A significant number of trucking schools and driver training providers across the United States are at risk of being shut down as the Department of Transportation (DOT) intensifies efforts to raise safety and training standards within the industry.

According to newly released data, nearly 7,000 schools and instructors are under federal review-representing a sweeping move by the administration to address what officials describe as widespread noncompliance and substandard training practices.

Warnings and Enforcement Action

In an announcement made by DOT officials, approximately 3,000 trucking schools and independent trainers have been formally notified that they will be removed from the national Training Provider Registry (TPR) unless they meet federal compliance standards within 30 days.

An additional 4,000 schools and trainers have received warning notices regarding potential violations, including:

• Failure to maintain accurate training records
• Employment of instructors lacking required certifications
• Submission of false or incomplete data to federal authorities

Collectively, the schools under review represent up to 40% of all federally registered training providers, a substantial portion of the institutions responsible for preparing new commercial drivers for the road.

Federal Officials Cite Public Safety Concerns

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized that the initiative is aimed at strengthening road safety and restoring integrity to the CDL certification process.

“Too many drivers are being certified through programs that do not meet the federal standards,” Duffy stated. “We’ve seen an increase in serious accidents involving drivers who lacked proper training. We must ensure that every driver entering the workforce is fully prepared and qualified.”

Although the names of the schools under review have not yet been made public, the enforcement action follows several high-profile incidents in which poor training and inadequate oversight were cited as contributing factors in fatal crashes.

Impact on the Industry

The impending closures could have far-reaching consequences for both the driver training sector and the broader transportation industry. The U.S. is already facing a chronic shortage of qualified truck drivers, and additional constraints on training capacity could further slow the pipeline of new drivers entering the workforce.

Many of the targeted schools serve rural or immigrant communities, prompting concern from advocacy groups who argue that the enforcement may disproportionately impact smaller operators and minority-owned training programs.

Critics have also raised concerns about the tone and timing of the crackdown, particularly in light of recent restrictions on how immigrants can obtain CDLs-some of which are currently on temporary hold pending further legal or administrative review.

Regulatory Context

The move is part of a broader regulatory effort under the current administration to “clean up” the trucking industry, with a stated focus on reducing preventable crashes and eliminating fraudulent or negligent training practices.

New and existing rules require training providers to meet detailed criteria around:

• Instructor qualifications
• Curriculum standards
• Student recordkeeping and reporting
• Compliance with Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations

Failure to comply can result in immediate removal from the TPR, which in turn prevents students from testing for or obtaining their CDL licenses through those institutions.

Industry Reaction

Reactions within the industry have been mixed. While many safety advocates have praised the move as a long-overdue effort to improve training standards, others worry about unintended consequences-particularly for smaller schools that may lack the resources or administrative infrastructure to quickly adapt to federal demands.

“We all want safer roads,” said one training program operator in the Midwest, “but wiping out half the industry without sufficient support or transition time could create chaos. We need better oversight, yes-but we also need a pathway to compliance.”

As the 30-day compliance window begins to close, schools across the country are now rushing to update documentation, verify instructor credentials, and ensure their programs meet all federal requirements. DOT officials have not ruled out additional enforcement waves in early 2026.

What Comes Next

With thousands of training programs now under scrutiny, the DOT is signaling a new era of accountability in commercial driver education. For training providers, the message is clear: comply or face closure.

For the industry at large, the challenge will be to balance safety and compliance with accessibility and capacity-especially as demand for qualified drivers continues to grow.

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