Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ordered the immediate closure of 270 commercial driver’s licensing schools Monday, targeting facilities that graduated illegal immigrants unable to speak English and schools operating with substandard training equipment.
Sweeping Enforcement Action Targets Safety Violations
Duffy announced the shutdown of 110 CDL schools for training 5,000 students later found unable to speak English, a decades-old federal requirement for commercial vehicle operators. An additional 160 schools faced suspension for failing to meet facility standards, with some claiming a single truck or small parking lot as their entire training center. The action affects institutions within America’s network of roughly 31,000 CDL training schools nationwide.
Speaking at a Detroit press conference alongside Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and federal prosecutors, Duffy emphasized the enforcement targets a longstanding regulation. Federal law requires English proficiency to operate commercial vehicles across state lines, though states issue the actual licenses. The previous administration allowed schools to self-certify compliance with federal standards, a practice the current administration identified as a critical oversight failure.
Fatal Crashes Prompt Federal Response
The crackdown follows data showing 239 deaths in crashes caused by non-English speaking truck drivers since January 2025. California issued most licenses used by operators involved in these fatal accidents. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator Derek Barrs cited specific cases, including Platinum Plus Truck Driving School in California, which certified 36 drivers later cited for English language violations. One trainee from that school killed someone in Oklahoma. ASC Technical Institute in Texas certified 58 such drivers, with one running a stop sign and causing a fatal crash.
Every school targeted for English proficiency violations had passed at least 10 drivers who subsequently received citations during roadside inspections by law enforcement. The announcement featured five-year-old Delilah Coleman, who suffered a brain injury in 2024 when an Indian illegal immigrant caused a multi-vehicle pileup with his 18-wheeler in California.
What This Means
The enforcement action represents the Trump administration’s most significant intervention in commercial driver licensing oversight, combining immigration enforcement with highway safety concerns. While the federal government sets national standards, states maintain licensing authority, creating a regulatory framework that critics argue enabled inadequate oversight. The closures immediately halt operations at affected schools, forcing prospective truck drivers to seek training elsewhere while the administration promises to maintain adequate driver supply through compliant facilities.