Florida: 10 CDL Schools Shut Down in Federal Crackdown

The federal crackdown on commercial driver’s license (CDL) training schools has hit Florida directly: 10 providers in the state were among those ordered to immediately stop operating as certified training providers.

The action was taken by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), and targets training providers linked to drivers who were later cited for failing to meet federal English-language proficiency requirements.

Nationwide, the FMCSA ordered the emergency removal of more than 110 Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) providers from its Training Provider Registry (TPR). According to USDOT, those providers were associated with more than 5,000 drivers who later failed English Language Proficiency (ELP) checks.

In Florida, the affected providers are concentrated mainly in Central and South Florida. The list includes schools in West Palm Beach, Miami, Opa-locka, Hialeah Gardens, Tampa, Sanford, Plant City and Lake Wales.

Which 10 CDL schools were affected in Florida?

1. Road Pro CDL Training — Lake Wales

The school is listed at 100 S Airport Road in Lake Wales, Polk County. It is one of two providers affected by the federal action that are registered at the same address.

2. A1 CDL LLC — Plant City

A1 CDL LLC is listed at 5430 Miley Road in Plant City. Some reports have associated the company with Lakeland because it also provided services in that area, as well as Apopka, Lake Wales and Tampa.

3. American Trucking LLC — Opa-locka

American Trucking LLC is listed at 12805 NW 42nd Avenue in Opa-locka, in the Miami area. Other reports have also linked the company to operations in Orlando.

4. CDL Technical & Motorcycle — Hialeah Gardens

The school is located at 14420 NW 107th Avenue in Hialeah Gardens and is one of the South Florida providers included in the federal action.

5. CDL Training of Tampa LLC — Tampa

This provider is listed at 5001 W Sligh Avenue in Tampa, extending the impact of the federal action to Florida’s Gulf Coast.

6. East USA Training Academy — Sanford

The school is listed at 100 Weldon Boulevard, Suite 114, in Sanford. It is one of three Central Florida schools confirmed this week as being included in the federal action.

7. Florida CDL Truck Driving School — Lake Wales

Florida CDL Truck Driving School is listed at 100 S Airport Road in Lake Wales, the same address as Road Pro CDL. After the federal decision was announced, its website stated that training operations had been paused while the school reviewed the administrative matter.

8. Florida FTS — Tampa

Florida FTS is listed at 6041 Orient Road in Tampa. It is the second Tampa provider among the 10 Florida schools affected.

9. Metropolitan Trucking & Technical Institute — West Palm Beach

Metropolitan Trucking & Technical Institute is listed at 199 Pike Road in West Palm Beach. According to its website, the company also has a presence in Miami.

10. Soler & Soler CDL School Corp — Miami

Rounding out the list is Soler & Soler CDL School Corp, located at 18645 SW 103rd Court in Miami.

Why were these CDL schools targeted?

The USDOT said the FMCSA reviewed roadside inspection records involving drivers cited for failing to meet English-language proficiency requirements and then cross-checked that information against the Training Provider Registry.

Through that review, the agency identified providers that had repeatedly certified drivers who were later found not to meet federal qualification standards. The FMCSA then ordered the emergency removal of more than 110 ELDT providers from the registry.

The action requires the affected providers to immediately stop operating as certified training providers, including administering training programs, using facilities for instruction and conducting behind-the-wheel training.

However, some South Florida schools have publicly challenged the federal action. CBS Miami reported that some locations included on the list were still open when reporters visited them.

A representative for CDL Technical & Motorcycle said the school was responding to concerns regarding its program, while American Trucking was also reportedly still open. USDOT told the outlet that all schools on the list had been notified that they were required to cease operations as certified training providers.

Part of a much larger nationwide operation

The 10 Florida schools represent only part of a nationwide enforcement effort that continues to expand.

On August 31, federal authorities carried out a coordinated operation involving more than 200 driving schools across 23 states. The FMCSA also reported that 175 investigators conducted nearly 400 inspections of ELDT providers in 40 states.

Those investigations resulted in more than 160 additional notices proposing removal from the federal registry.

Inspectors reported several types of violations, including facilities without enough space to conduct required driving maneuvers, instructors without the proper licenses, missing evaluation records and problems involving locations listed as training facilities.

What should future CDL drivers know?

For anyone planning to get a CDL in Florida, the federal action makes one step especially important: check a school’s current status before paying tuition or beginning training.

Applicants who are required to complete Entry-Level Driver Training must use an eligible provider authorized to certify that training with the FMCSA.

That means a school being physically open or continuing to offer other services does not necessarily mean it is currently authorized to provide the federally required training. Applicants should verify that the provider is active in the federal registry for the specific training they need.

The federal crackdown is still developing, and additional actions involving other providers could follow. For future Florida truck drivers, checking a school’s credentials before investing time and money has become an essential step.

To make sure your permits, paperwork and requirements are in order, contact us.