Bus & Motorcoach News
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February 1, 2008 WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE BUS INDUSTRY 8 0 0 2 O P X E N H O I T A C I C O A S S A O H C C A O C R R O O T O T M D E O T I Motorcoach Expo ‘08 set all sorts of records as a healthy industry and San Francisco combined to push attendance and exhibit space to record highs. N U M See special section that begins on Page 12. Final charter service regulations are issued by FTA WASHINGTON D.C. — The year ago, but they do spell out in allowing private bus operators to public transit agency. fare that is above its normal every- Federal Transit Administration has the clearest language ever what request a cease-and-desist order The regulations are to become day rate. (See article on Page 10.) issued the final version of its new public transit agencies can and when a transit agency violates the effective April 30. The rules and changes the FTA charter service rules that are sup- cannot do when providing service rules, and sets up more detailed Among the revisions since the made to its initial proposal gener- posed to end years of feuding and that may be considered charter in complaint, hearing and appeal pro- rules were proposed last February ally have met with favor from legal scrimmaging between private nature. cedures. is a revised definition of charter many in the motorcoach industry. motorcoach operators and public Among the scores of changes, Additionally, the regulations service that prohibits transit agen- “The rules were very well re- transit systems over charter bus the massive rules overhaul pro- contain provisions that allow pub- cies from providing bus service if: ceived by the Legislative and Regu- service provided by transit agen- vides for establishing an electronic lic transit agencies to file com- • A third party pays for any latory Committee of the United cies. registration of private charter bus plaints against private operators part of the service. Motorcoach Coach Association,” Overall, the final rules make providers on a new FTA Website, that do not negotiate in good faith • The service is irregular or of said Ken Presley, the trade group’s few major changes from the initial replacing the old “willing-and- or act vindictively in responding to limited duration. vice president of industry relations. proposal that was released almost a able” process; includes a provision a charter service notice issued by a • The transit agency charges a CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 þ T TAKE A BIGGER BITE OUT OF C02 EMISSIONS INTRODUCING THE VAN HOOL TD925 – TAKING ECO-FRIENDLY TRANSPORT TO A HIGHER LEVEL. Imagine one vehicle with the potential to reduce the congestion, pollution and fuel consumption of up to 83 cars. Then go a step further and envision reducing your fleet size with one solution that carries 26 more riders than a standard 57-seat coach. 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MIDWEST NORTHEAST SOUTHEAST SOUTHWEST WESTERN 800-222-2875 800-222-2873 800-222-2871 800-222-2877 800-322-2877 Bus & Motorcoach NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS February 1, 2008 3 Operators are left holding Fatal crash forces operator to sell OTTAWA, Ohio — The what happened,” Stechschulte told just wouldn’t have been practical.” the bag for Texas services Ottawa-based bus company whose Bus & Motorcoach News. “The Stechschulte declined to give motorcoach crashed in Atlanta last insurance knocked us out. It was dollar figures other than to say his AUSTIN, Texas — A South have not been paid. March, killing seven people, in- about six times the price. It was insurance rate soared six fold over Carolina motorcoach operator that Ken Presley, vice president of cluding members of the Bluffton strictly from the accident. We came what it had been. was hired by the state of Texas in industry relations at the United University baseball team, has been out clean in all the inspections, and On March 1, one of Stech- August for possible evacuation Motorcoach Association, says sold and is now operating under a we ran for six months and got the schulte’s coaches was traveling duty in connection with Hurricane Lancaster was one of several bus new name. highest inspections we could have through Atlanta on Interstate 75, Dean is owed more than $100,000 operators called in by the Texas Executive Coach Luxury Travel got. We were good to go.” carrying 34 passengers, most of with no immediate prospects for Procurement Division in anticipa- had been owned and operated by Except for the huge nut created who were members of the Bluffton payment. tion of Hurricane Dean evacua- Rick Stechschulte for 10 years but by soaring insurance