June 1, 2012

Coach America carved up; Coach USA, TMS are big buyers WILMINGTON, Del. — Coach megabus.com across the U.S. buses operated by all nine of the the motorcoach industry for its northwestern states. America, the nation’s largest tour- Stagecoach Group plc, the Coach America subsidiaries. transportation coordination of The sales leave Coach America and-charter bus operator, was bro- Perth, Scotland-based parent com- Much of the rest of Coach major events, including large con- Group Holdings with virtually no ken into pieces late last month at pany of Coach USA and megabus, America’s charter operation, ventions and trade shows, plus other major assets and the transac- the hands of lawyers and creditors said its U.S. subsidiaries would which includes subsidiaries in sporting events, like this year’s tions are expected to bring to a working under the aegis of the fed- buy the nine companies for $134.2 such major metropolitan areas as NBA All-Star Game. close its six-month stay in U.S. eral bankruptcy court here. million. San Francisco, Houston, Phoenix, Additionally, Professional Bankruptcy Court. Nine large motorcoach opera- Included in the deal are such Denver, Los Angeles and Miami is Transportation Inc. of Evansville, Coach America and its subsid- tions owned by Coach America high-profile operators as Lake- being purchased by Transportation Ind., is acquiring Coach America’s iaries filed for bankruptcy protec- were purchased by Coach USA front Lines, Dillon’s Bus Service, Management Services of Sandy expansive rail crew shuttle service, tion in early January, and since then and affiliated companies as part of American Coach Lines of Atlanta Spring, Md. which operates mostly in north the court-supervised restructuring a plan to speed the expansion of and Kerrville Bus, plus the 800 TMS is perhaps best known in central, mountain, western and CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 c Canadian giant It’s spring, feds R.B. Colborne step up checks dies at age 85 in eastern states WASHINGTON — Federal CALGARY, Alberta — R.B. and state officials stepped up safe- Colborne, who quite possibly was ty inspections of motorcoaches the most successful North Ameri- can motorcoach operator of the and tour buses last month in 13 past 50 years, died here last month eastern states and the District of after a short illness. He was 85. Columbia. At the time of his death, Mr. The sweep, conducted by the Colborne was the founder, owner Federal Motor Carrier Safety Ad- and chairman of the Pacific West- ministration, along with state and ern Group of companies, the largest local law enforcement, is part of motorcoach operation in Canada, the expanded, year-old federal ef- the second-largest family-owned fort to check buses and drivers. motorcoach company in North CHOP TOP. So, what would you do if you had a USA you chop the tops off, paint ‘em red and convert The initiative was instigated America, and the fifth-largest mo- dozen-and-a-half Van Hool double-decker coaches with ‘em to sightseeing buses for your Chicago Trolley & after a series of fatal motorcoach torcoach business on the continent. 625,000-to-825,000 miles on them? If you’re Coach Double Decker Co. subsidiary. More on Page 10. crashes early in 2011. (See related Only Academy Bus of Hobo- story on Page 17.) ken, N.J., among the 4,500 family- “Especially during the peak owned bus companies in North UMA blasts Senate bus safety bill spring and summer travel seasons, America, is larger, according to we are working hard to remove any figures compiled by Metro maga- WASHINGTON — The Unit- serious financial bind and possi- March, in which he emphasized bus or driver that places passen- ed Motorcoach Association has bly force some out of business. the industry is struggling to recov- zine. Pacific Western operates gers and other motorists at risk on doubled down in its opposition to He urged lawmakers to reject er in the slow economy and now is more than 500 motorcoaches. the road,” Transportation Secretary federal bus safety legislation, ar- the legislation and, instead, adopt a not the time for the government to What truly sets Mr. Colborne Ray LaHood said in a statement apart, however, is that he essential- guing it contains far too many House measure that he suggested hit the industry with new and ex- about the sweep. ly built his company from scratch, onerous and unnecessary man- offers a much more reasoned and cessive mandates. During the safety blitz, inspec- starting in 1961, and along the way dates, plus unreasonable and unat- reasonable approach to addressing At issue are bus safety provi- tors scrutinized buses and drivers created what is perhaps the most- tainable deadlines. industry safety issues. sions in Senate Bill 1813 and iconic and baffling bus operation In a new document delivered to “The House of Representatives House Bill 7, two competing pub- in Maine, New Hampshire, Ver- in North America, Red Arrow the House Subcommittee on Com- has chosen a more deliberate, logi- lic transportation measures that mont, Massachusetts, Rhode Is- Motorcoaches. merce, Manufacturing and Trade, cal course to improving motor- lawmakers are considering in a land, Connecticut, New York, New But beyond his business acu- UMA President and CEO Victor coach safety,” he asserted. joint conference committee. Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, men and achievements, Mr. Col- S. Parra also warned that the Sen- The new UMA report was a Parra noted in the report that Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia borne had a consuming passion to ate-backed legislation could put follow-up to testimony Parra gave the Senate proposal contains an and the District of Columbia. CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 c small motorcoach operators in a at a subcommittee hearing in CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 c CONTINUED ON PAGE 17 c Finding a Pre-Owned Coach Just Got Easier!

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NORTHEAST SOUTHEAST SOUTHWEST WEST MIDWEST CANADA 800-222-2873 800-222-2871 800-222-2877 800-322-2877 800-222-2875 800-345-1287 Bus & Motorcoach News INDUSTRY NEWS June 1, 2012 3 L.A. investor plans to buy 3 high-profile operators U.S. Department of Transporta- vestitures, recapitalizations, de-­ It has tended to specialize in Calco/Hotard Group, tion, tentatively approved and au- leveraging investments, and industrials, capital goods, aero- All Aboard America! thorized the transaction. management buyouts. space and defense, commercial sign letters of intent Calco, Hotard Coaches and All Celerity’s current investment and professional services, con- Aboard America! have signed let- portfolio includes companies in sumer durables and apparel, LOS ANGELES — A Califor- ters of intent but the principals de- three sectors: IT products, manu- media, and healthcare industries. nia-based private equity firm plans clined to discuss the deal until it facturing services, and health/life The motorcoach/bus industry to buy three of the motorcoach in- has been wrapped up. science products and services. It seemingly is a new direction. dustry’s best-known operators – The buyer is Celerity Partners has investments in such companies Celerity is buying Calco Trav- Callen Hotard Jack Wigley Calco Travel, Hotard Coaches and of Los Angeles, which manages as Rincon Industries, Streamline el of Geismar, La., from Callen nies, with the two operations often All Aboard America! roughly $200 million in equity Circuits, PC Helps Support, Syn- Hotard, and Hotard Coaches of identified simply as Calco/Hotard The deal surfaced publicly last capital across four funds. Since teract, Pinnacle Treatment Centers New Orleans from Callen Hotard Group. month when the U.S. Surface 1995, it has specialized in supply- and Analytical Bio-Chemistry and his wife, Coleen. Callen Ho- All Aboard America!, which Transportation Board, a unit of the ing growth equity, corporate di- Laboratories. tard is president of both compa- CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 c N.Y. operators push back against restrictive measures ALBANY, N.Y. — The Bus some of them to shut down. write their individual state legisla- The bills are aimed at address- motorcoaches that come into the Association of New York is push- “It is not the intention of tors, alerting them to the concerns ing growing traffic congestion in city and then forcing intercity car- ing back against proposed state BANY to inhibit regulations that they have with the bills and urging certain areas of the city and give the riers to relocate their curbside legislation that would require mo- truly improve safety, however, the them to consider changes that city authority to regulate motor- loading and unloading to a former torcoach operators to obtain spe- impact on the operations of legiti- would make the legislation more coach companies, including those parking facility. cial permits and parking locations mate carriers will be adversely im- plausible. that offer curbside line runs between Silver said the legislation he’s for their tour and intercity opera- pacted should this legislation The targets of the BANY cam- New York City and other cities. proposing will bring order to the tions in New York City. pass,” Tammy M. St. Louis, execu- paign are twin bills drafted by As- About a dozen companies cur- chaos of intercity buses on the Although the organization tive director, warned in a letter sembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and rently provide the service, includ- streets of New York, particularly in does not oppose the general con- sent to association members. Sen. Martin J. Golden that would ing several major carriers and a Chinatown. cept of the regulations, it contends “These bills as currently writ- give New York City authority to re- number of so-called curbside Chi- “By giving the city the ability that two companion bills being ten could very well put some of quire operators to buy special per- natown operators. to regulate this industry, we are prepared for presentation to the our members out of business and mits for their tour and intercity Washington, D.C., which also helping to improve the quality of State Assembly and State Senate have an adverse affect to New York buses, and to obtain designated faces serious traffic problems, ad- life for Chinatown residents by would negatively impact private City tourism.” parking locations for loading and opted similar regulations in 2010, cutting down on traffic congestion operators and could even force The letter calls on operators to unloading passengers. first requiring trip permits for all CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 c

