CDL School in West Palm Beach Shut Down Amid Federal Crackdown

According to a report from CBS 12 News, a CDL school in West Palm Beach has shut down amid a federal crackdown on the trucking industry. Metropolitan Trucking and Technical Institute was ordered to stop entry-level federal trucker training immediately. Dozens of other CDL schools throughout the country are facing similar enforcement action. Notably, in this case, Florida separately restricted affected schools from advertising, recruiting, enrolling new students, or collecting new tuition while the federal removal remains in effect. Here, our West Palm Beach truck accident lawyer provides a more detailed overview of the federal enforcement action.

Removal From the Registry Has Immediate Legal Consequences

Federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements are governed primarily by 49 C.F.R. Part 380. Drivers seeking a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time, upgrading from a Class B to a Class A CDL, or obtaining certain endorsements generally must complete applicable training from a provider listed in FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry. Once a provider is removed, training conducted after the removal date is considered invalid for federal ELDT purposes. FMCSA stated that the schools subject to the August emergency action had to immediately stop administering any ELDT curriculum.

FMCSA Used Its Emergency Removal Authority

Ordinarily, 49 C.F.R. § 380.723 provides a process under which FMCSA issues a proposed-removal notice and gives a provider an opportunity to respond and take corrective action. The regulation also contains a separate emergency-removal provision. FMCSA may bypass the ordinary process and immediately remove a provider in cases involving fraud, criminal behavior, willful disregard of the regulations, or circumstances in which public health, interest, or safety requires immediate action. A provider removed on an emergency basis may seek administrative review, but the enforcement action takes immediate effect.

Florida Also Took State-Level Action Against the Schools

The federal removal prompted additional action from the Florida Department of Education. On September 8th, 2026, the Department announced that the Commission for Independent Education had directed the 10 affected Florida schools to stop advertising, recruiting, enrolling new students, and collecting tuition from new students while their federal removal remains effective. The schools must also identify affected students, provide refunds when required, and report their corrective actions and communications with federal regulators.

The Enforcement Action Extends Beyond the West Palm Beach School

The Metropolitan action is one part of a considerably broader federal review of CDL training and testing. FMCSA reported that it deployed 175 investigators across 40 states in July and conducted nearly 400 investigations of ELDT providers. Those investigations identified alleged deficiencies involving inadequate training ranges, instructors lacking appropriate licenses, missing assessment records, and improper classroom facilities. More than 160 additional providers received proposed-removal notices. FMCSA also announced a nationwide audit of third-party CDL skills testers and state oversight of those testers.

Call Our West Palm Beach Truck Accident Attorney Today

At Pike & Lustig, LLP, our West Palm Beach tractor trailer accident lawyers are committed to fighting for justice for victims. Were you hurt in a tractor trailer crash? We can help. Call us today to set up a free case review. With offices in West Palm Beach and Miami, we fight for justice for truck accident victims throughout South Florida.

Source:

cbs12.com/news/local/west-palm-beach-cdl-school-ordered-to-stop-training-in-federal-crackdown-metropolitan-trucking-technical-institute-harjinder-singh-st-lucie-county-florida-news