Final Order Against Transport Financial Services, LLC for Failure to File Annual Report

Index: OFR-2026-501
STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION
In Re:
TRANSPORT FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC, Case Number: 138861 Respondent.
FINAL ORDER
The State of Florida, Office of Financial Regulation ("Office"), being authorized and directed to administer and enforce chapter 516, Florida Statutes, hereby enters this Final Order with Notice of Rights ("Final Order") as authorized by the provisions of chapters 120 and 516, Florida Statutes, against TRANSPORT FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC ("Respondent"). FINDINGS OFF ACT

1. The Office has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this case and the parties
   hereto.

2. At all times material, Transport Financial Services, LLC has been licensed as a
   consumer finance company under chapter 516, Florida Statutes (License number CF9901564) since May 29, 2024.

3. The Office conducted an examination (No. 138481) to ascertain Respondent's
   compliance with chapter 516, Florida Statutes, and found that grounds existed to initiate a legal action against Respondent.

4. On September 4, 2026, the Office issued an Administrative Complaint
   ("Complaint") against Respondent, alleging violations of chapter 516, Florida Statutes.(Exhibit A)

5. Within the Complaint was a Notice of Rights that afforded Respondent an
   opportunity to request a hearing in accordance with sections 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes, including the following information:
   TO PRESERVE THE RIGHT TO A HEARING, A WRITTEN
   RESPONSE MUST BE FILED WITH THE OFFICE OF
   FINANCIAL REGULATION WITHIN TWENTY-ONE (21)
   DAYS AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE
   COMPLAINT. SAID RESPONSE MUST BE RECEIVED BY
   THE OFFICE NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. ON THE
   TWENTY-FIRST DAY AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE
   ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT. A FAILURE TO
   TIMELY RESPOND IN WRITING WILL CONSTITUTE A
   WAIVER OF THE LICENSEE'S RIGHT TO REQUEST A
   HEARING AND A FINAL ORDER MAY BE ENTERED
   WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE.

6. The Office served Respondent with the Complaint via U.S. Certified Mail on
   September 9, 2026. (Exhibit B)

7. Respondent's written response to the Complaint was due on or before
   September 30, 2026. To date, the Office has neither received a written response to the Complaint nor has Respondent made a claim of equitable tolling.

8. The factual allegations as stated in the Complaint are incmporated herein by
   reference as if fully set forth herein, and being uncontested by Respondent, are accepted as true and correct and are adopted by the Office as Findings of Fact for purposes of this Final Order. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

9. The Office is responsible for the administration and enforcement of chapter 516,
   Florida Statutes, and has jurisdiction over the subject matter and of Respondent pursuant to
   chapter 516, Florida Statutes.

10. The Findings of Fact that have been adopted herein serve as the basis of the entry
    of this Final Order against Respondent.

11. Section 120.569(2)(a), Florida Statutes, and Rule 28-106.111(2), Florida
    Administrative Code, require, among other things, that a response or a petition to an action which affects the substantial interests of a party be filed with the agency within 21 days of receipt of written notice of the action.

12. Section 120.569(2)( c ), Florida Statutes, provides that a petition for hearing shall be
    dismissed if it has been untimely filed (not within 21 days).

13. Pursuant to Rule 28-106.111(4), Florida Administrative Code, the failure of
    Respondent to timely respond to the Complaint constitutes a waiver of Respondent's right to an administrative proceeding.

14. The doctrine of equitable tolling can be applied in administrative cases when a party
    has been misled or lulled into inaction, i.e., has in some extraordinary way, been prevented from asserting his rights, or has timely asserted his rights in the wrong forum. Machules v. Dept. of Admin., 523 So.2d 1132, 1134 (Florida 1988).

15. Without any evidence of equitable tolling, it is appropriate for the Office to
    conclude there was none. Patz v. Dept. of Health, 864 So.2d 79, 80 (Fla. 3d DCA 2003).

