July 23, 2019

PROLIFERATION OF ELECTRIC SCOOTERS CREATES NEW HAZARDS NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR VISION AND MARKETING AWARDS FACILITY TOURS RETURN TO EXPO LIMO OWNER MUST SUBMIT TO DNA TESTING IT'S GETTING HARDER TO FIRE EMPLOYEES FOR USING POT

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

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MCI Vehicle Featured at Independent Living March UMA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner (left) was a guest of MCI today at the National Council for Independent Living (NCIL) March on the Capitol. The March showcased MCI's new D45 CRT LE commuter coach which was designed with input from NCIL's executive director.

Accident underscores dangers of E-scooters Lancer Insurance enumerates concerns for motorcoaches   Lancer Insurance | July 22, 2019 A man riding an electric scooter was killed last week after being struck by a transit bus in Midtown Atlanta. According to authorities, the accident occurred while the bus was attempting to make a right turn, trapping the man underneath the vehicle.   This accident highlights the potential dangers of interacting with stand-up scooters, also known as e-scooters, which have popped up on streets across America in recent years.   E-scooters are problematic for professional drivers for a number of reasons. A human figure standing up on an e-scooter represents a smaller profile than a bicyclist and may be misinterpreted as an upright individual walking or running. The small profile also makes it difficult to judge its distance and speed. The battery-powered two-wheelers don’t make much noise, so they often surprise drivers. The devices can be operated at night and don’t have lights or reflectors, making them more difficult to recognize. To make matter worse, many riders are operating scooters while wearing headphones, making them oblivious to their surroundings. In addition, scooter riders often don’t wear protective equipment, which significantly increases the risk of more serious injuries if they are involved in a crash. Riders are also more likely to ignore the rules of the road, and are known to encroach in the space between vehicles and the curb, or ride against the flow of traffic. More alarming, a recent Consumer Reports  nationally-representative survey  of more than 3,000 adults suggests that riders remain confused about what traffic laws they should follow.   To help decrease the likelihood of being involved in a collision with a scooter: Keep your eyes moving. Look at least 15 seconds ahead, and scan from side to side to help spot scooter riders in the roadway. Give scooters a wide berth, slow down and allow extra following distance between your vehicle and riders ahead of you. While some roads have bike lanes for scooter use, riders may enter into a motor vehicle lane to execute a left turn or to avoid a hazard. When passing scooters, do so slowly and cautiously. Exercise extreme care at intersections. Take an extra look before turning left or right, and rock and roll in your seat to check any blind spots. Importantly, signal your intentions. Give riders the same respect as you would any other driver. Be patient and understand that riders are in a much more vulnerable position than you are. Don’t assume. Not all riders are proficient; they may swerve, brake suddenly, or even fall. There can also be obstacles on the roadway such as debris or potholes that can be challenging even for experienced riders.   While met with enthusiasm by many riders, e-scooters have created a new safety hazard for professional drivers. It’s up to you to slow down, and remain vigilant to the inherent dangers scooters, as well as pedestrians and bicyclists, present.

Region I - September 10, 2019 - 2:00 p.m. Region II - September 11, 2019 - 2:00 p.m. Region III - September 12, 2019 - TBA JOIN THE MEETING

The FMCSA Portal and Your Business Join regional colleagues for an online town hall!

The next round of UMA Regional Town Hall meetings will take place once we're past the chaos of back to school, set for September 10, 11, and 12. This time the FMCSA's Portal will be the topic and operators are urged to take part to learn more about what will become an increasingly important tool for your business. You can phone in to take part or log in to see slides and other participants. Following are the dates for the meetings that will be held on the Zoom online videoconference platform. Region I - September 10, 2019 - 2 p.m. ET Region II - September 11, 2019 - 2 p.m. ET Region III - September 12, 2019 - TBA The use of the portal can streamline the compliance review process and operators will discuss expanded use of the portal to include DataQs, violation appeals, crash preventability, crash scores and other communications. Currently, operators are using the portal very little if at all, so this Town Hall series is aimed at increasing comfort with the portal and expanding its use as a valued tool. URL:  https://zoom.us/join Meeting Code: 366-513-9797 Phone in to: US: 1 669 900 6833 or 1 646 876 9923 Use the Meeting ID: 366 513 9797

