New Security Agenda in U.S. Freight Transport: English Language, ELD, and Insurance

At the beginning of 2025, discussions around safety, enforcement, and carrier liability intensified in the American trucking industry. Regulators and industry alliances agree on one thing: existing rules are either not enforced strictly enough or need updating. The focus is on drivers' English proficiency, electronic logbook (ELD) requirements, and minimum insurance coverage levels.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reminded carriers and inspectors of the existing requirements for commercial drivers' English proficiency. This is not a new law but an enhancement of the enforcement of an existing rule that is part of the driver qualification requirements.

FMCSA explicitly states that a driver must be able to understand road signs, communicate with an inspector, and fill out basic documents. In an official clarification, the agency emphasizes: "the ability to effectively communicate in English is a necessary condition for the safe operation of a commercial motor vehicle." The updated position was published in 2024 and has been actively used during road inspections since then.

A detailed description of the regulator's position is available on the official FMCSA page: FMCSA — English Language Proficiency.

The second topic is electronic logging devices (ELD) for recording working hours. Despite calls from some industry groups to tighten control over ELD use, the current discussion is about a narrower regulatory change.

FMCSA initiated a rulemaking process through the Federal Register, proposing to rescind the requirement for a hard copy of the ELD user’s manual to be carried in the vehicle cab. In the proposal text, the agency explicitly states: "FMCSA proposes to rescind the requirement that a hard copy of the ELD user’s manual be carried in the commercial motor vehicle." The document was published in the Federal Register in 2024 and is in proposal status, not a final rule.

The official publication is available here: Federal Register — ELD User’s Manual NPRM.

The third area is carrier insurance liability. Minimum levels of financial responsibility are still regulated by federal standards and are set out in 49 CFR Part 387. These requirements have not changed for years, despite the rising costs of medical services, repairs, and lawsuits.

The legal framework remains the same: carriers must have insurance coverage within established limits depending on the type of cargo transported. These standards are enshrined in federal law and apply throughout the United States. The current version of the rules is available in the electronic Code of Federal Regulations: 49 CFR Part 387 — Minimum Levels of Financial Responsibility.

Meanwhile, industry alliances and the insurance market increasingly claim that existing minimums do not reflect real risks. It's important to understand: such statements are initiatives and lobbying proposals, not existing law.

Strengthened control over English proficiency, targeted adjustments to ELD requirements, and increasing pressure around insurance are forming a new reality for the market:

• Road inspections increasingly address the driver's language competence;
• Changes to ELD are evolutionary, not revolutionary;
• Insurance requirements remain the same for now, but the risk of their revision in the future persists.

For carriers, this is a signal not to wait for formal changes but to proactively adapt internal processes—from hiring drivers to working with documents and insurance brokers. For drivers, it's a reminder that regulatory requirements are increasingly directly linked to safety issues and work eligibility.