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PBA Is Here For You During These Challenging Times
As a Member of PBA, you're a part of our extended family. We want to do what we can to help you through these difficult times. We continue to advocate for our members and industry on a variety of issues. Right now, we are focused on getting on the radar for grants for our industry so we can be here when we are on the other side of the pandemic. We also continue to do good work to keeping you up-to-date issues important to your business operations.
Unfortunately, like so many organizations, we had to cancel our events. We first made the decision to cancel the Group Leader Marketplace and related events scheduled for March 23-24th. At today's Board meeting, we made the decision to cancel the Annual Meeting scheduled for June. The revenues from these events largely fund our operations.
However, to assist you, we made the decision to provide all current in good-standing members free membership for one year. This will be effective May 1st renewals. If you paid your dues through April, your free year will be for your next renewal. We will still be emailing you an invoice with $0.00 due with a change of contact information form. We will need you still to complete and return the form via email.
If you have questions or need additional assistance, please feel free to contact our Executive Director, Pattie Cowley, at 717-236-9042 or
director@pabus.org.
In closing, we want to sincerely thank you for being a part of our PBA family.
And remember, we're in this together.
John Bailey, Chairman
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Bailey Coach - Bus Company to a Cleaning Service
Like many employers, John Bailey of Bailey Coach in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, didn't make too much of the coronavirus when he started hearing of the first reports of cases in January.
Anticipating a supply chain pinch, Bailey told his maintenance staff to stock up on materials for the company's auto shop and start looking for alternative sources.
"I told my maintenance staff that any part that comes from China that we have, I said order all the parts now, anything you need, order it now - tires, belts, brakes - so we have them in our shop," Bailey said.
Read more...
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Bailey Coach offers free disinfecting for York County first responders.
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REGISTER OR
SAVE-THE-DATE!
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2020 Safety Preparedness Workshop
August 11, 2020
Human Trafficking Coalition Build
August 18, 2020
PBA 2021 Marketplace
March 23, 2021
York Expo Center
York, PA
PBA 2022 Marketplace
March 2022 (22 or 29th)
The Liberty Arena
Williamsport, PA
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PennDOT Corona Virus Webpage
In response to COVID-19, PennDOT has implemented a variety of operational changes and maintaining all of the CDL updates on their
corona virus site.
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Governor's Announce Multi-State Council to Restore Economy
Recognizing that their states have one integrated regional economy, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Delaware Governor John Carney, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker today announced the creation of a multi-state council to restore the economy and get people back to work. This announcement builds on the states' ongoing regional approach to combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more.
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CARE Act Information from Senator Toomey's Officer
The goal of the CARES Act and economic relief available to the motor coach industry is to make access to economic relief as broad as possible for businesses, and this starts with small businesses having access to bridge loans to keep employees on the payroll and make fixed cost payments such as rent/utilities. For a business with 500 or fewer employees, they may participate in the
SBA and Treasury Paycheck Protection Program
. Most of this loan can ultimately be forgiven if spent on maintaining payroll and making mortgage interest, rent, and utility payments.
Mass transit and airports received funding through existing FTA and FAA grant programs. Additionally, Title II of the CARES Act provides broad-based tax relief to businesses of all sizes starting with a deferral of employer payroll taxes (half of an employers payroll tax liability would have to be paid back by end of 2021 and the other half by end of 2022). Employers who do not borrow through the Paycheck Protection Program can utilize the Employee Retention Tax Credit More information, along with other tax relief measures, can be
found here.
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Waiver for States Concerning Third Party CDL Skills Test Examiners in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency
Under this waiver, the State is not required to provide third party CDL skills test examiners with formal in person or online training in administering the CDL knowledge tests. However, the State must provide these examiners with access to written training/instructional materials for the knowledge test training referenced in 49 CFR 384.228(c)(3) regarding the general and specialized knowledge tests, administration of the knowledge test, and the selection of the appropriate tests and test forms. States may provide these materials electronically or through other means. The waiver does not apply to third party CDL test examiners who have not maintained their CDL test examiner certification or third party CDL test examiners who had not completed a CDL skills test examiners training course that meets the requirements of 49 CFR 384.228(d) prior to the date of this waiver.
Get detailed information.
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Updated Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Practice and Procedure During the COVID-19 Emergency
- Governor Wolf has suspended portions of Section 413 of the Workers' Compensation Act (77 P.S. §§ 774.2 and 774.3), which require insurers to issue an Insurer's Affidavit in support of filing a Notice of Suspension or Modification in WCAIS.
- In the Pennsylvania legislature, members of both the House and Senate have proposed legislation to eliminate the burden of proof on certain workers who have contracted COVID-19. Under this bill, coronavirus will be presumed to be an occupational disease for employees of life-sustaining businesses and occupations. The following occupations are being considered, though this is not meant to be an exhaustive list: Nurses, Doctors, Emergency Medical Technicians, Police, Firefighters, Pharmacists and Grocery Store employees. If this legislation passes the House and Senate and if it is signed into law by Governor Wolf, those who contract the virus in these employment fields will have the presumption of causation/work-relatedness. This presumption would then shift the burden of proof to the employer to establish that there is no work-relatedness. This change alters the present scenario in which workers in these industries must establish - in pandemic circumstances - that they contracted the virus at work as opposed to from other sources. Read more...
