Reaction was swift to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) Feb. 20, 2026, announcement that notices of proposed removal from FMCSA’s national training provider registry had been issued to more than 550 CDL training schools found in violation of FMCSA standards of safety.
Jeff Burkhardt, who serves a dual role as the chairman of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association and the senior director of CDL operations at Ancora Training, provided exclusive insight to The Trucker about what was found during some of FMCSA’s audits.
“There were findings where they literally (found that) some home addresses were listed for a training provider,” Burkhardt said. “There were parking lots in which educators would in no way, shape or form be able to conduct tractor-trailer training.”
Burkhardt said these are types of due diligence actions that the industry had been “clamoring for.”
“Just go look,” Burkhardt said. “The efforts of Operation Driver Training, which is what it was, technically, has tangible results.”
Burkhardt stated that schools in his organization were also audited — five schools were asked for clarifying documents but were cleared of any potential violations. The recent actions taken by the FMCSA were not the results of a simple “Gotcha! audit.”
In fact, Burkhardt described the initial actions as a “survey,” with schools being given the opportunity to provide clarifying paperwork and to correct minor violations.
“There is a review mechanism established of these results, and findings and discoveries that are made at each one of these locations. There is a review, and there was an opportunity to provide clarifying documentation, or whatever the case may be,” Burkardt said. “There was a very calculated approach, a very strategic approach.
“I applaud the FMCSA for having their ducks in a row as far as the review process and setting up the avenues by which these things can be resolved,” Burkhardt continued.
He says the actions taken Feb. 18 were “only the beginning” of what he expects to come from USDOT officials, with the help of the CVTA. Burkhardt outlined these thoughts via a CVTA press release.
“CVTA has been the tip of the spear in identifying noncompliant providers and pushing for meaningful federal oversight,” he said. “Our ELDT Task Force has worked tirelessly to clean up this industry and help usher in a new era of safer roadways and greater opportunity in trucking. We commend Secretary Duffy and Administrator Barrs for transforming these long-standing concerns into real enforcement that protects the public and supports reputable schools.”
Can we expect an “enforcement 2.0”?
Burkhardt seems to think so.
“The next phase or stage of enforcement will have the capacity to do those precise audits, a true audit,” he said.
Burkhardt echoed the reactions of other in the trucking industry, noting that the ultimate goal is “weed out bad actors” and create an environment of reputable training organizations. To do that, more enforcement is needed.
“At the end of the day, it is going to whittle away at the training provider registry so that it is truly a sterile environment of legitimate providers,” he said.
Bruce Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has lived in three states including Arkansas, Missouri and Georgia. During his nearly 20-year career, Bruce has served as managing editor and sports editor for numerous publications. He and his wife, Dana, who is also a journalist, are based in Carrollton, Georgia.
