Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reportedly announced Monday that his department is shutting down more than 110 driving schools accused of issuing certifications to thousands of drivers who failed English language proficiency tests.
The Department of Transportation said the schools certified more than 5,000 people who did not meet federal English language standards.
The department is also launching a nationwide audit of third-party commercial driver’s license skills testers and the systems states use to oversee those testers.
Commercial drivers must demonstrate a higher level of knowledge, experience, skill and physical ability than people operating non-commercial vehicles, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in April 2025 requiring commercial truck drivers in the United States to be proficient in English. That same month, Duffy issued guidance reversing the Obama administration’s removal of English language proficiency requirements for commercial vehicle drivers.
Earlier this month, Duffy announced that the FMCSA was moving to formally codify the enforcement guidelines through a new rule. The agency published notice of the proposed rule in the Federal Register on Aug. 10, opening it for public comment.
As part of its investigation, the FMCSA examined roadside inspection records involving commercial drivers cited for failing to meet the language requirements. Investigators then compared those drivers with information contained in the Training Provider Registry.
The review identified training providers that repeatedly certified drivers who failed to satisfy federal qualification standards, according to the DOT.
The FMCSA will now carry out the emergency removal of more than 110 providers from the registry.
Those providers must immediately stop all training operations, including administering curricula, using facilities for instruction and conducting behind-the-wheel training.
The agency is also proposing to remove more than 160 additional driving schools that it alleges failed to comply with the language requirement regulations.
Duffy said the department has spent the last year and a half strengthening road rules and removing what he called dangerous foreign drivers from the American trucking industry.
“I am so grateful for President Trump raising the alarm on this issue, and to Vice President Vance for leading the charge to crack down on fraud nationwide,” Duffy said.
“From states failing to follow the law to shady training schools and illicit companies, together we will tackle every link in the chain,” he added.
Duffy told reporters that migrants without legal status who cannot speak English “don’t deserve to be in a big rig driving on American roads endangering American citizens.”
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association President Todd Spencer supported the crackdown, saying drivers operating 80,000-pound commercial vehicles should be properly trained and capable of reading road signs, following emergency instructions and communicating with law enforcement and first responders in English.
The Department of Homeland Security also announced action Monday. Its investigations unit will conduct a coordinated sweep of more than 200 driving schools across 23 states.
The DHS investigation will focus on commercial driver’s license fraud, unauthorized employment, identity document fraud, financial crimes and other issues.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the department is working to remove drivers who lack English proficiency from American roads.
Mullin said the partnership with the DOT would help uncover CDL fraud and prevent migrants without legal status from obtaining commercial licenses.
