Battered by spike in fuel costs, commuter bus operator and diesel provider face possible MTA lawsuits

Ron Dillon Jr.’s family has been in the chartered bus business for more than 100 years. His company, Atlantic Coast Charters, provides service to private groups, universities and government agencies. Until a month ago, he ran three commuter routes for the Maryland Transit Administration. Now he’s facing a potential lawsuit, the result of his decision to quit one of his routes on a few weeks’ notice — a move he says was essentially forced upon him by economics and the agency’s refusal to help its contractors stay afloat. “I would think you could find some way to make a deal that keeps the state from paying more money for delivering the services that you want delivered,” she said.