I have been driving a motorcoach for a few years. I do it for enjoyment; it's sure as hell not about the money.

I drive for a great company and consider myself a company guy and one of the worlds best employees.

As a former business owner, I know what it takes to be a good employee, and what it takes to be a good employer. Coming from the outside and looking in, I have never seen an industry with such potential power do so very little.

And, unless something is done for the drivers in this industry, everyone associated with it is going to be in a heap of hurt.

Washington, D.C. is now charging a permit for a motorcoach to enter the city, and the conduct of D.C. police towards motorcoaches is disgusting. St. Louis charges buses for a permit to enter a city park.

Why reward Chicago?

Chicago is hosting a bus convention in early October (BusCon) and the city is ridiculous when it comes to parking and the regulations its puts on bus drivers.

Totally amusing are the political leaders in Chicago who sit in air conditioned public buildings making laws that protect a dog from being locked in a car, and then demand that a bus driver turn off the bus and remain with the bus. It's most reassuring to all drivers.

For this, the industry rewards the municipality and holds a convention or show in a city that makes life difficult for drivers.

I may do something about that if the industry will not, and I will not wait for another "we-are-working-on-the-problems" delay.

What I see happening here are the municipalities feeding companies and industry associations the set "we-are-working-on-the-problem" statement and the powers that could do something about it just sit back and say, "OK, we will address this later."

In the mean time, all of you just hand it off for the drivers to deal with.

That is pathetic, especially when many complain about the difficulty in retaining qualified personnel. Personally, I have about had it.

A lack of logic

Senators and congressmen sit in offices around the National Mall and contemplate the energy crises. All say the solution is mass transportation but not one of them will restrict private passenger car parking to make room for motorcoaches.

The logic behind our public officials' conduct and attitude is a shining light of ignorance for political gain.

Don't even think about introducing a national security card for this industry. No terrorist on a budget is going to spend $100,000 to $500,000 to blow up a motorcoach when they can rent a van or SUV that will easily maneuver around obstacles. A really big bang for the buck would be to purchase a used school bus for a few thousand dollars.

As a motorcoach driver I am tired of driving around the problems created by a lack of political reasoning, and weak activity on behalf of the industry.

I want the motorcoach industry and the government to do for the driver what the Americans with Disabilities Act did for parking and access.

Do something about it or I and many other drivers with a bit of common dignity will be out of here.

Mel Cordani is an Illinois-based motorcoach driver. Contact him at jrcordani@msn.com.