Wednesday, February 11th

3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Where few have ventured

PRESENTER: Jim McCann 

You look up one day and your charter bus business is reasonably successful. You have even ventured into offering some tour packages. So what’s next? You have looked at some numbers and scheduled service is attractive but is it right for you. This session covers the process for determining if adding scheduled service is right for you.

Driver Health and Well Being: The Bus Athlete

PRESENTER: Anthony Griffith   

It’s not the coal mines but the task of the motorcoach driver has its own peculiar health challenges. Sitting while driving for hours, long sedentary periods on the coach waiting for the group, the inevitable buffet, and irregular hours all combined to pose health risks. These risks can be mitigated, and this session covers a tenable plan that every driver can incorporate for a healthier lifestyle.

Tire Maintenance

PRESENTER: Bridgestone  

Sounds simple, yet recent crashes point to potential failures in paying sufficient attention to our tire maintenance. This presentation describes how we can adopt a robust program of properly maintaining tires and preventing the dreaded blowout leading to a crash, injuries, and loss of life.

Employer of Choice

PRESENTER: Jeff Rogers   

Maybe you have one in your market, there always seems to be one company all the drivers want to work with. What are they doing differently? This session brings proven methods that enable companies to onboard drivers within seven days, and most importantly – keep them!

4:15 PM to 5:15 PM

The Big Disconnect

PRESENTER: Ed Richards  

All too frequently motorcoach company owners misunderstand the process of obtaining a new or renewal quotation, often needlessly costing them money and frequently hindering quotations for years to come. This session discusses the process for positioning your request for a quotation for the best possible outcome.

Culture Is Why Employees Stay—or Why They Quit

PRESENTER: Christian Riddell  

Retention isn’t an HR problem—it’s an operational one. Discover how communication, structure, and visibility shape how drivers and staff feel about working for you, and why culture is the most powerful retention tool you control. We will discuss real world steps you can do to improve retention without increasing payroll.

Beginner’s Luck

PRESENTER: Peter Shelbo 

Well, you have made up your mind, you are going to start a bus company or maybe you just got underway. Nothing to it, right? Well, maybe not so simple. This session looks at all the actions you must take from DAY ONE to stay out of trouble and build a successful enterprise. Licenses, forms, permits, and an endless stream of acronyms that challenge those that just want to get started. This session will help you get on track and stay on track and is a great refresher for the experienced as well.  

Cyber Security – Don’t let’em in!

PRESENTER: Eric Begin  

Cybersecurity threats are real, and they can have real consequences for an organization’s operations and profitability. Exercising cybersecurity best practices help protect your data from potential damaging cyber-attacks. Presented by TSA, this voluntary guidance, based on existing standards, guidelines, and practices is designed for your business to better manage and reduce cybersecurity risk. In addition to helping organizations manage and reduce risks, it was designed to foster risk and cybersecurity management communications amongst both internal and external organizational stakeholders.

Thursday, February 12th

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Take a deep breath -Better business comes through better health? PART 1

PRESENTER: Christina Lawrence 

Bus and motorcoach company owners and management can promote their mental wellness and that of their employees by prioritizing self-care, such as taking breaks and exercising; setting clear boundaries to separate work and personal life; seeking support from mentors, professionals, and their network; and fostering a supportive workplace culture that encourages open conversations about mental health and provides access to relevant resources and benefits. PART 1 identifies the challenges and how to take those first steps towards shoring up your physical wellbeing and setting an example for employees and family.

What is MOTUS and why should I care? 

PRESENTER: Cliff Wiley  

PRESENTER: Roger Lutz

FMCSA’s MOTUS is a new, modernized USDOT registration system launching in phases, starting December 2025 for supporting companies, to simplify processes, prevent fraud, and consolidate functions for motor carriers, brokers, and others into a single, user-friendly platform, with full rollout to all users expected in 2026. It replaces older portals, offers better tools, and will eventually handle all registrations and updates in one place. 

The Mind of the Consumer 

PRESENTER: Dr. Cale Hall 

Businesses often have a mixed response when engaging consumers, but do we really know what they want when we engage them? This important session takes a look at the consumer from a psychologist’s point of view that could give you a market edge and make engaging prospective customers fun again. 

No way Dad, no way!

PRESENTER: Jim McCann  

You put in the late hours and those times you struggled with payroll and coach payments are long behind you. Along with your hard-earned success comes succession planning that may involve the kids, or maybe not. Perhaps a nearby friendly competitor, or one of those private equity companies is best. Join is as this panel discussion discusses the subtleties of succession planning.

10:10 AM-11:10AM

One Big Beautiful Bill and the Implications for the Bus & Motorcoach Industry

PRESENTER: Tracy Fickett 

No taxes on tips and Social Security are just some of the changes in store for motorcoach companies beginning in 2026. The return of Bonus Depreciation and business interest deductions are just part of the story. Join this session as our expert reviews what you can expect and how it will impact your business.

The Tired, the Sleepy, the Ugly

PRESENTER: Rodolfo Giacoman 

Some of the industry’s most tragic crashes have occurred when drivers were struggling with a tiring day and sleepiness. Part art, part science, the dispatcher’s job is to assign the right driver to the task and avoid a crisis that leads to a crash. This session reveals techniques contained in the North American Fatigue Management Program that help dispatchers make the right choices.

OMG, I did not see that coming!

PRESENTER: Jeff Rogers 

She has been with you for years and you thought she would be there for many more. Now she’s moving on and you don’t have a Plan B or any idea how to replace the individual. This session entails internal succession that assures a bright future for employer and employee alike.

The North American Out-of-Service Inspection Criteria, Part 1

PRESENTER: Jeremy Disbrow

Changes to the out-of-service criteria for driver/vehicle inspection and violations are coming in 2026. This expert presentation will inform and place you ahead of the curve to avoid the dreaded call that one of your coaches has been placed out of service until it is repaired. Avoid the embarrassment and financial consequences of being placed out-of-service. This session will also cover the top violations.

11:20 AM to 12:20 PM

Insurance is killing me!

PRESENTER: Brandi Mazur

PRESENTER: Leslie Drake

PRESENTER: Michael Heramb

When you first got into the business twenty (or was it thirty), you were amazed how expensive insurance is; then, it got really expensive, and today it is really, really expensive. So, why is it so expensive? Is there any relief on the horizon? Are there things you can do now that might give an edge on getting a break at renewal. This panel of insurance executives will share insight, helping you understand the system, what you are up against, and how you might enjoy some savings.

The ADA Refresher

PRESENTER: Godfrey Lebron

This popular session returns with updates regarding the motorcoach industry legal obligation to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Best Practices Roundtable

PRESENTER: Bethany Bertram 

Need some fresh ideas? Want to share an idea that has been working for you? This session will discuss practical best practices and ideas that are working for others. From marketing to safety, it’s a “kitchen sink” roundtable that all participants will likely find something they can take home! 

2:10 PM – 3:10 PM

I think I am going to add another coach…I think

PRESENTER: David Beagle

You know the revenue potential or savings. You know the cost. So how do you evaluate whether to buy or not to buy or start this new service or wait for the next opportunity? This presentation will walk you through a simple spreadsheet that can be used to evaluate any investment from new shop tools or purchasing a coach to start a new service. This system was used by a tour and coach operator to evaluate tens of millions of dollars of investments in everything from shop tools to coaches and rail cars. 

The Practical Applications of Artificial Intelligence

PRESENTER: Trisha Fridrich 

Artificial Intelligence is all the rage, but most bus and motorcoach companies have not put it to work yet. This session discusses some practical applications that you can put to work immediately that will help you manage and market more effectively. 

Take a deep breath -Better business comes through better health? PART 2

PRESENTER: Christina Lawrence

Bus and motorcoach company owners and management can promote their mental wellness and that of their employees by prioritizing self-care, such as taking breaks and exercising; setting clear boundaries to separate work and personal life; seeking support from mentors, professionals, and their network; and fostering a supportive workplace culture that encourages open conversations about mental health and provides access to relevant resources and benefits. This session identifies the challenges and how to take those first steps towards shoring up your mental health.

Okay, I’m using AI – There’s no legal exposures here, right?

PRESENTER: C. Stephen Setliff

No doubt about it, AI or Artificial Intelligence has moved into every crevice of our business and personal lives. While the bus and motorcoach industry is still discovering the many uses, there are legal and ethical consideration we must be aware.

Saturday, February 14

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

The North American Out-of-Service Inspection Criteria, Part 2

PRESENTER: Jeremy Disbrow

This UMA Motorcoach EXPO original returns with updates. The popular session takes you under the bus with an expert inspector. This Level I demonstration inspection provides the visual insight to see exactly what the inspector is looking for from top to bottom and how to avoid being placed out-of-service.