Policing the roads

Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009 | 2:06 a.m.

Hundreds of truck and bus companies shut down operations to get out of paying for violations of federal regulations — and then reopened under other names, a recent investigation by the Government Accountability Office found.

The GAO report, which was obtained by the Associated Press, came a year after an unlicensed charter bus in Texas blew a retreaded tire that had been illegally installed. The resulting crash killed 17 people.

The company that operated the bus had previously been found in violation of federal regulations and fined. Instead of addressing the problems, the company shut down and reopened with a new name. GAO investigators found 220 bus companies and 1,073 commercial trucking companies that they believe avoided regulators by being “reincarnated.”

Companies with poor safety records can flout the rules. By changing their names, they often can receive a new license from the Transportation Department.

“These companies pose a safety threat to the motoring public,” GAO executive Greg Kurtz wrote in the report, noting that about 300 deaths were due to bus crashes last year.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which licenses trucking companies and bus operators, said it has put new measures in place to prevent “reincarnations.” The GAO, however, said the federal agency does not have the proper computer systems to do the job. It also noted that the federal agency doesn’t have the clear authority to enforce the law.

Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., has attached an amendment to the federal highway reauthorization bill that would give the agency the authority to fine violators and revoke licenses. He also included money to upgrade the agency’s computer system.

Unfortunately, Oberstar’s proposal has been caught in a broader debate over the highway reauthorization bill, which could be delayed 18 months. Congress should see the importance of Oberstar’s amendment and make sure it is separated from the other bill so it can be enacted as soon as possible.