Greg said "Don't take this wrong Bob, but I have a strong feeling towards the Bus drivers who should be treated as a truck driver, like they must obey the speed laws and going one step further because of their cargo, and should be under stricter logging rules with EOBRs."
My Response: don't expect EOBR's on busses anytime soon... since the 10 hour drive time rule is still in place for busses- it's like politics has barely touched the bus biz. FMCSA will tell you they really don't have a problem with busses. FMCSA officials told me that in a discussion I had with them regarding requiring LED tail lights on all busses of all sizes that are able to carry more than 25 people... I had that discussion at last years Louisville truck show with them at their booth... and was fairly quickly handed a business card and told to write them an e-mail. How's that for a nice brush off.
Greg also wrote "I understand that at one time these bus companies commanded a strong influence within the states they operated, where they had the states run interference for them with the US DOT... but times have changed and the mindset hasn't. The revenue that Bus companies produced for states is a very small fraction of what trucks produce and it should be re-examined as who would be a more important focus on safety and what is more important to the states."
My response... States will not be wanting to re-examine that too soon either. Why?
because... look at from their standpoint, I roll into town in my Freightshaker and drop off a load of bottled water to Target. I go to their "truckstop" which is really a glorified gas station with no showers and stay 10 to 15 hours there... if even that long!
Now, I roll in next week with my tour bus of 55 people who stay the nite at their local motel. I take all those people out to eat at a restaurant locally. Then, I also get fuel and might even shop at a local store- along with perhaps some of my passengers.
Who is putting more into the local economy? The trucker just took in bottled water- that happens every week. The hotel doesn't see any rewards for that- unless they selfstock their vending machine with that water. The restaurant doesn't see any rewards for that truck load of water to Target. The area stores don't see any rewards for that truckload of water to Target.
The bus on the other hand... has helped out 3 establishments, if not 4... not to mention the suppliers that serve those establishments. Then take into consideration when you are helping a supplier out that serves those establishments, you are in turn helping out another local economy.... so it's a trickle down effect.. And, if they are there on the return trip as well... then multiply 3 places times 2... because money is then being spent twice in the same spot... so that's 6 times if not 7 times the investment a truck driver brings in.
I read some time back in BTM (Bus Tours Magazine) that the average loaded bus will bring in 3 to 5 thousand dollars to a community/economy. I don't know how those numbers were figured, but I could see 3 grand coming in. I've personally seen the better part of 10 grand go into a local economy driving with the entertainment business. and I only had 12 people onboard!!
Communities love busses much more than they love trucks.
Having driven both for many years now, I can safely say that statement.
Greg also wrote "For what many don't get who jump on the OOIDA bandwagon, is that the states have a lot of influence on these subjects... and they (the states) can reject HOS for those who operate in their states. They have yet done so, but it is not something that can't be done."
My response... HOS for busses is nationwide, and in Canada as well.
EOBR's in the bus biz will happen in trucks much faster than it will in busses. due to revenue involved, there's far more trucks. so gov. wants them in trucks. I'm not a fan of EOBR's... and neither is any bus co.. IF they were to change the laws so bus drivers had to take 10 hours off duty that would wreak havoc on the tour bus industry because so many runs are based on 8 hours of rest "legally speaking". I get more rest driving a truck than I do driving a bus. no brainer there. Bus co.'s will have to have driver relays, or 2 drivers on a bus. Routes and trips that have been used for years and years will have to be re-configured as would stops.
I will say that speed is a problem in the bus biz. But another problem is tailgating. On multi-bus moves especially... following distances are not enforced and should and need to be. 72 is plenty fast for a passenger tour bus. Even for private coaches, that I have driven plenty of as well, they too should be limited to say 75 tops. or stamp it out at 72 across the board. Most busses won't go much faster than 80 to 90, the key word there is Most. There are a good many busses and fleets that will have a hard time going much over 80, but they seem faster when you're going 65 to 70 in a truck.
I fully agree there needs to be changes, and I've suggested to OOIDA reps. that they need to address the bus business in their government affairs. Not to get gov. off the backs of trucks, but to show the gov. that OOIDA cares about everybody that hauls commercially. on a lighter note, busses after all are basically air-conditioned cattle trucks.
I was surprised that nobody jumped all over me about vans needing to log hours.
BBB
OOIDA member
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