Federal officials in Detroit announced a broad crackdown on fraud within the trucking industry Aug. 31 that includes immediately shutting down more than 100 truck-driving schools in an attempt to boost safety on America’s roads and prevent injuries and deaths.

The crackdown, including a new task force involving law enforcement and federal prosecutors from across the Midwest, is targeting truck-driving schools that license drivers who do not speak or understand English, and those that lack qualified instructors and adequate facilities with space and vehicles to train drivers.

The task force's goals include enhancing safety on America's roads and reducing fatalities and serious injuries.

Federal officials also are proposing shutting down another 160 training facilities and conducting a nationwide audit of third-party agencies that test the skills of people applying for commercial driver's licenses.

The announcement is part of a broader attempt to thwart fraud within the trucking industry by the Trump administration. Other initiatives announced in recent months have included enforcing English language standards and preventing unqualified drivers from fraudulently obtaining licenses.

“We are making sure we are rooting out fraud and fraudsters and bringing safety back to our roadways,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said during a news conference at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit.

The crackdown comes after officials say commercial truck drivers who illegally obtained licenses have killed hundreds of drivers and injured thousands in recent years. Last year, DOT statistics show 30 people were killed in at least 17 crashes involving unqualified foreign drivers.

The announcement at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit included several federal officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon and top federal prosecutors from across the region, including Ohio, Illinois and Indiana.

“One death, one permanent injury is one too many, and this was 100% preventable,” Mullen said.

In the last 18 months, Transportation officials have removed more than 28,000 commercial truck drivers from America's roads for failing to speak English, a requirement that has been in place for decades.

The crackdown was announced in a key region of the U.S. as Detroit is the nation's second-busiest trade crossing with more than 2.5 million trucks crossing through the international border area each year.

"Many of these trucks are driven by foreign nationals and illegal aliens who lack proper training," Gorgon said.

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