Trump Administration Targets Truck Driving Schools

The Trump administration is intensifying its scrutiny of truck driving schools, which are reportedly allowing undocumented immigrants and others lacking the necessary qualifications to drive on American highways.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) aims to revoke the accreditation of around 3,000 commercial driver’s license (CDL) schools for not meeting the training standards set by the administration. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that this decision follows several tragic accidents involving undocumented immigrant truck drivers that drew public attention.

Furthermore, the DOT has informed 4,500 additional schools that they could also face similar penalties. “This administration is pursuing every aspect of the illegal trucking issue,” Duffy remarked. He emphasized that bad actors had exploited the previous system, resulting in unqualified drivers on the roads.

Continuing, Duffy pointed out, “Their negligence put every family on America’s roads at risk, and that ends today. Under President Trump, we’re addressing the dangerous practice of allowing untrained drivers to operate large vehicles.” The DOT has specified that all training providers must notify their students that their certification could be jeopardized.

According to the DOT’s training provider registry, some schools have been removed for manipulating data, failing to meet curriculum standards, or not maintaining accurate records. Schools facing this notice have 30 days to comply with the training requirements or risk removal from the registry.

This crackdown follows several serious highway accidents reportedly involving illegal immigrant drivers with commercial licenses. For instance, Harjinder Singh, who entered the U.S. illegally, allegedly made an illegal U-turn on the Florida Turnpike last August, resulting in a crash that instantly killed three individuals in another vehicle. Similarly, in California, Jashanpreet Singh, another undocumented immigrant, was involved in a crash that left three people dead.

Additionally, Rajinder Kumar, another undocumented individual, was arrested in late November for causing a deadly accident on an Oregon highway and is now wanted by federal immigration authorities.

In response, the Trump administration has introduced an emergency measure mandating that nonresidents pass a federal immigration status test and hold a valid employment-based visa to obtain a nonresident CDL. Officials have also warned states that fail to comply could face significant cuts in federal funding for their CDL programs.

“There’s no place for training America’s commercial drivers if they aren’t willing to adhere to the rules,” stated Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Derek Bars. “We will not tolerate negligence.”