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Welcome New Member!
 Unwrap a SWEET experience at Hershey's Chocolate World.
The tour ride is FREE and they have four, fun paid attractions featuring chocolate, including create your own candy bar, Hershey's unwrapped, historical trolley tour and the 4D show. Exclusive retail and cocoa-inspired recipes at their food venues create tasty memories!
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2021 Marketplace Registration for Exhibitors (Travel Suppliers) Closes Friday!
Note, FAM tours have been received, organized and distributed to our operator members as of last Friday.
Interested in a sponsorship? February 15th is the deadline for Ads, Sponsorships, including the Virtual Marketing Video and guaranteed placement in the Marketplace Directory and Online Directory.
Operator Deadlines:
- January 31, 2021 - Registration Deadline
- January 31, 2021 - FAM Scheduling
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Distracted Driver
Train-The-Trainer Program
January 26, 2021
Virtual
1:00-4:00pm EST
FMCSA 18-CARAT Workshop
January 28, 2021
Virtual
PBA 2021 Marketplace
March 23, 2021
York Expo Center
York, PA
PBA 2021 Annual Meeting
October 24-27, 2021
Wind Creek
Bethlehem, PA
PBA 2022 Marketplace
March 22, 2022
The Liberty Arena
Williamsport, PA
PBA 2022 Annual Meeting
June 2022
State College, PA
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FMCSA "Motorcoach 18-CARAT" Virtual Workshop
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Pennsylvania Division will once again be hosting its annual educational "Motorcoach 18-CARAT" Workshop for Pennsylvania-based motorcoach carriers. This year, the session will be held virtually on January 28th 9AM-3PM (EST).
The Motorcoach 18-CARAT Workshop is intended to provide Compliance Assistance and Regulatory Accountability Training (CARAT) for motorcoach carriers who are scheduled for a Compliance Review Investigation over the next 18 months.
This year, the FREE workshop is offered to all Pennsylvania-based motorcoach carriers, regardless of when your mandatory Compliance Review Investigation is due. We have also added an insurance-related panel to the workshop agenda. National Interstate and Lancer Insurance will be co-presenting, thanks to both Michelle Wiltgren and Bob Crescenzo! Register by January 20th!
Please use the below link to register (previously FMCSA provided an email for our announcement, now we have been provided a link). Please ensure you register each attendee/person separately. The MS Teams link for the workshop will be emailed out about 3-5 days prior to the date of the workshop. Note, you will need your U.S. DOT number to register, and where it asks for your MS Team email, you can just enter your email. Thank you!
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ABC Companies Places $45M Order for 200 Additional Electric Vehicles
PBA member, ABC Companies, a premier provider to the transportation industry, places $45M order for 200 additional electric vehicles ranging from Class 3 Transit passenger wagons to motorcoaches. Read more...
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Meet AC Wins Award
PBA member, Meet AC has been awarded the Smart Meetings 2020 Platinum Choice Award as Best Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) in New Jersey. Congratulations! Read more.
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Richmond Region Makes Top 50 List to Travel
PBA Member, Richmond Region Tourism shared that Richmond, Virginia made Travel and Leisure's top 50 list of the best places to travel in 2021. Congratulations! Check out the list! |
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PBA COVID-19 Vaccine for Essential Workers Letter to PADOH
PBA sent a letter to the Secretary, PA Department of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine on December 16th seeking clarification, on behalf of our members, on whether there is further action needed by each individual company to ensure COVID-19 Vaccine availability and distribution. We believe our operators are essential and outlined in phased rollout (1-B), yet awaiting confirmation from Levine's office. Read the letter.
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PBA Travel Suppliers - Are You Open for Business?
We sent travel supplier members emails asking to complete a short survey form to let us know the status of being "open for business". We are sharing this information so our operator members know who is open for trip planning. We also asked for contact updates for our database. Missed the memo? Here's a link to complete the form.
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"Gang of 11" Helps Operators Amplify Their Certs Advocacy Efforts
 The "Gang of 11," is a group of bus operators and vendors, including PBA's Executive Director Pattie Cowley, who came together to support industry lobbying efforts. They continue to receive kudos for their organized grassroots campaign that helped sign up hundreds of congressional co-sponsors of the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) Act. Read more...
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COVID-19 UPDATES AND INDUSTRY NEWS
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Fauci Says Vaccine Could Become Mandatory for Travel
In a statement that is sure to spark debate from anti-vaccine supporters as well as civil liberties proponents, Fauci said it's "quite possible" that having the vaccine for COVID-19 becomes a requirement in order to travel. Read more...
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Gov. Wolf Seeks To Use $145 Million in State Funds for Grants To Help Businesses Hurt by Pandemic
Pennsylvania could soon provide $145 million in support to struggling businesses across the Commonwealth impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more...
