In 2025, the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) officially strengthened the English language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers. The corresponding order was signed by US Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy. The new clarifications are directed to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and effectively reinstate strict measures that were previously applied formally but were almost unused in practice.
This concerns a long-standing federal regulation requirement (49 CFR § 391.11), according to which a truck driver must be able to read road signs, understand instructions, and communicate with inspectors in English. Now, non-compliance with this requirement can once again lead to immediate out-of-service during a roadside inspection.
Until 2016, FMCSA inspectors and highway patrol officers had the right to remove drivers from a trip if they could not demonstrate sufficient English proficiency. However, the agency then issued internal guidelines that effectively reduced such measures to a verbal warning.
The new order cancels this practice. FMCSA has received clear instructions to once again use the out-of-service mechanism for violators.
Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy commented on the decision:
"Safety first. American roads become safer when drivers can understand road signs and law enforcement instructions."
Source: official USDOT press release
FMCSA emphasized that this is not about introducing new rules — the requirements have existed for decades, but now their enforcement will be uniform across the country. The agency noted that English proficiency is critically important during:
- roadside inspections
- emergencies
- reading electronic and physical road signs
- interacting with dispatchers and emergency services
FMCSA also reported that updated instructions for inspectors will take effect in the summer of 2025.
Details are published in the agency's official statement: FMCSA Newsroom
Many industry representatives supported the initiative, stating that it aims to enhance safety, not discrimination. At the same time, carriers note that the changes may affect companies actively hiring immigrant drivers without sufficient language training.
Experts warn: for drivers and companies, this is a signal to invest in training and preparation in advance to avoid downtime and fines.
Labor law attorneys also note that carriers should review internal hiring and qualification verification procedures to comply with the updated FMCSA practice. An analysis of legal risks is published here: Jackson Lewis — FMCSA Guidance
The return of strict English proficiency control may become one of the most notable regulatory measures in the trucking industry in recent years. For some, it's a matter of safety and uniform rules, for others — a new operational risk.
One thing is clear: federal authorities have made it clear that driver qualification requirements will not just be a formality, but a real tool for road control in the US.