Federal transportation, homeland security and justice officials have announced what they called a historic, multi-agency crackdown on fraud in the trucking indu
Federal transportation, homeland security, and justice officials have announced what they called a historic, multi-agency crackdown on fraud in the trucking industry, including the launch of a new multi-state strike force and sweeping enforcement actions targeting commercial driver training and licensing.
The Department of Homeland Security said Homeland Security Investigations, working with U.S. attorney’s offices and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, is leading a national criminal investigation initiative targeting public safety vulnerabilities and criminal activity in the CDL and commercial trucking sector, including CDL fraud, unauthorized employment, identity-document fraud, financial crime, money laundering, labor exploitation and potential links to human smuggling, drug trafficking and cartel activity.
“USDOT has spent the last year-and-a-half strengthening the rules of the road and removing dangerous foreign drivers from our trucking industry,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. “To fully root out the scourge of fraud, hold criminals accountable, and restore safety, we need the support of federal law enforcement.”
The trucking schools that were shut down during the emergency removal on Monday were found in:
- Arizona - 2
- California - 11
- Colorado - 1
- Florida - 10
- Idaho - 1
- Maryland - 1
- New Jersey - 3
- New Mexico - 1
- New York - 3
- North Carolina - 1
- Ohio - 7
- Oregon - 1
- Pennsylvania - 13
- South Carolina - 1
- Texas - 13
- Utah - 9
- Virginia - 1
- Washington - 1
- West Virginia - 1
- Wisconsin - 3
- Unknown (inactive) - 4
Additionally, 23 online trucking schools with no physical location were shut down.
Officials confirmed to KOMO News that the Washington location that was shut down is Fifth Wheel Commercial Driving School in Kent.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin tied the initiative to concerns about licensing and enforcement involving immigrants without legal status. “Thanks to the recklessness of sanctuary politicians, there is a growing and alarming trend of illegal aliens being granted commercial driver’s licenses,” Mullin said. “Many of them don’t speak English or understand the rules of the road, and yet they’re driving among us, endangering our loved ones.”
White House Fraud Task Force Executive Director Scott Brady said the effort would reverse what he described as lax enforcement. “Here’s a basic concept: Americans have a right to feel safe on the roads their taxes pay for,” Brady said. “Unfortunately, the previous administration disagreed and turned a blind eye to criminal enterprises that allowed drivers who couldn’t pass a basic English test to obtain a commercial driver’s license.”
Homeland Security Investigations said it would use its investigative tools to pursue fraud and related crimes.
As part of the announcement, the Department of Transportation said that over the past year-and-a-half it has “knocked over 28,000 drivers off our roads for failing to speak English,” forced states to cancel “over 30,000 licenses illegally issued to foreign drivers,” and removed “over 8,000 unqualified training schools” from the FMCSA registry. The department also highlighted a partnership announced in July with DHS aimed at cracking down on fraudulent and illegal practices in CDL schools.
FMCSA outlined three new enforcement actions focused on training and testing:
First, FMCSA said it will carry out the emergency removal of more than 110 Entry-Level Driver Training providers from the federal Training Provider Registry after reviewing roadside inspection records tied to English language proficiency violations and identifying training providers that repeatedly certified drivers who did not meet federal qualification standards. FMCSA said the providers must immediately cease operating as training providers, including instruction and behind-the-wheel training.
Second, FMCSA said a July effort that sent 175 investigators across 40 states to conduct nearly 400 investigations of training providers uncovered serious noncompliance, including inadequate training space, unlicensed instructors, missing documentation and “fraudulent classrooms.”
The agency said those targeted efforts resulted in more than 160 notices of proposed removals from the registry, and that drivers certified by those providers are linked to 239 commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities.
Third, FMCSA said it is launching a nationwide audit of third-party CDL skills testers and state oversight of those testers. FMCSA noted that CDL skills tests must be given in English, but said more than 28,000 drivers have been placed out of service for English language proficiency violations since June 2025.
FMCSA also outlined potential consequences for states found to be noncompliant, including corrective action plans, withholding federal highway funds starting at up to 4% in the first year and increasing to 8% in subsequent years, and possible decertification that would prevent a state from issuing, renewing, transferring or upgrading CDLs.
