US Motorcoach Industry Closures Surge in 2020
Green Car Congress
December 28, 2020
The American Bus Association (ABA) has released motorcoach industry closure data gathered from the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
The data collected by FMCSA shows a surge in losses of authority for motorcoach operators in 2020, which means these companies are no longer providing transportation—in some cases forever. There have been nearly 500 companies who have lost their operating authority, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, so far this year (482 through 30 November 2020), a 400% increase over 2019.
Nearly 72% of these losses of authority occurred between April and August 2020, during the height of the pandemic. According to FMCSA records, only 26 (5%) of the closures in 2020 appear planned in advance, with an “Out of Business” form filed with FMCSA. It is unknown how many other companies remain open in “name” only or on the brink of formal closure.