SANFORD, Fla. \u2013 Three Central Florida truck driving schools are among 110 shut down nationwide by the federal government over English language proficiency testing.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Department of Transportation linked all 110 schools to more than 5,000 drivers who failed English language proficiency tests required to operate a commercial motor vehicle.<\/p>\n
Which Central Florida schools were closed?<\/p>\n
The three Central Florida schools affected are:<\/p>\n
East USA Training Academy \u2014 100 Weldon Blvd, Suite 114, Sanford<\/p>\n
Florida CDL Truck Driving School \u2014 100 S Airport Rd, Lake Wales<\/p>\n
Road Pro CDL \u2014 100 S Airport Rd, Lake Wales<\/p>\n
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy addressed the closures during a press conference, saying federal law has long required commercial drivers to speak English.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to speak English to operate a commercial motor vehicle. I didn\u2019t create that rule. President Trump didn\u2019t create that rule. That rule has been in place for decades and we have schools that know the rule and still pass people through their school who can\u2019t speak the language,\u201d Duffy said. \u201cThere are 110 of them through a data analysis, that are the greatest offenders.\u201d<\/p>\n
Duffy also raised concerns about how states certify the testers responsible for evaluating drivers.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor commercial drivers, oftentimes, the states will certify testers that will do it on the state\u2019s behalf. What we found through our data analysis is that many of the certified state testers actually aren\u2019t adequately testing the potential drivers that they\u2019re going to license,\u201d Duffy said.<\/p>\n
News 6 has reached out to the Florida Department of Transportation to find out how the state certifies English proficiency. This story will be updated when a response is received.<\/p>\n
Issue gained national attention in 2025<\/p>\n
English proficiency among truck drivers drew national attention in August 2025, when Harjinder Singh, an India-born truck driver, made a U-turn on the Florida Turnpike that authorities say caused a crash killing three people.<\/p>\n
August 2025 Florida Turnpike crash (CBS News)<\/p>\n
The Trump administration said Singh should not have received a commercial driver\u2019s license because of his immigration status and his failure of an English proficiency test after the crash. New Mexico officials, however, released video from a traffic stop showing Singh conversing in English with an officer.<\/p>\n
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sent the state\u2019s lieutenant governor to California to oversee Singh\u2019s handover, calling him a \u201cthug.\u201d The case fueled a public dispute between DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.<\/p>\n
Members of the Sikh trucking community say the case has unfairly targeted their community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a tragedy; it was an accident, and every Punjabi, every Sikh, feels for the victims\u2019 family,\u201d said Harsimran Singh, CEO of Gillson Trucking in Stockton, California. \u201cBut the way that this case has been handled \u2026 has many people in my community fearing for their future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Full list of Florida schools shut down<\/p>\n
The following Florida truck driving schools were included in the federal shutdown:<\/p>\n
SchoolAddressRoad Pro CDL100 S Airport Rd, Lake Wales, FL 33859A1 CDL LLC5430 Miley Rd, Plant City, FL 33565American Trucking12805 NW 42nd Ave, Opa-locka, FL 33054CDL Technical & Motorcycle14420 NW 107th Ave, Hialeah Gardens, FL 33018CDL Training of Tampa5001 W Sligh Ave, Tampa, FL 33634East USA Training Academy100 Weldon Blvd Suite 114, Sanford, FL 32773Florida CDL Truck Driving School100 S Airport Rd, Lake Wales, FL 33859FTS6041 Orient Road, Tampa, FL 33610Metropolitan Trucking and Technical Institute CDL School199 Pike Rd, West Palm Beach, FL 33411Soler & Soler CDL School Corp18645 SW 103rd Ct, Miami, FL 33157<\/p>\n
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