16. When Respondent failed to submit a response to the Office on or before
    September 30, 2026, Respondent did not timely file a petition or any other document in response to the Complaint. Respondent also presented no claim, or evidence of equitable tolling. Therefore, it is appropriate for the Office to conclude there was no equitable tolling and Respondent waived their right to an administrative proceeding.

17. Based on the Findings of Fact adopted herein, the Office concludes that Respondent
    violated the specific statutes and rules charged in the Complaint and, as such, the specific charges in the Complaint are adopted in this Final Order as Conclusions of Law.

18. The waiver of a hearing by Respondent, taken together with the Findings of Fact
    and Conclusions of Law adopted herein, constitute sufficient grounds for the Office to take administrative action against Respondent, including the imposition of an administrative fine. Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is hereby ORDERED:
    A. Within thirty (30) days of the date of this Final Order, Respondent shall pay an ADMINISTRATIVE FINE of Three Hundred Fifty Dollars ($350.00). B. Respondent shall submit the administrative fine in the form of a wire, money order or cashier's check made payable to the "Office of Financial Regulation." Such payment shall reference Case Number 138861 and shall be sent to the attention of Agency Clerk, c/o Carrie S. Franz, Post Office Box 8050, Tallahassee, FL 32314-8050. DONE and ORDERED this /~ day of October, 2026, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.

NOTICE OF RIGHTS
A PARTY WHO IS ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THIS FINAL ORDER IS ENTITLED TO JUDICIAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO SECTION 120.68, FLORIDA STATUTES. REVIEW PROCEEDINGS ARE GOVERNED BY THE FLORIDA RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE. SUCH PROCEEDINGS ARE COMMENCED BY FILING THE ORIGINAL NOTICE OF APPEAL WITH THE AGENCY CLERK FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION AS FOLLOWS:
By Mail, Facsimile or Email
Agency Clerk
Office of Financial Regulation
Office of General Counsel
P.O. Box 8050
Tallahassee, FL 32314-8050
Phone: (850) 410-9889
Fax: (850) 4 I 0-9663
Email: Agency.Clerk@flofr.gov
OR By Hand Deliverv
Agency Clerk
Office of Financial Regulation
Office of General Counsel
The Fletcher Building
101 East Gaines Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: (850) 410-9889
A COPY OF THE NOTICE OF APPEAL, ACCOMPANIED BY THE FILING FEES AS REQUIRED BY LAW, MUST ALSO BE FILED WITH THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST DISTRICT, 2000 DRAYTON DRIVE, TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-0950, OR WITH THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL IN THE APPELLATE DISTRICT WHERE THE PARTY RESIDES. THE NOTICE OF APPEAL MUST BE FILED WITH BOTH THE AGENCY CLERK FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION AND THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE RENDITION OF THE ORDER TO BE REVIEWED.

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Final Order was furnished to Transport Financial Services, LLC by U.S. Mail to 201 E Government St, Pensacola, Florida 32502 on this 15th day of October, 2026. Office of Financial Regulation Post Office Box 8050 Tallahassee, FL 32314-8050 Email: Agency.Clerk@flofr.gov Tel: (850) 410-9889

EXHIBIT A
STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION
In Re:
TRANSPORT FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC Case Number: 138861 Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
The State of Florida, Office of Financial Regulation ("Office"), files this Administrative Complaint against TRANSPORT FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC ("Respondent"), alleging:
GENERAL ALLEGATIONS

1. Pursuant to sections 516.11(1) and 516.07, Florida Statutes, the Office is charged
   with administering and enforcing the provisions of chapter 516, Florida Statutes, and is authorized to conduct examinations and investigations to detennine whether any provision of chapter 516, Florida Statutes, has been violated.

2. Pursuant to section 516.0?(l)(d), Florida Statutes, faHure to comply with any
   provision of chapter 516, Florida Statutes, or related rule constitutes grounds for disciplinary action.

3. Pursuant to section 516.01(7), Florida Statutes, a "license" means a permit issued
   under this chapter to make and collect loans in accordance with chapter 516, Florida Statutes, at a single place of business.

