New guidance aligns with President’s April 2025 Executive Order to strengthen Highway Safety
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – President Trump and his Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy believe proficiency in English is a commonsense, non-negotiable safety requirement for professional drivers – and they are taking action to make sure Commercial Truck Drivers & Operators are able to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with Traffic Safety Officers, U.S. Border Patrol Officials, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station personnel.
In order to be able provide and receive feedback and directions in English, Transportation (USDOT) Sect. Duffy signed an order at a trucking event in Austin on Tuesday 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 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, Duffy announced steps to rescind a dangerous Obama-era policy that dismissed English-language proficiency requirements for CMV drivers.
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 White House directed inspectors not to place CMV drivers out-of-service for such violations.
That failure to adequately enforce driver qualification standards poses serious safety concerns and increases the likelihood of a crash.
Secretary Duffy thanked the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance for its prompt cooperation following the President’s Executive Order.
Beginning Friday, 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.
