Ruth Johnson, Michigan’s Secretary of State, announced that a Detroit trucking school was ordered to shut down by her office, stating, “We take our responsibility to protect the integrity of ID documents very seriously.” The school owners were fined $34,000 and had their training license revoked due to encouragement for students using fake residential documents to apply for CDLs.
According to the press release issued August 10:
Sukhjit and Rajinder Sandhu, the school operators, gave students falsified rental agreements showing empty homes that weren’t connected to the school or students. These fake leases showed the students residing in Michigan when applying for the necessary CDLs for operating trucks and other vehicles.
Law enforcement was contacted when Johnson’s officials found out about it.
Beginning August 15, the Great Truckers Driving School has had its certificate revoked, and isn’t permitted to offer instruction for driving in Michigan.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires a Commercial Learner Permit (CLP) for all Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) applicants. Applicants for CLP’s must be at least 18-years-old and they must hold the permit for at least 14 days before taking the test for a CDL. In addition, all permit applicants will now have to meet all the same requirements for the CDL, including passing a knowledge test, derived from FMCSA materials.
According to government statistics, nearly 5,000 Americans die in large truck accidents every year, and hundreds of thousands more are seriously injured. When drivers try to avoid the rigorous requirements truckers must meet in order to safely drive a large truck, all drivers on the road are endangered.
Our Michigan truck accident attorneys applaud the state’s efforts in ensuring the safety of Michigan residents by stopping fraudulent activity for those applying for Commercial Driver’s Licenses.
If you or someone you love has suffered serious injuries in a truck accident in Michigan caused by the negligence of a driver or trucking company, you have valuable legal rights. Please contact the truck accident attorneys at The Michigan Injury Lawyers at 866-601-9468, or contact us online for a free evaluation of your case.