August 2, 2004

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced today that eight school bus contractors and three school bus drivers in Harrisburg, PA were fined after a series of investigations conducted in May found them in violation of federal drug and alcohol safety regulations.

"FMCSA takes seriously its responsibility to protect the safety of school bus riders," said Patrick Quigley, FMCSA Pennsylvania Division Administrator. "We will not be satisfied with anything less than 100 percent compliance with federal safety regulations from the school bus transportation community."

FMCSA completed 70 compliance reviews on bus contractors and school districts during this investigation, looking closely at their drug and alcohol testing programs and adherence to federal safety regulations. Most of the carriers investigated were in compliance with the drug and alcohol provisions.

Motor carriers are required to conduct random controlled substance testing at an annual rate of 50 percent and random alcohol testing at an annual rate of 10 percent of the average number of driver positions.

The following bus contractors were fined for either failing to conduct random controlled substance or alcohol testing or for using drivers in violation of federal drug and alcohol safety regulations: Brownsville Bus Lines, Inc. was fined $14,490; James O. Sacks, Inc. was fined $12,930, Martini, Inc. was fined $8,720, Wilson Metz was fined $8,480, Class 1 Bus Company, Inc. was fined $5,710, DeNaples Transportation, Inc. was fined $5,640, Bowman Brothers Trucking, Inc. was fined $1,990, and Carrier Management Inc. (DBA Matthews Bus Company) was fined $1,980.

In addition, three drivers were found to have violated the drug and alcohol regulations and fined $1,750 each.

Contractors and drivers fined will have the opportunity to contest the alleged violations and the amount of the penalties in an agency proceeding.

FMCSA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

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