Over 550 Driving Schools Nationwide Ordered to Close Due to Safety Concerns

Arizona among states facing federal crackdown on commercial driver's license programs

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The U.S. Department of Transportation has ordered the closure of more than 550 driving schools across the country due to alleged safety failures, impacting four schools in Arizona. The closures come amid increased scrutiny of commercial driver's license programs and follow a fatal crash in August.

Why it matters

The Department of Transportation's actions suggest a significant concern regarding the consistency and quality of commercial driver's license training programs nationwide. The potential for withholding federal funding introduces a powerful incentive for states to address these issues and improve safety standards.

The details

The Arizona schools affected are operated by PSV CDL Training LLC, Tuba City Unified School District, Clarkdale-Jerome Elementary School, and the City of Show Low. Investigators found issues including the employment of unqualified instructors and inadequate student testing procedures. The Department of Transportation has been focusing on states issuing commercial driver's licenses to individuals who did not meet the qualifications.

  • In August, a fatal crash prompted increased scrutiny of commercial driver's license programs.
  • In February 2026, the Department of Transportation ordered the closure of over 550 driving schools nationwide.

The players

Department of Transportation

The U.S. federal agency responsible for overseeing transportation safety and regulations.

PSV CDL Training LLC

A driving school operator in Arizona that was ordered to close due to alleged safety failures.

Steve Gold

The owner of 160 Driving Academy, a driving school operator in Arizona, who highlighted the scale of the safety issues in the industry.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who indicated he may withhold federal funding from states that do not address deficiencies in their commercial driver's license programs.

American Trucking Association

The industry group that has voiced its endorsement of the Department of Transportation's actions to improve safety standards.

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What they’re saying

“There's over 100,000 truck accidents in this country due to heavy trucks and 5,000 fatalities.”

— Steve Gold, Owner, 160 Driving Academy (newsy-today.com)

“The Department of Transportation's actions suggest a significant concern regarding the consistency and quality of commercial driver's license training programs across the country.”

— Expert (newsy-today.com)

What’s next

As states respond to the Department of Transportation's actions, it remains to be seen whether additional schools will be affected or if the federal government will follow through with withholding funds from states that do not address the issues.

The takeaway

The Department of Transportation's crackdown on driving schools with safety failures highlights the need for stronger oversight and consistent training standards in the commercial driver's license industry to improve public safety on the roads.