Perspective: Safety Requires Rooting Out CDL Mills
Trump Administration, DOT Are Right to Go After Dangerous Truck Driver Training Schools
Key Takeaways:
- CVTA's Andrew Poliakoff and ATA's Chris Spear argue that fraudulent commercial driver training schools are endangering motorists and that recent Trump administration enforcement actions mark a needed federal crackdown.
- They say weak oversight, self-certification and slow delisting have allowed noncompliant schools to operate despite state warnings and federal safety standards.
- Poliakoff and Spear call for full re-registration of providers, rapid removal of violators and stronger accountability measures to ensure only qualified schools train future truck drivers.
[Stay on top of transportation news: .]
When it comes to preparing the next generation of professional truck drivers, there’s no room for fraud or neglect. Yet across the country, a growing number of bad actors posing as legitimate training schools are preying on aspiring truck drivers.
These unscrupulous operators don’t just cheat students out of money. They jeopardize the safety of American motorists by certifying drivers after just two- or three-day courses and sending them behind the wheel of 80,000-pound trucks.
That’s not training. It’s negligence. And it’s putting lives at risk.
Recently, the Trump administration announced a long overdue crackdown on these commercial driver license mills. The Department of Transportation and the pledged tougher enforcement of the Entry Level Driver Training rule, stronger oversight of the federal and more aggressive action to remove shady training schools.
The White House should be commended for taking this issue seriously and putting safety first. Its focus on shutting down fraudulent operators shows real leadership and a clear commitment to restoring integrity to the CDL system.
ʴDZǴڴ
For years, American Trucking Associations and the Commercial Vehicle Training Association have sounded the alarm about sham driver training schools that profit off students and undercut legitimate programs. These fly-by-night operators don’t just cheat students out of their money. They endanger everyone on our highways.
Look no further than one Pennsylvania training provider to see just how broken the system has become. This outfit was recently found operating without state certification, ordered to cease and desist by the state, and even admitted under oath that its program doesn’t meet federally mandated driver training standards. Yet, it continued to be listed in the federal registry as if it were compliant despite repeated removal requests from state regulators.
The problem isn’t a lack of federal standards. It’s that enforcement has been too slow, too soft and too easy to dodge. The federal registry still allows “self-certification,” meaning almost anyone can claim to be a qualified training provider. Once listed, even proven violators can linger for months or years before being removed.
That ends now.
The Trump administration’s announcement signals that the status quo is finally being challenged and that regulators are ready to take the tough steps needed to weed out subpar programs and protect motorists and professional drivers alike.
But to truly fix the system, we need three things:
First, full re-registration and vetting of every provider. Every school offering CDL instruction must prove it meets both federal and state standards before being allowed back on the TRP.
Second, a rapid removal process for bad actors. When a state agency revokes or suspends a school’s authority, FMCSA must immediately delist that provider. There should be no grace period for fraud.
Want more news? Listen to today's daily briefing above or go here for more info
Third, accountability. FMCSA must establish ways to ensure providers that offer training to the public have skin in the game and drive out operators looking for a quick cash grab rather than a long-term commitment to safety and professionalism.
The trucking industry has made enormous strides in safety. But those efforts mean little if unqualified schools are allowed to churn out untrained drivers under the government’s nose.
The solution is clear: Vet and verify the good actors, bond those who train the public and clear the deck of the rest. Our nation’s highways are safer when only properly trained professionals earn the privilege to drive a truck.
Every American deserves to know that the men and women behind the wheel of our trucks have truly earned their place there. With this renewed federal focus, we can finally make that a reality.
is executive director of the , and is president of .
