After the owner of a suburban Chicago driving school was convicted of bribing state examiners to pass his students, 470 Illinois licensed drivers were ordered to retake their road tests this fall. The conviction and its fallout are the latest results of a year-and-a-half federal investigation into accusations that while Gov. George Ryan was Illinois secretary of state, officials under him sold driver’s licenses for political contributions. Ryan has not been implicated in the inquiry, but earlier this year, Dean Bauer, who was inspector general under Ryan while he was secretary of state, was indicted on federal racketeering charges, accused of trying to cover up investigations of wrongdoings in the office to protect Ryan from embarrassment. Thirty-eight people have been indicted in the inquiry, with 32 convicted. The investigation has involved workers in the secretary of state’s office and the license office and driving schools. Dave Druker, a spokesman for Secretary of State Jesse White, said that 218 of the 295 drivers who had retaken the driver’s test failed this fall. An additional 175 did not show up to be re-examined, and their licenses were canceled. Bharat Patel, owner of the New Delhi Driving School, now closed, in Chicago, was sentenced to 37 months in prison after being convicted of paying bribes of $10 to $50 to state examiners from December 1997 to November 1999. Eight licensing examiners from the state licensing office on the west side of Chicago have pleaded guilty. Officials say they doubt the students knew about the bribes. White’s office, which has ordered that all drivers who obtained licenses under questionable conditions be retested, may have to test 10,000 people, Druker said.
IL Drivers Face Retesting After U.S. Inquiry Finds Licenses Had Been Sold
More Operations

BBL Fleet Acquires Velcor Leasing Corporation
BBL Fleet expanded its footprint in the fleet management industry with the acquisition of Velcor Leasing Corporation of Madison through a stock purchase agreement finalized Feb. 27, 2026.
Read More →
Lytx Introduces New AI Fleet Technologies at Protect 2026
The company introduced new AI-driven fleet safety and operations technologies during its annual user conference.
Read More →
Fleet Costs Are Rising: Here’s How Leaders Are Responding
Fleet leaders are under pressure to reduce costs, adapt to economic uncertainty, and make smarter decisions. See how peers across North America are responding with real data, proven strategies, and forward-looking insights. Download the 2026 Market Pulse Report to benchmark your strategy and uncover where you can gain an edge.
Read More →From Waffle House to AI: Fleet Trends You Need to Know
In this AF news recap, host Faith Howell covers how Waffle House stepped up during disaster response and new AI tech on the market.
Read More →Fleet Operations in the Age of AI: Navigating Ethical and Legal Challenges
AI is no longer a future concept for fleets—it’s already embedded in the tools, data, and decisions that operators rely on every day. In this episode of the Fleet Forward Podcast, recorded live at Fleet Forward, industry leaders take the conversation beyond hype to examine what responsible AI adoption really looks like in fleet operations.
Read More →Factory Installed vs. Aftermarket: Choosing the Right Telematics Path & Managing the Data
As fleets rethink how they capture, manage, and act on vehicle data, telematics is at a major inflection point. In this episode of the Fleet Forward Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most pressing questions facing fleet leaders today: Should you rely on OEM factory-installed connectivity, aftermarket devices, or a hybrid of both?
Read More →
What Real-Time Data Reveals About EV Cost, Performance, and Scalability
Experts from telematics analytics, fleet-as-a-service operations, and national EV benchmarking share how real-time data is reshaping fleet strategy—dispelling assumptions, validating best practices, and exposing costly missteps.
Read More →
Planning Through Policy Shifts: What Fleets Must Track in 2026
A powerhouse panel featuring experts from the American Automotive Leasing Association, CalSTART, and municipal fleet leadership dives into the realities of navigating shifting emissions rules, regulatory waivers, federal agency actions, the future of the EPA’s endangerment finding, and the push for unified standards. They also examine the impacts of tariffs, autonomous vehicle policy, battery innovation, and the accelerating global EV market.
Read More →
Managing Market Turbulence with Strategic Fleet Insights
This episode kicks off with a deep dive into the technologies and market forces reshaping today’s fleet landscape. Host Chris Brown is joined by Laolu Adeola (Leke Services), Tyson Jomini (J.D. Power), and Richard Hall (ZappiRide) to break down real-world data, shifting incentives, and practical strategies fleet leaders can use right now.
Read More →
Adapting Fleet Policy When Disasters Strike
In the middle of natural disasters fleet managers must shift priorities to protect people and assets. What policy items should be loosened, and when should the line be held?
Read More →