Walker & Crawford, P.C. Encourage Researching Your Busin/Transportaion Company

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release September 11, 2008

James Walker and Jeff Crawford of Walker & Crawford, P.C. strongly encourage consumers to conduct the research necessary to make informed choices when deciding upon which bus company to hire for transportation of their friends and family. Schools, church groups, and other clubs often use motor coaches for long trips.

According to state officials, approximately 200 bus companies (including 2 out of every 5 charter bus companies) have been ordered off Texas roads in past 2 years. Moreover, over the course of the past 24 months, another 201 companies have had their authorization revoked, according to Carol Davis, director of the Texas Department of Transportation’s Motor Carrier Division. What we at Walker & Crawford find extremely unfortunate, and downright scary, is the fact that some of those grounded companies are reportedly resurfacing under new names. State officials are in the process of researching how many and precisely which ones. Worth noting is the fact that there are about 300 bus companies which have permission to operate in the State of Texas.

Problems in the motor coach industry came to light after an August 8th, 2008 crash that killed 17 people in Sherman, Texas. The Houston-based owner of the bus had been shut down for safety violations but continued operating under a different company name, according to federal and state officials. Since then, 2 additional bus companies in Houston and Irving have been shut down for being affiliated with revoked companies.

Although motor coach safety is governed mostly by federal law, the state Transportation Department wants to make it easier for the public to gain access to bus records. In fact, by late September, state officials will begin posting complaints filed against bus companies on the Transportation Department’s web site, www.txdot.gov. Other helpful documents, including the results of investigations, will also be posted.

We at Walker & Crawford, P.C. hope you will find this resource and the above-referenced information useful when you are selecting a safe and reputable company for the transportation of your loved ones.