Don’t Be Afraid To Associate: The Value Of Participation In Bus Associations

By Jeff Goldwasser, Contributor

Jeff Goldwasser

Our industry is about transportation — moving people in groups, pairs, threesomes and singles. No matter what, all people board a bus, and looking at it as a whole, it’s a group. When it’s a full bus, management sees that as profitable.

What puzzles me as a long-term industry member, is the number of companies and motorcoach operators who have no interest in joining a bus industry group or association. Yet associations and groups work tirelessly to make the industry better for all involved.

We all know that the national associations have different agendas, and their main purpose is to educate their members on interests that will serve those members better. These past few years, however, all the national associations banded to educate their members regarding CARB, seen as a threat to our industry relating to vendors and operators alike.

Different states have their own bus associations — some stand alone, some group together, and they serve their members with issues that pertain to them. A perfect example is the Bus Association of New York and its battle to exempt all buses from congestion pricing.

There are bus groups that have members from across the United States and Canada, such as Trailways and the International Motorcoach Group (IMG). Both serve its members and work toward being beneficial to helping those members run safe, profitable operations. Even our friends to the north of the U.S. have associations, such as the Ontario Motor Coach Association (OMCA). If you can’t make a meeting in the U.S., plan a trip to Canada and attend an OMCA event.

Our industry transports people — from senior citizens to children and from commuters to corporate groups — and it strives to do so safely. One of the best group meetings I attend each year is the Bus Industry Safety Council. Its message focuses on best safety practices and industry rulings regarding safety. Those meetings often feature industry safety experts who share important messages. Those meetings should have hundreds of attendees but often I ask, “Why isn’t attendance greater?” The answer I often receive is “lack of time,” “I am not a member,” or “it is too far.”

There are association meetings happening year-round and from coast to coast. They often feature OEM presentations, networking events and equipment displays including different motorcoaches. The main objective of those meetings, however, is to educate. That includes information on how to use products safer and ways to help operators become better.

Another value to attending association meetings is often that of hearing from representatives of different federal and state agencies who attend and provide presentations on how to be a better and safer operator. That can include information on the importance of driver files, hiring practices, and roadside inspections. They also often offer information that is important to office staff members, maintenance professionals and drivers. Those speakers want operators to succeed and become better. They attend most industry meetings to offer their knowledge. Recently the head of a federal agency told me he appreciates those operators who attend, but he loses sleep at night over how many who never attend.

During the pandemic, there were operators who joined weekly industry Zoom calls. Many listened and many spoke about how they were doing and what they were doing. Sadly, many others listened, never spoke, and never turned their cameras on.

The Buses & Beer weekly Zoom call (for operators and vendors that was started during the pandemic and hosted by Goldwasser) forced operators to engage and speak. All in all, they took part. They also learned and forged industry friendships.

Today, there are “20 Groups” around the country whose members critique each other and through that, better and safer operators develop. One operator comes to mind who has been a member of different organizations through the years. He picked the ones which worked out best for him, and I have enjoyed watching his success.

It’s also possible and important to develop a rapport with different vendors during group and association meetings. These industry professionals see it all. Bounce an idea off them, ask them questions, and if they do not know, they will find someone who can help. Sure, as a vendor we all want to sell, but I have some lifelong friends who I have never done any business with. They are still friends who I can count on.

Associations also offer all types of information on such industry-related topics as: software, financial and insurance, parts, seats, glass, vehicles, best practices — and of course — safety. Participation in association events not only helps attendees gain important information but can also help them earn hotel points and make new friends. I even know someone who met their future wife at an association meeting.

I call out insurance companies to encourage their policy holders to attend these vital meetings to learn and to be safer operators. I personally feel it should be a policy mandate that their clients attend at least one industry safety meeting per year and show proof of attendance.

Never be embarrassed about who you are, or what your company does. Each operator, at some point, started small and learned. If you don’t want to attend, if you are shy or socially awkward, send someone else from your company. Believe me, everyone at these shows or meetings was a first timer at some point. We are in the tourism hospitality industry, being friendly is what we do.

I have grown up in the industry, serve on a few boards, and have seen the good, the bad and the ugly. What I don’t see is enough of “you” at industry association meetings. Reach out to me and let’s associate!

Jeff Goldwasser is a motorcoach industry veteran with expertise in coach seating. He is a member of the Grupo Amaya-Astron Seating team. Reach out to “The Seat Guy” at: jeffgoldwasser.com.