New Entrance Safety Assurance Process

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION DOCKET NO. FMCSA-2001-11061, NEW ENTRANT SAFETY ASSURANCE PROCESS: IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION 210(B) OF THE MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1999 Comments of American Bus Association in Response to Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking October 26, 2009 The American Bus Association (ABA) appreciates this opportunity to respond to the FMCSA's ( Agency) advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) asking for comments on whether, and in what manner, FMCSA should require motor carrier applicants to pass a safety proficiency examination prior to their FMCSA registration. ABA supports the implementation of such a requirement for motor carriers of passengers. The American Bus Association is the trade association for the private over-the-road bus and motorcoach industry. ABA is comprised of over 3500 member companies and organizations, including over 850 bus and motorcoach operator members. Each motorcoach operated by an ABA member is capable of carrying up to fifty-five passengers. The ABA's bus operator members provide all manner of transportation services to the public including scheduled, fixed route service, commuter service, charter and tour and airport shuttle service. In all the private motorcoach industry provides 750 million passenger trips each year, a number which surpasses the annual number of passenger trips provided by the United States domestic airline industry. With these facts as a predicate there is no doubt that the ABA and its members are very concerned with the safety of the motorcoach industry. We applaud the decision of Secretary LaHood to make bus safety a