Last Tuesday, GNJMA awarded fourteen Motorcoach Professional Awards at the Spring Association Meeting at Tropicana.  The annual event  honors our Member's employees that demonstrate excellence and professionalism in the motorcoach industry.  R ecipients receive gifts and the recognition of their company leaders and industry peers.   This member benefit is a great way to recognize and reward "stand-outs" employees.  Congrats to all the winners!  

• Jeff Buchele of Suburban Bus
• Hafedh Chaouch of Greyhound Lines 
• Louis Dziopa of DeCamp's
• Jim Garofalo of Lakeland Bus Lines
• Kevin Grant of Rockland Coaches
• John Grover of Werner Bus Lines 
• Samuel Herrera of Panorama Tours
• Marnie Kirn of Safety Bus
• Monroe McCarrell of A Yankee Line
• Michael Morlath of Stout's Transportation
• Darrell Payne of Peter Pan Bus Lines
• Derrick Shepard of Starr Tours
• Brendan Stanczyk of Trans-Bridge Lines
• Suzanne Turner of Sheppard Bus Service

There have been many publications regarding the virus.  From the two main health organizations CDC and WHO to the national industry associations ABA & UMA, to the news, it can be overwhelming.  

On Friday, we sent out a Member Alert to all members which included a template for you to complete and send to government contacts urging relief for our industry.  

There are also webinars and briefings almost daily now.  However, if you need help finding resources, please contact us.  We are all in this together.

In addition, TSA's David Cooper (Section Chief Industry Engagement Manager - Highway Policy, Plans, and Engagement U.S. Department of Homeland Security) shared the following relevant documents for your information:

The DOT has had inquiries about whether the Department of Transportation-regulated safety-sensitive employees can use CBD products.  Safety-sensitive employees who are subject to drug testing specified under 49 CFR part 40 (Part 40) include:  pilots, school bus drivers, truck drivers, train engineers, transit vehicle operators, aircraft maintenance personnel, fire-armed transit security personnel, ship captains, and pipeline emergency response personnel, among others.     Read the ODACP CBD Notice. 

The Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS), on which the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse relies, is currently experiencing connectivity issues, thereby hampering the process through which driver's licenses can be validated. FMCSA has placed a notice on the Clearinghouse website alerting users that CDLIS is unavailable, meaning CDLs cannot be validated.  Read more...

Increasing infrastructure funding - especially in rural areas of America - while continuing to improve national transportation system safety will remain complementary goals for the U.S. Department of Transportation, according to USDOT Secretary Elaine Chao. Improving safety goes hand-and-glove with this infrastructure effort, Sec. Chao noted, adding that while only 19 percent of the nation's population lives in rural areas, 46 percent of the nation's highway fatalities occur on rural roads - meaning the overall motor vehicle fatality rate on rural roads is twice that of urban roads.  Read more...

FMCSA Acting Administrator Jim Mullen made it clear he believed the flawed rigidity of the current hours of service (HOS) regulations needs modification to benefit drivers. FMCSA last August, still under the direction of former Administrator Ray Martinez, proposed an hours overhaul that would allow drivers to pause their 14-hour clock for up to three hours to go off-duty, among other changes.  Read more...

Jersey City Mayor Steven M. Fulop and Via announce the launch of New Jersey's first on-demand transit system. The city-run bus routes will greatly enhance transportation options for residents, with increased connectivity targeting transit deserts in the north and southwest sections of Jersey City. The city sought out the transportation network company Via to help solve mass transit woes, plagued with delays and rising fares. Via is a provider and developer of on-demand public mobility solutions.  Read more...