The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has launched one of its most aggressive enforcement actions yet against commercial driver training fraud. On December 1, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that nearly 3,000 CDL training providers have been removed from the Training Provider Registry (TPR), with another 4,000 placed on notice for potential removal. This effort marks a major nationwide crackdown on so-called CDL mills, which officials say are cutting corners, falsifying records, and allowing unqualified drivers to take the wheel of heavy commercial vehicles.
DOT and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) conducted a sweeping review of 16,000 training providers across the country and revealed widespread noncompliance with federal entry-level driver training (ELDT) standards.
Why Thousands of Training Providers Were Removed
FMCSA found several violations that led to immediate removal from the TPR, including:
- Falsified or manipulated training records for CDL applicants
- Failure to meet curriculum requirements, including classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel standards
- Unqualified instructors or facilities that failed to meet basic safety conditions
- Incomplete or inaccurate documentation and refusal to provide required records during audits
The Training Provider Registry was created to ensure that CDL students complete mandatory federal training before being tested for certain licenses or endorsements. Eliminating fraudulent or noncompliant schools is intended to strengthen roadway safety and prevent undertrained drivers from entering the industry.
What Happens to the 4,000 Providers on Notice?
Training centers flagged for potential removal must:
- Notify all current and upcoming students that they are under review
- Submit evidence of compliance within 30 days to avoid being removed
- Appear on the TPR Proposed Removal List during the review period
FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs emphasized that the agency will not tolerate training programs that jeopardize public safety: “If you are unwilling to follow the rules, you have no place training America’s commercial drivers.”
Strong Industry Support for the Crackdown
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) publicly endorsed DOT’s decision. ATA President Chris Spear stressed that CDL training is a serious professional responsibility, not a shortcut for profit. He warned operators issuing certificates to unqualified drivers: “You’re on notice.”
A Broader Push for Safety and Accountability
The crackdown on CDL mills is part of a wider enforcement strategy led by Duffy since taking office. Recent actions include:
- Targeting drivers who cannot read or understand English-language road signs
- Pressuring states, especially California, to address 24,000 non-compliant non-domiciled CDLs
- Threatening loss of federal funding for states that fail to comply with emergency CDL rules
- Closing loopholes in self-certified electronic logging devices (ELDs)
- Expanding investigations into fraudulent CDL issuances nationwide
Duffy has said the agency will continue to root out “illegal and reckless practices” in CDL licensing: “We are going to go after CDL mills… and there will be serious consequences.”
This sweeping enforcement action signals a turning point for CDL training regulation. As DOT intensifies oversight, the trucking industry can expect tougher compliance requirements — and safer, more reliable driver training nationwide.
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