Trump Mandates English Proficiency for Commercial Drivers
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President Donald Trump has issued an executive order mandating that commercial drivers in the U.S. be proficient in speaking and reading English, and which directs the federal government to closely monitor commercial driver licenses issued by states to individuals who do not reside in the U.S.
The order also directs Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to undo an Obama-era English proficiency policy, outlined in a 2016 memo, which paused regulations mandating that drivers during roadside inspections be placed out of service if they were not fluent in reading and understanding English.
“Every day, truckers perform the demanding and dangerous work of transporting the nation’s goods to businesses, customers and communities safely, reliably and efficiently,” Trump said in the order. “My administration will enforce the law to protect the safety of American truckers, drivers, passengers and others, including by upholding the safety enforcement regulations that ensure that anyone behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle is properly qualified and proficient in our national language, English.” Trump in an earlier executive order designated English as the official U.S. language.
This latest executive order — one of a record-setting 142 Trump signed in his first 100 days, according to the American Presidency Project — declared English proficiency “a non-negotiable safety requirement for professional drivers. They should be able to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with traffic safety, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints and cargo weight-limit station officers.”
Trump added, “Drivers need to provide feedback to their employers and customers and receive related directions in English. This is common sense. Yet this requirement has not been enforced in years, and America’s roadways have become less safe.”
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The 2016 memo paused a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requirement to automatically place out of service a driver unable to read English-language highway signs or speak the language. Trump directed Duffy to rescind the memo within 60 days and issue new FMCSA guidance to agency and enforcement personnel with revised English-proficiency inspection procedures. Trump also ordered FMCSA to revamp out-of-service criteria for violations of English proficiency to ensure drivers are “placed out of service, including by working with the relevant entities responsible for establishing the out-of-service criteria.”
In addition, stronger federal oversight will be applied to non-domiciled CDL holders. Per current FMCSA rules, foreign drivers with valid employment authorization or an unexpired foreign passport and with valid U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrival and departure records can obtain a so-called “non-domiciled” CDL. Drivers from Canada and Mexico are exempt since FMCSA accepts CDLs issued from those countries.
Under the new order, state agencies will be directed to look for “any unusual patterns or numbers or other irregularities” and evaluate for possible federal actions the protocols used to verify the authenticity and validity of both domestic and international commercial driving credentials.
Trump also ordered Duffy to within 60 days “identify and begin carrying out additional administrative, regulatory or enforcement actions to improve the working conditions of America’s truck drivers.”
Brian Antonellis of Fleet Advantage and TMC General Chairman Radu Mihai discuss the need for targeted training programs for heavy-duty technicians that build a capable, future-ready workforce. Tune in above or by going to .
Trump’s order — officially titled “Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers” — was met with praise from industry stakeholders.
“We thank the Trump administration for responding to our concerns on the uneven application of this existing regulation, and we look forward to working with FMCSA and the law enforcement community on an objective, consistent and effective enforcement standard,” American Trucking Associations Senior Vice President of Regulatory and Safety Policy Dan Horvath said in a statement.
In an April 10 letter to Duffy, ATA President Chris Spear asked for an immediate review of federal directives regarding enforcing the English-proficiency standard and asked DOT to work with CVSA to ensure proper and consistent enforcement action is taken.
Wyoming Trucking Association President Kevin Hawley said, “Today marks a proud moment for everyone who came together with a shared commitment to safety, progress and common-sense solutions.” He said Trump’s order “highlights the importance of listening to those on the front lines of America’s supply chain.”
Arkansas Trucking Association President Shannon Newton welcomed the order and noted her association’s advocacy in helping advance a newly enacted state law codifying federal English proficiency guidelines.
The Oklahoma state Senate is considering similar legislation that creates limitations on people who hold certain temporary immigration status from operating commercial vehicles. It penalizes companies for knowingly hiring unauthorized drivers and ensures heavy truck drivers are legally licensed. It also ensures truckers can read road signs, communicate with law enforcement and respond in emergencies.
