1 . FMCSA acting director steps down after less than a year
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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will have new leadership in September.
Acting Administrator Jim Mullen is leaving the department at the end of the month, a U.S. DOT spokesperson confirmed to Bus & Motorcoach News.
“We greatly appreciate Jim’s service and the work he has done for our country. Wiley Deck, currently a Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary and former FMCSA Director of Government Affairs, will assume the role of Deputy Administrator of FMCSA,” the spokesperson wrote in the email.
It’s unclear why Mullen is stepping down after less than a year in the position. He was the department’s Chief Counsel when he took the helm of the agency after FMCSA Administrator Ray Martinez left his position in October 2019 after 18 months.
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2 . Congress is home, keep the pressure on for the CERTS Act |
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3 . Learn why you shouldn't cut your marketing budget in a recession |
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Most companies reduce spending in recessions, especially on marketing items that may be easier to cut (certainly relative to payroll). Right now, advertising agencies are struggling to stay afloat, and Google and Facebook are reporting substantially lower ad revenues as marketing spending dives with the business cycle (cyclical marketing). But that is today’s equivalent of bleeding – an old-fashioned but once widespread treatment that actually reduces the patient’s ability to fight disease.
Companies that have bounced back most strongly from previous recessions usually did not cut their marketing spend, and in many cases actually increased it. But they did change what they were spending their marketing budget on and when to reflect the new context in which they operated.
Let’s begin by taking a look at the various categories of marketing costs.
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FLASH Survey | Rate your social media savvy |
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UMA surveyed Members about their social media savvy back in May. We want to follow up and see how you're doing now that UMA is providing the Social Media Tool Kit.
Please take 20 seconds and complete a one-question survey online. Thank you in advance.
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4 . Uber and Lyft could shut down in California this week. It may not help their cause. |
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CNN | August 16, 2020 | by Sara Ashley O'Brien
When faced with tough legislation over the years, Lyft and especially Uber relied on a tried and tested playbook: threaten to suspend service in the area. The threat, which the companies would sometimes follow through on, appeared designed to rile up customers and drivers, and put more pressure on lawmakers.
Now Uber (UBER) and Lyft (LYFT) are once again betting on a version of this playbook as they confront a heated legal battle in their home state over a new law impacting how much of the on-demand economy classifies its workers.
The two companies have said they may suspend their operations in California as soon as this week while simultaneously pushing for a referendum in November to exempt them from the law, known as AB-5. But industry watchers say the shutdown may not have the same impact on residents now as it once did in earlier fights because of their steep drop in ridership from the pandemic.
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5. The new regular: The new regular stand up act
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Forbes | August 17, 2020 | by Jim Blasingame
This is the 12th edition of my New Regular series, designed to help Main Street operators restart their business into the post-pandemic economy. Normal tested positive and has been quarantined indefinitely.
Most comedians and all entrepreneurs write their own material for when they stand up in front of their respective audiences. Other than that, what does your small business have to do with a comedy act?
It’s true that even when operating a business is fun, it usually isn’t funny (except when we laugh at ourselves). But perhaps we can learn something from the simple truths that are foundational for all good comedy. And who better to model our simple truths after than Jeff Foxworthy and his one-liners.
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6 . U.S. Canada border restrictions extend to at least September
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TORONTO – The Canada-U.S. border will remain closed to nonessential travel for at least another month, Canada’s public safety minister said Friday.
The statement by Public Safety Minister Bill Blair came a day after Mexico announced a similar measure for its border with the United States.
renewed monthly.
Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf tweeted: "We continue to work with our Canadian and Mexican partners to slow the spread of #COVID19. Accordingly, we have agreed to extend the limitation of non-essential travel at our shared land ports of entry through September 21."
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7. UMA Member Hampton Jitney shows their value extends to safety, amenities, convenience and comfort
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UMA Membership is FREE through 12/31/2020 |
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Because our industry is stronger together, we invite operators to try UMA Membership FREE through year's end. Join us.
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8. Operator's discovery of affordable antimocrobial treatment benefits others
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Like many operators, Phil Streif has been looking for the best cleaning protocol and products to protect Vandalia Bus Lines passengers and employees from the spread of COVID-19.
In his search, he came across the antimicrobial treatment that inhibits the growth of microbes such as bacteria, molds and viruses for up to 90 days. Additional research led him to the BIOPROTECT system, which he believes offers the best option.
Streif’s discovery is benefiting his family business, as well as fellow operators. After sharing what he learned with operators in his Spader 20 Group, several wanted to try the product.
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UMA Members have access to a variety of resources to help sustain your business and our industry.
Check out our Social Media Tool Kit to enhance your online profile and promote our industry and UMA's AssurCLEAN Program to put your passengers at ease so they can travel confidently.
And remember to read and subscribe to Bus & Motorcoach News, which is powered by UMA, and your source for the weekly Motorcoach Minute video.
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2020
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UMA Town Halls, every Thursday at 2:00 p.m. ET Learn more.
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UMA Safety Management Seminar, December 2-3, 2020, Ashburn, VA Learn more.
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2021
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UMA Motorcoach EXPO, March 3-7, 2021, Orlando, FL Learn more.
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Every Thursday at 2 p.m. ET on the Zoom platform. Join from your computer or phone. |
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Resources, news and important links for advocacy, federal programs, and more |
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