Pennsylvania Raises Stakes for Unlicensed CDL Schools
A new Pennsylvania law lets regulators fine unlicensed commercial driver training schools up to $25,000 per violation. The law is aimed at CDL mills and exempts private carriers that train their own drivers at no cost.
New Penalties for CDL Training
Pennsylvania can now fine unlicensed commercial driver training providers up to $25,000 per violation under a new state law aimed at so-called CDL mills. Gov. Josh Shapiro approved the measure on July 20, creating Act 50 and updating the state's Private Licensed Schools Act.
The law gives the Pennsylvania Department of Education stronger authority over schools that provide federally required entry-level driver training without a state license. Transport Topics reported that the bill exempts private carriers that train their own drivers at no cost.
Why the Law Passed
State Sen. Judy Ward led the bill after a Senate transportation hearing surfaced concerns from the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association. The group said the state had 40 licensed CDL schools at the time, along with an unclear number of exempt or unlicensed training facilities among the 1,100 entities listed in the FMCSA Training Provider Registry.
The previous penalty structure was much smaller, with minimum fines of $300 and civil penalties up to $2,500 for unlicensed postsecondary private schools. The new fine money goes into a restricted Department of Education revenue account.
What Fleets Should Watch
For fleets, the practical issue is applicant quality. PMTA and Pitt Ohio safety executive Jeff Mercadante told lawmakers that some drivers arrived with valid CDLs but lacked enough behind-the-wheel skill, including applicants whose training leaned heavily on simulators.
Fleet safety and recruiting teams should expect more scrutiny around where drivers trained, not just whether the CDL is valid. That makes training-provider checks, road-test discipline, and early coaching important parts of hiring and compliance.
