Are the 18-wheelers next to you properly trained? Texas is investigating several trucking schools for allegedly bypassing safety rules and English requirements.

AUSTIN, Texas — Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched a statewide investigation into several Texas trucking schools for allegedly certifying unqualified and non-English speaking drivers.

The investigation focuses on whether schools are violating state and federal laws by providing inadequate training. Under federal regulations, commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders must be able to read and speak English well enough to converse with the public and understand traffic signs.

“Putting non-English speakers behind the wheel of 18-wheelers in America can pose serious threats to public safety,” Paxton said. “I will fight to ensure that Texans are safe and that only qualified, English-speaking truckers are operating commercial vehicles on our roads.”


Investigation targets training shortcuts

The Attorney General’s office sent Civil Investigative Demands to five companies: EP Texas Trucking School, Trucker Certified LLC, Fast Track CDL LLC, CDLCALL.COM LLC, and Lindenwood Education System (Ancora).

Preliminary findings suggest some schools advertise training as short as 20 days—well below the industry norm of three to seven weeks. The state also alleges some entities falsely claimed to be certified or told students English proficiency was unnecessary.

WFAA contacted the trucking schools under investigation but did not receive a response.


WFAA “Blind Spots” investigation prompts action

The state’s crackdown follows WFAA’s “Blind Spots” investigation, which revealed that Texas was not enforcing federal English-language proficiency rules for many drivers. WFAA found a loophole in the Texas Administrative Code that exempted drivers who stayed within state lines.

Following WFAA’s report, Governor Greg Abbott ordered the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to close the loophole. Since then, DPS has taken enforcement action against more than 400 drivers for English proficiency violations.

Last month,  U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, cited a WFAA investigation as part of a broader push for answers from federal regulators on trucking safety, enforcement and driver standards.


Federal oversight collapse

WFAA’s analysis also found a massive drop in federal oversight. In 2025, federal enforcement actions against unsafe trucking companies dropped by 84%. Closed enforcement cases fell from 3,843 to just 617, and “unsatisfactory” safety ratings—which shut down dangerous carriers—plunged 92%.

The reporting caught the attention of U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, who demanded answers from federal officials regarding trucking fraud and the lack of oversight.

The Attorney General’s office maintains that training shortcuts are violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Paxton stated, “My office is thoroughly investigating these trucking schools… to ensure that Texans are protected from the dangers posed by unqualified drivers.”