Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened a statewide investigation into multiple Texas trucking schools accused of providing substandard commercial driver training and certifying drivers who may not meet federal and state safety standards, including English language proficiency requirements.
As part of the probe, Paxton’s office has issued Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs) to five entities: EP Texas Trucking School (“EP Trucking”), Trucker Certified LLC (“Trucker Certified”), Fast Track CDL LLC (“Fast Track”), CDLCALL.COM LLC (“CDLCALL”), and Lindenwood Education System dba Ancora.
Federal regulations require commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders to “read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, understand highway traffic signs and signals in English, respond to official inquiries, and make entries on reports and records.” Texas and federal law also mandate that training programs properly prepare students to operate commercial motor vehicles safely, as noted in Paxton’s April 28 press release.
Preliminary findings indicate that some schools are allegedly disregarding these mandates. For instance, EP Trucking has reportedly told prospective students that English proficiency is not required and advertises its programs in Spanish. Investigators also found that several schools falsely claimed certification status and promoted accelerated courses lasting only approximately 20 days — significantly shorter than the typical three-to-seven-week industry standard. Such practices suggest inadequate instruction and evaluation of students.
These alleged actions violate the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and pose serious risks to public safety, according to the Attorney General’s Office. Paxton’s team says it will pursue all necessary steps to protect CDL trainees from deceptive programs and shield Texans from unqualified drivers on the roads.
“Putting non-English speakers behind the wheel of 18-wheelers in America can pose serious threats to public safety,” said Attorney General Paxton. “My office is thoroughly investigating these trucking schools, and I am taking this matter very seriously. I will fight to ensure that Texans are safe and that only qualified, English-speaking truckers are operating commercial vehicles on our roads.”
Per the press release, the schools operate multiple locations across Texas:
- EP Texas Trucking School: Odessa and El Paso
- Trucker Certified: Pampa, Amarillo, Plainview, and Borger
- Fast Track CDL: Garland
- CDLCALL: San Antonio
- Ancora: Arlington
Graduates from these programs are believed to enter trucking fleets statewide, including major freight corridors in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas.
This investigation was announced on April 28, 2026. The Office of the Attorney General has not yet filed formal charges, as the CIDs are part of the fact-finding process.
