The trucking industry entered the first week of December under intense regulatory pressure, soft freight demand, and renewed national attention on driver training and licensing standards. As the holiday shipping season approached, carriers and drivers found themselves navigating major federal crackdowns, state-level compliance issues, tight capacity in certain lanes, and ongoing structural challenges that continue to reshape the transportation workforce. Here is a comprehensive look at the most important trucking developments leading into the week of December 1, 2025.
Federal Review Finds Widespread Non-Compliance Among CDL Training Providers
The dominant story of the week was a sweeping federal review revealing that nearly 44% of CDL training schools in the United States did not meet required Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) standards. This review was the largest federal audit of driver-training providers in decades, and its findings triggered immediate action.
Close to 3,000 training schools were moved toward decertification due to serious compliance violations. Another 4,500+ schools were formally notified that they risk removal from the Training Provider Registry if they could not demonstrate compliance within a federally mandated timeframe.
The deficiencies ranged from incomplete behind-the-wheel training documentation to unqualified instructors and improper curriculum delivery. Regulators also noted that some schools failed to ensure students demonstrated proficiency in all legally required competencies before certifying them for CDL testing.
This crackdown is widely viewed as a direct response to longstanding industry concerns about “CDL mills” — schools that enroll students, rush them through minimal training, and certify them without proper instruction. Safety advocates have argued for years that such programs contribute to higher crash rates, driver turnover, and inadequate readiness for real-world freight operations.
For carriers, however, the immediate effects could be disruptive. Thousands of students who completed training at questionable schools may now be required to repeat modules or provide additional proof of instruction before they can schedule skills tests. Training bottlenecks are already emerging in certain regions, and the holiday season typically reduces examiner availability. The industry could experience measurable slowdowns in new-driver onboarding as a result.
Minnesota Under Federal Threat Over Improper CDL Issuance
The CDL issue expanded beyond training when the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a formal notice to the state of Minnesota: revoke improperly issued non-domiciled CDLs or lose up to $30.4 million in federal highway funding.
A federal audit found significant irregularities in how Minnesota processed licenses for non-U.S. residents, including cases where:
- Residency verification was not properly completed
- Immigration documents were missing or expired
- CDL applications lacked required testing documentation
- Applicants received licenses despite insufficient credentials
Minnesota transportation officials moved swiftly, launching internal audits and beginning the process of identifying and revoking improperly issued credentials. For drivers who obtained CDLs through irregular channels, this could lead to sudden job loss. For carriers, especially those with a high concentration of drivers trained or licensed in Minnesota, it poses operational risks and potential compliance vulnerabilities.
The situation also highlights the broader challenge the industry faces as it tries to attract and retain qualified immigrant drivers while balancing strict federal identity-verification requirements.
Freight Market Conditions Remain Weak Going Into December
Heading into the week of December 1, freight conditions showed little improvement from the soft environment that has persisted through much of 2025. National load volumes remained below 2024 levels, and while capacity was widely available, rates stayed compressed. Contract rates continued to outpace spot rates, but both remained under pressure.
Market analysts noted several key dynamics shaping the freight landscape:
- Excess capacity remains high, especially in the long-haul truckload sector.
- Spot market opportunities are limited, and bidding competition has intensified.
- Fleet operating costs remain elevated, with insurance, maintenance, and equipment financing continuing to challenge small carriers.
- Retail freight has softened, reflecting a slower holiday cycle compared to previous years.
Despite the downturn, there were pockets of resilience. Some regional and LTL carriers reported modest stabilization in tonnage, and dedicated fleets maintained steady contractual volumes. The refrigerated sector saw slightly elevated activity due to holiday-driven food distribution, though not enough to shift national pricing trends.
Seasonal Tightening Expected, But Overcapacity Dampens Rate Pressure
Historically, the first half of December brings short-term capacity tightening, particularly on consumer-goods, grocery, and parcel-related freight. However, analysts warned that 2025’s overabundance of capacity would limit rate spikes.
Driver vacations, winter weather, and pre-holiday demand may still create stress on certain lanes, especially outbound Midwest, Southeast retail distribution, and major port markets. But carriers expecting a traditional December surge may be disappointed. While volumes should rise modestly, the imbalance between supply and demand remains too pronounced for a dramatic rate shift.
Shippers, however, are not out of the woods. Even in weak markets, winter storms, regional driver shortages, or last-minute seasonal surges can still tighten capacity temporarily. Many brokers advised clients to book mid-December freight early to avoid disruptions.
FMCSA Announces New Truck-Parking Study
Another key development leading into December was the FMCSA’s launch of a national data-collection effort to quantify the impact of the truck-parking shortage. The agency announced plans to survey thousands of drivers to measure lost productivity, early shutdowns, safety risks, and unintended HOS violations caused by insufficient parking infrastructure.
Driver advocates welcomed the move, noting that truck parking has ranked among the industry’s top concerns for years. The data could influence federal funding priorities, potentially boosting rest-area expansions or public-private parking partnerships in 2026 and beyond.
For carriers, an improved parking landscape could reduce detention-related HOS constraints and increase operational efficiency — especially during winter months when weather delays amplify parking shortages.
Industry Outlook: What the First Week of December Signals
As the trucking industry stepped into December 2025, several themes emerged that are likely to carry into the new year:
1. Regulatory pressure is accelerating.
Between the training-provider crackdown and state-level licensing issues, regulators are signaling an unprecedented emphasis on CDL integrity. This will reshape how new drivers enter the workforce.
2. Driver supply may tighten in 2026.
Even with weak freight demand, sudden loss of training capacity and stricter issuance standards could reduce the number of new drivers entering the industry next year.
3. Freight markets are volatile but oversupplied.
Pressure on smaller carriers remains intense. Further consolidation is expected if rates don’t recover meaningfully in early 2026.
4. Infrastructure problems persist.
Truck-parking shortages and inadequate driver facilities remain unsolved. The new federal study could help, but solutions will take time and funding.
5. Operational efficiency is becoming a competitive advantage.
As compliance costs rise and margins shrink, carriers that manage routing, maintenance, and driver retention effectively will outperform those that rely heavily on spot freight or older equipment.
Conclusion
The week of December 1, 2025, marks a pivotal moment in trucking. With nearly half of the country’s CDL schools under scrutiny, a major state facing funding consequences over improper licensing, and freight markets stuck in an extended downturn, the industry finds itself balancing regulatory reform, financial pressure, and shifting operational realities. As December progresses, carriers, drivers, schools, and regulators will all feel the weight of these developments.
The road into 2026 will be shaped by how effectively the industry adapts — and how quickly it can align training quality, licensing integrity, and operational resilience with the evolving demands of the modern supply chain.