PUC staff recommends revoking carrier certificates after lapsed insurance; judge to issue recommended decision
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Summary
At a Public Utilities Commission show-cause hearing on Jan. 14, 2026, staff recommended revoking the operating certificates listed in its updated hearing cycle for failure to maintain required insurance, while removing two respondents from the list after those companies updated coverage; the ALJ will issue a recommended decision and affected carriers may cure before it becomes final.
Administrative Law Judge Kelly Rosenberg presided over a Public Utilities Commission show-cause hearing on Jan. 14, 2026, where staff asked that the Commission revoke operating certificates for motor carriers that lack filed proof of required insurance.
Assistant Attorney General Justin Larson called Marquita Riley, a program assistant in the Commission’s transportation unit, as staff’s witness. Riley said the Commission’s records show several carriers for which insurers sent cancellation or nonrenewal notices and that the agency follows rules requiring motor carriers to file evidence of financial responsibility. “The letter explains how all operations under its authority are suspended as of the date the insurance expires unless proof of proper insurance is submitted to the commission,” Riley said as she described the notice letters sent to respondents.
Riley introduced several exhibits—an initial hearing-cycle listing, notice letters and attachments, a certificate of service, and an updated hearing-cycle listing dated Jan. 12, 2026—that the judge admitted into the record as business records. The updated list (exhibit 5) identified respondents for whom the Commission had not received the required electronic filings.
Riley told the judge staff recommends revoking the certificates and permits listed in exhibit 5 for lack of financial responsibility as required by law, "except for RMP Towing and Recovery LLC, PUC TD-05228, and Cameron James, PUC LL-03704," which staff said had updated their insurance records. Riley also noted a mail service issue for Liftliner LLC and said staff re-sent the notice to the alternate address on file.
One respondent, Leon Casias, who identified himself as appearing on behalf of Faithful Towing, told the judge he had been unaware the policy was not being renewed on the original schedule and that he obtained insurance on Jan. 9. “I got insured on January 9,” Casias said. Riley responded that Commission records did not yet show all required electronic filings (she said the insurer must submit certain forms electronically), and she offered Casias her direct phone number to confirm the filing.
Judge Rosenberg said she would take the matter under advisement and issue a written recommended decision. She reminded the parties that a recommended decision becomes a final Commission order 20 days after issuance if no exceptions are filed; if a respondent files proof of proper insurance before the decision becomes final, the recommended decision will not be enforced against that respondent.
The hearing record shows staff’s recommendation but no final Commission action; the Administrative Law Judge will issue a recommended decision and affected carriers retain the opportunity to cure by ensuring insurers file the required electronic evidence.
Next steps: the ALJ will issue a recommended decision and parties will have the statutory period to file exceptions; respondents who can show the required filings before the recommendation becomes final will be removed from the enforcement action.
