US shuts 110 trucking schools over English test fraud—here’s why
Texas and Pennsylvania lead with 13 schools each after federal crackdown on CDL training fraud.
The US Department of Transportation has shut down 110 commercial driver training schools in an emergency enforcement action targeting fraudulent certification practices, with Texas and Pennsylvania each losing 13 providers. The crackdown follows an analysis of drivers cited for failing federal English-language proficiency requirements, which revealed 5,000 violations linked to the affected schools.
The state-by-state breakdown released by the DOT shows 84 physical-location schools and 23 online providers were affected, though the total does not fully account for the 110 schools announced for emergency removal. Federal officials have not yet released a complete list of the schools by name, but the data highlights significant concentrations in key states: Texas, Pennsylvania, and California together accounted for 37 of the 84 physical schools, or about 44% of the total.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the action during a press conference in Detroit, stating that the targeted schools were identified as the “greatest offenders” in a data-driven analysis. Every school shut down had trained at least 10 drivers later cited for English proficiency violations, a requirement for commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders under federal regulations. The initiative is part of a broader effort to address fraud in the trucking industry, which has seen a rise in safety incidents linked to improperly certified drivers.
Why English proficiency matters for truck drivers
The federal requirement for English proficiency among commercial drivers is not merely bureaucratic, it is a critical safety measure. Drivers must be able to read road signs, understand emergency instructions, and communicate effectively with law enforcement and other motorists. The 5,000 violations linked to the shuttered schools suggest systemic failures in training programs, with some providers allegedly certifying drivers who could not meet basic language standards.
Among the schools identified in the crackdown, ASC ASC Technical Institute in Texas certified 58 drivers later cited for English proficiency violations. One former trainee from the school was involved in a fatal incident in Texas after running a stop sign.
Similarly, Platinum Plus Truck Driving School in California certified 36 drivers who were later cited, including one involved in a fatal crash in Oklahoma. Angel’s Transportation in New Jersey, another provider flagged in the sweep, conducted training in a parking lot too small for the required maneuvers, further highlighting the substandard conditions at some of these schools.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Safety Administration (FMCSA), which oversees CDL regulations, has long emphasized the importance of rigorous training standards. Derek Barrs, the FMCSA Administrator, has previously stated that fraudulent certification not only endangers public safety but also undermines the integrity of the trucking industry. The current crackdown aligns with these concerns, targeting schools that have repeatedly failed to uphold federal standards.
What happens next for affected drivers and schools
The emergency shutdowns leave thousands of students and recent graduates in limbo. Drivers certified by the affected schools may face re-examination to confirm their compliance with federal standards, particularly English proficiency. The DOT has indicated that it will work with state licensing agencies to identify and notify drivers who may need to retake tests or undergo additional training.
For the schools themselves, the shutdowns are likely permanent. The DOT’s action follows a broader Homeland Security Investigations sweep targeting over 200 driving schools across 23 states, as well as the establishment of a new Justice Department task force focused on trucking-related fraud in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Federal officials have also identified 10 third-party CDL skills testers in one state, suggesting further scrutiny of the certification process.
Students enrolled in the shuttered schools are advised to contact their state’s Department of Motor Vehicles or the FMCSA for guidance on next steps. The DOT has set up a dedicated hotline for affected individuals, and the FMCSA’s website provides resources for finding compliant training providers. Meanwhile, the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud continues to investigate broader patterns of fraud in the trucking industry, with additional enforcement actions expected in the coming months.
The crackdown underscores the federal government’s commitment to addressing systemic issues in the trucking sector. As Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated,
“These are driving schools that account for 5,000 of the violations for English proficiency. There’s 110 of them through a data analysis that are the greatest offenders. As of today, those schools are shut down.”
Sean Duffy·Transportation Secretary
The action serves as a warning to other training providers that compliance with federal standards is non-negotiable. For the trucking industry, the shutdowns represent a step toward restoring trust in certification processes and ensuring that drivers on the road meet the necessary safety requirements.
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