Bus Leasing Company Had Good Safety Record
By David Tewes, Victoria Advocate, Texas
Jan. 4–The Texas company leasing the bus that crashed near Victoria on Wednesday, injuring scores and killing one, has a better-than-average safety record.
Houston-based International Charter Services Inc. has had its vehicles inspected by the federal government 80 times in the past two years.
Buses were pulled from service for safety problems nine times, or about half the national average, according to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration records reviewed Thursday.
The company’s drivers were inspected 103 times during the same period and on three occasions were taken out of service. That’s also about half the national average.
International Charter had no crashes listed on its record.
“From all aspects, it looks like it’s a pretty safe company,” said Melissa DeLaney with the motor carrier administration. “They’re well below the national average.”
A spokesperson at International Charter’s office said the owner is the only person allowed to comment and the owner was not available.
Tom Vinger, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, said the Capricorn Bus Lines bus that crashed Wednesday near Spur 91 and U.S. 59 was leased to International Charter. The bus rolled, resulting in 46 people being sent to hospitals and one person being killed.
The bus was traveling from Monterrey, Mexico, to Houston, and driver fatigue is being investigated as a possible factor, Vinger said earlier.
Capricorn is listed with the federal motor carrier administration as an intrastate passenger carrier, which means it is not authorized to cross Texas lines, DeLaney said.
But International Charter is an interstate passenger line authorized to travel out of the state. The leased vehicle falls under International Charter’s authority to cross state lines, DeLaney said.
David Tewes is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact him at 361-580-6515 or dtewes@vicad.com.
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