4. CDL Mills
In line with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) continued enforcement within the trucking industry, 7,500 CDL training schools across the U.S. were shut down over the past year for failing to meet federal requirements. Commonly referred to as “CDL mills,” these training programs focus on quick issuance of a CDL (sometimes within a few days) without proper classroom or behind-the-wheel instruction, putting untrained drivers into the workforce. The continued evaluation and removal of these schools from the federal registry will help to improve the quality of new entrants in the trucking industry.
PGT Solution
New student drivers without any tractor-trailer driving experience go through a five-week training program at PGT, including two weeks of classroom orientation and three weeks spent over-the-road with a driver trainer. PGT continues to maintain one of the best flatbed training programs in the industry, contributing to PGT’s most recent recognitions as a 2026 Best Fleets to Drive For® company, a 2026 TCA Elite Fleet certification, and a TCA Fleet Safety Award for 2025.
