Cotton, Barr to Duffy: Minimally Trained Commercial Drivers Threaten Safety of Arkansans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
October 28, 2025

Cotton, Barr to Duffy: Minimally Trained Commercial Drivers Threaten Safety of Arkansans

Washington, D.C. - Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Congressman Andy Barr (Kentucky-06) today sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy urging an investigation into the growing number of Commercial Driver's License (CDL) mills. CDL mills exploit loopholes that churn out minimally trained drivers posing a threat to Arkansans on the road.

In part, Senator Cotton and Congressman Barr wrote:

"As the sponsors of the Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act, we have been at the forefront of efforts to strengthen our commercial licensing system. While Congress works to pass the legislation, we strongly encourage DOT to use its rulemaking authority to make further changes like mandatory training hours behind the wheel for CDLs. We applaud the steps you have taken to ensure the safety of Arkansans and Kentuckians."

Full text of the letter may be found here and below.

October 28, 2025

The Honorable Sean Duffy
Secretary
Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave SE
Washington, D.C. 20590

Dear Secretary Duffy:

We write to urge the Department of Transportation (DOT) to investigate the growing number of Commercial Driver's License (CDL) "mills". CDL mills are substandard training programs that offer quick credentials and recent incidents and reports indicate these mills are prioritizing volume over proper safety and training requirements.

These CDL mills have exploited loopholes in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations to churn out minimally trained drivers with little regard for real-world proficiency. These operations offer rushed, test-focused courses with little to no hands-on experience, leaving new entrants ill-equipped to handle the real world demands of interstate trucking. This probe should rigorously assess whether CDL training programs are upholding ELDT standards, particularly with behind-the-wheel training, pre-trip inspections, and on-road proficiency.

As the sponsors of the Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act, we have been at the forefront of efforts to strengthen our commercial licensing system. While Congress works to pass the legislation, we strongly encourage DOT to use its rulemaking authority to make further changes like mandatory training hours behind the wheel for CDLs. We applaud the steps you have taken to ensure the safety of Arkansans and Kentuckians. American families rely on safe roads, and we believe DOT can take additional steps to restore trust in our credentialing process.

We look forward to working with you on this matter.

Sincerely,

Tom Cotton
United States Senator

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