Transportation Department says more than 550 driving schools must close over safety failures

The federal Transportation Department announced on Tuesday that more than 550 commercial driving schools across the United States must permanently cease operations after investigators discovered widespread safety violations including unqualified instructors, inadequate student testing, and other hazardous conditions that threaten public safety on the nation's roads. According to department officials, the investigation revealed that these failing schools were responsible for training commercial drivers who operate large trucks and buses that share highways with millions of Americans. The safety concerns were identified during routine compliance reviews conducted under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), with investigators finding many schools cutting corners on essential safety protocols. The closure of these driving schools represents one of the largest crackdowns on commercial driver training programs in recent history, with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieu emphasizing that this action is part of the Biden administration's broader initiative to improve commercial vehicle safety nationwide. Industry experts predict that the closures may temporarily disrupt the supply chain and transportation services, though safety advocates argue that this short-term inconvenience is necessary to prevent potentially deadly accidents caused by improperly trained commercial drivers.