CDL School Closures Raise Questions About Driver Training

More than 100 training providers have been shut down amid a federal crackdown.

GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. (RFD News) — More than 100 commercial driver’s license schools have been shut down over fraud and English-language proficiency violations.

Lewie Pugh with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report to discuss the closures and the state of the trucking industry.

In his conversation with RFD News, Pugh said English proficiency and proper training are important for truck drivers, noting some schools have offered CDLs in less than 24 hours.

Pugh says plenty of drivers are available as fall harvest ramps up, but high turnover remains a challenge for the industry.

Diesel prices are also adding pressure as truckers move corn, soybeans, and other goods to market. Pugh says those higher transportation costs could ultimately be passed on to consumers.

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Knoxville native Neal Burnette-Irwin is a graduate from MTSU where he majored in Journalism and Entertainment Studies. He works as a digital content producer with RFD News and is represented by multiple talent agencies in Nashville and Chicago.


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