CVTA and NAPFTDS Back Secretary Duffy’s Safety Push, Call for Crackdown on Fraudulent CDL Training Providers
- andrew.poliakoff
- Aug 29
- 3 min read
The Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA) and the National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools (NAPFTDS) have submitted a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy following his August 26th press conference on commercial driver licensing. In the letter, delivered yesterday evening, the associations commended the Secretary’s leadership in addressing systemic weaknesses in CDL testing and licensing, and urged USDOT to expand enforcement to include fraudulent training providers under the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) framework.
Read the CVTA and NAPFTDS Joint Letter to Secretary Duffy here.
At the press conference, Secretary Duffy stated: “When an individual comes in to take their CDL skills test, it should be clear if a driver doesn’t understand road signs or speak the language. Yet somehow, they are still passing the skills test. Common sense tells us that doesn’t make sense. We lost three people for no reason, except that a driver who should never have been behind the wheel of a big rig was allowed to drive. That is unacceptable.”
He further noted: “We’re examining how these tests are being administered. Are the rules being followed? Or is there gaming of the system that we need to address? … This is about keeping our American roads safe.”
In a joint letter delivered to the Secretary this week, CVTA and NAPFTDS thanked the Secretary for his leadership and urged USDOT to enhance enforcement beyond the current practices. Fraudulent or non-compliant providers listed on the Training Provider Registry (TPR) must be investigated and penalized. These providers exploit students, undermine safety, and erode public confidence in the CDL system.
Since the August 12 crash in Florida that claimed three lives, USDOT has initiated a series of targeted actions:
Carrier Enforcement: A compliance review of White Hawk Carriers, Inc. was opened on August 14.
Licensing Investigations: On August 19, Secretary Duffy launched an investigation into irregularities in Washington and California, as well as enforcement gaps in New Mexico.
Immigration Measures: On August 21, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a pause on worker visas for commercial truck drivers.
Federal Funding Leverage: On August 26, USDOT warned California, Washington, and New Mexico that they risk losing nearly $50 million in Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) funds if English proficiency requirements are not enforced.
While we support these decisive actions, CVTA and NAPFTDS emphasize that meaningful safety improvements require comprehensive enforcement into both fraudulent licensing and training practices. The ELDT rule established national standards for instruction and behind-the-wheel skills. Without consistent oversight of the TPR, however, the safety gains Congress intended remain limited. We reiterate that this tragedy is a stark reminder: a Commercial Driver’s License is not merely a credential, but a legal authority to operate a vehicle with life-or-death consequences. Uniform enforcement of licensing, English proficiency, and training requirements is crucial to safeguard the public and maintain confidence in the trucking profession. CVTA and NAPFTDS again request that the USDOT, FMCSA, and Congress to act swiftly to strengthen enforcement authority, improve state–federal coordination, and ensure the consistent application of training and licensing standards nationwide.
Watch the full Department of Transportation announcement here.
Read the CVTA and NAPFTDS Joint Letter to Secretary Duffy here.
Secretary Duffy issued an order outlining new guidance to enforce the English proficiency requirement for truck drivers in May.
Secretary Duffy rolled out a package of initiatives, pilot programs, and regulatory updates intended to improve conditions for America’s truck drivers in June.
