Happy Birthday! We’re two!BUS & MOTORCOACH NEWS —MarchMarch 1, 1, 2005 2005 — 1 INDUSTRY NEWS OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF MOTORCOACH EXPO 2005 Proposed ADA rules would have big impact on industry WASHINGTON — The U.S. U.S. Small Business Administra- stalls in an office building. proposed rule, 60 percent of public the proposed rules, operators may Department of Justice has launched tion says the proposed changes Here are just two of dozens of entrances must be wheelchair be required to make employee-only a massive overhaul of the compli- could impose billions of dollars of ways the proposed rules could accessible. That means if there are areas wheelchair accessible. So- ance rules for the Americans with regulatory costs on small businesses impact coach operators: two public entrances to a facility, called “paths of access” through Disabilities Act, with many of the across the U.S. Under current ADA rules, half both must now be accessible. employee work areas would be proposed changes likely to have a The new standards span about of the entrances to a bus terminal Coach companies, under exist- required regardless of whether the profound impact on bus and motor- 300 pages and cover everything or station must be accessible. That ing ADA rules, must provide public ever entered these areas or coach companies, especially line- from the width of paths in restau- is, if there two entrances from the wheelchair access up to employee the firm had an employee with a haul operators. rant kitchens, to the number of same thoroughfare, usually only work areas, but access through the disability. Such a change would The Office of Advocacy in the wheelchair-accessible bathroom one must be accessible. Under the work area is not required. Under CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 þ IRS begins crack down on use of red-dyed fuel BRIGHTON, Mass. — The any enforcement rules,” said Kevin Internal Revenue Service appar- Sheehan, general manager of Crys- ently has begun passive enforce- tal Transport. ment of the new red-dyed fuel reg- Although all 50 Crystal coach- ulations for motorcoach operators es had red-dyed fuel in their tanks, and plans to launch a full-scale the IRS did not fine the company. nationwide enforcement around Instead, the agents acknowledged the middle of this month. that there might be a problem with At least one carrier — Crystal notification regarding the new reg- Transport of Brighton — already ulations and they likely would wait has had one of its coaches stopped until the second or third week in on the highway by the IRS and March before beginning their checked for the marked fuel and a enforcement program nationwide. follow up visit by federal agents to “I had heard there was going to its garage the following day. be some kind of notification in A Fly-In will bring motorcoach and other private operators to Washington to lobby Congress. The inspections occurred dur- March, but we haven’t heard a ing the third week in February. thing,” said Sheehan. “I would “It was a real surprise to us think that everyone who files 720 because we haven’t seen anything (tax) forms and fuel suppliers would Major lobbying push planned posted to the Federal Register or CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 þ WASHINGTON — With possible to come to Washington and improve enforcement of feder- Congress gearing up to take anoth- during the two days to lobby their al rules that protect private opera- er crack at adopting a federal high- congressional representatives, both tors from unfair transit competi- Forecast: High diesel prices way and public transportation bill, Senate and House, on key aspects tion. a group of trade associations repre- of the highway and public trans- Members of the coalition, WASHINGTON — The Ener- gallon, which was 20 percent senting private-sector bus, limou- portation bill. which includes the National gy Information Administration has higher than 2003. sine, shuttle and taxi operators are As Bus & Motorcoach News has School Transportation Association, revised upward — substantially The highest price diesel fuel organizing what they hope will be a reported (most recently Feb. 1), the International Motor Coach upward — its projection for diesel reached last year was $2.21 a gallon major lobbying drive this month. several aspects of the massive high- Group, the Trailways Transporta- fuel prices this year. on Oct. 25, which also was an all- Members of the Coalition of Pri- way bill have the potential of tion System, the California Bus The agency, a unit of the U.S. time high, and the national average vate Transportation Associations, severely undermining — and even Association and the Alabama Department of Energy, is predicting remained over $2 for 11 straight which includes the United harming — private-sector passen- Motorcoach Association, plus other diesel fuel prices will average $1.95 weeks. Previously, the record high Motorcoach Association, the ger providers if Congress adopts national, regional and state ground a gallon for 2005. That’s 8 cents a was $1.77 in March 2003. American Bus Association and four them. transportation associations, are gallon higher than it forecast just a The most expensive region for other motorcoach industry associa- One key goal is to convince sending out calls for their members month ago. diesel fuel last year was the West tions, have announced plans for a Congress it should keep public to come to Washington or to send In its latest Short-Term Energy Coast where prices averaged $2.03 Washington Fly-In on March 15-16. transit agencies from expanding letters and e-mails to members of Outlook, the EIA said diesel would a gallon for the year, although all The associations want as many their ability to provide charter bus two key Congressional committees. average 14 cents a gallon higher regions saw large increases over members of their organizations as services, which they want to do, CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 þ than 2004’s average of $1.81 per 2003. How Can We Serve You Better? 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The company has been in coach company also is named company because both companies business since 1989 and was owned Arrow Stage Lines. have similar approaches to the by Armoe Moschlin, who will Arrow Stage Lines of Phoenix, market, emphasizing on-time per- remain with the operation for a which is owned by CUSA of formance; well-maintained, up-to- period in a consulting capacity. Dallas, is a long-separated sibling of date equipment; professional, well- Busskohl said the Corporate Arrow Stage Lines of Nebraska, trained, uniformed drivers, and a Transportation staff and equipment with both companies having been commitment to customer service is being retained so client service founded by the Busskohl family. designed to exceeded expectations. and relationships will remain Arrow Stage Lines of Nebraska Arrow Stage Lines was founded unchanged. is owned by Busco Inc., with head- by Busskohl’s grandfather in 1928 For information about Arrow quarters in Norfolk and operations and last year was named the winner go to www.arrowstagelines.com. Gotta Go Trailways grows across Texas FORT WORTH, Texas — left the industry. Gotta Go Trailways, a tour and No equipment was included in charter operator, is expanding in the deal. opposite directions — east and Dinger intends to continue west — from its base in Fort Worth.