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Partisanship hovers over transportation bill Court trashes WASHINGTON — House and chairman of the House Transpor- tation legislation to fund highway freshman Republicans on the com- Senate negotiators assigned to tation and Infrastructure projects and public transit through mittee,” said one former lobbyist. ‘ambush vote’ produce compromise multi-year Committee. September. “Because if they can agree to a highway and public transportation Oberstar spoke to the National Still, there are some observers conference report and sign it, then rule by NLRB legislation continue meeting be- Industrial Transportation League who contend that if the conferees they are going to have to go back hind closed doors in an effort to last month and said of the reautho- can agree on the funding in the and sell it to their fellow freshman WASHINGTON — Citing work out differences, ranging rization process: “I’ve never seen Senate bill, chances are good for a Republicans. Woody Allen and the lack of a from funding to construction of anything this dysfunctional.” reauthorization plan. “If you didn’t have them in the quorum of National Labor Rela- the Keystone XL Pipeline. Indeed, House Republicans Many observers say the con- room negotiating, then you’ve got tions Board members, the U.S. However, the ideological di- were so divided over fundamental ferees are not terribly far apart on the proverbial ‘they’re on the out- District Court for the District of vide between the parties is so deep transportation policies they could several critical reauthorization is- side looking in.’ Now they’re on Columbia overturned the board’s and the issues so contentious that not pass a five-year bill introduced sues, but to produce a bill, House the inside.” controversial “ambush elections” there are doubts everywhere about by Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., the Republican conferees must agree Two issues important to Re- rule that would have permitted whether the conference committee current chairman of the Transpor- to spending levels closer to those publicans — the Keystone pipe- fast-track union representation can cobble together a transporta- tation and Infrastructure in the Senate bill than many House line and scaling back environmen- elections. tion reauthorization bill. Committee. members want. tal reviews — are expected to be The court opinion included And whatever comes out of The Senate passed a two-year, House conferees also will have major sticking points. the following: “According to conference committee would still $109 billion bill in March by a to agree to offsets the Senate found More than one Democrat has Woody Allen, 80 percent of life have to be approved by the House wide bipartisan margin, but House to make up a $12 billion funding called the two provisions “poison is just showing up. When it and Senate, and agreed to by Pres- Republicans refused to allow a gap between current spending lev- pills.” comes to satisfying a quorum re- ident Obama. vote on the Senate measure. els and revenues available in the Keystone, which would trans- quirement, though, showing up is “Increasing investment is not As a vehicle to get to confer- Highway Trust Fund. port oil from Canada to Texas re- even more important than that. in the vocabulary of this Con- ence on the Senate bill, House “I think there was a very smart fineries, is opposed by President Indeed, it is the only thing that gress,” said former Rep. James leaders pushed through a 10th tactical move made by Speaker Obama and most Senate matters — even when the quo- Oberstar, D-Minn., who used to be temporary extension of transpor- [John] Boehner to put all those Democrats. rum is constituted electronically. “In this case because no quo- rum ever existed for the pivotal FMCSA officially dumps remedial EOBR rule vote in question, the court must hold that the challenged rule is WASHINGTON — The Fed- Meanwhile, the FMCSA is Meanwhile, some trucking and Safety and Security, and the invalid.” eral Motor Carrier Safety Admin- moving forward with a proposed safety interests are pressing con- Truckload Carriers Association. The challenge to the rule was istration has officially dropped the rulemaking issued in January 2011 gressional negotiators to include The provision is opposed by led by a large group of associa- so-called remedial final rule on that would require all over-the-road an electronic onboard recorder the Owner-Operator Independent tions and other organizations “Electronic On-Board Recorders bus and truck operators to use mandate in the highway bill they Drivers Association, which holds called the Coalition for a Demo- for Hours of Service Compliance” EOBRs. are drafting. that the recorders are an unneces- cratic Workplace and its litiga- issued two years ago. The agency had hoped to have In a letter to leaders of the sary expense because they do not tion partners at the U.S. Chamber The proposed rule was vacated that rule in place sometime this House-Senate conference com- improve safety. of Commerce. by a court of appeals last August. year, and fully implemented in mittee, industry interest groups The United Motorcoach Asso- The agency posted a notice in three years. strongly urged that the mandate be ciation also has questioned the Coalition Chairman Geoffrey the Federal Register last month, But the proposed rule — so- kept in the bill. need for the recorders, contending Burr said the court had over- announcing the rescission. called EOBR II by some in the “Enactment of this provision is their benefits and efficacy in re- turned a rule that would have Based on a suit filed by the ground transportation industry — essential for improving (hours of ducing crashes need to be proven been bad for employees and em- Owner-Operator Independent dealt with driver harassment in service) compliance, assisting law before they are mandated. ployers, “and especially hard on Drivers Association, the court virtually the same manner as the enforcement in verifying compli- The EOBR mandate is includ- small business owners who found the FMCSA’s failure to ad- rule that was vacated. ance with HOS rules, and advancing ed in the Senate two-year, $109 would have been left with mere dress the issue of harassment — as The appeals court decision ear- highway safety,” the groups said. billion highway bill. days to navigate an often-arcane part of the rulemaking — rendered lier rule was a setback for EOBR II, The letter was signed by the The House does not have a NLRB process.” the rulemaking arbitrary and FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro heads or top officials of the Amer- comparable bill, although it has Added Burr: “While we hope capricious. said during a February speech, and ican Trucking Associations, Advo- drafted a measure that says the this will be the final word on this Although the court opinion fo- now the new rule might not be is- cates for Highway and Auto Safe- EOBR rule that is being written by particular attack on workplace cused on the remedial directive for sued in final form this year. ty, Public Citizen, the Teamsters the FMCSA must include standards democracy, we know that hope is carriers that demonstrated noncom- The agency has held two public Union, the Commercial Vehicle for performance and certification. not a strategy and are keeping pliance with hours-of-service rules, listening sessions to get feedback Safety Alliance, the Truck Safety See related Opinion article on our eyes out and litigation ready the court vacated the entire rule. on potential harassment issues. Coalition, the Alliance for Driver Page 8. on a number of fronts.” Caution to coach drivers: D.C. expands speed camera locations WASHINGTON — Operators registered owners of vehicles ex- Southwest Freeway (Interstate exceeding the speed limit by 12 adjoins the district to the northwest sending coaches to the nation’s ceeding the posted speed limit will 395) around exit 4, on both sides of mph or more. in Maryland, is also expanding its capital this spring and summer receive warning notices. Starting the highway. That’s an area where D.C. police do not say at what speed camera locations. may want to make their drivers June 6, citations will go out and the speed limit is 40 mph but most speed their cameras are set. A full list of D.C. camera loca- aware that the District of Columbia fines will be imposed. drivers apparently think that’s too The camera locations were tions — both fixed and mobile is expanding it use of speed The new camera locations are low. chosen based on the number of sites — appears deep in the police cameras. all over the district, and the speed Unlike Maryland’s speed cam- crashes and injuries, the number of department website at www.mpdc. The cameras, designed to catch limits in those areas range from 25 era law, the district’s doesn’t set a calls for police service and the dc.gov. speeders, are being placed at more to 40 mph. buffer speed between the legal number of vehicles traveling at In looking for the list, think than 25 new locations. One blogger suggested drivers limit and the speed for a citation. high speed. Traffic Safety and Automated The first few days in June, the should be particularly alert on In Maryland, a vehicle has to be Montgomery County, which Traffic Enforcement. Bus & Motorcoach News THE DOCKET June 1, 2012 5 NHTSA proposes bus-truck stability control mandate WASHIGTON — The Nation- tute concluded that if all five-axle on the nation’s large trucks and bility control systems add roughly Temsa, Van Hool and Volvo, al- al Highway Traffic Safety Admin- tractor-trailers had RSC, there buses would prevent up to 2,329 $2,000 or more to the price of a ready offer stability control sys- istration issued the first-ever would be 3,489 fewer crashes and crashes, eliminate an estimated 649 new coach. tems as standard equipment. It is motor vehicle safety standard to 106 fewer deaths each year. If all of to 858 injuries, and prevent be- The agency said it considered coming to others or is available as require electronic stability control those trucks had ESC, there would tween 49 and 60 fatalities a year. going with an RSC requirement, an option. systems on large commercial be 4,659 fewer crashes and 126 The other difference between but went with the one it said had Major industry vendors, such buses and trucks. fewer deaths. the two systems is cost. ESC is the higher net — ESC. as Bendix and Meritor Wabco, The rule would affect vehicles In its proposal, NHTSA esti- more expensive, costing roughly Most motorcoach manufactur- supply the systems, and have de- with a gross vehicle weight rating mates that a standard requiring ESC $500 to $700 more. Electronic sta- ers, including MCI, Prevost, Setra, livered tens of thousands. of more than 26,000 pounds. As proposed, the rule would take effect between two and four years after the standard is finalized, depending on the type of vehicle. The proposal also includes standards for performance testing of the technology. NHTSA research shows the technology could prevent up to 56 percent of rollover crashes each year and another 14 percent of loss-of-control crashes. An extensive NHTSA research program to determine how avail- able stability control technologies affect crashes involving commer- cial vehicles found ESC systems to be the most effective tool for reduc- ing the propensity for heavy vehi- cles to rollover or lose control. “We’ve already seen how ef- fective stability control can be at reducing rollovers in passenger vehicles; the ability for this type of technology to save lives is one rea- son it is required on cars and light- duty trucks beginning with model year 2012,” said NHTSA Admin- istrator David Strickland. “Now, we’re expanding our ef- forts to require stability enhancing technology on the many large trucks, motorcoaches and other large buses on our roadways.” The NHTSA proposal resolves one major question that had re- volved around the issue: Would the agency proposal call for electronic stability control, or the less-expen- sive roll stability control (RSC)? Both systems perform a simi- Coach Financing and Leasing “Specialists” lar function: if sensors detect the risk of rollover or instability, the • Coach and School Bus Financing • Low Fixed Rate Equipment Financing control module slows the vehicle by cutting back the throttle and ap- • Terms Up to 84 Months • Fleet Refinancing plying the brakes automatically. The difference is that RSC is • Balloons and Skip Monthly Payments Available • Used Equipment Financing triggered only when the system de- tects roll instability, which might • 100% Financing Available to • TracLeases Available occur when a bus or truck is going too fast into a turn or maneuvers Qualified Credits too quickly. ESC reacts to both roll insta- bility and yaw instability, such as a skid that also could lead to a roll- www.shorefundingltd.com [email protected] over or a jackknife in the case of trucks. In addition to slowing the vehicle to prevent a rollover, it ap- plies the brakes on the wheel that (800) 542-7467 needs to be slowed to counteract the skid. TEL: (732) 842-2828 FAX: (732) 842-2281 Studies have demonstrated that both systems are effective, but not equally so. In 2009, the University of Michigan Transportation Insti- 6 June 1, 2012 THE DOCKET Bus & Motorcoach News Teamsters endorse Obama Ohio House OKs Colo. marijuana limit fails LAS VEGAS — Teamsters 100 years,” President Obama said long school trips DENVER — A bill making it bill is dead for the year. General President Jim Hoffa an- by phone to Teamsters at the Las easier to convict people of driving The proposal would have nounced here that the union is en- Vegas conference. “America on district buses high on marijuana was among the made it illegal to drive with more dorsing President Barack Obama would look a lot different without more than two dozen bills sacri- than a certain amount of THC — for re-election. the Teamsters.” COLUMBUS, Ohio — The ficed in the Colorado House dur- the psychoactive chemical in mar- Hoffa made the announcement In a statement, Hoffa said the Ohio House has passed a bill that ing a gridlocked debate over civil ijuana — in the driver’s system. to more than 1,500 Teamster union wants to keep the likely Re- would dramatically increase the unions. The limit of 5 nanograms of members attending the union’s an- publican presidential candidate, number of miles a school district nual conference in Las Vegas last Mitt Romney, out of the White may authorize its own motor ve- Senate Bill 117, which was THC per milliliter of blood that month. House, calling him a “vulture hicles be used for out-of-state, only two vote-counts away from the bill proposed is considered The union said the endorse- capitalist.” school-related travel. the governor’s desk, failed to re- similar to the .08 blood-alcohol ment was the result of a months- “Mitt Romney would be the fox The bill, which would revise ceive a second-reading vote by standard for drunk driving. long process that included scien- guarding the henhouse,” he said. section 3327.15 of the state code, midnight when the legislative ses- Supporters said the bill was tific polling of Teamster members, As recently as late last year, would permit school district- sion ends. scientifically sound and was need- surveys of local union and joint Politico notes, several labor lead- owned vehicles to travel up to Bills cannot receive second- ed to send a message that driving council leaders and deliberations ers, disappointed the president 1,000 miles outside the state on reading and final-reading approv- stoned is not OK. Opponents said by the union’s democratically hadn’t focused on their agenda as any one trip. als on the same day, meaning the the limit was too low. elected General Executive Board. much as they’d hoped, warned The current limit is a total of “In these years that I’ve been they might sit out the 2012 elec- 240 miles outside the state. FMCSA checklist times eight in office, I’ve seen and appreciat- tion cycle in protest. Based on the proposed bill’s WASHINGTON — The Fed- gov/safety-security/pcs/index.aspx. ed how you support the American The Teamsters also endorsed language, any school district in eral Motor Carrier Safety Admin- The checklist encourages trav- economy and social justice, a tra- Obama in 2008 over Democratic Ohio could use its own buses to istration has developed consumer elers to look at the on-road safety dition that goes back more than a primary rival Hillary Clinton. take field trips to Washington, bus safety checklists in five Asian performance, safety rating and D.C. or New York City. languages, plus German, Spanish consumer complaint history of a San Francisco-area tolls rise Obviously, the 33 state repre- and French. bus company before buying a SAN FRANCISCO — Multi- three-axle motorcoaches to $10.50, sentatives who sponsored and co- The FMCSA unveiled its ticket or booking a trip. axle vehicles, including over-the- from $6. sponsored the legislation have Multi­lingual Bus Safety Consum- In addition to using the bus safe- road buses, will be paying higher Starting July 1, coaches with never ridden hundreds and hun- tolls to cross San Francisco-area three axles will pay at the rate of $5 er Checklist last month. ty checklist, consumers can down- dreds of miles on a school bus, bridges starting July 1. times the number of axles, boost- The Asian languages are Sim- load the FMCSA’s free SaferBus nor are they aware of the risks, The increase is the second of a ing a comparable toll to $15. plified Chinese, Traditional Chi- app at www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety- two-step toll hike that was set in It will be even more expensive discomfort and inconvenience of nese, Japanese, Korean and security/saferbus/saferbus.aspx. early 2010. for coaches to cross the Golden doing so. Vietnamese. The application is designed to Last year, the Bay Area Toll Gate Bridge, where it will be $6 $5-per-axle rate for FasTrak The checklists are available provide access to the safety re- Authority boosted toll rates for times the number of axles, with a customers. free to the public at www.fmcsa.dot. cords of passenger carriers.

