New Executive Order Puts 300,000 US Truck Drivers at Risk Over English Proficiency

A recent incident highlighted by the "American Truckers" social media account, detailing a truck driver's reliance on a translation app to communicate with a tow truck after an accident, underscores a growing challenge in the U.S. trucking industry. This comes as a new executive order, signed in April 2025, mandates stricter English language proficiency for commercial drivers, reversing previous enforcement guidelines and raising concerns about its impact on a significant portion of the workforce. The directive aims to enhance road safety by ensuring clear communication among drivers and officials.

President Donald Trump's executive order reinforces a long-standing federal requirement for commercial drivers to "read and speak the English language sufficiently" to converse with the public, understand traffic signs, and respond to official inquiries. This move explicitly rescinds a 2016 guidance from the Obama administration that allowed for more discretion and the use of translation aids during roadside inspections. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the necessity of this change, stating that a driver unable to understand English is "unqualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle in America."

Under the updated guidance issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on May 20, 2025, drivers will face a two-step English proficiency assessment during inspections, prohibiting the use of interpreters or translation apps. Non-compliant drivers will be immediately placed "out of service." Industry groups such as the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) and the American Trucking Associations (ATA) have voiced support for the order, asserting that basic English skills are crucial for safety and effective communication with law enforcement and emergency personnel.

However, the executive order has drawn criticism from various advocacy groups, including the Sikh Coalition and the Congressional Tri-Caucus. They express concerns about the potential for discriminatory impact and the creation of employment barriers for immigrant drivers, who constitute a substantial portion of the trucking workforce. Estimates suggest that approximately 10% of U.S. truck drivers, potentially up to 300,000 individuals, may not meet the newly enforced English proficiency standards, putting their livelihoods at risk.

The stricter enforcement has led to discussions about its broader implications for the industry, including potential driver shortages and operational challenges for carriers. While proponents argue it is a vital step for highway safety, critics contend that focusing solely on language proficiency may divert attention from other critical safety issues such as driver fatigue and inadequate training. Lawmakers have also introduced "Connor's Law" to codify the executive order, further solidifying English proficiency as a legal requirement for commercial driver's licenses.