DOT shuts 110 CDL schools in fraud crackdown
Federal officials removed over 110 commercial driver training schools from a federal registry and are targeting 160 more for removal, citing widespread fraud.
Federal transportation officials removed more than 110 commercial driver training schools from a federal registry on Monday. They are targeting another 160-plus schools for removal as part of a sweeping crackdown on fraud. This action directly impacts the pipeline of drivers entering the industry.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the enforcement actions in Detroit. He was joined by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Derek Barrs, federal prosecutors, and members of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
Duffy stated these schools accounted for 5,000 violations related to English proficiency.
Enforcement Actions and Specific Schools
The Department of Transportation did not release a complete list of the affected schools. Officials, however, identified three specific institutions during the announcement.
| School Name | State | Alleged Violations |
|---|---|---|
| Platinum Plus Truck Driving School | California | Certified 36 drivers later cited for English proficiency violations; one trainee was involved in a fatal Oklahoma crash. |
| ASC Technical Institute | Texas | Certified 58 drivers later cited for English proficiency violations; one trainee ran a stop sign, killing a man in Texas. |
| Angel's Transportation | New Jersey | Training conducted in a parking lot too small for required maneuvers; part of the 160-plus schools targeted for removal. |
Duffy highlighted a specific case involving third-party skills testers. He said federal officials identified 10 testers in one state who collectively issued more than 2,000 commercial driver's licenses to people who could not meet English-language requirements.
Nationwide Audits and Investigations
The initiative includes a nationwide audit of third-party CDL skills testers. According to the DOT, more than 28,000 commercial drivers have been placed out of service for English-language proficiency violations since June 2025, a figure that highlights systemic failures. The agency said this indicates failures among testers and state oversight programs.
Homeland Security Investigations planned a synchronized enforcement surge on Monday targeting more than 200 driving schools across 23 states. HSI said it has received more than 1,000 leads involving CDL-related businesses suspected of unsafe practices or exploitation.
Investigators are examining potential CDL fraud, unauthorized employment, identity-document fraud, money laundering, and labor exploitation. They are also looking into possible connections to human smuggling, drug trafficking, and cartel activity. Federal investigators have already issued more than 80 notices of inspection and opened multiple investigations.
New Justice Department Task Force
The Justice Department announced the creation of the Joint Task Force Crossroads of America. This task force brings together all nine U.S. attorneys offices in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, key states in the nation's freight network.
The task force will work with the DOT, FMCSA, FBI, DEA, HSI, ICE, ATF, and state and local authorities. Its focus is to pursue trucking fraud and other criminal activity along major Midwest freight corridors. The enforcement push expands the government's crackdown from individual drivers to the schools, testers, and businesses responsible for training and licensing them.