Awards nominations open for EXPO

Nominations are now being accepted for the UMA Vision Award and the Motorcoach Marketing Council Marketing Award. Visit the EXPO website to learn more and access an official application for both awards. REGISTER LEARN MORE

Facilities Tours at EXPO: Prevost & Gray Line of Tennessee Both Gray Line of Tennessee and Prevost's Tennessee facility are extending hospitality to EXPO attendees on Wednesday, January 22, when we'll have tours of both facilities. Motorcoaches will depart the Music City Center at 12:15 p.m. and return by 6:00 p.m. after tours at both locations. Watch for more details as we get closer!

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House passes bill raising minimum wage to $15 by Ken Presley | UMA Staff The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation today to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. The vote was 231-199, mostly a party-line vote with largely Democrats favoring the increase. Does it help? The legislation also includes an amendment requiring that the economic impact of the requirement be studied as the wage hike is phased in. A Congressional Budget Office report projected the minimum wage hike would lift 1.3 million people out of poverty, but in contrast would also eliminate 1.3 million jobs by 2024. The last time the minimum wage was raised was in 2007, when it was raised to $7.25 per hour, beginning in 2009. All eyes turn to the Senate The legislation is not expected to be taken up in the U.S. Senate, but Democrats will likely leverage the discussion in next year’s elections. Beltway insiders anticipate stark criticism of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for ignoring bills approved by the House.

FMCSA Proposes Partial Delay of Entry-Level Driver Training Rule by Ken Presley ž| UMA Staff| July 18, 2019 The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a notice in the Federal Register July 18, proposing a two-year delay for compliance of certain provisions in the Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) rule.  The stated basis for the delay is to allow additional time for development of the secure electronic transfer of information to the certified training provider registry and state driver licensing agencies. The proposed two-year extension would delay the date by which training providers must begin uploading driver-specific training certification information into the Training Provider Registry. FMCSA indicated they were working on a temporary solution to a “glitch” in the system. The referenced glitch would delay the regulatory requirement that electronic information system transfers permit secure communication among driver training schools, state licensing agencies and FMCSA. The regulation requires schools to transfer validation to FMCSA that applicant drivers successfully completed their classroom and behind the wheel requirements. FMCSA would then forward the certifications electronically to the appropriate state licensing agencies. The Agency is not proposing any additional revisions to the requirements established by the ELDT final rule. Beginning February 7, 2020, training providers that offer ELDT must be listed on the Training Provider Registry. Drivers seeking a CDL or endorsement on or after February 7, 2020, are still required to complete the required training, as set forth in the ELDT final rule. To submit comments to the proposals online, go to http://www.regulations.gov , put the docket number, FMCSA-2007-27748, in the keyword box, and click “Search.” When the new screen appears, click on the “Comment Now!” button and type your comment into the text box on the following screen.

It's getting harder to fire employees for using pot

Bloomberg | by Rebecca Greenfield | July 23, 2019 The stories all go something like this: An employee is ordered to take a drug test. They have a medical marijuana prescription for a legitimate illness and tell their employer as much. The employer goes ahead with the test, gets back the positive results, and fires the employee. Most states have statutes giving companies the right to drug-test the people they hire and to fire them for coming to work under the influence; in the ones that don’t, courts have largely blessed the process. The precedents are murkier when it comes to employees who partake in a state-sanctioned, medically helpful drug in their off hours—and even more so for those who partake recreationally where it’s legal to do so. Until the last few years, courts had largely backed companies that enforce zero-tolerance drug-free workplace policies. But with  legalization sweeping the country  and stigmas about pot smokers fading, judges and lawmakers are beginning to side with employees.  Read the full article at Bloomberg

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Limo owner must submit to DNA testing

