The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is turning its attention toward trucking schools that are placing inadequately trained drivers behind the wheel.
During an October 30, 2025, news conference, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy provided an update on recent developments in federal policy related to commercial driver’s license (CDL) standards.
USDOT To Investigate Trucking Schools
Duffy’s remarks included a promise to “go after the CDL mills” that are allowing unqualified individuals gain the license needed to operate commercial vehicles on U.S. roadways.
“A lot of these students are coming through these schools, and they can’t speak the language, many of them are not proficient in the English language. Many of them don’t have the skills to operate these big rigs on the roads. But nonetheless, these schools are certifying that they’re qualified,” Duffy said.
“We are going to take a hard look at those individuals, and there will be serious consequences for them,” Duffy continued.
Duffy also said that USDOT would investigate trucking companies that hire unqualified drivers.
Lawmakers Push For CDL Mill Crackdown
The CDL mill crackdown announcement comes just days after Senator Tom Cotton and Congressman Andy Barr penned a letter to Duffy asked for a federal investigation into trucking schools that “exploit loopholes that churn out minimally trained drivers.”
“These operations offer rushed, test-focused courses with little to no hands-on experience, leaving new entrants ill-equipped to handle the real world demands of interstate trucking,” lawmakers told Duffy.
Truckers Applaud USDOT’s Trucking School Crackdown
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) praised USDOT for promising to take action against CDL mills.
“Secretary Duffy and FMCSA Administrator Barrs are right to crack down on CDL mills and the trucking companies that rely on unqualified drivers. Years of misguided ‘driver shortage’ policies have flooded America’s roadways with poorly trained newcomers operating 80,000-pound trucks and innocent motorists are paying the price. Trucking is a skilled profession, not cheap labor. We applaud the Trump Administration’s commitment to restoring standards in trucking that will not only save lives, but help improve professionalism in our industry,” said OOIDA President Todd Spencer.