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CDC and FMCSA Actions Address Need for Transportation in the Response
to the COVID-19 Pandemic
FMCSA Update
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ("FMCSA") has already issued an Emergency Declaration providing an exemption from hours-of-service provisions of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance in support of relief efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreaks. The Emergency Declaration provides necessary relief from FMCSRs for motor carriers and drivers engaged in the transport of essential supplies, equipment and persons in direct assistance of relief efforts related to COVID-19 outbreaks. "Direct assistance" means transportation and other relief services provided by a motor carrier or its driver(s)CDC Update incident to the immediate restoration of essential services, such as medical care, or essential supplies such as food, related to COVID-19 outbreaks during the emergency.
Get more information.
CDC Update
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued guidance to clarify that its previous self-quarantining guidance for residents of the Greater New York City area does not apply to transportation and delivery workers driving into the city to deliver needed supplies. The CDC recommends these drivers, to the extent possible, stay in their vehicles while supplies are loaded and unloaded, practice social distancing at other times, move to electronic receipts, and sleep in sleeper cabs when necessary and available. According to the CDC, "Drivers who take these precautions should not need to self-quarantine when they leave the greater New York area, unless self-quarantine is recommended by state or local officials for all residents in the areas where they live." The CDC also stated in its Domestic Travel Advisory for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut that it does not apply to truck drivers, delivery workers, and other employees of critical infrastructure industries.
Get more information.
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COVID-19: Motivation Tips To Manage Fear
Past PBA Keynote Speaker, Steve Gilliland, shares a message to help manage fear during this unexpected and difficult time. For more than 21 years, human motivation has been his passion. He encourages us to not make decisions based on fear, but rather out of responsibility. His message isn't about statistics, speculation or hysteria. It's about hope and faith-and motivation for better health. Steve reminds us that health is a luxury, so our focus shouldn't be on who is right or who is wrong right now. It should be on global solidarity. Let's not speculate on the what-ifs, he says. Instead, let's do whatever it takes. We stand, as a species and as a planet, shoulder to shoulder during this journey of uncertainty. Click on the video below to hear his message.
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CVSA's New 2020 North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria Now in Effect
Starting April 1, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) 2020 North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria is now in effect. The 2020 out-of-service criteria replaces and supersedes all previous versions. The North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria (OOSC) is the pass-fail criteria for roadside safety inspections. The purpose of the criteria is to identify critical safety violations. Those violations render the driver, vehicle and/or motor carrier out of service until the condition(s) or violation(s) are corrected or repaired.
Read more...
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New TSA Law and Grant Funding, Deadline to Apply: April 30, 2020
TSA has written new laws regarding security which will affect your business if you service any of 11 specific regions. They have also appropriated grant money to help you comply.
View a presentation and get more information. Ensure your speakers are on for audio. Oddly enough, the timing is good now as very few companies have applied for a grant, thereby increasing your chances for approval as the application period is drawing toward a close.
For further information and a printed copy of the law, contact Mike Licata at (609) 448-9655 or
mike@EZClass.us.
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FMCSA Clearinghouses and Portal Contact Numbers
To better assist motor carriers, FMCSA has set up a new phone line for support with the FMCSA Portal. If you hear from carriers who are experiencing issues creating or accessing their Portal accounts, please refer them to the phone number below. The Portal Registration Call Center's hours of operation are Monday thru Friday, 8:00 am-8:00 pm, EDT. FMCSA is continuing to work on streamlining support for this effort.
FMCSA Portal Registration Call Center
800-724-2811
If stakeholders have questions about using the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, you can direct them to the Clearinghouse Help line.
Clearinghouse Help Line
844-955-0207
They can also use the Clearinghouse Help form in the
Contact Us page.
Enforcement Resources
For more information on how employers and other stakeholders are required to use the Clearinghouse, be sure to visit the
Clearinghouse Enforcement Resources page.
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PBA'S MAILING ADDRESS
As a reminder, we moved our offices last July. Please make sure your databases have been updated with our NEW address. We are still getting mail forwarded to us, but that will expire in July.
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Do You Have News
to Share?
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Trans-Bridge Lines, Wolf's Bus Lines, Fullington Trailways &
Krapf Transportation
have coaches and other items for sale now!
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The Motorcoach PAC allows the Pennsylvania Bus Association to support legislators who work with us to promote, change or defeat legislation that impacts our industry. Contributing to Motorcoach PAC gives us a stronger voice in Harrisburg. Please consider giving $200, $300 or more.
Personal checks may be made payable and sent to:
Motorcoach PAC
200 North Third Street, Suite 1500
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Corporate funds are not permitted in any form. Unincorporated business checks are acceptable providing no owner or partner of the business is a corporation. Please contact Milliron & Goodman if you have any questions at (717) 232-5322. Political Action Committee donations are not tax deductible.
Download the solicitation form for more information.
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