Editor’s note: This op-ed for Bus & Motorcoach News is written by Jeff Goldwasser, a longtime motorcoach industry veteran.
Tires are a critical safety component in the motorcoach industry. How often do you inspect your spare tire?
Is the spare even there? Spares are sometimes removed and not replaced, yet the spare tire is an integral part of the front collision system. If it’s missing, the consequences in a crash could be catastrophic.
At a minimum, the spare should be inspected quarterly. Once a year, it should be rotated onto the coach and replaced with a new tire.
This emphasis on fundamentals came into sharp focus at the UMA Safety Management Seminar held Dec. 3–4 at the Maritime Conference Center outside Baltimore.
The seminar concentrated on real-world safety challenges facing motorcoach operators, including NTSB crash investigations, Safety Management Cycles (SMS), fatigue, and shop safety.
It was a hands-on event where members shared experiences and worked through actual NTSB cases in breakout groups to develop practical safety recommendations and best practices.
Topic merited better attendance
Despite the importance of the subject matter, attendance fell far short of what it should have been. For a seminar centered entirely on safety in the transportation business, participation should have been significantly higher.
Too many companies were not represented, which is unfortunate because safety cannot be optional or secondary. At the end of the day, safety is the business.
That commitment must extend beyond the road and into the shop. A Bus Association of New York (BANY) member recently shared a serious incident in which a mechanic was inflating a tire while talking with the owner. The tire exploded, sending both men to the hospital with broken ribs and concussions.
A tire cage was only 10 feet away, and it wasn’t being used. OSHA requires a tire cage whenever a tire is being inflated.
So check your spare. Check the pressure. Rotate it regularly. And always use a tire cage. Let’s stay focused on safety on the road and in the shop.
Jeff Goldwasser is a longtime motorcoach industry veteran based in New Jersey, with deep expertise in coach seating. A key member of the Grupo Amaya-Astron team, he currently serves as a sales representative for Amaya Seating. Known throughout the industry as “The Seat Guy,” he’s a go-to resource for seating solutions.
