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We wish you a joyous holiday season with peace & cheer in the New Year! | |
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Quicks Bus Company Celebrating 75 Years of Service
For over 75 years, PBA Member Quick's Bus Company has provided charter bus services for organizational and recreational group tours including but not limited to schools, college/universities, educational foundation groups, scouting groups, military groups, wedding party shuttles, religious congregations, and local businesses. Congratulations!
Quick’s is a family-owned and operated business, specializing in the charter business with a current fleet of 43 motorcoaches, including handicapped accessible buses, serving the entire state of Virginia. Check out their Facebook post.
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Trans-Bridge Lines Makes Final Move to Reservations
PBA Member, Trans-Bridge Lines announced that it will fully operate under a reservations system beginning Monday, Dec. 18. All trips offer passengers a confirmed bus for the travel date and time booked. The company, which has run with a first-come, first-served model, will now provide passengers with the security of knowing that a seat on the bus is saved for them. Read the press release.
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Prevost and Presents!
PBA Member, Prevost again sponsored this year's Christmas 4 Kids event, an annual gathering that brings together music, buses, and gifts for underprivileged children in Middle Tennessee.
During the two-day event, buses picked up over 400 children and brought them to a Christmas party held in their honor. After the party, the children boarded the buses again for a parade led by the Nashville Trolley carrying Santa and Mrs. Claus. This parade stretches nearly five miles and features more than 70 Tour Buses. Check out their Facebook post.
This year's events were held on December 11 and 12 in Hendersonville, TN. Learn more: https://christmas4kids.org/.
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Richmond Region Tourism Partners with VisitAble to Expand Disability Awareness
A year-long program between PBA Member, Richmond Region Tourism (RRT) and VisitAble is increasing disability awareness and inclusion at hospitality and tourism partners in the Greater Richmond area.
"Our partnership with VisitAble is making a significant impact,” says RRT’s President & CEO, Jack Berry. “The partnership resulted in enhanced disability awareness and inclusion to improve experiences for incoming travelers to our destination, as well as for local community members.” To learn more about the program and accessible travel in the Richmond Region, visit their website here. Read more...
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Resorts Casino Introduces 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway
Each day, PBA Member Resorts Casino will select one fortunate winner to enjoy an overnight stay at Resorts Casino Hotel and a $100 gift card! Don't miss the festive fun—start entering now! Visit https://bit.ly/41jRCQe to enter!
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Driver & Employee of Distinction Awards - Nominate Your Best!
For many decades, PBA has sponsored a Driver and Employee of Distinction Award's Program.
This annual program enables members to recognize outstanding employees for contributions to the company they are employed by, their passengers, the motorcoach industry in general, and the community in which they serve.
We invite you to nominate your drivers and employees and join us for the awards presentation at the Bryce Jordan Center, the evening of March 25, 2024, during the Marketplace Networking Reception.
Nominate your best by January 31, 2024.
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PBA Scholarship Program - Application Period Opens Jan 1st
The goal of the PBA scholarship is to support Member education goals and to encourage the pursuit of formal education. Formal education includes trade certification, specialized training and of course, college. There will be two annual scholarships awarded in the amount of $1,000 each.
Fundraising started this year and the first scholarship will be awarded at PBA’s 2024 Annual Conference. The PBA Executive Committee will accept applications between January 1 and April 30 annually.
The nominees will be invited to the Annual Conference. Visit the Scholarship webpage for more information.
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Interested in Joining a PBA Committee?
PBA has six active, volunteer-based committees in the areas of Annual Conference, Ethics. Legislative & Advocacy, Marketplace, Membership and Nominating.
Visit the Committee page where you can view each committee and members, email the committees and/or contact Pattie Cowley to join!
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PBA Executes MOU from Pacific Legal Foundation
PBA received and executed an MOU from the law firm of Pacific Legal Foundation offering free legal representation against the PA Dept of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Enviro Quality Board challenging the CARB standards and warranty requirements. This is the firm PMTA using. PBA started this process in August, after meeting with PMTA and our lobbyists. An MOU stands for memorandum of understanding. It is a starting point of negotiations between multiple parties to signal the intent of doing business or coming to an agreement and it simplifies a legal contract by establishing the key objectives and goals.
PBA had a teleconference with them on December 14th. We are specifically asking the court to enjoin DEP from enforcing heavy-diesel engine emission and warranty standards from CA and we are being added as a party to the existing case.
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Have You Contacted Your Senators and Representatives Yet?
Senators. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Bob Casey, Jr. (D-Pa.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) Tax Exemption Act in the Senate (S.1944). S.1944 is companion legislation to the House bill (H.R. 3510) re-introduced in May.
Bill H.R. 3510, reintroduction of a bill that would eliminate the tax burden for those who received CERTS Act money during the pandemic, was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means after being sponsored by Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.). The bill has since garnered the support of Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Jared Golden (R-Maine), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), and John Rose (R-Tenn.).
