Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a rulemaking to codify English language proficiency requirements for commercial truck drivers operating on U.S. roads on Aug. 7.
The rulemaking would establish enforceable regulatory language with the force of law, distinct from guidance or enforcement policy, according to the Department of Transportation. The administration said the Obama administration had reduced enforcement of an existing statutory requirement for English proficiency.
English proficiency is required by federal statute for commercial drivers who must communicate with traffic enforcement officers and read road signs. The new rule would embed that requirement in federal regulations, making it harder for a future administration to weaken enforcement through policy changes alone.
The rulemaking has broad workforce and safety implications. The trucking industry employs approximately 3.5 million drivers in the United States, and the sector has increasingly relied on immigrant workers to fill a persistent driver shortage.
For motorists sharing the road with commercial trucks, the rule addresses a safety concern: drivers who cannot read English-language road signs or communicate with law enforcement during traffic stops or at weigh stations pose potential risks on highways.
Industry groups have offered mixed reactions to English proficiency enforcement in the past. Some trucking associations have supported the requirement as a safety measure, while workforce advocates have argued it could exacerbate the driver shortage and discriminate against qualified multilingual drivers.
The rulemaking process will include a public comment period before any final rule takes effect, allowing industry stakeholders, worker advocates and the public to weigh in.