WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a move aimed at improving roadway safety, President Trump signed an executive order on Monday requiring all commercial truck drivers in the United States to be proficient in English. Drivers who fail to meet this requirement will be placed out of service.
According to a fact sheet released by the White House, the executive order mandates revisions to the out-of-service criteria to include English proficiency violations. This reverses a policy change made in 2016 under the previous administration, which had removed the requirement to place drivers out of service for failing to meet English language standards.
The order emphasizes that English proficiency is a critical safety requirement. Drivers must be able to read traffic signs, communicate with law enforcement officers, and interact with personnel at border crossings, agricultural checkpoints, and weight stations. They must also be able to provide and receive directions in English to ensure smooth and safe operations.
The White House states that although federal law already requires commercial vehicle drivers to be proficient in English, enforcement had not been consistent due to earlier guidance. The administration argues that this lack of enforcement has compromised roadway safety, especially as trucking-related fatalities have risen since the previous policy change.
The order also directs the Secretary of Transportation to review state-issued non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses, identify any irregularities, and ensure that all drivers are properly licensed and qualified to operate in the U.S.
Additionally, the Secretary is instructed to implement further administrative and regulatory actions to improve working conditions for American truck drivers.
This development follows a March 1 order by President Trump that designated English as the official language of the United States, bringing renewed focus to language-related safety issues in the trucking industry.
A recent review of public comments submitted to the Department of Transportation revealed that around 10%—mostly from owner-operators—supported stronger enforcement of English language requirements for commercial drivers.
Industry representatives have voiced support for the new order. The President of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association welcomed the decision, stating that basic English skills are essential for reading road signs, understanding emergency instructions, and effectively communicating with officials. He noted that the association had earlier petitioned the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance to restore English proficiency as an out-of-service violation.
The association argued that the inability to understand road signs and safety instructions has contributed to an increase in accidents. While the CVSA had removed the English proficiency requirement from its out-of-service criteria in 2015 due to a lack of supporting data, the Department of Transportation is now urging the alliance to update its policies.
Once the changes are adopted, the new standards will ensure consistent enforcement of English language requirements at both federal and state levels.