By Brian Massie, A Watchman on the Wall, An Independent Populist
“Promoting honesty, integrity and transparency in government by exposing the lies, deceptions and betrayals.”
We must admit that we had never heard of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [FMCSA]. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ The following is from their website:
Our Mission
The primary mission of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses.
The FMCSA was established as a separate administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on January 1, 2000, pursuant to the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999. FMCSA is headquartered in Washington, DC and employs more than 1,000 people in all 50 States and the District of Columbia, all dedicated to improving the safety of commercial motor vehicles (CMV) and saving lives.
Our Strategy
In carrying out its safety mandate to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses, FMCSA:
- Develops and enforces data-driven regulations that balance motor carrier (truck and bus companies) safety with efficiency;
- Harnesses safety information systems to focus on higher risk carriers in enforcing the safety regulations;
- Targets educational messages to carriers, commercial drivers, and the public; and
- Partners with stakeholders including Federal, State, and local enforcement agencies, the motor carrier industry, safety groups, and organized labor on efforts to reduce bus and truck-related crashes.
We were part of group of 27 patriots that took a CharterUp bus from the headquarters of the Republican Party in Painesville, OH to Washington D.C. on January 20, 2025. We left at midnight in a raging snow storm, and arrived at the Rockville metro station outside of Washington around 7:00 am. It was a trip that will never be forgotten by those frozen because of the no heat on the bus.
We filed an official complaint with FMCSA. A FMCSA official, named Tristan, asked if we had any proof of our complaints. Here is the email we sent to them.
Tristan,
Here is an article containing a short video that documents our trip to Washington D.C. on January 20th.
Please note that in the beginning of the video, the bus only has one headlight. Just with that one fact, the bus driver, in my opinion, should not have used that bus for the trip at midnight in a raging snow storm, through the back, winding roads of Lake County all the way to Washington, D.C. When we couple that fact with all of the other bus issues, we believe that all passengers were needlessly at risk!
https://lobbyistsforcitizens.com/2025/01/27/taking-the-bus-from-hell-to-washington-d-c/
The following individuals have authorized me to state that they were on the bus trip to Washington D.C. on January 20th with me.
1. Mr. John Plecnik, Commissioner of Lake County, Ohio
2. Mr. Mike Silipini and his wife, Nena of Timberlake, Ohio
Attached is the response that Mr. Dale Fellows, Chairman of the Lake County Republican Party and bus trip organizer, received from Nicole Wynn, Escalations Supervisor of CharterUp, in response to complaints received from passengers.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Thank you for looking into this matter.
Here is their response:
Good afternoon,
Complaint has been received and appended the company record, and may be used for analytical, statistical, or enforcement purposes. This carrier has a satisfactory rating as of the last investigation. We have taken into account your complaint and will be monitored in the future. Thank you for providing information.
Thank you,
Tristan Steinbrook,
Program Analyst
Ohio Division
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
M: (614) 671-8896 | P: (614) 280-6865
Ladies, and gentlemen:
As DOGE continues to pull back the curtain on federal agencies, this incident convinces me that we are all being deceived and betrayed by an agency that has lost their sight on their mission, and should be overhauled or terminated.
We are hoping that there are “new faces” at the State officeholders after the next election. The current crop has become far too complacent, and are not looking out for the safety and financial well-being of the citizens of Ohio. Stay tuned for more to come on that issue.
When DOGE comes to Ohio, the first agency to overhaul is the Department of Transportation.
I have taken my last bus trip!
Categories: State of Ohio, Uncategorized