FMCSA Defends Four Training Providers' Removal Over English Standard

FMCSA's Office of Safety Programs filed formal responses defending its decision to immediately remove four Entry-Level Driver Training providers from the Training Provider Registry: Red Hook Commercial Driving School, Western Area Career & Technology Center, EP Texas Trucking School, and United CDL Training School. All four were removed August 31, 2026 under the emergency-removal provision, 49 CFR 380.723(e), which applies when public safety or willful disregard of the rules requires immediate action rather than a correction period.

In the Red Hook filing, FMCSA said an August 2026 audit matched roadside inspection records against Training Provider Registry data and found 22 driver-trainees Red Hook certified as having completed training were later cited for English Language Proficiency violations under 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2). FMCSA argued that pattern shows a materially deficient curriculum and willful disregard of the training rules, not an isolated error. Red Hook had petitioned for reinstatement, citing its 30-year record and bilingual materials; FMCSA asked the agency's decisionmaker to deny the petition. The other three providers face parallel findings tied to the same audit and enforcement policy.

What's next

• FMCSA's Chief Safety Officer will issue final decisions on each petition; a reinstatement order would restore registry status.
• Watch dockets FMCSA-2026-3764, -3766, -3796 and -3829 for the rulings.

All sources

• Other: In the Matter of Red Hook Commercial Driving School Inc. - Director of the Office of Safety Programs Response to Order on Petitioner's Petition for Administrative Review of Emergency Removal from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Entry Level Driver Training Provider Registry — Regulations.gov (FMCSA), 2026-11-03
• Other: In the Matter of Western Area Career & Technology Center - Director of the Office of Safety Programs Response to Order on Petitioner's Petition for Administrative Review of Emergency Removal from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Entry Level Driver Training Provider Registry — Regulations.gov (FMCSA), 2026-11-03
• Other: In the Matter of EP Texas Trucking School LLC - Director of the Office of Safety Programs Response to Order on Petitioner's Petition for Administrative Review of Emergency Removal from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Entry Level Driver Training Provider Registry and Request for Stay — Regulations.gov (FMCSA), 2026-11-03
• Other: In the Matter of United CDL Training School LLC - Director of the Office of Safety Programs Response to Order on Petitioner's Petition for Administrative Review of Emergency Removal from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Entry Level Driver Training Provider Registry — Regulations.gov (FMCSA), 2026-11-03