DOT Review Finds 44% of Trucking Schools Noncompliant—What This Means for Crash Victims

The federal government lists roughly 16,000 truck driving programs nationwide. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently reviewed these programs and found that nearly 44% did not meet minimum federal training requirements—meaning thousands of unprepared drivers may be operating 80,000-lb vehicles on American highways.

On December 1, DOT Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced plans to remove nearly 3,000 commercial driver’s license (CDL) training providers from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Training Provider Registry, claiming they failed to equip trainees with standards of readiness. These schools now have 30 days to comply with training requirements. Another 4,500 training providers were placed on notice due to potential noncompliance.

The DOT crackdown on trucking schools and companies is part of a broader government enforcement effort to make sure truck drivers are qualified and properly trained to hold a CDL. Because most commercial carriers operate across state lines, Ohio drivers frequently share the road with truck drivers who are trained in these noncompliant programs. That makes the DOT’s findings directly relevant to crash victims here in Ohio.

What the federal review found

Trucking schools typically require multiple weeks of behind-the-wheel training and in-classroom instruction with proficiency-based skills assessments. However, federal investigators found that thousands of training providers failed to meet minimum training standards. Widespread violations included:

• Falsified or manipulated training data
• Failure to confirm whether trainees completed the required modules
• Not maintaining accurate and complete records
• Listing themselves as “Active” with no instructors or curriculum

During a lawsuit, these failures are discoverable. Attorneys can subpoena student training records, student driving and classroom logs, driving instructor qualifications, and curriculum materials to determine whether a truck driver was properly trained.

What is a CDL mill?

The DOT’s review also highlighted a major problem in the trucking industry. Currently, CDL schools are allowed to self-certify that their training programs comply with federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) standards so they can be listed in FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry, a trusted resource for drivers and motor carriers. Unfortunately, this allowed training programs such as “CDL mills” to succeed.

The term “CDL mill” refers to low-standard commercial driver training programs that exploit loopholes and prioritize issuing CDL credentials over actual driver readiness. These programs give aspiring truck drivers minimal behind-the-wheel training and classroom instruction, then allow them to take the CDL test and send unprepared drivers on the road.

CDL mills often advertise as a fast-track or weekend program for a fee, despite the fact that proper CDL training requires weeks of combined road and classroom instruction. The result? Drivers with a CDL who haven’t learned how to safely maneuver a large tractor-trailer.

What to expect from DOT going forward

The DOT crackdown is targeting CDL mills and other substandard trucking schools and will likely continue to do so. Multiple states have been warned for CDL-program deficiencies, including Minnesota, California, Pennsylvania, Texas, South Dakota, Colorado, and Washington.

Specifically, on Dec. 1, Duffy threatened to withhold $30.4 million from Minnesota if the state doesn’t address shortcomings in its CDL program, including revoking CDLs that were improperly issued due to problems with a driver’s work authorization or immigration documentation.

These actions indicate that federal oversight of CDL training is intensifying nationwide.

Why this crackdown matters for highway safety

The safety implications of the DOT crackdown are significant. In 2022, police reported 503,000 crashes involving large trucks, according to FMCSA, including 5,279 fatal crashes and 114,000 injury crashes.

DOT’s aim is to put better-trained drivers on the road, likely leading to fewer crashes and safer highways. FMCSA’s Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rules exist to ensure drivers know how to:

• Handle an 80,000-lb commercial vehicle
• Conduct proper pre-trip inspections
• Use air brakes properly
• Manage turns and stopping distances
• Respond to emergency situations

When truck drivers haven’t mastered these basic skills, preventable crashes are more likely to occur. Poorly trained truck drivers put others at risk on U.S. roads. Truck crashes involving inadequate training can lead to:

• Rollovers
• Jackknife crashes
• Wide-turn collisions
• Improper lane changes
• Rear-end collisions due to improper stopping distance

What crash victims should do after an accident with a commercial truck

If you were injured in a crash involving a commercial vehicle, first and foremost, seek immediate medical attention. Then, contact an attorney experienced in trucking litigation. An attorney can begin investigating whether an accident was caused by a driver with improper training. If a driver was, in fact, inadequately trained, liability may extend beyond the driver to the motor carrier—and in some cases to third parties such as training providers, depending on their role and legal duties.

The recent Department of Transportation crackdown placing nearly half of all U.S. trucking schools under scrutiny illustrates a longstanding problem in trucking litigation—too many commercial drivers are put on the road without the training needed to operate an 80,000-pound vehicle safely.

At Soroka & Associates, LLC, we make it a priority for clients to understand how policy shifts may impact their claims. Whether the at-fault driver received insufficient training, attended a noncompliant school, or was hired by a carrier that failed to meet federal standards, our team can help.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Ohio, you shouldn’t have to handle your legal claim alone. Contact Soroka & Associates, LLC today.