Listen to the article
Nearly 7,000 truck driving schools across the United States are facing potential closure following a Transportation Department review that found widespread non-compliance with federal requirements. The crackdown, announced Monday, could shutter approximately 44% of the nation’s 16,000 trucking schools, significantly impacting the industry already struggling with driver shortages.
Federal officials plan to revoke certification for nearly 3,000 schools unless they demonstrate compliance with training requirements within 30 days. These institutions must now inform their students that their certification is at risk. An additional 4,500 schools have received warnings that they may face similar consequences. Without proper certification, these schools will be unable to issue the training certificates required for commercial driver’s licenses, effectively driving students away.
“This action reins in illegal and reckless practices that let poorly trained drivers get behind the wheel of semi-trucks and school buses,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who has made trucking safety a priority during his tenure.
The Transportation Department cited failures to meet training standards, inadequate record-keeping, and allegations of data falsification among the targeted schools. Some institutions were already inactive before the federal action.
Concurrent with the school crackdown, the Department of Homeland Security has launched audits of California trucking companies owned by immigrants to verify their drivers’ immigration status and qualifications for commercial licenses.
These enforcement actions represent the latest phase in the federal government’s broader effort to ensure truck drivers meet proper qualifications and eligibility requirements. The initiative gained momentum following a fatal crash in Florida that killed three people, which Secretary Duffy attributed to a driver who was allegedly not authorized to be in the United States.
Duffy has taken an aggressive stance on the issue, threatening to withhold federal funding from several states, including California, Pennsylvania, and most recently Minnesota, where he has warned he may withhold $30.4 million unless the state addresses shortcomings in its commercial license program. Minnesota officials responded that they “take safety on our roads seriously” and are working to ensure compliance.
Industry experts suggest many of the schools facing decertification are problematic “CDL mills” that promise unrealistically brief training periods of just a few days. Andrew Poliakoff, executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association, which represents established training schools with 400 locations nationwide, said legitimate programs typically involve at least a month of classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction.
“Trucking is an outstanding career. And people who are not familiar with the industry might see someone charging $1,000 or $2,000 for a long weekend or quick training. And they may think that’s desirable, but that’s really not,” Poliakoff said, adding that such operations are “fleecing people out of money” without providing necessary skills.
While trucking industry groups have generally supported tightening licensing standards, including the Trump administration’s enforcement of English proficiency requirements, advocacy organizations for immigrant drivers have raised concerns about targeting based on citizenship status.
The situation has particularly affected Sikh truck drivers, who represent approximately 20% of the nationwide trucking workforce and up to 40% on the West Coast, according to the North American Punjabi Truckers Association. Advocacy groups estimate around 150,000 Sikh truck drivers work in the United States.
“Sikh and immigrant truckers with spotless records are being treated like suspects while they keep America’s freight moving,” said the UNITED SIKHS advocacy group. “When federal agencies frame lawful, licensed drivers as risks, it doesn’t improve safety — it fuels xenophobia, harassment, and even violence on the road.”
California has already moved to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses after federal officials raised concerns they were improperly issued to immigrants or remained valid after work permit expirations.
Todd Spencer, President of the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association, highlighted longstanding concerns about self-certification among trucking schools. “When training standards are weak, or in some instances totally non-existent, drivers are unprepared, and everyone on the road pays the price,” Spencer noted.
The impact of these enforcement actions on the existing truck driver shortage remains unclear, potentially creating further strain on supply chains while simultaneously addressing critical safety concerns.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
7 Comments
Interesting to see the government cracking down on non-compliant trucking schools. Safety should always come first, but this could create major disruptions for the industry. Curious to see how it plays out.
Concerning to hear about the compliance issues with US trucking schools. Proper training and certification is critical for driver and public safety. Hopefully the review leads to improvements across the industry.
This crackdown seems necessary to address safety risks, though it could exacerbate the driver shortage. I wonder how the schools will respond and if they can quickly resolve the compliance issues to stay open.
Good point. The schools will need to act quickly to demonstrate compliance and avoid closure. Regulators will have to balance enforcement with minimizing disruption to the labor supply.
The transportation department is right to prioritize trucking safety, but the scale of non-compliance is alarming. I hope the industry can adapt and improve training standards without too much collateral damage.
Agreed, this is a delicate balance. Stricter oversight is needed, but the government will have to work closely with the industry to find practical solutions.
As someone who relies on the trucking industry, I’m glad to see the government taking action to raise training standards. Unsafe driving poses real risks to everyone on the roads.