MEMBER & INDUSTRY NEWS
Welcome, New Members!

We would like to welcome our newest members to PBA:  Music City Roots - The Roots Barn and Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad.

Music City Roots - The Roots Barn, Opening Spring 2021, The Roots Barn will be the home of Music City Roots (MCR), the legendary live radio show and concert series.  Now in its 10th year, MCR will be featured alongside daytime activities, evening and curated events, gift shop and radio station.  Affordable meal/show/activity packages available.  Minutes from downtown Nashville, BNA and Opryland.    Contact:   Laurie Gregory, Senior Producer/Director of Events & Community Relations, laurie@musiccityroots.com
(615) 207-3680

Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad, The Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad is a heritage railroad based in Romney, West Virginia. The railroad operates excursion trains over a former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad line that runs between Green Spring and Petersburg.    Contact:   Camille Ensley, Retail Manager, censley@potomaceagle.com
(304) 424-0736
REGISTER OR
SAVE-THE-DATE!
Leadership Series
Marijuana in the Workplace
March 23, 2020 
(Central PA)
March 31, 2020 
(Eastern PA)

*CANCELLED*
Human Trafficking Coalition Build 
March 26, 2020
Eden Resort & Suites
 
Annual Meeting
June 21-23, 2020
Wind Creek, Bethlehem
Registration Opening in the Spring!

2020 Safety Preparedness Workshop
August 11, 2020
Save the Date!
MARKETPLACE 2020 CANCELLED
Due to the coronavirus and Pennsylvania's Governor proclamation to cancel all gatherings of 250 or more, PBA has cancelled the 2020 Marketplace.  The Awards and Networking reception has also been cancelled.  Note, both workshops scheduled for March 23rd will continue with an online format. In case you missed the March 13th release from us, please click here for a copy.
Register for Leadership Sessions-Marijuana in the Workplace
At the 2020 Leadership sessions, the hot topic of Medical Marijuana in the  Workplace will be facilitated by expert Denise Elliott. 

This year, we have scheduled three sessions on said topic. Please select the session that works best for you based on your location and availability:
  • Central PA: March 23, 2020 at Wyndham Hotel, York, PA.
    Schedule: 9:30AM-11:30AM. This event will now be held online starting at 9:30AM.   Please click here to register .
Coronavirus Hits Motorcoach Industry Hard
In just a few days, thousands of buses and motorcoaches have disappeared from the roads.  As the coronavirus pandemic is turning the world upside down, few transportation sectors are feeling the pain more deeply than the bus and motorcoach industry. Operators across North America have watched future bookings disappear as people heed warnings to avoid crowds in order to prevent the spread of the virus that has killed more than 5,000 globally.

On Friday, President Trump declared a national emergency and allocated up to $50 billion to help states deal with the crisis.  Read full article from Bus & Motorcoach News...
FMCSA Issues Emergency Declaration
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a national emergency declaration to provide hours-of-service regulatory relief to commercial vehicle drivers transporting emergency relief in response to the nationwide coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This declaration is the first time FMCSA has issued nationwide relief and follows President Trump issuing of a national emergency declaration in response to the virus. 

This Declaration addresses National emergency conditions that create a need for immediate transportation of essential supplies, equipment and persons, and provides necessary relief from FMCSRs for motor carriers and drivers engaged in the transport of essential supplies, equipment and persons.

A copy of the Emergency Declaration can be found here or by going to the following website:  https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/emergency-declaration-under-49-cfr-ss-39023-no-2020-002.
Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse Experiences New Outages
The Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS), on which the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse relies, is currently experiencing connectivity issues, thereby hampering the process through which driver's licenses can be validated. 

FMCSA has placed a notice on the Clearinghouse website alerting users that CDLIS is unavailable, meaning CDLs cannot be validated. The notice advises employers who need to conduct pre-employment queries to follow the procedures set forth in section 391.23(e) in title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This section details investigations employers must conduct for prospective drivers, including those that screen for drug and alcohol violations.
A COVID-19 Guide 
Please click here for a helpful COVID-19 guide for your use.  This information can also be found on the PABEOC dashboard at https://share.dhs.gov/paboc
For general information and updates about COVID-19, please refer to the Department of Health's website, health.pa.gov.
Coronavirus Cases Compensable Under the PA Workers' Compensation Act?
If Pennsylvania employees become infected, become exposed without being infected, or develop psychological consequences from either situation, Pennsylvania employers could face wage loss claims, medical claims, testing claims, or claims for psychiatric services or disability. 

The question is, are any or all of these claims considered compensable under the Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation or Occupational Disease Acts? To date, and understandably, there have been no specific rulings on the issue. Therefore insurance carriers, third party administrators and risk managers must rely upon precedent, similar cases and relevant fact patterns to develop case management strategies, to address the issues as they arise, and to develop reasonable prevention strategies.   Read more...
Fed Reserves Cuts Rates to Zero and Launches Massive $700 Billion Quantitative Easing Program
The Federal Reserve, saying "the coronavirus outbreak has harmed communities and disrupted economic activity in many countries, including the United States," cut interest rates to essentially zero on Sunday and launched a massive $700 billion quantitative easing program to shelter the economy from the effects of the virus.  

The new fed funds rate, used as a benchmark both for short-term lending for financial institutions and as a peg to many consumer rates, will now be targeted at 0% to 0.25% down from a previous target range of 1% to 1.25%.  Read more...
William Rohrbuagh, Past President of MMA
It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the passing of Mr. William Rohrbaugh, Owner of Bill Rohrbaugh's Charter Service, Manchester, Maryland, one of MMA's Past Presidents and longtime industry greats on March 2, 2020.   Bill served as President for MMA for many years and was very active in the Motorcoach Industry.   Bill also served on the Board of PBA.  His loyalty to the motorcoach industry will be missed.  View his obituary .
Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement Program in Effect
Drivers can be penalized for speeding in work zones as part of PennDOT's new automated work zone speed enforcement program.  There was a 60-day pre-enforcement period that began in January, where automated speed enforcement units were deployed in some work zones, but no violations were issued.

As of March 4, drivers will now be penalized. A first offense will result in a warning letter to the registered vehicle owner. There will be a $75 fine for a second offense and a $150 fine for third and subsequent offenses.    Read more...
National Travel and Tourism Week Set for May 3-9
National Travel and Tourism Week 2020 is May 3-9 with Travel Rally Day on Tuesday, May 5. The purpose of the week is to demonstrate the impact that travel and tourism have on the US economy.  Read more...
Bus & Motorcoach Industry Sales Summit
The Bus and Motorcoach Industry Sales Summit is back for its second year after a sold out inaugural event. The 2020 Sales Summit takes place in Savannah, GA, June 9-11. Agenda and speakers will be announced in the coming weeks, but you can register today and secure your place among the industry's sales leaders.  Get more information and register!
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.  
Do You Have News  to Share?
We would love to hear from you.  S hare your news via email to  director@pabus.org .
SUPPORT MOTORCOACH PAC

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.  

ITEMS FOR SALE OR WANTED

Trans-Bridge Lines, Wolf's Bus Lines, Fullington Trailways &  Krapf Transportation  have coaches and other items for sale now! 

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