Trump Mandates English Proficiency for All Truck Drivers

April 28, 2025 TruthUSA

The White House has stated that existing federal law requiring commercial drivers to read and speak English has “not been enforced.”

On April 28, President Donald Trump issued an executive order mandating that all commercial vehicle operators in the U.S. must be proficient English speakers.

“There are significant communication challenges among truckers on the road,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on April 28. “We will ensure that our truckers, who serve as the backbone of our economy, can all communicate effectively in English.”

The executive order aims to establish English proficiency as a “non-negotiable safety requirement” for professional drivers, who “should be able to read and interpret traffic signs, engage with traffic safety officers, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station personnel, as well as provide and receive instructions in English,” according to a White House fact sheet reported.

The order instructs Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to revoke any agency guidance that has weakened the law concerning English proficiency. It also emphasizes that drivers lacking proficiency should be taken out of service.

The existing federal law requiring commercial drivers to read and speak English has “not been enforced,” according to the White House.

Consequently, Trump’s order “mandates an update to out-of-service criteria to ensure that drivers who violate English proficiency regulations are taken out of service, thereby enhancing roadway safety,” as stated in a White House fact sheet.

This will entail Duffy assessing procedures for authenticating all commercial driver’s licenses.

The order also instructs the transport secretary to enhance working conditions for truckers through “additional administrative, regulatory, or enforcement actions” outlined in the order.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), which represents professional truck drivers, expressed support for Trump’s order in a statement to The Epoch Times.

“Basic English proficiency is crucial for understanding essential road signs, emergency instructions, and engaging with law enforcement. Road signs are life-saving—but only if understood,” said OOIDA President Todd Spencer. “That’s why OOIDA petitioned the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance earlier this year to restore English proficiency as an out-of-service violation. Today’s announcement is a significant step toward re-establishing a sensible safety standard.”

In early March, Trump signed an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States.

“To promote unity, foster a common American culture for all citizens, ensure consistency in governmental operations, and establish a path to civic engagement, it is in America’s best interest for the Federal Government to designate one—and only one—official language,” states Trump’s order.

“Declaring English as the official language will streamline communication, reinforce shared national values, and create a more cohesive and efficient society.”

Prior to Trump signing that order, Roman Palomares, head of the League of United Latin American Citizens, released a statement criticizing the executive order.

“Our Founding Fathers enshrined freedom of speech in the First Amendment without restricting it to a single language. They envisioned a nation where diversity of thought, culture, and expression would be its greatest strength,” Palomares stated.

“Declaring English the sole official language contradicts that vision. America flourishes when we embrace inclusivity, not when we silence the voices of millions who contribute to its success.”

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