Hundreds of truckers have had their CDLs revoked thanks to missing paperwork from the trucking school they graduated from. Now some drivers have lost their jobs along with their CDLs.
Back in 2018, Carolina Truck Driving School was audited by the DMV. The Charlotte-based CDL school couldn’t provide documents proving that hundreds of their students had actually passed their CDL skills test.
According to WSOCTV, the North Carolina DMV sent out 280 letters to drivers whose records were missing, telling them that they would need to retake their skills test. Some had only days before their licenses were set to be revoked.
“When I opened the letter, I’m like, ‘Are you kidding me?'” Chris Carney told WSOCTV. “Why should the burden fall on us? We took the test. We passed the test. Somebody else should be held responsible other than us.”
The owner, Barry Henson, told WSOCTV that one of his testers stole the missing files, but couldn’t say which one it was.
Carolina Truck Driving School shut down just a short time after the audit. Henson still runs two other schools, the Tennessee Truck Driving School and the Tampa Truck Driving School.
Stefan says
The owner of the school should have to pay a hefty fine. Seems to me he was running a shady school and didn’t pay instructors.
Mike C. says
I say let the school foot the bill for all those drivers to take the test done at the DMV .If they had the license thenthe DMV should honor it,re-test them themselves at no charge .
Lanny Lammers says
There has to be some sort of trail to hold Henson Responsible for the drivers losses.
PC says
I feel bad for any legitimate student/graduate, but this also makes me think this could really explain why so many drivers can’t speak or read english and some can’t drive. For some funny reason when you have falsified documentation it always get lost when auditors come looking. You know like the dog ate my homework excuse.
Robert says
This is why the state needs to do what Missouri does. For 3rd party test sites they send officers to watch the testing. They don’t grade every test but they do a percentage. They have ultimate authority yes or no on the pass or fail. But my point is that the records are legit because the testing is audited in real time.
Safety DIrector says
Agreed. If they passed the test the first time they should be able to pass it again. inconvenience and sad that they cannot sue the school as it no longer exists, but The same thing happened to drivers who paid for Physicals and found out the dr. was not qualified to do DOT physicals. Though inconvenience, they had to get a new physical from qualified physician.
Dan says
Well put!!!
SCOTT A GUYNE says
No but. They can sue the owner of the school that dont exist
Lou says
The article said he owns two other schools. See if they can go after them. Worth a try.
Bruce says
I took my cdl test back in the 1990’s in the state of Md. I failed it three times because Md. demands you know too many mundane details for pass or failure. There is no way I would take that test in Md. again. I’d change careers first were I forced to do that regardless of my no accident or ticket record. I know this happened in the state of NC but the anxiety of taking a test knowing whether or not you will eat takes a lot of a guy or girl. I hope this louse of a school operator has his pants sued off of him.
Jake Gossum says
No not true if you are confident in what you do thwn no problems. I had to retake both written and skills test cause I got a DUI several years ago. Passes all written and skills and road tests with 100%
R.B. Barnby says
I had a difficult time getting my California CDL with all endorsements including cycle, changed to Maryland. It took me three months and cost me just over $100. Had to have birth certificate and utility bills and something else before they gave me my license. But they gave Mexicans licenses.
inaNYminet says
They ask the same thing from everybody in every state, birth certificate, proof of residence etc.
Bob says
Not
CW says
Wow! That is some funny s***, the Mexicans got licenses. Really? Maybe they were just smarter than you. Just saying.
Craig says
It depends on what you call mundane. In KY a complete detailed pretrip is part of getting your cdl and I mean complete. If you already have your cdl this should not be a problem.
Dan says
Mundane skills …. like pre-trip, backing, parking, air breaks
Dan says
Or spelling… brakes
Lucky says
Factz
Dan says
My dog really did eat it!
Leonard says
Much as I hate to agree that could very well be true.