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heavy duty mobile lifts 800.826.3486 [email protected] www.sefac.com Bus & Motorcoach News INDUSTRY NEWS June 1, 2012 7 N.C., S.C., Maryland associations schedule ADA training CONCORD, N.C. — In- west of Charlotte off Interstate 85. (800) 376-1660, or by email at attendees. meals and materials. creased federal scrutiny of Ameri- The session will be conducted [email protected], or the One of the two, half-day ses- For more information or to cans with Disabilities Act compli- by personnel from Open Doors Motorcoach Association of South sions is designed for management, register, go to www.marylandmo- ance by over-the-road bus Organization of Chicago, one of Carolina at (888) 376-1150, or by frontline employees and drivers, the tor coach.org. Click on Other companies has promoted motor- the nation’s premier providers of email at [email protected]. other half is aimed primarily at man- Events. Or, call (717) 236-4205. coach associations in three states ADA training to the motorcoach The Maryland Motorcoach As- agement and frontline employees. The Open Doors training ses- to schedule ADA training sessions industry. sociation also has scheduled ADA The Maryland training, which sions cover a gamut of ADA-relat- for their members and other opera- The cost to a company to send training sessions for late July in also will be conducted by Open ed topics, including dealing with tors who may wish to attend. representatives to the training is Baltimore. Doors Organization, will be at the emergency evacuations, service The North Carolina Motor- $150, regardless of how many in- The association will conduct a Best Western Plus in Baltimore. animals, appropriate service, the coach Association and the Motor- dividuals attend. In other words, one-day session on July 26, and The sessions begin at 9 a.m. and law and its enforcement, preparing coach Association of South Caro- whether it’s one or 10 attendees, then repeat the training on July 27. end at 5 p.m. for an ADA compliance review, lina have teamed up to conduct a the cost is $150 per company. The only difference in the sessions For members of the Maryland ADA reports and forms, agree- one-day training session June 26 at For additional information or is the order of the program will be Motorcoach Association there is ments between carriers, vehicle the Great Wolf Lodge in Concord, to register, contact the North Caro- reversed between the two days, im- no charge to attend. For nonmem- purchase, and more than a dozen which is roughly 30 miles north- lina Motorcoach Association at proving the convenience for bers, the cost is $60, which covers other important issues. Va. Motorcoach Association aids driver initiative for veterans RICHMOND, Va. — The Vir- opportunities with truck and bus in other transportation-related jobs tion to waive the road skills test cles but interested in obtaining a ginia Motorcoach Association has companies for military members after their service; and to members requirement for military CDL Virginia CDL, the DMV is part- joined with the Virginia Depart- after their service. of the National Guard and Reserv- holders two years immediately nering with military installations ment of Motor Vehicles and other “The commonwealth (of Vir- ist even during their service.” preceding their application with to provide the necessary training. groups in a program to put former ginia) is an ideal place to launch McDonnell touted the pro- safe driving experience. These ap- Once the student has success- servicemen and women to work in Troops to Trucks,” said Virginia gram’s collaborative arrangement, plicants will still need to take the fully completed the skills training the transportation industry. Gov. Bob McDonnell. with government and the private DMV written exam. and testing, the DMV will issue a Through the Troops to Trucks “Virginia has approximately sector assisting individuals “who The road test waiver will stream- Virginia CDL. program, the Virginia DMV is 823,000 veterans, 63,000 active- have served and sacrificed for our line the CDL process for military Through partnerships with the making it easier for personnel duty military and 20 major mili- great nation. We have a duty to en- personnel and eliminate the often Virginia Motorcoach Association, trained by the military to operate tary installations. The goal of the sure they have training and em- burdensome requirement that an ap- Virginia Trucking Association, heavy vehicles to obtain civilian Troops to Trucks program, a first ployment opportunities in the fu- plicant provide a commercial motor and Virginia Association for Pupil commercial driver’s licenses. in the nation, is to help provide ture,” McDonnell said. vehicle for the skills test. Transportation, applicants will be The ultimate goal is to provide employment opportunities to our Effective July 1, Virginia DMV For military members without referred to at least three potential transportation-related employment military as truck or bus drivers, or will utilize a new federal regula- experience operating heavy vehi- employers.

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The Federal Motor Carrier have a positive affect on safety cant burden for smaller safety status of carriers and their The answer is large trucking Safety Administration continues to statistics. companies. drivers without due process, prob- companies. Most have onboard be dead set on forcing every com- This form of tracking did — able cause or any functioning ap- technology in place already, mak- mercial vehicle in the United and still does — have benefits for ‘EOBRs will be a sig- peal process? ing additional costs minimal. And States to carry an electronic on- those choosing to use it, including We believe the demand for when every carrier is so equipped, board recorder — better known as ease of communication between nificant burden for mandated EOBRs is based on the the mega-fleets will see a dramatic an EOBR — despite the device’s driver and dispatch; fewer check false premise that all trucking com- drop in driver turnover because the hefty price tag and general use- calls; the ability of one dispatcher panies and all commercial truck option of switching to a carrier lessness as a safety tool. to handle more (vehicles), loads smaller companies.’ drivers push the hours-of-service without EOBRs will be gone. In defending its determination and drivers; fuel tax calculations; rules and cheat on their logs. What’s more, the majority of to saddle motor carriers with these asset management; and as a valu- And now that the issue of If that truly were the case, why added costs will fall on the big intrusive gizmos, FMCSA insists able marketing tool to sophisticat- money is on the table, some things do only about 3 percent of truck- companies’ competitors, the small they will improve highway safety ed shippers wanting to track their that need to be considered are: ing companies audited receive an fleets and independent contractors by reducing large (commercial ve- shipments. • How states, counties and mu- unsatisfactory rating? In 2011, out that we estimate constitute 95 per- hicle) crashes involving injuries As in the beginning, however, nicipalities will pay to give their of 10,964 audits, only 323 unsatis- cent of the trucking companies in and/or fatalities, but the agency the downside remains that good police cruisers the ability to pull factory ratings were issued. America. cannot thus far provide statistical drivers resent the implication they log data from trucks into the ap- FMCSA’s original plan was to It is not surprising, given these evidence that this assertion is true. cannot be trusted and that “Big propriate government system and mandate EOBRs only for so-called numbers, that American Trucking Safety, in fact, wasn’t part of Brother” is always tracking their transmit the data from the “bad actor” carriers, those with a Associations supports the EOBR the package when the technology movements. roadside. history of playing fast and loose mandate, while the Owner-Opera- that makes EOBRs possible was In the beginning, GPS was so • How dysfunctional EOBRs with log entries. tor Independent Driver Associa- first being developed — except in expensive that it wasn’t a viable will be dealt with, i.e., will an oth- But that was before the agency tion, the National Association of the sense of keeping our nation option for smaller carriers. How- erwise functional (vehicle) be devised its Compliance, Safety, Small Trucking Companies and safe. ever, technology now has ad- deemed “out-of-service” and left Accountability program, which, the National Federation of Inde- EOBRs are essentially byprod- vanced to the point that GPS tech- on the side of the road? for example, now insists that 35 pendent Business oppose it. ucts of the U.S. Department of De- nology is available for less than • How FMCSA intends to train percent of the carriers in FMCSA’s In many respects, this func- fense Global Positioning System, half of the early pricing. sheriff’s deputies, highway patrol- database have perpetual “driver fa- tions like an additional tax on which originally was developed Unfortunately, converting ex- men and others to interpret federal tigue” issues. American consumers. But worse for military purposes. isting GPS systems into EOBRs regulations on the shoulder of a We estimate that the true driver- than that, it is the first step toward In the 1980s, the DOD released will mean prices once again will highway. Will procedures be stan- fatigue figure is between 3 and 4 allowing our central government GPS for civilian use, and a com- increase drastically. And, as is so dardized or will inspections con- percent, making the EOBR man- to track, tax and control every mercial version became popular often the case, mega-fleets will ab- tinue to be characterized by wide- date a monumental case of motor vehicle in this country — with larger trucking companies to sorb the costs of mandated elec- spread confusion that leads to overkill. potentially a much larger issue. help them cope with high driver The use — or not — of EOBRs turnover rates — and the sad fact is an issue best left to the market- is that not all drivers play by the place for implementation as a rules when it comes to their pre- Popularity of government dwindles means to compete. It should not be cise location. WASHINGTON — Here’s a vorable view, with just one in six local governments has also de- an expensive fiat misplaced on the Let us say upfront that nothing shocker: People don’t like the gov- people feeling the federal govern- clined over the past decade, but by vast majority of carriers who have in this editorial comment should ernment very much. ment is careful with their money. much less, from 62 to 52 percent no business use for the technology. be construed as an argument The Pew Research Center re- In the center’s latest survey, 51 in the case of state governments, David Owen is president of the against using EOBRs as a manage- ports that only about a third of the percent of Democrats have a favor- and from 67 to 61 percent for local National Association of Small ment tool. U.S. population has a favorable able opinion of the federal govern- governments. Trucking Companies, which has What we object to is a govern- view of the federal government, ment in Washington, compared To find out more about the more than 3,000 U.S. and Canadi- ment mandate forcing carriers to down from over 70 percent around with 27 percent of independents growing gap in favorable views of an member companies. invest in and use EOBRs for pur- 2004. and just 20 percent of Republicans. governments, go to: www.people- This article was reprinted from poses other than their own. This is And 62 percent have an unfa- The popularity of state and press.org. Transport Topics.

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Bus & Motorcoach News INDUSTRY NEWS June 1, 2012 9 Obama Administration unveils travel, tourism strategy WASHINGTON — The it easier for more people to visit Tourism Caucus, said the new na- website has been refurbished to tion is committed to working with Obama Administration has an- this country and keep our econo- tional tourism strategy “is an ex- provide information about Brand Congress on legislation to nounced a “national strategy” to my growing,” said Obama. ample of Washington working to- USA’s efforts. strengthen and expand VWP eligi- increase travel and tourism in the “This administration will con- gether for the benefit of American • Leveraging messengers and bility to nations with low visa re- United States to 100 million visi- tinue to do everything we can to jobs and our economy. outlets. Using high-profile spokes- fusal rates and rapidly growing tors annually by 2021. support travel and tourism — our “International tourism is a lu- people, websites, social media economies, consistent with nation- Last month, Commerce Secre- No. 1 services export, which will crative and growing market for the tools, and the U.S. diplomatic al security requirements. tary John Bryson and Interior Sec- help support millions of American United States with much potential presence in 192 countries, govern- • Shortening visa interview retary Ken Salazar unveiled the jobs,” said Commerce Secretary still untapped.…I applaud the ment agencies will work together wait times and streamlining the administration’s tourism initiative, Bryson said. work that went into the creation of to create mechanisms to communi- visa process. expanding on President Obama’s “I am proud of our work on the this new focus on tourism and look cate interesting travel opportuni- • Building capacity in China call in January for a national strat- national strategy, a product of a forward to its long-term benefits ties to the international public and and Brazil to meet demand. The egy to promote domestic and inter- strong private-public partnership, for our economy.” travel professionals globally. Department of State is investing national travel opportunities which will make the U.S. even The travel and tourism strategy • Partnerships with local tour- $68 million this year on existing fa- throughout the U.S. more welcoming to visitors and re- maps out what the government can ism leaders. The Department of cilities in Brazil and $22 million in The strategy, or blueprint for inforce our message to the world: and will do to expand the travel the Interior is partnering with local China, adding interview windows, expanding travel, sets a goal of in- the United States is open for and tourism industry. Among the communities (e.g., San Francisco, expanding consular office space, creasing American jobs by attract- business.” initiatives are these: Miami, Orlando, Las Vegas, Den- and improving waiting areas. ing and welcoming 100 million The U.S. travel industry widely • International travel promo- ver, Seattle, and the Chesapeake • Increasing consular staffing international visitors annually by supports the administration plan. tion campaign. Last month, Brand region) to develop itineraries to and improving hiring programs of the end of 2021, more than a 50 “This is a very exciting initia- USA, the nonprofit organization encourage travelers to extend their diplomats performing consular percent increase over the number tive that will help every single bus — created by the Travel Promotion visits to well- and lesser-known work in China and Brazil. expected this year. operator in this country,” said Unit- Act — that is charged with pro- destinations. • Enhancing the traveler expe- The international visitors ed Motorcoach Association Presi- moting foreign travel to the United This information is designed to rience at U.S. airports. would spend an estimated $250 dent and CEO Victor Parra. “UMA States, officially launched its first help local tourism officials devel- • Small business capacity billion annually. is behind this 100 percent.” set of international marketing op partnerships with local small building. The Small Business Ad- “Tens of millions of tourists Parra noted the initiative “truly campaigns to promote the United businesses and private-sector ven- ministration is introducing new on- from all over the world come and has bi-partisan support. States as a travel destination dors to not only expose travelers to line services to provide advice and visit America every year. They stay “If this is successfully imple- abroad. more of America, but also to foster resources for small businesses in in our hotels, they eat at our restau- mented, it should boost business Promotion efforts have begun increased economic activity as the travel and tourism industry. Ad- rants, they visit our attractions, for operators.” in Canada, Japan, and the United these tourists extend their travels. ditionally, SBA will host an upcom- and they help create jobs. At a time Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Alabama, Kingdom, and are planned for • Supporting legislative im- ing webinar for small businesses when too many Americans are still co-chair, with Rep. Sam Farr, D- South Korea and Brazil later this provements to the Visa Waiver that would like to learn how to work looking for work, we need to make Calif., of the House Travel and year. The DiscoverAmerica.com Program. The Obama Administra- with travel and tour operators. 10 June 1, 2012 INDUSTRY NEWS Bus & Motorcoach News Coach USA San Francisco; Gray Line of Hous- ton, and American Coach Lines in CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Miami, Orlando, West Palm of the company has proceeded Beach/Lake Worth and Jackson- slowly behind a cloak of almost ville Fla. total secrecy. TMS currently has a fleet of Earlier this spring, a confiden- more than 250 vehicles, including tial bidding process was initiated 165 motorcoaches, with opera- with the goal of selling all or parts tions in Miami, Houston, Los An- of the company. The shrouded pro- geles, Seattle and Vancouver, Brit- ceedings resulted in erroneous re- ish Columbia. Included are two ports the company’s creditors were businesses it bought three years planning to take over the company ago: Gray Line of Seattle and Ho- by bidding for it at the sale. (See rizon Coach Lines, of Vancouver. May 15 Bus & Motorcoach News.) The Miami operation of TMS is Although the creditors may called Cabana Coaches. have filed a bid, that move simply Sherman has been involved in may have served as a stalking the transportation industry for more horse and there was no action than 20 years, beginning in his fam- taken by the court. The auction ily bus business in the early 1970s. was continued until late in May His experience includes start- when the bids by Coach USA, ing transit systems in five states, TMS and the others were offered, including one system that carries negotiated and accepted. in excess of 50,000 riders daily. Although the disposition of A Lot of Nerve Sherman started Transporta- Coach America is being super- A certain amount of panache is tion Management Services in 1995 vised by the U.S. Bankruptcy needed to take a cutting torch to in Vienna, Va. His company has Court here, virtually all of the pro- the roof of a $700,000 motor- managed transportation for nu- ceedings were being conducted coach, but that’s what happened merous major events, including privately by attorneys representing to six former, high-mileage mega- the Republican National Conven- the various players, and informa- bus double-deckers. After cut- tion, the Olympics, the Asian tion about the deal-making was ting off the tops, parent company Games and the International not made public until the results Coach USA installed upper-level Builders Show. were transmitted to the court for steel sidewalls, stainless guard rails, eventual approval. a rain-water drain system, Rhino The crew shuttle piece The Coach USA bid, for exam- coating everywhere, and stylish The PTI acquisition includes ple, is expected to receive quick plastic seats. The newly converted operations in Bismarck, N.D., Gil- approval from the bankruptcy sightseeing buses begin service lette, Wyo., Pocatello, Idaho, court, but it also requires other soon on Chicago Trolley’s 13-mile, Minot, N.D., Vancouver, Wash., federal approvals that could take 18-stop tours. and Seattle. The selling price was as long as three months, according reported in court documents at $2 to Stagecoach Group. tor for megabus.com and that busi- After Stagecoach bought liquidated in 2003. million. In addition to buying the bus ness is among those that will be Coach USA it tried to continue In addition to the sales to operations, Coach USA is pur- acquired by Coach USA/megabus. growing the company but it was The TMS piece Coach USA, TMS and PTI, Coach chasing an additional 85 Coach “We see significant potential to hard hit by the loss of charter busi- TMS is acquiring, for what is America also is selling the Texas America buses for $25.6 million. rollout megabus.com’s successful ness after the Sept. 11, 2001, ter- believed to be $17 million, plus as- motorcoach company, El Expres- package of low fares and high rorist attacks. In the aftermath, sumption of an unknown amount so, to Tornado Bus Co. in Texas, Maryland to California quality service to new locations in Stagecoach crashed, posting gi- of liabilities, the Coach America and some key transit contracts in The nine companies being pur- the United States,” said Brian gantic losses. operations in Los Angeles; San Los Angeles to MV Transportation chased by Coach USA are: Ker- Souter, chief executive of Stage- At that point, much of the value Francisco; San Diego; Phoenix; of Fairfield, Calif. rville Bus of San Antonio, Texas; coach Group. of the Stagecoach investment in Las Vegas; Denver; Houston; Coach USA and TMS, however All West Coach Lines of Sacra- “Our North American division Coach USA was wiped out. Miami; West Palm Beach, Orlando are the biggest buyers and between mento, Calif.; Coach America is the fastest growing part of the Souter, who had turned over and Jacksonville, Fla., and Char- them have purchased virtually all of Anaheim (Calif.); American group and this transaction will management of the company he co- lotte, Winston-Salem, Raleigh- Coach America’s charter operations. Coach Lines of Atlanta; Lake allow us to acquire selected busi- founded to others, stepped back in Durham and Jacksonville, N.C. The company had 50 businesses Front of Cleveland; Powder River nesses and vehicles at attractive and announced that most of Coach According to court documents, the when it filed for Chapter 11 protec- Transportation of Gillette, Wyo.; prices in markets and regions we USA’s subsidiaries were for sale. sale also includes as many as 1,000 tion, but subsequently closed char- Coach America Elko (Nev.); Dil- know well.” Stagecoach sold its Coach USA vehicles, including motorcoaches, ter-and-tour operations in Las lon’s of Hanover, Md., and Raz companies in New England to Peter midsize and transit buses and vans. Vegas, San Diego and Dallas, plus Transportation of Portland, Ore. Back in the fold Pan Bus Lines, sold its operations “The acquisition of the Coach shut down a cruise ship shuttle ser- The companies, which employ Dale Moser, Coach USA presi- in the Southwest, West and Rocky America businesses will signifi- vice in Florida. It appears TMS 1,500 people, currently offer a mix dent and chief operating officer, Mountain regions to the investment cantly expand TMS’ presence in may have plans to restore opera- of charter, line-run, sightseeing said he was excited about the ac- firm of Kohlberg & Co., which many key transportation markets tions in Las Vegas and San Diego. and contract services that in 2011 quisitions and being able to ex- formed Coach America, and sold and will allow us to focus on deliv- Coach America, which at the produced $13.3 million in operat- pand megabus’ reach to other areas its companies in the southeastern ering value-added, best-in-class time it filed for bankruptcy was ing profits on revenue of $164.4 of the country. “We know most of U.S. to Lincolnshire Management, service to our existing and new owned by the New York invest- million. Their gross assets are val- those companies quite well be- which rebranded the operation as customers,” said TMS Chairman ment company Fenway Partners, ued at $92 million. cause they used to be part of Coach American Coach Lines (which was and CEO Frank Sherman. turned to bankruptcy early this Stagecoach said the businesses USA and we are very excited to merged with Coach America in Among the businesses being year after being unable to get its in Texas and California will pro- have them back,” he said. 2006). All this was done with heavy purchased by TMS are motorcoach lenders to negotiate new terms for vide depots that will enable the Most of the nine companies in- losses to Stagecoach Group. companies that either currently or its debt load. company to expand its megabus. cluded in the Coach USA-Coach Stagecoach retained the Coach formerly operated under such When it filed for Chapter 11, com network more efficiently and America deal were purchased by USA name, however, and many of names as America Charters, Pied- the company owed $318.7 million without having to pay a subcon- Stagecoach Group and Souter 13 its operations in the Northeast and mont Coach Lines and Southern in secured debt, $30.5 million in tractor to run the operations. years ago. That was when Stage- Upper Midwest. Coach Co., all in North Carolina; second-lien debt, $39.5 million in Coach America’s unit in Atlan- coach purchased all of Coach USA Now, Stagecoach and Souter Arrow Stage Lines in Phoenix; secured liens, and $15 million in ta currently serves as a subcontrac- for $1.2 billion. are reacquiring companies they Franciscan Lines and Gray Line unsecured claims. Bus & Motorcoach News INDUSTRY NEWS June 1, 2012 11 Prepare for driving catastrophes before they happen By Dave Millhouser ing drivers experience and react to useful simulator training is, you is he or she leaving enough cush- Within your situations that would be far too can probably arrange to try one ion so, if it happens, they can stop pool of drivers, “You’re driving a semi up a dangerous to re-create in a yourself, either at a bus show or safely? almost certain- steep two-lane mountain pass. To motorcoach. with someone who rents time. The guy who taught me to ly there are your right is a 2,000-foot drop and They also save fuel, wear on Another way of preventing or drive a coach said repeatedly: “Al- folks who’ve to your left is a sheer vertical wall. the coach, and stress on the mitigating catastrophe is the pro- ways assume the other driver will faced many or “Suddenly, as you’re nearing instructor. cess of “preventative worrying.” do the wrong thing; they rarely all of these situ- the top, while you’re passing a gas- Current bus industry simulator Ever notice that most of the will disappoint you.” ations and a ton oline tanker, a truck hauling explo- technology isn’t as sophisticated things you worry about never hap- It’s fair to assume technology more. It is both Dave Millhouser sives comes over the crest, barrel- as what the airlines use, but it is pen? So, it stands to reason that, if can’t be totally trusted, and it’s fun, and in- ing down the mountain right at improving rapidly. Some of the you worry enough, nothing bad worth thinking about how you’d structive, to talk about disasters in you. units on the market can have their can happen. handle a failure — before it the safety of a meeting, and dis- “What do you do?” asks the software updated as improvements Just kidding. Don’t cancel your happens. cuss effective ways of dealing with safety examiner. come along. insurance just yet. Modern antilock brake sys- them. “I wake up Fred in the A number of coach operators The practical expression of tems are terrific but require a dif- You can’t discuss (or worry sleeper.” have purchased simulators, some “preventative worry” can be time ferent technique than the older about) everything, but spending “Why wake up Fred?” the ex- mounted in motorcoaches or trail- spent in driver meetings discuss- systems still in use on hundreds of some time on “What if? And how aminer asks. ers, so they can be transported to ing what might happen and how coaches. do I handle it?” certainly can’t “Because Fred ain’t ever seen a satellite locations. In many cases, best to handle it. Likewise automatic stability hurt. real accident.” companies who’ve made the in- We’re in the middle of a tech- control and automatic traction That type of forward thinking It’s an old joke, but like so vestment in this technology are nological transition. Coaches live control. might have saved my friend Matt a much humor it has a basis in truth. willing (or eager) to rent them to a long time, so there’s still a bunch When the “automatic” part world of hurt. What can you do when the un- other nearby operators. of them out there that have differ- fails, only a prepared driver can Traveling south on I-95 he thinkable happens? Or, is about to If either buying or renting ent systems than the new ones, and provide safe braking, stability and blew a rear tire. The tire repair guy happen? makes sense to you, make sure that drivers need to understand the traction. asked if he had a lot of weight in Are there ways to prepare for whoever is operating the simulator ramifications (pun intended). How do you handle a blown air the rear and Matt replied: “Just my catastrophes without risking lives is familiar both with the machine For example, contemporary bag? A dropped drive shaft? A girlfriend.” or crushed metal? and the situations to which you brake systems rarely fail com- blown tire? What do you do when She heard. One option that is increasing in want your drivers exposed. A sim- pletely, but losing half the braking a goose mistakes your windshield Dave Millhouser is a bus indus- popularity is the use of computer- ulation is only as good as its ability effectiveness to a blown air line for the wide open spaces (and try marketing consultant and free- ized electronic driving simulators. to mimic and train for real life. isn’t out of the question. How does lands in your lap)? Do you serve it lance writer. Contact him by email These can be very useful in help- If you’re skeptical about how a driver know it’s happening? And, with a white wine? or red? at: [email protected].

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BITZER U.S., Inc. To learn more, visit www.bitzerus.com Phone: 770-503-9226 Email: [email protected] / [email protected] 12 June 1, 2012 INDUSTRY NEWS Bus & Motorcoach News UMA blasts bill Parra pointed out that small recorders may not result in safer operators who make up nearly 80 Senate legislation contains bus transportation. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 percent of the industry already are “There is no clear safety corre- unprecedented 31 separate man- having problems securing financ- long list of safety measures lation associated with EOBRs ver- ing for new equipment and they sus the current use of paper log- dates, most of them with tight WASHINGTON — Here are tion countermeasures — after as- would face even more difficulties books that UMA is aware,” he deadlines that would tax the fi- the 31 mandates contained in Sen- sessment (w/in 1 year) — 2 years if they were required to obtain said. “UMA concludes further re- nances of operators. ate Bill 1813, and the timeline for • Flammability standard for loans to finance retrofitting of search is required to determine the He also noted that many of the each of them to become effective exterior components — 18 months their existing buses. safety performance and correla- mandates have been proposed with- following adoption of the proposed • Smoke suppression — 18 “Loans for small businesses are tions in reducing fatigued com- out any scientific evidence support- legislation: months routinely challenging and the na- mercial vehicle driving.” ing their supposed benefits. • Written proficiency exam — • Prevention of and resistance tion’s current economy has further Parra also voiced opposition to Among them are requirements 18 months to wheel-well fires — 18 months exasperated conditions,” he said. a provision that would allow gov- for passenger safety belts on new • Pre-authorization safety audit • Automatic fire suppression Without the necessary funding, ernment regulators to subject mo- and existing buses, the use of elec- — 1 year — 18 months he warned that many of the small torcoaches to unscheduled roadside tronic onboard recorders, mini- • 12-month safety review — 1 • Passenger evacuation — 18 operators would be unable to meet inspections, which would raise mum standards for drivers, smoke year months the new mandate and would have safety concerns on the highway and suppression equipment and driver • Financial responsibility — 6 • Causation and prevention of to consider going out of business, interrupt passenger schedules. safety fitness ratings. months report, 6 months after re- motorcoach fires — 18 months reducing their fleet size, buying Such inspections currently are He noted that of the many man- port initiate rulemaking, 1 year • Tire performance standard — new coaches out of sequence and allowed only if there are obvious dates, only 11 are part of the Na- final 3 years cost-cutting measures that proba- defects on a motorcoach or if the tional Highway Transportation • Electronic onboard recorders • Improved fire extinguishers bly would include staff reductions. bus is being driven in an unsafe Safety Administration’s review of — 1 year — research and testing (w/in 2 “Where are the good choices?” manner. bus safety standards. • National Registry of Medical years) — 2 years after for rule asked Parra. “Business cessation, Parra reiterated to lawmakers “The most glaring difference is Examiners — 1 year • Interior impact protection — fleet and staff reductions lead to that UMA strongly supports several that NHTSA’s approach is science • Minimum standards for driv- research and testing (w/in 2 years) unemployment. Increased costs bus safety measures currently be- based, with considerable testing and er notification systems — 1 year — 2 years after for rule and fleet size reductions could re- fore Congress, as well as many of analysis that reaches optimum con- • Minimum entry-level driver • Compartmentalization safety sult in groups selecting less safe the provisions in the Senate bill that clusions rather than anecdotal pre- training — 6 months countermeasures — research and modes of travel. impact the motorcoach industry. scriptive ‘solutions’ and untenable • Driver safety fitness ratings testing (w/in 2 years) — 2 years “How are communities served However, he stressed the asso- and harmful timelines contained in — no deadline after for rule where there are fewer or no motor- ciation has serious problems with Senate Bill 1813,” said Parra. • Safety belts for new motor- • Collision avoidance systems coaches or motorcoaches they can- the Senate bill’s volume of man- The UMA executive also ham- coaches — 1 year — research and testing (w/in 2 not afford to utilize? How are com- dates and prescriptive nature, ig- mered a provision that would re- • Roof strength and crush re- years) — 2 years after for rule munities served when they are noring the principles of sound sci- quire operators to install passenger sistance — 2 years • Process for monitoring ongo- compelled to choose between less- ence, research, cost-benefit analysis safety belts on existing motor- • Anti-ejection safety counter- ing safety performance — no safe modes of travel or no travel and unobtainable timelines. coaches, which he suggested measures — 2 years deadline due to the reductions of the nation’s “We conclude that time is an would cost upwards of $70,000 for • Rollover crash avoidance — • Event data recorders — after fleet and increased costs?” he said. essential component to developing each bus and more than $2 billion 2 years evaluation (within 1 year) — 2 Parra also took issue with a science-based standards,” he said. industrywide. • Tire pressure monitoring sys- years after for rule mandate calling for automatic fire “Time also allows the adjudication He attributed much of the high tems — 3 years • Safety inspection program — suppression systems to stem of appropriate cost-benefit analy- cost to the extensive work needed • Retrofit for safety belts — after Requiring states to conduct annual wheel-well fires, stressing that de- sis and permits the community to to install the belts, including re- assessment (w/in 1 year) — 1 year inspections — 3 years spite years of research, no technol- absorb the associated costs in an moval of the seats, flooring and en- • Retrofit for other anti-ejec- • Distracted driving — 1 year gine and the welding of new frame ogy currently exists to extinguish effective and reasonable manner structures. “Typically, safety-relat- or suppress them. fires can best be reduced by early techniques. with the minimum disruption to ed components are engineered in, Instead, he pointed out that detection through improved main- Additionally, he contended that passenger travel, all the while im- not added on,” he emphasized. safety officials have found that the tenance and enhanced inspection a mandate for electronic onboard proving motorcoach safety.” R.B. Colborne dies borne formed Diversified Trans- and 1947-48. Mr. Colborne played also was a board member for the Mr. Col- portation Ltd., providing shuttles left wing. He remained a lifelong Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School. borne didn’t CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 for construction workers to a plant sports enthusiast. He was a founding member of retired, elevate the image of bus travel — site in Fort Saskatchewan, north of In 1949, he went to work for the Van Horne Institute for Interna- though he and Red Arrow was how he trans- Edmonton. Diversified continues General Motors Acceptance Corp. tional Transportation and Regula- gave up the formed that passion into reality. to provide employee transportation Seven years later, he purchased tory Affairs, which was established title of CEO, In essence, he resented the fact services to the Canadian Oil Wetaskiwin (Alberta) Motors Ltd., to assist industry, government and to his son that much of the industry’s image Sands, as well as construction in- where he became dealer principal. the public in addressing issues af- Michael, was reflected in and by Grey- dustries throughout Alberta and Among the vehicles offered by the fecting transportation and supply about 10 hound, and he was committed to Canada. dealership were buses. chain logistics. years ago. developing a successful company Today, the company Mr. Col- He also served as president of He also cut that would be the polar opposite of borne founded is composed of four Becoming a bus operator the Western Canada Motorcoach back his R.B. Colborne the travel of last resort that was business lines, and more than 20 In 1961, he acquired a small Association. In 2003, the Ontario work week Greyhound. brands, with operations in British school bus company from one of his Motor Coach Association honored to 40 hours. Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, customers who didn’t have an heir him with its Lifetime Achievement Michael Colborne attributes Red Arrow phenomenon Yukon Territory, as well as its to take over the business. He quick- Award. his father’s long and healthy life to For the uninitiated, Red Arrow home base of Alberta. ly developed a special connection the fact he didn’t retire and contin- is a successful luxury intercity ser- Mr. Colborne was a native of with the passenger transportation The man he was ued to come to the office daily. vice, operating primarily between Calgary and following graduation industry and an affinity for finding Mr. Colborne was widely ad- Mr. Colborne is survived by his Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton from high school in 1944, he en- and developing business. mired and respected by colleagues, wife of 63 years, Jeanne; sons in central Alberta. listed in the Canadian Air Force While living in Wetaskiwin, he and even competitors, for his in- Rick and Michael, and daughters Since Mr. Colborne created and then the Army and was sent to was an active member of the com- tegrity, values, accomplishments, Lynne Brennan and Catherine Red Arrow in 1979, a busload of Toronto. While in training, the end munity, president of the Kinsmen innovations, strength of character, Vogelgesang, U.S. and Canadian companies of World War II in Europe was in Club, member of the local Cham- and leadership. He was known for Memorials in Mr. Colborne’s have tried to emulate his innova- sight, so he wasn’t sent overseas. ber of Commerce, and served a being truly appreciative and grate- name have been established with tion but few have succeeded, and In 1946, he returned to Alberta, term as mayor. ful for his employees and their the Learning Disabilities Associa- none have succeeded anywhere attended the University of Alberta His community service contin- contributions to the organization tion of Alberta, 340-1202 Centre near as well as Red Arrow. (See and was a member of the Golden ued after he moved from Wetaski- they helped him build. St., SE, Calgary, Alberta T2G 545, Aug. 15, 2004, Bus & Motorcoach Bears hockey team, which was win. For eight years, Mr. Colborne Friends say he was compassion- and The PREP Program, Wood- News.) Western Canadian Intercollegiate served Alberta on the Auditor ate, generous and never too busy to bridge PREP Centre, 2004-12 Ave- Fifteen years earlier, Mr. Col- Hockey Champions in 1946-47 General’s Audit Committee and help a friend or associate. nue NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1J7. Bus & Motorcoach News INDUSTRY NEWS June 1, 2012 13 BoltBus expands to Pacific NW, Greyhound Express out West SEATTLE — BoltBus, the four runs daily between Seattle Cascades takes roughly 3 hours, year ago, has added service in Cal- added in Texas. East Coast curbside intercity ser- and Portland, with buses leaving 30 minutes, and a Greyhound that ifornia, plus additional routes in Since introducing Greyhound vice created by Greyhound and curbside from Fifth Avenue South, stops in Tacoma, Olympia, Centra- Texas, building on what the com- Express in December 2010, Grey- Peter Pan Bus lines four years ago, next to Seattle’s International Dis- lia and Kelso takes every bit of 4 pany says is “the most recent suc- hound has expanded to nearly 70 has leapfrogged the country and trict/Chinatown transit station. In hours. cess of its largest expansion since markets across North America. started service between Seattle Portland, the stop is near Pioneer Greyhound is operating the its inception.” The company says it has seen and Portland, Ore., in the Pacific Square in downtown. new Northwest service exclusive- In total, the latest Greyhound “an impressive 21 percent in- Northwest. The service is nonstop, with ly, sans Peter Pan. Express expansion adds 66 city crease” in overall ridership, with Late in May, it was scheduled trips expected to take 3 hours, 15 pairs and 10 markets to the Grey- nearly 2.2 million customers using to extend the service to Vancouver, minutes each way along Interstate hound Express system, which is the the premium service. British Columbia. 5 with its mercurial traffic. At Greyhound Express largest network of nearly 700 po- Greyhound Express provides Initially, BoltBus is offering By comparison, the Amtrak DALLAS — Greyhound Ex- tential direct-service intercity pairs. non-stop service between major press — Greyhound Line’s premi- The new California markets are cities, originating from Greyhound um, non-stop service — has ex- Los Angeles, Oakland, San Fran- service hubs, including New York, MiX Telematics annouces panded to the West Coast. cisco, San Jose, Bakersfield, Fres- Washington, D.C., Chicago, Atlan- Greyhound Express, which no, Modesto, Stockton, and Sacra- ta, Dallas, Calgary, Alberta and driver safety white papers was launched a little more than a mento. San Antonio has been now Los Angeles. BOCA RATON, Fla. — MiX prove driver behavior, we also Telematics North America, a pro- offer access to our expert team of vider of vehicle tracking and fleet safe driving specialists and train- management solutions across the ers. Our goal with this new U.S. and Canada, has announced it Thought Leadership series is to is offering a free series of “Thought share our specialists’ ideas, exper- Leadership” white papers titled, tise and best practices for improv- Transforming Vehicle & Driver ing driver safety.” Safety. The “Safe Driver Thought The White Papers are available Leadership” series is being au- in a pdf format on the company’s thored by MiX Telematics’ team of revamped website, which was driving specialists and trainers. launched last month. Go to: “We’re confident this thought www.mixtelematics.com/us/ leadership series will be a real val- thoughtleadership. ue-add for any fleet manager seek- “MiX Telematics helps a di- ing new strategies to improve driv- verse client base, made up of mid- er safety,” said Ken Creager, a size and Fortune 500 companies MiX Telematics trainer. worldwide, to improve their fleet “There will be a total of six pa- operations,” said Ken Creager, pers in the series, each focusing on MiX Telematics North America overcoming the dangers associated president and CEO. with road transport through using “Not only do we provide these effective defensive driving, jour- companies with tangible solutions ney management and risk mitiga- that increase driver safety and im- tion techniques,” said Creager.

