The U.S. Department of Transportation has removed nearly 3,000 commercial driver’s license (CDL) training providers from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Training Provider Registry for noncompliance with training requirements.

Another 4,500 training providers are under review for potential noncompliance, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

“This administration is cracking down on every link in the illegal trucking chain. Under Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg, bad actors were able to game the system and let unqualified drivers flood our roadways. Their negligence endangered every family on America’s roadways, and it ends today,” Duffy said in a release. “Under President Trump, we are reigning in illegal and reckless practices that let poorly trained drivers get behind the wheel of semi-trucks and school buses.”

The registry lists all authorized providers of entry-level driver training for CDL students.

Training providers removed from the list are accused of:

• Falsifying or manipulating training data;
• Neglecting to meet required curriculum standards, facility conditions, or instructor qualifications;
• Or failing to maintain accurate, complete documentation or refusing to provide records during federal audits or investigations. 

The FMCSA is reviewing 16,000 training providers listed on the registry.

“If you are unwilling to follow the rules, you have no place training America’s commercial drivers. We will not tolerate negligence,” said FMCSA Administrator Derek D. Barrs.

Training providers receiving a notice of proposed removal have 30 days to respond to the FMCSA and provide evidence of compliance to avoid their removal from the registry.

ATA reaction

The American Trucking Associations commended the Trump Administration for its decision

“Training someone to operate an 80,000-pound vehicle is not a weekend hobby. It is a profession built on standards, discipline, and responsibility,” ATA president and CEO Chris Spear said in a release. “The Trump Administration has sent the right message: if you’re running a CDL mill or if you’re issuing certificates to anyone who can fog a mirror, you’re on notice.”