Bus Industry Safety Council
Governmental Activities Review Committee
Meeting Minutes for June 2009
Chairperson Dan Tomlinson
Vice Chair Person George Carroll
Recording Secretary Mike Licata

June 8, 2009, 1500 - 1700
Chairperson Dan Tomlinson opened
Vice Chair George Carroll Absent
Mike Licata Recording Secretary Present

First Issue: Occupant Protection (Seat Belts)
Overview: Discussed seat belts laws and requirements.

• Bob Crescenzo of Lancer recommends 3 point belts. Bob warned about retrofitting buses since there could be some problems with the floors being properly stressed for seat belts.
• Loretta Bitner: NHTSA is setting standards for seat belt safety.
• Could we have a voluntary standards for the retrofit?
• Greyhound appeared to set the standard for occupant protection by being the first with belts
• Does the driver have to enforce putting on the seat belts?  Is an announcement good enough?  Is a sign good enough?
• How about roof and window safety
• Retrofitting buses will cost about $30,000 per bus. Bob Crescenzo of Lancer recommends that companies wait until there is a standard that will put some of the liability and responsibility onto the government if you met their mandates. Maybe we could have training classes on how to retrofit buses by manufacturers.
• Recommend that we get Shuster Safety Bill (HR-1135). Letter on the ABA web site to encourage congressman to pass the law. This safety bill has grant funds for smaller companies.

Second Issue: Security Training Involvement
Overview: Discussed National Level exercise this summer and the loss of the security grant program. Recommended people contact their congressman to request continuation of the security grant program.

June 8, 2009, 0900 - 1200

Third Issue: Status of New Medical Certificate *No Medical Card* procedures for CDL drivers to have medical information as part of a Driver's CDL. Review of National Registry of Certified Board Examiners Review of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) Mandate only DOT Certified doctors be allowed to give DOT Certified physicals, like an FAA flight examiner with pilots.

• The following states are not on board yet: Colorado, Illinois, Michigan Florida (currently Indiana is the only State on board and has been since the early 1990s)
• We need to ensure someone or Kevin Lewis from AAMVA (American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators) shows up so that the state pushes out information to bus companies to let the bus companies know if someone's CDL is cancelled for medical or any other reason
• Invite Kevin Lewis of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Association
• Dr Jeff Liva spoke at the BISC meeting. He addressed all the Medical concerns with the way physicals are being currently conducted and the future of DOT certified Medical Examiners.

Fourth Issue: Hours of Service, new topic, not discussed.  Discuss at the next meeting.

Fifth Issue: Get State DOT to attend the BISC meetings.  Work thru CVSA to get state compliance review.  Get someone from AMVA (American Motor Vehicle Association) to do state regulatory licenses procedures. Also invite State Motor coach Associations.

Send out minutes of meetings to State Motorcoach Associations.  Have BISC members attend state meetings and bring up BISC Issues and solicit the feedback from other states and other states DOT.

Sixth issue: Mail out the Committee agendas ahead of time before the BISC Meetings.

Seventh Issue: Procedures for a new bus business:

Recommendation from CVSA, if someone wants to start a bus business does there need to be some barriers to entry either knowledge or costs?  ABA position is that a new entrant should have a safety audit before they go into business. Should we try to get some sort of testing to ensure that the new operators understand the safety rules and regulations?  What standards need to be set? Should BISC put out an official position?  A way to ensure there is a better class of operators.  The subcommittee will hammer out the details (add to the CVSA statement).  Missouri has a web based questionnaire on line for new passenger carriers.

Motion made by Daniel Tomlinson:  CVSA is looking to put together potential proposed legislation or rulemaking to include added requirements for interstate new applicants to show compliance and understanding of FMCSA rules prior to receiving registration.  These may include increased fees, required training, and / or requiring them to pass a test to demonstrate a certain level of proficiency in these areas.  We would like the BISC to consider continued discussion with CVSA to show support for increasing the standards to those wishing to enter into our industry.

2nd by Mike Licata, motion carried unanimously.

Participants

Name

Mike Licata - CAT Eyes

Daniel K. Tomlinson -  Indian Trails

Charlie Corder -  Coach USA

Matt Michener - Americoach Travel

Arlene Dugan - Adirondack Trailways

Eric Gregory - Certified Transportation Services

Matthew Daecher - Daecher Consulting Group

Al Fleming - Trolley Tours

Loretta Bitner - FMSCA

Brad Watkins - Consolidated Safety Services

Edward Mason - A.S. Tours

John Oakman  - Coach USA

Peter Pantuso - ABA

Richard Kempf - Navistar, Inc.

Bob Crescenzo - Lancer Insurance Co

Maureen Rinehart - Defense Travel Management Office

Steve Parker - Consolidated Safety Services

Phil Hanley - Consolidated Safety Services

Pete Chandler - FMCSA

Barb Koehler - FMCSA

Ken Presley - UMA

Rich Muller - Transportation Security and Safety Consultants