Federal Crackdown on Truck Driving Schools Threatens Thousands of Closures

Sun Dec 07 2025 14:54:27 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A recent review by the federal Transportation Department reveals that nearly 44% of truck driving schools in the U.S. may face closure due to non-compliance with government training requirements.

The U.S. Transportation Department has announced plans to revoke the accreditation of about 3,000 truck driving schools that failed to meet training standards. This move impacts nearly 44% of the 16,000 truck driving schools in the country, following an incident that highlighted the need for better qualified drivers. The government aims to ensure that truck drivers possess the necessary qualifications for safety on the roads.

The U.S. federal Transportation Department is executing a crackdown on truck driving schools, with nearly 44% of the 16,000 institutions under threat of closure. This comes as a result of a review identifying substantial compliance failures with necessary training regulations.

A recent announcement indicated that about 3,000 schools will lose their accreditations unless rectifications are made within 30 days. Additionally, approximately 4,000 schools are on notice for potential similar actions.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized that the initiative aims to ensure that only qualified drivers hold a commercial license, especially after a tragic incident caused by an unauthorized driver that resulted in multiple fatalities.

Duffy stated, We are reigning in illegal and reckless practices that let poorly trained drivers get behind the wheel of semi-trucks and school buses. In his push for improvements, he has even threatened to withdraw federal funding from states like California and Pennsylvania for not meeting these regulatory expectations.

The investigations highlighted that targeted schools had not only failed to maintain proper training standards but also allegedly manipulated training data, casting doubts on their operational integrity. The specific names of the schools involved were not disclosed.

This significant move by the federal government reflects a broader concern for safety and transparency within the trucking industry, seeking to prevent unauthorized access to commercial driving licenses. The repercussions of this review could drastically reshape the landscape of truck driving education across the United States.