Group Transport

School trip transportation that chaperones can plan around

A class trip to Washington, a museum day in Chicago or a band tour to Orlando all start with the same question from parents: is the bus safe? Here is how to answer it, and how to size the vehicle.

Checking the carrier before permission slips go out

Every quote names the operator, and you can look that carrier up by USDOT number in FMCSA's Bus Safety Search or in SAFER. The best safety rating FMCSA gives is Satisfactory. Not Rated carriers may still operate legally, so a Not Rated result is a prompt to ask questions rather than a red flag on its own. If a carrier is rated Unsatisfactory, or has an out-of-service order against it, it should not be running your interstate trip.

Executive Sprinter minibus, exterior
Executive Sprinter minibus, exterior

What the rules require

  • "Satisfactory" is FMCSA's highest safety rating; "Not Rated" carriers may operate.
  • Federal CDL "school bus" definition excludes for-hire charter operations.
  • Buses over 26,000 lb built since Nov 28, 2016 need passenger seat belts.

Seat belts, licences and the right bus for a class

Passenger seat belts are required in buses over 26,000 pounds built from November 28, 2016 onward, and a vehicle designed for 16 or more people, counting the driver, calls for a driver holding a CDL passenger endorsement. The federal CDL definition of a school bus excludes for-hire charter work, so a chartered coach is a different category from the yellow bus at the curb.

For sizing, a motorcoach of 49 seats or more carries a full grade with overnight bags under the floor, a midsize coach suits a class of around 35, and a minibus works for a smaller club on a day trip.

Driver hours on an overnight trip

Once a driver has had 8 hours off, up to 10 hours of driving are allowed; after 15 hours on duty, no more driving, and there are weekly limits of 60 or 70 hours. Boston to New York City is about 215 miles, roughly 4.5 to 5.5 hours, so a day that adds a full sightseeing loop fills the driver's clock quickly. Build the itinerary with those limits in mind, and in Philadelphia remember the Independence Transportation Center drop-off allows only 10 to 15 minutes.

Questions

How do we check a bus company's safety rating?

Look up the operator's USDOT number using SAFER or FMCSA's Bus Safety Search, where Satisfactory is the top rating.

Will the coach have seat belts?

If it weighs over 26,000 pounds and was built from November 28, 2016 onward, passenger seat belts are required. Ask us to confirm for the vehicle on your quote.

Can one driver cover a long day trip?

Only within federal hours limits. For long days the operator may add a second driver, which we will show on the quote.

Cities

Vehicles

Planning a class trip?

Send the itinerary, headcount and dates, and we will quote a vehicle and driver from a licensed partner operator, named on the quote so you can check it.

Request a quote or call 15722344442