Trailways Traveler - July 2023 Edition |
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A Word from Our Chairwoman
Hello Team Trailways Members, Affiliated Partners, and Friends!
I hope everyone had the opportunity to celebrate our nation’s birthday this past week. Maybe because I am getting older, I appreciated this holiday more than others. The word Independence should have great meaning for all of us. I know for a long time I took it for granted. However you celebrated the holiday, I hope you were surrounded by those you loved and can recognize the significance that independence plays in each of our lives.
I am hearing from our members and friends in the industry that business is moving in a positive direction. Everyone is doing what we do best “adapting to change.” We need to continue to make short-term decisions while keeping long-term goals in mind for the future of all our organizations – including Trailways!
Very soon operator members will be receiving a survey regarding our charter platform, powered by Busie. We need your input to continue to progress. Please take a few minutes and share your thoughts to keep us moving in the right direction. Additionally, as mentioned in the last Traveler, we are working on expanding our footprint through the assistance of Referral Partners. If you have partners in your region, you call on when you need help, consider sharing their contact info with us. We want well-respected operators to help increase our reach. Trailways has a long-respected name in the marketplace and as we continue to get requests in areas we are unable to assist for the success of our platform, we need to find ways to grow, enhancing the established brand.
On July 5 the registration information for our 2024 annual conference was shared. Our conference is scheduled January 9-11 in Nashville! Plans are well under way, so put the date on your calendar and plan to attend. Updates will continue via communication channels, including our social media channels and the Trailways Traveler.
Your attendance is needed to keep you connected and informed. Please bring your team for the valuable programming we have scheduled. Also, please make certain to have your social media team tag TEAM Trailways in your social media posts. We love sharing noteworthy news about your company and your employees...our team members! Team Trailways continues to thrive.
Have a prosperous and safe summer season.
Amy Brooks
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Saddle Up, Team Trailways! Trailways Annual Conference
We’re delighted to invite you to Nashville, TN for Trailways 2024 Annual Conference! We are scheduled Tuesday, January 9 – Thursday, January 11. We are co-locating with ABA a few days before their Marketplace.
More Information:
- Due to our co-location setup with ABA, Trailways participants will use the ABA’s Marketplace housing link, as there is not a separate link for Trailways.
- Stockholders (Operators/"Buyers"): Hotel room block starts 1/8
- Partners (Suppliers/"Sellers"): Hotel room block starts 1/9
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Book for Conference only first, and request to extend your departure date through the ABA Marketplace dates, if applicable.
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Click the "Book Hotel" link below to book your hotel room at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Downtown Nashville only.
- Booking Instructions: Enter your dates (see room block starts above), click the “Refresh” link on the booking page, and then choose Embassy Suites only.
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Stand-Out With a Sponsorship! |
Trailways couldn't hold this conference without the support of our generous sponsors.
There are many available sponsorships to fit your budget. Options are available on the registration form and also here.
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Reminder to Partners: Renewal Dues for 2024 Membership are handled as part of the Annual Conference registration.
On the registration form, you can choose one of four fee types; Affiliate Partner or Preferred Partner Renewal, with or without a table.
- Annual Affiliate Membership Fee - $595
- Annual Preferred Partner Fee - $750 (Preferred Partners get to make a 5-minute presentation to stockholders.)
We only have space for 7 Preferred Partners – first come, first serve.
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Trailways Charter Platform Update
We are happy to announce we have just finished our first full year since the implementation of our new charter booking platform with promising results. Nearly all Trailways operators are up and running on the new system and booking new business from the Trailways.com website that would otherwise have gone to competition. Reduced fleets and driver shortage for most of the year and into the spring have negatively impacted on quotes but we’ve seen sharp increases in the last couple of months. According to Jen Stanley from Fullington Trailways, the platform has provided them additional exposure to outside markets on days when they had equipment sitting.
Part of the increase is attributable to the addition of operators brought on board as part of our Trailways Referral Partner program. This program has provided additional opportunities to match quote requests with quality operators in markets where we don’t currently have a Trailways presence. We’ll be looking to add more Referral Partners in the near future in an effort to match quality providers in efforts to meet the demand for charters across the country. If you have a recommendation of an operator you know or have worked with in the past who you think would be interested on our program, please email Chartersales@Trailways.com.
There have been several updates and improvements to the software over the past six months as a result of your feedback. Watch for a user survey soon to gauge how we’re doing and identify ways we can help you close more business through the platform. Revenue generated through the platform will allow us to invest SEO in your markets to direct the growing number of online travel shoppers to you rather than the competition.
