CVTA Executive Director Joins Hanson Bridgett Webinar on Federal CDL Training Enforcement
CVTA shares industry perspective on FMCSA's enforcement crackdown, its impact on training providers, and the need for lasting regulatory reform.
On October 13, CVTA Executive Director Andrew Poliakoff joined Greg Reed, partner at Hanson Bridgett LLP and leader of the firm's Transportation and Logistics Practice Group, for a webinar hosted by the firm examining the federal government's unprecedented enforcement of commercial driver training standards.
Invited to provide the training industry's perspective, Poliakoff discussed the implications of FMCSA's recent enforcement activities, including their impact on CDL training providers, motor carriers, brokers, shippers, and public transit agencies.
The discussion highlighted both the importance of restoring integrity to the Training Provider Registry (TPR) and the unintended consequences that aggressive enforcement can create for compliant training providers.
CVTA Has Long Advocated for Stronger Enforcement
For CVTA members, the need for greater federal oversight is nothing new.
Since the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rule took effect in 2022, CVTA's ELDT Task Force has repeatedly warned FMCSA that insufficient oversight and weak registration requirements could allow unqualified training providers to enter the marketplace.
Despite these warnings, meaningful federal enforcement remained limited between 2022 and 2025.
Following a series of fatal truck crashes in 2025, USDOT intensified its scrutiny of CDL training providers, launching an extensive enforcement effort that continues today.
Through Operation Driver Training I and II, FMCSA has conducted investigations, audits, and on-site inspections, resulting in the removal of more than 9,000 training providers from the TPR.
While CVTA strongly supports these efforts to restore accountability, the association has also emphasized the importance of ensuring that legitimate training providers are treated fairly throughout the enforcement process.
Examining the Impact on the Industry
During the webinar, Poliakoff and Reed explored several pressing issues facing the CDL training industry, including:
Gaps in the federal ELDT regulatory framework
The impact of heightened enforcement on compliant training providers
Emergency removals versus Notices of Proposed Removal
Practical steps schools can take to maintain compliance
The future of federal CDL training oversight and enforcement
A central theme of the discussion was the need to balance rigorous enforcement with predictable, transparent procedures that protect training providers operating in good faith.
Strengthening the Training Provider Registry
CVTA has consistently maintained that meaningful enforcement is essential to protecting highway safety and ensuring a level playing field for legitimate training providers.
However, lasting improvements will require more than investigations and provider removals.
Stronger front-end verification, improved coordination between FMCSA and state licensing authorities, and consistent enforcement procedures are critical to preventing unqualified providers from entering the TPR in the first place.
CVTA will continue working with FMCSA and industry stakeholders to advance reforms that strengthen training quality, improve regulatory accountability, and protect the integrity of commercial driver training.
View the Webinar
To learn more about FMCSA's recent enforcement activities and their implications for the transportation industry, visit Hanson Bridgett's webinar page:
The presentation is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
