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Supporting This Issue:
Inn on the Beach
Palmetto ProgressMotorcoach Association of South Carolina
P.O. Box 474, Columbia, SC 29202 888.376.1150 FAX 866.376.1156
President’s LetterBob Garrett
Sunshine Travel & ExpressLancaster, SC
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Winter 2010
Some of us have experienced the unusual wintery weather. It has been unusually cold all the way down to southern Florida. I attended the NCMA annual meeting and market place January 28-31 and had quite an experience with snow and ice, but weathered it well and returned home safely. It was touch and go for a little while as to whether or not we would be able to hold the annual coach roadeo, but it was held in Anderson and turned out to be a great event. Kathy Benson and the Anderson CVB and its partners welcomed MCASC members with true southern hospitality. I heard several operators exclaim that they did not know that Anderson County had so much to offer for group travel. The dinner event at the Anderson County Museum was only one example of the way groups are treated. If you haven’t taken groups to Anderson, give Kathy a call and she will make it easy for you providing a number of different itineraries to showcase what the Anderson area has to offer. The CVB partners, especially the local area restaurants provided tremendous support and wonderful food for the Roadeo Event. We were welcomed by very cool and wet weather on Tuesday but Kathy promised the rain would be gone by 1:00, the scheduled time for the driving skills to begin. And, sure enough, she was right! We had 14 member drivers and the MCI driver participating in the roadeo. It was fun though we had the least amount of drivers since we began this event seven years ago. I feel sure the change of date had an impact and I also think the economy had an impact on attendance. We had about 70 people registered to attend. I need to thank a number of people who assisted in making the roadeo a successful event. I won’t try to list everyone but there are a few I must recognize. Curtis Thompson and Lou Burch attended and presented information about the CSA 2010 FMCSA focus and Curtis actually served as a judge! We also had Gene Parnell and Brian Smith with the SC Transport Police who served as judges. We had the support of the coach manufacturers who provided sponsorships and coaches for the driving skills. I appreciate Nathan Zimmerman, Claude Payne, and Tom Sullivan (ABC
Bob Garrett
Companies); John Hatch (BCI); Brian Pinckney (Daimler Buses); Gene Hall (MCI); and Bill Leonard (Prevost) for their support. Please review the article in this newsletter for the roadeo highlights and recognition of those who contributed to its success. At the end of the day Don Myrick, 5-Star Transportation, First Place Driver; Larry Wright, Capitol Bus Lines, Second Place Driver; and Ricky Younginer, Capitol Bus Lines, Third Place Driver were presented awards, cash prizes and a restaurant gift card from Allen Insurance Group. Yes, it turned out to be a great day, an exhilarating day as we shared the excitement of the winners. I hope that all operators will plan to participate in the 2011 Roadeo. The committee has not yet selected the date and location, but the announcement will be made as soon as possible. The committees have been working and I can anticipate a year of many accomplishments. Buddy Young has been monitoring state legislation that impacts our business. Sam Pipkin presented amended bylaws at the business meeting February 2, which were approved. Elaine Johnson and Lauren Ponder have made great progress in finalizing the details for the annual meeting and market place in Spartanburg August 23-26. Willie Henderson and the membership committee have recommended nine members since August. We’re anticipating working with the transit authorities under the leadership of Ken Presley and the New Business Committee. Your board and committee members are busy working for the growth of MCASC. The wheels of progress grind slowly, but I am excited about the Association and I hope that all members join me in that excitement. I know these are difficult times for many members and I want you to know how much I appreciate your continued membership and support of MCASC events. It is wintertime but spring will be here before we know it! Take time during this lull in business to hone your skills, clean out the cobwebs, organize files, make repairs, and do other tasks that we put off doing. I wish you safe travels and greater business opportunities.
Renewing MemberNew Members
Changes
MCASC Winter 2010 Newsletter2WQb
ASSOCIATESATTRACTIONSBLaCKBEaRD’S CovE FaMiLY FuN PaRK 3255 Hwy 17 NorthMt. Pleasant, SC 29466 843-971-1223 FAX 843-216-8863Email: [email protected] Web: www.blackbeardscove.net Jeff Sebuck, Co-Owner
CHiMNEY RoCK PaRKPO Box 39Chimney Rock, NC 28720 828-625-9611 OR 800-277-9611FAX 828-625-9610Email: [email protected] Web: www.chimneyrockpark.com Jeanne McGurn, Group Sales Manager
GRaCELaND/ELviS PRESLEY’S HEaRTBREaK HoTELPO Box 16508 Memphis, TN 38186-0508 901-332-3322 OR 800-238-2010FAX 901-332-1636Email: [email protected] Web: www.elvis.com Carolyn Mears, Director of Sales
HOTELSHYaTT PLaCE NoRTH CHaRLESToN7331 Mazyck Road North Charleston, SC 29406 843-735-7100FAX 843-735-7101Email: [email protected] Web: www.northcharleston.place.hyatt.com Judy Parsons, Director of Sales
