USDOT and DHS open joint fraud investigation into about 75 CDL training schools

On July 16, 2026, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security announced a joint operation targeting fraud in commercial driver's license (CDL) schools. FMCSA has identified approximately 75 entry-level driver training schools suspected of fraudulent activity, and DHS's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit will join FMCSA's investigations of those schools.

The suspected violations named in the announcement include using improper driver certifications, falsifying training records, and failing to properly train drivers applying for CDLs. The agencies also tied the effort to non-domiciled CDLs issued to people who were not legally eligible for them.

The release framed this as the next step in a year-long cleanup of the training side of the industry. According to the announcement, nearly 10,000 training providers have been removed from FMCSA's Training Provider Registry since December 2025, states have cancelled more than 28,000 licenses that were illegally issued to foreign nationals, and DOT reports removing 24,000 drivers from the road for English-language deficiencies.

This is an enforcement action and an investigation, not a new rule. The announcement did not name the 75 schools, and it did not say what happens to CDLs already issued to drivers who trained at them. Carriers should expect that detail to follow as the investigations progress.