FMCSA Shutdown of CDL School Under Fire: Did Regulators Overreach?
A New Jersey trucking school sues FMCSA after emergency removal from training registry.
A New Jersey commercial driver’s license (CDL) training school has filed a federal lawsuit challenging its emergency removal from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) training registry. Start CDL Inc., located in Cinnaminson, argues that the agency relied on flawed evidence to justify its shutdown.
On October 2, the school sued the U.S. Department of Transportation, the FMCSA, and Administrator Derek D. Barrs in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The lawsuit seeks reinstatement to the training provider registry and relief from the agency’s August 31 decision, which barred Start CDL from conducting entry-level driver training, enrolling new students, or certifying completion.
The FMCSA cited safety risks and willful disregard of federal regulations as grounds for the emergency removal. According to the agency, six trainees certified by Start CDL later received English-proficiency violations during roadside inspections. The FMCSA concluded that the school had failed to ensure drivers met federal standards before submitting their certifications.
However, Start CDL’s 236-page complaint and exhibits raise questions about the evidence used to support the shutdown. The school argues that the FMCSA improperly linked its operations to violations involving drivers who may not have been its trainees. A spreadsheet included in the removal documents lists six drivers under a different provider identifier—Star CDL Training LLC—while none of those names match the 10 unique drivers cited in the attached roadside inspection reports.
The complaint also highlights discrepancies in the timeline of events. For example, one English-assessment certificate is dated after the roadside inspection it allegedly preceded. Additionally, while the inspection reports describe communication difficulties and incorrect responses to highway signs, they do not establish whether the drivers were proficient at the time their certifications were uploaded.
Broader Regulatory Crackdown on CDL Schools: FMCSA
The case against Start CDL is part of a wider effort by the FMCSA to enforce stricter standards for commercial driver training. In August, the agency removed more than 100 schools from its training provider registry, citing compliance failures. English proficiency, a longstanding federal requirement for commercial drivers, has become a key focus of enforcement. Updated guidance set to take effect in June 2025 will restore out-of-service treatment for English-proficiency violations.
The lawsuit now awaits a ruling from the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, which will determine whether the FMCSA’s emergency removal was justified or whether the agency’s evidence was insufficient.
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