HARRISBURG – Legislation has been signed into law to crack down on unlicensed commercial driver training schools, referred to as “CDL mills. Act 50 of 2026 strengthens PA’s oversight of commercial driver training schools by increasing the penalty for operating without authorization from the PA Department of Education. The new law is intended to affirm aspiring commercial drivers receive proper instruction from licensed schools that meet state and federal training requirements. The new law was passed after alarming concerns were raised after a PA Senate Transportation Committee hearing about unauthorized schools operating outside PA’s regulatory framework. “CDL mills” profit from defying rules and undermine legitimate training programs, threatening the safety of all road users. Previously, the maximum civil penalty for operating an unauthorized CDL school was $2,500. Act 50 increases that penalty to $25,000, giving the Department of Education a stronger enforcement tool to stop illegal operations and discourage violations. The new law does not impact private employers that provide CDL training to their own employees at no cost.
