Licensing News and Updates

Advice Letter Filings

For general rules on Advice Letter filings, General Order (G.O.) 96-B governs advice letters and information-only submittals to the Commission.

Advice Letters (AL) must be numbered in sequential order. For questions regarding the next available AL number, send a request for information via email to TNCAccess@cpuc.ca.gov and provide your company name and assigned PSG number.

The Advice Letter including all supporting documents must be submitted via e-mail to TNCaccess@cpuc.ca.gov.

The cut off time to be considered filed the same day as submitted is 5:00 PM Pacific Standard Time (PST).

The document requirements for filing Advice Letters include a cover letter and a summary form, as described in more detail in the links below.

August 28, 2020: Commission Adopted COVID-19 Resolution TL-19131

Effective on August 17, 2020, the Resolution requires all passenger carriers under the Commission's jurisdiction to follow COVID-19 related guidance issued by the CDC and State issued Industry Guidance as well as Public Health Orders issued by the state and local jurisdictions.

The Resolution also extends the suspension period for most suspensions to allow carriers to have more time to reinstate their permits, which may have been suspended due to COVID-19 related issues, and waives the $125 Reinstatement from Revocation fee for the duration of the pandemic.

Link to Resolution, Link to State issued Industry Guidance

May 8, 2020: Procedure for Requesting Reinstatement from Voluntary Suspension

Transportation carriers can request reinstatement from Voluntary Suspension by filing a signed Request for Reinstatement of Suspended Authorities form (TL 528) with the Licensing Section of the Public Utilities Commission. Carriers can email the form to the Commission at licensing@cpuc.ca.gov. The TL 528 form can be found at: Link.

  1. The carrier notifies his/her insurance broker/insurance company and obtains an active insurance policy for their operating authority. The carrier instructs his/her insurance broker/insurance company to electronically file (e-file) evidence of this active insurance policy for their operating authority with the Commission via the Commission’s Insurance E-File System.
  2. The carrier receives confirmation from his/her insurance broker/insurance company that the evidence of insurance has been e-filed. The carrier then submits the Request for Reinstatement of Suspended Authorities form (TL 528) to Licensing by email to: licensing@cpuc.ca.gov. 
  3. Licensing will review the form and ensure that evidence of insurance has been e-filed, ensure PUCTRA fees have been paid, status with Secretary of State is Active, and that there are no other permit deficiencies. If everything is complete and correct, Licensing will reinstate the operating authority’s status to Active.

April 7, 2020: Procedure for Insurance Cancellation Upon Voluntary Suspension of a Transportation Carrier Authority

During the COVID-19 crisis, many transportation carriers are desiring to temporarily cancel their insurance since they are unable to operate. Carriers should follow the procedure below, in cooperation with their insurance provider, for temporarily suspending their operating authority and having their insurance cancelled immediately.

  1. Transportation carriers can voluntarily place themselves in Voluntary Suspension by filing a signed Request for Voluntary Suspension form (PL909) with the Licensing Section as the Public Utilities Commission. Carriers can email the form to the Commission at licensing@cpuc.ca.gov. The PL909 form can be found at: Link
  2. The carrier mails or emails a copy of the Request for Voluntary Suspension (PL 909) to his/her insurance broker/insurance company.
  3. The broker/insurance company verifies the suspension in the Commission's Transportation Management Information System (TMIS).
  4. TMIS requires a 30-day suspension notice before an insurance provider can cancel a policy. To allow immediate cancellation, the broker/insurance company can email the desired cancellation date to licensing@cpuc.ca.gov, attn: Insurance Cancellation. The Licensing Section will enter the desired cancellation date into TMIS.

March 19, 2020: No Passenger Carrier Walk-Ins at 505 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco as of March 19, 2020

As of March 19, 2020, the License Section will NOT accept walk-ins at 505 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco. If you are submitting documents in response to a Deficiency Letter, all documents must be submitted via e-mail to the analyst assigned. You can also email your inquiries to licensing@cpuc.ca.gov or call (800) 877-8867 and leave a message.

July 1, 2019: Ten Cent "Access for All Fee" Assessed on TNC Trips Beginning July 1, 2019

Beginning on July 1, 2019, pursuant to CPUC Decision 19-06-033, transportation network companies (TNCs) are required to collect a ten cent ($0.10) fee on each TNC trip in California. The funds generated from the fee support the expansion of on-demand transportation for non-folding wheelchair users who require a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV). By adopting the fee, CPUC implements Senate Bill (SB) 1376 (Hill, 2018) the "TNC Access for All Act", that requires the Commission to develop a program relating to accessibility for persons with disabilities as part of its regulation of TNCs. Implementation of SB 1376 occurs in CPUC Rulemaking 19-02-012.

July 1, 2018: Transfer of Authority of Household Goods, Private Carriers, Vessels for Hire, Commercial Air Operators

Effective July 1, 2018, the CPUC will no longer regulate Household Goods, Private Carriers, Vessels for Hire, and Commercial Air Operators will be transferred to other state and local agencies. This change was enacted by Senate Bill No. 19 and was approved by the Governor on October 02, 2017. Click here for contact information regarding the new agencies that will be regulating each authority.

June 1, 2018: Effective Immediately on Carrier Equipment Listing with the Commission

Individuals and one-owner LLC’s and Corporations without employees will be permitted to have and maintain two (2) vehicles. The term “employee” is defined here as a non-manager-member (LLC) and non-officer (Corp). Requests to add more than two (2) vehicles must include a reason justifying the additional vehicle, and may result in the CPUC requiring the filing of an active workers’ compensation insurance policy.

April 18, 2017: Alert on Scams!

The CPUC is aware that active carriers and new applicants for a permit or certificate from the CPUC are being contacted by unknown people outside the CPUC. The call looks like it is coming from a CPUC phone number and the caller claims to be a CPUC employee. The caller states that additional money ($100-$2,000) must be paid by wire transfer, over the phone with a credit or debit card, or with iTunes gift cards, or the application (or current permit or certificate) will be suspended or denied. This is a scam! The CPUC does not place telephone calls to solicit extra funds to complete new applications or renewals, or to demand additional quarterly or annual fees. If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the CPUC, do not, under any circumstances, provide any information over the phone to the caller. You may contact the CPUC License Section at licensing@cpuc.ca.gov to verify the legitimate issue outstanding. You may also report the call, any information provided by the caller, and your observations to law enforcement. For more information, refer to the “Telephone Scam Alert Notification” post.

March 7, 2017: New Requirements Regarding Workers' Compensation Insurance Under AB-2883

New requirements regarding workers’ compensation insurance under AB 2883, effective January 1, 2017, will affect corporations, LLCs, and general partnerships in regards of excluding workers’ compensation coverage. Review our AB2883 letter regarding the new requirements to ensure you are compliant to the new rules.