FRESNO, Calif. — Jasmine Sayah, Vice President of the California Bus Association (CBA) and owner of Best Tours and Travel, delivered pointed testimony at Monday’s California State Agency Public Dialogue Session in Fresno, warning that the state’s current zero-emission policies are sidelining private motorcoach operators and threatening essential transportation services.
Addressing a panel of top state officials, including California Air Resources Board (CARB) Chair Liane Randolph and Executive Officer Dr. Steven Cliff, Sayah said motorcoach operators have been excluded from key policy conversations, despite playing a vital role in California’s transportation ecosystem.
“We move thousands of people every day — for schools, sports, tourism, evacuations and the military — yet we are consistently left out of the conversation when regulations are created,” Sayah says.
The session was part of a statewide public dialogue effort that also included officials from the California State Transportation Agency, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, and other agencies.
Freezing out state operators
Sayah highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic cut the nation’s motorcoach industry in half — from 3,000 USDOT-registered operators to just 1,500 — and how California’s environmental mandates are making recovery even more difficult.
With diesel coach purchases banned until 2027 under current CARB rules, California-based operators are unable to modernize their fleets. Sayah says this restriction places in-state operators at a competitive disadvantage and risks losing contracts to out-of-state companies.
“Demand is up, but California operators can’t meet it without access to new equipment,” she says. “The supply chain is already fragile, and the secondary market for compliant diesel coaches is nearly nonexistent.”
Sayah also pointed to safety issues, noting that newer diesel motorcoaches come equipped with features required by California DOT, including advanced lighting systems adopted after a 2015 fatal crash. With access to new diesel models blocked, operators face delays in deploying these safety improvements.
Electric motorcoaches, while central to CARB’s vision for a zero-emission future, currently lack the range, charging infrastructure, and luggage capacity needed for most motorcoach operations, Sayah says. Charging can take 4 to 6 hours, and utility providers have indicated the necessary infrastructure may be a decade away.
Broader impacts on jobs, economy
Motorcoach operators support California’s convention, tourism, education, and military sectors. Sayah warns that without access to modern equipment, these sectors could suffer, particularly because national clients often require buses no more than three years old.
“If we can’t meet those requirements, they’ll turn to out-of-state operators — and with them goes our revenue, our jobs, and our future,” she says.
The impact also extends to traffic and emissions. One motorcoach can remove up to 25 cars from the road, helping reduce congestion and greenhouse gases. But without a viable fleet renewal path, Sayah says, California risks losing a sustainable group travel option.
Sayah urged CARB to create a dedicated category for motorcoaches — separate from trucks — and to include operators in all future policy planning. So far, she says, discussions have focused solely on original equipment manufacturers and engine suppliers, leaving out the companies responsible for putting the rules into practice.
“Operators need to be part of the process,” she says. “We’re not opposed to clean technology, but the current approach is out of touch with operational realities.”
CBA urges operators to attend CARB meetings
The California Bus Association continues to advocate for a phased transition to clean fleets — one that includes practical solutions and direct input from operators.
Operators are encouraged to attend one of CARB’s upcoming Public Dialogue Sessions:
The California Bus Association continues to advocate for a phased transition to clean fleets — one that includes practical solutions and direct input from operators.
The CBA encourages operators to attend future CARB Public Dialogue Sessions. One was held Wednesday in Sacramento, while others will be next week:
- Virtual – July 29, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Join via Zoom: https://bit.ly/3TT9EpB - Long Beach – July 31, 1 to 5 p.m.
Civic Center Chambers, 411 W. Ocean Blvd.
For more information about CBA’s advocacy efforts, visit www.cbabus.com.
