FMCSA's unprecedented bus shutdown puts safety first

If you operate a commercial bus service and you put your passengers' safety at risk, we will shut you down.

It's a simple message, and most bus companies get it. But for the past year, we've been investigating a network of operators who don't get it, and today we're making I-95 safer for everyone by taking 26 companies off the road.

At DOT, safety is our number one priority. I say it over and over again, but those words mean nothing unless we back them up with action--good rules and good enforcement.

Today, I'm proud to announce an important action that makes good on our safety promise to bus passengers. Starting yesterday, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shut down 26 bus companies that blatantly and repeatedly violated safety rules.

This is the single largest motor coach safety crackdown that DOT has ever undertaken. And now, a network of unsafe bus operators is off our highways. As FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro said, "This is a watershed day for bus safety and every passenger who expects and deserves to arrive safely at their destination."

A stirke force inspector check's a driver's hours-of-service

These operators—Apex Bus, I-95 Coach, and New Century Travel—used drivers who did not hold commercial licenses, and they drove buses that did not meet safety standards. They put passengers and other motorists at serious risk, and shutting them down could save lives.

That’s good news for passengers, and it's good news for the many bus companies that provide good service, use properly trained and licensed drivers, and take safety seriously.

The 26 shutdown orders apply to one ticket seller, nine active bus companies, 13 companies already ordered out of service that were continuing to operate, and three companies applying for operating authority. The various companies are based in Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

We're also taking further steps to ensure that these companies don't simply rebrand themselves and continue operating under other names. FMCSA has revoked the carriers’ operating authority and linked the active companies to other companies previously placed out of service. And we will continue to work closely with local, state and federal law enforcement to ensure these companies stay off our roads.

If you're considering bus travel, there are many safe companies to choose from. Our free SaferBus smartphone app and the FMCSA website make that choice a little easier by allowing consumers to quickly look up the safety record of a bus company.

Because of DOT and our safety partners, people get up every day and use a lot of different forms of transportation without having to worry about safety. And bus travel should be no exception.

This crackdown is a victory for bus passengers and everyone who shares the road with America's motor coaches.