FMCSA Cracks Down on Training Providers: What Safety-Sensitive Employers Must Know About the 2025 TPR Enforcement Surge

Abby Willroth is a NAADAC-qualified Substance Abuse Professional located in Central Arkansas. "If you have questions pertaining to DOT Alcohol & Drug Testing Regulation, the Role of an SAP or the Return-To-Duty process, ASK A SAP!"

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has intensified enforcement of its Training Provider Registry (TPR) under the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rule. In 2025 alone, the agency removed 244 training providers from the national database and placed thousands more on “proposed removal” or “inactive” status.

This wave of enforcement is the strongest since the TPR launched in 2022, signaling FMCSA’s renewed focus on training quality, record accuracy, and provider accountability. For carriers, driver training schools, and safety-sensitive employers, this crackdown represents more than compliance paperwork, affecting a driver qualification, liability exposure, and operational readiness.

Background: Understanding the ELDT Rule and the TPR

FMCSA’s Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rule, effective February 7, 2022, requires all new commercial drivers, certain endorsement seekers, and reinstated CDL holders to complete training through an FMCSA-registered provider listed in the Training Provider Registry (TPR).

The TPR was designed to:

• Verify that training providers meet federal curriculum standards;

• Document behind-the-wheel and theory training hours; and

• Report driver training completion electronically before CDL skills testing.

Until recently, enforcement was minimal. From 2022 to 2024, only a handful of providers were suspended. By mid-2025, FMCSA began auditing registry data and issuing removal notices to training schools with incomplete records, unverified curriculums, or prolonged inactivity.

The 2025 Enforcement Surge

FMCSA’s latest audit revealed widespread non-compliance across the training sector. According to agency data:

• 244 providers have been fully removed from the TPR;

• Over 10 000 providers received inactivity notices; and

• More than 17 000 training locations were flagged for review.

Providers were cited for multiple violations, including failure to upload driver completion records, use of outdated training curriculums, and non-response to FMCSA audit requests. Some were found to be “inactive” for more than two years, a direct violation of 49 CFR § 380.721.

These removals have immediate consequences. Any driver trained by a provider after its removal date may find that training invalid for CDL testing or endorsement purposes.

Legal and Regulatory Framework

FMCSA’s authority for removal is grounded in 49 CFR § 380.721, which allows the agency to revoke a provider’s TPR listing for:

• Failure to comply with eligibility requirements;

• Failure to respond to an audit within the designated timeframe; or

• Failure to maintain required documentation.

Providers placed on “proposed removal” status have 30 days to respond or correct deficiencies before final removal. Once removed, all subsequent training is void, and FMCSA notifies state licensing agencies to block certification.

This action also affects state driver licensing agencies (SDLAs), which must verify that each CDL applicant’s training was completed through a valid TPR provider before administering any skills or knowledge test.

Impact on Employers, Carriers, and Safety-Sensitive Employees

For Employers and Carriers

• Verify that every driver in your qualification file was trained by a provider currently listed in the Training Provider Registry.

• If a provider has been removed, confirm whether the driver’s training occurred before or after the removal date.

• Keep documented proof of training completion, provider name, and FMCSA TPR ID.

• Update internal compliance checklists to include TPR verification before onboarding or promoting drivers.

For Training Providers

• Complete required audits promptly and update training records regularly.

• Conduct biennial reviews of curriculum and trainer qualifications.

• Maintain active status to avoid inactivity notices or proposed removal.

For Safety-Sensitive Drivers

• Before enrolling, confirm that your chosen school or trainer appears in FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry.

• If your provider has been removed, you may need to repeat certain courses before your state will approve CDL testing.

Why This Crackdown Matters

This enforcement wave protects public safety but also introduces risks for employers who fail to verify training validity. Using improperly trained drivers could expose carriers to fines, litigation, or insurance complications.

For safety-sensitive employers under 49 CFR Part 40, this development highlights a broader expectation: due diligence. FMCSA expects employers to confirm that every driver meets training, testing, and return-to-duty standards, not rely on outdated or unverified paperwork.

Looking Ahead to 2026

FMCSA is expected to expand its oversight in 2026 by:

• Conducting state-specific audits of public and private training programs;

• Integrating ELDT verification into the CDLIS (Commercial Driver’s License Information System); and

• Issuing updated guidance on electronic record-keeping and provider reporting.

Training providers and employers who act now, by auditing files, updating processes, and verifying credentials will avoid future compliance disruptions.

In Summary

FMCSA’s 2025 Training Provider Registry enforcement is reshaping how the commercial driving industry approaches training and compliance. Carriers, employers, and safety-sensitive drivers must take proactive steps to confirm that all training meets current standards.

Resource

FMCSA Training Provider Registry: Training Provider Registry

FMCSA's List of Removed Training Providers: Training Provider Registry