Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cited serious road safety concerns after discovering that the institutions were issuing driving certifications to truck drivers who failed to meet federal language regulations.
In a drastic measure to protect the nation’s road safety, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Monday the emergency shutdown of 110 commercial driving schools. The decision came after it was discovered that these institutions were graduating drivers who lacked basic English proficiency, a legal requirement.
During a press conference, Duffy emphasized that the ability to communicate in English is not merely a bureaucratic formality but a critical necessity for road safety.
“We cannot allow drivers operating vehicles weighing up to 80,000 pounds to travel our highways without the ability to read traffic signs, communicate with law enforcement officers, or understand weather and traffic reports,” stated the Transportation Secretary.
Violation of Federal Regulations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) clearly states in its regulations that anyone holding a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) must have sufficient ability to read and speak English to converse with the general public, understand traffic signs, and respond to official authorities.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the 110 shuttered schools allegedly facilitated the licensing process by ignoring this regulation, creating an imminent risk to the nation’s transportation networks.
What Will Happen to Drivers and Students?
The Department of Transportation (DOT) indicated that in-depth audits will be conducted. Key aspects of the upcoming actions include:
- License Review: Drivers who recently graduated from these specific schools may face reevaluations or temporary suspension of their CDL until they demonstrate language proficiency.
- Refunds and Relocation: Mechanisms will be sought to assist currently enrolled students who were defrauded by these institutions, helping them transfer to certified and compliant programs.
- Criminal Investigations: Filing fraud charges against the owners and administrators of the involved institutions is not off the table.
This sweeping action sends a clear message to the commercial transportation industry: compliance with federal safety standards is non-negotiable. Authorities have set up a hotline and a web portal for affected individuals to receive guidance on the status of their licenses and certifications.
