WASHINGTON — The U.S. departments of Transportation and Homeland Security have launched a joint operation targeting fraud and noncompliance among commercial driver’s license training schools.
As part of the effort, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration removed nearly 3,000 inactive or noncompliant providers from its Training Provider Registry. The agency also issued warnings or notices of noncompliance to nearly 10,000 schools.
Motorcoach and other commercial vehicle operators referring prospective drivers to a CDL training school should confirm the provider’s status in the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. Only currently registered training providers may issue the certifications drivers need to take required CDL exams.
The registry currently includes more than 18,000 active providers. According to FMCSA, 33,714 drivers received training through registered providers last month.
In a separate initiative, U.S. Transportation Secretary
announced the Trump administration is expanding efforts to help military veterans transition into transportation careers by streamlining CDL licensing pathways.
FMCSA’s Military Skills Test Waiver program has allowed more than 40,000 veterans to bypass the CDL skills test by recognizing qualifying military driving experience. The administration has temporarily expanded the application window from one year to two years after separation from military service, giving veterans more time to use the waiver.
“While we expect most of these new entrant drivers to pursue trucking initially, we hope some will consider driving a motorcoach over time,” said United Motorcoach Association President and CEO Scott Michael.
Thirty-four states participate in FMCSA’s Even Exchange Program, which allows qualified military veterans to receive a waiver from the CDL knowledge test. Combined with the Military Skills Test Waiver, qualified veterans in participating states may bypass both the knowledge and skills tests, accelerating their path to obtaining a CDL.
