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There is no benefit to attending a truck driving school that is not
FMCSA-approvedbecause you cannot obtain a CDL from such a school. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires specific training, and recent crackdowns have removed many non-compliant schools from the registry for issues like falsifying data or failing to meet standards. Attending an approved school ensures you receive the required training to become a qualified and safe commercial driver.
- Training provider removal: The FMCSA has removed thousands of providers from its registry for failing to meet entry-level driver training standards.
- Reasons for removal: These schools were found to be non-compliant due to issues like falsifying training data, neglecting curriculum, or having inadequate facilities.
- Student impact: Training at a non-approved school can leave you with insufficient skills, and the training you receive may not be valid for obtaining your commercial learner's permit (CLP) or CDL.
- How to ensure approval: Always verify that a school is on the FMCSA's Training Provider Registry before enrolling.
On Monday, December 1, 2025, USDOT announced that nearly 3,000 CDL training providers were removed from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Training Provider Registry (TPR) for “failing to equip trainees with the Trump Administration’s standards of readiness.”
An additional 4,000 CDL training providers were issued warnings for potential non-compliance, officials said.
Prior to the December 1 removals, the TPR listed 16,000 providers authorized to offer federally required Entry-Level Driver Training for CDL students.
USDOT reports removing the CDL training providers from the TPR due to:
- Falsifying or manipulating training data
- Neglecting to meet required curriculum standards, facility conditions, or instructor qualifications
- Failing to maintain accurate, complete documentation or refusing to provide records during federal audits or investigations
Those training providers that received warnings have 30 days to respond to the FMCSA and show proof of compliance in order to avoid removal from the TPR.
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,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “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.”
“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.
The Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) spoke out in favor of USDOT’s crackdown on CDL training providers.
“OOIDA has long warned that allowing CDL training providers to self-certify invites fraud into the trucking industry and puts road safety at risk for all motorists. When training standards are weak, or in some instances totally non-existent, drivers are unprepared, and everyone on the road pays the price. FMCSA’s crackdown on fraudulent CDL training providers is a necessary and overdue step to restore accountability to the ELDT system. Professional truckers across America appreciate that Secretary Duffy and Administrator Barrs are listening to the men and women behind the wheel and taking concrete action to raise professional standards and improve safety on our roadways,” said Todd Spencer, OOIDA President.