Almost 44% of the 16,000 truck driving programs across the U.S. could face closure if they continue to lose students following a federal review that revealed potential non-compliance with essential standards.
The Transportation Department announced on Monday its intention to revoke certification from approximately 3,000 schools unless they adhere to training standards within 30 days. These schools are required to inform their students about their precarious certification status. Additionally, around 4,500 more institutions have received warnings of similar consequences.
If a school loses its certification, it will be unable to provide the necessary training certificates needed for students to obtain their licenses, likely resulting in a decline in enrollment. The current status of how many schools are actively teaching remains unclear.
In a related effort, the Department of Homeland Security is assessing trucking companies in California that are owned by immigrants to verify the qualifications and statuses of their drivers concerning commercial licenses.
This initiative is part of the government’s broader campaign to ensure truck drivers possess the required qualifications to hold commercial licenses, which gained momentum after an incident involving a truck driver who lacked legal U.S. status caused a tragic accident in Florida, resulting in three fatalities.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the need to eliminate “illegal and reckless practices” that allow inadequately trained individuals to operate large trucks and school buses. He has also threatened to cut federal funding for states like California and Pennsylvania and proposed new restrictions on which immigrants could obtain commercial licenses, although these proposals are currently on hold due to legal challenges.
Truck driving schools that were found to be subpar, or “CDL mills,” have come under scrutiny as many are accused of failing to meet training standards and maintaining proper records. The executive director of a major trucking school association criticized these schools for taking money without providing the necessary training for employment. In contrast, established schools offer at least a month of training with both practical and theoretical instruction.
