Federal authorities have ordered the closure of 110 commercial driver's license (CDL) training schools nationwide, including 11 in California, due to significant failures in ensuring students possess adequate English language skills.
U.S. Transportation Security Sean Duffy announced the closures, stating that many licensed truck drivers graduated from these programs without the ability to read basic road signs. This lack of proficiency poses a serious public safety risk, particularly given the size and weight of commercial trucks.
"If you’re here illegally and you can’t speak the language and you’re not well-trained, you don’t deserve to be in a big rig," Duffy told reporters.
Officials pointed to California as having a high number of the most egregious offenders. The schools, some operating under names like "TRUCKMASTER CDL SCHOOL" and "GO4CDL LLC," reportedly charged thousands of dollars for training that often fell short of required standards, which typically involve at least 160 hours of instruction.
Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation indicates that foreign nationals holding U.S. commercial driver's licenses were involved in at least 17 fatal crashes in 2025, resulting in 30 deaths. The report did not specify if these individuals were trained at the now-closed schools.
One notable case involved Jashanpreet Singh, a licensed truck driver with limited English proficiency, who caused an eight-vehicle collision on Interstate 10 in Ontario, California, in October, resulting in three fatalities and four injuries.
In another incident, Harjinder Singh, who had previously failed CDL tests in Washington state, obtained a license in California. In August 2025, he was involved in a fatal crash in Florida that killed three people. Investigations following the accident revealed he had failed an English proficiency test and could not identify basic highway signs.
The federal action aims to address systemic issues in CDL training programs that may allow unqualified individuals to obtain licenses, thereby endangering other road users. The closures signify a federal effort to enforce stricter standards for commercial driver training and licensing.
