Budget Charters Inflation Struggles Shared on U.S. Senate Floor | |
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Gary Shimshock, PBA Board Member from Budget Charters, was surprised to learn that his story of how his company is struggling under the weight of inflation and a labor shortage was shared on the U.S. Senate Floor by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.).
“She was listening. Put it that way,” said Shimshock, who along with his wife Natalie, owns Budget Charter in Adah, Pennsylvania. But he was surprised that his frustrations were taken directly to the elected leaders who may be able to do something about it.
“I was shocked,” he said of learning that he was part of Capito’s speech. Gary learned of the speech after he was sent a video from a member of Sen. Capito’s staff. Read more...
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Starr Bus Charter & Tours Reunites Families for Thanksgiving | |
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PBA Member, Starr Bus Charter & Tours' College Break Bus Service safely reunited 28 busloads of students with their families for Thanksgiving break! From campuses like Pitt, Penn State, Syracuse, and West Virginia University, their dedicated service ensured a smooth and safe journey home.
They partnered with the following PBA Members, Anderson Coach and Travel and Krapf Coaches, as well as with Adventure Tours, Hampton Jitney Inc., DATTCO Inc. and Panorama Tours to make this happen. View their Facebook post.
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Explore York Creates a Way for People To Honor and Support Veterans | |
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PBA Member, Explore York created a way for people to honor and support veterans, both past and present, in their community.
The organization launched a Military Appreciation Cultural Trail ahead of Veterans Day that highlights a diverse set of locations with military ties for people to check out. Read more...
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National Comedy Center to Preserve Don Rickles Archive | |
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PBA Member; National Comedy Center, the United States’ official cultural institution dedicated to the art form of comedy, announced today that it will be preserving an archival collection from Don Rickles’ estate, showcasing the late comedy legend’s six-decade career. The collection spans from the 1950s to 2000s, chronicling a storied life in comedy through rare photographs, correspondence, creative papers, and wardrobe—all of which will be preserved at the National Comedy Center. Read more...
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The Driver and Employee of Distinction Award Nomination Period is Open! | |
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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 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 January 1st | |
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At the October 2022 Board of Director’s Meeting, PBA chair, Tammy Wolf-Baker, proposed a new member benefit program, an Annual Scholarship for members, their employees, and employee’s families.
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. While they may not be able to be present, a representative from the member company will need to be present to receive the scholarship.
Watch your email in December for an invitation to apply.
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October Membership Renewal
Invoices were due October 1. Statements were mailed to those that have an outstanding balance last week. If you have not made payment, please contact our office to keep your membership in good standing.
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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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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! | |
SHOWCASE YOUR DESTINATION by hosting a FAM Tour for the Group Leaders after Marketplace. FAM Tour offerings need to be submitted by 12/15/2023 (extended deadline!) Get more information. | |
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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Shapiro Administration Announces Results of Operation Safe Stop 2023
The Shapiro Administration released the results of Operation Safe Stop, an annual school bus enforcement and education initiative aimed at enhancing school bus safety for students across the Commonwealth. Read more...
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Shapiro Administration Continues Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Progress, Sets Date to Open Additional Funding Round
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced program details for Round 1A of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funding opportunity. The proposal period will open on December 11, 2023, and close on January 26, 2024, at 5:00 PM EST. Read more...
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Convictions for Driving Past School Bus Stop Arms Are Up 47% in Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary for Driver and Vehicle Services Kara Templeton said that 511 residents faced penalties for violating the law, up from 348 in 2021. During the agency’s Oct. 18 event to raise awareness for school transportation safety, she said law enforcement and bus drivers witnessed 164 incidents in just one day. Read more...
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Philly Changes Bus Stop Location for Megabus, Greyhound, Other Carriers. Here’s What To Know...
Philadelphia announced that the bus stop location for Megabus, Greyhound and other carriers was being moved from the near the heart of the Old City neighborhood to near Penn's Landing along the Delaware river waterfront. Read more...
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TSA Bracing for Busiest-ever Holiday Travel Season
During that 12-day period, 30 million passengers are expected to be screened at security checkpoints nationwide. Read more...
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USDOT Opens $40M Grant Opportunity for Connected Vehicle Technologies
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced that it is accepting applications under the $40 million Saving Lives with Connectivity: Accelerating V2X Deployment grant opportunity to advance connected and interoperable vehicle technologies. Read more...
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FMCSA Rule Restricts Emergency HOS Waivers to 14 Days
A rule recently adopted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration cuts from 30 to 14 the maximum number of days a state may waive hours-of-service regulations during a state of emergency, a move that has drawn criticism from some stakeholders but which emerges as a compromise from the agency’s previous, more strict proposed five-day limit. Read more...
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CVSA Adopts Policy Position on Beyond Compliance
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has adopted a slate of new policy positions, including in support of a “beyond compliance” concept. Read more...
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MTI Report Reveals Terrorists’ Choice of Weapon in Public Transit Attacks
The MTI’s latest report examines the way bombs were used in 3,836 attacks on passenger train and train stations, buses, and bus stations and stops. Read more...
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How PSPs Lead to Better Data-Driven Decisions – Taking the Hire Road
The PSP is designed to complement motor vehicle records, giving managers a more comprehensive view of each applicant’s strengths and weaknesses. The screening report — which is updated about every 30 days — provides five years of crash data and three years of inspection data for each driver, regardless of state. Read more...
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Volvo To Acquire Battery Business From Proterra
Volvo Group is set to acquire Proterra Inc., and Proterra Operating Company out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy for approximately $210 million. Pending approval by a U.S. bankruptcy court, the deal is expected to close in early 2024. Read more...
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Youngstown Area Jewish Federation Joining March for Israel in D.C.
A delegation led by the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation boarded a bus last week to join other federations and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations at a March for Israel in Washington D.C. Read more...
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Maryland Transportation Panel Considers Whether to Recommend New Fees for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles, as Well as Higher Tolls
The money it raised would be used to deal with a revenue shortage facing Maryland's Transportation Trust Fund. Read more...
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After 2 Horrific NY Limo Crashes, Hochul Moves Safety Reform Forward
After two horrific limo crashes in Cutchogue and Schoharie left families reeling with loss, Governor Kathy Hochul announced action to keep passengers safe moving forward. Read more...
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Karsan Announces Launch into US Market
Turkish bus manufacturer Karsan has signed a distributorship agreement with Damera to supply its electric buses in the US. This follows the manufacturer’s entry into the North American market earlier this year through its launch in Canada. As a result, 30 e-JEST electric buses are now operating in Saint John, Oakville, and Happy Valley in Canada. Read more...
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The Strength of the Dragon: From January to September 2023, China Exported 30,840 Buses
From January to September this year, the volume of Chinese bus exports reached 30,840 units, reflecting a nearly 50% increase over the previous year. 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 | | | | |
