Safety Guide for Passengers

This Page Is Provided by the United Motorcoach Association.

The bus industry is one of the safest modes of transportation on the road, with approximately 40,000 motorcoaches operating in North America. Safety is a top priority for all. The motorcoach industry is proud of its safety record, and wants you, the passenger, to know choosing buses means choosing safety. Here's some background information on requirements your operator must meet in order to do business on the roads:

• Driver Standards/Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
  • All U.S. drivers are required to have a valid, current CDL with a "passenger" endorsement.
  • CDLs are only issued after drivers have demonstrated their abilities, through skills and a knowledge test.
• Operating Authority/Company Inspection
  • All carriers operating in the United States are required to have a Department of Transportation (DOT) identification number. With this DOT identification number you can obtain safety information about the carrier by calling (703) 280-4001. Click here to obtain the SAFER (Safety Fitness Electronics Records Systems) database online.
  • DOT Safety Ratings: These ratings are based on the results of onsite inspections by the United States conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in each state. However, due to the volume of carriers, not all have been visited or assigned a rating. If the information on the carrier that you are looking for is not on the SAFER system, this does not mean that the company is an unsafe carrier. It indicates only that the FMCSA has not yet visited that operator.
• Insurance
  • Ask for proof of a valid, current insurance certificate that provides a minimum, in the United States, of $5 million in liability coverage insurance.
• Vehicle Standards/Vehicle Inspection
  • Many states and provinces have mandated inspection programs. Call your state or provincial regulatory agency responsible for inspections to learn more about the inspection procedure.
  • Look for proof that the vehicle that you will be riding has passed a mechanical inspection within the last year. This inspection certificate is generally in the form of a decal or report displayed on the coach. Ask your operator for more information.
  • If a state or province does not require a periodic inspection, you can call the individual motorcoach company to inquire about inspection, bus maintenance and repair or, look for a decal issued by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA).