TBL Group, Inc.-Control-Echo Windy City, LLC, 10031-10032 [2025-02860]

Agencies

• Surface Transportation Board

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 33 (Thursday, February 20, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10031-10032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-02860]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. MCF 21129]


TBL Group, Inc.--Control--Echo Windy City, LLC

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Notice tentatively approving and authorizing finance 
transaction.

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SUMMARY: TBL Group, Inc. (TBL Group), a holding company that owns 
multiple interstate motor passenger carriers, has filed an application 
for Board approval of its acquisition of an additional federally 
regulated motor passenger carrier, Echo Windy City, LLC (Echo Windy). 
The Board is tentatively approving and authorizing the transaction. If 
no opposing comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final 
Board action.

DATES: Comments must be filed by April 7, 2025. If any comments are 
filed, TBL Group may file a reply by April 21, 2025. If no opposing 
comments are filed by April 7, 2025, this notice shall be effective on 
April 8, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Comments, referring to Docket No. MCF 21129, may be filed 
with the Board either via e-filing on the Board's website or in writing 
addressed to: Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, send one copy of comments to 
TBL Group's representative: Andrew K. Light, Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, 
Hanson & Feary, P.C., 10 W Market Street, Suite 1400, Indianapolis, IN 
46204.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathaniel Bawcombe at (202) 245-0376. 
If you require an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities 
Act, please call (202) 245-0245.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 21, 2025, TBL Group filed an 
application under 49 U.S.C. 14303 and 49 CFR part 1182, for Board 
authority for TBL Group to control Echo Windy, currently an intrastate 
motor passenger carrier affiliate of TBL Group, upon Echo Windy's 
procurement of interstate authority via an application with the Federal 
Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) (the Contemplated 
Transaction). (Appl. 1, 6.) The Contemplated Transaction would, 
according to TBL Group, result in TBL Group having control of an 
additional interstate passenger motor carrier subject to the Board's 
jurisdiction under 49 U.S.C. 14303(a)(5). (Appl. 1.)
    According to the application, TBL Group is a Texas corporation, 
headquartered at 15734 Aldine Westfield Road, Houston, TX 77032. (Id. 
at 2.) TBL Group asserts it is not a federally regulated carrier. (Id.) 
The application further states that TBL Group controls three interstate 
passenger motor carriers: GBJ Inc. (GBJ), Echo East Coast 
Transportation LLC (Echo East Coast), and Echo Tours & Charters, LP. 
(Echo Tours). (Id. at 2-4, Exs. A, B.) TBL Group states that GBJ is a 
Texas corporation doing business as Echo AFC Transportation, that 
primarily provides charter and shuttle services for companies, non-
profits, schools, and tour operators in Houston, Tex., but also 
provides interstate charter passenger transportation service. (Id. at 
2-3.) Echo East Coast is described in the application as a Texas 
limited liability company that primarily provides interstate and 
intrastate charter services in the area of Jacksonville, Fla. (Id. at 
3.) Echo Tours is described by TBL Group as a Texas limited partnership 
doing business as Echo Transportation, that primarily provides charter 
and shuttle services for companies, non-profits, schools, and tour 
operators in the metropolitan area of Dallas, Tex., but also provides 
interstate charter passenger transportation. (Id. at 3-4.) TBL Group 
also explains that it has filed an application, in Docket No. MCF 
21126, to acquire control of Reston Limousine & Travel Service, Inc. 
(Reston), a Virginia corporation operating as a motor carrier of 
passengers that primarily provides shuttle and general charter services 
in the metropolitan area of Washington, DC (Id. at 2, 6.) \1\ The 
application states that, except for GBJ, Echo East Coast, Echo Tours, 
and prospectively Reston, there are no other affiliated interstate 
carriers with which TBL Group is involved. (Id. at 2-6.)
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    \1\ When TBL Group filed its application to control Echo Windy, 
its application to acquire control of Reston was pending, but since 
has been tentatively approved. See TBL Group, Inc.--Acquis. of 
Control--Reston Limousine & Travel Serv., Inc., MCF 21126 (STB 
served Feb. 14, 2025).
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    TBL Group describes Echo Windy as a Texas limited liability 
company, doing business as Echo Windy City Transportation. (Id. at 5.) 
The application describes Echo Windy as currently providing traditional 
Illinois intrastate limousine and charter passenger transportation 
services in the

