Last Updated June 27, 2025
Truck drivers who can’t speak English proficiently may now be removed from service under Trump’s recent executive order, taking effect today, June 27.
For years, commercial truck drivers who failed to abide by the FMCSA’s “English proficiency rule” were subject to minor citations. But the new mandate, signed in late April, subjects drivers to being put out of service if they fail to demonstrate what’s considered acceptable English-speaking and reading levels.
Per the FMCSA, drivers in the U.S. must “read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, respond to official inquiries, and make entries on reports and records.”
Employers have been asked to conduct a dedicated English proficiency test in any new driver interview. Additionally, drivers must demonstrate acceptable English-speaking levels in roadside traffic stops. An informal roadside inspection test could include questions from DOT or FMCSA officers such as, “Where are you headed,” and, “What are you hauling?”
Failing either a formal English literacy test or an informal roadside literacy assessment is enough to place a driver out of service (OOS).
Some industry organizations like the American Trucking Association (ATA), believe the new, more serious penalties will be a net positive for the industry, citing improved highway safety as a result. In a recent letter to Trump and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, the ATA claimed the English proficiency requirement was previously going unenforced or misinterpreted, becoming one of their most pressing industry concerns.
Others believe there are more important issues in the industry to worry about. Plus, there’s been an ongoing debate about a national truck driver shortage limiting the trucking industry’s potential, and the new executive order could exacerbate the issue. Industry leaders have predicted that there could be a “significant” dip in driver capacity once the mandate is enforced more strictly.
Trucking insurance experts recently estimated that about 10% of the 3 million CDL holders in the country lack strong English proficiency, and, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 18% of drivers are foreign-born. Carriers that rely on immigrants as drivers are concerned that the increasingly strict mandate will impact their operations and only add to their struggles with finding drivers.
According to Adam Grill, president of Legacy Corporation International Trucking Academy, impacts are going to be felt one way or the other.
“A very large portion of our industry are individuals that speak languages other than English,” said Grill. “So it’s going to have an impact. And it’s hard to tell what that long-term economic impact will be.”
It’s important for company drivers, owner-operators, and large fleet carriers alike to stay on top of updated trucking laws and regulations to ensure full protection of their jobs or businesses. To do so, it can be helpful to make a habit of checking the FMCSA website for regulatory changes and updated compliance requirements.
Michael McCareins is the Content Marketing Associate at altLINE, where he is dedicated to creating and managing optimal content for readers. Following a brief career in media relations, Michael has discovered a passion for content marketing through developing unique, informative content to help audiences better understand ideas and topics such as invoice factoring and A/R financing.