DOT shuts down 110 truck driving schools in CDL fraud crackdown

Federal transportation officials announced the removal of over 110 commercial driver training schools from a federal registry, as part of a crackdown on fraud in the trucking industry. This is alongside the targeting of 160-plus additional schools for removal. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed the initiative during a news conference in Detroit, alongside Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs, federal prosecutors and members of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.

The crackdown involves an emergency shutdown of the 110 schools, accounting for 5,000 violations in English proficiency. A nationwide audit of third-party CDL skills testers is also underway, along with a Homeland Security Investigations sweep targeting over 200 driving schools across 23 states. Additionally, a new Justice Department task force focusing on trucking-related fraud and criminal activity has been created in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.

Trainer schools like Platinum Plus Truck Driving School in California, ASC Technical Institute in Texas, and Angel's Transportation in New Jersey have been specifically identified. These schools have been cited for certifying drivers who later failed English-language proficiency requirements, leading to fatal crashes and other safety violations.

The enforcement actions aim to address failures in third-party testers and state oversight programs, placing over 28,000 commercial drivers out of service for English-language proficiency violations since June 2025.