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advert-artwork-8.17-10.5-clear-embed.indd 1 24/06/2010 14:36:19 14 June 1, 2012 INDUSTRY NEWS Bus & Motorcoach News N.Y. operators “The legislation is designed to ulate intercity bus operations. help eliminate congestion on New That ruling may have been Bus museum ‘Spring Fling’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 York City streets from operators of based on a 1998 federal lawsuit in- and pollution, while making our intercity (buses) utilized in inter- volving Greyhound Lines, which sidewalks and streets safer,” he state transportation,” the associa- sued the city of New Orleans after it to feature old, new, unusual said. tion said. “The addition of this put in place a regulation requiring HERSHEY, Pa. — New, vin- include vehicles from Greyhound definition further strengthens the charter bus operators to obtain city tage and unusual buses will be fea- Lines, Capital Area Transit, Derry The particulars intent of the legislation.” operating permits for their buses. tured at the 2012 Spring Fling of Township Schools, SEPTA, and a Under the legislation, opera- A federal judge ruled in the the Museum of Bus Transportation selection from the New Jersey tors would have to obtain a permit Making permitting easier suit that federal transportation reg- here Saturday, June 2. Transit heritage collection. for each bus they use for intercity BANY also called for changes ulations preempt cities from enact- The 8:30 a.m.-to-3:30 p.m. af- There also will be a 1949 Spar- and tour services within New York that would make permit renewals ing such a requirement. fair will take place in and on the tan motorcoach — one of only a City and limit loading and unload- automatic and allow operators to “This is settled law since 1998,” campus of the Antique Automobile handful made. ing of passengers only to stops as- renew them without having to re- noted Ken Presley, chief operating Museum here, where the Museum Most of the major bus manu- signed to them by the city. submit a full application each time. officer and vice president of the of Bus Transportation occupies factures are expected to have new The permits would be good for Under the proposed bills, ini- United Motorcoach Association. most of the lower level. coaches on hand. three years and cost $275 each tial applications and renewal ap- Wolf’s Bus Lines of York A bus-related flea market will annually. plications for permits and parking Questions remain Springs, Pa., will provide a shuttle be set up inside the museum, where Operators that violate either locations would require complet- A major unknown, at this to transport guests to the museum’s a group of vendors will sell and dis- the permit or parking regulations ing lengthy questionnaires that point, is whether state legislation nearby George M. Sage Memorial play bus artifacts and collectibles. could be fined $1,000 for a first would include identification of in- giving cities the authority to regu- Annex, a bus storage facility, A special admission price of $5 offense and $2,500 for repeat dividual buses, suggested parking late buses would be a way for com- where additional buses will be on will be in effect at the museum. A violations. locations, the total number of munities to get around the federal display. food court will operate throughout BANY said revisions to the buses and passengers expected to court decision. Buses slated to be at the event the day. legislation are needed that would use each location, bus schedules Meanwhile, New York City exempt private carrier tour opera- and locations where buses would Council member Margaret Chin, Sheraton Erie, Erie, Pa. Info: tions that involve scheduled stops be parked when not in use. who initially proposed the city reg- Calendar Email [email protected]. at specific attractions such as mu- “A simplified renewal concept ulations, praised the proposed JUNE 2012 21-24 New England Bus seums, restaurants and shows. is in the best interests of both par- state legislation, stressing it will Association Annual Meeting, 5 National Transportation “Fixed bus-stop locations are ties and allows uninterrupted ser- go a long way toward restoring The Resort and Conference Safety Board Meeting to not feasible for a one-time trip to a vice,” the association maintains. order on the streets and sidewalks Center, Hyannis, Mass. Info: consider cause of fatal March specific venue and obtaining stops A fourth suggested change in of her community. www.newenglandbus.org. for all venues is virtually impossi- the proposed legislation would “Our neighborhoods, especially 2011 Bronx, N.Y. crash., NTSB ble,” the association said in the let- have the permits encompass an op- Chinatown and Tribeca, are over- Conference Center, L’Enfant 26 North Carolina Motor- ter to individual lawmakers. erator’s entire fleet rather than in- whelmed by the volume of buses on Plaza, Washington, D.C. Info: coach Association/Motorcoach The tour part of the regulations dividual buses. local streets,” she said. Making the Go to www.ntsb.gov. Association of South Carolina still would include excursion and “Operators need a method of city responsible for regulating the ADA Motorcoach Training, 11-12 United Motorcoach tour buses that provide non-sched- substituting vehicles that may be intercity bus industry is the right Great Wolf Lodge, Concord, N.C. Association Summer Board uled trips throughout the city and operating under their authority,” thing to do for our community and Info: NCMA at (800) 376-1660, Meeting 2012, Reno, Nev. Info: sell individual seats to the general BANY said. “As long as a vehicle for passengers alike.” or email info@ncmotorcoach. [email protected]. public. is operated and/or under the con- At the same time, several oth- org, or the MCASC at (888) Additionally, BANY suggested trol of the permit holder it should ers have joined in support of the 12-15 Pennsylvania Bus 376-1150, or email info@ a definition of “local transit ser- be allowed use of the carriers des- legislation. Association Annual Meeting, scmotorcoach.org. vice” that would effectively ex- ignated stops.” “The Chinese Consolidated empt commuter buses that trans- The legislation was drafted at Benevolent Association and the “Given the popularity in inter- predictable and safer way to using port workers between the suburbs the urging of the New York City Chinese-American communities city bus ridership and how vital this important mode of public and the city and, instead, limit the Council, which turned to state law- in New York are very happy for these lifelines are to New York’s transport,” added Wellington permit and parking regulation to makers after city lawyers ruled the this first-ever permit system,” said Chinatown, we are delighted that Chen, executive director of the the curbside intercity buses. city does not have authority to reg- CCBA President Paul K. Ng. the public will now have a more Chinatown Partnership. L.A. investor Both Wigley and Hotard were es account for roughly 67 percent and Jack Wigley becoming minor- ums and achieving deeper volume early supporters of the Motor- of the combined Calco-Hotard rev- ity shareholders. discounts for equipment and fuel. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 coach Marketing Council and enues, with contracted transit and The Surface Transportation Additionally, they noted that has a legal name of Industrial Bus served on its board. shuttle services accounting for the Board documents did not indicate the deal would directly benefit Lines, is headquartered in Mesa, In its January listing of North remaining 33 percent. how future management of the employees by maintaining job se- Ariz., and is controlled through America’s 50-largest motorcoach All Aboard America! was listed companies would be structured. curity and retaining or expanding stock ownership by Jack D. Wig- operators, Metro magazine had the by the Surface Transportation Celerity, Calco/Hotard and All the volume of available work. ley and Wigley family trusts. Jack Calco/Hotard Group and All Board as having 84 vehicles in Ari- Aboard America! did say the com- If the Surface Transportation Wigley heads the company. Aboard America! in a three-way at zona, New Mexico and Texas. Thir- panies “do not intend to change Board receives no public comments Both Calco/Hotard and All No. 18, with Charter Bus Lines of ty-eight percent of its revenues substantially the physical opera- opposed to the deal, its preliminary Aboard America! are members of British Columbia. All three were were reported to derive from char- tions historically conducted by the approval will become final. International Motor Coach Group, listed then as operating 89 buses ter and sightseeing services, and 51 three carriers. Anyone wishing to file com- with Wigley having served as IMG and coaches. percent from contracted transit and ments on the proposed purchase chairman in 2006-07 and honored as shuttle work. The remaining 11 Saving, sharing, security must do so by June 25. Comments IMG Operator of the Year in 2006. A $40 million operation percent comes from scheduled reg- “Rather, applicants anticipate opposing the application must fol- Wigley also is a former winner If the deal is completed, the ular-route operations and related enhancing operations of the three low the rules under federal law at (in 2005) of the BusRide Maga- combined Calco/Hotard Group and package-express service, plus ve- carriers by implementing vehicle 49 C.F.R. §§ 1182.5 and 1182.8. zine Industry Achievement Award, All Aboard America! will be the hicle maintenance and repair ser- sharing arrangements, by provid- An original and 10 copies of and the UMA Vision Award (for 12th largest motorcoach operation vices for third parties. ing coordinated driver training and any comments, referring to Docket large operators) at the 2011 UMA in North America with combined Under the proposed transac- safety management services, and No. MC F 21044, should be sent to: Motorcoach Expo in Tampa, Fla. revenue of more than $40 million. tion, Celerity Partners and its enti- by centralizing various manage- Surface Transportation Board, 395 Hotard won the UMA Vision According to the Surface ties will acquire 100 percent con- ment support functions.” E Street, S.W., Washington, DC Award (for large operators) at Transportation Board filing, Calco trol of Calco/Hotard and All They also said they expected to 20423 0001. In addition, one copy UMA Motorcoach Expo 2007 in and Hotard Coaches currently op- Aboard America! The deal, as pre- be able to access financing on more of comments should be sent to the New Orleans; he was the first erate 89 vehicles in Louisiana and sented to the Surface Transporta- favorable terms, including better applicants’ representative: Mark J. president of the South Central Mo- Mississippi, and are operationally tion Board, would be completed interest rates, as well as modestly Andrews, Strasburger & Price LLP, torcoach Association in 2006, and integrated to a significant degree. through a series of stock purchase enhancing their volume purchasing Suite 640, 1700 K Street, N.W., currently he’s a director of UMA. Charter and sightseeing servic- agreements, with Callen Hotard power, reducing insurance premi- Washington, DC 20006. Bus & Motorcoach News INDUSTRY NEWS June 1, 2012 15 Facebook page is set up to catch buses ‘behaving badly’ SAN FRANCISCO — Local Painted Ladies is a term used houses in other cities. pacts and mitigations. One blogger wrote: “As Steph- residents fed up with “tour buses to describe Victorian and Edward- There are hundreds of such “Infractions” documented on anie Tanner (a character from the behaving badly” have turned to so- ian-era houses and buildings paint- houses in San Francisco, many the website — with photographs late 1980s-early 1990s TV sitcom cial media to make a statement, ed in three or more colors that perched on steep hillsides, and and videos, include a bus “slowing Full House) might say, ‘how gather information and embarrass ­embellish or enhance their archi- seeing them is popular with visi- to less than 5 mph, ignoring traffic rude!’” offending operators. tectural details. tors to the city. Dozens of tour backing up behind;” multiple Supporters of the Facebook The critics created the Face- The term was first used for San buses pass them by them daily. buses illegally parked at (city tran- page aren’t sure their effort will book page, called Tour Buses Be- Francisco Victorian houses by au- The Facebook page was creat- sit bus) Muni stops, and “a whop- help ameliorate the situation but having Badly, that is chronicling thors of a 1978 book, Painted La- ed last month by a group of neigh- ping seven buses parked on Hayes suggest that the first order of busi- the “double parkings, slow crawl- dies — San Francisco’s Resplen- bors in the Alamo Square area who Street at one time.” ness is to identify the problem. ings and illegal stoppings of buses dent Victorians. Since then the want to document “tour buses be- schlepping tourists to and from the term has also been used to de- having badly” for upcoming hear- Painted Ladies.” scribe groups of colorful Victorian ings about tour bus activity, im- Expo registration soars ORLANDO, Fla. — Registra- “This shows us that our rela- Ohio begins casino gambling era tion for UMA Motorcoach Expo tionship with the NTA (formerly 2013 opened with a huge bang last the National Tour Association) and CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio’s no, is managing the facility, which personal. month. the launch of Travel Exchange is a casino era was kicked off in the has 1,600 employees, 2,100 slot “The schedule didn’t work The first five days of registra- major draw, and we are taking this middle of May with crowds and a machines, 64 gaming tables and 30 out,” said Nichols. celebration in Cleveland. The poker tables. Cleveland’s casino is the first tion for the late January show as a good sign that business is hoopla continues May 29 when a “We will provide the very best of four allowed in Ohio under the pulled in nearly 40 percent of the good and operators are ready to casino opens in Toledo. in entertainment, the best commu- constitutional amendment. Penn total number of operators who at- come and do business in January.” The turnout for opening night nity citizenship, the best quality National Gaming will open Holly- tended Motorcoach Expo 2012 The registration surge for next at the Horseshoe Casino in Cleve- experience for the people who wood casinos in Toledo on May earlier this year in Long Beach, year’s Expo was fueled by a one- land reached the 5,000-person cap work here,” said Caesars President 29, the day after Memorial Day, Calif. week special UMA offered its op- that General Manager Marcus and CEO Gary Loveman in re- and this fall in Columbus; Horse- “This is just outstanding,” said erator members. Operators could Glover imposed to keep the setting marks delivered at the outdoor shoe Cleveland casino owner Dan UMA President and CEO Victor register for all events for a flat fee comfortable. reception. Gilbert’s Rock Gaming LLC will Parra. of $200. An invited crowd of 1,000 Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who open another Horseshoe in Cincin- “We knew operators were UMA Expo 2013 will be locat- VIPs mingled at a reception under voted against the constitutional nati next year. ready to start registering by the ed along side the annual conven- a tent on Public Square outside the amendment in 2009 that allowed Rock Gaming estimates the number of requests we received, tion of NTA; the co-located shows casino two hours before it opened. casino gambling, skipped the cer- Cleveland casino will draw 5 mil- but to be at 40 percent of our total are being called Travel Exchange. Caesars Entertainment, which emonies, but spokesman Rob lion visitors a year, an average of operator registration eight months More information can be found at holds a minority stake in the casi- Nichols said it was nothing 13,000 a day. before the show opens is amazing. www.motorocoachexpo.com.