iNN oN THE BEaCH 1615 S Atlantic Avenue Daytona Beach, FL 32118 386-255-0921 OR 800-874-0975 FAX 386-944-0182 Email: [email protected] Web: www.innonthebeach.com Ken Berthiaume, Director of Sales
TOURISM AGENCYMouNTaiN LaKES CvB 502 East Main Street Walhalla, SC 29691 864-380-3976 OR 877-MT-LAKES FAX 864-638-4209Email: [email protected] Web: www.scmountainlakes.com Ken Sloan, Executive Director
OPERATORS5 STaR TRaNSPoRTaTioN, LLC 3 Coaches Operated
CaRDiNaL CoaCH, iNC. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
ASSOCIATESMore changes have been made than space allows in this newsletter. Please check the web site listing for correct contact information for the following associate members:ATTRACTIONSCHaRLESToN TEa PLaNTaTioNFRiENDS oF THE HuNLEY, iNC. FuN FaCToRY oF THE SMoKiESGEoRGia aquaRiuM HaMRiCK’S, iNC. HaRRaH’S CHERoKEE CaSiNo & HoTEL LooKouT MouNTaiN aTTRaCTioNSPaTRioTS PoiNT HoME oF uSS YoRKToWNRiPLEY’S aquaRiuM oF THE SMoKiES SToNE MouNTaiN PaRK TuRNiNG SToNE RESoRT & CaSiNo
HOTELSEMBaSSY SuiTES CoLuMBia-GREYSToNEHaMPToN iNN HaRRaHS ENTERTaiNMENTHoLiDaY iNN aTLaNTa NoRTHEaSTMYRTLEBEaCHHoTELS.CoM RaMaDa aTLaNTa aiRPoRT CoNFERENCE CENTER RaMaDa MaiNGaTE WESTSMoKY MouNTaiN RESoRTS SPaRTaNBuRG MaRRioTT aT RENaiSSaNCE PaRK SALES, SERVICE, PRODUCTSCoNSoLiDaTED TiRES, iNC. DaiMLER BuSES NoRTH aMERiCa
ASSOCIATEATTRACTIONYaNKEE CaNDLE-WiLLiaMSBuRG 2200 Richmond Road Williamsburg, VA 23185 757-258-1002 FAX 757-258-0030 Email: [email protected] Web: www.yankeecandle.com Becky Huss, Group Sales
Larry and Waddell Thompson, Sunway Charters and Tours. “It is a sad day at Sunway Charters and Tours in Myrtle Beach, SC. Our founder and President Nelson Jackson II passed away at 11:30am on February 1. He was just shy of his 90th birthday, February 26. He will be sorely missed by all his friends and loved ones. He established Rent-A-Bus Inc DBA Sunway Charters and Tours in July 1975. He will be remembered as a driving force in the development of Ocean Lakes Family Campground and other entities along with Sunway Charters and Tours. All of Mr. Jackson’s corporations have operated as “family companies” and he was like a father to us all. Each of us will feel the loss very strongly. Please join us in our prayers for all our employees and Mr. Jackson’s family. He leaves his wife of over 65 years Mary Emily Jackson, 5 daughters: Emily, Laura, Katherine (Kakie), Rachael, and Jeannie and their husbands and many grandchildren.”
In Memory of Nelson Jackson II
MCASC Board of Directors hosted by Roanoke, Virginia
The Roanoke area had the esteemed pleasure of hosting the MCASC Board of Directors after a productive Board meeting and dinner last November in Virginia. After a restful evening with our lodging partners at Dominion Lodging, (Comfort Inn Airport, Best Western Inn at Valley View and MainStay Suites), we whisked them away to Mill Mountain for a taste of blue ridge mountain scenery. They had their first glimpse of the 100 foot Roanoke Star and the star webcam created much enjoyment. (www.roanokeva.gov/starcam) We waved to their office staff via the webcam. Try it! Next we took a brief ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway, celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year. A short drive took us back downtown to see the steam trains and Greyhound Bus exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Transportation. (www.vmt.org) Next
stop was the Historic Market District (www.downtownroanoke.org) and a chocolate treat at one of the many unique shops. (www.chocolatepaperroanoke.com) After browsing the shops and market area, we had a brief tour of the Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke’s newest hot spot. (www.taubmanmuseum.org) To round
out our railroad heritage stops we visited the O. Winston Link Museum
exhibiting the dramatic photographs from the end of steam era. (www.linkmuseum.org) For lunch, we went to the Hotel Roanoke and had their famous luncheon buffet offering their two signature dishes, peanut soup and spoon bread. This stop also included a tour of this historic hotel. The tour concluded at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford. Contact the Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau. (www.visitroanokeva.com) a proud member of SCMA, for more information to include this area in future planning. Knowledgeable step-on guides make the area and its attractions come alive. Many thanks to Linda Morris for this opportunity and John Hatch for his great driving skills and enthusiasm! Catherine Fox, Tourism DirectorRoanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau101 Shenandoah Ave., NE, Roanoke VA [email protected] or [email protected](800) 635-5535 or (540) 342-6025 Fax (540) 342-7119
�MCASC Winter 2010 Newsletter WQb
SouTHEaSTERN SPECiaLTY uNDERWRiTERS
THEATRESFEE/HEDRiCK FaMiLY ENTERTaiNMENT GRouP THE CaRoLiNa oPRY THE PaLaCE THEaTRE
TOURISM AGENCIESBuRLiNGToN/aLaMaNCE CouNTY CvB CHaRLESToN aREa CvB DuPLiN CouNTY TouRiSM MERCER CouNTY CvB PRiNCE WiLLiaM CouNTY/MaNaSSaS CvBSPaRTaNBuRG CvB viSiT TaLLaHaSSEE
Amendments to the MCASC Bylaws were approved by the
membership February 2. Please review the revised bylaws at www.
scmotorcoach.org. The revised bylaws will be published in the
new membership directory which will be distributed in August.
Sam Pipkin, Bylaws Committee Chairman
Virginia Museum of Transportation
Mill Mountain Overlook at dusk from the Roanoke Star.