Blackfly says
Yup, and I know every state is different ( not good when it comes to our business ) but when I went to school in CT to upgrade my CDL it was a state employee who tested me so it would be their responsibility for the records, and any dummy ( like me ) kept a copy of their test and still has it – duh.
mark cole says
lol how true
Jimmie shull says
A lot more these schools in East trucking companies who help people get their license need to be audited he’ll there’s drivers out here that doesn’t even know how to count they have to carry their phones in show the people the cash register what they want can you call this America
Daniel says
I’m lost. If the drivers took the test and passed it and was able to get their CDL then and the state gave them their CDL then why dose it matter ?
Dan says
Because nobody knew how to drive
Joshua L Weiser says
Barry Henson should be taking each of these guys too the DMV and road testing them right there and make him pay and also refund each one of those drivers
Matt Robertson says
Another CDL mill bites the dust, just in time for another to be created. Just a symptom of American greed and materialism.
Les gvt says
Greed and corruption happens in any country that has humans. The difference in the US is it is dealt with much more than in other countries, and people pay fines and do jail time. In other countries it is ignored
Fred Life says
Tampa Trucking School I went there first class they give me money back cause out town tester never came after 3week for my understanding he don’t have on site testers tester took files till he pay up
John says
Become political and hide from it all$ lol.
Harold Dewayne rogers says
U have a good point
Rich Allcorn says
I don’t see how this could jeopardize your license. Regardless of what testing you took, passed, or didn’t … you still have to pass the DOT test. If you’ve passed “that”, you have a legit CDL, regardless of whether you went to trucking school or not!
The DOT is the final authority, and in Texas you have to pass the “DOT test” to actually get your license. This protects the drivers so if something like this should happen, you “still” will have a valid license. You may not have proof of the schooling, but you have a valid Texas CDL license.
Dan says
Rich a lot of states let the prospective employer or school administer the test. DMV goes by what the school says and issues a license on that word alone. Does it now make sense why there’s so many dip sticks out here? Be safe….
Bababooey says
It sounds like someone should lose something……but who? Most if not all the students can probably drive a truck by now. Retesting to find the few potential bad apples sounds kind of lame. So the guy gets a letter to retest , can’t get it done, loses his job and can no longer prove to the test people he can drive because he has no access to a truck. Sounds like a typical Monday in government. Beuracracy at its absolute finest.
Tanya says
I’ve was one of those people that went to this school as well what a big joke !! well thanks to the good Lord I don’t want to be a truck driver anymore so I really don’t matter if I lost the CDL what horrible school !! Praying for the other people.
Mike says
Nobody worth a cold fart ever came out of that school im sure so whatever, saw hatians with nebraska licences the other night i think some schools there need investigation as well.
Charles says
SMH. One perhaps you should learn how to write sentences properly, before writing with such ignorance. Two, the vast majority of truckers drive like crap, and most of which are White and most likely Americans. Which, you have to possess above average intelligence, integrity and ethics to know this.
Ryan says
Before attacking someone’s grammar, check your own.
Richie Collins says
I’m curious, how long have you been driving?
Richie Collins says
You sound like a real rocket scientist Charles 👍
Randy says
Obviously you know nothing about the tr
ucking industry.
Old Hand says
Racist remark
Lou says
Didn’t take long for the Big R word to pop up. Stick to the political sites.
Dummy says
Your whole paragraph has mistakes in it but you’re telling somebody else how to form correct sentences. 😂😂
John Hanks says
Exactly! He’s nothing more than a racist. I’ve been doing over the road since the early 90’s. Back then overweight white racist truckers hated the blacks coming in to drive. Nowadays, it’s anyone who is not American by birth. But, these older drivers will die off and a better crop of drivers will take over.
Amber says
Better crop will take over? Okay, that’s stretching it buddy. You new drivers are mostly auto restricted! First off, these men and women made trucking what it is. You new steering wheel holders couldn’t handle a quarter of the job they did. It honestly sounds like you just made up some BS line to reply to the original posters idiot post.
Richie Collins says
I wouldn’t bet on it
Richie Collins says
Don’t bet money on that one
Les gvt says
Majority of drivers where I live are Latino, and well over 1/2 of them speak little or no English.
