Andrew Poliakoff, Executive Director of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA), appeared on Chicago’s Morning Answer to discuss highway safety, enforcement of federal training standards, and risks posed by untrained or improperly licensed commercial drivers. He explained to guest host Chris Krok that operating commercial vehicles weighing up to 80,000 pounds demands significant skill and preparation. Poliakoff pointed out that recent fatal crashes underscore ongoi

The Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA) was recently featured in a New York Times article for its support of federal efforts aimed at improving safety and accountability in the truck driver training and licensing system. The article examined a series of actions taken by the U.S. Department of Transportation to address long-standing weaknesses in oversight, including tightening enforcement of English-language proficiency requirements and cracking down on poorly r

CVTA proudly congratulates three member-affiliated drivers who swept the top honors at the prestigious Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence awards, an annual program recognizing America’s top military veteran drivers. Charles Jones, Jr. , a U.S. Army veteran and driver with Roehl Transport , earned first place overall , receiving national recognition at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., presented by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program, alo

Highway safety remains a core priority for the trucking driver training industry and the American public alike, and CVTA’s Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) Task Force has been at the forefront of advancing meaningful solutions to strengthen it. Read the op-ed here: Safer highways start with enforcement of training standards In a recent Washington Examiner op-ed, CVTA highlighted the significant federal enforcement actions underway that align with years of advocacy urging s

Major carriers report that few applicants are adequately prepared to operate safely, reinforcing CVTA’s view that training quality is essential. Pitt Ohio notes that out of 7,000 annual applicants for driving positions, only 200 are hired. This three-percent acceptance rate reflects insufficient preparation among many newly licensed drivers, not a lack of interest in trucking careers. CVTA Chairman Jeff Burkhardt has consistently stated that inconsistent enforcement and the r

From Left to Right: Andrew Poliakoff, CVTA Executive Director; Jeff Burkhardt, CVTA Chairman; Greg Hamm, Werner Enterprises Vice President of Field and Government Recruiting The multi-day summit convenes industry leaders, government officials, veteran service organizations, and employers for a program dedicated to strengthening veteran employment pathways in transportation and logistics. Participants discuss registered apprenticeship, SkillBridge, talent attraction, leadershi

Dec. 11th, 2025 Washington, D.C. The Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA) today thanks U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Administrator Derek Barrs for their decisive action in launching the most extensive CDL training enforcement initiative in federal history. Over the week of Dec. 8th, USDOT deployed hundreds of FMCSA investigators to conduct more than a thousand random, boots-on-the-ground audits of t

A recent segment on CNBC underscored how federal enforcement actions are beginning to materially affect the trucking industry. According to remarks shared by Sean Duffy, the U.S. Department of Transportation has taken approximately 9,500 truck drivers off the road for failing English language proficiency requirements. While this represents roughly one percent of the U.S. driver workforce, analysts note that even modest reductions in available drivers can significantly tighten

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced that a nationwide audit by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) found significant compliance failures in the New York Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) program. Federal officials reported that New York routinely issued CDLs to foreign drivers in violation of federal requirements. FMCSA’s review of 200 sampled records