As evidenced by the rapid growth of brokers in the charter space, online booking capability and efficiencies in the charter processes through technology is what the customers of tomorrow are looking for. In an industry that is becoming more commoditized by the day, Trailways is positioned well to compete for online charter business that will help our operators grow their businesses profitably.
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Trailways Operators, be on the look out for a Charter Platform survey coming in the next few weeks! |
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Trailways Annual Safety Awards Program
In case you missed it, the 2023 Annual Safety Awards will be honored at the 2024 Safety Awards Luncheon, sponsored by MCI, during Trailways Annual Conference in Nashville, TN.
This year we are requesting the miles for the following four quarters:
Please download the simple, one-page forms to submit your company’s quarterly performance reports. They must be submitted to the Trailways Corporate Office no later than November 20th, 2023. Please submit your quarterly submission forms to Sabina@trailways.com.
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Team Trailways Preferred Partner, Daimler Coaches North America Granted Limited Exemption
The FMCSA issued a decision granting Daimler Coaches a limited 5-year exemption to allow its driver assistance camera technology (DACT) device to extend beyond the current mounting location limits in the lower area of the windshield on Tourrider commercial motorcoaches.
Absent an exemption, companies operating the Tourrider could be fined for violating current regulations.
The exception is effective June 27, 2023.
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Team Trailways Affiliate Partner, ABC Companies Names New CEO, Senior Management Team
The promotions follow ABC Companies' history of leveraging its internal talent while injecting outside expertise to advance its market leadership position and enhance growth strategies built on a customer-focused business model and a family-focused culture. Find Out More here!
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Trailways of New York added additional service to meet demand created by Amtrak’s cancellation of Montreal to NYC service. Read more...
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N.J. Governor Wants Feds to Revisit NYC Toll Plan
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is urging the federal government to re-examine New York City’s plan to start charging motorists driving into midtown Manhattan, saying an environmental review of the project is flawed. Murphy has said the current proposal unfairly charges New Jersey commuters and puts Garden State communities at risk of increased traffic and pollution. Read more...
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Congressional Funding Leaders Eye Fiscal 2024 Bills
Advancing fiscal 2024 appropriations legislation is now front-and-center for the lawmakers tasked with determining funding allocations for federal agencies. Senior policymakers kicked off a series of meetings this month in an effort to arrive at bipartisan legislation that would ensure funding for the U.S. Department of Transportation. Read more,,,
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Have You Contacted Your Senators or Representative Yet?
Senators. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Bob Casey, Jr. (D-Pa.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) Tax Exemption Act in the Senate (S.1944). S.1944 is companion legislation to the House bill (H.R. 3510) re-introduced in May.
Bill H.R. 3510, reintroduction of a bill that would eliminate the tax burden for those who received CERTS Act money during the pandemic, was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means after being sponsored by Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.). The bill has since garnered the support of Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Jared Golden (R-Maine), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), and John Rose (R-Tenn.).
We continue to need your help to advocate for our industry! Please contact your Senators and ask them to support S. 1944 and contact your Representatives and ask them to support H.R. 3510.
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New Resource Outlines the Clearinghouse Return-to-Duty Process for CDL Drivers
FMCSA recently added a new visor card resource to the Clearinghouse Learning Center that outlines the RTD process that drivers with a “prohibited” Clearinghouse status must complete so they can get their status back to “not prohibited. Read more...
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NHTSA/ FMCSA Propose AEB Requirement/Electronic Stability Control
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Motor Carrier safety Administration (FMCSA) are proposing to require automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems on heavy vehicles (vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating greater 10,000 pounds. Read more...
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The US Government Is Awarding $1.7 Billion To Buy Electric and Low-Emission Buses
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What is Your Website Doing for You to Help Recruit New Employees?
It may be time to revisit your website from a recruitment perspective. Click here to see what questions to ask when reviewing your website.
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"Your Roads, Their Freedom" Empowers CMV Drivers To Combat Human Trafficking”
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently launched its new human trafficking awareness campaign — “Your Roads, Their Freedom.” The campaign seeks to give the nation’s 8.7 million commercial motor vehicle drivers the information needed to identify and report suspected human trafficking. Read more...
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Please share your latest news about new programs, leadership changes, anniversaries and equipment purchases with us at memberservices@trailways.com and we'll include it in an upcoming issue of Trailways Traveler!
In addition to the emailed communications we send to you, we actively share information to our Facebook and LinkedIn. We encourage you to LIKE US, FOLLOW US, and ENGAGE with us!
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As always, we thank you all for your support!
Member Services
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Trailways Charter Network
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Trailways Transportation System
3900 Jermantown Rd., Suite 300
Fairfax, VA 22030
Email: sabina@trailways.com
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