ABA Urges Action on Motorcoach Priorities in Letter to FMCSA Leadership
ABA sent a letter to the Acting Administrator Derek Barrs of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), congratulating him on his appointment and requesting a meeting to address critical regulatory and safety priorities for the private motorcoach industry.
In the letter, ABA outlined several pressing concerns that impact motorcoach operators, including:
- The need for targeted reforms to the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program and Safety Measurement System (SMS) to accurately reflect passenger carrier operations.
- Caution regarding proposed speed limiter regulations, urging FMCSA to consider the unique safety record and operating conditions of motorcoaches.
- Flexibility in Hours of Service (HOS) and Electronic Logging Device (ELD) requirements to accommodate the non-standard schedules of tour and charter services.
- Support for Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) goals, while flagging implementation barriers facing small and rural operators.
- Requests for clearer guidance around Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse compliance for part-time and seasonal drivers.
- The importance of including passenger carrier perspectives in FMCSA’s approach to automation and advanced safety technologies.
- Concerns over inconsistent enforcement of the CDL English language proficiency standard and its impact on driver recruitment.
ABA emphasized its desire to build a collaborative partnership with FMCSA, ensuring that regulatory efforts elevate safety and support the motorcoach industry’s operational realities.
“This is a pivotal moment for passenger surface transportation,” the letter states. “We stand ready to provide the insights, expertise, and collaboration necessary to ensure that policies are practical, equitable, and grounded in real-world operations.”
Read the full letter sent by the Association to FMCSA.
