Please note, we have updated our newsletter publication schedule to bi-monthly (the 1st and the 15th), due to increased volume of news and information during the pandemic.  

We are all in this together.
Member News
George Rodriguez of Greyhound Joins GNJMA Board of Directors

On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are pleased and honored to announce George Rodriguez of Greyhound Lines, Inc. is joining our Board of Directors.

George is the Regional Manager, Northeast Region, for Greyhound. He has served in this position since Sept. 23, 2019, and is responsible for Atlantic City, Binghamton, Boston, Buffalo, Mt. Laurel, New York and Syracuse.  Read the full press release.
A Video Message from GNJMA Member, Sheppard Bus

Sheppard Bus Service
Sheppard Bus Service "SHEPPARD STRONG"
Bailey Coach Driver Makes Special Delivery

GNJMA Member, Bailey Coach, was contacted to do a last minute delivery of Caputo Brothers cheese products to New York City, for a segment on the Good Morning America Show.  Tammie Moore, a Bailey Coach senior driver, made the special delivery that now has her co-workers calling her the "Big Cheese."

Courtney Bailey said Caputo Brothers contacted them at 11 a.m. on a Monday and Moore was on the road at 11:45 a.m. "Our customers say jump, we say how high?" Courtney Bailey said.  Read more...
Greyhound Launches Rides for Responders 

GNJMA Member, Greyhound Lines, Inc. has always been on the front line of critical transportation during national crises. Greyhound is currently providing safe transportation that directly supports essential services. To provide further support, today Greyhound launched, 'Rides for Responders,' a program that provides free travel for medical personnel and first responders who need to travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Read more...
Peter Pan Bus Lines Tells Their Story

GNJMA Member,  Peter Pan Bus Lines, a family company now with a fourth generation working there, is doing something it has never done in its 87-year history.

It is not running any buses - or at least very, very few of them, says Peter A. Picknelly, company chairman and CEO. It suspended most of its intercity bus service at the end of March and won't start rolling again until May at the earliest.  Read more...
Platinum Sponsor, ABC Companies, Preparing Operators for Post-COVID 19 Operations

As thousands of operators were forced off the roads in mid-March, GNJMA Member, ABC Companies, turned its focus to shaping solutions that navigate the "how" of operating in this new reality. Putting effective safeguards and protocols in place designed to ensure the comfort and security of drivers and passengers will be paramount in the post-COVID environment. Read more...
Busie Offering Support

To help support operators during this challenging downtime, GNJMA Member, Busie is offering installs of their instant quoting software and access to their charter sales platform completely free until the industry begins to come back. Their goal is to help support charter sales teams:
  • Coming back with a vengeance when travel demand rebounds
  • Increasing profitability on charter trips
  • Supporting operators in providing a differentiating experience to customers looking to travel
  • Providing flexibility to charter sales teams if working remotely is needed
Contact Louis Bookoff, Co-Founder & CEO, for more information. He can be reached at (443) 452-9398 or louis@getbusie.com.
Industry, State and COVID-19 Information
New Jersey Passes Law To Pay School Bus Contractors Sidelined by COVID-19  

 
New Jersey school bus contractors received significant help when the State enacted a new law for school districts adapting to the COVID-19 lockdown. NJ Assembly bill A3904 (as amended by the Senate on April 13, 2020) included a last-minute addition that specifically " requires school districts to make all reasonable efforts to renegotiate a contract in good faith...to meet the payroll and fixed costs obligations of the contracted service provider."
Governor Murphy's Restart and Recovery Commission Named  

 
Murphy announced the appointment of members to a Restart and Recovery Commission, tasked with advising the administration on the timing and preparation for New Jersey's recovery from the COVID-19 shutdown. 

The Governor's Restart and Recovery Commission will be comprised of 21 members, all with a vast wealth of experience in health care, business, finance, academics, and economics and will be chaired by Princeton Professor and former University President Shirley Tilghman and Ken Frazier, Chief Executive Officer of Merck and Co., Inc.  Read more...
Motorcoaches Rolling for Awareness

The American Bus Association and United Motorcoach Association invite you to join a rally at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. on May 13th.   Purpose: This is a positive event showcasing how our big buses and small businesses move America. Buses will be decorated with informative signs about our industry and the groups we carry, the economic impact we have and the people we employ. 

FAQ from FTA Grantees Regarding COVID-19  

 
These FAQs provide clarity regarding how COVID-19 preparations impact certain FTA requirements. They also contain recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help grantees and subgrantees prepare for COVID-19.  Read more...
As COVID-19 Lingers, Motorcoach Industry Seeing Devastating Losses  

 
The American Bus Association Foundation released a report showcasing the effect COVID-19 is having on the U.S. motorcoach industry.

Nearly the entire industry is currently shut down in every corner of the country. Most charter and tour companies have closed their doors, commuter operations have mostly stopped running, and scheduled service operations are operating at approximately 15% of capacity. The industry is seeing a fallout between 80% to 90% of cancelled trips and very few future bookings.  Read more...
U.S. Travel Association Reveals Coronavirus Impact On Travel Is 9x Worse Than 9/11  

 
According to new data released by the U.S. Travel Association and the analytics firm Tourism Economics, the travel industry is currently experiencing a total impact that is nine times greater than seen as a result of the attacks of 9/11. Read more...
Is The Bus Half Empty Or Half Full?

