During a trucking event in Austin, Texas, this week, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Sean P. Duffy signed an order announcing new guidelines to strengthen English language enforcement for commercial truck operators. 

Under the new guidance, commercial motor vehicle drivers who fail to comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) longstanding English-language proficiency (ELP) requirements will be placed out of service beginning June 25.

“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.

A DOT statement said the new guidance is in line with President Donald Trump’s April 2025 Executive Order to strengthen highway safety by ensuring that all commercial drivers are properly qualified and proficient in English. 

In April, Duffy announced plans to rescind an Obama-era policy that exempted ELP requirements for CMV drivers.

FMCSA Regulations & ELP Background

FMCSA regulations provide that a driver unable to read or speak English or understand highway traffic signs sufficiently and signals is not qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle. 

However, in 2016, President Barack Obama’s administration directed inspectors not to place CMV drivers out of service for such violations. 

The recent DOT press release said the failure to enforce driver qualification standards adequately could pose serious safety concerns and increase the likelihood of a crash.