The U.S. Department of Transportation announced this week that nearly half of the nation’s 16,000 truck driving schools may not be complying with federal safety requirements. This revelation has significant implications for road safety and anyone who has been injured in a commercial truck crash.

According to the federal review reported by the Chicago Tribune, approximately 3,000 trucking schools may have their certifications revoked in early 2026 unless they can demonstrate compliance with training standards. An additional 4,500 schools have been warned they may face similar action. These schools are accused of failing to meet training requirements, maintaining incomplete records, and, in some cases, falsifying training data altogether.

The concern isn’t just bureaucratic; it’s about keeping dangerous drivers off our roads. Industry experts have identified many of these noncompliant facilities as “CDL mills” that advertise the ability to train commercial drivers in just a few days. In contrast, legitimate training programs typically require at least a month of both behind-the-wheel and classroom instruction.

Andrew Poliakoff, executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association, explains that these questionable schools were “fleecing people out of money” while failing to teach the skills necessary to safely operate an 80,000-pound vehicle on public roads.

The crackdown follows several fatal truck crashes allegedly involving improperly licensed drivers, including crashes in Florida and California that claimed multiple lives. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized that the action targets “illegal and reckless practices that let poorly trained drivers get behind the wheel of semi-trucks."

When a truck crash occurs, investigating the driver’s training and qualifications is a critical part of building a strong case. If a driver received inadequate training from a non-compliant school, it could strengthen claims of negligence. The trucking company’s responsibility for hiring and retaining properly trained drivers also comes into focus.

The federal government’s acknowledgment that thousands of schools were operating outside safety standards underscores what many crash victims have long suspected: not all truck drivers on our roads have received adequate training to operate these massive vehicles safely.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a commercial truck crash, documentation of the driver’s training history and the company’s safety record may be essential to your case. An experienced truck crash attorney can investigate whether inadequate training played a role in your crash. Our team is available to discuss your situation at 312-458-1000 or at intakes@rblaw.net.