Bus & Motorcoach News | July 21, 2019 The owner of a limousine involved in a fatal crash in Schoharie, New York, has been ordered to “submit to the taking of saliva and buccal cell samples from his body.” Prosecutors requested the samples so they can determine whether he handled a “removed or peeled-off DOT sticker” that had been placed on the limousine’s windshield when it was ordered out of service by the New York Department of Transportation. The sticker was found in the limo owner’s personal automobile by police investigators after the accident. Nauman Hussain, 28, manager of Prestige Limousine of Saratoga Springs, has pleaded not guilty to 20 counts of second-degree manslaughter and 20 counts of criminally negligent homicide for the crash that killed 17 passengers, two pedestrians in a parking lot and the driver of the limousine. Read the rest of the article at Bus & Motorcoach News online

Premium services attract new motorcoach riders Bus & Motorcoach News | July 19, 2019 Carriers offering premium services, including more comfortable seats, more space and entertainment options, are attracting millennials, business travelers and others who once snubbed bus transportation. Younger adults are more open to bus travel than previous generations and are among the demographics taking advantage of the service upgrades as well as the convenience these motorcoaches offer, said Joseph Schwieterman, director of the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul University, which conducts an annual report on the state of the intercity bus industry. “A lot of younger riders, even millennials, are looking for a more premium experience,” he said. “They want peace and quiet. They want to be able to work, sleep, have extra legroom, and they’re willing to pay a little bit more.” Read the rest at Bus & Motorcoach News online

Reminder: UMA Board nominations due by August 1 Please note, August. 1, 2019, is the deadline to submit nominations for open seats on the UMA Board of Directors. This year, there will be five open seats. Two seats are available in regions 2 and 3 and one seat is available in region 1. The following is a breakout of states by UMA region: REGION 1: AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, HI, IA, ID, KS, LA, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WI, WY REGION 2: AL, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA REGION 3: CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, WV REGION 4: All Provinces and Territories in Canada Written letters of nomination must state the candidate’s name, company affiliation and home base location. Nomination letters also must be postmarked, emailed or faxed before August 1, 2019.  CONTACT:   If you have questions or wish to submit a letter of nomination (for yourself or another UMA member), please contact UMA President & CEO, Stacy Tetschner at stetschner@uma.org .

MEMBER BENEFITS Show your professionalism with a UMA member badge on your website UMA Members are given the opportunity to use the UMA logo on any of their promotional materials. Two formats of the logo are available - high resolution for use with printed material and low resolution for use on your website with web-based products. The logo can be added to your stationery, business cards, and promotional material to proudly display your membership with the United Motorcoach Association.   Get details on the UMA website in the members-only section. And did you know that UMA members on Busrates.com get special treatment for their profile to make it stand out, and can use the UMA logo on their listing to show their professionalism? It's another way UMA membership helps your business stay on top. Please contact us at 1.800.424.8262 should you experience any difficulties in downloading the image files. A UMA staff member will be happy to assist you. Similarly, email Julie Ryder at     jryder@uma.org  and you can receive the artwork via email. Download your UMA member badge  .

Motorcoach Industry Calendar from Bus and Motorcoach News Online JULY 2019 28- August 1 , Regional Meeting of AMA, GMOA, and SCMA, Renaissance Hotel/Convention Center, Montgomery, AL Learn More AUGUST 2019 1 Deadline to nominate candidates for UMA Board of Directors 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 10 UMA Region I Town Hall Meeting - 2:00 p.m. - Join the Meeting 11 UMA Region II Town Hall Meeting - 2:00 p.m. - Join the Meeting 11 Maryland Motorcoach Association Annual Crab Feast, Kentmorr Restaurant and Crab House. Stevensville, MD 12 UMA Region III Town HallMeeting - Time TBA - Join the Meeting 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 10 GNJMA Annual Driver Safety Meeting and Appreciation Luncheon DECEMBER 4-5 UMA Safety Management Seminar, National Transportation Safety Board Training Center, Ashburn, VA JANUARY 2020 19-23 UMA Motorcoach EXPO, Nashville, TN www.motorcoachexpo.com MARCH 2020 9-10 GNJMA Sponsor Appreciation Dinner, Spring Association Meeting & Motorcoach Professional Awards

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!