SALEM, Ohio — As the leader, you are responsible for the group travel for your organization, and safety is, of course, your primary concern. Knowing the federal requirements for motorcoach safety can help lower risk for your travelers whether you’re hiring a commercial motorcoach or operating your own commercial motor vehicle.
Specific regulations apply to commercial motorcoaches you may charter, and others apply to vehicles you may own. It’s a good idea to add these regulations to your group travel knowledge.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is dedicated to increasing highway safety through improvements to equipment, better driver practices and regulation enforcement. Please look over this checklist to operate better trips and ensure safe travel for your group.
If you charter motorcoaches, these suggestions will help ensure your group’s safety.
• Select a bus company, and check safety performance results.
• A recent safety rating is a more timely indicator than a rating that is several years old.
•Passenger carriers with a final “Unsatisfactory” safety rating are considered a high safety risk and are prohibited from operating.
•Interstate drivers, generally drivers who cross state lines, are subject to qualification standards.
•For-hire bus companies must obtain operating authority from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to provide interstate passenger transportation.
•If the company operates a bus that is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, it must have $5 million in insurance coverage.
If your organization owns its own vehicle and a member of your organization is the driver for group outings, you are considered an owner/operator by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. You must, therefore, follow all owner/operator regulations and laws.
•If your vehicle is designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver, your driver must possess a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) with a passenger endorsement.
•Your organization must have a drug and alcohol testing program for its CDL drivers.
•Your interstate drivers, generally drivers who cross state lines, are subject to qualification standards.
•Your drivers are subject to limitations on the number of consecutive hours they can drive.
•Your buses must be systematically inspected, repaired and maintained to be in safe and proper operating condition.
See more from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration at www.fmcsa.dot.gov.
