Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday announced a statewide investigation into trucking schools allegedly certifying commercial driver’s license applicants who are unqualified or unable to meet federal English-language requirements.
Paxton’s office has issued civil investigative demands to multiple companies, alleging some programs may be providing inadequate training and improperly certifying drivers, including non-English speakers, in violation of state and federal law.
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The investigation targets several schools across Texas that train commercial truck drivers for licensure.
Federal rules administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration require CDL holders to be able to “read and speak the English language sufficiently” to understand road signs, communicate with the public, and respond to official inquiries.
The requirements are longstanding but have drawn renewed attention amid broader national debates over immigrants receiving CDLs.
A November court ruling placed a stay on federal guidelines that would have put more restrictions on noncitizens obtaining commercial driver’s licenses. The ruling followed the Transportation Department issuing an emergency interim final rule on CDLs that would expand government control over the application process and allow immigrants holding certain visas to receive the license.
Paxton’s office said preliminary findings suggest some schools may be disregarding those standards, including by advertising training in languages other than English and offering accelerated programs that fall short of typical industry timelines.
The attorney general argued such practices could pose safety risks if drivers are unable to interpret signage or communicate effectively on the road.
“Putting non-English speakers behind the wheel of 18-wheelers in America can pose serious threats to public safety,” Paxton said, adding that his office would pursue enforcement under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act if violations are confirmed.
The investigation comes amid a broader federal crackdown on CDL compliance led by the Department of Transportation. Earlier this month, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the federal government would withhold more than $73 million in highway funding from New York after officials said the state failed to revoke improperly issued commercial licenses.
SEAN DUFFY YANKS $73 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO NEW YORK OVER CDL DISPUTE
A federal audit found significant issues in New York’s non-domiciled CDL program, including licenses remaining valid beyond the expiration of a driver’s legal work authorization and failures to vet applicants, according to federal officials.
New York Attorney General Letitia James disputed those findings and said the state follows federal law, filing a lawsuit over the withheld funding.