[[Page 10032]]

metropolitan area of Chicago. (Id.) The application states that Echo 
Windy also provides on a limited basis brokerage of interstate 
passenger moves to other interstate passenger motor carriers. (Id.) TBL 
Group asserts that it acquired the primary assets comprising Echo Windy 
in September 2024. (Id.) TBL Group goes on to describe Echo Windy as a 
direct subsidiary of TBL Group that currently utilizes approximately 36 
motor coaches, 55 minibuses, and 18 limousines, and employs 
approximately 118 drivers. (Id.) TBL Group asserts that Echo Windy 
desires to obtain interstate passenger motor carrier authority in order 
to expand its service offerings to include the option for its customers 
to obtain direct interstate passenger transportation services from Echo 
Windy. (Id.)
    Under 49 U.S.C. 14303(b), the Board must approve and authorize a 
transaction that it finds consistent with the public interest, taking 
into consideration at least (1) the effect of the proposed transaction 
on the adequacy of transportation to the public, (2) the total fixed 
charges resulting from the proposed transaction, and (3) the interest 
of affected carrier employees. TBL Group has submitted the information 
required by 49 CFR 1182.2, including information demonstrating that the 
proposed transaction is consistent with the public interest under 49 
U.S.C. 14303(b), see 49 CFR 1182.2(a)(7), and a jurisdictional 
statement under 49 U.S.C. 14303(g) that the aggregate gross operating 
revenues of the involved carriers exceeded $2 million during the 12-
month period immediately preceding the filing of the application, see 
49 CFR 1182.2(a)(5).
    TBL Group asserts that granting the application would not have any 
detrimental impact on the adequacy of transportation services available 
for the public in Echo Windy's service area. (Appl. 8.) According to 
TBL Group, the extensive intrastate services currently provided by Echo 
Windy will continue to be provided and the addition of a direct 
interstate service offering will enhance the provision of adequate 
service to the public. (Id.) TBL Group asserts that there are no fixed 
charges associated with the Contemplated Transaction. (Id.) The 
application states that the existing operations of Echo Windy (and, as 
such, the Contemplated Transaction) are not expected to negatively 
impact employees or labor conditions, as TBL Group expects that its 
ability to provide direct interstate passenger service will produce 
additional trip opportunities for its existing drivers and possibly 
demand for hiring additional drivers. (Id.)
    TBL Group states that in Echo Windy's service area, the market for 
interstate limousine and charter transportation services, as well as 
other traditional passenger service providers, is very competitive due 
to demand and the significant number of national, regional, and local 
providers operating within the area. (Id. at 10.) The application 
asserts that Echo Windy's service area is geographically dispersed from 
service areas of TBL Group's affiliated carriers and Reston in regard 
to service offerings, and there is no overlap in customer bases. (Id.) 
The application concludes that the impact of the Contemplated 
Transaction on the interstate segment of the passenger motor carrier 
industry, even with the recent tentative approval of Reston, will be 
minimal at most and that neither competition nor the public interest 
will be adversely affected. (Id. at 10-11.)
    Based on TBL Group's representations, the Board finds that the 
Contemplated Transaction as proposed in the application is consistent 
with the public interest. The application will be tentatively approved 
and authorized. If any opposing comments are timely filed, these 
findings will be deemed vacated, and, unless a final decision can be 
made on the record as developed, a procedural schedule will be adopted 
to reconsider the application. See 49 CFR 1182.6. If no opposing 
comments are filed by the expiration of the comment period, this notice 
will take effect automatically and will be the final Board action in 
this proceeding.
    This action is categorically excluded from environmental review 
under 49 CFR 1105.6(c).
    Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov.
    It is ordered:
    1. The proposed transaction is approved and authorized, subject to 
the filing of opposing comments.
    2. If opposing comments are timely filed, the findings made in this 
notice will be deemed vacated.
    3. This notice will be effective on April 8, 2025, unless opposing 
comments are filed by April 7, 2025. If any comments are filed, TBL 
Group may file a reply by April 21, 2025.
    4. A copy of this notice will be served on: (1) the U.S. Department 
of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590; (2) the U.S. Department of 
Justice, Antitrust Division, 10th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20530; and (3) the U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Office of the General Counsel, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, 
DC 20590.

    Decided: February 13, 2025.

    By the Board, Board Members Fuchs, Hedlund, Primus, and Schultz.
Raina White,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2025-02860 Filed 2-19-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P