Federal and state regulators are investigating whether a California trucking company that recently shutdown has reopened under a different name. Suspicious activity by the new company caught the attention of authorities.

Rancho Cordova-based P&K Trucking was banned from service by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) June 19, according to published reports. The company was cited in April for violations ranging from insufficient insurance, failure to maintain proper driver logs, shoddy accident reports, failure to test drivers for alcohol and drugs, using drivers who hadn't received medical examinations and one driver who illegally possessed more than one commercial driver's license.

Now, the Sacramento Bee says authorities have zeroed in on another carrier - Capital Express Lines - that they suspect was set up by P&K.

According to the Bee, suspicions were raised after Capital Express Lines started up at the same time P&K was going out of business this spring. It purchased P&K equipment, used P&K drivers, and was set up under the name of a former P&K partner's wife, according to the newspaper. These coincidences led California Highway Patrol (CHP) investigators to do a safety inspection of the company.

Greg Bragg, manager of CHP's motor carrier safety program, told the newspaper that while investigators can scrutinize Capital Express' safety policies, there may be nothing the agency can do to prevent it from operating. But Richard Brennan, division administrator for the FMCSA's Sacramento office, pointed out the company has attracted enough attention that both the CHP and his agency will be watching the hauler like hawks.