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“With a new Congress in place, and new leadership in the House, the Bus & Motorcoach Industry Legislative Fly-In is an opportunity for bus and motorcoach operators to ensure that their priorities are known,” says UMA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner. “Meeting face-to-face in group settings, operators can share important facts and statistics that show the industry’s contribution to the economy and its status as the safest mode of transportation. And most important, they can tell their individual stories of local job creation and how regulations affect small businesses. Eighty-one percent of private bus and motorcoach operators nationwide own between one and nine coaches and each coach directly provides about 3.5 jobs. Bus and motorcoach businesses are small businesses that contribute to local economies. Moreover, buses and motorcoaches bring all these benefits to the economy while producing the smallest carbon footprint among 12 different modes of transportation when considering everything from air and rail travel to hybrid cars.”
The scheduled meetings allowed operators to meet with federal legislators and inform them about the role their businesses play in transportation in their district and state while also educating them about national concerns and issues like the partial fuel tax exemption. When the exemption started out, Congress granted motorcoaches a full exemption from the fuel tax; it has been eroded by subsequent Congresses, and operators are concerned it could potentially go away if enough legislators do not realize its value.
This year’s Bus & Motorcoach Industry Fly-In was supported by 20 partner organizations from around the country joining UMA in this advocacy effort. They included: Alabama Motorcoach Association, Asian American Motorcoach Association, Bus Association of New York, California Bus Association, Georgia Motorcoach Operators Association, Greater New Jersey Motorcoach Association, Hawaii Transportation Association, International Motorcoach Group, Maryland Motorcoach Association, Midwest Bus & Motorcoach Association, Minnesota Charter Bus Operators Association, Motorcoach Association of South Carolina, National Association of Motorcoach Operators, New England Bus Association, North Carolina Motorcoach Association, Northwest Motorcoach Association, Pennsylvania Bus Association, South Central Motorcoach Association, Trailways Charter Bus Network, and Virginia Motorcoach Association.
Check out the May issue of Chauffeur Driven for expanded coverage of this annual lobbying event.
Visit uma.org for more information.
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In Connecticut, the association was unable to rally members to develop a legislative fund for the state. In Rhode Island, meanwhile, they did so—though NELA’s legislative effort ultimately failed. But in Massachusetts, the association was successful in developing a state legislative fund: The fund is ongoing today, and NELA was successful in passing new legislation in the commonwealth.
In August 2016, the Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed NELA’s TNC legislation into law. One of the results of the legislation was a new procedure, mandating that all TNC drivers in Massachusetts be subjected to a background check by the state’s Department of Public Utilities (DPU). TNCs can—and do—still conduct their own version of background checks; since the spring of 2017, their approved drivers must also be checked by the MA DPU. According to statistics from the department, the results have been consistent: 10% of drivers approved by the TNCs have been screened-out due to the DPU checks.
Another aspect of that 2016 legislation was the creation of a fund: the Transportation Infrastructure Enhancement Trust Fund is financed by TNCs remitting 20 cents for every TNC ride in the commonwealth for five years, with 5 cents of that set aside for the taxi and livery industries. Doing the math, those nickels amount to $3M dollars in Year One; assuming TNC rides remain stable in number, that’s $15M over the full five-year period.
How is the money to be used? The legislation does not prescribe any details. A firm has been contracted by the state’s finance and economic development authority to develop a plan. We have held initial conversations with the firm, and more will transpire over the next few months.
What can be expected? The fund is real. Should operators all expect a check? No, but operators should expect that NELA is on top of this, and using professionals to guide them—just as they did to get the legislation passed in the first place. The association’s goal is to see that this money is used as intended: to support the efforts of taxi and livery in Massachusetts.
Persistence works. NELA not only has but also will continue to win battles on behalf of its members. Now is the time to strengthen its base: Ask fellow operators who are not members to consider joining the NELA today. Additionally, all of members with business interests in Massachusetts should consider supporting the fund.
Email NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagyi at rick@lexian.com or call 866-736-6352 for more information.
Visit nelivery.org for more information about NELA.
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The evening’s first presentation was from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Mike McKay from MNDOT’s Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations provided an update on interstate carries and sought input on increasing vehicles for the Final Four. Mark Mullen discussed MNDOT’s roadside inspection program for commercial vehicles.
To submit commercial vehicle operations complaints, the online application is located at www.dot.state.mn.us/cvo/complaint.html. MCTA members can also call MNDOT’s dedicated complaints line at 651.366.3661. If you would like more information about the process, contact Will Jensen-Kowski at William.Jensen-Kowski@state.mn.us and he can assist you.
The second presentation was from Annabelle Juin from the Minneapolis Final Four Local Organizing Committee. She provided an update on Final Four activities relating to transportation, parking, and drop-off zones.
Information regarding transportation issues for the Final Four has been emailed to members. Please contact Peter Glessing at PHGlessing@locklaw.com if you have further questions.
Visit mnlimo.org for more information.
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