TEXAS — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has expanded enforcement efforts affecting transportation, logistics, and supply chain operations, with separate actions targeting commercial driver training schools and corporate supplier diversity programs.
The moves come as Texas and federal officials increase scrutiny of commercial driver qualification standards, English-language proficiency enforcement, non-domiciled CDL rules, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices tied to procurement and supply chain contracting.
CVS Warned Over Supplier Diversity Practices
Paxton’s office announced Tuesday that it sent a warning letter to CVS Health regarding the company’s supplier diversity practices. According to the attorney general’s office, CVS reserves a portion of contracts for suppliers that meet certain demographic criteria, including minority-owned, women-owned, and LGBTQ-owned businesses.
The attorney general’s office said those programs may violate state and federal civil rights laws. Officials also said the practices could expose CVS to liability under the Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention Act because the company participates as a Medicaid pharmacy provider.
CVS was given 14 days to inform the state about steps it has taken to comply with state and federal anti-discrimination laws.
CVS Health operates a national supply chain network with more than 22 distribution centers and a fleet of 2,500 delivery vehicles supporting more than 9,000 retail stores, pharmacy services, and e-commerce platforms. A 2016 report said CVS Health’s supplier diversity initiatives supported more than 21,145 jobs within its supply chain at that time.
Trucking Schools Under Investigation
The CVS action follows a separate statewide investigation launched April 28 into several truck driving schools over allegations that some commercial drivers may be obtaining CDLs without meeting federal safety requirements, including English-language proficiency standards.
The investigation targets EP Texas Trucking School, Trucker Certified LLC, Fast Track CDL LLC, CDLCALL.COM LLC, and Lindenwood Education System, also known as Ancora.
Federal rules require CDL holders to read and speak English well enough to communicate with the public, understand highway signs and traffic signals, respond to official inquiries, and complete reports and records, according to Paxton’s office.
State investigators allege some schools may have ignored those requirements by advertising programs to non-English speakers, offering accelerated training timelines, and falsely claiming certification status.
Freight Markets and CDL Restrictions
The schools named in the investigation operate in major Texas freight markets, including El Paso, Odessa, San Antonio, Garland, and Arlington. Graduates may move into trucking jobs across logistics hubs such as Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.
EP Texas Trucking School said it is aware of the concerns and takes them seriously, adding that the school is committed to complying with all applicable state and federal standards and regulations.
On Sept. 30, the Texas Department of Public Safety said it stopped issuing CDLs to noncitizens after a federal directive aimed at tightening commercial licensing requirements. Texas DPS said it would no longer issue, renew, or reissue CDLs for refugees, asylees, or DACA recipients. Pending applications and testing were also suspended until further notice.
A non-domiciled CDL is issued to a person who is not a permanent resident of the state or the United States but is legally present for work. Since 2015, Texas has issued more than 3.2 million total CDLs, including 51,993 to non-domiciled drivers. In 2024, Texas issued 6,265 CDLs to noncitizens.
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