- Details
- Category: Industry News
Coach manufacturer ABC Companies shared a powerful video that captured the impact that the bus industry has on everyday Americans—from military to schools and everything in between. In the video, President Roman Cornell details the devastating effects that the pandemic has had on the bus industry and he pleads with anyone watching to share with members of Congress so that operators will be recognized in the next round of emergency funding in Congress.
“On behalf of the men and women of the motorcoach industry, we need your help,” Cornell says in the video. “With most of us being family-owned businesses, not one dollar of the trillions being spent on the coronavirus was designated for our industry. We aren’t large organizations like airlines, hotels, or city bus authorities. No, we are your neighbors, we are your friends, we are your family going out of business at record numbers per day.”
In an email to the industry from the company:
As we weather the storm of this economy, we must come together to make our industry’s voice heard. Attached is a video designed to share with friends, family, and most importantly, government representatives.
Our goals are simple:
- Remind everyone that motorcoaches move us all
- The economy needs us to return to health
- We need government support to survive
The Opportunity:
Looking forward, there is another objective we can all get behind. This pandemic provides a one-time opportunity to build awareness for our industry so we can emerge even stronger. We have been silently improving the traveling experience for millions of passengers, with amenities, comfort, and convenience that easily surpasses airline and train travel, yet we are still often overlooked. Now is our time to ask for support and get the credit our industry deserves.
The Ask:
- Share, like, and forward this video to anyone with an email address using #dontmissourbus
- Forward photos of your passengers, from champions to visitors and voters to marketing@abc-companies.com [so] we can share our great industry
Visit abc-companies.com for more information. The video link is here.
[04.03.20]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
MLOA President Darrell Anderson
On Wednesday, April 1, the Minority Limousine Operators of America (MLOA) held another in their series of weekly calls designed to keep their members up to date on industry news in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. MLOA President Darrell Anderson of A-National Limousine called the meeting to order with a moment of silence, to honor those in the industry and beyond who have lost love ones to the virus.
Ground transportation “Energizer Bunny” Matt Daus of Windels Marx was the meeting’s special guest. The attorney/transportation regulation specialist has been a constant fixture among webinars and conference calls during the past several weeks, breaking down the complexities of the government bills and regs into easy-to-understand bullet points. On Wednesday’s call, Daus focused on the recently passed CARES Act, and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) contained within.
Intended for companies with fewer than 500 employees, the PPP is a loan program through local lenders that provides businesses with payroll for their staff for eight weeks. Daus explained that the loan is essentially a “gift” from the government to help retain valuable employees. According to the SBA: “The loan will be fully forgiven if the funds are used for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities (due to likely high subscription, at least 75 percent of the forgiven amount must have been used for payroll). Loan payments will also be deferred for six months. No collateral or personal guarantees are required. Neither the government nor lenders will charge small businesses any fees.” Ultimately, the goal of the PPP is to keep your staff, even during this slow period, to encourage a continuous workforce when the quarantines lift and it is safe to travel again. Aside from the low interest rate, the PPP is especially advantageous for small businesses as no personal guarantee is necessary. More details on the PPP can be found here and here.
While the PPP lets operators pay any member of their staff, Daus strongly advised that ICs not be included, as that can open owners up to employee classification suits down the line. However, ICs can apply for their own PPP loan after 4/10.
Since the funds are ultimately finite, Daus suggested that all operators apply as close to the April 3 start date as possible.
MLOA’s next call is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8 at 1 pm ET.
Visit mlooa.org for more information.
[04.02.20]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
The American Bus Association (ABA) applauded Congress for agreeing to a third COVID-19 economic relief package known as the CARES Act, but feels they missed the bus—literally.
ABA President Peter Pantuso
In a statement from ABA President & CEO Peter Pantuso: “We appreciate the Congress and the Administration coming together to continue to help small businesses during this time of crisis. Of the 3,000 bus and motorcoach companies in the United States, 90 percent are small, family-owned business who have had to close their businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. ... ABA’s nearly 3,000 travel and tour members are mostly small businesses and many of the 2 million people who work in group travel industry are also are unemployed and the U.S. economy will lose $237 billion in economic value generated by the industry."
He continued: “Congress missed the bus. They completely ignored the motorcoach industry—the movers of America—while every other form of passenger transportation, i.e., airlines, Amtrak, and transit, have received more than $50 billion to save these industries. The bus and motorcoach industry connects cities; connects rural areas to urban centers, serves as the only means of intercity transportation in many parts of America; serves workers in every part of the country including commuters in urban environments and business campuses, mines, oilfield workers, etc.; serves the security and strategic needs of the country by moving troops and takes people out of harm’s way during hurricanes; connects families and friends; and brings travelers to tourist destinations economically when Americans do not have the access or the resources to use other modes of transportation. What will happen when disaster comes and there is no one to call? Congress needs to help the bus and motorcoach industry NOW!”
In a letter to members, Pantuso urged that there is still work to do, especially as Congressional leaders are back home in their districts for a few weeks during recess. As Congress will surely start deliberating a fourth stimulus package upon their return, ABA created a “tool kit” to help fight for the industry.
- Letter template to send to legislator; more information on taking action is available here
- Draft local press release to send to area media
- Use economic data to help you make your case (available to ABA members only); ABA Foundation’s economic data can be sorted by state, county and city
- According to the ABA, the motorcoach industry alone employees nearly 100,000 workers and moves about 600 million passengers annually—which is in line with domestic airlines’ trips
- ABA has also asked members to share videos with the association detailing their shutdown experiences, which should also be tweeted to Congress (find Twitter handles here)
“We are not asking for a $50 billion bailout. We are asking for grants and loans that will save this industry from collapse,” Pantuso said in a letter to members. “Know that we are not giving up the fight. We continue to work with our outside consultants, industry association colleagues, and you, to ring every phone on Capitol Hill.”
ABA’s frequently updated coronavirus resource page can be found here.
[03.31.20]