News & Insights

Whether retirement is five years away or fifteen, succession and exit planning is one of the most important strategic steps a business owner can take to protect the value they’ve created and ensure their transition happens on their terms. Succession and exit planning is just about selling a business. It is a strategic process designed to maximize value, reduce risk, and prepare both the business and the owner for a successful transition, whether that transition involves passing the business to ...

When a school bus driver fails a drug or alcohol test, refuses to submit to required testing, or otherwise violates U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) drug testing regulations, a specific regulatory framework governs driver and employer obligations. Federal regulations require such drivers participate in the Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) program before they return to safety-sensitive duties. 49 C.F.R. §40.285(a). For school bus operators, understanding how this process works, and what ...

Snowstorms, extreme cold, and other weather-related events continue to affect school operations across Pennsylvania. In response, school districts often cancel in-person instruction, move instruction to a virtual format, or revise school calendars in ways that result in transportation services being suspended. Since Act 56 became law in 2023, schools have more flexibility to make school calendar changes that reduce transportation contract revenue days. What do your transportation contracts say a...

If you’ve ever talked to a banker, investor, or potential buyer, chances are you’ve heard the term EBITDA thrown around. It sounds technical, but the idea behind it is actually pretty simple—and very useful for business owners. EBITDA stands for Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization. In plain English, it’s a way of measuring how much money your business generates from its core operations, before certain financial and accounting factors are taken into account. Think ...

The 2025-2026 school year is already half-way over, and for many contractors this means peak sports and activities season is only right around the corner. As contractors know, there is plenty of extra work to go around during this time of year, and many drivers jump at the opportunity to pick up extra trips. Although it is great to have employees eager to take on additional work, transportation contractors should be mindful of federal hours of service requirements, and ensure that their drivers ...

Once again, marijuana is in the spotlight. On December 18, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14370 on expanding medical marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD) research, with the goal of rescheduling marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. Some may recall that the Biden Administration began taking similar steps in 2024. Continue reading for a brief discussion on the recent history of marijuana reclassification, what Executive Order 14370 accomplishes, and what considerations ...

In the throes of winter, school bus drivers often idle their buses to keep the bus warm. But, contractors should keep in mind laws and regulations that limit the amount of time that diesel vehicles can idle. In Pennsylvania, the Diesel-Powered Motor Vehicle Idling Act (the “Act”) generally restrict owners of diesel-powered motor vehicles greater than 10,000 pounds from running the diesel engine for more than five (5) minutes within any sixty (60) minute period. 35 P.S. §4603(a). But, there are...