Are “CDL Mills” the Trucking Industry’s Most Dangerous Open Secret?
Poorly Trained Drivers Are Putting Florida Motorists at Risk
Every day, thousands of commercial trucks travel Florida’s highways, carrying goods that keep the economy moving — and posing enormous danger when something goes wrong. Behind the wheel of many of these massive vehicles are drivers who have never received the proper training they need to safely operate an 80,000-pound truck.
A growing number of these drivers are products of so-called “CDL mills,” which are unregulated or substandard training programs that have quietly become one of the trucking industry’s most dangerous open secrets.
For decades, the attorneys at Pajcic & Pajcic have represented victims of catastrophic truck crashes in Florida and across the nation. Again and again, we’ve seen the devastating consequences of negligence behind the wheel, and in many cases, that negligence begins long before a driver ever gets on the road.
What Are “CDL Mills”?
According to a recent FreightWaves investigation, “CDL mills” are training operations that exploit loopholes in federal regulations to push underqualified drivers through commercial licensing with minimal instruction. These schools operate under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) 2022 “self-certification” system, which allows virtually anyone to register as a CDL trainer without proving qualifications or complying with state oversight requirements.
That single policy change led to an explosion of substandard training programs. While about 2,100 state-licensed CDL schools continue to provide comprehensive 160-hour courses, there are now over 32,000 federally registered “training providers,” many of which may offer little more than a few hours of classroom orientation.
As Steve Gold, founder of 160 Driving Academy, explained in his interview with FreightWaves: “You can register to be a CDL trainer at the federal level… and you don’t have to be licensed in the state. There’s 32,000 registered federal training providers who can provide training for CDLs.”
In other words, there’s virtually no requirement to prove that a trainee has received legitimate instruction before being sent to a DMV to obtain a commercial license.
The Human Cost of Weak Training Standards
The result of this deregulated system is clear and deadly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 153,452 highway truck crashes in 2023, resulting in 5,472 deaths, a 40% increase since 2014. Despite newer safety technologies and stricter enforcement in other areas, truck-related fatalities remain stubbornly high, and inadequate driver preparation is a major factor.
The FreightWaves article points to one tragic case in Fort Pierce, Florida, where a truck driver who couldn’t read or speak English obtained a CDL and later caused a crash that killed a family of three. It’s the kind of avoidable disaster that reveals just how broken the system has become. (Read our September 2025 blog for more on this)
Even among experienced commercial drivers, basic safety skills can be lacking. When 160 Driving Academy tested seasoned drivers for major carriers, half scored below 50% on proficiency exams, results that would normally disqualify them from driving for reputable companies.
Why Florida Drivers Are Especially at Risk
Florida’s highways are among the busiest freight corridors in the nation, connecting ports, warehouses, and distribution centers throughout the Southeast. That makes the state particularly vulnerable to the dangers of undertrained commercial drivers.
Some states, like California and Colorado, have taken steps to crack down on unlicensed or fraudulent CDL schools. Florida has issued cease-and-desist letters to certain training facilities that are attempting to bypass state law, but enforcement remains limited, especially given that federal rules still allow self-certification at the national level.
Combine that with Florida’s dense highway network, high tourism traffic, and year-round freight volume, and it’s easy to see why the consequences of a single unqualified driver can be catastrophic. A poorly trained trucker navigating I-10 or I-95 in Jacksonville isn’t just a safety risk; they’re a potential disaster waiting to happen.
How CDL Mills Undermine Accountability
The problem goes deeper than a lack of training. CDL mills make it harder to trace responsibility in the event of a crash. If a driver causes a fatal wreck, a trucking company may argue that they followed “federal guidelines” in hiring, even if those guidelines allow minimal oversight.
At Pajcic & Pajcic, we’ve seen trucking companies try to hide behind this kind of paperwork compliance. But the law is clear: carriers have a duty to make sure their drivers are competent and properly trained. When they fail, and innocent people get hurt, they can and should be held accountable.
Our experienced truck accident attorneys conduct thorough investigations that go beyond the crash report, such as examining driver logs, training records, and federal registration data to expose negligence. In some cases, we’ve uncovered evidence showing that a driver was rushed through a questionable training program or hired without adequate road testing.
The Industry’s “Driver Shortage” Myth
The deregulation that allowed CDL mills to thrive was partly justified by claims of a national truck driver shortage. But as FreightWaves and other industry leaders have noted, flooding the market with poorly trained drivers doesn’t solve a shortage. Instead, it shifts the risk burden to the public.
Poor training contributes to higher crash rates, more lawsuits, and greater turnover among drivers who find themselves unprepared for the job’s demands. The result is a dangerous cycle: carriers rush to fill seats, safety standards drop, and innocent motorists pay the price.
What Needs to Change
Fixing this crisis starts with restoring oversight and accountability. Safety experts and legitimate CDL programs have recommended several steps to restore integrity to the system:
- Reinstate state licensing requirements for all CDL training schools.
- Require proof of hands-on instruction and documented road hours before certification.
- Establish penalties for companies or trainers who falsify training records.
- Promote transparency by allowing public access to FMCSA training provider data.
These reforms would help rebuild trust in the licensing process and make our highways safer for everyone.
Holding Negligent Trucking Companies Accountable
At Pajcic & Pajcic, our Jacksonville truck accident lawyers have spent more than 50 years helping victims and families devastated by preventable crashes. We’ve recovered over $1.5 billion for clients across Florida, including victims of catastrophic trucking collisions caused by poor training, fatigue, and negligent hiring practices.
When a trucking company cuts corners, we uncover the truth. We work with investigators, medical professionals, and crash reconstruction experts to show exactly how negligence — whether in the cab or in the training yard — led to tragedy.
If you or a loved one was injured in a truck accident, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. Our attorneys are here to help you demand answers, accountability, and justice. Contact Pajcic & Pajcic today for a free consultation.
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