The United Motorcoach Association (UMA) and the Bus & Motorcoach Academy will return to this year’s BusCon 2017, which will be held at Indianapolis’ Indiana Convention Center Sept. 11 to 13, to host two informative sessions that are open to all bus operators.

The first session, “The Capital Cost of Contracting,” will discuss how, with tight transit budgets, this approach to funding can allow public transits to reduce their capital outlay by contracting for just the service delivered. The often overlooked formula could be a great method for engaging local, private bus companies in special projects and commuter services.

The session will be delivered by Steve Klika, former president of the International Motor Coach Group and the Global Passenger Network. With over three decades of transportation experience in both the private and public sectors, Klika is an elected commissioner for Johnson County, Kan., and chairman of the Kansas City Area Transit Authority.

The UMA’s other session features Richard Gobbell, who will focus how to make the most of the Data Q system to appeal errors that show up on an operator’s federal Safety Measurement System scores — a key component in ensuring that your operation’s crucial customer-facing safety score is accurate.

With 36 years of state and federal commercial motor vehicle enforcement, Gobbell founded Gobbell Transportation Safety LLC in 2007 after a long career that included stops at the Tennessee Public Service Commission, the Interstate Commerce Commission, and the U.S. Department of Transportation. It has been estimated that Gobbell conducted over 10,000 commercial motor vehicle inspections and over 1,000 Safety Compliance and Hazardous Materials audits and investigations.   

The rest of this year’s BusCon educational sessions will touch on everything from how to instill core principles to improve driver safety to what you need to know about aftersales service, warranties, and more, featuring representatives from REV Bus Group, MCI, Trans/Air, and United States Warranty.

BusCon offers budget-conscious bus operators extraordinary value, with a full conference pass ranging from $98 to $130, which includes two networking receptions, educational programming, packed show floor, and more. For more information and to register, click here.