs - 2:00 p.m. ET 23 - UMA Region II Regional Town Hall Video Conference: AOBRDs to ELDs - 2:00 p.m. ET 29-30 UMA Inaugural Sales Summit, Mall of America, Bloomington, MN Learn more and register 31 - UMA Region III Regional Town Hall Video Conference: AOBRDs to ELDs - 2:00 p.m. ET  JUNE 2019 1 Spring Fling at the Museum of Bus Transportation, Hershey, PA https://busmuseum.org/events/spring-fling/ 4-6 CVSA International Roadcheck 18-21 PBA Annual Meeting, Resorts Casino, Atlantic City, NJ (Hosted by Atlantic City/MeetAC) 20-23 New England Bus Association Annual Conference, Nonantum Resort Kennebunkport, ME 21 PBA Board Meeting, Atlantic City http://pabus.org/ JULY 2019 28- August 1 , Regional Meeting of AMA, GMOA, and SCMA, Renaissance Hotel/Convention Center, Montgomery, AL Learn More AUGUST 2019 6-9 IMG Strategic Alliance Meeting, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada 12-14 Midwest Bus & Motorcoach Association (MBMCA) Annual Convention and Trade Show (and Roadeo Competition), Isle Casino Hotel, Bettendorf, IA www.mbmca.org 14 PBA Safety & Preparedness Workshop, York Springs, PA http://pabus.org/ 15-18 NAMO Annual Conference & Marketplace – Springfield, MO Oasis Hotel and Convention Center  http://www.namo-coaches.org/ SEPTEMBER 2019 11, Maryland Motorcoach Association Annual Crab Feast, Kentmorr Restaurant and Crab House. Stevensville, MD 18-22 Regional Meeting of NCMA, VMA, and MCASC, Embassy/Marriott/Benton Convention Center, Winston-Salem, NC Learn More OCTOBER 2019 9-10 GNJMA Fall Annual Meeting & Related Events including Group Leader Marketplace, Resorts Atlantic City http://www.gnjma.com/ 13 -15 California Bus Association’s 46th Annual Convention and Trade Show, Sheraton Carlsbad Resort and Spa www.cbabus.com 20-22 Bus Association of New York (BANY) Annual Meeting and Marketplace, Sands Bethlehem, Bethlehem, PA – bany@banybus.org October 21-23, 201920th Annual North West Motorcoach Association ROADEO Location TBD JANUARY 2020 19-23 UMA Motorcoach EXPO, Nashville, TN www.motorcoachexpo.com

OCTOBER 2020 25- 27 California Bus Association’s 47th Annual Convention and Trade Show, Omni Rancho Las Palmas in Rancho Mirage, CA (Palm Springs) www.cbabus.com

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!