DOT’s Duffy: Remove ‘Fraudsters’ from Trucking

Federal transportation and law enforcement agencies are expanding a crackdown on commercial driver’s license fraud, with officials asking the trucking industry to help identify suspected illegal activity involving drivers, training schools and other participants in the licensing system.

Federal agencies target CDL fraud

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced an interagency effort focused on fraudulent commercial driver’s license training schools and related violations. The initiative involves the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice.

The effort follows the shutdown of more than 110 commercial driving schools after officials determined that thousands of drivers who had failed English-language requirements had been certified. Federal officials said the broader investigation is intended to address weaknesses across the commercial licensing system, including state oversight, training providers and companies that employ unqualified drivers.

“From states failing to follow the law to shady training schools and illicit companies, together we will tackle every link in the chain,” Duffy said.

Officials seek industry assistance

Homeland Security is now asking members of the trucking industry and the public to report suspected CDL fraud. The reporting effort is part of a task force created to investigate alleged misconduct and remove unqualified commercial drivers from the nation’s highways.

Duffy said transportation regulators need support from law enforcement and federal prosecutors to pursue suspected fraud. “I’m not the FBI. I’m not Homeland. But now in partnership with Homeland, in partnership with prosecutors, every single illegal driver on American roads, we’re gonna come for you,” he said.

The outreach has drawn criticism from Sikh and South Asian organizations, which said that asking the public to identify truck drivers could encourage racial or religious profiling. The concerns emerged shortly after the reporting effort was announced.

OOIDA says legal drivers should not compete with fraudsters

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association said legitimate truck drivers should not be forced to compete with individuals who obtain credentials unlawfully or bypass federal requirements.

“Truckers are the backbone of the American economy, working hard every day to comply with countless federal regulations while operating at the safest levels,” OOIDA President Todd Spencer said. “They shouldn’t have to waste time and money dodging scammers.”

Duffy has also argued that removing unqualified drivers would improve highway safety and protect the earning potential of drivers and carriers that follow federal rules.

States affected by emergency action

Federal data cited by officials showed that Pennsylvania and Texas each had 13 brick-and-mortar training facilities affected by the emergency action. California had 11, Florida had 10 and Utah had nine. The remaining affected states had between one and seven facilities, according to the breakdown.

The agencies’ broader campaign is aimed at reducing fraud throughout the commercial licensing system while improving compliance with federal safety and qualification requirements.