MCASC Winter 2010 Newsletter�WQb
MCASC SeventhAnnual Coach Roadeo
Motorcoach Association of South Carolina RoadeoJoLynn Lott (Jeans Bus Service), Chairman
The Seventh Annual Coach Roadeo was held in Anderson, SC on February 2, 2010. Several factors likely affected the attendance, but we still had 15 drivers in the competition. Operator companies represented by drivers were: 5 Star Transportation, Capitol Bus Lines, Ionosphere Tours, Jean’s Bus Service, and Southern Connection Tours. It was a chilly day and damp; however, the rain stopped as Kathy Benson with the Anderson Convention & Visitors Bureau promised before the competition began. Great appreciation is extended to Kathy Benson for making arrangements to hold the roadeo at the Civic Center of Anderson. We also had a very nice event at the Anderson County Museum, which hosted the Board of Directors and guests for dinner on Monday. I believe most of us were amazed to see how much an area like Anderson really has to offer! Without the support of the local community and the coach manufacturers, the roadeo event would not be the special event it is. It is a great opportunity for destinations like Anderson to showcase their attractions for group travel. Anderson area restaurants provided food not only for the Monday dinner event but also for the continental breakfast and lunch for the roadeo. Bus and Coach international, Daimler Buses, and Motor Coach industries provided coaches for the driving skills competition and sponsored the awards and commemorative tee shirts. There were also enough door prizes donated by Gene Hall (MCI) and Bill Leonard (Prevost) so that almost everyone left with a little surprise. The new Holiday Inn Midtown was very accommodating
as they provided meeting rooms for a committee and board meeting on Monday. Tuesday morning began with an FMCSA update on the new CSA 2010 program for operators while the drivers were tested on their general knowledge and pre- and post- inspections. Operators who attended this session received a certificate of participation. Curtis Thompson, Division Adminstrator; Lou Burch, Safety Investigator as well as SC Transport Police officers, Gene Parnell and Brian Smith,
reviewed the new regulations in CSA 2010. It did not take long for the 15 drivers to complete the course. It takes many people performing many tasks for a successful roadeo. Appreciation is
extended to all who helped set up the course, judge, tally scores, or were there just to cheer their favorite drivers! Please see special recognition for those we know assisted and it is likely there are several who are not listed because they likely jumped in to help where there was a need. There was also a driver etiquette session for the drivers while they were not participating in the driving course. Shirley Garrett and Linda Morris provided this session to give drivers a few reminders of how to conduct themselves as employees of the several operators. Shirley asked them in the beginning what they thought would be the most important thing they could do when greeting a group. The unanimous answer was “smile.” Shirley said the smile and the enthusiasm shown by the drivers for the group set the tone for the entire trip, and, of course may have bearing on the amount of tip the group will give! Thank you to all of the drivers who participated. The top three drivers were Don Myrick, 5-Star Transportation; Larry Wright, Capitol Bus Lines; and Ricky Younginer, Capitol Bus Lines. Congratulations gentlemen!
Don Myrick, 5 Star Transportation, Larry Wright, Capitol Bus Lines, and Diaz Minerva, MCI complete written tests.
Bob Garrett, Sunshine Travel and Express with John Thomas, Eastside Transportation during the roadeo.
Motorcoach driver maneuvers through cones during driving competition.
�MCASC Winter 2010 Newsletter WQb
Roadeo AssignmentsThere are many people needed to carry out the Roadeo event. Special appreciation is extended to all who helped.
Course Set Up:Brian Pinckney, Daimler Buses; David Parham, Ionosphere Tours; Johnny Cauley, Jean’s Bus Service Written Test Proctors and scorers:Brian Pinckney, Daimler Buses; and Shirley Garrett, Sunshine Travel
Scorekeepers:Marion Kenny, Allen Insurance Agency, Elaine Johnson, Cross Country Trailways; Martha Murray, Lakim Bus Service; and Frankie Sistare, Lancaster Trailways of the Carolinas
Runners for the score sheets:JoLynn Lott; Tom Wood, Thomas Wood Insurance Agency; John Hatch, Bus & Coach International; Bryn Riley, Charleston Tea Plantation; and Johnny Cauley
Judges:Bobby Clemmer, Lancaster Trailways of the Carolinas; Brian Pinckney, Daimler Buses; Bill Leonard, Prevost; David Parham, Ionosphere Tours; Gene Hall, Motor Coach Industries; Charlie Rydzewski, iTransit; Claude Payne, Tom Sullivan and Nathan Zimmerman, ABC Companies; Tom Clare, Colonial Equipment Company; Buddy Young, Capitol Bus Lines; Doug Creson, Young Transportation; John Madden, Eastside Transportation Services; Brian Smith, SC Transport Police; Gene Parnell, SC Transport Police; Nick Nicholson, Lakim Bus Service; Tim O’Bryan, Service Insurance Agency; and Ingrid Long, 5 Star Transportation.
If you assisted with the Roadeo and are not listed above, please know it is an inadvertent omission.
2010 MCASC Coach Roadeo Winners
First PlaceDon Myrick, 5 Star Transportation
Second PlaceLarry Wright, Capitol Bus Lines
Third PlaceRicky Younginer, Capitol Bus Lines
MCASC Winter 2010 Newsletter�WQb
Southeastern Regional Motorcoach Operators Meeting
held at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center in Alexandria, VA
The Southeastern meeting was held in Alexandria, Virginia January 13-15 at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center. It was a great prelude to the American Bus Association Marketplace in National Harbor Maryland at the Gaylord. Many operators attending the Southeastern also attended ABA’s marketplace where the operators were given complimentary registration for the Equipment Pavilion and several meal functions. To start the meeting Jimmy Kelton, Chairman of the Southeastern Regional Motorcoach Emergency Evacuation Advisory Committee gave a report of the committee’s activity during the past year following the directive of the operators attending the 2009 Southeastern in Orlando. That directive was to create the advisory committee to address four major issues as a result of operators’ providing evacuation transportation for the several hurricanes over the past few years. Those issues are: 1) Driver Treatment, 2) Operator Payment (contract), 3) Communication, and 4) Representation. Jimmy’s report showed that the committee had accomplished the tasks assigned to it. Major accomplishments included:• Communicating with the Texas Emergency Management Division and creating a cooperative attitude to resolve the issues of driver treatment and operator pay.• Assisting the states of North Carolina and South Carolina in creating contracts for emergency evacuation with bidding directly with the operators, rather than through a broker. • Developing a web site for the southeast operators to communicate among themselves in the event of an emergency evacuation and to allow communication with the emergency management agencies. The site has several features including a direct link to the national weather center, emergency management agencies, and the operators who are members of the southeastern state motorcoach associations. The site is designed to be interactive so that operators will be able to communicate among themselves and have ready access to know what agencies are contracting for evacuation transportation. A highlight of the first day was a networking and dinner event sponsored by Hard Rock Café International. Scenic America and Motor Coach Industries provided transportation to the Hard Rock Café in DC where everyone was greeted warmly and provided beverages and a delicious meal. It was great for networking and anyone would confirm that all had a nice experience. Megan Menesale and many other Hard Rock Café representatives were gracious hosts. The second day was dedicated to special sessions including a panel discussion by the coach manufacturers moderated by Scott Merriman (Scenic America, Virginia). Operators asked questions about the 2010 engines, transmissions, tracking, coach windows, fire suppression, seatbelts (liability and funds available to help operators deal with the seatbelt requirements), and new coach customer amenities. The panel discussion followed
breakfast sponsored by allen insurance Group and Daimler Buses. The lunch program featured Brandon Buchanan, american Bus association. A few of the topics Brandon discussed included economic recovery, DC permits, the charter bus rule, legislation and regulations pertaining to seatbelts, on board recorders, and window glazing, school trip tax rebate, possible second stimulus/jobs bill, hours of service regulations, ADA compliance, ABA’s new communications committee (marketing handbook), and foundation research/economic impact report. Brandon commented that state tourism is suffering and operators are a resource for help. Brandon closed by encouraging operators to be proactive. Brandon had a great deal to say in a short time! american Bus association and Motor Coach industries sponsored lunch. Afternoon sessions featured a regulations update by Mike Fox, Division Administrator (Virginia), FMCSA. He reviewed some of the aspects of CSA 2010, new out of service regulations (missing fuel cap, no medical card, and wheel seal leakage), driver training in pre-trip safety information for passengers (not a regulation yet but a strong suggestion), and Department of Justice regulations for ADA Compliance. Brandon Buchanan discussed public-private partnerships and available grants. Randy London, a safety consultant from Charlotte, NC, showed operators how to search the safersys web site, focusing on how information can be in error on an operator’s report and how operators can correct the errors. He recommended that operators check their record at least once a month, or “more if you care about your business.” Ryan Kelly, Community Spec, Athens, GA, discussed how important web sites are to a successful business. I think most everyone came away wanting more information from each of the speakers. The second evening dinner was partially sponsored by Dandy Restaurant Cruises. Dawn Clark welcomed everyone on board the Dandy for a delicious meal and a nice Potomac cruise. It was a nice networking event. Breakfast on Friday morning, sponsored by united Motorcoach association and Prevost, featured Ken Presley. Ken stressed the importance of communicating to Congress to protect the charter rule, to keep it unchanged and enforced. He emphasized that the rule is under attack by example of Senator Patty Murray’s action to prevent funding for enforcement of the rule for King County (state of Washington) transit. Ken offered his assistance and asked that he be sent a copy of any letters written to Congressmen. The last education session on Friday morning provided opportunity for representatives from the several southeastern states to discuss state challenges. Some of the challenges were:• Alabama: Expect legislation to prohibit sex offenders renewing or acquiring a CDL with passenger or student endorsement.• South Central: School buses taking from charter business and college buses providing charter transportation, which is legal if federal funds were not used to purchase the bus.• Florida: Issues with Jessica Lunsford Act and lack of consistency, state shortfall, airports and ports permits continue to be an issue because of local entities looking for revenue.• Georgia: Legislative issues to change traffic laws regarding the HOV lane for use by coaches, prohibit sex offenders from
�MCASC Winter 2010 Newsletter WQb
renewing or acquiring a CDL with passenger endorsement, transit competition, private carrier access to rural routes of GRTA, consumer protection from coach rental companies that are not required to comply with federal safety regulations.• South Carolina: Legislative issue to prevent school systems from purchasing motorcoaches.• Virginia: State shortfall of $4 billion, churches donating buses for charter transportation, operators charging too little for trips, DOD awarding transportation contracts to operators not DOD certified. The final session focused on the future of the Southeastern operator forum. Some would like to return to the operator only sessions. Should the Southeastern become a separate association? That was the question. There was discussion which brought out several view points. In the final analysis, it was agreed that the presidents of the several southeastern and south central states would meet to discuss the issues and then report to the association boards of directors. It was also agreed that the 2011 Southeastern will be held in conjunction with the North Carolina Motorcoach Association Annual Meeting and Market Place, which will be held in Wilmington February 3-6. The support of the sponsors for the 2010 Southeastern meeting was critical to the financial success of the event. Appreciation is extended again to aBC Companies for refreshments; allen insurance Group for Thursday breakfast; american Bus association for Thursday lunch and registration bag; Daimler Buses for Thursday breakfast; Dandy Restaurant Cruises for Thursday dinner; Hard Rock Café international for Wednesday reception and dinner; Motor Coach industries for Thursday lunch, transportation, registration bag, pad, and pens; Prevost for Friday breakfast, Scenic america for transportation; united Motorcoach association for Friday breakfast; and virginia Motorcoach association for refreshments and host support.
