The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have launched a major nationwide crackdown on commercial driver’s license (CDL) schools, targeting widespread noncompliance in the federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) program. Nearly 3,000 training providers have already been removed from the federal Training Provider Registry (TPR), and another 4,000 schools have been placed on notice for possible removal — affecting close to half of the 16,000 providers listed nationwide.
This sweeping action represents the largest ELDT enforcement effort since the federal training standards took effect in 2022.
Why CDL Schools Are Being Removed
FMCSA found significant issues during its review. Training centers were removed for:
- Falsifying or manipulating training data
- Failing to meet curriculum, facility, or instructor qualification standards
- Poor documentation practices or refusal to provide records during inspections
- Noncompliance with ELDT regulations adopted to improve driver safety
The Training Provider Registry is meant to ensure CDL students receive proper instruction before being tested by state licensing agencies. Removing fraudulent or substandard providers aims to reinforce the integrity of trucking’s safety pipeline.
What Happens Next for the 4,000 Providers on Notice
Schools flagged for potential noncompliance must:
- Inform all current and future students that they are at risk of removal
- Provide evidence of compliance within 30 days
- Remain listed on the TPR Proposed Removal List during that period
If they fail to respond or cannot prove compliance, FMCSA will remove them from the registry — meaning CDL students cannot use those programs to meet federal training requirements.
Industry Push for Stronger ELDT Enforcement
Industry organizations have repeatedly urged regulators to address weaknesses in CDL training oversight. Concerns intensified after FMCSA revealed that CDL schools currently self-certify their compliance with federal standards, a practice critics say opened the door to CDL mills.
Key industry positions include:
- American Trucking Associations (ATA): Applauded the crackdown, arguing CDL training must be treated as a professional discipline, not a shortcut to licensing.
- Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA): Warned that self-certification created opportunities for fraud and unsafe training practices.
- Commercial Vehicle Training Association and Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools: Called for stronger oversight earlier this year.
- American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI): Listed driver training standards among its top research priorities for 2025.
Industry leaders emphasize that weak or nonexistent training standards put underprepared drivers on the road, posing risks to both professional operators and the motoring public.
A First Step in a Larger FMCSA Plan
DOT officials describe this enforcement wave as Phase 1 of a broader initiative to protect the CDL pipeline and ensure new drivers meet federal competency expectations. The agency plans to continue audits, refine the ELDT rule, and increase accountability for training providers that fail to meet safety and quality requirements.
FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs summed up the agency’s stance:
“If you are unwilling to follow the rules, you have no place training America’s commercial drivers.”
The industry widely agrees this crackdown is overdue — and marks a major shift toward improving safety through stronger, more consistent entry-level driver training nationwide.
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