US Transportation Department Shuts More Than 550 Driving Schools Over Safety Violations
The federal Transportation Department has announced plans to shut down more than 550 commercial driving schools that train truck and bus drivers, following investigations that uncovered widespread safety violations. Officials stated that these schools employed unqualified instructors, inadequately tested students, and failed to meet other critical safety standards.
Targeted Crackdown on Active Schools
Unlike a previous effort last autumn that targeted up to 7,500 mostly defunct schools, this latest action focuses specifically on active schools with serious shortcomings. These deficiencies were identified during 1,426 site inspections conducted by federal authorities.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed that 448 schools failed to meet basic safety standards. Inspectors found numerous issues, including the employment of unqualified instructors, failure to properly test students' skills, inadequate teaching on handling hazardous materials, and the use of incorrect equipment for driver training.
Heightened Scrutiny Following Fatal Crashes
The crackdown follows increased scrutiny on states that issued commercial driver's licenses to immigrants who should not have qualified for them. This scrutiny intensified after a fatal August crash in Florida, where a truck driver—who Duffy says was not authorized to be in the U.S.—made an illegal U-turn, resulting in three deaths.
Other deadly crashes, including one in Indiana earlier this month that killed four people, have further amplified safety concerns within the commercial driving industry.
Schools Removing Themselves from Registry
In addition to the 448 schools failing standards, another 109 schools removed themselves from the official registry of driving schools when they learned that inspectors were planning to visit. This suggests a broader pattern of non-compliance within the sector.
"American families should have confidence that our school bus and truck drivers are following every letter of the law, and that starts with receiving proper training before getting behind the wheel," Duffy emphasized in a statement.
Focus on Smaller and District-Run Programs
The list of schools targeted for decertification primarily includes smaller institutions, with a number of programs run by school districts. Larger, more reputable schools were generally not included in this enforcement action. Currently, 97 additional schools are under investigation for compliance issues.
Systemic Issues in the Trucking Industry
Observers note that part of the problem stems from the trucking industry's self-certification process. When schools and trucking companies apply to begin operations, they can essentially self-certify, meaning questionable practices might not be detected until much later when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration conducts audits.
Impact on Students and Industry
It remains unclear how many students were enrolled at the schools facing decertification. However, the industry currently has some cushion due to an oversupply of drivers, with shipments dropping by 10% since 2022 because of economic uncertainty.
Despite this, many trucking companies continue to struggle to find enough well-qualified drivers with clean records, highlighting ongoing challenges in workforce quality.
Federal Funding Threats and English Proficiency Standards
In addition to shutting down non-compliant schools, the Trump Administration has threatened to withhold federal funding from states that do not clean up their commercial driver's license programs. The administration has also focused on ensuring truck drivers meet English proficiency standards.
To date, California is the only state to lose funding, with the federal government planning to withhold $160 million as part of these enforcement measures.
