How to screen a charter bus or limo company with Certcate
Choosing a bus or limo company takes more than just 5-star ratings. Use the following guide to learn how each carrier is evaluated. This guide is divided into the following sections:
Carrier Profile
Carrier name and address
- DBA (doing business as) or legal name
- The name of the carrier used for business purposes. If the carrier has a DBA, it will be displayed first, followed by the legal name below it.
- Office mailing address
- The address of the carrier’s office. In the vast majority of cases, the office is in the same location as the fleet. A common exception is when the carrier is based out of state with a terminal based in California.
Summary
A quick summary of the critical items regarding a carrier. Covers CPUC license status, USDOT status, SPAB status, recent citation date, and inspection results.
Last updated is when the CPUC license status was last checked. Active carriers are updated weekly, while older, inactive carriers are updated less frequently. For the most up-to-date status, check the CPUC Transportation Carrier Portal
Licenses
CPUC - California Public Utilities Commission required
- An active PUC license is required to operate legally within the state.
- Active
- Caused by many reasons such as failing to file, failing an inspection, and expired insurance.
- Suspended
- Caused by failure to pay fees, safety violations, lapsed insurance, or voluntary revocation.
- Revoked
- Caused by failure to renew license. Must be done every 3 years.
- Expired
- New carriers waiting for approval to operate. Not allowed to operate until approved.
- Inactive
A carrier may have more than one PUC number. Only one needs to be Active.
Below each CPUC license is the monthly status history. 2-month history is shown by default, but subscribers can view 3, 6, and 12-month history.
is Active. is either Suspended, Revoked, or Expired. is Inactive.
USDOT - United States Department of Transportation optional
- An active USDOT number is required for trips outside of the state of California.
- Active
- Caused by many reasons, such as failing to file, missing insurance, or voluntary deactivation.
- Inactive
- Carrier is not allowed to operate.
- Out of Service
Interstate carriers can travel to other states outside of California. Intrastate carriers can only travel within the state of California.
SPAB - School Pupil Activity Bus optional
- A SPAB certificate is required for carriers transporting students for school related events.
- Active
- Pending follow-up CHP inspection after an unsatisfactory inspection.
- Conditional
- Latest inspection was unsatisfactory and will have to be retested.
- Deficient
- Most carriers are not SPAB certified.
- Inactive
The inspection is done for both drivers and vehicles. Testing and training requirements for drivers are available at the California Department of Education
Pupil Activity Buses are required to be inspected by the motor carrier, as part of an effective periodic preventive maintenance program, every 3,000 miles or 45 calendar days
While a SPAB certificate is not a requirement for every carrier, the additional training required for it is a positive signal for safety.
Citations
Citations are issued by the Transportation Enforcement Branch of the California Public Utilities Commission as a result of customer complaints or random inspections.
Each citation includes a citation number and date. A citation consists of one or more violations. Subscribers have access to the violation details and link to the source document.
An example citation:
- T.2026-01-030
Jan 10, 2026 - 3 Violations
-
- Failed to keep the equipment statement current.
- Failed to include the required information on the waybills.
- Failed to obtain the minimum required Public Liability and Property Damage (PL&PD) insurance coverage for vehicles with 16 passengers or more.
Inspections
Terminal
A terminal is a location where carriers store their vehicles and equipment. The Basic Inspection of Terminals (BIT) program is conducted by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to ensure that carriers are maintaining driver and vehicle maintenance records.
- Passes on all criteria.
- Satisfactory
- Pending follow-up CHP inspection after an unsatisfactory inspection.
- Conditional
- One or more of the following criteria did not pass: maintenance, driver, vehicle, or terminal.
- Unsatisfactory
- Terminal is no longer in use.
- Inactive
CSAT - Controlled Substances and Alcohol Testing
The Controlled Substances and Alcohol Testing (CSAT) program is conducted by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to ensure that drivers are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol while operating a vehicle.
CSAT is required for carriers with vehicles carrying 16 or more passengers, vehicles requiring a CDL, or vehicles greater than 26,000 pounds. When testing is required, all drivers are tested pre-employment, at random, and after any incident.
Both driver and testing records are required to be kept for review.
- Drivers are tested and records are maintained.
- Satisfactory
- Pending follow-up CHP inspection after an unsatisfactory CSAT inspection.
- Conditional
- Untested drivers, incomplete records, or positive drivers neglecting return-to-duty procedures.
- Unsatisfactory
Insurance
All for-hire carriers are required to have insurance. Validated insurance policies are submitted electronically to the Transportation Carrier Portal for verification.
Personal Liability and Property Damage
PL/PD insurance is required for all carriers. For most charter-party carriers, minimum coverage is based on seating capacity.
| Seating Capacity | Minimum Coverage |
|---|---|
| 8 seats or less | $750,000 |
| 8–15 seats | $1,500,000 |
| 16 seats or more | $5,000,000 |
Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ Compensation coverage is required for all carriers with employees. Many carriers are operated by owner-operators and therefore do not have WC insurance.
Fleet
Many carriers subcontract vehicles from other carriers to meet demand. For example, limousine companies may subcontract minibuses or motorcoaches, while bus companies do the same for town cars and limousines.
Established carriers typically have access to wholesale pricing with their subcontractors. While it’s typically cheaper to go directly to the carriers that own the vehicles, some carriers may offer better pricing for larger moves.
Fleet information is sourced from the Safety Measurement System (SMS) by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), an agency within the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT).