Resources Maintenance Related Articles Unsafe Motorcoaches Found Illegally Still in Service
Unsafe Motorcoaches Found Illegally Still in Service PDF Print E-mail
Written by Staff   
Friday, 14 August 2009 00:00
A Government Accountability Office report released last month found that 20 motorcoach companies that had previously been placed out of service over the last two years due to safety violations had returned to the marketplace illegally under different company names.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has since implemented controls designed to prevent motor carriers from illegally restarting their operations, but the report indicates that some school students may have ridden on unsafe motocoaches in 2007 and 2008. If the feds discover a new entrant into the approved motor carrier pool has a shared owner name, company address or phone number for an out-of-service company, the agency can determine if the new applicant is related to the unsafe carrier. But it could remain difficult for the FMCSA to deny operating authority as the report pointed out legal obstacles.

The real number of so-called “reincarnated” motor carriers that attempted to hide their true identities from the FMSCA could be higher, the GAO report added, because the analysis was based on exact matches and company owners who provided the false applications could not be identified. In all, about 220 motocoach companies were placed out of service during fiscal years 2007 and 2008.

One example of a reincarnated motor carrier was a Texas motorcoach operator placed out of service for failing to pay $2,380 in fines related to five safety violations. The company soon resurfaced under a new registration submitted in the name of the owner’s daughter. FMCSA discovered the attempt and revoked the registration. The owner was also convicted of cocaine possession.
Tags: