Florida cracks down on 10 CDL training providers following federal enforcement action

Tallahassee, Florida – Florida is taking immediate action against 10 commercial driver training schools following a federal crackdown that removed more than 110 Entry-Level Driver Training providers from a national registry.

The Florida Department of Education announced the action after the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, removed the providers from its Training Provider Registry on August 31. Ten of the affected training schools are located in Florida.

The federal enforcement effort followed a review of training providers connected to commercial drivers who were cited for failing to meet federal English-language proficiency requirements. The move has prompted Florida officials to take steps of their own to prevent affected schools from continuing to enroll students or collect money for training they are currently unable to certify.

Through the Commission for Independent Education, Florida has ordered the affected licensed programs to immediately stop advertising, recruiting and enrolling new students. The schools are also prohibited from collecting tuition from new students while their federal removal remains in effect.

The state is also requiring the affected institutions to determine which current students may have been impacted by the federal action. Where required, schools must provide refunds and report their corrective steps, including communications with federal regulators.

“Commercial drivers operate some of the largest vehicles on our highways, and the institutions entrusted with training have a responsibility to meet every standard required to put qualified drivers behind the wheel. When those standards are not met, Florida will act decisively,” said Commissioner of Education, Henry Mack.

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Florida officials said the action is intended not only to enforce requirements for commercial driver training providers, but also to protect students who have paid for programs with the expectation that they would receive the training and certification needed to pursue commercial driving careers.

“Florida is cracking down because students should never be asked to pay for training that cannot deliver the credential they were promised,” said Tiffany Hurst, Executive Director of the Commission for Independent Education. “If a provider loses the federal authorization necessary to certify its students, it should not be business as usual. We will protect students, hold providers accountable and ensure Florida’s workforce credentials continue to mean something.”

The state action comes as federal officials place greater attention on English-language proficiency among commercial drivers. The U.S. Department of Transportation previously issued guidance reinforcing federal English-language requirements for commercial drivers.

The U.S. Department of Labor also issued guidance to workforce and education partners, directing them to make sure people taking part in CDL training are prepared to meet all licensing requirements, including federal language standards.

The requirements are part of a broader effort to ensure commercial drivers have the qualifications needed to operate safely and legally. Training providers play an important role in that process because they prepare students for the requirements they must meet before entering the commercial driving workforce.

For the Florida schools affected by the federal action, the restrictions are not necessarily permanent. Providers may seek federal review and attempt to regain their status on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry.

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Florida’s restrictions can be lifted once an affected provider is restored to the federal registry. Until then, state officials said they will continue monitoring the institutions and their compliance with the restrictions.

The Department of Education said its continued oversight is aimed at protecting students, maintaining confidence in Florida’s workforce education system and helping ensure that commercial drivers who receive training are properly prepared to operate large vehicles on the state’s roads.

The action also serves as a warning to CDL training providers that federal and state requirements must be followed. For students considering commercial driver training, the status of a provider on the federal registry can be an important part of determining whether a program is currently authorized to provide the certification it promises.

Florida officials said they will continue working with affected institutions and monitoring developments at the federal level as providers seek possible reinstatement.