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2/13/2024

It's Your PBA GO News!

Archived Newsletters

MEMBER NEWS

UPCOMING EVENTS

Last Call! Submit Your Driver and Employee of Distinction Award Nominations by February 15th!

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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 their 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 March 25, 2024 Marketplace Networking Reception.


Nominate your best by February 15, 2024.

PBA Announces New Board Member

Over the past month, the PBA Board of Directors lost 3 members due to retirement and a change in operations. In instances like this, the Board is empowered to fill the vacant seat(s). 


Through the process, Maria (Benedict) Frank of Benedict’s Bus was nominated, accepted the nomination and unanimously approved by the Board. Please join us in congratulating Maria! Read the press release.

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Bus & Motorcoach Industry Legislative Fly-In

March 19-20, 2024

Visit website.

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2024 Marketplace

March 25-26, 2024

Hosted by Happy Valley Adventure Bureau

Registration Closes Friday!

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Museum of Bus Transportation Spring Fling

May 31-June 1, 2024

Save the Dates!

Download Flyer!

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2024 Annual Conference

June 17-20, 2024

Hosted by Visit Ithaca

Registration Opening Feb. 20th.

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Interested in Hosting a 2026 PBA Event? Please visit our 2026 event pages for a copy of the bid specs:

-2026 Annual Meeting

-2026 Marketplace

Deadline 1/1/25

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Campbell Bus Selling Coaches 

PBA Member, Campbell Bus Lines has purchased new coaches and are beginning to take delivery.


They have the following two coaches for sale: 

 

  1. 2021 TS-30 Temsa 34 passenger with restroom and luggage available immediately.
  2. Prevost 100th Anniversary 2024. Delivery will be between March 1 and 15.

  

Please contact for Todd Campbell for mileage and pricing at 724-794-2440 or tc@campbelltours.com.

Are you looking to sell or buy? Post it to the online forum in your member profile! Login today!


You must be listed as a contact in your company's member profile in order to use the forums. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Celebrating Black History in York County, PA 

York County, PA, is steeped in history. In honor of Black History Month, PBA Member, Explore York is highlighting some of the pivotal moments in African American history in York County, as well as spotlighting African American history makers who overcame adversity to leave their mark. Read more...

PBA Highlighted in Billboard Campaign 

Pattie Cowley, PBA Executive Director, worked with Michelle Ullman from PBA Member, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to highlight PBA in their 2024 Philadelphia Flower Show billboard campaign. View the toolkit with descriptive language, channels, and hashtags. See the billboard below and be on the lookout for it while traveling throughout PA! 

District Lobby Week April 22-26

We are excited to announce that PBA is going to do a District Lobby Week with local House members and Senators, during the week of April 22-26, 2024.


The goal of this week is to highlight your operations and the impact you have on your local community and the Commonwealth. 


As you know, tourism is a huge industry in Pennsylvania, and your motorcoach operations play a major role in helping the tourism industry thrive.  Read the special announcement.

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PBA Scholarship Program - Application Period is Open Until April 30

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. 


The first scholarship will be awarded at PBA’s 2024 Annual Conference. The application period is between January 1 and April 30, 2024. 


Nominees will be invited to the Annual Conference. Visit the Scholarship webpage for eligibility criteria.


Submit an application by April 30, 2024.

Interested in Joining a PBA Committee?

PBA has seven active, volunteer-based committees in the areas of Executive, 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!

Submit Your Public Comment for Congestion Pricing by March 11

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced details of a public comment period of the tolling structure that has been proposed for Central Business District Tolling, New York’s congestion pricing program.


The agency will accept written and audio comments until March 11, 2024, and will hold four hybrid virtual/in-person public hearings in February and March.


Members of the public may submit written comments online and by email, mail and fax, and may submit audio comments by leaving a voicemail message. All comments will be recorded and submitted for review. Get more information.


Online: https://contact.mta.info/s/forms/CBDTP  

Email: cbdtp.feedback@mtabt.org  

Mail: CBD Tolling Program, 2 Broadway, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10004  

Phone: 646-252-7440  

Fax: Send to (212) 504-3148 with Attention to CBDTP Team. 

