How to screen a charter bus or limo company with Certcate

Carrier Profile

Carrier name and address

DBA (doing business as) or legal name: The name the carrier uses for business. If they have a DBA, it’s shown first, with the legal name below.

Office mailing address: The carrier’s office address. In most cases, this is also where the fleet is based, though some carriers are headquartered out of state with a terminal in California.

Location matters because many carriers bill garage-to-garage, charging based on mileage or time from the moment they leave the terminal until they return, not just the time spent with the group. A carrier based farther from the pickup/drop-off point may cost more, even with a lower per-mile/hour rate.

Summary

A quick summary of the carrier’s key status: CPUC license, USDOT status, SPAB status, most recent citation, and inspection results.

Carrier operation start dates are estimated based on PUC and USDOT data.

Last updated shows when CPUC license status was last checked. Active carriers are checked weekly, while older, inactive ones are checked less often. 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
Common causes: failure to file, a failed inspection, or expired insurance.: Suspended
Common causes: failure to pay fees, safety violations, lapsed insurance, or voluntary revocation.: Revoked
Failed 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 hold multiple PUC numbers; only one needs to be Active.

Each CPUC license shows monthly status history. Two months are shown by default; subscribers can view up to 3, 6, or 12 months.

Mar	Active
Feb	Suspended, Revoked, or Expired
Jan 13	Inactive

Status key with example dates.

USDOT - United States Department of Transportation optional

An active USDOT number is required for trips outside of the state of California.: Active
Common causes: failure to file, missing insurance, or voluntary deactivation.: Inactive
Carrier is not allowed to operate.: Out of Service

Interstate carriers may travel outside California; intrastate carriers are limited to within the state.

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; carrier must be retested.: Deficient
Most carriers are not SPAB certified.: Inactive

Inspections cover both drivers and vehicles. Driver testing and training requirements are listed by 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. Premium subscribers can browse SPAB carriers by city.

Citations

Citations are issued by the CPUC’s Transportation Enforcement Branch, typically following customer complaints or random inspections.

Each citation has a number, date, and one or more violations. Subscribers can view violation details and 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
Failed one or more criteria: maintenance, driver, vehicle, or terminal records.: 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 operating vehicles that carry 16 or more passengers, require a CDL, or weigh over 26,000 pounds. When testing is required, all drivers are tested pre-employment, at random, and after any incident.

Driver and testing records must be kept on file 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 a positive test without completed return-to-duty steps.: 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

Seating capacity includes the driver in addition to passengers.

Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ Compensation coverage is required for all carriers with employees. Many carriers are owner-operators and therefore carry no 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 often get wholesale pricing from subcontractors. Going directly to the vehicle’s owner is usually cheaper, though some carriers offer better rates on larger moves.

Fleet information is sourced from Motus, a system by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), an agency within the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT).