Secretary Sean Duffy Issues 30-Day Ultimatum to Thousands of Trucking Schools Over Federal Safety Violations

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has banned 3,000 truck driver training providers from the national registry for serious violations. Another 4,000 face a strict 30-day window to prove compliance or risk permanent closure, part of a sweeping crackdown on unsafe practices.

Duffy called the prior era a “Wild Wild West” in trucking, now corrected under President Trump. The actions target falsified records and subpar training that could put unqualified drivers on highways.

America relies on trucking for most freight movement, with commercial vehicles logging billions of miles yearly. Entry-level training schools prepare drivers for licenses, but federal rules demand rigorous standards in curriculum, facilities, and documentation.

The Training Provider Registry lists about 16,000 programs nationwide, created in 2022 to enforce baseline quality. Non-compliant schools lose eligibility, blocking their graduates from state licensing.

Audits revealed widespread issues like manipulated data and unqualified instructors across the sector. Duffy emphasized restoring safety, quoting that bad actors previously flooded roads with poorly trained operators.

It is true that the review identified non-compliance in 7,000 providers out of 16,000, leading to immediate bans and the compliance deadline. Federal officials stress these steps prevent negligence in commercial driver preparation.

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