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Senate Swearing-In Devolves Into Shouting, Removal of Fetterman
What is typically a day filled with ceremony and decorum quickly devolved into shouting, confusion and the removal of the Senate's presiding officer, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, as Democrats and Republicans sparred over a GOP decision to not seat the winner in the 45th Senatorial District race. Read more...
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Meet PA's New General Assembly
As the 2021-22 legislative session gets underway in Pennsylvania, it will be shy two members right from the start with the passing of Westmoreland County Republican Rep. Mike Reese and the Senate GOP leader's decision to not seat anyone to represent the 45th state senatorial district due to an election challenge. Read more...
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Sen. Collins Spotlights 'Unsung Heroes' of Transportation Industry
A champion of the industry, she led the effort to address the error made in previous stimulus bills for transportation - including the CARES Act- which didn't include the motorcoach, school bus or passenger vessel industries when it was passed in March. Read more...
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SBA Extends Economic Injury Disaster Loan Application Deadline
The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced that it's extending the deadline to apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program to Dec. 31, 2021. Read more...
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It's Back: Paycheck Protection Program 2.0
On December 27, 2020, as part of a larger government funding bill, President Donald J. Trump signed into law the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act (the "Act"). Read more...
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ABA Posted Guidance and Interim Rules on the PPP and Second Draw Program
ABA posted comprehensive guidance on the federal stimulus and legislation. Read more...
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Besides PPP, There's Another Forgivable Loan Program for Small Businesses
The new stimulus bill now forgives up to eight months of principal and interest payments on Section 7(a) and 504 Microloans from the SBA. Read more...
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Three Big Ways Transportation Businesses Would Benefit From the New COVID-19 Relief Package
Given how much the pandemic has hammered transportation businesses, three big changes to the Paycheck Protection Program are likely to come as a welcome relief. Read more...
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Federal Voluntary Paid Leave Payroll Tax Credit Available Through March 31, 2021
The FFCRA paid leave mandate ended on December 31, 2020. Employers are no longer required to provide paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave. Read more...
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USDOT Transportation Secretary Chao Resigns After Riot
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao is resigning effective January 11th, becoming the highest ranking member of President Donald Trump's administration to resign in protest after the pro-Trump insurrection at Capitol. Read more...
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FMCSA Drug Clearinghouse Goes Live, Experiences Connectivity Issues
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires employers with CDL drivers to register with and use the agency's Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse to report, search and manage driver drug and alcohol records. Read more...
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School Bus Drivers Could Be Among First Vaccine Recipients
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that frontline essential workers and all adults over the age of 75, both groups that could include school bus drivers, be among the next recipients of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. Read more...
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Drivers Not Using E-Z Pass Will Absorb a 51% PA Turnpike Rate Hike in 2021
Pennsylvania Turnpike toll increases announced last year took effect just after midnight Sunday, Jan. 3, and if you're not using the state's E-ZPass program, the hike will be a steep one. Read more...
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AACA Museum Reopened January 4, 2021
The AACA Museum has reopened. They look forward to hosting visitors with their featured exhibitions. Their staff has taken great measures to make the Museum a safe and healthy environment. See their COVID-19 Guidelines for guests.
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ICYMI- MEMBER ALERTS
 Member Alerts are sent out to our Members as needed. Here are the alerts we sent out since last Go News:
- Your FAM Offerings for 2021 Marketplace are HERE!
- PBA Marketplace - COVID-19 Precautions at York Expo - Deadline for Exhibitor Registration Jan. 15th!
- FMCSA "Motorcoach 18-CARAT" Virtual Workshop - January 28, 2021
- TREDS Distracted Driver Train-the-Trainer Program
- #MarketplaceMonday! Happy New Year!
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Executive Coach, Fullington Trailways, Hagey Coach, Innovative Coach, Krapf Transportation, Mlaker Trailways, Trans-Bridge Lines and Wolf's Bus Lines have coaches and other items for sale now!
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The Motorcoach PAC allows the Pennsylvania Bus Association to support legislators who work with us to promote, change or defeat legislation that impacts our industry. Contributing to Motorcoach PAC gives us a stronger voice in Harrisburg. Please consider giving $200, $300 or more.
Personal checks may be made payable and sent to:
Motorcoach PAC
200 North Third Street, Suite 1500
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Corporate funds are not permitted in any form. Unincorporated business checks are acceptable providing no owner or partner of the business is a corporation. Please contact Milliron & Goodman if you have any questions at (717) 232-5322. Political Action Committee donations are not tax deductible.
Download the solicitation form for more information.
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PBA is Active on Multiple Social Media Platforms
If you are not aware, PBA maintains active Social Media Platforms. In addition to the emailed communications we send to you, we actively share information to our Facebook and Twitter accounts and our new LinkedIn. We encourage you to LIKE US, FOLLOW US and ENGAGE with us! #pabus
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Click on logo, then right click and save to display proudly on your website.
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STAY CONNECTED WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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Copyright © 2020. All Rights Reserved.
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