FBI Probes Colorado Truck School

The FBI has begun looking into the records of a truck-driving school in Colorado after as many as 35 Arab men reportedly paid $3,400 in cash to take lessons, but did not seek job placement assistance afterwards.

TIME magazine reported in its Oct. 22 issue that the men took driving classes in several groups at a school in Henderson, Colo., during the last two years. According to the magazine, a former employee told the FBI that none of the men spoke English and all worked with the same translator.

A commercial driver's license in Colorado costs $25.60, is valid for four years and can be obtained only by a state resident who is at least 21 years old, the Denver Post reported. It also requires a doctor's certificate showing the person is physically qualified to drive a commercial vehicle.

TIME said that all of the men did receive Colorado licenses, although it was not clear how they could have passed the written test since it is in English.

That is a main reason why instructor Jack Atencio denied the magazine report, saying that he didn't recall any of the men described in the article. He did confirm however, that FBI agents visited the school for about two hours last week and were specific about the information they wanted.

Atencio said it would be impossible to train someone who did not speak English. Before attending the school, trainees must get a state permit, which requires them to pass a written test in English, he said. They then must go to the state to get the license.

The FBI refused to comment on the article and the owner of the school could not be reached, the Associated Press reported.

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