DOT Shuts 110 Trucking Schools Over English Proficiency Fraud

The Department of Transportation on Monday, August 31, 2026, used an emergency order to shut down 110 commercial trucking schools nationwide for allegedly fraudulently certifying drivers who later failed federal English-language proficiency tests. The action, announced at a news conference in Detroit, was part of a broader interagency crackdown involving the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department, and the White House Fraud Task Force. Officials said the schools had collectively certified more than 5,000 drivers who were later cited for English-proficiency violations during roadside inspections. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that each of the 110 schools had certified at least 10 drivers who were subsequently pulled over and cited for failing the longstanding federal requirement. "You have to speak English to operate a commercial motor vehicle," Duffy said. "I didn't create that rule. President Trump didn't create that rule. That rule has been in place for decades." The schools were removed from the federal Training Provider Registry and must stop training immediately.