By: Indhira Benitez
As recently reported in the media, Fung Wah’s bus fleet was removed from the roads following inspections by the state Department of Public Utilities that found structural cracks in several of the company’s buses.
The semi-reliable, low cost Chinatown bus carrier Fung Wah has been closed for over a month, and this past week the feds issued a new permanent shut down of the company. This time it seems serious, the feds called the Boston-based company’s bus fleet an “imminent hazard” and added that the company’s “irresponsible actions substantially increase the likelihood of serious injury or death” to drivers and passengers. But, for $10 bucks, what can you possibly expect?
An order issued by the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, reported that Fung Wah’s vehicles had serious structural damage, that the company fudged inspection reports, that drivers were not subject to background checks before hire, or tested for drugs or alcohol prior to getting behind the wheel.
The feds say Fung Wah can continue its operations if it undergoes another safety inspection and completely overhauls its drivers, vehicles, and maintenance policies. Lets not hold our breaths for this. Unfortunately, for people like myself, Fung Wah is no longer the go-to option in inexpensive travel to and from Boston.
