U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has opened a dedicated tip line allowing the public to report suspected commercial driver’s license (CDL) fraud, marking a further escalation in the federal government’s crackdown on alleged fraud and unsafe practices within the trucking industry.
ICE announced Tuesday that its Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division is working alongside the Department of Transportation (DOT) as part of the initiative.
“ICE @HSI_HQ and the Department of Transportation are cracking down on CDL fraud to save American lives,” the agency said in a social media post.
Individuals with information concerning suspected CDL fraud can submit tips by calling 866-347-2423, according to ICE.
The launch of the hotline follows closely behind a series of major enforcement actions by federal transportation and law enforcement authorities. More than 110 commercial driver training schools have been removed on an emergency basis from a federal registry, while authorities have proposed the removal of more than 160 additional schools.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the 110 schools were linked to 5,000 English-language proficiency violations. The broader federal campaign also includes a nationwide audit of third-party CDL skills testers, as well as an HSI enforcement operation targeting more than 200 driving schools across 23 states.
Federal authorities are increasingly examining CDL licensing and training cases for potential criminal activity extending beyond simple regulatory violations.
According to HSI, investigators have received more than 1,000 leads involving CDL-related businesses suspected of unsafe practices or exploitation within the transportation sector. The investigations cover potential CDL fraud, unauthorized employment, identity-document fraud, money laundering and labor exploitation.
Authorities are also examining possible links to human smuggling, drug trafficking and cartel activity.
The DOT had already issued more than 80 notices of inspection and opened several investigations into suspected fraudulent CDL issuance, unauthorized employment, identity fraud and the use of shell companies.
The latest initiative also places ICE and HSI more directly at the center of the DOT’s broader enforcement campaign. Federal officials announced in August the creation of the Joint Task Force Crossroads of America, bringing together all nine U.S. attorneys’ offices across Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.
The federal government has also pointed to English-language proficiency enforcement as evidence of wider weaknesses in the commercial driver training and testing system.
According to the DOT, more than 28,000 commercial drivers have been placed out of service for English-language proficiency violations since June 2025. The agency says these figures highlight potential shortcomings among third-party testing providers and state-level oversight programs.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has previously welcomed the federal crackdown, arguing that tighter oversight of CDL training and stronger enforcement of English-language proficiency requirements could contribute to improving highway safety.
“OOIDA and professional truck drivers across America commend Secretary Duffy and Administrator Barrs for taking concrete actions to crack down on fraudulent training operations and restore rigorous English language proficiency enforcement,” OOIDA President Todd Spencer said in a statement to FreightWaves.
Why it matters
By opening a public tip line, federal investigators are gaining an additional source of intelligence as the government expands its crackdown beyond individual commercial drivers. The focus is increasingly shifting toward the schools, third-party testers and businesses involved in training, licensing and employing commercial drivers, reflecting a broader effort to identify fraud and unsafe practices throughout the trucking ecosystem.