4. Pursuant to section 516.02(1), Florida Statutes, a person must not engage in the
   business of making consumer finance loans or operate a branch of such business unless he or she is authorized to do so under chapter 516, Florida Statutes, or other statutes and unless the person first obtains a license from the Office.

5. Section 516.38(1 ), Florida Statutes, requires each licensee to file an annual report
   on a form prescribed by rule and include the infonnation required by Section 516.38(2), Florida Statues, by March 15 of each year.

6. At all times material, Transport Financial Services, LLC ("Transport") has
   conducted business as a consumer finance company in Pensacola, Florida.

7. Transport Financial Services, LLC has been licensed as a consumer finance
   company under chapter 516, Florida Statutes (License number CF9901564) since May 29, 2024.

8. The Office conducted an examination (No. 138481) to ascertain Respondent's
   compliance with chapter 516. Florida Statutes.

9. Respondent failed to file the annual report for Fiscal Year 2025 by March 15, 2026.

10. To date, Respondent has not filed the annual report for Fiscal Year 2025 in violation
    of Section 516.3 8(1 ), Florida Statues.

11. Pursuant to sections 516.07(2) and 516.23(2)( c ), Florida Statutes, the Office may
    impose and collect an administrative fine against a licensee, or any person found to have violated any provision of chapter 516, Florida Statutes, or the corresponding rules, in an amount not to exceed $1,000.00 for each violation.

12. Therefore, the Office is seeking an appropriate administrative fine and an A level
    license suspension.
    WHEREFORE, Respondent, TRANSPORT FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC is hereby notified that the Office intends to seek an Order imposing an appropriate administrative fine against Transport Financial Services, LLC and an appropriate A level license suspension. [this space intentionally left blank]

NOTICE OF RIGHTS
The licensee is entitled to be represented by counsel or another qualified representative. The licensee also has the right to request a hearing pursuant to sections 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes. Such request must comply with Rules 28-106.2015 and 28-106.104, Florida Administrative Code. An Election of Proceeding form is attached for your convenience. Any such request must be filed as follows:
By Mail. Facsimile or Email
Agency Clerk
Office of Financial Regulation
Office of General Counsel
P.O. Box 8050
Tallahassee, FL 32314-8050
Phone: (850) 410-9889
Fax: (850) 410-9663
Email: Agency.Clerk@flofr.gov
OR By Hand Deliven·
Agency Clerk
Office of Financial Regulation
Office of General Counsel
The Fletcher Building
101 East Gaines Street, Suite 504
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: (850) 410-9889
TO PRESERVE THE RIGHT TO A HEARING, A WRITTEN RESPONSE MUST BE FILED WITH THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION WITHIN TWENTY￾ONE (21) DAYS AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE AMENDED ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT. SAID RESPONSE MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE OFFICE NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. ON THE TWENTY-FIRST DAY AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE AMENDED ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT. A FAILURE TO TIMELY RESPOND IN WRITING WILL CONSTITUTE A WAIVER OF THE LICENSEE'S RIGHT TO REQUEST A HEARING AND A FINAL ORDER MAY BE ENTERED WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE. You may not make an oral request for an administrative hearing. With regard to a written request, if you fail to follow the outlined procedure, your request may be dismissed. Any request for an administrative proceeding received prior to the date of this notice is deemed abandoned and to be considered, must be timely renewed in compliance with the procedure set forth above. Mediation of this matter pursuant to section 120.573, Florida Statutes, is not available.

