Fueling the News: Six Charged in Louisiana CDL Commercial Drivers License Bribery Scheme
When Shortcuts Land You in the Driver’s Seat … of a Federal Case
HATTIESBURG, MS – Usually, when we talk about diesel, we’re talking horsepower, diagnostics, and DOT inspections. But today’s headline? It’s a federal indictment. Yes Were talking about the recent CDL Bribery scam that was busted up in Louisiana.
On August 28, 2025, six people in Louisiana were charged with running a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) bribery scheme. Instead of passing the tests fair and square, wannabe drivers allegedly BOUGHT their way into CDLs—skipping knowledge tests, training requirements, and even road skills exams.
And here’s the Question rolling around in my Coonass brain…
“Am I the only one wondering how the hell these non-English-speaking truck drivers even get a CDL if they can’t speak—or much less read—English? Yall get where I’m going with this right?”
Turns out, sometimes it’s because the system gets gamed.
Meet this unlikely cast of charachters that together pulled off the crime of the decade:
- Mahmoud Alhattab – Restaurant owner accused of being the middleman, funneling bribes to grease the wheels.
- Jenay Davis & Shakira Millien – Louisiana OMV workers, allegedly taking payments and even looking up answers online while taking CDL tests for applicants.
- Christopher Bryan Burns & Jonathan Parsons – CDL training school operators accused of filing fake reports saying students completed training they never actually did.
- Marline Roberts – CDL examiner who allegedly wrote up phony passing scores to back up the scam.
The CDL Scam in 3 easy Steps
- Knowledge test bypass – Instead of applicants taking tests, insiders allegedly handled them (with Google assist). This is always the one I didn’t understand. How are they passing the CDL written test which clearly states that the test is only available in English. My understanding, and somebody correct me if i’m wrong, applicants are supposed to be able to speak and read English.
- Training requirement bypass – Training schools certified students who never attended. FRAUD
- Skills test bypass – Fake road test results and counterfeit score sheets slipped into the system. Totally Fraud.
Each defendant faces wire fraud and bribery charges. Penalties? Up to 20 years in prison and six-figure fines.
Why a valid Commercial Drivers License Matters
A CDL isn’t just a piece of plastic—it’s a safety guarantee for everyone on the road. When shortcuts like this happen, unsafe and unskilled drivers end up behind the wheel of 80,000-pound rigs rolling down the highway at 65 to 70 miles an hour. When training and rules get skipped? People die.
Case in Point The Florida U-Turn Tragedy
Just days before the indictments (August 12, 2025), Harjinder Singh, a semi-truck driver on the Florida Turnpike, made an illegal U-turn and crushed a minivan—killing three innocent people inside. Singh reportedly needed a translator in court because of his poor English skills.
- Victims: 30-year-old Herby Dufresne, 37-year-old Faniola Joseph, and 54-year-old Rodrigue Dor.
- Coverage: Fox 35 Orlando, WLOX, Wikipedia summary.
That’s the real-world consequence of a Broken system. When unqualified drivers are on the road, tragedy is just a turn away.
I think its high time that we as a society take a long hard look at where the trucking industry is headed and WHY. Why are we seeing so many non-english speakers driving trucks today? WHY is the trucking industry constantly stating that they are 80,000 to 115,000 drivers short of what we need to move the freight across this country? If there IS TRULY a shortage of drivers, why are the loads paying so low? Is it because the trucking industry insiders want to move to a driverless truck system? Will driverless semi trucks make truck driving as a profession, a thing of the past? And if driverless trucks become the norm what do we get to do as a country as a society to re-educate all the folks that are currently professional truck drivers?
Driverless Commercial Trucks?
Did you know that some states are already testing the driverless trucks? If you live in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and Kentucky you are likely able to see the driverless trucks already in action today. Next time you drive down the highway check and see whos behind the wheel of that 18wheeler crusing along at 70 miles an hour beside you on the interstate.
Non-Native Non-English Speaking Commercial Truck Drivers
Let me be crystal Clear on this: I don’t have anything against anyone coming to this country (USA) for a better way of life. If we don’t count the Native Tribes and the Inuit Eskimo nobody here is “from here”. Our forefathers all migrated to America for a better life. What gives me a Burr under my saddle is folks that can’t read English driving an 80,000 pound rig down the highways and backroads rolling about 50 to 70 miles an hour with zero training, experience, or knowledge of how this equipment works. The cherry ontop of the cake is that they can’t read street signs….. thats a SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS situation.
Our Take at Hattiesburg Diesel Repair
We see it every day—rigs that aren’t road-ready, steering wheel holders who don’t always know what they’re doing. The difference between a shortcut and doing it right? Lives. The lives of your family and mine are on the line every time these untrained inexperienced drivers get behind the wheel.
At Hattiesburg Diesel Repair, we don’t cut corners. We diagnose your Commercial Truck right, we fix right the first time, and we put safety at the top of the checklist. Because whether you’re the family in the minivan, or the Driver of that 18 wheeler on I-59, Everyone deserves to get home alive.
Final thoughts….
When licensing gets corrupted, when government oversite gets so intense that ppl say there is no more money in trucking, when loads are paying so little that American drivers can no longer make a living driving, when we as an industry start turning a blind eye to the fact that a LARGE percentage of our drivers are no longer americans……. the whole industry and society pays the price. Bribery schemes like Louisiana’s, and tragic crashes like Florida’s, remind us all: Safety isn’t optional. We need to have our experienced vereran drivers, our best and our brightest, on the road behind the wheel.
So let’s keep it real. Skip the shortcuts. Trust the pros.
📞 Call Hattiesburg Diesel Truck Repair
👉 Don’t gamble with safety. If your rig is throwing codes, acting up, or overdue for service, call Hattiesburg Diesel Repair today. We’ve got the 30+ years of experience, the diagnostics, and the no-BS know-how to keep you rolling safe, legal, and profitable.
Call now at (601) 288-4401
Because out here on these roads, there are no shortcuts.
No responses yet