FMCSA shuts down 2 motorcoach companies

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) revoked Staten Island, N.Y.-based All Nations Coach Inc.’s operating authority for violations of federal safety regulations and declared McRea Transportation Inc. an imminent hazard to public safety and ordered to cease all operations. The companies were served the federal orders July 1 and July 24, respectively.

“There is no place on our highways and roads for bus operators who disregard safety,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Passengers should be able to trust that the company they use will be able to get them to their destination in a safe and timely manner.”

On July 1, FMCSA ordered All Nations Coach to provide evidence that it was not a reincarnation of Tichy Express Inc., which had been placed out of service by FMCSA in 2012 for multiple violations of federal safety regulations and for failure to pay $5,400 assessed in civil penalties. All Nations Coach was given 21 days to petition for an administrative review of FMCSA’s order.

July 16, an All Nations Coach motorcoach traveling from Charlotte, N.C., to New York City broke down along Interstate 95 in Caroline County, Va., at approximately 12 a.m. Fifty-three passengers were later transported to a truck stop by state and local authorities where they waited approximately 24 hours for a replacement motorcoach to arrive.

On July 22, 2013, FMCSA executed its Out-of-Service and Records Consolidation Order and the federal operating authority of All Nations Coach was revoked.

Meanwhile on July 11, a McRea Transportation motorcoach broke down in Northampton County, N.C., along Interstate 85 at 2:30 a.m. Fifty passengers were later transported to a Virginia welcome center by state law enforcement officers where they waited approximately 10 hours for a replacement motorcoach to arrive.

On July 15, 2013, FMCSA safety investigators launched an investigation of McRea Transportation and found that the company owners failed to monitor and ensure that its drivers complied with federal hours-of-service requirements and controlled substances and alcohol use testing regulations.

Drivers’ duty status records books were also falsified in an attempt to operate a 50-passenger motorcoach on a trip from New York City to Atlanta.

In the past three months, FMCSA has also revoked the operating authority of 10 additional bus companies following compliance review investigations that resulted in an “unsatisfactory” safety rating.

Since the beginning of 2013, FMCSA has issued out-of-service orders to a total of 24 bus companies and nine trucking companies. The agency has also declared seven commercial driver's license holders as imminent hazards, blocking them from operating in interstate commerce.

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