DOT removes 550 CDL training providers in nationwide crackdown
By lauraharris // 2026-02-23
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  • The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) removed 550 commercial driver's license (CDL) training providers from its national registry after finding they failed to meet federal safety and training standards.
  • In a five-day nationwide operation, more than 300 investigators conducted 1,426 inspections, leading to 448 school removals, 109 voluntary closures and 97 providers remaining under investigation.
  • The enforcement effort is part of a broader crackdown led by Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy targeting noncompliant "CDL mills."
  • The action follows earlier removals of nearly 3,000 providers and notices sent to about 4,000 schools over potential violations of the 2022 Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) standards.
  • The American Trucking Associations (ATA) praised the crackdown, saying it strengthens the integrity of commercial driver training and promotes roadway safety.
Federal transportation officials have removed 550 commercial driver's license (CDL) training providers from the national registry after finding they failed to meet safety and training standards. The violations were identified by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which oversees commercial driver training and safety compliance. The schools were notified that they would be removed from the agency's Training Provider Registry, the federal database of authorized CDL training programs. During a recent five-day enforcement operation, the FMCSA deployed more than 300 investigators across all 50 states. Officials conducted 1,426 on-site inspections and sting investigations of driver training providers. As a result of that operation:
  • 448 truck driving schools were removed for failing to meet basic safety standards.
  • 109 training providers voluntarily shut down after learning they were under investigation.
  • 97 schools remain under active investigation for compliance issues.
Some of the flagged facilities had previously trained school bus drivers, raising additional safety concerns. This campaign follows a broader crackdown launched under U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, who was sworn in earlier this year. Over the past several months, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has targeted so-called "CDL mills" – training operations accused of failing to meet federal entry-level driver training requirements. This crackdown, as BrightU.AI's Enoch noted, underscores the importance of maintaining high standards and holding training providers accountable for the quality of their programs.

FMCSA strikes 3,000 CDL schools, flags 4,000 more in safety push

The removals come two months after the FMCSA struck nearly 3,000 CDL training providers from the registry. In December, approximately 4,000 providers were placed on notice for potential noncompliance with federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) standards. The ELDT rule, which took effect in February 2022, established a single national training standard for obtaining a CDL. The rule was mandated by Congress in 2021 and replaced a patchwork system in which states set their own requirements. Under the ELDT framework, entry-level drivers must complete both theory instruction and behind-the-wheel training before taking CDL skills and knowledge tests. The curriculum includes five core areas: Basic Operation, Safe Operating Procedures, Advanced Operating Practices, Systems and Reporting Malfunctions and Non-Driving Activities. The standards apply not only to truck drivers but also to bus operators and drivers transporting hazardous materials. According to the FMCSA, recent investigations uncovered violations including instructors lacking proper CDL credentials, the use of vehicles that did not match the training offered, incomplete student assessments and admissions by some schools that their curriculum did not meet state requirements. However, officials indicated that most of those schools were inactive and therefore unlikely to have significantly affected the current driver workforce. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) publicly praised the enforcement action, issuing a statement supporting the DOT's continued crackdown on non-compliant training providers. "We commend the Trump Administration for taking decisive action to strengthen the integrity of our commercial driver training system and reinforce its commitment to safer roads," the ATA wrote. Watch the video below about a car crash simulation at different speeds.
This video is from the TestimonyOfTheTwoWitnesses.com channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com TheGreatwayPundit.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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