The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced the closure of 550 CDL training schools deemed fraudulent following a series of in-person audits conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). According to the agency, since 2025, more than 7,000 training providers have been removed from the Training Provider Registry due to compliance violations and irregular practices.

Investigations included undercover operations that uncovered corruption schemes between certain schools and third-party examiners who approved drivers without proper training. Authorities linked these findings to a recent fatal crash in Indiana involving a so-called “chameleon carrier” operating under multiple DOT numbers to evade regulatory oversight.

In addition, the DOT announced enforcement actions against fraudulent electronic logging devices (ELDs) used to violate Hours of Service regulations. The FMCSA removed 42 non-compliant devices from the market and blocked the self-certification of 238 new ELD models.

Federal officials indicated that oversight will continue to expand, including efforts to eliminate self-certification practices among CDL training schools in order to strengthen roadway safety standards.

Industry experts note that these enforcement actions aim to protect legitimate carriers and reduce risks associated with improperly trained drivers. For professional truckers, the message is clear: regulatory scrutiny is increasing, and compliance is more critical than ever.