Smith Family Dinner Theater: 2010 will be their sixth season
The Smokies’ best known family of entertainers will began their sixth season during 2010 at the Smith Family Dinner
Theater in Pigeon Forge, TN. A Southern style buffet dinner is served along wth the most award winning show in the Smokies! Charlie, Jim, and
Charlie Bob Smith are six time winners of Best Show in the Smokies as well as Best Performer by Jim and Charlie Bob, will entertain guests with a variety show packed full of music and comedy. Guests can look forward to an outstanding blend of classic country music, heartfelt gospel, oldies rock-n-roll, clean family comedy and impersonations of famous stars you have to hear to believe! A tribute to the “Andy Griffith Show” and an old fashioned Hula Hoop contest proves that the Smith Boys have fun on stage and guests look forward to seeing them year after year. Long time fams and newcomers alike are in for a standout musical experience. Come and see why the The Smith Family show is the local favorite. Blast From the Past 50’s Show at Smith Family Dinner Theater. Take a nostalgic trip down memory lane at the Blast from the Past Show! Chart-topping hits of the 50’s and 60’s will leave audiences reminiscing about the good old days. This light hearted show is filled with songs everyone will remember and even features a tribute to the musical, Grease.
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MCASC Winter 2010 Newsletter�WQb
News From:
Capital Region Marketplace 2010 Monumental SuccessReprinted from ABA Press Release. More than 3,200 ABA member delegates and industry professionals networked, pursued new business during more than 100,000 scheduled appointments, and raised record sums for charity during the 2010 Capital Region Marketplace January 15-19 at Gaylord National in National Harbor, Maryland. “Each one of you made a statement just by coming through the doors,” ABA President & CEO Peter Pantuso, CTIS, said during the official Opening Ceremonies. “Your presence at Marketplace this year reaffirms the value of the motorcoach, tour and travel industry. This is your ABA, and we do what we do for you. A new year means a new start.” “I want to thank the Gaylord National, and our Capital Region tourism partners and members in Maryland, Virginia and DC for helping to host a great Marketplace,” said Frank Montgomery III, CTIS, Marketplace 2010 chairman. “The energy and excitement of the delegates, the events sponsored by our wonderful hosts and members, and the giving spirit to those in need was unprecedented,” said ABA Chairman Jim Jalbert. “It reaffirmed that ABA is truly an extended family that looks out for each other and the community – whether local or North American.” ABA delegates helped to raise a record sum for a single Marketplace by donating a total of $45,200 to the Yellow Ribbon Fund for the 2010 “Marketplace Gives Back” charity. YRF helps recuperating soldiers as well as their families with housing, transportation and other basics. Branson’s Tony Orlando sang “Tie A Yellow Ribbon ‘Round The Ole’ Oak Tree” for the opening ceremonies, met with the audience and visited on the show floor. ABA’s show also generated nearly $32,000 for disaster relief in Haiti, which included $25,000 from ABA and the ABA Foundation, more than $3,000 from delegates with a matching contribution by Group Sales Box Office and a $1,000 donation from the National Association of Motorcoach Operators. ABA Foundation events raised $180,000 for the Foundation’s charitable programs, which include 19 annual scholarships and research showing he value of the motorcoach, tourism and travel industry to society. Business-booking was brisk among delegates meeting on the Marketplace show floor, which was equal in size to five Wal Mart stores, and displayed 15 new motorcoaches. And in only its third year, the Product Pavilion, the micoshow for equipment and service providers to meet operators face-to-face, more than doubled its exhibitor numbers.
DoT announces Ban on Texting While Driving for Buses, Trucks
Reprinted from ABA Insider, Issue Number 64, February 1, 2010. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced last week it is prohibiting bus and truck drivers from texting while driving, a move the motorcoach industry has long supported.
Customers Speak - Music Road Hotel Listens!
Article submitted by David Sorge, Music Road Hospitality.
Pigeon Forge’s Music Road Hotel has completed another phase of room renovations. The luxury 163 room property has finished a year-long project of becoming an all non-smoking facility. “Our guests wanted a smoke free environment, additionally, we desired a more updated look so we spent a year removing all the wall-paper and replacing it with a special wall treatment which makes the rooms fresh with an even more warm and inviting atmosphere.” stated Sande Weiss, President, Music Road Hospitality. This added to a complete gutting and remodeling of bathrooms two years ago which offered new styling for their guests. The hotel has oversized baths with a two sink vanity which is perfect for tours. Rooms were also updated with all new white bedding treatments with burgundy scarf and bolster pillows which make Music Road Hotel shine above the rest. “In addition to the renovations our customers love our 18 item complimentary breakfast, but wanted more protein. Therefore we pulled the staff together and for over a month and taste tested different products until we were satisfied with scrambled eggs & bacon, and a new sausage gravy for our delicious hot biscuits.” stated Weiss. But don’t worry; they’ve kept the signature hot cinnamon rolls along with their freshly baked cranberry & carrot muffins. These new items, along with all the other wonderful breakfast selections, are what keep customers loyal to Music Road Hotel. The Music Road Hotel’s sister property, Music Road Inn has also begun offering this new hot breakfast. Both properties offer spacious, dedicated breakfast rooms. The Music Road Hotel’s Riverside Room opens onto a patio overlooking the Little Pigeon River. Finally, the company has launched a new Music Road Convention Center website dedicated to providing more information for convention planners and tour operators. The site features detailed information on the Music Road Convention Center, its services and hotel features. Log on at www.musicroadmeetings.com.