Mike says
Why is the owner still operating schools they should take his license to teach
Terry Allen says
PPW, hard drive, or cloud, I have had my identity compromised 3x directly or indirectly related to my CDL. Once when the DMV in town was broken into and they stole all the computers, but just the CDL office, not the regular DMV. Again when I tried to get my Real ID, and just this month when the courier for one of drug test companies got hacked. I swear there’s more people out there that know more about me than I do.
Robert says
That’s why you should keep your score sheet. I went through the student driver program at Prime and got my CDL 09/06/2016. Guess what? I still have my score sheet that shows scores for each of the 3 areas and it says I passed. So just in case something happens, I am covered. I also carry the score sheet in my truck with me. It’s unlikely they will lose my records but I’m covering my butt.
Bruce says
I hope a good class action attorney comes forward to take this case. All of this points to the owners incompetence. You run a school for profit and no doubt get money from the state to train people to drive a truck (ok, the article nor video stated that but its too hard to believe he didn’t) but yet you didn’t bother to check to see if things were running right? Why should a trainer have access to certain files? Shouldn’t those types of records have been kept on a hard drive somewhere? This is bull and I hope the all sue and win.
Mike says
Class action attorney will get all the money just file yourselff
Bruce says
What is the point of having a comment section when every comment is held in moderation before posting? It would be easier to just say we read comments first and if even if it doesn’t have profanity or derogatory words we might not post it if WE decide we dont like it.
Howard Lewis says
WoW! Thats 😢
Justin says
Takes no time at all to scan your documents store them electronically
I suspect this was a diploma mill
Rawdog says
Since when did you HAVE to go to a trucking school to get your license? I just went to the dmv took a written test got my permit, a few weeks later I went back with a truck and took my driving test with a guy who was an inspector. Not that long ago … maybe 18- 20 years ago
Ken says
That’s what I did I’m retired now.its simple take the test then rent a truck here for 250 for road test and your off trucking
Louis says
All states have different requirements but I have heard this can be done but like you said you have to take test/drive with a licensed driver. I went to Diesel Driving Academy here in Shreveport back in 2012 but havent drove a truck since 2016 got tired of arguing about home time that I was due and first time drive for Werner that wasnt a positive experience. So now working at the post office
Stacy Moll says
No one checks accredited school credentials anymore. However, shortly after some drivers were Grand-fathered into The CDL program from Chauffeurs licenses in 1992… Back then school training was required.. Give it time they will require a school certificate to be updated to Motor Vehicle Division. If you can’t supply one… Too bad. 😢 Too sad….. Catch ya’ another day. Another way.. Prayers Peace & Prosperity to ya.. Cluck Cluck…
Rawdog says
They should do away with these trucking schools all together, if you have to go to school to learn how to drive a truck you ain’t no truck driver period
sonny Pruitt says
Dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. If you have to go to school to learn about brain surgery you ain’t no brain surgeon?how dumb can one person be?
sonny Pruitt says
They should do away with these medical schools.
Diesel Priest says
I feel the same way about doctors. If you had to LEARN how to do it, well you just ain’t good enough fer me!
John says
Read the history for yourselfs and pray for whats to come ! Its not too late”.
Cathy Taylor says
Schools reach how to obey the laws and make a living. I was able to tase my chauffeur license for CDL but went to Sage trucking school and learned the proper way to do the paperwork. I could drive. But the book gave me confidence to go get in a truck by self and I’ve been all over the USA by myself
John Hanks says
Gee, you really should think your comment through before you post. It’s very obvious your not too educated.
Ralph Daer says
This story is not legitimate. No matter what records the school has a driver has to take a driving test with their state’s DMV and that is what gives some their license. A state can’t take a driver’s license away from someone just because a school has lost the records.
Les gvt says
They are the government. They can do whatever they please.
Lou says
I’m just here for the comments. Very entertaining.
SnowWalker says
I always get a kick out these types of stories and how governmental rules, regulations and interference has changed the trucking industry and made drivers better dtivers.
