DETROIT – The state of Michigan has suspended the operations of a Detroit truck driving school after a Local 4 investigation.
The Investigators at Local 4 looked into the Detroit Training Center after the lives and futures of several students were put on hold while the state investigated training they received.
About 25 students from the CDL Class A class that began in December 2025 hadn’t been able to test out, even though the class was supposed to last just seven weeks.
Local 4 had previously reached out to the state about an ongoing review of the Detroit Training Center. On Monday, the Michigan Department of State announced the center’s suspension.
The announcement cites violations of the Driver Education Provider and Instructor Act. The investigation found that the school charged students for hours of commercial driver’s license instruction that they didn’t full receive.
A summary suspension was issued on Thursday, May 14, after an initial investigation found, “the school misled students by providing fewer CDL instruction hours than it had contractually promised for completing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Entry-Level Driver Training curriculum requirements and allowed students to sign or initial training documents containing blank fields that the school later completed.”
The following issues were also found, according to the state:
- Failure to have a written agreement with students before instruction began
- Allowing individuals who were not the owner or designated representative of the school to sign student contracts
- Failure to maintain required student records
- Keeping records somewhere other than its established office location as required
The investigation remains ongoing, No classes or other instruction are allowed during the suspension.
Here’s a statement from the CEO of the Detroit Training Center:
DTC has received notification from the State of Michigan that twenty students have been approved to take their final CDL Test. These students have done everything that has been asked of them and we regret it took significantly longer than expected to get them tested.
Testing will start on 5/22 and continue until each of these students has had the opportunity to pass their CDL State Exam. We are working with each student individually to schedule them with a time that works with their schedule along with the testing centers.
Due to overall limited availability of funding for Workforce Development coupled with delays and additional costs incurred to keep training running, such as instructor time, maintenance, and diesel in the tanks while awaiting final approval from the State, DTC has decided to close this program offering and will not have future CDL classes available. We look forward to continuing to serve those throughout Southeast Michigan in our other Workforce Development Programs and classes.
Detroit Training Center is proud to have graduated over 1000 Students through the CDL Training Program over the last 12 years with graduates going on to work at many of the top Trucking, Construction, and Logistics companies throughout Michigan.
Patrick Beal, CEO of Detroit Training Center
The Investigators at Local 4 started working on this story when a student in the CDL Class A training program reached out to us through the ClickOnDetroit Help Center. The student we spoke to for this story has requested to remain anonymous.
If you need something investigated you can reach out to the Investigators at Local 4 through theClickOnDetroit Help Desk or by emailing us directly at Local4Investigators@wdiv.com.
Dani’s Transport steps in to help
The Investigators at Local 4 got results for the students.
The classes cost about $6,000. Many of the students received grants to pay for the training. Little did they know, until Local 4 investigated, those classes were not meeting federal standards.
So, they were stuck. No proper training, and they could not get another grant, and many had already quit their jobs to pursue this new career.
The owners at Dani’s Transport saw our coverage and decided to come save the day.
“We decided that we would donate so they could have a future in the transportation industry, it’s not just our industry, but the industry in general,” Dani’s Transport owner Mark Peyerk said.
Peyerk said he will pay the $6,000 for each of the 20 to 25 students who want to take the state-approved truck driving classes.
“It’s just sad that they invested time, they may have got donations from the state. They thought they were going to have a career as a professional driver -- and that was taken away from them,” Peyerk said.
Dani’s Transport says after they’ve gone through the proper training and passed the test they are offering truck driving jobs at one of their four Metro Detroit locations in Milford, Rockwood, Pontiac, and Ruby in the Port Huron area.
“Being a local family-owned business, we understand how much work has to go into creating the future,” Peyerk said.
How US Truck Driving Training School is helping
Tyler LaBarge is the president of the U.S. Truck Driving Training School.
He said more than anything, he feels for the students. His company will be teaching the students at no cost to the student because Dani’s Transport will be paying the bill.
“When Dani’s reaches out to you and says Channel 4 exposed this issue ... we want to help pay for these students to get training -- what was your reaction?” Karen Drew asked.
“My reaction was, ‘Oh my God, thank you. Thank you for recognizing how much effort we put into our students,’” LaBarge said.
How students can reach out to get help
Current Detroit Training Center truck driving students who have discovered their class does not meet federal regulations can reach out to Dani’s Transport.
You will need to provide proof of enrollment in the current class. Dani’s Transport is willing to pay for your truck driving training through U.S. Truck Driver Training School in Sterling Heights.
You can reach out to Dani’s Transport at HR@danitransport.com.