�MCASC Winter 2010 Newsletter WQb
The prohibition took effect immediately, and truck and bus drivers who text while driving on the job may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750, U.S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood said during a press conference in Washington. Nineteen states and DC already prohibit all drivers from texting behind the wheel, and another 10 states restrict texting by new drivers. Research by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shows the sending or receiving of text messages while driving results in the driver taking their eyes off of the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting. At 55 miles per hour, this means that the driver is traveling the length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road.
$10.7 Million in aDa WheelchairLift Grants Now available
Reprinted from ABA Insider, Issue Number 64, February 1, 2010. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently announced the availability of $10.7 million in Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) wheelchair lift grants as part of its Over-the-Road Bus (OTRB) Accessibility Program. The monies have been made available by combining funding from the Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 appropriations and unspent funds from bus operators that received FY 2006 grants. The current grant application deadline is April 15, 2010. The ADA grant program makes available monies for intercity fixed route operators and other bus operations such as local fixed route, charter, tour, commuter, shuttles,special operations, etc. Bus operators are provided federal grant assistance under this program in order to improve mobility options for persons with disabilities. In past years, more than 90 percent of those operators who have received federal grant funds under the Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility grant program have been ABA members. ABA has created a special Web site page to answer questions and assist operators interested in applying forsuch grants at ww.buses.org/adagrants. Please contact Brandon Buchanan via e-mail ([email protected]) or call (202) 218-7227 with any questions regarding the ADA grant instructions,the application process, or your project’s eligibility.
Tech-Savvy Travelers Prefer Buses, New academic Study Says
Reprinted from ABA Insider, Issue Number 63, January 8, 2010. The growing availability on intercity buses of access to digital technology while traveling “may be a major factor when consumers make their long distance transportation choices,” according to a new study released today by DePaul University’s Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development. The high-tech traveler has been a driving force in the continued growth of bus travel, which grew 5.1 percent in 2009, the third straight year bus ridership has surged, according to the DePaul University researchers. “Train traffic has been flat, while airline service declined 7 percent in the past year,” the study reports. “The prevalence of portable electronics is changing the
dynamics of how we make travel choices,” said Dr. Joseph P. Schwieterman, PhD., director of the Chaddick Institute and the study’s author.
Sleep apnea Driver Safety Conference Slated Reprinted from ABA Insider, Issue 65, February 15, 2010. The American Sleep Apnea Association plans to conduct a first-ever national conference on sleep apnea and driver fatigue, with ABA VP for Regulatory & Industry Affairs Norm Littler serving on the conference’s advisory board. Studies show that up to 28 percent of commercial drivers among all surface transportation modes may be afflicted by the illness, creating a six times greater risk of being involved in a crash, and a seven times greater risk of having multiple crashes. Confirmed participants include ABA, the American Trucking Associations, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, and other agencies. The conference is slated for May 12 at The Westin Baltimore (BWI airport), and will be preceded by a reception and keynote address from NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman on May 11. For more information about the conference, contact Reid Blank at (408) 247-0030 or [email protected].
Reprinted from Sam Frowine’s New Wealth Leader newsletter. Visit www.ThePerformanceGroupUSA.com for more information.
As we move into a new decade, what opportunities will you find amid the fragments of the economic deconstruction? Many of the business owners I spoke with in the final days and weeks of last year were hesitant to set big goals or to think in terms of strategic planning beyond the next six months or a year. Here’s what I tell people: 2010 is the Year of Discovery. A time for crying “Eureka!” or “Aha!” Business owners are pioneers; whether we’re start-ups or reinventors, we’ve all pioneered. Even so, the one thing we can expect in 2010 is that we’ll see things we’ve never seen before! We’re walking into the frontier, so it’s impossible to say exactly what our discoveries will be. But we can keep our eyes on certain areas where discoveries are likely. Look for discoveries: in relationships with strategic and capital partners; in customers and clients; in competitors; in organizational structure; in technology applied to scale; in communication expressions; in changing asset values. Keep your eyes open for new and unexpected ways of thinking about Business Wealth. The window into this Year of Discovery won’t be open forever.
2010: The Year of Discovery
MCASC Winter 2010 Newsletter10WQb
News From:
iRS per diem, hikes, mileage rate cutReprinted from Bus and Motorcoach News, February 1, 2010. The Internal Revenue Service has increased the per diem rate for drivers to $59 per day effective Jan. 1. This is the daily standard allowance a driver can be reimnursed while away from home for meals and incidental expenses. To claim the deduction, a driver must save all mean and incidental receipts or use the daily standard allowance. The per diem rate, has been $52 for the past few years, which is the daily standard allowance set annually be the IRS. The IRS also has announced that the allowable mileage deduction for the business use of small vehicles will be 50 cents a mile this year.
