Trump ENFORCES English – No More!

President Trump signs executive order enforcing English proficiency requirements for commercial truck drivers, reversing an Obama-era policy that critics say compromised highway safety across America.

At a Glance

  • Trump’s executive order reinstates federal English-language proficiency requirements for commercial truck drivers that had been weakened since 2016
  • The order directs Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to enforce regulations ensuring drivers can read road signs, communicate with authorities, and complete required reports
  • Major trucking organizations including the American Trucking Associations and Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association have expressed strong support for the measure
  • Drivers failing to meet English proficiency standards will be placed “out-of-service” under the new enforcement guidelines

Restoring Safety Standards on American Highways

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order enforcing federal requirements for English-language proficiency among commercial truck drivers, addressing what his administration describes as a critical safety concern on America’s highways.

The order specifically targets a 2016 Obama administration memorandum that had effectively weakened enforcement of the language requirement, which Trump’s team argues has contributed to increasing safety risks on roadways nationwide as unqualified drivers have remained behind the wheels of commercial vehicles.

The executive order directs Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to ensure strict compliance with existing federal regulations that require commercial drivers to demonstrate sufficient English language skills to read and understand traffic signs and signals, communicate with the public and law enforcement, and accurately complete logs and transportation records.

Drivers failing to meet these standards will be deemed unqualified to operate commercial vehicles and placed “out-of-service.”

Industry Support for Language Requirements

The order has received strong backing from major trucking organizations, which have long advocated for consistent enforcement of safety standards. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), representing approximately 150,000 truckers, publicly endorsed the president’s decision, highlighting the essential nature of communication skills for highway safety. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) and other industry groups have similarly expressed support for the measure as a common-sense safety requirement.

“OOIDA and the 150,000 truckers we proudly represent strongly support President Trump’s decision to resume enforcement of English proficiency requirements for commercial drivers.”, said Todd Spencer

Dan Horvath, Vice President of Safety Policy at ATA, thanked the administration for addressing inconsistent application of the regulation, stating the organization looks forward to working with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and law enforcement to develop “an objective, consistent and effective enforcement standard.” Shannon Newton of the Arkansas Trucking Association noted her organization’s satisfaction in seeing the issue elevated to a national level “where it can have the greatest impact.”

Presidential Priorities for Highway Safety

In announcing the executive order, President Trump emphasized his administration’s commitment to protecting “the safety of American truckers, drivers, passengers, and others” by ensuring that commercial vehicle operators are properly qualified. The order represents part of a broader effort by the administration to reinforce English as the official language of the United States while addressing safety concerns related to qualification standards for commercial drivers.

“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 President Trump.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reinforced the administration’s position, noting that “Federal law is clear: a driver who cannot sufficiently read or speak English—our native language—and understand road signs is unqualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle in America.” The executive order specifically tasks Duffy with developing revised out-of-service criteria for drivers who violate the English proficiency standards, establishing a more rigorous enforcement mechanism than has existed in recent years.

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