Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Safety investigators found that Autobuses Zacatecanos failed to ensure that its vehicles were systematically and properly inspected, repaired and maintained. Onsite inspections of the carrier’s four buses revealed such numerous and serious safety violations that all four vehicles were immediately declared out of service.

This is the first shutdown of a passenger carrier following the deployment earlier this month of more than 50 specially trained safety investigators targeting high-risk passenger carriers.

An investigation of Ming An Inc.’s operations found that Ming An failed to conduct pre-employment drug and alcohol testing and allowed unqualified drivers to operate its vehicles in an unsafe manner with its drivers receiving numerous citations for speeding in excess of 15 miles per hour over posted speed limits.

Committee is charged with providing information, advice and recommendations to FMCSA on safety programs and regulations for large trucks and commercial buses.

The imminent hazard/operations-out-of-service order issued by FMCSA prohibits Top Class Bus Co. from any type of commercial passenger service and it blocks the unapproved use of its buses by another company or any driver.

FMCSA inspectors and auditors will undergo specialized training aimed at investigating key areas of operations at motorcoach companies deemed to be high-risk carriers.

On Feb. 3, 2013, a bus operated by Scapadas Magicas transporting passengers from locations including Tijuana, Mexico on a ski trip to the Southern California area, crashed on a mountain road striking two other vehicles east of San Bernardino.

The driver of the bus that crashed, Haeng Kyu (James) Hwang, was found to have been driving well beyond the 70-hour maximum hours of service within a seven-day period as permitted under federal regulations.

LEX Express was informed in the FMCSA’s notice that the company would be prohibited from operating its fleet of 30 passenger vehicles and 34 drivers on Dec. 7, 2012, unless FMCSA approved a corrective action plan to ensure safety compliance.

The final Compliance Safety Accountability program changes will provide FMCSA with more precise information when assessing a company’s over-the-road safety performance.