The Trump administration is cracking down on nearly 3,000 trucking schools for failing to meet federal training standards, but critics warn the aggressive enforcement is sweeping up qualified immigrant drivers alongside legitimate safety concerns.
Quick Take
- Transportation Department plans to revoke the certification of nearly 3,000 trucking schools within 30 days for failing to meet training standards and falsifying records
- Another 4,500 schools face potential decertification, affecting nearly 44% of the nation’s 16,000 truck driving programs
- DHS is auditing immigrant-owned trucking firms in California, raising concerns about targeting based on citizenship status rather than safety alone
- Industry leaders praise the enforcement of legitimate training standards, while immigrant advocacy groups warn of xenophobia and collateral damage to qualified drivers
Cracking Down on Substandard Training Operations
The Transportation Department announced that it will revoke certifications for nearly 3,000 trucking schools that failed to meet federal training standards, maintain accurate records, or falsify training data.
Schools have 30 days to comply or lose their ability to issue certificates required for commercial driver’s licenses. An additional 4,500 schools received warning notices.
This action targets what industry leaders call “CDL mills”—operations that advertise driver certification in just days rather than the standard month-long training programs that include classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction.
Federal review finds 44% of US trucking schools don’t comply with government rules https://t.co/t3HnTvxHiF
— Pioneer Press (@PioneerPress) December 2, 2025
Safety Concerns Drive Federal Action
The crackdown intensified following a fatal Florida crash caused by a truck driver, the administration says, who was unauthorized to work in the United States.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy framed the enforcement as necessary to eliminate “illegal and reckless practices that let poorly trained drivers get behind the wheel of semi-trucks and school buses.”
Industry groups, including the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association, have long warned that weak training standards leave drivers unprepared and endanger public safety.
The Nevada Trucking Association’s CEO acknowledged that “bad actors who exploit loopholes in our regulatory systems are putting everyone at risk.”
Targeting Extends Beyond Training Standards
Beyond school decertification, the Department of Homeland Security is auditing trucking firms in California owned by immigrants to verify driver immigration status and commercial license qualifications.
Secretary Duffy has threatened to withhold federal funding from Democratic-led states, including California, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota, over licensing compliance issues.
However, he stated that the department is also auditing Republican-led states such as Texas and South Dakota.
Critics argue that immigrant truck drivers with valid records face disproportionate scrutiny, with advocacy groups claiming qualified drivers are “being treated like suspects” based on citizenship rather than driving records.
Collateral Damage and Unintended Consequences
Sikh truck drivers have faced particular harassment following crashes involving Sikh drivers in Florida and California.
Advocacy groups estimate that 150,000 Sikh drivers work nationwide, representing 40% of West Coast trucking and 20% of trucking nationwide.
The UNITED SIKHS group warned that framing lawful, licensed drivers as risks “fuels xenophobia, harassment, and even violence on the road” while potentially disrupting the national supply chain.
Some legitimate schools closed due to regulatory burdens unrelated to training quality, suggesting enforcement mechanisms may extend beyond addressing genuine safety failures.
