n a sweeping interagency effort to improve road safety, federal transportation, homeland security, and justice departments are cracking down on illicit CDL training schools, fraudulent testing, and unauthorized immigrants driving commercial trucks.
- Mass School Closures: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration executed the emergency removal of 110 commercial driver's license training schools connected to more than 5,000 drivers who failed English proficiency tests.
- New Federal Task Force: The Departments of Transportation, Homeland Security, and Justice formed the "Joint Task Force Crossroads of America" to dismantle criminal networks, fraud schemes, and unauthorized labor operations within the trucking industry.
- Nationwide ICE & HSI Sweeps: Homeland Security Investigations issued notices of inspection to over 200 driving schools across 23 states while investigating bribery, identity fraud, and companies exploiting temporary visa holders.
- Industry Backing: Major trucking groups, including the American Trucking Associations and OOIDA, praised the enforcement actions and called on Congress to pass Dalilah's Law to strictly enforce English proficiency and safety standards.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) executed the emergency removal of 110 commercial driver’s license training schools from its registry Monday as part of a sweeping interagency crackdown on fraud in trucking.
The schools are associated with more than 5,000 drivers who failed federal English proficiency tests, the agency said, adding that it has also launched a nationwide audit of third-party CDL skills testers.
Following July investigations into nearly 400 training providers, FMCSA proposed removing more than 160 additional schools cited for violations including unlicensed instructors, inadequate training space, and fraudulent classroom setups.
Drivers certified by these schools have been linked to 239 commercial vehicle-related fatalities. FMCSA warned that states failing to adequately oversee third-party testers could face a loss of up to 8% of federal highway funds or full decertification of their CDL programs.
"This is not a Republican issue. This is not a Democrat issue," said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. "There's a lot of issues that we could fight about with red and blue... This is an American safety issue."
Federal officials were joined at the announcement by Marcus Coleman and his daughter, Dalilah, who was critically injured in a 2024 crash involving an undocumented immigrant driving a commercial vehicle and serves as the namesake of Dalilah's Law, proposed federal legislation designed to restrict CDL eligibility and enforce strict English language and safety rules for commercial truck drivers.
Coordinated enforcement
The multi-agency campaign involves synchronized enforcement actions across the country targeting regulatory compliance, immigration enforcement, and criminal prosecution.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a synchronized surge Monday, serving notices of inspection to more than 200 driving schools across 23 states. HSI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement are currently investigating multiple CDL-related schemes, including DMV employees accepting bribes to bypass licensing requirements, companies using temporary visa holders for domestic cargo transport, and medical practitioners falsifying driver physicals.
Working alongside FMCSA and USDOT's Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations distributed more than 1,000 leads regarding CDL-related businesses suspected of operating unsafely and exploiting the transportation sector.
Regional field offices have since launched multiple investigations and issued over 80 Notices of Inspection. These ongoing probes have already uncovered evidence of unauthorized labor, identity theft, shell corporations, fraudulent CDL approvals, and broad industry exploitation.
ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations also launched nationwide surges, including Operation Guardrail, which specifically targets undocumented immigrants holding CDLs, and Operation Freightliner, which coordinates with local authorities to intercept undocumented individuals operating commercial vehicles.
"I received my CDL when I was 21 years old," said Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. "My grandfather drove a truck when he came back from World War 2. It's a proud industry. When they see their industry ruined because you have a Biden administration that is failing the American people... it's shameful"
Duffy and Mullin, alongside FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs, White House Task Force Vice Chairman Andrew Ferguson, and U.S. Attorneys Jerome Gorgon and Adam Mildred, on Monday announced the Joint Task Force Crossroads of America—an initiative that aligns the regulatory power of the USDOT with federal law enforcement to dismantle commercial driver’s license fraud rings and audit state testing facilities, bringing together U.S. attorneys in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio with federal and local law enforcement.
Attorney General Todd Blanche noted that the task force will focus on prosecuting criminal networks exploiting the trucking industry.
"Foreigners and illegal aliens have exploited America’s trucking industry, often putting unqualified, improperly trained, non-English-speaking drivers on our highways," Blanche said. "Some may be hauling drugs or weapons for international crime networks. The drivers and companies that allow for this dangerous activity will no longer get a pass."
Industry support
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) commended the permanent closure of fraudulent CDL schools. ATA Chief Advocacy and Public Affairs Officer Henry Hanscom noted that removing noncompliant carriers and unqualified drivers "strengthens public confidence in our industry while ensuring that the next generation of professional drivers enters the workforce properly trained."
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) also backed the enforcement of English language proficiency standards, with OOIDA President Todd Spencer calling on Congress to pass "Dalilah’s Law" to ensure CDL mills remain closed permanently.
"It is basic common sense that anyone operating an 80,000-pound commercial vehicle on public roadways should be properly trained, able to read critical road signs, follow emergency instructions, and communicate with law enforcement and first responders in English," Spencer said.