The pressure on transport organizations has shifted from moving citizens to keeping a core system operational for workers essential to the COVID-19 response," Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited said online. "A secondary effect is the sudden change in sources of revenue for transport operators, with many experiencing an unexpected shortfall in their finances.  Read more...
Ohio Motorcoach Association Formed 

 
A group of operators decided to form the Ohio Motorcoach Association to serve as one statewide voice for the industry.  Members say the new Ohio association they've formed is not only working to support the business owners, but the thousands of employees across the state.  Read more...
Treasury Department Issues Guidance on PPP 

 
The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued guidance in an interim final rule related to the PPP addressing promissory notes, authorizations, affiliation, and eligibility. 
PPP "Loan Forgiveness" Webinar 

 
Matt Daus, Windels Marx, recently fielded questions by transportation company operators regarding the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loans, including the criteria for loan forgiveness.

The most recent guidance from the U.S. Small Business Administration was presented, including the documents a lender servicing the PPP loan may require to process the loan forgiveness requests to verify payroll costs, as well as other payments that may qualify for loan forgiveness. Since lenders are required to make a decision on the PPP loan forgiveness request within 60 days, transportation companies need to identify and keep records to properly document the expenses during the 8-week period after the PPP loan funds are issued. Significant Q&A took place with specific hypothetical scenarios and sample calculations to make those who have questions about how "loan forgiveness" will work feel more at ease with their decisions.  To view the webinar playback, click here.
New Clearinghouse Resources Available   

 
FMCSA has updated the Clearinghouse Learning Center with additional resources to help you use the Clearinghouse.  

Additional resources for Employers, Including Owner-Operators:
How to Designate Your C/TPA
Query History: Employers
How to Report RTD Information (Employers)
NPS Backs Off Changes 

 
The National Park Service (NPS) has withdrawn plans to implement a standard, nationwide commercial use authorization (CUA) requirement for road-based commercial tours and will not increase commercial tour entrance fees. This decision was made in part to reduce significant changes to commercial tour procedures once COVID-19 related modified operations cease.

Parks that issue road-based commercial tour CUAs may continue to do so and will charge current CUA fees. Parks that have not historically issued road-based commercial tour CUAs may not begin issuing at this time.  As usual, road-based commercial tour operators need to check with each park individually for specific CUA requirements and fees as well as any park-specific operating requirements.
MTA: It's 'Unlikely' NYC Congestion Pricing Will Start on Time   

 
It looks like New York City's congestion pricing program won't be up and running by the start of the new year after all. On Wednesday, MTA Chairman and CEO Pat Foye told reporters it was "unlikely" that the nation's first congestion pricing scheme would be operational by the long-targeted start date of Jan. 1, 2021. "I think that given a combination of the pandemic and the delays in Washington, a January 2021 start is unlikely," Foye said. "But we are doing everything we can on our side, on the MTA side, to advance it as much as possible." Read more...
Requiring Lap/Shoulder Seatbelts Remains Among NTSB School Bus Safety Wishes   

 
The National Transportation Safety Board said it is awaiting responses to several recommendations made to the school bus community, including the adoption of lap/shoulder seatbelts. NTSB said 46 of its 268 recommendations that address its 10 Most Wanted List of Safety Improvements for 2019-2020 could be implemented by the end of this year. Five of these recommendations are specific to school buses, but NTSB said it has not received a response to them from states or stakeholders. Read more... 
Busing on the Lookout (BOTL): Posters for Drivers and Dispatchers   

 
Busing on the Lookout has some resources for your drivers and dispatchers. You can download poster designs that can be printed and hung in your driver break rooms, dispatch rooms, offices, etc.  These posters can serve as a handy reminder of the red flags for drivers to be on the lookout for, the important role of dispatch, and the number to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.   
Steve Gilliland - Detour, Three-Part Video Series
 
Many of you may remember our keynote speaker, Steve Gilliland, at our 2019 Spring Meeting.  Steve is a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame and is one of the most in-demand and top-rated speakers in the world.  

Recognized as a master storyteller and brilliant comedian, he can be heard daily on SiriusXM Radio's Laugh USA.  Steve shared a three-part video series based on his book, Detour.  Detour contains remarkable insight on how to deal with change and provides solutions to reduce stress, eliminate fear and increase performance.

Video Part 1           Video Part 2           Video Part 3
                               (4:35 min)                     (4:39 min)                   (5:20 min)
Benefits of GNJMA Membership


Login to the GNJMA Member Portal and review your newest benefits! 

Of special note, be sure to check out the NEW discount and cost cutting benefit announced recently through a partnership with SAVINGS4MEMBERS .
GNJMA Upcoming Events
October 2020
October 14 Golf Outing, Atlantic City Country Club
October 14 Meet and Mingle, TBD
October 15 Mini-Marketplace, Caesar's, AC

November 2020
November 19 Annual Driver Safety Meeting, Wind Creek, Bethlehem

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE 2021 MEETING DATES!

Spring: March 15, 2021 Wind Creek Bethlehem
Fall:     October 7, 2021 Resorts Atlantic City 
 ICYMI:  Member Alerts

Member Alerts are sent out to our Members as needed.   All alerts, as well as past newsletters, can be accessed via our website member portal  (Member Info/Documents/Member Alerts)  with logon credentials.   Here is a sampling of what has been sent recently:

  • Rally in DC and Survey Reminder 
  • Our Correspondence with NJ Legislators 
  • New School Bus Law for NJ & UMA Call-to-Action 
  • New Member Benefit - Savings4Members
  • New TSA Law and Grant Funding
  • Email Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell & More
Send Us Your News & New Contacts!

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Contact:  Pattie Cowley, Executive Director | Greater New Jersey Motorcoach Association
  908-750-4538 | pcowley@gnjma.com | www.gnjma.com

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