April 23, 2019
Are key members of your team receiving the UMA Member Newsletter every Tuesday? It's easy to sign up and keep everyone on your team up-to-date on industry trends, membership benefits, and important dates and events. Click the button!
WEBINAR man hand on table Business_ coffee_ Split tone
NPS WEBINAR
Learn more about Commercial Use Authorizations
Operators who want to learn more about CUAs and fees for road-based commercial tours effective October 1, 2019 should join the National Park Service for webinar on April 24, 2019 at 3:30-4:30 pm, Eastern Daylight Time. You many submit questions in advance by e-mail . 

Topic : CUA and Commercial Entrance Fee Changes for Road-based Commercial Tour Groups
Date : April 24, 2019
Time : 3:30 - 4:30 Eastern Daylight Time

2. Enter your name and email address
3. Enter the session password: qG7PvBFP
4. Click "Join Now"
5. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen
-------------------------------------------------------------
To join the session by phone:
Dial-in number: 1-800-857-0529
Passcode: 4626752#

For closed-captioning please click or copy and paste the following link in your browser bar:
Just asking!
Customer satisfaction survey and questionnaire concept. Giving feedback with multiple choice form. Pen_ paper and emotion smiley face icons.
Does your sales team have all the tech tools it needs to succeed in a competitive market?
Yes
No
Tech innovators will drive thought leadership
at UMA's industry Sales Summit
Join technology trailblazers from throughout the motorcoach industry at the Bus & Motorcoach Industry Sales Summit for Game Changer Technology sessions and a Tech Panel that will explore Tech Tools and Trends to Increase Sales. Not long ago it was enough to pay for some Google Adwords and have a website with the ability to take booking requests and inquiries. That is not enough in today’s crowded marketplace if you expect your company to thrive and grow with more sales and you know that. These presenters and sessions will empower participants to identify next level technology tools and how to put them to work for higher sales.

The Sales Summit will expose participants to consumer and market trends that are driving technology and create an intense learning environment that will explore the new technologies that are leading operators to greater sales success.

The Sales Summit takes place May 29-30 at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN.
Presenters at the Bus & Motorcoach Industry Sales Summit include experts and thought leaders from throughout the industry:  
  • Numaan Akram, Founder and CEO, Rally
  • Eric Elliot, VP Sales & Marketing, Distinctive Systems 
  • Brent Maitland, VP Marketing and Product Planning, MCI
  • Jim McCann of Spader Business Management
  • Joanna Patterson, Head of Business Development, FlixBus
  • Chris Riddell, President, United Bus Technology (and formerly of the Motorcoach Marketing Council)
  • Shawna Suckow, Travel Industry Sales Thought Leader
FMCSA's new requirements for entry-level driver training take effect next February
Fleet Owner | by Catharine Conway | April 23, 2019

Instructional Technologies Inc.  (ITI), a provider of training solutions for the transportation industry, has released the name of its new training program for drivers wanting to obtain a CDL: On Ramp Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT). This new system adopts new requirements  demanded by FMCSA  and will be fully operational by February 2020 for state, public, and private CDL schools.

THE NEW ELDT RULES:

Setting minimum standards for CDL schools:  Instead of being determined state by state, the minimum standards will now be set at the federal level.

Overseen by Department of Transportation (DOT):  These schools must record and report hours spent behind the wheel to the DOT even though there is no federal minimum.

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.
Read the latest in Bus & Motorcoach News
Are insurance rate hikes on the horizon?

More claims, higher settlements are driving costs higher

Bus & Motorcoach News | April 22, 2019 | by Rick Stoff

Increasing accident exposures and higher costs of claim settlements have kept insurers of commercial auto liability, including the motorcoach industry, from breaking even since the beginning of this decade. Industry rating services predict that some insurers may need further premium increases for passenger transportation coverage.

“Despite rate increases in 23 of the last 25 quarters, the combined ratio topped 111 percent in 2017. This line has been a weak spot for many insurers, forcing them to reduce writings, trim their portfolio and in some cases exit writing monoline auto altogether,” reported the trade magazine Carrier Management.

Despite continuing premium increases, the industry experienced only a slight improvement in 2018 in combined ratio, which is calculated by dividing total claim losses by paid premiums. Claims in 2017 totaled 111 percent of premiums paid for commercial auto liability (CAL) coverage across the industry.

Advertisement: New opportunities in Bus & Motorcoach News
Diesel headed higher; average price up
2.9 cents per gallon this week alone
The Trucker | April 22, 2019

WASHINGTON — The average on-highway price of a gallon of diesel jumped 2.9 cents a gallon for the week ending April 22, according to the Energy Information Administration of the Department of Energy. It’s the second consecutive week of a significant increase. For the week ending April 15, the price went up 2.5 cents a gallon.

Since price of 2.965 for the week ending January 28, the price has gone up 18.2 cents a gallon.

Every region of the country was up with a 6.1 cents a gallon increase in the Rocky Mountain states (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado), a 5.7 cents increase in the West Coast minus California (Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Alaska), and a 4.5 cents a gallon increase in California itself.

The price for the week ending April 22 was 1.4 cents higher than the same week last year.

Pay 20-25 cents less per gallon for diesel
when you partner with UMA and Ambest
UMA has partnered with AMBEST to create a member benefit that will allow UMA members to save substantially on their diesel fuel purchases when using an authorized AMBEST location and the AMBEST Fuel Card. The program offers whole sale cost as determined by OPIS plus $0.09 or retail less $0.03, whichever is most beneficial to the UMA member at the time of purchase. While savings will vary with wholesale, retail prices, and region we estimate today a typical member will save between $0.20-$0.25 per gallon of diesel fuel. 

To get started, contact Sylvia Jackson at  sjackson@am-best.com  or call 434-594-4810.

Musk thinks Tesla can build a million robotaxis in a year
Fast Company | by Cale Guthrie Weissman | April 23 2019

The latest Tesla moonshot is a doozy. On Monday, Elon Musk told an audience that Tesla plans to launch a large fleet of “autonomous robotaxis” in 2020. And not just a few: The Tesla CEO said the company planned to have a million of the self-driving vehicles on the road next year.

Musk, however, did provide some caveats. For one, he said the robotaxis wouldn’t be everywhere.

CNBC  reports  that he said “we won’t have regulatory approval everywhere.” As for the ambitious timeline, he explained that “sometimes I am not on time, but I get it done.” But he still repeated the 1 million robotaxi target for some time next year.

As the  Financial Times points out, this big autonomous technology push is a necessity for the company; Musk now believes that the only way for Tesla to achieve sustained profitability is by having a growing fleet of robotaxis boosting the bottom line.
Motorcoach Industry Calendar


APRIL 2019

MAY 2019
  • 6 NPS Webinar on road-based commercial tour CUA requirements and commercial tour entrance fee changes effective October 1, 2019 -- Time and link TBA
  • 29-30 UMA Inaugural Sales Summit, Mall of America, Bloomington, MN Learn more and register

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
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!