premiums. University baseball team. The team There are believed to be a tions Aug. 20-21. it was unable to maintain its busi- “It was astronomical,” Stech- was on its way to Florida for a handful of other operators also “It appears the state authorized ness viability because of problems schulte said. “We just couldn’t series of spring games. being stiffed by the state. Texas Procurement to obtain these obtaining insurance. afford to stay in business. We’d At 5:30 a.m., the coach depart- Sandra Haigler, vice president vehicles and never funded it,” “Everybody around here knows have had to raise our rates so high it CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 þ of Lancaster Trailways of the Presley says. “From the UMA Carolinas in Lancaster, S.C., is standpoint, this will cause great caught in a funding screw-up that harm to emergency responders’ one industry source calls the efforts to obtain vehicles for future Feds slam company after fatal crash “Texas Hurricane Hat Dance.” evacuations.” FORREST CITY, Ark. — The City. The bus was making a charter amphetamines in Mexico. How- A Texas official says the state Presley’s advice to motorcoach driver of a motorcoach that was trip from Chicago to Texas. ever, Long said he did not know legislature authorized a “disaster operators who may be asked to involved in a fatal crash in eastern An arrest warrant was issued whether the drugs were prescribed contingency fund,” but never fol- help out in future emergencies? Arkansas in late November had for Tapia, and bail set at $50,000. for Tapia. But regardless of whether lowed through with an appropria- “At this point, they almost amphetamines in his system, Simultaneously, the company they were legal or illegal, Long tion. He offers a detailed explana- have to insist on being paid up impairing his ability to operate the that employed Tapia, Tornado Bus said, prosecutors believe they tion of what happened, with some front. Government officials have bus safely, state prosecutors have Co. of Dallas, has been declared an impaired his driving ability. hope for a solution in the future. to be very concerned that motor- charged. “imminent hazard” by the Federal An amphetamine is a prescrip- Haigler reports having re- coach operators will refuse to Felix B. Tapia, 28, of Browns- Motor Safety Administration and tion stimulant commonly used to ceived two payments, totaling respond in situations where the ville, Texas, has been accused of ordered to cease all commercial treat the daytime drowsiness condi- $12,893.91, leaving an unpaid bal- operators have to advance so much four felony counts of negligent operations. tions of narcolepsy and chronic ance of $106,362.64, plus interest capital,” he said. homicide while under the influence Fletcher Long, the prosecuting fatigue syndrome. accruing at 9.25 percent under the Presley says the vast majority of drugs in the crash that killed four attorney for the First Judicial It also is used illegally as a state Prompt Payment Act. of expenses billed by Lancaster people, and injured dozens more Circuit of Arkansas, said investiga- recreational drug, and as an athlet- She says she understands there CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 þ are five other bus companies that along Interstate 40 near Forrest tors discovered that Tapia got his CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 þ 4 February 1, 2008 Bus & Motorcoach NEWS Diesel prices California gets tougher about idling rules will stay high SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The sources, the California DMV may Karen Caesar of the California One major trucking associa- California Department of Motor refuse commercial vehicle registra- Air Resources Board also con- tion has expressed outrage over through March Vehicles has apparently added vio- tion, renewal or transfer if the firmed that local police have the the issue, accusing the state of cir- lations of state idling regulations to owner has been cited for violating authority to write citations to en- cumventing due process. “I think WASHINGTON — The price the list of reasons it can deny regis- the state’s anti-idling regulations. force idling restrictions. this is illegal,” said Rick Craig, of diesel fuel during the first three tration of commercial vehicles. The state can reject registration “If you have outstanding cita- director of regulatory affairs for months of this year will average at Currently, the state can block if the vehicle’s owner or operator tions (tickets) for violating any of the Owner-Operator Independent least $3.40 a gallon before tailing commercial vehicle registrations or has been cited “until the violation our mobile emissions regulations, Drivers Association.