May 28, 2019
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Congress weighs in on FMCSA’s preemption of California’s meal and rest break
by Ken Presley | May 28, 2019

On September 24, 2018, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to preempt California statutes and rules requiring employers to give employees meal and rest breaks during the workday, as applied to drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) subject to the FMCSA’s hours of service (HOS) regulations.

On December 21, 2018 the FMCSA determined that federal law preempts the California law as it applies to drivers of property-carrying vehicles and the passenger carrier industry could file for a similar exemption. California is appealing the decision in court.

Meanwhile, the U.S. House has introduced an appropriations bill for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development that states, “None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to promulgate or enforce a rule that eliminates the 30 minute rest break specified in part 395 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, as it was in operational effect on May 15, 2019.”

In other words, FMCSA could not enforce the preemption order.

If you are a reader of Bus and Motorcoach News, you will recall the now infamous “Murray Amendment” that denied the Federal Transit Administration from spending funds to enforce the charter service rule when King County Transit (Seattle) was providing charter service to the Seattle Mariners. It took six-years of lobbying Congress to strike the amendment.

FMCSA has published the petition to preempt the passenger carrier industry from the California Meal and rest break laws and is currently seeking public comments. Operators should go to https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=FMCSA-2019-0048-0003 to lend their support to preempt an onerous law that may be coming your way sooner than you think.

Meanwhile, the appropriations bill next heads to the full Committee for markup where there will be attempts to strike the language. Watch for further developments here and in Bus & Motorcoach News . 
Spring Fling at the Bus Museum is this weekend
The annual Spring Fling at the Museum of Bus Transportation will take place this Friday and Saturday, May 31 and June 1. The museum is located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and Spring Fling is its biggest event, featuring a "Parade of Buses" on Saturday and trophies for best in show for a number of categories. If you enjoy seeing vintage buses and others who share that interest, this is the event for you.

This year's Spring Fling starts off with a reception on Friday at 6 p.m. and reservations can be made and paid online .

To become a member of the Museum, go to their website to find the member category that works for you.

Membership includes entrance to the Museum for one adult and 10% off in the Gift Shop on bus items. Just show your Membership Card! It also includes the Quarterly Bus Musings newsletter and Participation in Museum events.
AOBRD phaseout is topic of latest
online Regional Town Hall meetings
UMA members in Region I and II just finished up their online town hall meetings on the AOBRD phaseout, with an hour-long live discussion with experts and colleagues!

The next regional meeting will take place:
  • Region III - Tuesday, June 4 at 10 a.m. ET

You can join the meeting by dialing in on your phone or logging in for the video conference from your computer or phone.

Go to www.uma.org/regional to learn how to participate. The meetings are open to non-members, so please invite colleagues to join in.
Sneak Preview After Party set for Wildhorse Saloon
Monday, January 20, 2020 | 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Prepare for the full Nashville experience of live music, dancing and amazing food when you come to EXPO, January 19-23, 2020.

UMA will entertain EXPO attendees with a Sneak Preview After Party at Nashville's famed Wildhorse Saloon. The Saloon is an expansive venue for live music and dancing featuring award-winning southern smokehouse cuisine and the largest dance floor in the state of Tennessee.

The Sneak Preview After Party will take place on Monday, January 20, 2020 following the Sneak Preview in the exhibit hall. It's a ten-minute walk from the Music City Center, so you can hoof it or ride in our motorcoach shuttles. Either way, plan on having a memorable time with friends.
Our hotel block is open. Book now.
EXPO registration is open and so is our hotel block. Attendees will be pleased with the new, convenient properties that are hosting us for the 2020 EXPO. Remember to book in the UMA block. The safest way to book your rooms is through our hotel page . We do not authorize third parties to book your rooms in our block. Learn more about features of the Tribrand Marriott and the Omni and make your choice. These combined properties offer a variety of lodging choices all adjacent to the Music City Center. You are going to love Nashville!
MANAGEMENT
Five signs your family business
might have an ethics problem

Harvard Business Review | by Nick Di Lorto and Rob Lachenauer | May 28, 2019

When he was attending his grandfather’s funeral, Robert Pasin, the CEO of Radio Flyer, was overwhelmed by the outpouring of affection and respect for the family patriarch, who had originally founded the third generation family business, which manufactures toys. “All these people who worked in the factory, all these suppliers, they told me stories about my grandfather. His word was his bond. One supplier told me that they’d never even had a signed contract, just a handshake agreement. I remember feeling proud and grateful that that kind of person had established this company.” It was a lesson that Robert had absorbed over the years watching both his grandfather and father run the business, one that became part of his DNA. “When you start out with really good values, it’s much easier to maintain them,” Pasin says.

