Cardinal Buses, a Midwest-based charter bus company has received top scores in nearly every safety category possible. With scores being calculated based on a variety of factors, the company came out on or near the top in every category, said company officials.

Some highlights from the scoring included:

• A United States Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) safety ranking of "Satisfactory" (highest score available)

• An ISS safe stat score of 22/100 (The lower the score, the better)

• Department of Defense rating of 1 (highest rating available - this allows Cardinal Buses to transport military troops)

The  family owned bus company, with facilities in Middlebury, Ind., and Holland, Mich., operates a fleet of motorcoaches with seating capacities ranging from 29 to 56 passengers.

Cardinal Buses was also ranked among the top 10 safest motorcoach charters in the country, within their insurance group, adding to the recognition of their high standards in safety and maintenance. This attention to safety and quality has been recognized as Cardinal Buses is one of the top athletic transportation companies in the Midwest, chartering buses for athletic teams competing in Division I, Division II and Division III sports throughout Indiana, Michigan and Chicagoland areas, according to company officials.

The coach operation also provides ground transportation for many of the local colleges, universities and community colleges. In addition to the services provided to universities and athletic teams, Cardinal Buses also provides bus charters for large church groups, school field trips, or tour groups wishing to travel throughout the U.S. and Canada.

"We encourage college and university travel coordinators to research their motorcoach carrier by asking for their U.S. DOT number and running it through the results found at www.safersys.org, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Website" said Dan Shoup, vice president of Cardinal Buses. "We also encourage travel coordinators to make a site visit to any potential motorcoach carrier's facilities to see firsthand the carrier's fleet, inspect their preventive maintenance program, and to inquire about the experience of the operations staff including mechanics and drivers."