US DOT secretary signs order reinforcing English requirement for truckers
AUSTIN (KXAN) — At the Texas Department of Transportation campus in Austin, US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy signed a secretarial order reinforcing federal rules that require truck drivers within the US to have English proficiency.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations require commercial driver's license (CDL) holders know English well enough to understand road signs, communicate with the public and respond to official inquiries. Authorities have occasionally relaxed enforcement of this rule in order to address truck driver shortages, such as in 2016 under former President Barrack Obama.
'English proficiency behind the wheel isn't some bureaucratic requirement, it's life and death safety standard,' said Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. 'Truckers must be able to read road signs, communicate with law enforcement and respond in emergencies. When that doesn't happen, people get hurt or worse.'
While Duffy said enforcement is a state-by-state issue, the federal government plays a role in reviewing licenses given to drivers who are not permanent US residents. These drivers are allowed to work and drive commercially due to their visa or other lawful temporary status.
'We have 40,000 deaths on American roads every year, and as much as we try, it's really hard to move those numbers,' he said. 'Is this going to move those numbers by the thousands? No, but I think we have to think through how can we take small steps and start to save lives and move that needle in the right direction.'
Duffy also said a priority is doing more to support truck drivers' quality of life, like providing critical parking for trucks. He said more would be announced on other initiatives.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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