Trump Order Makes English-Proficiency Violations an Out-of-Service Offense for Truck Drivers
Executive Order 14286, signed April 28, 2025, told FMCSA to rescind 2016 enforcement guidance within 60 days and directed a review of state-issued non-domiciled CDLs.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on April 28, 2025, directing federal regulators to enforce the English-language requirement for commercial truck drivers and to put drivers who fail it out of service. The order, titled "Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America's Truck Drivers," was published in the Federal Register on May 2 as Executive Order 14286.
Federal rules at 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2) already require that a commercial driver "read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records." The order said that requirement "has not been enforced in years."
What the order requires
- Within 60 days, the Transportation Secretary, acting through FMCSA, must rescind the June 2016 guidance document "English Language Proficiency Testing and Enforcement Policy MC-ECE-2016-006" and issue new inspection guidance for roadside enforcement.
- FMCSA must take steps to revise the out-of-service criteria so that a violation of the English-proficiency rule results in the driver being placed out of service.
- FMCSA must review non-domiciled CDLs issued by state agencies to identify "any unusual patterns or numbers or other irregularities," and improve how domestic and foreign driving credentials are verified.
- Within 60 days, the Secretary must identify and begin additional actions to improve truck drivers' working conditions.
Industry reaction
Both major trucking groups backed the order. "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," said Dan Horvath, ATA's senior vice president of regulatory and safety policy. ATA said it had received reports that the requirement was often misinterpreted and inconsistently enforced, likely because of the 2016 memo.
"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 OOIDA President Todd Spencer. He noted that OOIDA had petitioned the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance earlier in the year to reinstate English proficiency as an out-of-service violation.
Not everyone agreed. Truckers News, citing The Hindu, reported that the Sikh Coalition was concerned about a possible "discriminatory impact on Sikh truck drivers" and "unnecessary barriers to employment for qualified individuals."
What it means for drivers and fleets
Under the 2016 guidance, an English-proficiency violation could lead to a citation without taking the driver off the road. The order set up a change in which a driver who cannot communicate adequately with an inspector could be placed out of service on the spot, stranding the truck and load. Carriers had reason to review how they assess English skills when hiring and to prepare for revised roadside procedures once FMCSA issued its new guidance. The order's CDL review also signaled closer federal scrutiny of how states issue licenses to foreign-domiciled drivers.