Local charter bus company Illini Tours has been issued an order to immediately shut down by the US Department of Transportation.

According to the out-of-service order issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the basis for the order is due to the company’s failure to “ensure that its commercial vehicles are properly and regularly inspected repaired and maintained.” The FMCSA found these violations during a March compliance review of the company. 

It was also found that Illini Tours failed to correct safety-related defects listed on vehicle inspection reports. According to the order, Illini Tours allowed drivers to operate one of its five motor coaches for several days despite the fact that drivers repeatedly listed a problem with the anti-lock braking system indicator light on their vehicle inspection reports.

The order was issued against Robert L. Frazier, the owner of Illini Tours. Frazier is also president and owner of Lex Express, Inc., which was also shut down after the department found unsatisfactory results during a compliance review in October. 

Violations by Lex Express included fraudulently or intentionally making false entries on inspection and vehicle maintenance records and operating a motor vehicle in such a condition as to likely cause an accident or breakdown. The order additionally cites that Frazier’s other company also failed to correct safety-related defects listed on vehicle inspection reports and used a commercial vehicle not periodically inspected.

Fraizer could not be reached for a comment.

Karyna can be reached at [email protected].

A previous version of this article incorrectly spelled Robert Frazier’s name. The Daily Illini regrets this error.