GNJMA scheduled 3 pick-up locations for operator members in North, South and Central NJ.  This past Friday, we were at  Lakeland Bus to distribute 20+ boxes of masks provided to us by FEMA via FMCSA.  There are 500 masks in each box, and they are cotton/washable.  Chris Rotondo and Doug Dougherty from FMCSA greeted members with Pattie Cowley, our Executive Director.  GNJMA surveyed members to gather the necessary data for mask distribution.  Friday, June 19th is the other date scheduled with two locations. We would like to thank FEMA and FMCSA for providing these for our members and their employees.  

Doug Dougherty (FMCSA), Tom Taylor (Lakeland Bus), Chris Rotondo (FMCSA),  Antoine (Community Coach) and Scott Clark (Trans-Bridge Lines)

Exhibitors:  New for 2020, Marketplace will have a Halloween Theme!  We are also offering special pricing this year.  Call for details!   D ownload the registration form and reserve your booth today!  Get more details here .

Operators:  As you know, this is a fun event for your Group Leaders, which allows them to visit with a variety of destination and attractions all in one place, to get new ideas for group travel.  We recently mailed you postcards to mail and generate interest from your group leaders.  Get more details and register.

GNJMA member, Peter Pan Bus Lines is reopened June 5 after suspending most of its intercity bus service at the end of March due to travel restrictions meant to stop the spread of the coronavirus.   The extended closure was the first in the family-owned company's 87-year history. Peter Pan Bus Lines has turned to social media to get the word out that its fleet of buses is safe for travel.  Read more...

See what GNJMA member, Stout's Transportation, is doing to keep their clients safe.

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, GNJMA member and gold sponsor  Resorts Casino Hotel has developed a Play Safe, Work Safe plan to responsibly welcome back guests and team members to the most comfortable, fun and safe environment. "We want our guests to be able to enjoy the friendly and warm experience that has always been part of our core values but with the addition of new health and safety measures," said Mark Giannantonio, president and CEO of Resorts Casino Hotel.  Read more...

GNJMA member and platinum sponsor  Motor Coach Industries is going the extra mile to help motor coach operators increase rider confidence for a successful restart. Over the past several weeks, MCI's engineering and field support teams and colleagues from sister company NFI Parts have been meeting with suppliers, talking with customers and serving on industry task force committees. As a result, MCI has been providing guidance, establishing best practices in cleaning, disinfecting, distancing and other protection protocols to share with its customers.  Read more...

GNJMA member  Villa Roma Resort is thanking essential workers for everything they've done to keep us safe and healthy during this time!   To show their appreciation, they are raffling 50 Two-Night Stays at their beautiful resort.

All essential workers are eligible to win a three day / two night stay for a family up to 4 people. To enter you must fill out an entry form including what kind of essential worker you are and where you work. All winners will be posted on their website and will also be contacted directly. Ten Winners will be drawn weekly on each of the following dates July 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th & 31st.  Enter to Win!

We recently sent a reminder on this campaign.  KEEP SHARING!  Let's keep this momentum going and make sure our voices get heard!

Here is the updated  Social Media Toolkit (with added "handles") . This step-by-step guide includes:

• A list of member social media profiles, let us know if you want to be added.
• Social media post templates to share on your profiles (easy copy/paste)
• Social media information for members of Congress
• Key URLs and hashtags
• Graphics and an infographic to use in posts

We have had a number of members reach out looking for guidance on language they can insert into contracts to help relieve them from some of the liability regarding COVID-19 on trips. American Bus Association (ABA) shared suggested guidance per their general counsel.

COVID-19 WAIVER OF LIABILITY

In most jurisdictions across the United States, courts will enforce liability waivers that insulate a party from liability arising out of that party's negligent conduct. The only states that have so far refused to enforce a liability waiver clause in a contract are Connecticut, Montana and Virginia.

To be enforceable, liability waivers should specify that the customer acknowledges the risk assumed in using the service as well as the rights they intend to waive.

The language below is intended to be a starting point for tour and bus companies to use in deciding on how to protect yourselves from limitation related to the COVID-19 pandemic. ABA does not offer any legal advice on whether your company should have a limitation of liability in your contracts, the scope of any such limitation, or how such a limitation should be worded. You should consult appropriate legal counsel whenever you are developing contractual terms. This liability waiver sample language is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be comprehensive, nor does it constitute legal advice.

WAIVER of LIABILITY.--The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 is reported to be contagious. The state of medical knowledge is evolving, but the virus is believed to spread from person-to-person contact and possibley by contact with contaminated surfaces and objects or in the air. People reportedly can be infected and show no symptoms and therefore spread the disease. The exact methods of spread and contraction are unknown, and there is no known treatment, cure, or vaccine for COVID-19. Evidence has shown that COVID-19 can cause serious and potentially life threatening illness and even death.

[Company] cannot prevent you [or your child(ren)] from becoming exposed to, contracting, or spreading COVID-19 while utilizing [company]'s services or premises. It is not possible to prevent against the presence of the disease. Therefore, if you choose to utilize [company]'s services and/or enter onto [company]'s premises you may be exposing yourself to and/or increasing your risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19.

