April 15, 2008 WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE BUS INDUSTRY Operators by the hundreds register on FTA Website WASHINGTON — The new More than 800 operators — or where in the United States. like to do, but which they first operator that has declared a will- charter service rule that requires about 25 percent of the private com- “Private operators are register- must offer to private carriers. ingness to work in the area where motorcoach companies to register panies licensed in the U.S. — joined ing for the entire U.S. without It ends the “willing-and-able” the charter is to take place. with the Federal Transit Adminis- the electronic registry in the first understanding the implications,” public notice procedure that transit Many of the federal officials tration — to be notified of charter few weeks of the sign-up period. said FTA spokesman Paul Griffo. agencies have had to follow for and public and private operators work being offered by public tran- Although federal regulators The new rule, which is part of a many years, replacing it with a who were involved in writing the sit agencies — is drawing a torrid are pleased with the response, they major overhaul of the charter rules Web-based registry that coach new charter rules expected most response from private coach oper- also warn there is potential for that are to take effect April 30, operators may join. operators to sign up for work with- ators. problems because many of the drastically changes the way public Under the new process, the in their own states and possibly in And some worries from feder- operators are requesting they be transit agencies notify motorcoach transit agencies will be required to some adjacent states. A much al regulators. notified of any charter work any- operators of charters they would send an e-mail to each registered CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 þ Maine carriers Chinese tourists battle possible heading to U.S., use-tax change may be bonanza AUGUSTA, Maine — For Motorcoach operators in the nearly 30 years, motorcoach opera- U.S. and Canada appear to be in a tors in Maine have largely been strong position to reap the benefits exempt from the state use tax on of a major wave of Chinese tourists new motorcoach purchases. coming to North America as soon But a revised interpretation of as next year, with travel experts the law granting the exemption is predicting nearly 600,000 Chinese threatening operators with tens of vacationers will be visiting the thousands of dollars in taxes and, United States annually by 2011. for one large operator, hundreds of The National Tour Association, thousands of dollars. working through the U.S. Depart- To deal with the issue, Maine ment of Commerce, is trying to pave operators have formed a new state- the way for what many believe is wide coalition, retained a lobbyist, potentially a significant new mar- called in the United Motorcoach Mega Expansion. megabus.com announced an ambitious expansion of its discount curbside service ket for the motorcoach industry. Association for assistance, request- into the northeastern U.S., where it will go head to head with BoltBus and ethnic operators. Story page 3. In late February, NTA an- ed a meeting with the governor, and nounced that the Chinese National solicited support from state and Canadian carriers embrace seatbelts Tourism Administration had ap- regional tourism organizations. proved NTA’s China Inbound Pro- “We had to take a stand or they TORONTO — The Canadian with Transport Canada, the federal absence of standards. gram proposal. would kill us,” said Ray Penfold, motorcoach industry has decided agency that sets vehicle safety And at least one Canadian NTA will provide the Chinese general manager of VIP Tour & to work with the Canadian govern- standards, to conduct bus crash operator reportedly purchased new agency with a list of tour operators Charter Bus Co. in Portland, ment to develop standards for seat- tests this summer that will be Setra coaches because it could get qualified to conduct leisure group Maine, and a member of the new belts in motorcoaches. specifically designed to develop factory-installed seatbelts. travel from China to the United motorcoach coalition. The industry’s leading spokes- seatbelt standards. The tests are Other factors thought to be States. At the same time, NTA will The issue is being seen by some man, Brian Crow, president and not expected to address other influencing Canadian operators to assist tour operators in working as having implications for opera- CEO of Motor Coach Canada and coach-related safety issues such as take action: with Chinese travel agencies. tors in other states that grant use- the Ontario Motor Coach Associa- roof or window strength. • A major oil company in Cal- NTA’s initiative coincides with tax exemptions for vehicles. If tion, said more and more Cana- Crow reports that a number of gary no longer will charter coaches the United States and China sign- Maine succeeds in lifting the dian passengers are requesting Canadian motorcoach operators to take its workers to the oil fields ing a memorandum of understand- exemption for its operators, then seatbelts in coaches. already have begun retrofitting in Alberta unless the buses have ing in December that gives the other states likely would be em- “What’s driving this is con- their buses with seatbelts because seatbelts. U.S. “approved destination status” boldened to do the same. sumer demand,” he said. of passenger demand. • There have been reports that (known as ADS in the travel indus- CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 þ The industry plans to work They are doing this despite the CONTINUED ON PAGE 9 þ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 þ CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 þ INTRODUCING3035RE A New Class of Passenger Transport has Arrived! 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MIDWEST NORTHEAST SOUTHEAST SOUTHWEST WEST 800-222-2875 800-222-2873 800-222-2871 800-222-2877 800-322-2877 abc-companies.com Bus & Motorcoach NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS April 15, 2008 3 Princess Tours driver program megabus.com joins crowded offers students college credit northeastern market May 30 FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Prin- the program, and the credits can be gram conduct tours for visitors on NEW YORK — The long- motorcoaches,” said Dale Moser, cess Tours, one of the largest tour transferred to colleges and univer- various routes throughout Alaska anticipated expansion of mega- president and chief operating offi- bus operators in Alaska, has devel- sities nationwide. during the summer tourism season, bus.com into the super-competi- cer of megabus.com. oped a driver training program that Students participating in the which begins May 4. The driver- tive express service market in the In an effort to grab a quick gives college credit through the program will qualify to receive guides often also provide narrative northeastern U.S. begins next month. foothold in the market, mega- University of Alaska. three credits for ABUS 267, Trans- information for passengers to give Within days of the announce- bus.com is offering free fares for Every year, Princess Tours hires portation and Logistics Manage- them more appreciation of the ment that Greyhound and Peter all travel booked to depart during scores of college students to serve ment, a course in the Applied Busi- state’s many attractions. They also Pan bus lines were teaming up to the first week of service — May as driver-guides on its tour coaches ness Department of the university. learn basic maintenance and launch a new service, called Bolt- 30-June 5. The customary 50-cent in Alaska. To prepare students for Princess is the first tour compa- mechanical duties. Bus, to compete with the ethnic booking fee will still apply. the summer jobs, Princess Tours ny in Alaska, and perhaps the U.S., “We’re so pleased the Univer- bus companies operating along the “The overwhelming popularity operates a commercial driver train- offering a program where students sity of Alaska Fairbanks has recog- East Coast, megabus.com an- of megabus.com’s innovative, ing program. can earn university credits by com- nized the high quality of our driver nounced it too would offer $1 and express bus service prompted us to This year, students can earn pleting a motorcoach driver train- training programs by deeming up fares between major northeast- expand to the East Coast,” said credit through the University of ing course. them worthy of college credits,” ern cities. Moser.… “As the leader in provid- Alaska Fairbanks by completing Students completing the pro- CONTINUED ON PAGE 13 þ Beginning May 30, East Coast ing budget intercity express coach residents will be able to travel on services, megabus.com looks for- megabus.com from New York to ward to serving East Coast travel- Priority One of Dallas changes hands Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, ers with the same passion and DALLAS — Priority One rate transportation, destination providers in the U.S.