Tale Lites Issue 42

Sean Duffy Targets CDL Mills - ATRI Yearly Survey Cites Economic Woes

Author

Michael Lombard
November 03, 2025

🚛 Sean Duffy Targets ‘CDL Mills’

Something I’ve said since the start of the ELP mandate is that these new rules, regulations, and restrictions regarding Non-Domiciled CDLs and English Proficiency are great, but they don’t attack the problem at its source(s): How are drivers obtaining these licenses, and who is hiring these drivers. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy has caught wind of this as well, and addressed it in a recent press conference.

In a Thursday 10/30/2025 press conference, Duffy set in motion a federal initiative aimed at rooting out fraudulent CDL schools accused of certifying drivers who “can’t speak English, can’t handle a rig, and in some cases, aren’t even properly documented to work in the U.S.”

Semi Truck crashes now kill roughly 5,000 people a year, up 40% since 2014. A lot of people in the industry point to the 2022 FMCSA rule change that allowed trainers to “self-certify,” opening the door for more than 32,000 registered providers, some offering only a few hours of training, or worse, just a YouTube video.

“Who’s actually testing these drivers?” Duffy asked. “Who’s making sure they speak English or know how to operate safely before being certified?”

According to Duffy, some of these CDL mills are outright forging certifications and sending them to state DOTs, falsely claiming students are road ready. Many operate under loopholes that exempt them from state oversight, especially when tied to employer based programs.

The DOT isn’t stopping at the schools. Duffy made it clear that trucking companies hiring these drivers are also on notice.

“We’re diving into the companies that hire drivers who don’t have lawful or legitimate licenses,” he warned. “Companies will be held accountable.”

This level of accountability has the potential to hit hard. The DOT plans to wield every enforcement tool available, whether it be heavy fines, to revoking a state’s CDL issuing authority if necessary.

Some states, including California, Florida, and Colorado, are already taking action by shutting down unlicensed training centers or tightening certification standards.

The DOT is also teaming up with the Department of Homeland Security, deploying ICE agents to help investigate and enforce compliance.

“We don’t have the same law enforcement reach as DHS,” Duffy said. “That’s why this partnership is so important.”

The initiative follows high-profile tragedies like the Fort Pierce, Florida crash, where a driver trained under one of these programs, who also couldn’t speak or read English, killed a family of three.

“You’ve seen the videos,” Duffy said. “Families out for a Sunday drive, wiped out by someone who should never have had a CDL.”

When asked at the press conference about a potential “driver shortage",” Secretary Duffy remained firm that he has the right data, and that there are enough American truckers to perform the job, citing that the status quo is what has led to a decrease in pay, and driver retention. Overall though, he is adamant that safety is the top concern

“It’s our job to protect the public,” he said. “People expect us to keep unsafe drivers off the road — and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

Read more at FreightWaves

I want to hear from you! For Driver Submissions, questions, and comments contact me at: [email protected] or Text me directly at 423-275-2444

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Tale Lites Throwback

Check out this snapshot from an April 1967 edition of Tale Lites. Was it an accident that the DOT was established on April Fool’s Day?

📰 Yearly ATRI Survey Cites Economic Woes, Truck Parking Improvement

Every year, the American Transportation Research Institute or ATRI surveys the trucking industry to find out what everyone’s top concerns are. The economy tops the list of this year’s results

According to ATRI’s 2025 Top Industry Issues report, more than 4,200 industry insiders (including 1,000+ drivers) named the sluggish economy as the number one concern. That marks the third straight year it’s held the top spot.

We are three years deep into a freight recession, with stagnant rates, decreased demand, and operating costs rising. ATRI sums it up by saying,

“A perfect storm is squeezing fleet margins, forcing layoffs, exits, and bankruptcies. Unfortunately, shrinking capacity hasn’t translated into higher rates.”

Here’s how the rest of the rankings shook out:

🏆 ATRI’s 2025 Top 10 Critical Issues

  1. Economy

  2. Lawsuit abuse reform

  3. Insurance cost & availability

  4. Truck parking

  5. Driver compensation

  6. CSA

  7. English-language proficiency

  8. Diesel emission regulations

  9. Driver training standards

  10. AI in trucking

What’s interesting this year: Truck parking slipped to fourth, while lawsuit abuse reform and insurance costs climbed the charts. This is a sign that carriers themselves are feeling a financial and legal squeeze.

When you break it down, drivers and motor carriers see the world through different windshields, but both lists aren’t terribly different

🚛 2025 Truck Driver Top 10

  1. Driver compensation

  2. Truck parking

  3. English-language proficiency

  4. Broker issues

  5. Detention & delays

  6. AI in trucking

  7. Driver training standards

  8. Autonomous trucks

  9. ELD mandate

  10. Diesel emission regulations

🏢 2025 Motor Carrier Top 10

  1. Economy

  2. Lawsuit abuse reform

  3. Insurance cost & availability

  4. CSA

  5. Driver shortage

  6. Driver retention

  7. Driver distraction

  8. Diesel emission regulations

  9. Truck parking

  10. Broker issues

Drivers’ top concern being Driver Pay isn’t solely linked to the economy, but it certainly would help if the economic conditions were better. For Carriers, their #5 concern is actually what their number 6 concern is, which can be worked on by taking note of the number 1 concern for drivers as well.

📩 What Do You Think?
Reply to this email or text (423) 275-2444 — I want to hear what real drivers think about Washington’s woes!

Health Tip of the Week - Vitamin D

With the clocks going back, we now have even less daylight, and with that your body’s natural vitamin D levels can begin to drop, especially if you’re driving long hours and not seeing much sun anyhow. It can become a problem, because vitamin D does a lot more than support bones.

Here’s why it matters for drivers and beyond:

  • Boosts your immune system: Keeps colds and flu at bay during the winter months

  • Lifts your mood: Low vitamin D is linked to seasonal depression and fatigue.

  • Supports muscle strength: Helps your body recover faster and reduces soreness on the road.

  • Improves focus: Adequate levels can sharpen cognition and reaction time

Most adults benefit from 1,000–2,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily, especially in the winter months. Pair it with food containing healthy fats (like eggs or salmon) for better absorption. As always, talk to your doctor about taking any supplements you think you may need!

Stay stay sunny, even when the sky isn’t. 🌤️💪

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