Wheelchair-lift grants availableReprinted from Bus and Motorcoach News, February 15, 2010. The Federal Transit Administration has begun accepting applications from private bus operators for grant to help pay for installing wheelchair lifts in coaches. The long-delayed 2009 Federal Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program will award grants totaling $10.7 million for fiscal 2009, which ended last September. The amount being awarded is an increase from previous years largely because $1.9 million in fiscal 2006 money that wasn’t spend has been added to this year’s base of $8.8 million. Prior-year total averaged around $7 million to $7.5 million. Typically, around 100 operators end up receiving grants each year. The grants awarded under the program usually range from $25,000 to $40,000, which is about enough to pay for one lift on one coach. Since the program originated early in this decade, roughly half the money each year has gone to large, fixed-route operators, notably Greyhound, which under federal rules must have 100 % of its coaches wheelchair-lift equipped by the end of October 2012. Line-run outfits with annual revenue of $8.6 million or more must meet that requirement. Smaller and non-line-run operators have far less demanding accessibility mandates to follow.The money awarded through the grant program can be used to retrofit lifts, help offset the cost of a new lift-equipped coach, and pay for training. Application for the grant money must be submitted by April 15. For details visit www.fta.dot.gov/laws/leg_reg_86.html. Scroll down to Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program Grants, click on one of the links at the far right. Or go to the FTA website, www.fta.dot.gov, click on “Legislation, Registration & Guidance,” and then on “Federal Register,” and scroll down to Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program Grants and click on the links. Grant applications can be mailed to the FTA regional office in the area where the operator is based, or sent electronically through the federal government grants Website: www.grants.gov. For general program information, contact Blenda Younger, FTA Office of Program Management, at (202) 366-2053, or by email at [email protected]. UMA members with
Reprinted from the following website, WWW.CSA2010.FMCSA.DOT.GOV.
Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010, CSA 2010, is a new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) safety program to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes. It introduces a new enforcement and compliance model that allows FMCSA and its state partners to contact a larger number of carriers earlier in order to address safety problems before crashes occur. When the program is fully rolled out by the end of 2010, we will have a new nationwide system that will make the roads safer for motor carriers and the public alike! What does CSa 2010 mean to me? CSA 2010 replaces SafeStat with a new Safety Measurement System (SMS) that measures the previous two years of roadside violations and crash data. With SMS, every inspection counts, not just out-of-service violations, and both driver and carrier safety performance are monitored. How will this change affect drivers? • Unsafe carrier and driver behaviors that lead to crashes will be identified and addressed. • All safety-based roadside inspection violations will count, not just Out-of-Service (OOS) violations. • Drivers will be more accountable for safe on-road performance — good news for drivers with strong safety performance records. What can drivers do to prepare for the change? • Know and follow safety rules and regulations. • Check out web-based commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safe driving tips at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/outreach/education/driverTips/index.htm • Become knowledgeable about the new Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) and how FMCSA will assess safety under CSA 2010. • Review the Safety Measurement System (SMS) methodology document at http://csa2010.fmcsa.dot.gov/outreach.aspx • Keep copies of inspection reports. • Learn about employers’ safety records. • Check carrier safety records online at http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/default.aspx. • Visit the CSA 2010 site: http://csa2010.fmcsa.dot.gov. • Subscribe to the RSS feed or email list to stay up-to-date on CSA 2010 news and information. under CSa 2010, FMCSa will: • Reach more CMV carriers earlier and more frequently Improve efficiency of carrier investigations by focusing on specific unsafe behaviors, identifying causes, and requiring corrective actions. • Hold carriers and drivers accountable for their safety performance, demanding and enforcing safe on-road performance. For more information, go online to CSA2010.FMCSA.DOT.GOV. You’ll find frequently asked questions and much more information to help you prepare for CSA 2010.
What is CSA 2010?
11MCASC Winter 2010 Newsletter WQb
questions can contact Ken Presley at (800) 424-8262, or by email at [email protected]
Deadline for intercity bus security grants is extendedReprinted from Bus and Motorcoach News, February 15, 2010. The deadline to apply for a fiscal 2010 Intercity Bus Security Grant was extended by nearly a week. The Department of Homeland Security announced that because of a scheduled “service outage” of the federal grants website, www.grants.gov, earlier this month, the deadline for the security grant program was extended to just before midnight Feb. 18, from Feb. 12. Questions can be directed by email to [email protected], or by calling (800) 368-6498.
Driver training should be ongoingReprinted from Bus and Motorcoach News, January 2010. Teaching newly hired drivers how to safely operate a motorcoach shouldn’t end when they’ve successfully completed the company’s training course for new drivers. Instead, the classroom and behind-the-wheel training that most operators offer their recruits should be considered just the beginning. “You (also) need a very good in-service training program because you need to train them after they’ve been hired,” safety consultant Tom Carrigan of Deacher Consulting Group told operators at the sixth annual Safety Management Seminar sponsored by the UMA. He said regular follow-up training should be conducted for all drivers and special sessions should be developed for individual drivers who require additional one-on-one training to eliminate specific problems. In addition, he emphasized that drivers also need to be monitored on a regular basis to make sure they are not overlooking or ignoring company policies and procedures or picking up bad habits. “Many fleet managers wait for a crash and then react to it by looking into bad driving habits,” he added. The monitoring, which can be done by ride-along observations, video cameras, onboard recorders or other methods, are good ways to find out if a driver has developed any bad driving habits that could lead to an accident or other problems. Carrigan said some long-time drivers tend to repeat and stretch dangerous driving habits because they have been doing it for a long time without any negative consequences. “With following too closely, four seconds eventually becomes three and a half seconds and three and a half seconds becomes three seconds,” he said. “If you leave drivers out there long enough, they’re going to get comfortable.” He also recommends that all training courses –- the material and the drivers in attendance -– be carefully documented. “The lack of documentation may come back and bite you some day,” he emphasized. “The driver who follows too closely can come back and say they were never told about that four-second rule.” With proper documentation, the driver can be shown that the rule was discussed during an in-service training session that he or she attended. If an accident does occur, the driver should not only be quizzed about how it happened but also be encouraged to discuss things that possibly should or could have been done differently to avoid the incident. Such a discussion is likely to uncover a bad driving habit that could be corrected so a similar incident is not repeated. Carrigan also reminded operators of the importance
of training drivers on new models of coaches that are added to the fleet and when new equipment is installed on existing buses. Additionally, instruction classes should be held for specific issues such as driving in bad weather, what to do if a front tire blows, and proper seat and mirror adjustments. “If you stick with it long enough, drivers will realize their performance really matters,” Carrigan said.
