Federal officials announce nationwide crackdown on fraud in the trucking industry

DETROIT (NBC, KYMA) - Federal officials announced a nationwide crackdown on fraud in the nation's trucking industry based on English proficiency with drivers.

In a press conference Monday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, thanks to their efforts, hundreds of dangerous truck drivers are off the roads.

"Today what we are announcing is an emergency executive shutdown of 110 driving schools. So these are driving schools that account for 5,000 of the violations of the English proficiency. What I mean by that is, you have to speak English to operate a commercial motor vehicle. I didn't create that rule. President Trump didn't create that rule.

That rule has been in place for decades. And we have schools that know the rule and still pass people through the school that can't speak the language. And so there are 110 of them through our data analyst that are the greatest offenders. As of today, those schools are shut down."

Sean P. Duffy, U.S. Transportation Secretary

Joining Secretary Duffy in the press conference were U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud Vice Chairman Andrew Ferguson and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator Derek Barrs.

"So let me give you one couple of examples. Platinum Plus Truck Driving School in California, six drivers who were later cited for these English language proficiency violations, and one of these trainees killed someone in Oklahoma that should have never been on the roadway. ASC Technical Institute in Texas certified 58 of these drivers, and one of these trainees ran a stop sign and killed a local man in a Texas county. It's unacceptable. When you see people die on the road, you don't forget that, and it starts right here with what I'm talking about."

Derek Barrs, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator

Secretary Duffy defended the crackdown on the trucking industry, saying the program is not directed toward undocumented drivers.

"All I'm saying if you are here illegally and can't speak the language…and you're not well trained you don't deserve to be in a big rig driving on American road and endangering citizens," Duffy remarked.