Spotlight on International Women's Day
Christa McCusker Talks About "Breaking the Bias"
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"For the past six years, I have worked for a family-owned and operated business, within the community in which I grew up. Working in the motorcoach and transportation industry is unlike anything I have ever done before. However, I finally feel as though I have found my home.
The skills I have developed through my professional journey on that winding road have prepared me for this role, and they have allowed me to offer my diverse skill set to both Klein and our industry." Read more...
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Greyhound, MCI and John Madden? | |
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While most people remember John Madden in connection with football, many think of him as an unofficial spokesman for the bus industry. His preference for buses over automobiles, planes and trains helped improve the image of the bus industry.
The first Madden Cruiser, Madden Cruiser One, came about when the chairman of Greyhound offered John Madden a three-year bus contract. Greyhound would provide a suitable converted new 40-foot 1987 MCI 102A3 coach, professional drivers and fuel for three years in exchange for some internal promotion for Greyhound employees. John accepted. Read more...
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Tom JeBran, Trans-Bridge Lines, Speaks About the Challenges of Operating as Fuel Prices Continue To Rise | |
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President of Trans-Bridge Lines, Tom JeBran, says ridership is still down about 70% since the pandemic began. And now gas prices are soaring.
"In 2020, August to December, the average was about $1.32 pre-tax," JeBran said. "January of this year it was $2.70 and this week the average is $4.32." Read more...
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William (Bill) Bond of Trans-Bridge Lines - Latest Recipient of the Silver Service Award | |
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Trans-Bridge Lines, Inc. is pleased to announce that motorcoach driver William C. (Bill) Bond is the latest recipient of the Silver Service Award. The Silver Service Award honors those employees who have reached the 25 year active service milestone.
This distinction includes having a coach named after the driver. Bill was presented with Silver Service Award decals that were placed on the interior and exterior of his motorcoach of choice - Trans-Bridge Lines Bus 421.
Bill began his driving career with Trans-Bridge Lines in 1994, and has been accident-free for 21 years. Outside of work, Bill is a sports fan and enjoys watching baseball, basketball, and football. Read more...
Bill drove one of the buses during our Annual Meeting, last October!
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ABC Companies Travels on Cross-Country Road Trip Aboard Electric Double Deck Motorcoach | |
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ABC Companies announced it has successfully completed a cross-country road trip aboard the battery-electric Van Hool TDX25E Double Decker motorcoach – demonstrating the vehicle range and strength of battery technology to meet the needs of motorcoach customers. Read the press release.
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PBA Fuel Survey - Input Deadline April 1 | |
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Fuel has doubled in the last 12 months and we have been asked by operators how you are handling the higher fuel prices.
We sent an email on March 7 asking for you to weigh-in on this topic as well as some general business issues. Please take a minute to respond to our brief survey.
Blind results will be shared with those participants who share their name/company on the last question.
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PBA Unveils New Technology To Improve Member Experience | |
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The Pennsylvania Bus Association (PBA) is improving the member experience with an investment in technology that will make it easier to access association resources.
The access is being provided through a new Association Management System (AMS), which went live in February. It replaces an antiquated custom access database and will reduce redundant processes for association operations.
“This system provides us with better tools and controls to manage our association remotely and enhance benefits to our members,” said PBA board Chair John Bailey, President of Bailey Coach based in York, Pennsylvania. Read the press release.
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The Bus Network Offers Session on Data Management April 21
Fellow member, The Bus Network (TBN), is offering an online demo for those interested in learning more about their data management solutions. They are not attempting to be all things to all people, nor do they believe any software provider should try to be. They see themselves as an enabling service for your data. Get the details and register today!
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Nominate an Employee or Driver for a PBA Driver and Employee of Distinction Award! Deadline is May 1
Nominate a driver or an employee whom you feel deserves special recognition for their 2021 dedication, safety record, and commitment to your company and the motorcoach industry in general. The awards will be presented at PBA's Annual Meeting & Conference in June. Time will be allotted at the presentation for your personal comments, by a company representative, on the achievements of the employee. Deadline to nominate is May 1. Get the details!
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PBA Announces 2023 Marketplace & Annual Conference Hosts!
Both meeting committees made their recommendations to the Board Monday as to which proposal to accept to host the 2023 events. We are absolutely delighted to announce the following:
The 2023 Marketplace will be hosted by Pennsylvania's Americana Region at the Holiday Inn in Morgantown on Tuesday, March 28. The seminar, reception and setup will occur the day before, Monday March 27.
The 2023 Annual Conference will be hosted by Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau in Jamestown NY June 18-21. The primary location is the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, and events will be held also at Chautauqua Institution and National Comedy Center.
We look forward to it! Thank you to all the destination marketing organizations who submitted proposals. Interested in bidding on 2024? Check our website for specs, or look above in the event's panel.
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PBA Annual Meeting June 19-22, 2022
Registration is Open! Sponsorships Available!
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We are excited to have Johnny Quinn join us as our Keynote Speaker, especially in this Olympic year!
