SEPTEMBER 4, 2018
Bring your drivers and mechanics to EXPO
for competitions and learning opportunities
Cash prizes and bragging rights at stake
Top performing drivers and mechanics benefit from the opportunity to learn and compete at EXPO, the premier education and networking event for the motorcoach industry. From Monday's " Experienced Driver Panel" and " Maintenance Interchange" to the skills competitions the next day, EXPO has so much to offer your valued team members. And this year's EXPO promises a show floor that will spotlight the future of the motorcoach industry like never before! Providing professional development for workers is a proven way to build employee loyalty, prove that your company values its team members, and reward top performers.

CASH PRIZES & BRAGGING RIGHTS

The cash prizes for the Maintenance Competition, sponsored by ABC Companies, and for the Driver Competition, sponsored by Prevost, Shriver-Capacity Insurance and Lancer Insurance are:

  • 1st Place $2,500
  • 2nd Place $1,000
  • 3rd Place $500

The competitions take place on Tuesday morning, January 7 and winners are announced and honored during the UMA Leadership Awards Celebration that evening. Drivers can sign up online and get details here. Mechanics register online or print a form and check the box to participate in the competition.
EXPO Solution Sessions tackle top challenges
This year's Solution Sessions are tightly focused on the Future of the Motorcoach Industry and that means there is a strong emphasis on empowering UMA operators to maintain a competitive edge that will secure their success in a dynamic and rapidly evolving economy. Here are a few of this year's sessions designed to help you stay ahead of the curve:

Driver Shortage – How to Attract—and Maybe Even More Importantly—How to Retain Good Employees
Monday, January 7
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Nearly half of new drivers hired will leave within their first six months of employment. Learn what new hires are looking for when they seek their next employer and what successful companies do to retain good people.

How to Respond Appropriately to a Negative Review or Bad Social Media Posts
Monday, January 7
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

While we all strive to provide the best service possible, we may stumble from time to time. How and when you respond to bad reviews can often resolve the issue and your responsiveness could actually win you loyalty or new customers who might see the public reviews. Hear a real story from one operator and learn some real-life tactics and strategies for tackling this critical issue.

Creating a Crisis Action Plan
Monday, January 7
3:15 PM -4:15 PM

How you handle the first 24 hours after an emergency is crucial. Having a plan in place will enable you and your team to act fast and appropriately. This session will address how your company should respond internally and then how to manage the PR after a crisis. Attendees will walk away with actionable steps on how to get your crisis plan from concept to reality.

Brake Safety Week is approaching: Get ready
CVSA-certified enforcement personnel will conduct roadside inspections on commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Brake Safety Week, Sept. 16-22. The purpose is to identify and remove CMVs with critical brake violations from our roadways and to call attention to the dangers of faulty brake systems.

Properly functioning brake systems are crucial to safe CMV operation. Brakes must be routinely inspected and carefully and consistently maintained so they operate and perform to the manufacturer’s specifications throughout the life of the vehicle. Improperly installed or poorly maintained brake systems can reduce braking efficiency, posing serious risk to public safety on our roadways.

Brake Safety Week is part of the  Operation Airbrake Program , sponsored by CVSA in partnership with the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

UMA sponsors Busing on the Lookout
T he United Motorcoach Association (UMA) has become the first corporate sponsor of Busing on the Lookoout (BOTL) at the gold level.
 
In January 2019, UMA will host the Truckers Against Trafficking Freedom Drivers Project (FDP) at the 2019 Motorcoach EXPO in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

"We are truly grateful to the UMA for their generosity and for giving us an opportunity to share the FDP with the bus industry at their 2019 EXPO," said Annie Sovcik, BOTL program director. "As TAT and BOTL engage the trucking and bus industries in the fight to end human trafficking, our work is made possible by the support of our corporate, foundation, and individual donors. We commend the UMA's leadership as BOTL's first corporate sponsor and hope that others in the bus industry will follow." 

