A recent 51-count indictment on Long Island has exposed a shocking commercial driver’s license (CDL) cheating scheme involving multiple New York DMV employees. Prosecutors allege that DMV staff accepted thousands of dollars to falsify CDL permit tests and even processed applications for “no-show” drivers. One DMV supervisor’s sister reportedly took exams in disguise — complete with fake facial hair — to impersonate real applicants.
These acts weren’t mere bureaucratic shortcuts; they were deliberate assaults on the integrity of the licensing process and the safety of America’s roads. The case underscores why the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) must continue rigorous enforcement of Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) standards and expand efforts to root out fraud in the training and testing ecosystem.
Every unqualified driver who slips through the system endangers the public and diminishes the hard-earned credibility of professional drivers who do things the right way.
Third-party testing offers the strongest safeguard against fraud
This latest example also reinforces the strength of well-regulated third-party testing programs. Unlike state-run testing environments, third-party testers are subject to regular—and often covert—audits designed to verify that each exam, skill test, and record meets federal standards. That continuous oversight acts as both a deterrent and a detection tool against misconduct.
In contrast, this case suggests that some state-administered systems may lack comparable checks, creating opportunities for insider abuse. For that reason, the Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA) continues to advocate for the broad adoption of third-party CDL testing across all states. When properly monitored and held accountable, third-party testing remains the most transparent, efficient, and fraud-resistant model for ensuring that only qualified drivers earn the privilege to operate commercial vehicles.
This story originally appeared on CVTA’s blog.
Andrew Poliakoff is the executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA), the largest association of professional truck driver training programs.
He has played a central role in advancing the organization’s priorities, including greater enforcement of FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry, expansion of 529 savings for training and improvement of the WIOA program.
Poliakoff works closely with federal and state officials, industry partners, and CVTA member schools to ensure that training programs meet rigorous standards and reflect the evolving needs of the transportation sector. Under his leadership, CVTA has become a trusted voice on Capitol Hill and a driving force behind regulatory improvements that promote safety, accountability and access to opportunity in the trucking industry.
A graduate of Georgetown University, Poliakoff joined CVTA in 2019 as the director of government affairs, after attending Catholic University Law School.
