New Executive Order Impacting English Skills for Truckers: What’s Changing?

President Trump signed an executive order reinstating English language proficiency requirements for commercial truck drivers, reversing Obama-era relaxations and receiving overwhelming support from trucking industry leaders concerned about road safety.

Quick Takes

Trump’s executive order enforces federal requirements for commercial truck drivers to demonstrate English proficiency, which had been largely unenforced since 2016.
Industry organizations including the American Trucking Associations, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, and Arkansas Trucking Association have expressed strong support for the measure.
The order directs Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to place drivers who fail to meet language requirements “out-of-service.”
Commercial drivers must be able to read traffic signs, communicate with law enforcement, and complete required reports in English.
The measure aims to enhance road safety by ensuring all commercial drivers can understand critical roadway communications.

Restoring Safety Requirements on American Highways

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order reinforcing existing federal law requiring commercial truck drivers to demonstrate proficiency in English. The measure aims to address what the administration describes as years of lax enforcement that has compromised safety on American roadways. The directive specifically reverses a 2016 Obama administration memorandum that had weakened the language proficiency requirement for commercial motor vehicle operators, creating what industry experts describe as inconsistent enforcement standards across different jurisdictions.

In the executive order, Trump emphasized the importance of proper qualifications for those operating large commercial vehicles. “My Administration will enforce the law to protect the safety of American truckers, drivers, passengers, and others, including by upholding the safety enforcement regulations that ensure that anyone behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle is properly qualified and proficient in our national language, English,” said Trump.

"On behalf of America's Truck Drivers, we, the founders of American Truckers United, extend our heartfelt gratitude to President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for the executive order mandating English proficiency for all truck drivers and addressing the… pic.twitter.com/grnkiJ1BLg

— American Truckers (@atutruckers) April 29, 2025

Industry Support for Language Requirements

The trucking industry has broadly endorsed the executive order. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), representing approximately 150,000 truck drivers, expressed strong support for Trump’s decision. Todd Spencer, president of OOIDA, emphasized that the measure would address inconsistencies in how these standards have been applied across state lines. Industry leaders have long advocated for uniformity in safety regulations to ensure that all commercial operators meet the same basic qualifications.

The American Trucking Associations also welcomed the order, with Dan Horvath, vice president of safety policy, stating, “We thank the Trump Administration for responding to our concerns on the uneven application of this existing regulation, and we look forward to working with FMCSA and the law enforcement community on an objective, consistent and effective enforcement standard.” Support has additionally come from state-level organizations like the Arkansas Trucking Association, which had previously advocated for similar measures at the state level.

Practical Safety Implications

The executive order focuses on practical requirements necessary for safe operation of commercial vehicles. Federal law mandates that commercial drivers must be able to read and understand traffic signs and signals, effectively communicate with safety officials and law enforcement, and properly complete required reports and records. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted these requirements, noting that drivers unable to meet these standards would be deemed unqualified to operate commercial vehicles.

Under the new directive, the Department of Transportation will establish clear criteria for determining English proficiency and integrate these standards into the regular vehicle inspection process. Drivers found to be lacking sufficient language skills will be placed “out-of-service” until they can demonstrate adequate proficiency. The measure explicitly directs officials to rescind guidance that had previously weakened these requirements and to revise out-of-service criteria to properly address language proficiency violations.

Part of Broader Policy Direction

The executive order represents one component of the administration’s broader policy initiatives regarding language and immigration. In addition to the truck driver language requirements, Trump signed a separate order directing officials to publish lists of “sanctuary city” jurisdictions. The language proficiency mandate aligns with efforts to establish English as the official language of the United States, which has been supported by various transportation industry stakeholders who cite concerns about communication barriers creating potential safety hazards.

Industry representatives have pointed to specific safety concerns involving drivers who cannot effectively read road signs or communicate during emergencies. The OOIDA publicly thanked Secretary Duffy on social media “for listening to #truckers and prioritizing highway safety!” The overwhelming industry support suggests the measure addresses longstanding concerns from professional drivers who have advocated for more consistent enforcement of existing safety regulations.