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Call Kingston Distribution Today To Get Yours! (866) 733-2820 16 June 1, 2012 INDUSTRY NEWS Bus & Motorcoach News Visit Orlando president, Gary Sain, dies suddenly at 61 ORLANDO, Fla. — Gary Sain, He took the helm of the Orlan- NTA (formerly the National Tour Gary leading up to next year’s Mr. Sain is survived by his president and CEO of Visit Orlan- do Tourism Bureau in 2007 and re- Association). “He was a visionary UMA Motorcoach Expo and Trav- wife, Pam; two daughters and his do, died suddenly and unexpect- named it Visit Orlando. The area for Orlando and the entire indus- el Exchange. He was a great guy.” mother. edly here last month. He was 61. reached a record of 51.5 million try. His leadership was inspiring.” Mr. Sain had just finished giv- The Gary C. Sain Memorial En- Mr. Sain spent five years work- visitors in 2010. Added Victor Parra, president ing a speech to raise money for the dowed Scholarship has been estab- ing energetically to sustain Orlan- “Gary’s enthusiasm and posi- and CEO of the United Motor- Boys & Girls Club of Central Flor- lished at the University of Central do’s position as a leading travel, tive energy was contagious,” said coach Association: “This is a su- ida when he suffered a heart attack Florida Rosen College of Hospital- convention and family destination. Lisa Simon, CTP, president of preme tragedy. We’ve worked with and died. ity Management. Donations are being accepted by The UCF Foun- dation, 12424 Research Parkway, Suite 140, Orlando, FL 32826. People NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nash- ville Post magazine has named Grand Avenue Chauffeured Transportation founder and CEO, Carl Haley Jr., “Entrepreneur of the Year.” The magazine award recogniz- es “top leaders in business innova- tion.” Haley was honored at a mag- azine event and in its April issue. Haley founded his company three years ago after serving as ex- ecutive vice president of AIM Healthcare, a provider of payment accuracy solutions for healthcare payer and hospital clients. Prior to that he was an operations director at Sallie Mae. Haley also is a former U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret and law enforcement officer. In making its selection, the Nashville Post noted Grand Ave- nue’s growth last year, including its purchase of Silver Oak Transpor- tation of Nashville, which expand- ed the company’s reach. The com- pany also expanded its fleet to more than 50 vehicles, and added staff. For more information about Grand Avenue, a member of the United Motorcoach Association, go to: www.GrandAvenueWorld wide.com. HERSHEY, Pa. — The Muse- um of Bus Transportation has appointed Jeff Goldwasser to its governing board. Goldwasser has a broad back- ground in the bus industry. His family operated Peak Tours, a coach and school bus company, in New York for 40 years. Goldwas- ser also was general manager of Classic Coach on Long Island for a number of years. For the past half-dozen years he has been involved in the sup- plier end of the industry. He sold pre-owned coaches in the North- Registraon east for Daimler Buses of North y 14th! America and then operated his opens Ma own bus brokering service. Register early Currently, Goldwasser is the VE! eastern regional manager for Na- and SA tional Seating. He resides in East Brunswick, N.J. The Museum of Bus Transpor- tation is the only national show- place where the story of the U.S. bus industry is told. Bus & Motorcoach News INDUSTRY NEWS June 1, 2012 17 Operator failed DOD inspection before fatal Bronx crash WASHINGTON — The Na- with the speed limit. ure to get this guy out of the sys- The latest NTSB findings re- larly worked 12-hour night shifts tional Transportation Safety Board • Just before the crash, the tem and the Federal Motor Carrier minded Littler of the Mother’s Day with only a few hours in the mid- has released more than 1,600 coach was traveling at 78 mph. Safety Administration for giving 1999 bus crash nearly New Orleans dle of the day for sleep, according pages of findings related to its in- Although the NTSB did not re- the company two satisfactory rat- in which 22 people were killed. The to the documents. vestigation of the gruesome March lease any conclusions about the ings when the Department of De- Defense Department had also re- Williams reported for work 2011 motorcoach crash on Inter- cause of the crash, findings con- fense wouldn’t.” jected that company’s application to more than 11 hours before the ac- state 95 in the Bronx that left 15 tained in the trove of documents The public flogging of the transport military personnel. cident, but he has denied that fa- passengers dead and 17 injured. raise new questions about the abili- FMCSA is likely to be the agency’s “Why would DOT (the Depart- tigue played a role in his loss of Among the findings: ty of state and federal regulators to worst since February 2007, when ment of Transportation) pass the control of the bus. Tests for alcohol • The company that operated shut down unsafe bus operators. NTSB board members spent eight company and DOD inspectors fail and drugs were negative. the coach was turned down two The NTSB will conduct a hear- hours railing against the safety the company?” Littler asked. He has pleaded innocent to 15 years earlier by the U.S. Defense ing on the crash at its Washington agency and the owner of a bus com- The driver in the March 2011 counts of manslaughter and crimi- Department for failing to meet its headquarters on June 5, and at least pany whose coach caught fire near bus crash, Ophadell Williams, had nally negligent homicide. safety standards for carrying mili- one long-time industry executive Wilmer, Texas, in September 2005, a long history of traffic violations The crash occurred at about tary personnel. predicts the independent safety resulting in the incineration of 23 and a criminal record. 5:38 a.m. on a southbound stretch • The speed limit in the area board will blast New York state reg- elderly and infirm passengers. Williams also failed to follow of Interstate 95 known as the New where the crash occurred is 50 ulators and the Federal Motor Car- The high profile Bronx crash company rules requiring him to England Thruway, just after the mph, but a survey conducted by rier Safety Administration. “in which the roof of the bus was turn in his driving log each day he bus crossed the Westchester Coun- the New York State Thruway at the Norm Littler, vice president of sliced off when the vehicle slid worked. Instead, he took the log ty line into New York City. general site of the accident a month regulatory and industry affairs for sideways into a large sign post” re- home after every shift during the Williams told investigators the afterward found only 15 of 800 the American Bus Association, sulted in increased federal and four months he worked at World front left bumper of the bus was cars were traveling at or below the told a newspaper reporter “they are state scrutiny of the nation’s 3,600 Wide Travel of Greater New York, grazed by a tractor trailer that speed limit. Only 23 of 200 trucks going to beat the holy hell out of bus operators that continues today. according to investigators. passed him on the left, but investi- and 5 of 29 buses also complied the state of New York for their fail- See related story on Page 1. Additionally, Williams regu- gators ruled out that possibility. Safety checks “Our goal is to make bus travel were put out of service last year, Roadcheck 2012, a major U.S. and truck inspections during the 72- as safe as possible — every trip, including World Wide Travel of Canadian commercial vehicle in- hour sweep. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 every time,” said Anne Ferro, who Greater New York, the owner of spection blitz, will be June 5-7. CVSA is made up of local, They primarily probed for me- heads the FMCSA. the bus involved in the Bronx, Upwards of 10,000 Commer- state, provincial, territorial and chanical problems and driver-re- Motorcoach safety inspections N.Y., which killed 15 people. cial Vehicle Safety Alliance-­ federal motor-carrier safety offi- lated issues. Driver medical cards nearly doubled from 2005 to 2010, certified inspectors will be at cials and industry representatives and licenses were checked along rising from 12,991 to 25,705, the Roadcheck reminder 1,500 locations across North in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. with log books. agency says. Fifty-four companies GREENBELT, Md. — CVSA America performing bus and Learn more at www.cvsa.org.

