DOT shuts 110 CDL schools in fraud crackdown
Federal officials have removed over 110 commercial driver training schools from a national registry and are targeting 160 more for removal in a major fraud
Federal transportation officials have removed more than 110 commercial driver training schools from a federal registry. They are targeting another 160-plus schools for removal in a sweeping crackdown on fraud, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Monday in Detroit alongside Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Derek Barrs, federal prosecutors and members of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
Duffy said the emergency executive shutdown involves schools linked to thousands of English proficiency violations. "These are driving schools that account for 5,000 of the violations for English proficiency," he stated.
Nationwide Audits and Investigations
The initiative includes a nationwide audit of third-party CDL skills testers. Duffy identified 10 testers in one state who collectively issued over 2,000 CDLs to people who later failed English requirements. "This is the simplest of tests," he said. The Department of Transportation stated that more than 28,000 commercial drivers have been placed out of service for English-language proficiency violations since June 2025, a figure that can be tracked in our detailed stats section.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) planned a synchronized enforcement surge targeting more than 200 driving schools across 23 states. HSI has received over 1,000 leads involving CDL-related businesses suspected of unsafe practices or exploitation.
Investigators are examining potential CDL fraud, unauthorized employment, identity-document fraud, money laundering, and labor exploitation. Possible connections to human smuggling, drug trafficking, and cartel activity are also under review.
Specific Schools Named
Officials named three schools during the announcement. The Department of Transportation did not release a complete list of the 110 schools removed or the 160 targeted. For a broader view of industry players, you can explore our squad directory.
| School Name | State | Alleged Violations |
|---|---|---|
| Platinum Plus Truck Driving School | California | Certified 36 drivers later cited for English proficiency violations; one trainee was involved in a fatal Oklahoma crash. |
| ASC Technical Institute | Texas | Certified 58 drivers later cited for English proficiency violations; one trainee ran a stop sign and killed a man in Texas. |
| Angel’s Transportation | New Jersey | Training conducted in a parking lot too small for required maneuvers; part of the 160-plus proposed removal group. |
Scale of the Problem
The agency said the high number of violations indicates failures among third-party testers and state oversight programs. Federal investigators have already issued more than 80 notices of inspection. They have opened multiple investigations involving suspected fraudulent CDL issuance, unauthorized employment, identity fraud, and shell companies.
New Justice Department Task Force
The Justice Department announced the creation of the Joint Task Force Crossroads of America. It brings together all nine U.S. attorneys offices in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.
This task force will work with DOT, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), FBI, DEA, HSI, ICE, ATF, and state and local authorities. Its focus is pursuing trucking fraud and other criminal activity along major Midwest freight corridors, which could impact future standings for companies operating in the region.
The enforcement push expands the government's crackdown upstream from individual drivers to the schools, testers, and businesses responsible for training and licensing.
