In 2025, an event occurred in the American transportation industry that many drivers and carriers felt in practice. Federal inspections began actively removing truck drivers from service due to insufficient knowledge of the English language. According to official data, more than 1,200 people have already received out of service status — and this number continues to grow.
This is not about a new law but a sharp change in the approach to its application.
The requirement for English proficiency has long been enshrined in federal regulations. According to FMCSA standards, a commercial driver must be able to read and speak English well enough to:
"…understand road signs and signals, respond to official inquiries, and interact with inspectors and the public."
However, for almost a decade, this rule was applied leniently. The situation changed in the spring of 2025 when the U.S. Department of Transportation officially announced a return to strict enforcement of the rule. This is stated in an FMCSA statement signed by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy:
Official FMCSA Announcement
According to him, the ability to understand road infrastructure and instructions is a matter of basic safety, not formality.
Now, during a road inspection, the check is conducted exclusively in English. The inspector evaluates:
- whether the driver can maintain a simple conversation without an interpreter;
- whether he understands road signs and electronic displays;
- whether he can answer standard questions about the route, cargo, and documents.
If the inspector concludes that the driver is struggling, he may be immediately removed from work until the violation is corrected.
According to industry media, since June 2025, more than 1,200 drivers have already been removed from service. Moreover, inspections are distributed unevenly: most violations are recorded in the western and southern states, where many immigrant drivers traditionally work.
Transport Topics Data
Additional statistics are also published by specialized publications for drivers. According to aggregated FMCSA data, the number of such cases is growing almost every week:
CDL Life Summary
Supporters of the initiative consider it logical. The argument is simple: a driver who cannot read a "Road Closed" sign or understand police instructions poses a potential danger.
Critics, however, point to another side of the issue. The American trucking industry is already experiencing a shortage of personnel, and new inspections may:
- reduce the available workforce;
- hit small carriers;
- create uncertainty for drivers who formally have a CDL but do not have sufficient language proficiency.
In fact, the market is entering a new phase. English proficiency is turning from a formal requirement into a real filter for job access. More and more companies are starting to check language skills even at the hiring stage and offer basic training to reduce the risks of stops and fines.
The tightening of English language checks is not a temporary campaign but a systemic shift in FMCSA policy. Regardless of attitudes toward these measures, the fact is clear: the language issue has become part of the everyday reality of American truckers. And those who work or plan to work in the U.S. will have to take this as seriously as a medical certificate or HOS hours.