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Federal Order Shuts Down Over 550 U.S. Commercial Driving Schools After Safety Audits

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Mass Closure Mandated Following Nationwide Safety Inspections The Department of Transportation ordered the shutdown of more than 550 commercial driving schools after 1,426 site visits in December uncovered unqualified instructors, inadequate testing procedures, and other safety violations [1]. Inspections targeted active programs, building on last fall’s decertification of up to 7,500 largely defunct schools [1]. The closures affect both for‑profit and nonprofit operators across the country [1].

Fatal Crashes Prompt Heightened Federal Scrutiny An August 2025 U‑turn crash in Florida involving an unauthorized driver killed three pedestrians, and a March 2026 Indiana highway collision claimed four lives, intensifying pressure on training standards [1]. Lawmakers and safety advocates linked these tragedies to deficiencies in driver preparation at many schools [1]. The Department cited these incidents as justification for the unprecedented enforcement action [1].

Transportation Secretary Announces Compliance Failures and Funding Threats Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reported that 448 schools failed basic safety standards, 109 withdrew from the federal registry when inspections were announced, and another 97 remain under investigation [1]. The federal government threatened to withhold $160 million already pulled from California and $128 million slated for Illinois until states verify immigrant drivers’ eligibility for commercial licenses [1]. Funding penalties aim to compel state oversight and improve vetting processes [1].

Industry Leaders Welcome Enforcement as Quality Clean‑Up Jeffery Burkhardt, chair of the national trucking schools group, said reputable programs welcomed the crackdown, viewing it as a necessary clean‑up of the training ecosystem [1]. Burkhardt emphasized that the action will restore confidence in commercial driver education and protect public safety [1]. He urged continued federal‑state collaboration to maintain high standards [1].

Sources

Timeline

Dec 2 2025 – The DOT’s federal review flags nearly 44 % of truck‑driving programs as non‑compliant and announces plans to revoke certification of about 3,000 schools within a month, warning another 4,500 could lose certification if they fail to meet standards; Secretary Sean Duffy adds, “We will pull federal funding from states that do not enforce proper licensing,” and notes a court has temporarily halted his proposed non‑citizen CDL restrictions [7].

Dec 3 2025 – The administration flags almost half of trucking schools as non‑compliant, a federal judge suspends the proposed rule limiting non‑citizen CDL eligibility, and California revokes 17,000 commercial licenses after an audit finds many were issued after work‑permit expiration, intensifying scrutiny following the August 2025 fatal Florida U‑turn crash [6].

Dec 12 2025 – A federal audit of 200 New York CDLs reveals more than 50 % were issued improperly, prompting Duffy to threaten a $73 million highway‑fund withholding unless revocations occur within 30 days; DMV spokesperson Walter McClure retorts that “New York complies with all federal regulations” [4].

Dec 13 2025 – A nationwide audit uncovers license‑validity problems in eight states, leading to potential funding cuts: California revokes 21,000 licenses and loses $40 million; Pennsylvania faces a possible $75 million cut; Minnesota risks $30.4 million; and New York must conduct a comprehensive audit and revoke all illegally issued licenses, all stemming from licenses issued without proper immigration‑status verification [5].

Dec 23 2025 – Duffy threatens to withhold $24 million from Colorado after an October audit shows 22 % of immigrant‑issued CDLs were illegal, warning the DOT can decertify the entire state CDL program if revocations lag; Gov. Jared Polis says Colorado will finish its review and send letters to affected drivers in the coming weeks [3].

Jan 7 2026 – Federal officials withhold $160 million from California after the state delays revoking about 17,000 commercial licenses flagged as unlawful, noting Duffy previously froze $40 million for English‑proficiency failures and linking the action to fatal crashes involving unauthorized drivers in Florida and California [2].

Feb 18 2026 – Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy orders the shutdown of more than 550 commercial driving schools after 1,426 site visits expose unqualified instructors and unsafe testing; he reports 448 schools failed basic standards, cites the earlier $160 million cut from California and a pending $128 million cut for Illinois, and quotes Jeffery Burkhardt, chair of the national trucking schools group, saying “reputable programs welcome this needed clean‑up” [1].

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