Register for the 2018 UMA Safety Management Seminar
Who: Risk Management and Safety Management Professionals
When: December 5-6
Where: NTSB Training Center, Ashburn, VA
Member Fee: $295
Non-Member Fee: $465

Registration is open for the 2018 UMA Safety Management Seminar and potential attendees are urged to sign up early as this event has limited space and sells out early each year. This event is for anyone who manages safety and compliance for motorcoach fleet operations. Sessions will focus on the industry's most pressing needs and provide take-away information that attendees can put into practice ASAP. The seminar also includes updates and forecasts from all major regulatory agency staff.

Mark your calendars for UMA's
Regional Meetings on ELDs
UMA members and non-members are invited to meet online for a video conference on ELDs. Many of you have valuable expertise and best practices to share. As well, now that we're into the implementation phase, operators and regulators are finding the devices sometimes pose challenges no one anticipated. Share your experiences! There will be three meetings, one for each US region of UMA during the third week of September. Learn more at www.uma.org.

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.
Oregon plans crackdown on buses over weight limits
Bus & Motorcoach News | August 29, 2018 | by Rick Stoff

SALEM, Ore.—The Oregon Department of Transportation is planning a series of “soft enforcement” actions at weigh stations to identify buses and motorcoaches that are operating over weights declared on tax registration documents.

Compliance with the declarations is important here because Oregon bases its commercial vehicle fees on weight and mileage and does not participate in the International Fuel Tax Agreement.

NTSB determines driver acted reasonably in Biloxi crash
Bus & Motorcoach News | August 29, 2018 | by Rick Stoff

WASHINGTON—CSC Transportation and the city of Biloxi long ignored railroad grade crossings that presented grounding hazards for long, low commercial vehicles. Failure to address the risks was the probable cause of the fatal collision of a freight train and grounded motorcoach, the National Transportation Safety Board ruled at an Aug. 7 hearing.

A CSX train consisting of three locomotives and 52 cars struck a 2016 Van Hool CX-45 operated by Echo Transportation of Dallas in Biloxi, Miss., on March 7, 2017. The motorcoach carried 49 passengers from Texas, ranging from 50 to 88 years old, on a casino tour along the Gulf Coast.

Nominations open for UMA Board of Directors
October 1, 2018, is the deadline to submit nominations for four open seats on the UMA Board of Directors.  This year there will be one seat available in Region 1, two seats available in Region 2 and one seat available in Region 3.

For a comprehensive breakdown of states included in each region, please visit the UMA website at  www.uma.org . Each year up to two seats in each region may become available as terms of service for existing Directors expire. Candidates nominated for the Board must represent an active UMA-member company in good standing with the association. 
 
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 October 1, 2018.

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 .
MANAGEMENT
10 rules for running big buses the limo way

The verdict is in: limousine companies see a huge upside in entering the motorcoach business, allowing them to take advantage of a growing marketplace as well as a logical way to expand their businesses. LCT Magazine expounds on ten ways this change will transform the motorcoach industry and how it is unfolding today. With perspectives from companies that have made the transition, the article lays out some tips for motorcoach operators who want to offer an elevated level of service.

2019 Motorcoach EXPO:
The future of the motorcoach industry!
INNOVATE - EDUCATE - CELEBRATE
Motorcoach Industry Calendar


SEPTEMBER 2018

OCTOBER 2018

NOVEMBER 2018

DECEMBER 2018
  • 5-6 UMA Safety Management Seminar, NTSB Training Center, Ashburn, VA, Hotel TBA - save the date! www.uma.org/safety

JANUARY 2019
  • 4-6 IMG Maintenance and Safety Forum, Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • 6-10 UMA Motorcoach EXPO, Fort Lauderdale, FL #UMAEXPO19 www.motorcoachexpo.com

FEBRUARY 2019

MARCH 2019
  • 11 GNJMA Sponsor Appreciation Dinner, Emeril's Chophouse, Sands Casino Resort, Bethlehem, PA http://www.gnjma.com/
  • 12 GNJMA Spring Association Member Meeting & Motorcoach Professional Awards Luncheon, Sands Casino Resort, Bethlehem, PA http://www.gnjma.com/

AUGUST 2019
  • 6-9 IMG Strategic Alliance Meeting, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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!