The House bill currently has 13 sponsors, and the Senate bill has 5 sponsors. We need your help to advocate for our industry! Please contact your Senators and ask them to support S. 1944 and contact your Representatives and ask them to support H.R. 3510. Below are two easy forms that will only take a few minutes of your time to complete.
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Join Us in Happy Valley and Register for the 2024 Marketplace! | |
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IMPORTANT DEADLINES:
- January 1, 2024 - All Discount Pricing Ends.
- January 15, 2024 - Cancellation of a purchased booth for partial refund.
- January 31, 2024 - Last day for Operators to schedule a FAM Tour.
- February 9, 2024 - Last day to purchase a Sponsorship.
- February 16, 2024 - Registration ends and Sponsorship ad/artwork is due (for guaranteed placement on floor and the Marketplace Directory).
- March 1, 2024 Hotel Room reservation deadline.
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THANK YOU TO OUR CURRENT MARKETPLACE SPONSORS! | |
2024 Annual Conference - Save the Dates! | |
The 2024 Annual Conference will be hosted by Visit Ithaca in Ithaca, NY June 17-20, 2024! We will be experiencing the area with FAMS, Dine-Around Night and Opening & Closing venues at area partners. | |
INDUSTRY AND COMMONWEALTH NEWS | |
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Pennsylvania House Committee Advances Electric School Bus Grant Program Bill
Pennsylvania lawmakers have advanced a bill that would help cover the costs of electric school buses. The House Education Committee voted 14-11 with all Democrats voting in favor and Republicans voting against the creation of the Electric School Bus Grant Program. Read more...
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Pennsylvania Considers Annual Fee for Electric Vehicle Owners
The proposed bill would charge electric vehicle owners $290 a year to supplement decreased revenue lost from the state’s gas tax. It is estimated the fee would generate as much as $20 million annually for the state. Read more...
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FBI, DHS Warn of Threats to Public Safety During Holiday Season
Per an assessment from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, ongoing tensions related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas "likely heighten the threat of lone actor violence targeting large public gatherings throughout the winter, including holiday-related, faith-based, New Year’s Eve, and First Amendment protected events related to the conflict." Read more...
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Interior Secretary Designates 18 New Sites of Natural, Historical Significance
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland designated 16 new National Historic Landmarks (NHLs) and two new National Natural Landmarks (NNLs) across 14 states on Dec. 13. The newly designated NHLs in locations join a select group of more than 2,600 noteworthy places that possess exceptional value in illustrating the history of the United States. Read more...
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CARB Announces Clean Truck & Bus Voucher Incentive Project
The Clean Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) supports the purchase of zero-emission vehicles by providing vouchers to offset the incremental cost of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses. HVIP Standard offers purchase incentives for a wide variety of medium- and heavy-duty on-road vehicle types, while set-asides within HVIP offer focused support for certain vocations such as drayage trucks, public transit buses and public school buses. Read more...
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New Way to Access DOT’s Drug and Alcohol Management System, Effective January 1, 2024
DOT-regulated employers required to submit annual drug/alcohol testing data will need to go through Login.gov to access the DOT’s drug and alcohol MIS and to input and submit their drug/alcohol testing data. Read more...
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Using a Commercial Motor Vehicle to Commit Felony Sexual Assault
This Notice of Enforcement Policy (“Notice”) is to increase awareness of sexual assault against commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers and to emphasize that Federal law requires that persons who are convicted of using a CMV to commit a felony must be disqualified from operating a CMV requiring a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or commercial learner’s permit (CLP). Read more...
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Electronic ID Proposal Moves to FMCSA’s Back Burner
In September 2022, FMCSA issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking that considered requiring all commercial motor vehicles operating in interstate commerce to possess a unique electronic identifier. The rulemaking has been moved to the agency’s long-term actions, and no movement is expected in the next year. Read more...
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FMCSA Has Removed 10 ELDs From the List of Registered Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs)
Motor carriers and drivers using CI ELD LOGS, ELD 2 GO, ELD4TRUCKING, ELOG365, GOLDEN ELD, POWERTRUCKS ELD, STEER RIGHT ELD, TruckX-ELD, TST 1 ELD, and WORLD TRUCKING ELD devices have 60 days to replace them with compliant ELDs. Read more...
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FMCSA Warning: Drivers Who Drug-Test Positive Will Lose CDLs
Federal trucking regulators have issued a warning that late next year truck drivers who test positive for drug use will not only be placed on prohibited driving status, but will lose their commercial driver licenses and not be issued learning permits until they complete the federal return-to-work process. Read more...
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Op-Ed | Congestion Mitigation Is a Must for New York City
Read an Op-Ed by Patrick W. Condren, Administrator of the BUS4NYC Coalition Inc.
Congestion Mitigation is vital for NYC today. The MTA Board at their meeting made next steps in the Central Business District Tolling Program. Recommendations include the recognition of privately owned commuter bus operators. Over the last 120 years, NYC public transport was primarily served by private transportation companies.
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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 | | | | |
