Buses World News
In brief: Worldwide montly news & informations about Buses, Busmakers, Passengers' and the Transport Industry
CEASE INTERSTATE BUS SERVICE * USA
* Kansas-based party bus service ordered to shut down after fatality
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Olathe,KS,USA -Land Line, by Greg Grisolano -4 June 2013: -- A party bus service has been declared an imminent hazard by federal regulators after a compliance review found the company was operating “an unauthorized and unsafe commercial transportation service ” ... Midnight Express LLC, of Olathe, KS, and its owners – Adam Breidenthal, Derrick Hansroth and Edward Goetz have been ordered to cease operating all passenger-carrying commercial vehicle operations, according to a release issued Tuesday, June 4, by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration... The compliance review was initiated following a May 4 incident in which a passenger, 26-year-old Jamie Frecks, fell out of the back emergency exit in Kansas City and was killed when several vehicles ran her over. A subsequent inspection of the vehicle by the Kansas Highway Patrol found that realigned seating modifications made to the vehicle resulted in all four emergency exit windows being blocked. Inspectors found that the rear emergency exit window was also blocked and that the release mechanism was inoperable. Inspectors found serious deficiencies with the vehicle’s brakes and discovered engine exhaust leaks beneath the passenger compartment... Based on findings by the Kansas Highway Patrol inspectors, the FMCSA launched a federal investigation, during which FMCSA investigators found that the Midnight Express owners failed to ensure that their drivers were qualified and had complied with federal hours-of-service regulations. Drivers were not subjected to random drug and alcohol tests as required by federal regulations. In addition, Midnight Express owners failed to obtain USDOT passenger carrier operating authority and failed to carry $5 million in liability insurance, which is federally required for all commercial passenger carriers...
* South Carolina - FMCSA's 'Operation Quick Strike' shuts down another passenger carrier
(Photo: Destiny Tour Bus)
Lake City,SC,USA -Land Line, by Greg Grisolano -4 June 2013: -- A South Carolina passenger carrier has been ordered to cease operations immediately after federal regulators declared its vehicle and drivers pose an imminent hazard to public safety... Destiny Tours, of Lake City, SC, and its owner, Cornelius Scott, are named in an imminent hazard order issued Monday by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration... FMCSA investigators launched an inquiry into Destiny Tours on May 6... According to the investigation, the company falsified an inspection document and failed to regularly inspect, repair or maintain its single motor coach as required by federal safety regulations. No evidence was found that showed that the vehicle’s emergency exits, including push-out windows, had ever been tested... In addition, investigators found that the owners of Destiny Tours failed to monitor and ensure that their drivers complied with controlled substances and alcohol use and testing regulations. Drivers were employed before receiving negative pre-employment drug and alcohol test results as required by federal law. Drivers were not required by the company to turn in hours-of-service records or other required documentation such as driving itineraries and fuel receipts...
* Mississippi - Limo company ordered to cease passenger service
Oxford,MISS,USA -Land Line -30 May 2013: -- Mississippi-based Carbo Limo has been ordered to cease interstate passenger service, according to a release from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration... An FMCSA investigation of the Oxford, MS, limo service found that the company’s two motor coaches used for interstate operations were unsafe and that drivers “were not properly screened or monitored by the company to ensure compliance with federal safety regulations”, the release stated... Carbo Limo is a for-hire passenger carrier consisting of 10 passenger vans/minibuses and one stretch limousine used for its intrastate operations, principally shuttle service in and around Oxford. The company also operates two large motor coaches to provide interstate passenger service, over which FMCSA has authority. The action announced by FMCSA revokes Carbo Limo’s federal operating authority to conduct for-hire, interstate transportation of passengers only...Labels: shut down services
BUS SERVICES SHUT DOWN * USA
* Georgia - FMCSA shuts down Atlanta-based limousine
(Photo: Jeff Greene just took delivery of two luxury executive vans, like the pictured one)
Atlanta,GA,USA -Land Line, by Charlie Morasch -21 May 2013: -- Since launching in early April, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s “Motorcoach Operation Quick Strike” has continued to proactively investigate and place commercial vehicle companies out of service when buses have serious safety issues... On Friday, FMCSA filed an immediate out-of-service order for Atlanta-based Greene Classic Limousines after it said the company’s buses had “such significant structural and mechanical defects” that it was an imminent hazard to public safety... FMCSA investigators found five of the company’s buses had a control arm that had detached from the bus’s rear axle, as indicated in the order. The buses were typically 3,400 pounds over the vehicle’s gross weight limit of 19,000 pounds, the order reads...
* Illinois - FMCSA declares tour bus company imminent hazard
Champaign,ILL,USA -Land Line, by Greg Grisolano -16 May 2013: -- An Illinois tour bus company has been ordered out of service for being an imminent hazard to public safety, according to a Thursday news release from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration... Illini Tours Inc. of Champaign, IL, is a passenger carrier tour and charter service that operates five motor-coaches with services in Illinois and neighboring states. The order names the company and its president, Robert L. Frazier... Among the findings of a March 2013 compliance review were charges that the tour company “does not have systematic vehicle inspection, repair, and maintenance programs in place to prevent the operation of unsafe motor coaches” according to the order...Labels: shut down services
CEASE OPERATING BUS Cos. * USA
* DC - FMCSA shuts down Salt Lake City charter bus service
Washington,DC,USA -Land Line, by Greg Grisolano -6 May 2013: -- A Salt Lake City passenger shuttle has been ordered out of service after an FMCSA investigation found evidence of falsified driving records and unsafe equipment... Salt Lake Shuttles has been ordered to cease and desist all operations, because of being an imminent hazard, according to a release issued by the FMCSA on May 3. The stop order affects both the bus company and its president, Jesus Leal Martinez. The company primarily operates a shuttle from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas... The order states that investigators found evidence that Salt Lake Shuttles:
* Falsifies its drivers record of duty status by completely rewriting driver status after drivers complete interstate trips.
