Federal Crackdown Removes Nearly 3,000 CDL Training Providers

The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced the removal of nearly 3,000 commercial driver’s license (CDL) training providers from the federal registry. This decision follows a comprehensive review aimed at addressing illegal practices within the training industry. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized that this action is part of a broader initiative to enhance safety standards and eliminate unqualified drivers from U.S. roadways.

The changes affect the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Training Provider Registry, which lists authorized centers that meet federal training requirements for entry-level drivers. A compliance audit of 16,000 training providers revealed significant failures, including falsified training data and inadequate documentation. Many centers did not adhere to mandatory curriculum standards or properly qualified instructors, raising serious concerns about the safety of drivers being trained.

“This administration is cracking down on every link in the illegal trucking chain,” Duffy stated. He criticized the previous administration for allowing “bad actors” to exploit the system, leading to unqualified drivers on the roads. This negligence, he asserted, posed a direct danger to families across America.

In addition to the removals, approximately 4,500 additional training providers have received notices regarding potential noncompliance. These providers must respond to the FMCSA within 30 days and demonstrate compliance to avoid further penalties.

Duffy’s announcement follows an earlier nationwide audit by the FMCSA that uncovered a troubling trend of states issuing CDLs to foreign nationals illegally. As part of emergency measures, noncitizens will now face stricter eligibility criteria for obtaining a nondomiciled CDL, including mandatory checks of their immigration status through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system.

The urgency of these measures is underscored by recent incidents involving immigrant drivers linked to severe accidents. Notably, in August, an illegal immigrant from India was charged with causing a crash that resulted in the deaths of three people in Florida. Another incident in September involved a multi-car pile-up allegedly caused by an undocumented driver, critically injuring a child.

Andrew Poliakoff, executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association, commented on the situation, identifying many of the decertified schools as “CDL mills.” These institutions often claimed they could train drivers in just a few days, but he argued they primarily exploited students financially without equipping them with necessary skills.

On September 29, 2023, the FMCSA released an interim final rule restricting eligibility for nondomiciled CDLs to specific visa holders, such as those with H-2A and H-2B visas. However, a federal appeals court temporarily blocked enforcement of this rule, stating that the government failed to adequately demonstrate how it would enhance safety.

The court ruling has been welcomed by advocacy groups such as United Sikhs, which argued that the interim final rule unfairly discriminates against lawful immigrant drivers and exacerbates the nationwide truck driver shortage. Chief legal officer Wanda Sanchez Day expressed gratitude for the temporary stay while highlighting the ongoing fight for equitable treatment of immigrant workers.

In a related matter, the DOT has issued a warning to Minnesota to revoke illegally issued CDLs to noncitizens or risk losing $30.4 million in federal highway funding. An audit revealed that Minnesota had granted nondomiciled CDLs to individuals whose immigration status had expired or who were otherwise ineligible.

Duffy reiterated the department’s commitment to addressing these issues, stating, “The department will withhold funding if Minnesota continues this reckless behavior that puts non-citizens gaming the system ahead of the safety of Americans.” The ramifications of these actions underscore the federal government’s intensified focus on ensuring safe and compliant practices within the commercial driving sector.