This article was published in the June 2016 edition of NTEA
News.
Mid-Size Bus Manufacturers Association (MSBMA), an NTEA
affiliate division founded in 1993, seeks to enhance professionalism, safety and
product quality in the mid-size bus industry. The group describes mid-size buses
as passenger-carrying motor coaches, built on a cutaway or rail chassis or on
monocoque construction. They are less than 40 feet long, with a gross vehicle
weight rating of 33,000 pounds (Class 7) or less. MSBMA members include bus
manufacturers and other supporting companies such as component, system and
service suppliers.
Some mid-size buses are purchased with Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) grant money. To qualify for funding, companies must ensure
their bus models have been inspected under the New Model Bus Testing Program —
known as “Altoona testing” as the evaluation site is in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Eight test series are performed, validating structural integrity, durability,
maintainability and fuel economy.
As customers receiving FTA funds must prove the
purchased buses have undergone testing, they rely on manufacturers to provide
proper verification. Under the MAP-21 Act, Altoona tests include new pass/fail
criteria, designed to ensure a minimum performance level.
In its meetings, MSBMA benefits from the participation
of key FTA and test facility representatives, as this enables the group to offer
program improvement suggestions. FTA published a proposed rulemaking to outline
the new pass/fail criteria, along with details on the scoring system.
MSBMA is monitoring other recommended changes to federal
requirements that may affects its members, including modifications to Buy
America, which would shift domestic content manufacturing mandates above the
current 60 percent.
Additional federal-level developments of interest to
MSBMA members involve the ongoing National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulatory
developments resulting from National Transportation Safety Board reports on
motor coach crashes. NHTSA recently increased requirements related to seat belts
and is coordinating other bus safety measures for roof crush, braking and fire
suppression with FMCSA.
MSBMA is actively developing relationships
with liaisons from various chassis manufacturers linked to the mid-size bus
industry. During group meetings, routine discussion points include
all aspects of upfitting, promoting and distributing buses built on
various chassis. OEM participation plays an important role in these
conversations.
Ongoing activities include representing member interests
through the BusCon Advisory Board and raising customer awareness about MSBMA.
To learn more, visit ntea.com/msbma or contact Steve
Spata, NTEA technical assistance director, at 248-479-8147 or
steves@ntea.com.