09/02/2026
News Break:
The U.S. Department of Transportation shut down 110 commercial driver training schools for fraud and English proficiency violations, though it has not released a full list of schools.
Overview of the Shutdown
On August 31, 2026, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced an emergency federal shutdown of 110 CDL schools linked to more than 5,000 drivers who failed English-language proficiency tests
The closures are part of a nationwide crackdown on CDL fraud, targeting schools, third-party skills testers, and trucking businesses suspected of unsafe practices or fraudulent certification
The initiative also includes:
A nationwide audit of third-party CDL skills testers
A Homeland Security Investigations sweep of over 200 driving schools across 23 states
Formation of the Joint Task Force Crossroads of America to investigate trucking-related fraud and criminal activity in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois
Broader Impact
Over 28,000 commercial drivers have been placed out of service for English-language proficiency violations since June 2025
More than 8,000 unqualified training schools have been removed from the FMCSA registry over the past year and a half
States failing to enforce compliance may face withholding of federal highway funds or decertification of CDL programs