I started my trucking career in 1957 as a summer student driving a body job gravel truck. I was 17 years old. By summers end, I was hauling gravel in an 18 yard trailer. This was on the Trans Canada hwy. No chauffeurs licence (equivalent to today’s CDL).
I gave up my idea of finishing university and applied for a long hual job with Trans America Freight Lines in NJ. I still had no idea how to overhaul a brake pot. I learned how to adjust them and that was it. I knew how to shift the old Diamond T’s 10 speed tranny and that was about it.
TAFL wouldn’t put me on the road with their trucks; however, they did give me a job as a yard monkey docking and moving trailers. After six months I graduated to pulling trailers from the outskirts into the city. Most of the OTRs couldn’t navigate the narrow streets to the docks of old NJ. Still no driver no training required by anyone.
Out of the blue one day (a Friday morning), they needed an emergency load hauled to Chicago. On that same Friday, they sent me to the MVB to test for my chauffeurs license. Two hours later I was on my way to Chicago. Not even a road test with a truck! Fifty-four years later & 7 1/2 million miles, DOT pulled my CDL because I failed their night vision test.
Now, all the government rules, regulations and driving school training have not changed anything as far as better drivers go. It’s the driver’s attitude that separates good drivers from the idiots. Maybe the government should create an attitude training course before the truck driver even qualifies to take a CDL test.
Anthony says
Then why would the state issue the licenses before they recieved paperwork…that should fall on the DOT for failing to retain paperwork before printing licenses!
Mark Kinder says
Fraud? Shouldn’t the owner of that school be in jail???
Russ J. Alan says
I gotta throw the bs flag. They got a cdl, they got a cdl. If they’ve been working with a cdl that they were issued by a state and the state revokes it, they got a lawsuit against the state not the school. Bs flag thrown. ” There’s been a Bs flag thrown on the field, let’s look at that replay in slo-mo”
Mike says
You guys need to sue barry
Ernesto says
One of saddest articles I’ve read regarding hard-working commercial drivers. I myself is a commercial driver and I depend on my commercial license to provide for my family. And for my license suddenly be taken away because a truck school failed to keep records would be devastated.. So again……Sad
Cherokee says
The owner of the school should be held accountable, he should also have to pay the drivers while their out of work along with providing them with trucks to take the test.
Ron Wood says
CDL schools crooked ? Police officers lying about truck drivers, the government DOT officers in Washington never driven a big rig, let alone never having a CDL ? And they “claim” …The nation is short of truck drivers ? Really ? Let’s stir the pot with more crooked people ? The driver will lose in the end….again !
D.Counts says
C D L all gov. B.S.
Jim Gilley says
These drivers should not lose their license….when they completed the school training they received a certificate of completion..which they would have to show to the DMV….the DMV will have them do a written test and possibly an on the road skills test …after which the new driver will be issued a license…….so I say that the school should be held responsible for the lost records…and the DMV should let the new driver keep their license….
D.Counts says
gov.B.S.
D.Counts says
how true
SMeyer says
I have to wonder how they got the CDL in the first place? Didn’t the DMV need proof they passed their exams. What did the DMV do with the proof?
Matt says
What does it matter? Is it a law now, that attending trucking school is necessary to acquire a CDL? If one passes the dot written and driving test, which includes the pretrial test, as well as passing a dot physical, then they should qualify for their cdl.
Old schoolers never had trucking school, but were taught by dad, uncle, friend, or self taught, etc, and are some of the best, safest drivers out there! Minus all the “outlaw trucker” bs, that is.
If a prospective cdl candidate passes all tests given by the dmv, by a dot officer, or state police officer, then school or mo, that person should get their cdl. Most trucking companies have a training period of weeks or a month or two, for new truck drivers.
This is why the recent idea about allowing truck driving schools to give cdl tests themselves is ridiculous idea. A joke! Especially with the recent, but not new, scandals!
Matt says
What does it matter? Is it a law now, that attending trucking school is necessary to acquire a CDL? If one passes the dot written and driving test, which includes the pretrip test, as well as passing a dot physical, then they should qualify for their cdl.
