DOT’s Actions to Reinforce Trucking Regulations

The Department of Transportation (DOT), under the Trump Administration, is intensifying efforts to resolve issues within the U.S. trucking industry, aiming to bolster both transportation safety and national security.

On Monday, DOT Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the department has canceled around 3,000 out of an estimated 16,000 commercial driver’s license training providers on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Training Provider Registry. This registry includes all providers sanctioned to deliver entry-level driver training to CDL students.

“Under Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg, the bad actors were able to game the system and flood our roads with unqualified drivers,” Duffy expressed.

The DOT reported that these providers were removed due to failing to meet the standards set during the Trump Administration. Allegations against them included various forms of “falsification or manipulation of training data,” alongside failure to comply with necessary curriculum and facility requirements, or instructor qualifications. Others were noted for inaccurate or incomplete documentation, especially during federal audits.

Additionally, 4,500 training providers have been cautioned about potential violations. These organizations must provide proof of compliance within 30 days to avoid being dropped from the registry.

The DOT emphasized that these actions are focused on targeting unlicensed and corrupt drivers in the trucking system.

Related: The DOT penalizes Gov. Shapiro, indicating potential financial recovery after a state issued a CDL to an illegal immigrant deemed a “terrorist suspect.”

FMCSA Secretary Derek Bars remarked, “There is no place to train America’s commercial drivers if they are not willing to follow the rules. We will not tolerate negligence.” Duffy further stated, “This administration is cracking down on every link in the illegal trucking chain. Their negligence has put every family on America’s roads at risk, and today, it ends.” He also added, “Under President Trump, we reign supreme.” He described the prior practices as illegal and reckless.

Furthermore, on the same day, the DOT revealed that about a third of Minnesota’s non-domicile CDLs were issued improperly. The department has given the state 30 days to adhere to the law and retract these licenses, warning that it may withhold up to $30.4 million in federal highway funds if compliance is not met.

Related: DOT withholds $40 million from certain states for disregarding English language requirements for drivers.

Bars accused Minnesota of “openly defying our rules,” stating, “Under the Trump administration, states have two options: meet the standards or face the consequences. Following the law is not optional.” He indicated that the audit revealed numerous instances of foreign nationals utilizing Minnesota services under Gov. Walz’s oversight, who issued licenses to unsafe, unqualified noncitizens, compromising roadway safety for American families.

This warning follows earlier actions against Pennsylvania, with the DOT also indicating plans to withhold federal funds from California due to non-compliance related to CDL issuance. Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety and the governor’s office have yet to respond to inquiries for comment.