Bus Operators Want Own Rules

May 18, 2000 9:30 AM, EDT

The bus industry opposes its inclusion in the proposed rewrite of the hours-of-service regulations governing commercial motor vehicle drivers.

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The United Motorcoach Association, which represents bus companies and suppliers, planned last week to ask Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater to exempt bus drivers from the revisions as outlined. As proposed April 25, the Department of Transportation wants to change the current hours of service for truck and bus drivers to 12 hours on duty, two hours of break time and 10 hours off duty. The rules now allow drivers to work for 15 hours, of which 10 can be behind the wheel ("DOT Proposes New Trucking Work Rules ," 5-1, p. 1).

“We want our own separate rule. We’re being regulated like we’re another type of truck,” said Peter J. Pantuso, president of the American Bus Association, whose 3,0000 members include motor coach companies, tour and travel organizations as well as product and service providers in the United States and Canada.

The motor coach industry has long complained about being lumped in with trucking, both in the former Office of Motor Carriers and in the 5-month-old Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

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