The former owner of Central Truck Driving School has been sentenced to over four years in prison after pleading guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit bribery and identity fraud. He had been working with California DMV employees to issue CDLs to students who had not earned them.
Central Truck Driving School had four different locations. One each in Fremont, Lathrop, Fresno, and Salinas. Most students who passed through the doors earned their CDLs the normal way. But a joint investigation spearheaded by the FBI found that some of the students at the school were bribing their way into the driver’s seat.
Between 2012 and 2015, Central Truck Driving School owner Mangal Gill would accept bribes from students. He would then pay off partners inside the California DMV. Those partners would then alter the DMV’s database to show that the students had passed their written and skills portions of their exams. A bribe could be paid after a student failed the test, but sometimes a CDL was issued without the student taking any exam at all.
The investigation was launched in 2013. On multiple occasions, authorities posed as students hoping to buy their CDLs. Eventually, the investigation identified Gill, three DMV employees, a broker, and another employee of the driving school as being part of the conspiracy.
Only one other co-defendant has been sentenced so far – a former DMV employee who will spend 3 years and 10 months in prison.
Source: thecalifornian, thecalifornian, voiceonlline, newsindiatimes, UScourts
This narrative seems to be a broken record in every state using these BS trucking “Schools”.
Every one of their CDLs they issued needs to be revoked and a hefty jail term is needed for the ones running this FRAUD.
Private “Schools” obviously need to be either totally shuttered or MUCH MORE STRINGENTLY REGULATED.
Most of the “Schools” are profit motivated, not education motivated… Pumping out CDL after CDL to nitwits that are now common on the road driving 80,000lb killing machines.
Enough is Enough!!
Yep its not about safety its about putting a person in a seat to kill people.
Enough of baseless claims that every state has corrupt trucking schools. The bashing of new drivers gets so damn old in this industry. Not all of us can drop out of our mothers with a million miles experience as apparently so many complainers have had the good fortune. Crappy drivers is one thing, casting aspersions on all trucking schools is another. FYI, I learned OTJ eight years ago.
Figure this out people, JJ, had a article today about upping the driving time to 14 hours ! To me it brings to mind exactly what are they spending their time on the rest of the three weeks of the so called schools !
I agree with all these comments but there’s one thing they’re missing how do you drive a truck in America when you cannot read English
That guy also owns a trucking company. There all India drivers
So how many of these useless cdls got issued that swift Pam Werner knight covenant USA truck schneider us express Crete Hogan etc hire?
But they supposed to do a through hiring process.
I’ve seen it reported that all CDLs fraudulently issued were revoked. Quick question: How are carriers supposed to know if a CDL has been properly issued?
California, Texas, Illinois, British Columbia, the Midwestern states alley… these are areas known to have these practices of folks buying CDL.
Some truck drivers can’t even pass and maintain their lanes properly. One would assume that these drivers nowadays don’t have any training whatsoever about how to handle these units.
This issue of CDL fraud is more rampant than the federal government thinks it’s just an isolated case. It’s a disaster waiting to unfold.
White crime is always rewarding!
Maybe some of these trucking companies could teach people the proper use of fog lamps instead of running them thinking I’m a cool driver you’re blinding the rest of us knock it off
Just close your eyes! You wouldn’t be driving any worse than they do!
Why people use short cut, where public saftey is involved. Hope this verdict will impact and such practices will stop.
Trucking industry is no different than other trades or industries. There are good people and there are bad people. There are drivers who take pride in what they do and want to be the best and there are drivers who are just filling a seat with no desire to better themselves. To make blanket statements about all schools or all newbies being crap just isn’t true and does a disservice to those who care. I actually looked at that school when I was getting my training. I drove right past the lot and never stopped once I saw the appalling equipment and appearance of the place. I find the complacency and total disregard for ethics and safety on the part of the DMV employees the most worrisome.
Boobly boobly and his fleet of Volvos.
Prove me wrong.
Why haven’t the students been charged as well. Seems like the bribery started with the students. Bribery is illegal. Guess they rode off into the sunset with their cdl while everyone else went to club fed.
California has some of the worst truck drivers you will ever see on the road, you don’t need to go to school there, you just pay a farmer a few thousand to write a letter saying you worked for him driving for six months are longer, and the for will issue you a CDL.