Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Aug. 7 a regulatory action to permanently codify English language proficiency requirements for commercial truck drivers, making it more difficult for future administrations to reverse the rule.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations have long required English proficiency for commercial drivers, but enforcement has varied across administrations. The codification effort would make non-English-speaking drivers legally ineligible to operate commercial vehicles in interstate commerce.
The action raises both road safety and workforce concerns. The trucking industry faces a persistent driver shortage that industry groups have estimated at tens of thousands of unfilled positions. Some carriers have relied on immigrant drivers, including those with limited English proficiency, to fill the gap.
FMCSA regulations require commercial drivers to be able to read and speak English sufficiently to communicate with the public, understand highway traffic signs and signals, respond to official inquiries, and make written entries on reports and records.
The permanent codification would embed these requirements in a manner that would require a formal rulemaking process, including public notice and comment, to undo, rather than allowing them to be relaxed through informal enforcement guidance.
Trucking carries approximately 72% of the nation’s freight by weight, according to the American Trucking Associations, making the commercial driver workforce essential to the U.S. supply chain.
The announcement reflects a broader administration posture on immigration enforcement and labor market policies that prioritize English-speaking workers in safety-sensitive transportation roles.