In the state of Missouri, nearly five hundred commercial drivers were temporarily suspended after inspections revealed insufficient English language proficiency. This concerns the application of a long-standing but rarely used federal requirement, which has once again come to the forefront for regulators and the industry.
According to the state highway patrol, 494 commercial vehicle drivers were taken out of service following roadside inspections in which inspectors determined that the drivers could not sufficiently communicate in English. This was reported by the regional publication Missourinet on November 11, 2025, in the article Missouri cites 494 commercial drivers for flunking English proficiency.
Patrol representatives explained that the check is not a formal exam. The inspector assesses whether the driver can:
- understand questions asked in English,
- respond without the help of translators or apps,
- read and interpret road signs and official documents.
As emphasized by the patrol, the use of smartphones and online translators during the inspection is not allowed. One of the agency's representatives noted that "if a driver cannot explain where they are going and what cargo they are carrying, it is a safety issue."
The English language proficiency requirement for commercial drivers has been enshrined in federal law for many years. Specifically, the rules of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) explicitly state that a driver must "read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, understand road signs, and fill out reports" — see the text of the regulation in 49 CFR § 391.11.
Legally, this means that state and federal inspectors have the right to recognize a violation of the language requirement as grounds for taking a driver out of service if it hinders the safe operation of the vehicle.
For several years, this rule was applied leniently, and in most cases, drivers were not suspended solely based on language criteria. The situation changed in 2025 when the U.S. Department of Transportation issued new guidance for inspectors.
In an official FMCSA statement from May 2025, it is stated that English language proficiency is a "critically important element of road safety" and that inspectors should consider this factor during standard inspections. The document emphasizes: "The driver must demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate in English without external assistance" — official FMCSA statement.
For individual drivers, this means immediate downtime and the need to either undergo additional training or challenge the decision through established procedures. For carriers, the risks are broader:
- potential cargo delays,
- driver shortages on routes,
- increased scrutiny from inspections during repeat checks.
Industry experts note that companies are increasingly assessing English language proficiency at the hiring stage to avoid such situations on the road.
The case in Missouri became one of the most significant examples of the application of the language requirement in recent years and showed that regulators intend to fully utilize existing standards. For commercial drivers, this is a signal that merely having a CDL no longer guarantees work eligibility without actual compliance with all requirements, including language.
Judging by statements from federal authorities, similar inspections in 2026 may become common practice in other U.S. states.