June 26, 2018
EXPO
UMA's Fort Lauderdale hotel block has 3 nearby options

The lodging choices for the 2019 EXPO are top notch properties nearby the Broward County Convention Center. The room block is currently available for reservations at any of these gorgeous properties.

Book your stay now and get the lowest rate. There are more details at the www.motorcoachexpo.com website.
Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina 
1881 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 
Rooms are $242 a night 
Distance to the Greater Fort Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center is 0.2 miles or less than 5 minutes 
Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort Lauderdale 17th Street 
1100 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 
Rooms are $242 a night 
While walkable (0.7 miles or 13 minutes) to the Greater Fort Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center shuttle transportation to the convention center will be provided over event dates.  
Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina 
2301 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 
Rooms are $199 a night 
While walkable (0.8 miles or 15 minutes) to the Greater Fort Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center shuttle transportation to the convention center will be provided over event dates.  
Book inside UMA’s housing block.  It benefits you and UMA when you stay at the hotels included in the UMA Motorcoach EXPO hotel block: 

  • UMA has contracted hotel rooms at discounted rates on your behalf. If our contracted housing obligations are not met, we pay substantial penalty fees to the hotel. This would require us to increase registration rates in the future to cover such penalties.  
  • The hotels provide UMA with complimentary meetings space which helps keep registration fees affordable. However, we must utilize a certain number of contracted sleeping rooms in order to receive the space on a complimentary basis.  
  • UMA’s business value to a city is measured by the total number of sleeping rooms actually booked inside our contracted rooming block.  

And please beware of outreach by unauthorized housing agencies that say they are affiliated with our show. We will never reach out to you this way and please let us know if you are contacted by third parties who engage in this type of scam.
Chicago party bus ordinance:
Newest developments operators need to know about
Chicago's Mayor and City Council have dug in their heels regarding a controversial ordinance designed to regulate so called "party buses." Meanwhile, the effort has ensnared nearly every charter bus traversing the city.

In response, a newly formed "Chicago Bus Coalition" has joined with the Midwest Bus & Motorcoach Association, employed an advocate, and is actively working to revise the ordinance. UMA is providing support in an advisory role and will continue to update members.  

KEY DETAILS
Here is some helpful information operators should know:

While a permit is part of the ordinance, buses registered and regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation or state of Illinois are exempt from the permit part of the ordinance. However, buses operating within the Chicago city limits must comply with the other components of the ordinance.

Vehicles that are rated to carry 15 or more passengers that may be stopping at a location or venue where there may be an "opportunity" for alcohol to be served or consumed on the vehicle must:
  • be outfitted with a security camera
  • have a licensed security guard present
  • all passengers must be informed of the prohibited acts

Further, the driver must take "affirmative steps" to ensure that no prohibited acts are taking place.

Those prohibited acts include underage drinking, disorderly conduct, possessing drug paraphernalia or drugs, unlawful possession or discharging a firearm, throwing items from the vehicle, indecent exposure, and littering.

FINES

Fines for noncompliance with city regulations can range from $100 to $10,000. Earlier this year, Chicago touted over $80,000 in fines had been issued to noncompliant charter bus operators.

Charter buses visiting or passing through Chicago must comply or avoid destinations where an opportunity to consume alcohol exists, such as ballparks, museums, concert venues, and restaurants that serve alcohol - regardless of whether anyone in the group is consuming alcohol. 

For more information, go to the city of Chicago's website or contact UMA's Ken Presley at  kpresley@uma.org  or 800-424-8262. 
2019 Motorcoach EXPO:
The future of the motorcoach industry!
INNOVATE - EDUCATE - CELEBRATE
Driverless vehicles and society: What about jobs?
2025AD.com l June 26, 2018 l by Stephan Giesler l

The automated driving community known as 2025 AD takes looks at the big picture of what autonomous vehicles could mean for society and addresses questions about impacts on jobs, the economy, and public policy. In particular, the group looks at what jobs might be lost to this emerging technology in addition to the types of employment opportunities that will arise as changes take place in driverless technology.

MEMBER RESOURCES
Add the UMA member logo to your website, Busrates listing and printed materials

UMA Members are given the opportunity to use the UMA logo on any of their promotional material. Two formats of the logo are available - one for use with printed material and one for use on your website with web-based products. The logo can be added to your stationary, business cards, and promotional material to proudly display your membership with the United Motorcoach Association. Get details on the UMA website in the members-only section.

And did you know that UMA members on Busrates.com get special treatment for their profile to make it stand out, and can use the UMA logo on their listing to show their professionalism? It's another way UMA membership helps your business stay on top.

Please contact us at 1.800.424.8262 should you experience any difficulties in downloading the image files. A UMA staff member will be happy to assist you. Similarly, email Julie Ryder at jryder@uma.org and you can receive the artwork via email.
PEOPLE
Frank Smith joins GNJMA Board of Directors
UMA member Frank Smith of Yankee Line of New York is now a member of the Greater New Jersey Motorcoach Association Board of Directors. A former Marine, Frank started his career in transportation and has been in the business for 47 years.
 
In addition to operating Yankee Line of New York and his new role at GNJMA, Frank serves as Chairman on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Motor Coach Operators.  Frank is also a 19A Examiner for the State of New York.
Compliance deadline extended for medical examiner's certification integration

FMCSA amends its regulations to delay the compliance date from June 22, 2018, to June 22, 2021, for several provisions of its April 23, 2015 Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration final rule. This action is being taken to provide FMCSA additional time to complete certain information technology (IT) system development tasks for its National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (National Registry) and provide the State Driver’s Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) sufficient time to make the necessary IT programming changes after upgrades to the National Registry. 

Motorcoach Industry Calendar

JULY 2018

AUGUST 2018

SEPTEMBER 2018

OCTOBER 2018

NOVEMBER 2018

DECEMBER 2018
  • 5-6 UMA Safety Management Seminar, NTSB Training Center, Ashburn, VA, Hotel TBA - save the date! www.uma.org/safety

JANUARY 2019
  • 4-6 IMG Maintenance and Safety Forum, Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • 6-10 UMA Motorcoach EXPO, Fort Lauderdale, FL #UMAEXPO19 www.motorcoachexpo.com

FEBRUARY 2019

MARCH 2019
  • 12 GNJMA Sponsor Appreciation Dinner, Emeril's Chophouse, Sands Casino Resort, Bethlehem, PA http://www.gnjma.com/
  • 12 GNJMA Spring Association Member Meeting & Motorcoach Professional Awards Luncheon, Sands Casino Resort, Bethlehem, PA http://www.gnjma.com/

AUGUST 2019
  • 6-9 IMG Strategic Alliance Meeting, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
YOU ARE UMA
Remember, as a UMA member you have the power of discounts on the best products and services, access to relevant education, targeted professional resources, and colleagues all over the map. Remember to consult your member directory when you need help on the road, access to more vehicles to meet demand, or services out of your area. We are UMA! Want to find other members to do business with? Use the online directory.

Reach the UMA staff by calling (703) 838-2929 or by email at info@uma.org. We love to hear from our members!