Submit Your Public Comment for the FMCSA Proposed New Rulemaking to Increase Flexibility for State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) & CDL Applicants by April 2

The FMCSA proposes to increase flexibility for State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) and commercial driver’s license (CDL) applicants:

  1. By expanding applicants’ ability to take a CDL skills test in a State other than their State of domicile;
  2. Permitting a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holder who has passed the CDL skills test to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) on public roads without having a qualified CDL holder in the passenger seat; and
  3. Eliminating the requirement that an applicant wait at least 14 days to take the CDL skills test following initial issuance of the CLP. 


The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is posted and is available for public view. Comments from the public are due no later than April 2nd, 2024.


If you agree that a commercial driver (Class A of Class B) should not have to go through the hassle and expense of having to retake the road test that they have already taken in order to drive a bus, please click this link


All you need to do is hit the comment button, identify yourself and make the comment. It should take less than 5 minutes. Your input is very important to make our struggle to hire drivers heard.

UPCOMING EVENTS!

Join Us in Happy Valley and Register for the 2024 Marketplace!

Registration Deadline is February 16th!

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The 2024 Marketplace will be held March 25-26, 2024 in State College and hosted by The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau!


Visit the website to get full details.

Operators - Register Here!
Exhibitors - Register Here!

Important Deadlines:

  • 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.


AS ALWAYS, WE THANK OUR SPONSORS!

2024 Annual Conference - Save the Dates!

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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. Registration Opening Tuesday, February 20th!

INDUSTRY AND COMMONWEALTH NEWS

Shapiro Administration Invests $13M in Traffic Safety Improvements

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that it will distribute $19.3 million in Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) funding to fund seven safety projects in Philadelphia. Governor Shapiro believes every Pennsylvanian deserves to be safe and feel safe in their communities, his Administration has worked and delivered real results by investing in communities like Philadelphia and across the Commonwealth. Read more...

Readout of White House Roundtable on Clean Bus Manufacturing

Recently, the White House and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), in coordination with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), convened a roundtable discussion focused on ensuring adequate U.S. manufacturing capacity to build clean transit buses at the scale and pace needed to meet market demand and achieve national climate and equity goals. Read more...

Congressman Crawford and Senator Cramer Lead Resolution to Overturn FHWA’s Illegal, Impractical GHG Emissions Performance Measure Rule

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) finalized a rule in November 2023, imposing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions performance measures on state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations despite lacking the authority from Congress to do so. This misguided regulation is another case of gross federal overreach from the Biden administration, which saddles states with burdensome and unlawful requirements. Read more...

CVSA’s 2024 Out-of-Service Criteria Handbook Available for Purchase

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria (OOSC) are used by certified commercial vehicle safety enforcement personnel to determine if a commercial motor vehicle or driver is considered an imminent hazard and should be placed out of service. The federal, state, provincial, and territorial regulations, together with CVSA’s out-of-service criteria, provide the standards that drivers, motor carriers and law enforcement personnel use to ensure the commercial motor vehicles and drivers operating on North America’s roadways are safe and compliant. Choose and order your format today.

Reminder About Registering for the FTA Charter Service Registry

Owners of bus and motorcoach companies should sign up for the Charter Service Registry to show Congress that the Charter Service Rule, which protects private companies from competing against local transit, is important for the industry. Sign up!

FMCSA Portal Where Operators Can File Complaints Against Brokers

Use this link to file a complaint against brokers.

February is Love the Bus Month

February marks the month-long celebration of Love the Bus, a time to show gratitude towards the dedicated professionals who ensure the safety of students on their journey to and from school. This initiative is a meaningful way to recognize the diverse group of individuals who make the yellow school bus experience possible for students.  Get tips for sharing your Love the Bus events with others.

Minnesota Cities Went for EVs in Public Transit, but the Buses Couldn’t Handle the Cold

The Twin City buses were supposed to go 150 miles on a single charge, but the actual range was closer to 75 miles. Read more...

Travel Industry Urged to Embrace Artificial Intelligence

Major new reports from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Microsoft claim that artificial intelligence is set to revolutionize Travel & Tourism, with the organizations urging businesses to embrace AI and commit to “a digital future with unparalleled customer experiences.” Read more...

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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STAY CONNECTED!

PBA maintains active Social Media Platforms. In addition to the emailed communications we send to you, we actively share information to our platforms. We encourage you to LIKE US, FOLLOW US and ENGAGE with us! #pabus

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