Cut risks by hiring good driversReprinted from Bus and Motorcoach News, January 2010. Hiring risky motorcoach drivers can result in more crashes, higher insurance rates and poor customer relations. So, why risk it? Robert Crescenzo, vice president of Lancer Insurance, says motorcoach operators who want to avoid such problems need to pay more attention to the type of people they hire to drive their coaches. “If you can say ‘no’ to customers who are asking too much, then you must be able to say ‘no’ to driver applicants,” he told operators attending the United Motorcoach Association’s sixth annual Safety Management Seminar. “And that can be particularly hard, especially when you are attempting to get a full staff of drivers.” He said operators can reduce potential problems simply by recognizing drivers who studies have shown to be risky when they get behind the wheel of a coach. People who are aggressive or angry top the list of drivers who are considered to carry the highest risks and cause the most harm to a company. “It’ll show up when they’re driving in a construction zone or in heavy traffic,” Crescenzo noted. Others with the potential to cause trouble include drivers who are impatient, have little driving experience, don’t care for their jobs, suffer from sleep disorders, have an unhappy home life, are deep in debt, and are dishonest. Older and younger drivers can lead to problems as well. “The age of a driver causes increased risks,” Crescenzo said, noting that younger drivers are more likely to be more aggressive, drive faster and get more tickets, while older drivers are much slower to react to road situations, which could increase their changes of having an accident. Drivers who have little or no social or people skills can be troublesome, too. “They might be very good drivers but they should be driving trucks, and you might want to make that happen for them,” he said. To reduce the potential for problems, he suggested that operators develop hiring procedures that include structured personal interviews, personality testing, medical examinations and road testing. In addition, he said they should have ongoing programs that evaluate driver performance and investigate complaints from customers and motorists as well as driver training courses that are targeted to correct specific insufficiencies of individual drivers. Crescenzo also urged operators to be cautious when they call in someone to handle a trip last minute, even if they respond eagerly. Some, he said, might not be prepared to take on a trip with short notice, perhaps because they had been looking forward to a weekend away from work or they had not slept for some time. “If you can’t do a trip because you don’t have a driver, then farm it out,” he suggested. He reminded operators that the hiring and managing of their drivers is one of their most important responsibilities because drivers play critical roles in the settling of accident claims and in jury decisions. Crescenzo said drivers can say the wrong thing after an accident – “the brakes didn’t work” or “I thought I could make it” -– that can be harmful to a case or they may not be very good in a deposition or on the witness stand. “Drivers are key to claim control,” he said.
MCASC Annual Meeting & Market PlaceAugust 23 - 26, 2010
Spartanburg Marriott at Renaissance Park, Spartanburg, SC
PresidentBob Garrett
Sunshine Travel & Express803-283-4407 FAX 803-283-4409
Vice PresidentJohn Thomas
Eastside Transportation Service864-609-5466 FAX 864-801-3636
Secretary/TreasurerBuddy Young
Capitol Bus Lines, Inc.803-794-9661 FAX 803-739-1450
Immediate Past PresidentWalter Bryant, Jr.Bryant Tours, LLC
843-552-2811 FAX [email protected]
Charles ColemanSee & See Friendly Tours, LLC
803-496-9394 FAX [email protected]
Bennie ElliottCarolina Transit of the Low Country843-681-3970 FAX 843-681-3781
Willie HendersonHenderson Charters, Inc.
864-984-0709 FAX [email protected]
Elaine JohnsonCross Country Trailways, Inc.
864-253-9000 FAX [email protected]
JoLynn LottJean’s Bus Service, Inc.
864-242-1673 FAX [email protected]
Baldwin “Nick” NicholsonLakim Bus Service, Inc.
843-814-8787 FAX [email protected]
Sam Pipkin5 Star Transportation
843-825-3595 FAX [email protected]
Frankie SistareLancaster Trailways of the Carolinas, Inc.
803-285-2027 FAX [email protected]
Pam YorkGray Line of Myrtle Beach
843-448-9483 FAX [email protected]
Officers
Directors
Associate RepresentativesJohn Hatch
Bus and Coach International407-615-0647 FAX 888-875-5883
Cricket Elliott-LeeperAtlanta’s Gwinnett CVB
888-494-6638 FAX [email protected]
Claude PayneABC Companies
800-222-2871 FAX [email protected]
Lauren PonderSpartanburg CVB
864-594-5051 FAX [email protected]
AdministrationLinda Morris
106 Main Street, Brookneal, VA 24528888-376-1150 FAX 866-376-1156
www.scmotorcoach.org [email protected]
Ken PresleyUnited Motorcoach Association800-424-8262 FAX 703-838-2950
Board of Directors
Calendar
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