ASSUMPTION OF RISK.-- I have read and understood the above warning concerning COVID-19. I hereby choose to accept the risk of contracting COVID-19 for myself and/or my children in order to utilize [company]'s services and enter [company]'s premises. These services are of such value to me [and/or to my children,] that I accept the risk of being exposed to, contracting, and/or spreading COVID-19 in order to utilize [company]'s services and premises in person

WAIVER OF LAWSUIT/LIABILITY.-- I hereby forever release and waive my right to bring suit against [company] and its owners, officers, directors, managers, officials, trustees, agents, employees, or other representatives in connection with exposure, infection, and/or spread of COVID-19 related to utilizing [company]'s services and premises. I understand that this waiver means I give up my right to bring any claims including for personal injuries, death, disease or property losses, or any other loss, including but not limited to claims of negligence and give up any claim I may have to seek damages, whether known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen.

This language could be signed by the chartering party and the by passengers taking the tour or riding on the bus. As with all contract language, you should consult your attorney.

During last Tuesday's House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Hearing. Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.) spoke about the importance of assisting our industry. #BusesMoveAmerica    Watch clip. 

In his statement during the Senate Commerce Committee's hearing on COVID-19 Impact on Transportation and Critical Infrastructure, Senator Richard Blumenthal spoke about the burden the pandemic has had on the motorcoach industry. Larry Willis, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, also stated that the industry needs help and needs help now. View clip. 

Please click here to access a COVID-19 waiver from FMCSA, which would grant a three month waiver from certain pre-employment testing requirements applicable to employers of commercial motor vehicle drivers. CMV drivers outside a random drug testing pool for more than 30 days ordinarily must repeat pre-employment drug testing when they come back to work. 

The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have passed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, which aims to provide greater support to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Read more...

New Jersey will begin the second of four reopening stages starting June 15, Governor Phil Murphy announced last Thursday, 100 days since the state reported its first case of coronavirus.  Read more...

Roughly 97 percent of commuters who responded to a NY Waterway survey said they plan to return after more coronavirus travel restrictions are lifted. The Tri-State Transportation Campaign cast a wider net, and found 92 percent of riders surveyed in a four-state region said they'd return to riding public transit, if proper safety measures are in place. That survey included the New York and Philadelphia metro regions of New Jersey.  Read more... 

The office guidance states, "This guidance addresses business activities where the core function takes place within an office setting. This guidance may apply - but is not limited - to businesses and entities in the following sectors: Professional services, nonprofit, technology, administrative support, and higher education administration (excluding full campus reopening). Please note that these guidelines may also apply to business operating parts of their business functions under different guidelines (e.g. front office for a construction company)."

As in Phase I, each business or entity in the various categories, including those that have been designated as essential under Empire State Development's Essential Business Guidance, must develop a written Safety Plan outlining how its workplace will prevent the spread of COVID-19. . The plan DOES DOT have to be submitted to anyone for approval but must be retained on the business premises and be made available should there be an inspection. The "responsible party" for all businesses opening in Phase II MUST affirm electronically that they have read the guidance document. At the end of the guidance document there is a link to affirm that you have read and understand your obligation to operate in accordance with this guidance.

Read and affirm detailed guidelines

Print business safety plan template

Read the FAQs

"Swinging over Hell on a rotten vine" seems an accurate description of the bus industry's current situation. The best thing to do right now might be to hold on tight and pray for the vine.

As Darwin stomps through our sandbox, he doesn't know which companies are weak because of poor business practices, and which are simply victims of bad luck. Further, he doesn't care. When the economy recovers from the pandemic, some operators (and vendors) are no longer going to be with us.  Read more...

The FMCSA's top priority is safety on America's roadways. That's why the Agency is updating hours of service regulations to improve safety and increase flexibility for the nation's commercial vehicle drivers.  Read more...

In case you missed it, here is the official announcement for the pre-employment drug test waiver for furloughed drivers. Part of the notice states:

"As employers begin to recall drivers who were furloughed, laid off, or otherwise not working for the company for more than 30 days, the cost and logistical barriers of testing a large influx of drivers in a short timeframe are significant, at a time when the commercial trucking and motorcoach industry is facing unprecedented economic challenges. This problem is further compounded by the reduced availability of controlled substances testing resources due to continued facility closures or other testing impediments caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

This waiver would extend, from 30 days to 90 days, the period under which drivers would qualify for the pre-employment testing exception under 49 CFR 382.301(b). This relief would allow employers to forego pre-employment testing for drivers who have participated in a controlled substances testing program that meets the requirements of 49 CFR part 382 within the previous 90 days of hire or rehire. Allowing employers to forego pre-employment testing for drivers who were in a testing program within the previous 90 days will provide relief from the administrative burdens and costs associated with administering tests and allow them to return drivers to the workforce in a more efficient manner, thus promoting job creation and economic growth." 

A panel of three insurance professionals from leading companies in the motorcoach sector shared information with operators about what's on the horizon.  View the recording and slides. 

Most travel planners expect to resume operating group trips in 2020, a new survey by The Group Travel Leader finds, and most travel industry organizations believe they will be ready to welcome groups to their destinations by late summer or early fall.  Read more...