2020 Winter BISC Meeting

BISC Executive Committee Meeting

BISC Orientation Session

Description: Get a feel for who and what the Bus Industry Safety Council is, when they will meet, what they discuss and how you can get involved. The mission of the BISC is about improving motorcoach safety and ensuring that your bus is ready to travel safely down the road. If you are a safety, compliance or maintenance professional, this is where you need to be.
 

BISC Opening General Session

Keynote Address & BISC 20th Anniversary Recognition

Break

Safety Education Sessions

The sessons put together by BISC and brought to you by ABC Companies have been integrated into the overall ABA Marketplace education schedule and can be found by going to 16 sessions as part of the following tracks:

• MOTORCOACH SAFETY
• MOTORCOACH MAINTENANCE & OPERATIONS
• MOTORCOACH INNOVATIONS
• MOTORCOACH REGULATORY & COMPLIANCE

Click here for Education Sessions

#2007: ADAS– Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, Automatic Emergency Braking

Speaker: OEM PANEL

Description: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are the wave of the future. While many of these systems are becoming standard on new motorcoaces, they are all steps in the next phase of evolution as we move towards adding elements of automation to motorcoaches. This session will focus on some of these new elements, find out how these systems can help your operations, how to maintain them, and any planned future developments.

MOTORCOACH INNOVATIONS SESSION TRACK

# 2008: Dealing with ELDs

Speaker: PANEL – Saucon, UBT, Zonar

Description: As new technologies have emerged to help bus operators improve the safety performance of their vehicles as well as monitor driver hours of service, there have been a number of changes made to how bus operators do business. With the recent full implementation of ELDs (December 2019), let’s check in with the ELD manufacturers on how things are going and if there are additional changes to come.

#2009: Evaluating Motorcoach Security Risks and Utiliting Risk Reduction Strategies

Speaker: Col. Mike Licata & Kerry Thomas

Description: Motorcoach operators face a variety of security risks on a daily basis due to our precious cargo, flexible operational profiles and diverse operating environments. As a result of the annual intercity bus security grants, more and more operators are developing security plans and doing security assessments, but evaluating risk and quantifying that risk could be the missing link in our industry’s security preparedness. This session will preview a new tool to help you better evaluate the security profile of your operations.
 

#2013: Navigating the Borders Expeditiously, New Programs from CBP

Speaker: Michelle Herron

Description: Join our colleagues from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as they share updates for the bus processing at both northern and southern borders to make operations seamless and streamlined. They will be introducing the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), a widely used electronic data interchange that allows carriers to transmit traveler data to CBP prior to arrival at a Port of Entry.

MOTORCOACH INNOVATIONS SESSION TRACK

#2014: Recent Changes to the DOD Military Bus Program

Speaker: Donna Johnson

Description: The Military Bus Program has undergone a number of major changes the past few years. With a new inspection program set to begin and a number of new initiatives set for 2020. Find out about new program features and recent changes to the master agreement.

#2015: Updates on the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse

Speaker: Jennifer Lancaster

Description: The Clearinghouse is a secure online database that gives employers, the FMCSA, State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs), and State law enforcement personnel real-time information about commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders’ drug and alcohol program violations. Operational as of January 6, 2020, the Clearinghouse makes it easier for employers to meet their pre-employment investigation and reporting obligations and much harder for drivers to hide previous violations.

#2019: Creating a Corrective Action Plan, Returning from a Conditional Rating or an Unsatisfactory Rating

Speaker: Koty Slough

Description: This is another offering in a new series of sessions, specially designed for brand new fleet managers, safety directors, transportation professionals and even company owners. When you are assigned a Conditional or Unsatisfactory rating the FMCSA has determined that you do not have adequate safety management controls in place to ensure compliance with the safety fitness standard, and it may seem like the end of the world. If left unaddressed, this non–compliance could ultimately lead to a an accident or you losing the ability to operate. How do you get back on the right track?

The first order of business is to understand the deficiencies and what controls were missing. Once that task is complete, you need to convince FMCSA that you deserve a rating upgrade to Satisfactory. A motor carrier must base their request on evidence that they have taken the corrective action identified in their safety management controls, as well as developed and implemented a sustainable plan to bring the company into compliance. In this session we will walk you through how to create a corrective action plan.

MOTORCOACH INNOVATIONS SESSION TRACK

#2020: TSA Updates

Speaker: David Cooper

Description: With more and more vehicle-involved terror attacks happening around the world, eliminating soft targets and boosting preparedness is key. The Transportation Security Administration has some best practices and guidance to help you better prepare your motorcoach operations for an unexpected emergency and how to respond. They also have some timely updates, critical resources and key intelligence to help you prepare for the months ahead. Have you done a BASE Assessment recently? Hear how you can get one requested and start improving your security posture today!

MOTORCOACH REGULATORY & COMPLIANCE SESSION TRACK

#2021: Drug Testing for DOT Employees

Speaker: Jeffrey Waxman

Description: This session will provde an overview of the drug and alcohol testing program requirements for transportation companies that fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). In the presentation, there will be discussion of the similarities and differences between FMCSA and FTA regulations, vendor oversight, and how to prepare for a drug and alcohol testing program compliance review. If you do any contract work with transit agencies or are unsure of the coming changes to both programs for 2020, this will be a session you wont' want to miss.

Safety Education Sessions

The sessons put together by BISC and brought to you by ABC Companies have been integrated into the overall ABA Marketplace education schedule and can be found by going to 16 sessions as part of the following tracks:

• MOTORCOACH SAFETY
• MOTORCOACH MAINTENANCE & OPERATIONS
• MOTORCOACH INNOVATIONS
• MOTORCOACH REGULATORY & COMPLIANCE

Click here for Education Sessions

EDUCATION BITE

Just a Bite of Busing on the Lookout

Speaker: Annie Sovcik

Description: Modern-day slavery—or human trafficking—is a global problem in which people are illegally bought and sold for forced labor or commercial sex. Through the use of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception or the abuse of power, traffickers prey upon their victims’ vulnerabilities—such as their youth, condition of poverty, migration status or dreams of love and opportunity—while profiting off of their exploitation. Human trafficking poses a significant challenge to businesses who are committed to legal and socially responsible operations. This is true for ABA Member companies, whether motorcoach operators or manufacturers and for destinations such as hotels, casinos and tourist attractions. Recognizing that we all have a role to play in helping to end human trafficking, ABA Members have joined the fight to combat this heinous crime and are already making an extraordinary impact. Join this session to learn about human trafficking and how you can be part of the solution.

www.busingonthelookout.org

MOTORCOACH SAFETY SESSION TRACK

#3004: NTSB Update

Speaker: Mike Fox

Description: The National Transportation Safety Board is one of the agencies that initiatives a post-accident investigation following a fatal accident and makes recommendations to the industry as well as the government on what steps can be taken to avoid similar accidents in the future. What lessons can we learn from recent fatal motorcoach and school bus crashes? Find out at the next presentation by the NTSB.

#3005: Driver Fatigue, Impacts on Scheduling and Dispatch

Speaker: Bob Crecsenzo

Description: Driver fatigue is a significant issue for all commercial operators that encompasses far more than falling asleep at the wheel. While major accidents involving vehicles that run off road or high speed rear end crashes can often be attributed to a driver falling asleep or other health emergencies, it is the near misses or lesser accidents that are also indicators of fatigue. Once a driver is unable to manage the complex, multi-task aspects of driving and loses the ability to make safe driving decisions, it is often fatigue that is the root cause.

MOTORCOACH REGULATORY & COMPLIANCE SESSION TRACK

#3006: Review of the Upcoming Motorcoach Driver Training Requirements

Speaker: Panel

Description: With the FMCSA Entry Level Driver Training Rule set to go into effect on February 7, 2020, many companies who intend to become in-house training providers are looking to refine their own driver training programs to be aligned with the new regulations. Hear from some training professionals about some of the curriculums that have been developed to comply with 49 CFR 380. Understand what your newest drivers will be expected to understand when they attempt to get their CDL for the first time.

BISC 20th Anniversary Presentation with Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO)

MOTORCOACH SAFETY SESSION TRACK

#3010: Seatbelt Maintenance Working Group

Speaker: Amaya & OEM Panel

Description: Now that we are a few years in to seatbelts being required on motorcoaches, let's take some time to review our performance to date and best practices when it comes to maintaining the seat belt safety system. We'll also talk about preventative maintenance practices and common breakdowns.

#3011: FMCSA Portal 101 – Data Qs & Crash Preventability Challenges

Speaker: Rocky Bewley & Koty Slough

Description: The FMCSA crash preventability program determines and displays the preventability of certain crash types, allowing motor carriers the opportunity to remove non-preventable crashes from their safety records. Since August 2017, FMCSA has reviewed more than 15,000 crashes submitted by truck and bus companies. Approximately 94% have been found to be not preventable by the motor carrier or commercial driver. Find out how you can challenge recent collisions using the DataQs process!

MOTORCOACH INNOVATIONS SESSION TRACK

#3012: Introducing the SYTA Motorcoach Vendor Safety Assessment, Faciliting Successful Customer Site Visits for Motorcoach and Tour Operators

Speaker: Michael Bowers

Description: ABA and the Bus Industry Safety Council have recommended that tour operators and travel planners visit the facilities of their motorcoach operator partnerss to learn more about their operations, driving rules and regulatory requirements. The assessment program requires an on-site visit to the motorcoach operators place of business prior to booking a trip. Find out what SYTA recommends operators look at during these site visits and how motorcoach operators can make a good impression on their customers.

Lunch

MOTORCOACH SAFETY SESSION TRACK

#3017: Driver Monitoring, Hours of Service Review, Exemptions, and Remedial Training

Speaker: Mike McDonal

Description: This is another offering in a new series of sessions, specially designed for brand new fleet managers, safety directors, transportation professionals and even company owners. This session should help you understand the basics of what goes into a monitoring driver performance, compliance with the hours of service and how to conduct remedial driver training for your existing drivers. After this session, you should be well on your way to being more in control of your operations.

#3018: FMCSA Update

Speaker: Loretta Bitner

Description: In this session, get a sense of what new regulations the Agency has put in place for 2020 and get an opportunity to directly address our regulators as they set out the top priorities for the Agency in the coming year. So many items to review, from the implementation of the Electronic Logging Devices, the evolution of the lease and interchange rule to the emergence of autonomous vehicles. Stay up to date on the future direction of our industry’s enforcement.