* Indicates second drivers on trips when no second driver was actually present.
* Directs/allows drivers to be on duty beyond the maximum time allowed under federal regulations.
* Fails to repair its vehicles or ensure the vehicles meet minimum safety standards.
* Ohio - FMCSA orders tour bus out of service for operating beyond scope
Toledo,OH,USA -Land Line, by Greg Grisolano -1 May 2013: -- A Toledo bus company has been ordered out of service after federal transportation officials found it had been operating beyond the scope of its registration.
Destiny Tours and its owner, Derrick Jones, have been ordered to cease operations, pending the issuing of appropriate registration by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
FMCSA issued the ruling on April 26, and announced the decision via press release on Wednesday.
According to the release, investigators found that Destiny Tours operated for-hire in interstate commerce on five occasions from May of 2012 to February of 2013. The company was registered as an interstate transporter of passengers – not requiring authority. The five trips included runs from Ohio to Michigan and Washington, DC, and required operating authority...
* Georgia - Bus carrier shut down by FMCSA's 'Operation Quick Strike'
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Tucker,GA,USA -Land Line, by Charlie Morasch -26 April 2013: -- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration -FMCSA- announced Friday it had ordered Best Limo Service to immediately cease all operations due to the company’s drivers and vehicles posing “an imminent hazard to public safety” ... Best Limo Service offers motor coaches and passenger vans for tours and charter services in the southeastern region of the U.S. ... The company allegedly allowed drivers who had previously tested positive for use of a controlled substance or whose commercial driver’s license had been suspended to continue transporting passengers... The company had a driver qualification file on only one of its 13 drivers, and as of March was missing half of its driver records of duty status paperwork... All three of the company’s buses were placed out of service for critical safety violations after on-site inspections revealed Best Limo Service had no system for inspecting or identifying vehicle maintenance and safety issues for its buses and vans...
* DC - FMCSA shuts down DC-area party bus company
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Washington,DC,USA -Land Line, by Charlie Morasch -24 April 2013: -- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ordered a Beltway-based party bus carrier to immediately cease operating after an investigation declared the company an “imminent hazard to public safety” ... FMCSA announced Wednesday, April 24, that it had ordered Washington DC Party Shuttle, which also does business under the name Onboard DC Tours, to cease operating its passenger buses. The company operates as a tour bus service in both Washington, DC, and New York City... According to FMCSA’s out-of-service order, the FMCSA investigation revealed “egregious regulatory violations demonstrating Washington DC Party Shuttle’s blatant disregard for motor coach passenger safety"... The order said the company repeatedly allowed one driver who had tested positive for controlled substance use to continue driving busloads of paying customers, though the company lied to investigators about his work after the positive tests. Another driver was allowed to work before passing any drug or alcohol testing. The order said the company failed even to inform its employees of federally required drug and alcohol testing...Labels: shut down services
AXED SERVICES' * UK - First Bus wields the axe on Wiltshire services
Wiltshire,UK -This is Wiltshire, by Craig Evry -17 March 2009: -- First Bus has said the tough economic climate has led to its decision to no longer operate services between Trowbridge and Devizes and Trowbridge and Melksham, while three west Wiltshire villages will not be served at all... First has axed services 237 (Trowbridge to Melksham), 266 (Trowbridge including the school bus from Clarendon and John of Gaunt schools), 77 (Trowbridge to Devizes via Steeple Ashton and Keevil) and will no longer serve Holt, Staverton and Broughton Gifford... Wiltsire County Council said a few minutes ago it was aware of First's decision and had made arrangements for all three of the services to continue to an almost identical timetable... (First Bus wields the axe on Wiltshire services )* Sawbridgeworth: Funding battle to save town bus routes
Sawbridgeworth,Harlow,UK -The Harlow Gerald -18 March 2009: -- A community bus service could be extended to save threatened routes in Sawbridgeworth... The SW1, 2, 3 circular services, operated by Arriva, are due to end in August after Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) removed the £483,000 of funding required to run the service... Although it is the most used community service run by the council, with 16,000 passengers per year, it is also the most costly and has been identified as no longer being a core service... Discussions between East Herts Council and HCC's Passenger Transport Unit have indicated there may be alternative solutions with potential for a more focused, community transport operation that addresses the key needs of local residents... The council has indicated that they would be prepared to donate one of their buses for such a venture, but potential partners and funding will need to be sought... The recommendation that East Herts Council makes available a subsidy of approximately £24,050 for community transport was accepted at a meeting of the Executive on Tuesday night...Labels: shut down services
SHUT DOWN * South Africa - Remant Alton buses skid to a halt
Beleagluered municipal bus service Remant Alton is in trouble again
Johannesburg,Gauteng,South Africa -The Times, by MONICA LAGANPARSAD -Mar 13, 2009: -- The bus company, which is contracted to the eThekwini municipality to provide public transport, has announced that it will shut down all services for a month, effective immediately... Earlier in the week, bus drivers refused to work saying the condition of the buses was dangerous to both themselves and passengers. Union officials convinced some of the drivers to return to work... Management said today that a cash shortfall, allegations and reports of intimidation, hijackings and robberies have affected operations and necessitated a shut down of services... The transport company has been plagued by cash flow problems and continual stand-offs with employees since being awarded the transport tender in 2004... Recently a number of employees were retrenched sparking demonstrations by other employees in solidarity with their colleagues...Labels: shut down services
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