What to Know About DOT’s Crackdown on CDL Mills
A nationwide sweep by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has shaken up the commercial driver training industry, with nearly 3,000 training providers removed from the federal registry and another 4,000 placed under review. The move marks the most aggressive crackdown to date on unqualified commercial driver license (CDL) programs, often referred to as "CDL mills."
Announced on December 1 by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the enforcement action follows a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) review of over 16,000 providers in the Training Provider Registry (TPR). According to officials, widespread noncompliance with federally mandated entry-level driver training (ELDT) standards prompted immediate action.
Why Training Providers Were Removed The FMCSA identified major concerns that led to the delisting of providers, including:
Falsifying or manipulating training completion data
Failure to meet required curriculum, facility, or instructor standards
Refusal to provide complete documentation during federal audits
The TPR was created to ensure every entry-level commercial driver completes an approved training program before being tested for a CDL or CDL endorsement. Violations threaten the legitimacy of this system, prompting the FMCSA to act swiftly.
What Happens Next for Noncompliant Providers The 4,000 providers currently under review have been placed on the Proposed Removal List and must notify all enrolled and prospective students of their pending status. They have 30 days to respond to FMCSA and present evidence of compliance or risk removal from the registry.
FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs stated, "If you are unwilling to follow the rules, you have no place training America’s commercial drivers. We will not tolerate negligence."
Industry Backing and ATA Response The enforcement has been welcomed by many in the trucking industry, including the American Trucking Associations (ATA). President Chris Spear applauded the action, emphasizing the professionalism required to safely train commercial drivers.
"Training someone to operate an 80,000-pound vehicle is not a weekend hobby. It is a profession built on standards, discipline and responsibility," Spear said. "If you’re running a CDL mill, you’re on notice."
Part of a Larger Safety Push This action is the latest in a series of regulatory moves targeting fraud and incompetency in CDL issuance and driver safety. The DOT has:
Reinstated English language proficiency requirements, resulting in over 7,000 drivers placed out of service
Ordered states like California to overhaul non-domiciled CDL practices or risk loss of federal funding
Closed ELD self-certification loopholes
According to Duffy, the goal is to ensure only qualified, well-trained drivers are on the road. "We’re going to go after CDL mills... and there will be serious consequences," he said.
What It Means for Fleets and Future Drivers Motor carriers and training schools should expect tighter oversight, more frequent audits, and heightened scrutiny around training documentation and compliance. For students, verifying a provider’s status on the FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry before enrolling is now more critical than ever.
If your fleet is unsure how these changes may impact your compliance or insurance requirements, contact Allcom Insurance at 866-277-9049 or email info@allcomins.com.