On May 31, 2012, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shut down 26 bus operations and declared them “imminent hazards to public safety.”  Acording to the government press release,  this unprecedented sweep led to FMCSA ordering 10 individual bus company owners, managers, and employees to “cease all passenger operations.”

The companies listed in the government investigations were Apex Bus, Inc. I-95 Coach, Inc, and New Century Travel, Inc.  Theses companies oversaw a larger network of 9 bus companies along and one ticket operator.  In the latest safety sweep, the adminstration also shut down an additional 13 companies that had alread been ordered out of service; but continued to operate.  These companies in the sweep operated out of Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.  According to department spokespersons, investigators found multiple safety violations including:

• Failure to have drug and alcohol testing programs in place
• Failure to regularly inspect and maintain commercial vehicles
• Using drivers without commercial drivers licenses
• Hours-of-Service Violations

The administration also states they are taking further action to ensure these motorcoach and bus operators do not reincarnate under new names.  In April 2012, a new rule broadened the administration’s authority and linked operating companies to other companies that were previously placed out of service due to safety violations.  As a result, the newly published  rules make it more difficult for repeat offenders to continue operations through affiliate companies in the future.

Due large to increasing numbers of motorcoach accidents, the department of transportation has remained committed to their  Motorcoach Safety Action Plan.  Over the past 6 years, the DOT double the number of annual safety inspections from of bus companies from 12,000 in 2005 to approximately 29,000 inspections in 2001.  In 2012, the administration also launched to the SaferBus Mobile App so travelers can review a carrier’s safety records beford purchasing tickets or booking group (or family) travel by bus.  Potential travelers can find the app in Apple’s iTunes store or the Android Market.

For further details regarding the original press release, or visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admininstration’s website at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/.

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