About Johnny:
"I am on a mission to deliver thought-provoking and action-packed messages to businesses and organizations of all sizes. Your audience deserves to be engaged and energized with the best content available. As a U.S. Olympian (Bobsled) and former professional football player, I have acquired tools to handcraft each speech to perfectly align with your audience. Toyota, Chick-fil-A, Cisco, Wells Fargo, Southwest Airlines, Zillow, LiftMaster, Fiserv and Lockheed Martin are a few clients that have hired me to speak so you will be in great company. I have been featured on media outlets around the world, such as: ABC, BBC, CBS, CNN, ESPN, FOX, NBC, TIME, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal".
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Thank You to Our Current Annual Meeting Sponsors! | |
Sponsorship opportunities are available to our Associate and Travel Supplier members. | |
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Ruled That the State’s Mail-In Voting Law Will Remain in Place
The Pennsylvania Supreme court ruled that the state’s mail-in voting law will remain in place. Despite a state judge’s order that would put a stop to the mail-in voting law, the state’s Supreme Court issued an order overturning the Feb. 16 decision. Read more...
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Lawmakers To Push for $500 Million Trust Fund To Help Fix Pennsylvania’s Decaying Bridges
Two veteran Pennsylvania lawmakers from both parties say they will push for legislation to create a $500 million local bridge trust fund that could offer significant relief to the state’s aging infrastructure and help reduce a backlog of badly deteriorating spans statewide. Read more...
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Washington Reinstates a Key Pollution-Fighting Tool. What’s Next for PA?
The move by the EPA gives states such as Pennsylvania the latitude to adopt rules stronger than federal law. Read more...
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New CDC Guidelines Lift Mask Recommendations in All but 15 Pennsylvanian Counties
Recent data indicates that only 15 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties are still classified as having high COVID-19 levels. These counties include Crawford, Bradford, Susquehanna, Sullivan, Montour, Jefferson, Clearfield, Centre, Cambria, Mifflin, Huntington, Juniata, Fulton, Bedford, and Wyoming. Read more...
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Worker Misclassification Task Force Releases Annual Report With 15 Unanimous Recommendations For General Assembly
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jennifer Berrier announced that the Joint Task Force on Misclassification of Employees, a bipartisan-nominated group of volunteers representing business, labor, and government perspectives, has submitted its annual report to the General Assembly with 15 unanimous recommendations. Read more...
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The US Infrastructure Bill is Funding a Shopping Spree for Electric Buses
The US government wants the future of mass transit to run on batteries. A slate of new federal initiatives to cut the carbon emissions from buses and trucks was announced by US vice president Kamala Harris on March 7. Read more...
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Reporting PPP Forgiveness for Income Taxes
The IRS has finally issued guidance on when and how to recognize the tax-exempt income related to PPP loan forgiveness. Revenue Procedures 2021-48, 2021-49, and 2021-50 were issued in the latter part of 2021. In this guidance, the IRS discusses three acceptable periods for recognizing the exempt forgiveness income. Read more...
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E.P.A. Targets Buses, Delivery Vans, Tractor-Trailers, To Tighten Pollution Standards
The Biden administration proposed strict new limits on pollution from buses, delivery vans, tractor-trailers and other heavy trucks — the first time in more than 20 years that tailpipe standards have been tightened for the biggest polluters on the road. Read more...
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The 2020s Will Be a “Transformative” Transportation Era, Buttigieg Says at SXSW
The transportation secretary said EVs, AVs, and other new technologies will advance gradually but have the potential to reduce U.S. emissions, among other benefits. Read more...
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Calls To Suspend Gas Taxes Across U.S. Grow As Prices Surge
With gas prices at record highs across the U.S., an increasing number of governors and state lawmakers are calling for the suspension of gas taxes to provide relief to motorists who are facing the prospect of even higher pump prices as the country cuts off Russian oil imports. Read more...
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FMCSA’s Off-Site Inspections Expected To Continue Beyond Pandemic
As the industry is starting to get busy again, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s compliance reviews and inspections are picking up. But they are different than they were pre-pandemic. Read more...
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Advocates Call on Hochul To Speed Up Electric School Bus Timeline
In October of last year, New York City passed a law requiring the five boroughs’ school bus fleet to go all-electric by the fall of 2035. A few months later, Governor Kathy Hochul committed every one of the state’s school districts to the same promise, with the same deadline, during her State of the State address. Read more...
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NYC Downtown Congestion Tolls Scheduled for ‘End of 2023’ Launch
The MTA expects to have federal approval for its downtown Manhattan congestion pricing plan by the end of this year, setting up a launch of the new fees by the end of 2023, officials said. Read more...
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Latest Motorcoach Census Highlights the COVID-19 Pandemic Damage to the Industry
The American Bus Association Foundation released its 2020 Motorcoach Census report, which showcases the size and scope of the motorcoach industry in North America. Read more...
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Still Struggling Motorcoach Industry Seeks More Federal Aid
The motor coach industry, which saw a smaller slice of COVID-19 relief than other transportation modes, says it is still struggling to return to pre-pandemic ridership and needs more federal help. Read more...
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ICYMI
Alerts, Invitations, Press Releases, and more are sent out to our Members as needed. Here are the emails we sent out since last Go News below.
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PBA maintains active Social Media Platforms. In addition to the emailed communications we send to you, we actively share information to our Facebook and Twitter accounts and our new LinkedIn. We encourage you to LIKE US, FOLLOW US and ENGAGE with us! #pabus | | | | |
