Trump to Require English for Truckers
President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order titled “Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Driver,” aimed at reinstating English language proficiency enforcement and reducing regulatory burdens on truckers.
The order instructs the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to rescind a 2016 guidance that relaxed enforcement of the English requirement for commercial drivers, originally codified in 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2). That guidance followed a decision by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance to remove English violations from the list of out-of-service criteria. Trump’s order requires FMCSA to restore those penalties within 60 days and issue new inspection procedures.
The executive action also calls for a review of how states issue commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to foreign citizens, looking for irregularities or fake credentials. Additionally, it directs federal agencies to identify ways to improve working conditions for American truck drivers by easing unnecessary regulations.
Industry leaders praised the move. “Road signs save lives — but only when they’re understood,” said Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.
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