JANUARY 14, 2020 - FIVE DAYS 'TIL EXPO
Are key members of your team receiving the UMA Member Newsletter every Tuesday? It's easy to sign up and keep everyone on your team up to date on industry trends, membership benefits, and important dates and events. Click the button!
Operators and Industry vendors head to Nashville
Motorcoach industry's
premier event starts Sunday
EXPO FLOOR HAS WOW FACTOR

The premier industry education and networking event of the year kicks off Sunday, and operators will have their choice among relevant education topics, access to the top vendors on the EXPO floor, a chance to see the latest vehicles technologies and services transforming the industry, and an all new Mini Coach Pavilion featuring executive coaches and mini buses that are helping operators to diversify their fleets to secure new clients and different types of work. And see below about a unique opportunity to see and walk through Hank Williams Jr.'s former Eagle tour bus.
NETWORKING DAY AND NIGHT
There will be networking opportunities both day and night as EXPOs luncheons and breakfasts give operators a chance to socialize and recharge their batteries throughout the day. In the evenings, we'll be welcomed on Sunday at the Ole Smoky/YeeHaw Brewing location ( with the Packers/49ers game on one of many big screens), we'll kick up our heels on the state's biggest dance floor at the Wildhorse Saloon Monday night, and honor the industry's high achievers and leaders on Tuesday evening in the Karl F. Dean Ballroom at the Music City Center.
EXPO Hall Hours

Yes, we have the big equipment; and a Mini Coach Pavilion, too! Join us for the official ribbon cutting on Monday afternoon.

Here's the full 2020 exhibit hall schedule:

Monday, Jan. 20
4:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Ribbon Cutting
Entrance to Halls AB, Level 3

4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
EXPO Hall Open
Halls AB

Tuesday, Jan. 21
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
EXPO Hall Open
Halls AB
Lunch served in the hall from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 22
9:00 a.m. - 12: Noon
EXPO Hall Open
Halls AB
Walk through history on Hank Junior's 1987 Eagle bus
Hello bus lovers! UMA attendees will have the unique opportunity to walk through a piece of country music history that is a big part of our industry's history as well! "Junior," the 1987 Eagle that was the tour bus for Hank Williams, Jr. will be on the EXPO show floor and open to visitors! You can even take this classic home with you because it's for sale right now, through www.busforsale.com .

Junior is currently owned by a local sightseeing company and no interior changes have been made to the bus since it belonged to Hank Jr. All the murals were custom made for Hank Jr. Visit Junior on the show floor next week!
PREEMPTED:  California's meal & rest break rules for drivers of passenger-carrying CMVs
by Ken Presley

Washington, DC - The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration FMCSA) released their determination regarding California’s Meal and Rest Break (MRB) as it pertains to passenger carrier drivers. FMCSA, in its preemption decision, concluded that, "...California may no longer enforce the MRB rules with respect to drivers of passenger-carrying CMVs subject to FMCSA’s HOS (hours of service) rules.

California’s Meal and Rest Break law requires drivers be provided a 30-minute uninterrupted, duty-free meal break when working more than 5 hours in a workday. Additionally, drivers must be provided a 10-minute uninterrupted, duty-free rest break for every 4 hours worked.

AUTONOMY
US commits to leadership in future of autonomy
Transportation Secretary outlines the federal government’s plan to unify automated vehicle efforts across various departments, agencies, commissions and the White House to provide high-level guidance to local governments and innovators.

FleetOwner.com | Jan 13, 2020 | By Josh Fisher

LAS VEGAS --The federal government is “all in for safer, better and more inclusive transportation aided by automated driving systems,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao said during her Consumer Electronics Show 2020 keynote address here, in which she announced the latest national initiative on automated vehicle technology.

Ensuring American Leadership in Automated Vehicle Technologies: Automated Vehicles 4.0  (AV 4.0), a joint report by the DOT and National Science & Technology Council, was released by the White House during CES 2020. AV 4.0 aims to unify automated vehicle efforts across 38 federal departments, independent agencies, commissions, and executive offices of the President, providing high-level guidance to state and local governments, innovators, and all stakeholders on the U.S. government’s approach towards AVs.




Are you meeting (and setting) customers' expectations?
To succeed, the value of what you offer must be greater than what people expect

Entrepreneur.com | January 14, 2020 |by Jason Feifer

My family and I went out for brunch recently in Miami. We ordered about $60 worth of food, and when the waiter asked what I’d like to drink, I said what I always do: “Just water, please.”

“We charge 50 cents for water because we filter it five times,” the waiter said. That’s ridiculous, I replied. The waiter agreed -- in fact, he said, he’d been trying to talk the  restaurant’s  owner out of this policy for a while now. But the owner wouldn’t budge because he’d invested in some fancy filtration system.

I was irritated, but I wasn’t going to buy a costlier drink simply to avoid the small fee. “Fine,” I said. “I’ll take the water.” When the check came, the waiter didn’t charge me the 50 cents after all. It was his small act of rebellion, and I showed appreciation in my tip.

Advertisement: New opportunities in Bus & Motorcoach News
Bus & Motorcoach News  is mailed twice monthly to all UMA members. In addition, it's available online 24/7 at  www.busandmotorcoachnews.com and by email, on a schedule you choose! Invite everyone on your staff to stay informed about the industry by signing up for email updates from  Bus & Motorcoach News .  Sign up here. You can choose daily or weekly updates! Below is a sampling of what's in our latest digital and print editions.
OSHA orders compensation for UPS driver who refused to violate ELD regulations
Bus & Motorcoach News | January 14, 2020
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered UPS Ground Freight to pay compensation and back wages to a driver who experienced retaliation after refusing to operate a truck without an electronic logging device.

The retaliatory actions of UPS violated the  Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) , OSHA ruled. The agency ordered UPS to pay the driver $15,273 in compensatory damages, $30,000 in punitive damages and approximately $2,700 in back wages plus interest.

The violations occurred at the UPS facility in Londonderry, New Hampshire.

THE LATEST FROM BUS & MOTORCOACH NEWS
Motorcoach Industry Calendar
Don't miss out! Sign up now!
JANUARY 2020
  • 15 Maryland Motorcoach Association Legislative Reception, Gov. Calvert House
  • 19-23 UMA Motorcoach EXPO, Nashville, TN www.motorcoachexpo.com
  • 21 National Association of Motorcoach Operators Semi Annual Members Meeting, Nashville, TN (During UMA Motorcoach EXPO)
  • 27-29 Tennessee Motorcoach Association Convention and Marketplace, Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa, Florence, AL https://tnmca.net/

FEBRUARY 2020

MARCH 2020
APRIL

JUNE 2020
  • 21-24 PBA Annual Meeting, Wind Creek, Bethlehem, PA Details
  • 25-28 New England Bus Association Annual Conference, Northfalmouth, MA www.newenglandbus.org
AUGUST 2020

SEPTEMBER 2020

OCTOBER 2020
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 [email protected] . We love to hear from our members!