With recent headlines about dubious ethical choices that businesses have made in pursuit of profits, it’s not hard to imagine the pressures that influence business choices. Temptations to cut corners are very real for every business, especially companies trying to live up to Wall Street analysts’ expectations.
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.
NPS working to streamline application process

Bus & Motorcoach News | May 20, 2019 | by Rick Stoff

The National Park Service promises an online platform will be available by Oct. 1 so commercial tour operators can simultaneously submit permit applications and pay fees to all 419 national parks they may visit. However, individual parks will still be permitted to impose site-specific conditions on the commercial use authorization (CUA) permits for “road based commercial tours.”

During a webinar on April 24, officials disclosed additional details about policies that will take effect in the next federal fiscal year and impose permit and fee requirements at 302 parks that do not currently charge fees and increase fees at 35 parks that currently do. NPS has been working on the policies since 2017 to raise funds for a backlog in park maintenance needs.

Can seat belt buzzers
get students to start buckling up?

Bus & Motorcoach News | May 22, 2019 | by Michael J. Bowers

On May 17, 2018, a New Jersey school bus was in an accident that took the lives of one teacher and one 10-year-old student. Many other passengers were seriously injured. Although the bus was equipped with two-point seat belts, multiple students were thrown from the vehicle.

By June 25, the state Senate approved a bill that requires lap-and-shoulder restraints on school buses going forward.

Two years earlier there was a school bus accident in Chattanooga, Tennessee, resulting in six fatalities. Recently, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a report with several recommendations including installation of three-point seat belts on all new school buses, suggesting they provide the best protection. The report also suggests use of these could lead to reduced driver distractions and improved student behavior.
It’s unfortunate that it takes a serious accident to enact laws that seem so obvious. The problem with these examples? They may not go far enough.

Advertisement: New opportunities in Bus & Motorcoach News
Plan ahead for closures on I-95 and Rte. 1 near Stamford, CT
Thanks to our friends at the Bus Association of New York for sharing the following news:

I-95 is closed at exit 9 in Stamford, CT May 31 thorugh June 3 and again June 7-10.

On the weekends of May 31 – June 3 and June 7 – June 10, traffic will be detoured off of Route 1 and off of I-95 in Stamford at Exit 9.

MAJOR DELAYS ARE EXPECTED and motorists are strongly advised to AVOID THIS AREA.

The detours will begin (Route 1 at 9 p.m. and I-95 at 11 p.m.) on Friday, May 31 and Friday, June 7, and end on Monday, June 3 and Monday, June 10 and 5 a.m.

MEMBER BENEFITS
Century Business Solutions can help you save on credit card processing, and if they can't they'll pay your dues
Century Business Solutions is making an exclusive offer to UMA members. Send us the last 3 months of your processing statements. and if we cannot save you money,  we will pay your next 3 years of UMA membership dues in full.  Fill out the contact form for more information.

UMA has developed a strategic partnership with Century Business Solutions to provide members with affordable, seamless credit card processing. As a UMA member, you’ll have access to Century Business Solutions’ proprietary payment gateway, EBizCharge, which reduces processing costs and enhances payment security. In addition, the EBizCharge payment gateway integrates with reservation softwares, allowing for faster, more seamless transactions.
Motorcoach Industry Calendar

JUNE 2019
  • 1 Spring Fling at the Museum of Bus Transportation, Hershey, PA https://busmuseum.org/events/spring-fling/
  • 4 - UMA Region III Regional Town Hall Video Conference: AOBRDs to ELDs - 10:00 a.m. ET
  • 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
  • 14-20 Operation Safe Driver Week Learn More
  • 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

NOVEMBER 2019

JANUARY 2020

MARCH 2020

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!