A CDL testing scheme that has been active for four years has come to an end and both the head of a driver training school and a DMV employee have pled guilty to charges stemming from their roles in the scheme that placed fraudulent CDLs into the hands of over 100 drivers.
According to court filings, CDL applicants paid up to $5,000 each to bypass both the written and skills portions of the CDL exam and have a DMV employee change computer records to show that they had passed both parts and were eligible to be issued California CDLs.
Putting over 100 untrained drivers behind the wheels of large trucks ended up being just as dangerous as you would expect it to be with an estimated 23 traffic accidents being attributed to the unqualified drivers.
Incredibly, none of the accidents that have been tied to the fraudulent CDLs have resulted in fatalities, but authorities have not yet completed their investigations. Until more information is uncovered, the DMV has revoked or cancelled 602 CDLs which they believe may have been issued in conjunction with the fraud.
In total, four people have been charged with crimes resulting from the scheme; the DMV employee who falsified the records, and the heads of three driver training companies in California. So far the DMV employee and one of the heads have pled guilty, but the other two have not yet had their court dates.
The lawyer for one company owner claims that his client is a good family man who regrets the decision he made to take shortcuts, but that he did it to help members of his community. According to the lawyer, the defendant “takes his job seriously and enjoys training drivers.”
Due to the scheme involving the issuing of fraudulent forms of identification, the investigation was performed with help from the Department of Homeland Security.
“Individuals who use their positions to obtain commercial drivers’ licenses for unskilled and untested drivers jeopardize our nation’s security and safety,” said the special agent in charge of the Homeland Security investigation according to the AP. “Allowing unqualified drivers to operate heavy commercial trucks on our highways is honestly quite chilling.”
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Source: cbssacramento, truckinginfo, kionrightnow, modbee
Image Source: businessnews
This coming from a state that has more than 50% of illegal alien drivers, no surprise.
So swift is losing 600 drivers hug
Damn auto correct hug= huh
But everyone needs a hug
You should fit right in now that theyare alleged to have openings
England puts drivers behind the wheel before theyre ready too.
California? Of course.
The people who the licenses were issued to should also be charged with fraud and perhaps even reckless endangerment or public endangerment. There’s no way they could’ve possibly thought they were obtaining a license legally. No testing? Not even a written exam? Cut the crap. They’re just as guilty.
Excellent point.
When I read, so Swift is losing 600 drivers, man I started laughing out loud.. That was funny!
“Incredibly, none of the accidents that have been tied to the fraudulent CDLs have resulted in fatalities, but authorities have not yet completed their investigations.”
They aren’t going fast enough, they’re just bouncing off other trucks in the truckstops, parking lots and warehouses.
Read the MODBEE article relating to this, http://www.modbee.com/news/local/turlock/article30791394.html . The school in Turlock is still allowed to operate even after the owner plead guilty. I agree the drivers should also be convicted of fraud, and their CDL’s permanently revoked.