DOT expands CDL school enforcement to combat training fraud
Key takeaways
- FMCSA identified about 75 CDL training schools suspected of fraudulent practices.
- Homeland Security Investigations will assist FMCSA with CDL school investigations.
- Nearly 10,000 training providers have been removed from FMCSA's registry since December 2025.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently expanded its enforcement efforts by partnering with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to investigate suspected fraud at commercial driver's license (CDL) training schools. The department, which oversees the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the nation's commercial motor vehicle safety programs, will work with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to examine schools suspected of violating federal training requirements.
According to DOT, FMCSA has identified approximately 75 entry-level driver training schools suspected of fraudulent practices, including improper driver certifications, falsified training records, and failing to properly train drivers seeking CDLs. As part of the expanded enforcement effort, HSI will assist FMCSA with investigations into suspected fraudulent training providers.
The action builds on previous enforcement measures targeting training providers. DOT sated that nearly 10,000 CDL training schools have been removed from FMCSA's Training Provider Registry since December 2025. In February 2026, the department also issued notices of proposed removal to more than 550 training schools found in violation of FMCSA safety standards.
“USDOT has spent the last year rooting out bad actors from our trucking industry,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said. “We've knocked over 24,000 drivers off our roads for failing to speak English, forced states to cancel over 28,000 licenses illegally issued to foreign drivers, and purged over 9,500 unqualified training schools from our FMCSA registry. DHS will be a force multiplier of our efforts to clean up America's roads. President Trump is using every lever at his disposal to ensure the safety of American families.”
What this means for the trucking industry
The expanded partnership between USDOT and DHS signals increased federal scrutiny of CDL training providers and training records. Fleets that hire newly licensed drivers may see greater oversight of entry-level training programs as regulators continue reviewing provider compliance. For legitimate CDL schools, the effort could strengthen confidence in the quality of driver training, while schools that fail to meet federal requirements may face additional investigations or removal from the Training Provider Registry.
