Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has officially pulled the emergency brake on several trucking schools across the state, launching a massive investigation into allegations that unqualified drivers are being funneled onto public highways.
The probe focuses on schools accused of bypassing federal safety laws, specifically those requiring drivers to speak English and undergo rigorous training before getting behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler.
The investigation hit high gear with the issuance of Civil Investigative Demands to five specific entities: EP Texas Trucking School, Trucker Certified LLC, Fast Track CDL LLC, CDLCALL.COM LLC, and Lindenwood Education System (Ancora).
At the heart of the crackdown is a federal requirement that is often overlooked by the public but critical for safety: CDL holders must be able to read and speak English well enough to talk to the public, understand road signs, and respond to official inquiries.
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According to the Attorney General’s office, some schools have been caught advertising the opposite. EP Trucking, which operates in El Paso and Odessa, reportedly told prospective students that English proficiency wasn’t necessary and specifically marketed its services in Spanish.
“Putting non-English speakers behind the wheel of 18-wheelers in America can pose serious threats to public safety,” Paxton said in a statement. “My office is thoroughly investigating these trucking schools, and I am taking this matter very seriously. I will fight to ensure that Texans are safe and that only qualified, English-speaking truckers are operating commercial vehicles on our roads.”
Beyond language barriers, the state is looking into claims of “diploma mill” tactics. While the industry standard for training usually lasts between three and seven weeks, some of the investigated schools allegedly offered “accelerated” programs as short as 20 days.
Investigators are also looking into claims that some of these businesses falsely represented themselves as certified schools.
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The reach of these schools is extensive, with locations stretching from the Panhandle to San Antonio. Trucker Certified operates in Pampa, Amarillo, Plainview, and Borger, while Fast Track CDL is based in Garland and Ancora maintains its main office in Arlington.
State officials worry that graduates from these programs are already operating in major freight hubs like Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, potentially violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
The Attorney General’s office has signaled that this is just the beginning, promising to take “all necessary action” to scrub fraudulent schools from the state and ensure that anyone driving a multi-ton commercial vehicle has actually earned the right to be there.
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