NMU truck driving program shut down
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MARQUETTE -- The Northern Michigan University truck driving school has been shuttered, courtesy of the Michigan Department of State office.
The state agency served NMU with a cease and desist order Wednesday, mandating that the NMU Commercial Driver's License Truck Driving Program halt operations effective immediately.
Derek Hall, NMU chief marketing officer, issued the following statement Friday afternoon:
"NMU is aware of the order issued by the Michigan Secretary of State to cease operations of our Truck Driving program. While we have complied with the order, we respectfully disagree with the findings and will challenge this action through all available channels. This order is based on disagreements over the record-keeping practices specific to the trucking program. NMU's CDL Truck Driving program is a high-quality trades program that has graduated hundreds of well-qualified graduates who have gone on to productive careers as truck drivers."
Angela Benander, chief communications officer in charge of communications and media relations for the Department of State, said, through a written statement Friday afternoon, the order was because of multiple violations of the Driver Education Provider and Instructor Act (DEPIA), including providing behind-the-wheel instruction to students without first verifying that they held valid commercial learner's permits.
Benander said that the order followed an initial investigation by MDOS which found the provider failed to maintain records required by law, failed to maintain required student financial records, did not utilize required student written agreements prior to instruction, kept records somewhere other than its established office location, and allowed students to sign blank instructional documents that were later completed. This is an ongoing investigation. No classroom or range instruction may be held during the suspension period.
Although Hall declined to comment further, other sources told The Mining Journal that an audit last September of the program by the Department of State raised concerns relative to program record keeping.
In January, the university was advised of the concerns and was told that additional communications with the auditors/Secretary of State would be forthcoming. However, no additional communications arrived until Wednesday, when the cease and desist order arrived.
The NMU CDL Truck Driving Program has been in operation since May 2018. There were three persons currently enrolled. It was unclear if any layoffs would take place because of the order.