Announcing new guidance to Enforce English Proficiency Requirement for Truckers
“America first means safety first”
AUSTIN, TX - Today, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Sean P. Duffy signed an order at a trucking event in Austin announcing new guidelines to strengthen English language enforcement for commercial truck operators. Under the new guidance, commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers who fail to comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) longstanding English-language proficiency (ELP) requirements will be placed out-of-service.
“America First means safety first. Americans are a lot safer on roads alongside truckers who can understand and interpret our traffic signs. This common-sense change ensures the penalty for failure to comply is more than a slap on the wrist,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.
This new guidance is in line with the President’s April 2025 Executive Order to strengthen highway safety by ensuring that all commercial drivers are properly qualified and proficient in English, our national language.
In April, Secretary Duffy announced steps to rescind a dangerous Obama-era policy that dismissed ELP requirements for CMV drivers.
Additional Background:
President Donald Trump and Secretary Duffy believe that proficiency in English is a commonsense, non-negotiable safety requirement for professional drivers, as they should be able to read and understand traffic signs; communicate with traffic safety officers, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station personnel; and provide and receive feedback and directions in English.
FMCSA regulations provide that a driver unable to sufficiently read or speak English or understand highway traffic signs and signals is not qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle. However, in 2016, the Obama administration directed inspectors not to place CMV drivers out-of-service for such violations. The failure to adequately enforce driver qualification standards poses serious safety concerns and increases the likelihood of a crash.
Secretary Duffy thanks the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance for its prompt cooperation following the President’s Executive Order. Beginning June 25, 2025, ELP violations will once again be included in the out-of-service criteria—ensuring consistent, nationwide enforcement and reaffirming the Department’s unwavering commitment to roadway safety.
Living in Texas and traveling quite a lot along hwy 45, 59, and I-10, I get to see first hand all the non-natives and their impressive driving skills. Also the great care and mechanical worthiness of their trucks, too. Drove 3 hours south of Houston two weeks back, must of seen a dozen 18-wheelers on the shoulder broke down, plus several wrecks. I keep my head on a swivel at all times.
ReplyDeleteI don't do very much traveling these days, thank goodness, but we used to drive from FL to CA on a regular basis to visit her family. (The wife had a bad experience flying by herself out there one time and I couldn't convince her to get on an airplane after that.) The trash we saw traveling down 10 all the way across the country was almost unfathomable when we started and it just got worse over the years. We live just south of 10 in FL and we hear about wrecks and closures all the time from semi's and other commercial vehicles.
DeleteDrove to Virginia and back a few weeks ago, yeah there's a problem. Most of the time truck drivers are smarter
ReplyDeleteand better drivers than the norm but that standard has started to slide. Head on a swivel is right, cause the other
guy is eyeing his damn phone!
Yes sir. I used to trust the 18 wheelers to know what was going on and respond to it correctly and let the rest of us know. (Dating myself to the CB radio days.) But like you said, these guys are all watching the screen on their phones now, especially the passenger cars and trucks.
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