What’s the best way to go about choosing the safest bus company for your group? From safety ratings to customer reviews, here are five areas of questions you can’t afford not to ask when evaluating bus charter operators.
Research Safety Ratings: Look up sites that have reliable lists of safety ratings, such as the Transportation Safety Exchange. The TSE makes sure that carriers have effective safety ratings in place. They also monitor driver and vehicle performance each month. What’s the company’s safety record like? How has the U.S Department of Transportation rated the company? Satisfactory (a #1) is the highest rating in the industry. Never hire a company that rates either Unsatisfactory or Conditional with the Department of Transportation. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is a fantastic resource to look up all kinds of charter company rating information, as is the Transportation Safety Exchange or even the Better Business Bureau.
Driver Requirements: How does your charter company define driver requirements? When hiring a charter company, you’ll want to go with one who hires the safest and most reliable drivers possible. For example, the FMCSA develops particular standards for drivers. Bus operators need a commercial driver’s license, must have good hearing and vision, and must submit to a physical exam every two years. Bus drivers are required to carry a DOT (Department of Transportation) physical exam card. For many charter bus companies, drivers have to be 21 or older to drive a charter vehicle across state lines, but other states may have additional rules.
Other important considerations would be: Are the drivers caught up on licensing? How does the company instruct drivers to deal with fatigue? How restrictive is the company’s regulations restricting the daily amount of hours they can drive? Does the bus company have a clear anti-drug policy in place? How rigorous is the company’s background checking policies? These are important questions to ask about the driver of your charter.
Procedure of Breakdowns: Oh no. It’s a stormy evening and your charter bus breaks down. You’re miles away from your destination. What then? Does your company have a clear breakdown procedure? A reliable bus company should have access to networks that provide maintenance, as well as an up-to-date membership in The International Motorcoach Group (IMG), The United Motorcoach Association (UMA), The American Bus Association (ABA) or similar organizations. Make sure there will be another bus readily available in the event of a break-down.
Customer Reviews: The Better Business Bureau, ConsumerAffairs.com, Facebook, Yelp and other websites can be a rich source of customer reviews! Research highly rated bus companies in your area.
Proof of Insurance and Inspection Reports: Make sure your charter choice has adequate insurance. Most states require a $5 million dollar policy for travel across state lines. Make sure that the insurance is current. Most carries should supply an insurance certificate. Inspection report results are available on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website; these reports provide information about the vehicle itself and if there have been significant issues with a company. Most reputable charter companies will allow potential clients to see their facilities upon request.
These five areas of inquiry can save you time and make your trip as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
ESCOT Bus Charters, a member of the International Motor Coach Group, will be more than happy to provide you answers to all of these questions and allow you to inspect the vehicle you will be chartering. Request a Quote.
