Motorcoach, Tour & Travel Industry Issues

Our team is always WORKING FOR YOU on any legislative and regulatory policy matters that effect your business, at all times. Below is a “policy priority” chart, to assist with identifying what policy issues are “hot” at the moment, and where we can use YOUR HELP. We also want to ensure you have access to the timeliest information, in a “one-stop” format. By clicking on each policy issue link, you will find all you need to take action on an issue or just stay up-to-date, as the links will include access to such things as member alerts, rulemaking documents, rulemaking comments or templates, notices of ABA industry calls, etc. Let us know how we can further improve your experience at abainfo@buses.org.

Below is the policy priority chart:

Canadian Carbon Tax     ★★★

Canada is proceeding with a new carbon tax plan and they are moving at an expedited rate. The carbon tax will be very similar in operation to the fuel tax and will be implemented in 2 phases throughout Canada. More

Lease and Interchange     ★

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a flawed Lease & Interchange rule, threatening the industry's ability to work together at large scale events and providing replacement vehicles on a short term basis day-to-day. ABA continues to fight to fix the rule.  More

National Park Service Fees     ★★★

The National Park Service (NPS) manages all national parks, many national monuments and other conservation and historical properties with more than 400 properties in total. The NPS plans to increase fees for bus and tour operators up to 1000 percent.  More

Infrastructure      ★

In the next Congress legislators will look to sustain the Highway Trust Fund as a long-term funding mechanism through increased taxation and or new user fees.  More

DOT Regulatory Guidance Review     ★★★

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced on Feb. 5 that it is reviewing its existing guidance documents to evaluate their continued necessity and determine whether they need to be updated or revised.  More

California Meal & Rest Break     ★★

FMCSA has recently exerted its powers of pre-emption over state rules governing when truck drivers are required to take work breaks. Shouldn't motorcoach drivers get the same treatment?  More

Motorcoach Security     ★★

Very little federal funding has been expended to protect Americans traveling on the nearly 605 million passenger trips provided by the private intercity bus industry, while billions has been provided to public transit and Amtrak. We need more funding  More