Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy: Truck Drivers Who Want to Share Our Roads Must Share Our Language

May 02, 2025 at 02:45 PM CST
Today, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced steps to rescind a dangerous Obama-era policy that dismissed English language proficiency (ELP) requirements for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. This action prioritizes safety on America's roadways in line with President Trump's Executive Order signed today. At the direction of Secretary Duffy, the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will take immediate actions to execute the President's EO and strengthen English language enforcement. “Federal law is clear, a driver who cannot sufficiently read or speak English—our national language—and understand road signs is unqualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle in America. This commonsense standard should have never been abandoned,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “This Department will always put America’s truck drivers first.” These actions followed the signing of President Trump’s “Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers.” As part of the executive order, the Department of Transportation will also review non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) to identify any unusual patterns or other suspicious irregularities.

May 02, 2025 at 02:45 PM CST

Today, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced steps to rescind a dangerous Obama-era policy that dismissed English language proficiency (ELP) requirements for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. This action prioritizes safety on America's roadways in line with President Trump's Executive Order signed today. At the direction of Secretary Duffy, the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will take immediate actions to execute the President's EO and strengthen English language enforcement.

“Federal law is clear, a driver who cannot sufficiently read or speak English—our national language—and understand road signs is unqualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle in America. This commonsense standard should have never been abandoned,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “This Department will always put America’s truck drivers first.”

These actions followed the signing of President Trump’s “Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers.” As part of the executive order, the Department of Transportation will also review non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) to identify any unusual patterns or other suspicious irregularities.