October 2025 marked a point of escalation in the conflict between the US federal authorities and the state of California in the field of trucking regulation. The US Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the suspension of more than $40 million in federal funding, claiming that the state does not ensure proper enforcement of English language requirements for commercial drivers.
This concerns the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) — a key source of federal funds for states for road inspections, carrier audits, and safety measures. According to the DOT, California does not practically apply the federal rule that requires a commercial driver to have sufficient English proficiency to:
- understand road signs;
- communicate with inspectors;
- fill out reports and documents.
This requirement is enshrined in federal driver qualification rules and, according to Washington, should be checked not only when obtaining a CDL but also during road inspections.
US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy stated that this is not a new norm but a long-standing safety rule. According to him, "states cannot selectively apply federal requirements when it comes to road safety." The DOT emphasizes that California has effectively become an exception among states by not implementing language proficiency checks during inspections.
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The official position of the department is outlined in a press release on the US Department of Transportation website.
Governor Gavin Newsom's administration rejected the accusations, stating that the state already checks English proficiency when taking the CDL exam, as required by federal law. According to California authorities, the federal government is expanding the interpretation of the rules without making formal changes to the regulatory framework.
In a comment to the media, a state representative noted that "the truck accident rate in California is below the national average," indicating that there is no evidence that the current approach poses a safety threat.
The issue of English proficiency among truck drivers has long been at the intersection of transportation policy, immigration debates, and labor market issues. Following several high-profile accidents, federal agencies have increased attention to driver qualifications, including language training. For critics of the DOT's decision, the situation appears as pressure on a state with an independent regulatory stance.
Details of the conflict and reactions from the parties were previously described in a Associated Press article.
The federal English language requirement is enshrined in the rules for commercial driver qualification and is formally in effect nationwide. Its text is available in the electronic code of federal regulations — Code of Federal Regulations, 49 CFR §391.11.
It is precisely the different interpretations of how and when this requirement should be checked that have caused the current dispute.
If the conflict drags on, California risks losing federal funds for safety programs for a long time, and carriers may face stricter and more inconsistent inspections in different states. For the entire industry, this means increased uncertainty and potential changes in road inspection practices nationwide.
