In a major regulatory sweep, the United States federal government has initiated a crackdown on thousands of truck driving schools, a move that could see nearly 44% of the nation's 16,000 such institutions forced to shut down. The action comes after a review found widespread non-compliance with government training requirements.
Massive Decertification Looming for Non-Compliant Schools
The US Transportation Department announced on Monday its plan to revoke the certification of nearly 3,000 truck driving schools unless they can demonstrate compliance with federal training standards within the next 30 days. These targeted institutions must immediately notify their students that their certification status is in jeopardy. An additional 4,500 schools have received warnings that they could face similar punitive action if they fail to meet the benchmarks.
Schools that ultimately lose their certification will be barred from issuing the completion certificates required for students to obtain a commercial driver's license (CDL). This is likely to trigger a mass exodus of students from these institutions, effectively putting them out of business. The Department stated that the 3,000 schools facing immediate action have failed to meet training standards, maintained inaccurate records, and are accused of falsifying or manipulating training data.
Safety Drive Triggered by Fatal Crash, Targets Immigrant-Owned Firms
This nationwide clampdown is the latest step in a government effort to ensure all truck drivers are fully qualified and legally eligible to hold a commercial license. The push intensified after a fatal crash in Florida, where a truck driver—who Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated was not authorized to be in the U.S.—made an illegal U-turn, causing an accident that killed three people.
Secretary Duffy framed the action as reining in "illegal and reckless practices that let poorly trained drivers get behind the wheel of semi-trucks and school buses." In a parallel move, the Department of Homeland Security has begun auditing trucking firms in California owned by immigrants to verify their drivers' immigration status and CDL qualifications.
Duffy has also threatened to withhold federal funding from several states over CDL program shortcomings. He specifically warned Minnesota that $30.4 million in funds could be withheld if the state does not address deficiencies and revoke improperly issued licenses. Notably, every state threatened so far has been led by Democrats, though audits are reportedly underway in other states, including Texas and South Dakota.
Industry Reactions: Support, Concerns Over Targeting, and Driver Shortage
The crackdown has elicited mixed reactions from industry stakeholders. Many established trucking industry groups have praised the move to tighten licensing standards. Paul J. Enos, CEO of the Nevada Trucking Association, called out "bad actors who exploit loopholes in our regulatory systems," stating it puts everyone at risk.
Andrew Poliakoff, executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association—which represents 100 schools with 400 locations—suggested many of the schools facing decertification were questionable "CDL mills." He explained these institutions would advertise unrealistically short training periods, sometimes just a few days, essentially "fleecing people out of money" without providing the skills needed to get hired or pass tests. In contrast, legitimate programs typically involve at least a month of combined classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction.
However, advocacy groups for immigrant truck drivers argue the crackdown is unfairly targeting individuals based on citizenship status. The situation has particularly affected truck drivers of the Sikh faith. The drivers involved in both the Florida crash and another deadly crash in California this fall were Sikhs, leading to increased harassment for the community. The North American Punjabi Truckers Association estimates Sikhs constitute about 40% of truck drivers on the West Coast and 20% nationwide, with roughly 150,000 Sikh truckers working in the U.S.
The advocacy group UNITED SIKHS criticized the audits, stating, "Sikh and immigrant truckers with spotless records are being treated like suspects while they keep America’s freight moving... Any policy built on fear instead of facts endangers families, civil rights, and the national supply chain."
The broader impact of shutting down thousands of schools on the existing truck driver shortage remains unclear. Meanwhile, California has already moved to revoke 17,000 commercial driver's licenses after federal concerns that they were improperly issued to immigrants or remained valid long after work permits expired.
