This report represents the latest in a series of efforts by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to enhance and improve the commercial driver's license (CDL) program. In September 1998, the Chicago Office of DOT, Office of the Inspector General (OIG) received information from the FHWA Office of Motor Carrier Safety (current Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) alleging fraud in the administration of the Illinois CDL program. The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois launched a coordinated criminal investigation by the OIG, FBI, Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service, and Illinois State police to investigate corruption in the Illinois CDL program. As the investigation unfolded, problems with third party CDL test administrators were also uncovered in the State of Florida. This involved applicants travelling to Florida from Illinois to fraudulently obtain CDLs that they brought back to Illinois to exchange for an otherwise valid CDL. The CDL Program Review Panel conducted a two-pronged investigation. First the Panel needed to identify those drivers issued suspect CDLs by Florida and Illinois to verify whether these licensees had been properly tested and were qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle. Second, the Panel conducted a comprehensive evaluation in both Illinois and Florida to determine if weaknesses or vulnerabilities in the CDL program had contributed to the fraud and any other licensing problems in each state. The investigation background, methods and conclusions are contained in this report. (Author/publisher)
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