Texas authorities have officially tightened control over English proficiency among commercial drivers. This is not a new rule, but a strict and unconditional enforcement of existing requirements, which have now effectively become a zero-tolerance policy.
The decision has already caused a wide resonance in the trucking industry, especially among immigrants, drivers from border regions, and companies operating within the state.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has instructed the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to strictly enforce English proficiency requirements for all commercial drivers — including those who work only within the state.
An official statement from the governor's office states:
"Commercial drivers must be able to read road signs, understand law enforcement instructions, and effectively communicate in emergency situations."
Source: Official website of the Texas Governor
In practice, this means:
- checking spoken English during road inspections
- denial or revocation of intrastate CDL for non-compliance
- fines and possible driving bans
The English proficiency requirement has long been enshrined in federal FMCSA regulations (49 CFR §391.11). However, in recent years, it has been applied unevenly.
In the spring of 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued new clarifications urging the active enforcement of this rule. The Secretary of Transportation stated:
"English proficiency is not a formality. It is a matter of road safety."
Source: FMCSA — official press release
Texas has become one of the first states to go beyond the federal minimum and extend control even to intrastate drivers.
Supporters of the policy argue that:
- a driver must understand road signs and electronic displays
- an inspector must be able to quickly explain violations
- in an emergency, every second counts
Critics point out the risks:
- exacerbating driver shortages
- language-based discrimination
- legal uncertainty of "sufficient" language proficiency criteria
Industry media note that in the first weeks after the order, hundreds of violations have already been identified in Texas. Many of them involved drivers with valid CDLs but limited spoken English.
Source: Overdrive Online
For drivers:
- having a CDL no longer guarantees work eligibility
- spoken English becomes critically important
- "understanding but not speaking" is no longer considered sufficient
For carriers:
- increased risks of downtime and out-of-service
- need to revise hiring and training
- potential fines and compliance issues
The "zero tolerance" policy in Texas is a signal to the entire industry: FMCSA English language requirements are no longer a formality. Even if other states are currently acting more leniently, the trend is clear — control will be tightened.
For drivers and companies, the key question now is not whether they agree with the rules, but how prepared they are for their real enforcement.