GNJMA President Tim Stout, pictured here with Congressman Donald Payne, Jr.

On March 26, GNJMA Member, Peter Pan, honored their finest drivers with 2019 Safety Awards. 

(Two) Two-Million Mile Driver Awards: 24 years of safe driving, no accidents. "80 times around the earth, 9 trips to the moon":

• Springfield, MA - Wayne Miles
• Providence, RI - Mike Drozd

(Thirteen) One Million Mile Driver Awards: 12 years of safe driving, no
accidents. "40 times around the earth, 4.5 trips to the moon":

• Springfield MA - Karol Birdsall, Vladimir Burnusuz, Donnie Woodberry
• Providence, RI - Arthur Riley, Albert Robinson, Adelino Tavares
• Rocky Hill, CT - Ken Walker
• Chelsea, MA - Materson Victor
• Boston, MA - Yi Fan Chen, Shiller Fils-Aime, Carlton Swinton

175 drivers will be recognized for completing 2018 with no accidents.

Drivers, operations and maintenance departments were also honored for outstanding customer service and performance.

Congratulations to Tom Brynan of Werner Coach ! Tom won the VISA gift card drawing just for completing our post-Spring meeting survey. Thanks to all who participated!

Overall scores and feedback on the events were excellent.  Our Meetings & Marketing Committee will be reviewing the full results during the next committee call.  We thank Sands Bethlehem for hosting our Spring events.

Highlights of the event will be included in our Spring Newsletter being mailed this week to all Members. 

GNJMA Members,  Suburban Transit Bus,  Coach USA, and Greyhound each have representation on the newly established Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee (STSAC). 

The STSAC will be composed of voting members representing surface transportation providers and users, and non-voting members representing federal departments and agencies with surface transportation oversight.

The STSAC will report to TSA Administrator David Pekoske and will provide recommendations on surface transportation security matters, including the development, refinement, and implementation of policies, programs, initiatives, rulemakings, and security directives.  Read more...

GNJMA recently donated to support the BUS4NYC Coalition.  Board members and other GNJMA members have attended past meetings regarding the development of the coalition.

BUS4NYC is a NYC-based and-focused advocacy group comprised of private bus company owners and related business and associations promoting the industry as a viable transportation solution and local economic driver.

The group is responsible for raising the industry's overall profile in NYC through sustained education and public awareness campaigns, which seek out supportive public policies that will encourage the growth of the private bus company.  

If you have news you'd like to share about your company or one of your employees, or  if you are interested in being in our Member Spotlight, please contact us  with photos, links and let us know what you would like to highlight.

The Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA) is establishing the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse). This new database will contain information pertaining to violations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) controlled substances (drug) and alcohol testing program for holders of CDLs.

The Clearinghouse rule requires FMCSA-regulated employers, Medical Review Officers (MROs), Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs), consortia/third party administrators (C/TPAs), and other service agents to report to the Clearinghouse information related to violations of the drug and alcohol regulations in 49 Code of Federal Regulations, parts 40 and 382 by current and prospective employees.  Read more...

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the availability of $2 million in intercity bus security grant funds for fiscal year 2019.

 

There are a number of key changes to this year's program. The cost-sharing requirement of 50 percent of project costs has been maintained, the maximum number of submitted projects is limited to one per company, additional changes have been made to allowable pre-award costs, use of grant writers/managers is further detailed and procurement compliance guidelines updated. There is even a preparedness grants manual now available.   The FY 2019 grants will be awarded through a competitive selection process, with grant applications due by 11:59 PM ET on May 29, 2019. All funding will be announced for selected recipients around August 2, 2019.

 

FEMA and TSA will be hosting conference calls on the following dates to provide additional information and answer questions related to the grants :

 

April 16, 1:00 pm EDT -  Please dial - 800-320-4330; passcode: 135442

 

April 18, 2:00 p.m. EDT - Joint webinar (ABA)-  Click here  to register

 

April 30, 1:00 p.m. EDT -  Please dial - 800-320-4330; passcode: 135442

 

The grant program is designed to improve security for intercity bus operators and passengers by providing funding for driver/vehicle and facility security enhancements, emergency communication technology, and training.  Click here to start the registration process on grants.gov .

The world of commercial transportation industry is filled with acronyms. So, it's no surprise that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) new Entry-Level Driver Training rule , which goes by the acronym "ELDT," is causing confusion with the Agency's Electronic Logging Device rule , or "ELD." But, these rules are, in fact, very different and it's critical that motor carriers and commercial drivers are able to distinguish them from one another.  Read more...

New Jersey elected officials and those representing West-of-the-Hudson New Yorkers are alarmed that state lawmakers in Albany are discussing a plan to charge motorists to drive into the busiest parts of Manhattan.

It seems all but certain that New York City will become the first in the nation to implement congestion pricing, a proposal now wrapped up in state budget negotiations that are scheduled to conclude this week.  Read more...