Old schoolers never had trucking school, but were taught by dad, uncle, friend, or self taught, etc, and are some of the best, safest drivers out there! Minus all the “outlaw trucker” bs, that is.
If a prospective cdl candidate passes all tests given by the dmv, by a dot officer, or state police officer, then school or mo, that person should get their cdl. Most trucking companies have a training period of weeks or a month or two, for new truck drivers.
This is why the recent idea about allowing truck driving schools to give cdl tests themselves is ridiculous idea. A joke! Especially with the recent, but not new, scandals!
John Adams says
N.C. truck school went out but you can still sue the owner. What I do not understand if the D.M.V. gave them there lux that means the state had there paper work. The school had to give the state the proof or the state would not give them a CDL in the first place. None of this story makes any damm sense. John Adams. Harrisborg pa.
Paula Ann says
DMV doesn’t need your old skills test once you have your CDL already. Totally ridiculous!
Tim Lookabaugh says
As a graduate of Tampa truck driving school, I wondered how these non English speaking individuals got through class. Makes me nervous about my academic records. Why is he allowed to have other schools, he should be banished from the industry.
Hey Skippey says
Look people what most of you are forgetting is that the CDL testing consists of several parts.
First is the pretrip inspection pass/fail
Second is the backing, parallel parking, and driving around cones.
Then you go to the local DOT and take the written.
Then if you pass all those you get to go on a driving test.
The part where the trouble starts is that these tests are relegated to individuals (most likely on driving school payrolls) that have been authorized by the local DOT to administer these portions of the CDL testing process.
This process is legitimate, the part about some dumb guy taking files that contain testing information that should be contained at the local DOT is not legitimate and sounds like a bunch of hog wash.
Like the other driver stated, this place is a scam paper mill and is trying to make excuses for shady business deals, where if someone gets sore they leave with the control.
Just saying
Groo says
This looks like a good application for a class action suite.
Seems like the school owner should be liable for all the down-time his actions/inactions resulted in.
If say these 280 drivers each loose on average a week getting rectified at an average pay of maybe $850 per week, that would be a $238,000. If this guy is smart, he’ll write that check before too many legal fees get added on.
Rhonda Barrientes says
Why is the testing not done by the DMV. I took my test at the DMV. It is ridiculous to have the school do the testing. They can cheat. Perhaps that is why some of these drivers don’t REALLY know how to drive.
Dan says
The state DMV should be the only certifying agency. Everybody gets a road test that includes city and highway driving, straight backing, parallel parking, pre- trip inspection, and how to park in a damn truck stop!
Northeast says
That’s fairly reasonable.
My trucking school up in New England, the owner was a retired state cop and because of his connections he got the DMV inspector to come to the school, run the backing exercises in the lot then go on a road test.
sonny Pruitt says
And they’re still running two other schools? Huhuhuhuhu how?big brother always looking out for the little guy. Forget the drivers that are Sol, make sure the crook still has a way to scam people and don’t close the other locations until this is settled. The drivers will have to make due the best way they can.
sonny Pruitt says
They lose their license but the owner of the school keeps his license to operate other shady schools?
Leonard says
If you can’t stick with the subject matter please don’t comment.
Leonard says
I don’t know how other schools go but I was certified by PennDOT. I went to a truck driving school in Virginia but I had to come back home to my home state of Pennsylvania and take my road test through PennDOT.
sonny Pruitt says
Good for you!! Would you like a cookie or something?
Greg says
Sue the ba####ds! It’s an open & shut case. You don’t have to take that crap. Get a decent lawyer & sue em! Forget the job. You’ll clean up big time. Never have to truck again. Sue em!
Dan says
Why? Why is he allowed to still be in the business of teaching or training anyone, especially drivers..
Martin E Neltner says
I don’t understand. The state regulates the test. They issue the license. If the driver has had no bad marks since driving they should simply issue another license. Or a simple walk around the truck and trailer and a short drive around the parking lot. The driving school should pay one week salary to each driver. Pay for any testing etc.
Angelo says
I hate to say it because I like it, but welcome to the South.