President Donald Trump’s April executive order mandating English proficiency for commercial truck drivers has taken thousands off the road and grown the US trucker shortage, threatening supply chains.
Roadside inspections now require written and verbal language tests for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers to prove compliance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) English-language proficiency (ELP) regulations.
The English proficiency standards have received mixed reactions from the trucking and logistics industries, with some warning that the regulations could lead to shipping delays.
With fewer qualified drivers, essential goods – from groceries to medical supplies – could face delays, pushing logistics companies to hire and train new drivers quickly,
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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Oct. 30 that 7,248 truckers have been put out of service as a result of the language-requirement crackdown.
“Americans are a lot safer on roads alongside truckers who can understand and interpret our traffic signs,” Duffy said in May. “This common-sense change ensures the penalty for failure to comply is more than a slap on the wrist.”
In the first two months of enforcement, 11,530 citations were issued, according to the National Transportation Institute (NTI), citing Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration data compiled by Trucksafe Consulting.
“At that monthly rate, tens of thousands of drivers could be placed out of service and removed from the driver population by year’s end, and the number will likely continue to climb as enforcement of ELP regulations continues,” according to NTI.
The North American Punjabi Trucking Association did not respond to interview requests, but the organization’s CEO, Raman Dhillon, said in May that drivers he represents – about 2,000 across the US – worry they’ll be targeted. The association estimates that 130,000 to 150,000 truck drivers – out of about 3.5 million – on US roads are from Punjab and Haryana, India, according to India Today.
“All these rules and regulations are vital to the trucking industry, but on the other hand, are these measures going to be used against the people of color to retaliate or to discriminate?” Dhillon told National Public Radio.
Meanwhile, the American Trucking Associations lauded the requirement, calling it a “necessary and welcome step toward ensuring safety and accountability on our nation’s highways.”
“Federal English language proficiency requirements exist for a reason: Every commercial driver operating in the United States must be able to read road signs, communicate with law enforcement and understand safety instructions. When states fail to enforce these standards, they put lives at risk,” said American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear.
Truckers wanted
The shortage is already apparent in the industry, according to Chicago-based 160 Driving Academy, the largest commercial driver’s license training school in the US.
“The trucking industry has long been the backbone of America’s supply chain, delivering over 70% of all freight across the country. But a new executive order is set to deepen the ongoing driver shortage, creating even greater demand for qualified commercial drivers,” the driving school said in July.
The school added that tens of thousands of drivers could face suspension, at a time when the industry already faces a shortage of some 80,000 drivers. The shortage is estimated to double by 2030, according to the American Trucking Associations.
“With fewer qualified drivers, essential goods – from groceries to medical supplies – could face delays, pushing logistics companies to hire and train new drivers quickly,” the school said.
Shortage growing
Nearly one in five commercial truck drivers are foreign-born, according to chemical supply company Chemceed, which maintains that the language requirement could disrupt the US supply chain.
“In border states like Texas, Arizona and California – especially near major trade corridors like Laredo or El Paso – bilingual or Spanish-speaking drivers dominate the cross-border freight landscape,” the company wrote. “If even a small percentage of these drivers are taken off the road due to language assessments, it could slow deliveries, reduce freight capacity and strain time-sensitive shipping routes.”
The industry is responding by teaching drivers the language and writing skills needed to stay on the road, according to Chemceed.
“Companies like CarriersEdge have launched tools to help fleets evaluate and train drivers in English comprehension, while schools in key regions are fast-tracking ESL support for CDL students. But language fluency isn’t a quick fix,” the report noted.