NOTICE TO RESPONDENT
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons with disabilities needing special accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact the Agency Clerk no later than seven (7) days prior to the filing deadline or proceeding, at the Office of Financial Regulation, 200 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, Phone: (850) 410-9889, or by Email:
Agency.Clerk@flofr.gov.
By: CflWt.S.¾
Carrie S. Franz
Chief Counsel
Office of Financial Regulation
Office of General Counsel
Fla. Bar No. 659274
200 E Gaines Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Tel: (850) 410-9834
Email:Carrie.Franz@flofr.gov
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Administrative Complaint was furnished by U.S. Certified Mail to Transport Financial Services, LLC at 201 E Government St, Pensacola, Florida 32502 on this 4th day of September, 2026. 9489 D090 0027 662 □ 8413 95

STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION
Case No: 138861
Transport Financial Seivices, LLC
201 E Government St.,
Pensacola, Florida 32502
ELECTION OF PROCEEDING
I have received and read the Administrative Complaint, including the Notice of Rights, filed by the Office of Financial Regulation ("Office") regarding the above-referenced Respondent, and I am requesting disposition as indicated below. PLEASE SELECT ONLY ONE OF THE OPTIONS:
OPTION #1: D I do not request a hearing in this matter. I do not dispute any of the Office's factual allegations and conclusions of law as stated in the Administrative Complaint. I understand that upon my waiving the right to a hearing, the O • • e findings of fact and conclusions of law in the Administrative Com t in the Administrative Com alnt. OPTION #2: D I do not dispute any of the Office's factual allegations but dispute the Office's conclusions of law to those factual allegations, and request disposition of this matter by informal hearing pursuant to section 120.57(2), Florida Statutes. I request to (CHECK ONLY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING 2 OPTIONS):
a. D Attend a hearing by video teleconference before a Hearing Officer appointed by the Office; OR b. D Submit a written statement with supporting documentation to a Hearing Officer appointed by the Office. OPTION #3: D I do dispute one or more of the Office's factual allegations. I request a formal hearing before the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) pursuant to section 120.57(1), Florida Statutes. In accordance with Rule 28-106.2015(5)(c), FAC, I am attaching a copy of the material facts that I dispute. TO PRESERVE YOUR RIGHT TO A HEARING, A RESPONSE MUST BE FILED WITH THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION AGENCY CLERK NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. ON OR BEFORE THE TWENTY-FIRST DAV AFTER RECEIPT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT, BY ANY OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS:

1. By email: Agency.Clerk@flofr.gov; or
2. By U.S. Mail: P.O. Box 8050, Tallahassee, Florida 32314-8050; or
3. By hand delivery: Office of General Counsel, Suite 504, Fletcher Bldg., 101 E. Gaines Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399.
   Signature of Respondent or Mailing Address
   Authorized Representative of Respondent
   Printed Name & Title City State Zip
   Date E-mail Address Telephone Number
   Form: OFR-GC-13 (rev. 1/28/2026)

Case No: 138861
Transport Financial Services, LLC
201 E Government St.,
Pensacola, Florida 32502
STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION
0 YOU ARE TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING ONLY IF YOU HAVE CHECKED OPTION #3 ON THE PRECEDING PAGE. If you need more space, you may provide additional pages. As Respondent or the authorized representative of Respondent, I am disputing the following material facts:
Signature of Respondent or Authorized Representative Form: OFR-GC-13 (rev. 1/28/2026) Date

~ UNITED ST/lTES
~ POSTAL SERVICE®
September 18, 2026
Dear Amber Hopkins:
EXHIBIT B
The following is in response to your request for proof of delivery on your item with the tracking number:
9489 0090 0027 6620 8413 95.
Item Details
Status:
Status Date / Time:
Location:
Postal Product:
Extra Services:
Recipient Name:
Shipment Details
Weight:
Recipient Signature
Delivered, Left with Individual
September 09, 2026, 03:27 pm
PENSACOLA, FL 32502
First-Class Mail®
Certified Mail™
Return Receipt Electronic
B HAVIMGA
31b, 9.5oz
Signature of Recipient: ~
1Jl iv 1 ~ R~~" • • 201 E GOVERNMENT ST, Address of Rec1p1ent: PENSAcoLA.na2so2 Note: Scanned image may reflect a different destination address due to Intended Recipient's delivery instructions on file. Thank you for selecting the United States Postal Service® for your mailing needs. If you require additional assistance, please contact your local Post Office™ or a Postal representative at 1-800-222-1811 . Sincerely, United States Postal Service® 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW Washington, D.C. 20260-0004