The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) ordered Hardeeville, S.C.-based passenger carrier The People’s Choice to immediately cease all operations, declaring that its vehicles and drivers pose an imminent hazard to public safety.

The People’s Choice operates a small fleet of motorcoaches providing charter services primarily in the southeastern U.S.

Federal investigators found that The People’s Choice failed to properly inspect, repair, or maintain its vehicles and allowed vehicles that had failed safety inspections to transport passengers. Investigators also found that company owners failed to monitor and ensure that drivers complied with hours-of-service requirements, dispatched unqualified drivers to transport passengers, and failed to ensure drivers complied with controlled substances and alcohol use testing regulations.

This is the 18th out-of-service order issued by FMCSA since the deployment in April 2013 of more than 50 “Operation Quick Strike” safety investigators targeting high-risk passenger carriers.

In the past three months, FMCSA has also revoked the operating authority of ten 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 25 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.