Federal authorities have announced the closure of hundreds of commercial driver’s license (CDL) training schools across the United States as part of an intensified crackdown on fraud and safety violations in the trucking industry. Officials from the Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security revealed actions taken in recent weeks targeting schools linked to drivers who failed English proficiency tests, lacked valid licenses, or were otherwise deemed unqualified to operate commercial vehicles.

At a press conference held Monday in Detroit, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin detailed the enforcement measures, highlighting that 110 schools have been ordered to shut down immediately due to ties to more than 5,000 truck drivers who did not meet English language requirements. Another 160 schools face potential closure for issues including unlicensed instructors, incomplete documentation, and insufficient training facilities. In total, investigators from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have conducted coordinated sweeps covering more than 200 training organizations across 23 states.

Officials identified California as a significant concern, with several schools based there implicated in the violations. While the Department of Transportation confirmed that 11 schools in California were among those closed, other affected states include Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas, each with more than a dozen schools shuttered. Homeland Security Secretary Mullin specifically criticized California’s oversight, stating that it accounted for a large share of improperly issued licenses, though other states such as New York and Illinois were also mentioned as sources of illegally obtained credentials.

The enforcement campaign follows earlier directives by the Biden administration aimed at enforcing stricter standards on commercial truck drivers, including recent rules requiring proficiency in English and verifying applicants’ immigration status. These measures emerged partly in response to fatal crashes involving commercial vehicles, some of which involved immigrant drivers judged to be inadequately trained or unable to communicate effectively in English. One victim, 7-year-old Dalilah Coleman, was critically injured last year in a collision in the Mojave Desert involving a truck driver originally from India.

The FMCSA reported that drivers certified by the implicated schools have been linked to 239 commercial motor vehicle-related deaths. The Administration has revoked the licenses of more than 28,000 drivers since mid-2025 due to English proficiency failures. Examples of problematic schools include one in Fresno that certified 36 drivers later found deficient in language skills, with one trainee involved in a fatal accident in Oklahoma. Another California school operated using a semitrailer as a classroom and featured an instructor temporarily out of the country.

Transportation officials underscored the importance of language proficiency and proper training to public safety on U.S. roads. "If you’re here illegally and you can’t speak the language and you’re not well-trained, you don’t deserve to be behind the wheel of a big rig," Duffy said.

Federal authorities have announced plans to conduct a nationwide audit of third-party testers who administer CDL exams and maintain authority from state agencies. The coordinated efforts reflect a broader objective to improve safety standards in the trucking industry while addressing concerns about fraud and unauthorized licensure that could pose risks to drivers and the public.