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MCI tEMsA Warehouse Locations nABI vAn HooL Oregon, Indiana, Florida & Arizona nEopLAn voLvo MEMBERS OF (800) 714-7171 (541) 684-7868 www.CoachGlass.com [email protected] CALL 800-423-5350 FOR A FREE SAMPLE 18 June 1, 2012 INDUSTRY NEWS Bus & Motorcoach News Lower earnings at Nat’l Interstate Huge $$$ award to woman RICHFIELD, Ohio — National National Interstate said it repo- Continued Michelson: “Market Interstate Corp. has reported lower sitioned its investment portfolio conditions continue to be competi- hit by driver on cell phone premium income and a decline in during the second half of last year tive but we are starting to see over- CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Times reported. net after-tax earnings for the first to take advantage of a steep yield all single-digit rate increases with Another jury has sent a strong Coke has a policy requiring quarter of 2012. curve and volatility in the fixed- some consistency in our traditional message that cell-phone chatting drivers to use a hands-free device After-tax profits from opera- income sectors. It shifted into commercial businesses, which by commercial vehicle drivers when using a cell phone while tions at National Interstate for this higher-yielding state and local contributed to the growth in the won’t to be tolerated. driving. The driver maintains she year’s first quarter were $8.6 mil- government obligations and mort- transportation component. A Corpus Christi jury awarded was using a headset, in accor- lion, or 44 cents per share fully di- gage-backed securities. “We are also filing rate increas- $24 million to a woman who was hit dance with the policy. luted, compared to $9.9 million, or The major motorcoach indus- es in our specialty personal lines by a Coca-Cola truck driver who But Bob Hilliard, one of Chat- 51 cents per share fully diluted, for try insurer also reported that first- products. We felt the effects of the was talking away on her cell phone. man-Wilson’s attorneys, said the the first three months of 2011. quarter 2012 “gross premiums actions we took in 2011 related to The jury decided to give policy was not enforced. The company said the decline written” totaled $130.2 million, two products in the program busi- 37-year-old Vanice Chatman-­ “Not only does Coke need to in earnings reflected “adverse down 3 percent from the first quar- ness portion of our ART compo- Wilson $10 million in punitive change it, but when other compa- claims results” during the quarter. ter of last year. nent, which contributed to the quar- damages and $14 million in actual nies hear the verdict, they will The higher claims losses were con- It attributed the fall-off to “previ- ter-over-quarter decline in total damage. take a look at their policies,” Hill- centrated in two areas, the compa- ously reported activity related to cer- gross premiums written.” Chatman-Wilson’s attorneys iard predicted. ny’s Hawaii and Alaska unit, and tain products in the program busi- In other developments, the argued their client suffered neck Araceli Vanessa Cabral, the its alternative risk transfer trans- ness portion of the company’s company approved a quarterly div- and back pain and had to undergo 30-year-old Coke truck driver, portation component, as well as alternative risk transfer component.” idend 10 cents per share, payable lumbar surgery after the 2010 ac- testified she was not aware of the adverse claim development from Dave Michelson, National In- June 15, to shareholders of record cident, when the truck hit the Ford risks involved in using a cell prior years’ loss reserves. terstate president and CEO, said: on May 29. Fusion she was driving. phone while driving, attorney The increased claims losses “We are disappointed to start the Separately, National Interstate Coca-Cola said in a statement Thomas J. Henry said. Cabral tes- were partially offset by higher in- year with elevated claims results. announced it’s expanding its com- it plans to appeal the jury deci- tified that had she known, she vestment income, which was up 45 However, there does appear to be an munity and medical transportation sion, the Corpus Christi Caller- would not have used her phone. percent for the first quarter com- element of timing considering our insurance program to include fleet to local community passenger National Interstate sees quality pared to a year ago. National Inter- history of annual favorable taxi operations. transportation companies, includ- taxi operations as “a natural fit for state said this year’s improved in- ­prior-year claims development and Launched nine years ago, the ing paratransit, non-emergency our CMT program, and we are ex- vestment returns primarily resulted the fact that this first-quarter sever- company’s community and medi- medical transportation, as well as cited to expand into this highly-spe- from gains associated with limited ity occurred in traditionally well- cal transportation program focuses fixed-route and demand-response cialized market,” said Jim Parks, partnership investments. performing products.” on providing specialized insurance public transit providers. National Interstate vice president. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Costco “hot fuel” ’09 Prevost H3-45 COACHES FOR SALE settlement OK’d Volvo D13 Engine with • 2006 Prevost XL2, KANSAS CITY — Costco Jake Brakes and Allison 55 Pass, Detroit Wholesale Corp. has become the B500 Transmission, S60, ZF trans, latest large fuel retailer to approve a settlement in the long-running Overhead A/C, 5 Monitor excellent interior, lawsuit over “hot fuel.” System with KVH Satellite, 480k miles, The Kansas City Bus Journal Xenon Headlamps, 2 and 1 5 monitors & reports that Costco has agreed, as leather seating with 110 outlets or can be turned back into a DVD & CD player, part of the settlement, to convert 56 passenger with Amaya’s. Your Choice. Asking $385,000. Firestone tires, Please call for info at or gasoline pumps in some states dur- 757-494-1480 $225,000. ing the next five years to automati- email us at [email protected] • 1993 MCI 102C3, 47 Pass, Detroit 8V92, 740 auto trans, cally compensate for expansion in good interior, 960k miles, $12,000. fuel due to changing temperatures. FOR SALE: (2) 2008 MCI D4505 The term “hot fuel” refers to • 1990 MCI 102C3, 47 Pass, Detroit 8V92, 740 auto trans, the expansion of gasoline or diesel good interior, 934k miles, $12,000 fuel during warmer months. Contact Dave at 440-785-9907 Critics charge that when the Brecksville Road Transit, Inc. • 7885 Snowville Road • Brecksville, Oh 44141 fuel expands, the consumer gets Cummins, Allison B-500 • 6 Monitor Video • Southern Coaches less energy per gallon but pays the Very Clean with Low Mileage: 199,000 & 97,000 same price per gallon. PRICE AT $305,000 or BEST OFFER • A MUST TO SEE! FOR Oil companies have argued that Call JOHN HAGEL Today at 507-213-8560 SALE consumers benefit in cold weather or Email [email protected] because fuel contracts and then 1995 contains more energy per gallon JIMS TRUCK & TRAILER COACHWERKS than usual. MCI-DL3 The oil companies also claimed 2003 E4500 ~ Low Mile ~ One Owner ~ 58 Seats 55 pax, 642,000 miles, New B500R Transmission, Series 60 Lift Equipped Coach • 8 Tie Down Stations it would be too expensive to equip DD engine, R-22 A/C, New 05G A/c Compressor, Brakes 90%. every retail pump with a tempera- Bus converts seats Asking $43,900.00 O.B.O. ture compensating device. in less than 1 minute Please contact Getaway Tours & Charters at with Flip Seats Under the settlement, Costco Approx. 240,000 original miles 888-868-7795 or 734-994-6666 won’t pay any monetary damages, Detroit Diesel Series 60 Engine but plaintiffs’ lawyers have asked Allison B500R transmission for $10 million in attorney fees, (hydraulic retarder) REPOS FOR SALE says the Business Journal. Michelin Tires (not retreads) Asking $199,000 OBO Class representatives would get Enhanced sound system w/ Variety of Makes and Models of “Bank Repos” AM/FM/CD/DVD/PA system Marc: 808.832.6261 across the United States and Priced to Sell $2,000 each. Cordless mic & 6 monitors or [email protected] Judge Kathryn Vratil, who ap- 1-877-737-2221 Ext. 30716 for more information proved the settlement, said she will not consider fees until the To advertise here call 866-930-8426 View repo inventory at www.bus-buys-com other hot fuel cases are settled. Prevost coaches do more than transport your passengers in style and safety. They move your business forward by giving you the best in

dependability, fuel effi ciency and support. Our high-deck H-Series Coach offers state-of-the-art amenities that elevate every passenger’s

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Please contact your Prevost Regional Sales Manager for more information. USA 1-877-773-8678 CANADA 418-883-3391 www.prevostcar.com The ultimate class.

PRE017-11_ProductAd-Success-121511_B&MN.indd 1 12/21/11 12:57 PM Introducing, MCI Get a Close Look at a Reliable Re-Energized MCI Pre-Owned Coach. Pre-Owned Coaches To our valued customers, Call our Coach Concierge at et a coach the way you want it— 1-877-428-9624 GRe-Energized and with the options you want. We choose sound coaches from the South and the West and put them through our 210-point inspection one-year limited warranty*, and 60 days/30,000 miles scheduled maintenance!** at MCI’s repair facility in Loudonville, 60-day limited warranty, plus 60 days/30,000 miles scheduled maintenance!** Ohio. We do the body work, paint, perform Low prices on all makes and models. These are some of our most amazing deals! mechanical repairs and update the powertrain as required, including installing new ECMs and harnesses. We select+ select+ select+ clean or retrofit interiors, clean the A/C returns, scrub the floors and add the finishing touches. You can add desired options including 110-volt outlets, Wi-Fi, Satellite TV, new NERGIZ -E E E D seats with seatbelts, R

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a wheel chair lift or D M 2006 MCI D4505 2001 MCI E4500 2003 MCI J4500 E anything else we N Q U W DD S60 12.7L, ZF Astronic, Low mileage. DD S60 12.7L, Allison B-500, Aluminum CAT C-12 410 HP, Allison B-500, Rebuilt O can install for you. A A E VIN #57046. Only $230,000! polished wheels, all white. VIN #61548. engine with extended warranty. VIN #62197. LITY PR Only $142,700! Only $198,800! Re-Energized coach will offer many, many more years of great

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2004 MCI J4500 2002 Van HooL C2045 2000 MCI 102EL3 Mitch Guralnick Director of Pre Owned Coach Sales DD S60 12.7L, Allison B-500, 6 monitor video Cummins M-11, Allison B-500, Lift equipped. DD S60 12.7L, Allison B-500R, 6 monitor system. VIN #62713. Only $209,000! VIN #45351. Only $168,000! video system VIN #61073. Only $115,000! Log in to

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MCi s ales & serV i C e C enT ers California new Jersey illinois florida Texas Canada 800.777.4101 800.262.1287 800.428.7626 800.390.0287 800.248.4942 800.663.3328 Find our latest * See www.mcicoach.com/preowned for complete POC limited warranty details. Price quoted is in U.S. dollars and does not include any applicable news and offers: sales or excise tax, title, license, documentation or environmental **Scheduled preventative maintenance inspections and recommended fluid and filter changes at an MCI service center included fees or handling charges. All coaches are available for, and subject for 60 Days/30,000 Miles, whichever comes first, as determined by the maintenance manual applicable to the coach. Service to, immediate sale to the first qualified buyer. intervals assume mileage is zero at date of pre-owned coach delivery. ©MCI Sales and Service, Inc. 2012, All Rights Reserved

BMN_POCad_051812.indd 1 5/21/12 12:09 AM