In 2025, a heated debate erupted in the US regarding the English language proficiency of commercial vehicle drivers. The trigger was not a new regulation, but the tightening of its enforcement — and the attempt to establish checks directly at interstate weigh stations.
Federal rules have long required that a CDL driver be able to read and speak English well enough to understand road signs, respond to inspectors' questions, and fill out documents. This is enshrined in FMCSA regulations and has never been formally repealed.
However, in May 2025, the US Department of Transportation and FMCSA officially announced the return of strict enforcement. In a published clarification, the agency explicitly stated that a lack of sufficient English proficiency could lead to the immediate removal of a driver from service (out-of-service). The document emphasizes: "the driver must be able to communicate with the inspector without translators, cards, or mobile apps" — a quote from the official FMCSA clarification dated May 20, 2025 (FMCSA).
A key event was the executive order signed by the US President in the spring of 2025. The document mandated the Department of Transportation to restore "common sense" in the application of rules and to strengthen the enforcement of language requirements. It was after this that FMCSA and CVSA included the violation of the language requirement in the official list of grounds for out-of-service, starting June 25, 2025 (Federal Register).
Amid these steps, a bill H.R. 5177 (WEIGH Act) was introduced in Congress. Its essence is to require states to check compliance with language requirements each time commercial transport enters an interstate weigh station. This means weigh stations could turn into not only points for weight and document checks but also permanent points for testing a driver's ability to communicate in English.
It is important to note: as of fall 2025, the document has not been adopted and is under consideration in Congressional committees (Congress.gov).
While the federal law is not adopted, states act differently. Texas has already announced a "zero tolerance" policy, while other regions express concerns about the lack of a unified testing standard. Industry representatives warn of risks:
- delays at weigh stations;
- subjectivity in assessing language proficiency;
- potential lawsuits due to discrimination.
Even without the adoption of the WEIGH Act, reality has already changed. Carriers are advised to document that the driver is capable of: understanding the inspector's questions, explaining the route, working with the logbook and shipping documents without translators' assistance.
As FMCSA statements show, further easing of the course is unlikely. On the contrary, English language proficiency is becoming as much a risk factor as the technical condition of the truck or hours of service.
For immigrant drivers and companies working with multilingual staff, this means one thing: English has finally turned from a formal requirement into a practical condition for being allowed to work.