Over 500 Truck Driving Schools Ordered Closed by USDOT in Crackdown

Established programs in Louisiana remain stable as federal agency targets "CDL mills" for safety violations

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The U.S. Department of Transportation has ordered the closure of over 500 truck driving schools across the country, including two small independent programs and a local district-run school in Louisiana, as part of a crackdown on "CDL mills" that prioritize speed over safety in their training. Established leaders like Diesel Driving Academy remain operational, as the federal government seeks to curb rising accident rates and tighten English proficiency standards for commercial drivers.

Why it matters

This crackdown on substandard truck driving schools is part of the federal government's efforts to improve safety on the roads by ensuring commercial drivers receive proper, rigorous training. The closures will impact access to CDL training, especially for smaller, independent programs, while larger established schools are expected to see increased demand due to the ongoing trucker shortage.

The details

The USDOT has been targeting programs that fail to properly train students, including issues like unqualified instructors, faulty equipment, and a lack of hazardous materials handling education. Some schools have also been shut down due to inactivity, having not certified a student in over a year. The affected Louisiana programs include J and L CDL Service in Opelousas and the East Baton Rouge Parish School Systems Transportation Department, while Diesel Driving Academy in Shreveport remains operational.

  • The USDOT crackdown on "CDL mills" began last year, when over 7,500 facilities were ordered closed.
  • An additional 550 active schools were ordered to close in February 2026 after failing safety audits.

The players

U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)

The federal agency responsible for overseeing transportation safety, including the regulation of commercial driver's license (CDL) training programs.

Diesel Driving Academy

A leading truck driving school with a training program in Shreveport, Louisiana that has remained operational despite the USDOT crackdown.

J and L CDL Service

A small, independent truck driving school in Opelousas, Louisiana that was ordered to close by the USDOT.

East Baton Rouge Parish School Systems Transportation Department

A local district-run truck driving training program in Louisiana that was also targeted for closure by the federal agency.

Sean Duffy

The U.S. Transportation Secretary overseeing the crackdown on substandard CDL training programs.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must ensure that every commercial driver is properly trained and equipped to handle the responsibilities of operating large vehicles on our roads. This crackdown on 'CDL mills' prioritizing speed over safety is critical to improving overall transportation safety.”

— Sean Duffy, U.S. Transportation Secretary (1130thetiger.com)

What’s next

The USDOT says the affected schools will not receive any more federal funding until they are cleared and have the proper training protocols in place to meet safety standards.

The takeaway

This federal crackdown on substandard truck driving schools, while disruptive in the short term, is an important step towards improving road safety by ensuring commercial drivers receive rigorous, quality training. The impact will be felt most acutely by smaller, independent programs, while larger established schools are expected to see increased demand.