President Donald Trump’s recently signed executive order, April 28, 2025, has increased federal regulations for commercial truckers, including the demand for English literacy and proficiency tests as part of an expansive push to reduce growing communication-based safety hazards on US roads. The order, which repeals Obama-era enforcement guidelines, has increased road safety, driver shortages, and rights of non-native English-speaking drivers in the trucking sector.
Background and basis for the order
Trump’s earlier March 2025 declaration of English as the national U.S. language has finally been followed by this executive order, assuming linguistic homogeneity as a sheer safety necessity. Federal law since ages past has existed mandating commercial drivers to show minimal levels of English competence under 49 C.F.R. 391.11(b)(2), but its enforcement eased after 2016, when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration advised inspectors not to give drivers “out-of-service” citations for a lack of language skills. The Trump administration argues that this laxity contributed to preventable crashes, citing two deadly crashes due to drivers’ failure to read road signs or interact with investigators.
“English proficiency must be an unshakeable safety requirement,” the order reads, stressing that drivers need to read signs on traffic signals, interact with police and other law enforcement, and report accidents using paperwork without the help of interpreters. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy elaborated on this position, stating that FMCSA will now enforce “commonsense standards so every driver on our roadways is able to respond to emergencies and follow necessary instructions.”
Key provisions of the executive order
- Revoking 2016 enforcement guidance: In 60 days, the FMCSA is required to rescind its 2016 policy de-emphasizing English proficiency violations and issue new inspection procedures. Drivers who do not pass roadside testing and have satisfactory English proficiency will be placed out-of-service immediately, keeping them from driving commercial vehicles until they are in compliance.
- Improving commercial license regulation: The directive also demands examination of non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs)-credentials held by non-residents, such as foreign visa holders-to detect anomalies in issuance patterns. States are also required to improve verification procedures for domestic and foreign driving credentials to prevent fraud.
- Support for truckers and industry adjustments: In their emphasis on enforcement, the order charges the Department of Transportation with enhancing working conditions for truckers, delegating specifics to be determined. The complementary approach to strictness and assistance seeks to balance safety against the industry’s chronic driver shortage, totaling more than 80,000 drivers across the country.
Safety rationalizations and controversial cases
Two examples were cited by the DOT in support of stricter enforcement:
- 2019 Colorado fatal crash: A driver traveling at nearly 100 mph ignored grade and curve warnings and caused a fatal crash that killed four. The driver’s limited English, which may have been the reason he could not read signs, was blamed by investigators.
- 2025 West Virginia crash: A hit-and-run driver had an interpreter when he was questioned after the crash, raising questions about his ability to read prior warnings or legal notices.
The critics say such cases blur language ability with sloppiness, but proponents say effective communication is the solution to avoiding such tragedies.
Industry impact and labor issues
The trucking industry, already rocked by driver shortages, is now in even more limbo. Employers recruiting foreign drivers-particularly via H-2B seasonal visas and EB-3 permanent residency-is now required to test language abilities upon hiring. Miami truck driver Yoman Rivera, who drove on American roads for 15 years with little English, branded the mandate “an awful law” and contended on-the-job experience generally fills language holes. Another veteran driver, Russell Rocha, spoke up for the policy, saying, “If you can’t read a sign, that’s dangerous for everybody.”
Immigrant rights activists warn the action will disproportionately harm Hispanic and other non-native English-speaking communities, increasing discrimination and limiting economic opportunity. Industry groups such as the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) support the action as long overdue, arguing safety “cannot be compromised for convenience.”
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