FBI Busts Illegal CDL Operation

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Uncategorized

The next time you are driving down the road and a tractor-trailer passes you by, you may wonder just how qualified the person driving that truck actually is, especially if they are driving with a Florida commercial driver's license (CDL).

The FBI and Florida state law enforcement officials recently announced they had busted a commercial driving license scheme which was based in that state. Three people have been indicted for conspiracy to aid and abet the unlawful production of Florida CDLs, as well as several other federal charges. The defendants targeted Russian-speaking immigrants from California, Illinois, New York, and Virginia. At least 600 people were given CDLs without receiving the proper training.

According to the FBI, the three were running a truck driving school, which ran an online campaign marketing to people who spoke Russian offering Florida CDLs for $2,000. Potential students would pay the fee and travel to Florida, where the defendants would then provide them with false residency documents in order for the student to obtain a regular Florida’s driver’s license – which is a requirement in order to obtain a CDL.

Once the person had the illegally obtained license, the defendants would then allegedly assist them in obtaining a CDL license. This included wiring the student with a hidden microphone and earpiece, and then secretly provide them with answers on the state’s written test. One of the defendants is certified as a third-party tester for Florida, and is believed to have certify students who actually failed the required CDL driving test.

In order to obtain a CDL in Illinois, a person must be at least 18 years of age and possess either a valid regular Illinois driver’s license or a valid CDL from another state. You must also be a legal resident of the state. Besides passing the regular vision screening test and regular vehicle test, there are four other written tests a person must pass before being issued a permit for a CDL. These are general knowledge, core knowledge, air brake, and endorsement knowledge tests. Once a person passes these written tests, they can then move on and take the driving skills test.

If you have been injured in a trucking accident, contact an experienced Orland Park personal injury attorney to find out what compensation you may be entitled to for your pain and loss.

Sources:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-russian-trucking-school-arrests-20150707-story.html

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license/how-do-i-get-commercial-drivers-license

https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/drivers_license/CDL/cdl.html