Safety & Maintenance

Continuing Excellence in Passenger Safety & Fleet Maintenance

Lamers has long been known and recognized in the industry as having stringent, proactive driver training and vehicle maintenance programs. Our mechanics have a minimum of a technical college degree in diesel and automotive mechanics, along with related work experience. We encourage all mechanics to become ASE certified. Our mechanics attend various on-going manufacturer and factory workshops to obtain additional training and certifications in the repair and understanding of new or existing diesel or gas engines. In addition they attend various bus body manufacturer workshops to learn how to maintain, trouble shoot and make various repairs to bus bodies such as Bluebird, Girardin and Thomas Buses. Lamers performs all repairs in-house which includes body damage, brakes, tires, and air conditioning, and we require our mechanics to have certifications and training in the repair of such items. On our DOT Federal Highway Administration Inspection Audits, Lamers has been issued their highest rating, along with the following comments: "Lamers is one of the premier carriers in the north central United States. They have developed policies and procedures that exceed the requirements of the MBA and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Employee attitudes are positive, and there is a very proactive atmosphere of safety and cooperation. All management personnel are well trained and experienced in passenger transportation. They are involved in local, regional and national motor bus associations and maintain a current knowledge of industry and regulatory changes to ensure they provide top quality service to all customers."

One of the "Great Fleets Across America"

Lamers has also been recognized as one of fifty "Great Fleets Across America" by the national school bus industry trade magazine School Bus Fleet. School Bus Fleet profiled both public and private fleet operations from across the nation, and then selected one from each state to be recognized. The selection was based on the areas of excellence in safety, efficiency, maintenance, driver training, staff morale and innovation. The common denominator among the selected fleets was their commitment to passenger safety, which requires special attention to driver training and an exemplary bus maintenance program.

Vehicle Replacement Program

We have a scheduled fleet replacement program that allows us to regularly upgrade and provide our customers with the most modern equipment available on a regular basis.

Huge Vehicle Fleet

Currently, Lamers operates over 1,100 buses that safely travel over 15.6 million miles each year. Lamers is able to do this because we have assembled a dedicated team including 58 mechanics, 38 cleaners, 81 office support personnel and 1,112 drivers who work together each day to make sure our customers are being offered the safest, cleanest, most dependable and timely service available in the industry. It takes a special commitment of time, energy and resources to make this happen!

We Will Not Cut Corners at the Expense of Our Passengers' Safety!

Lamers Bus Lines, Inc. constantly focuses on safety, making it our number one priority. Some examples that demonstrate our safety efforts are:

• Mandatory safety meetings for all drivers
• Driver road observations conducted by Lamers' management
• Continual driver re-training sessions
• Constantly updating equipment
• Re-training seminars for management staff and mechanics
• An open line of communication continues to develop valued partnerships
• Criminal record check and driver abstract checks
• Safety camps teaching children the school bus rules and good ridership
• Computerized school bus routing to help maximize usage but maintain safety

What sets Lamers apart from other transportation companies?

Lamers' primary mission is to provide the best in safety, service and to develop long term valued partnerships with our customers. Lamers constantly works at and keeps updated on new rules and regulations thru member associations: IMG, UMA, ABA, National Safety Council and Wisconsin School Bus Association. We subscribe to several trade publications and our managers attend transportation seminars to keep abreast of changes in regulations. Because of Lamers' involvement with so many different modes of transportation and the volume of vehicles we are operating, we experience exposure to various government agencies that other, smaller or less diverse companies may not be exposed to. Lamers welcomes public safety agencies reviews and fully complies with all inspection requests from the following agencies:

• Wisconsin State Patrol Inspectors
• Roadside inspections
• Liability insurance carrier - reviews
• Federal Department of Transportation - inspections
• Safety inspection contractor for Military

Click here to view a letter from the United States' Office of the Under Secretary of Defense commending Lamers Bus Lines for receiving a top rating on the Standards of Service & Safety Inspection in 2011.

Click here to view a letter from the Pupil Transportation Safety Program stating that Lamers Bus Lines is an approved carrier.

Click here to view the press release from Trails Media Group, Inc. announcing that Lamers Bus Lines was the recipient of a 2007 Best of Wisconsin Meetings award.

What you should know About U.S. Hours of Service Rules

Your motor coach driver works hard to accommodate customer requests…but in the case of making unplanned stops or detours, sometimes he or she is simply unable to oblige. Just like an airline pilot, the number of hours that one motorcoach driver can be on duty are strictly limited by Federal Law.*

What are the Facts?

* Your driver can drive up to 10 hours, and then must have 8 hours off duty before driving again.

* Your driver may work up to 15 hours, which includes both driving and non-driving duties. Once the 15 hour limit is reached, the driver must have 8 hours off duty.

* Your driver may work up to 70 hours in any 8-day period, which includes driving and non-driving duties. A driver may not drive after reaching this limit.

The consequences of exceeding these limits include:

* Your driver being “put out of service” on the spot, during a surprise state or federal roadside inspection of your driver’s log book, severely delaying your group while another driver is located and transported to your motorcoach.

* The safety of your entire group being put at extreme risk, due to driver fatigue.

* Further penalties to your driver and bus company, including criminal penalties, that could threaten their livelihoods.

So, please don’t pressure your driver to break the law by changing your itinerary! Remember, the lives of your entire group are in your driver’s hands.

*US Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, Part 395

What you should know about Canadian Hours of Service Rules

For your safety…and that of other road users, your motorcoach driver’s hours of service are strictly regulated by Federal and Provincial laws. These laws limit the number of hours a driver can drive in a day, the length of a work shift, and the number of work hours a driver can accumulate over a multi-day period.

These are the rules for Canada (effective January 1, 2007)

* Your driver can drive up to 13 hours in a 24-hour day.

* Your driver must not exceed 14 hours on duty in a 24-hour day.

* Your driver must be off duty for a minimum of 10 hours in a 24-hour day.

* Your driver cannot drive after 16 hours has elapsed since the driver started his of her work shift (regardless of the number of on-duty hours). Example: If your driver begins his/her work shift at 6:00am, he/she cannot driver after 10:00pm and must take at least 8 hours off-duty before driving again.

* Your driver cannot begin a new work shift without first taking at least 8 consecutive hours off-duty.

* Your driver may work up to 70 hours in any period of 7 days (which includes driving and non-driving duties). Also, the driver must have at least one 24-hour break in the preceding 14 days.

If these limits are exceeded:

* Your driver and the bus company and you can be charged and fined, threatening the bus company’s operating privileges and your pocketbook.

* Your driver can be placed “out of service” at a roadside inspection for up to 72 hours.

How will anyone find out?

* Your driver’s log book can be examined at any time during a trip by police or government transportation enforcement officers.

* Audits of driver and company records at the bus company’s premises will detect hours of service violations.

So, please don’t ask your driver to break the law by exceeding these limits.
After all, the safety of your group is our number one priority!