Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers
President Trump's order aims to enhance road safety and the efficiency of the trucking industry by enforcing existing federal requirements mandating English proficiency for commercial drivers.
The order directs the Secretary of Transportation to rescind outdated guidance, revise out-of-service criteria for language proficiency violations, review non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) for irregularities, and improve the verification of driving credentials.
Additionally, the order instructs the Secretary to identify and implement measures to improve truck driver working conditions.
Arguments For
Improved Road Safety: Enforcing English proficiency improves communication, leading to fewer accidents caused by misunderstandings.
Enhanced Security: Stricter CDL security measures reduce the risk of fraudulent licenses and unqualified drivers on the road.
Compliance with Existing Law: The order enforces pre-existing federal law regarding English language proficiency for commercial drivers that has been under-enforced.
Economic Benefits: A safer trucking industry leads to reduced accident costs, increased efficiency, and a more reliable supply chain.
Arguments Against
Discriminatory Impact: The emphasis on English proficiency could disproportionately affect non-native English speakers, potentially raising concerns about immigrant workers.
Implementation Challenges: Implementing and enforcing these changes across all states and agencies could be resource-intensive and time-consuming.
Burden on Businesses: Increased enforcement could place additional costs on trucking companies, potentially affecting their operations.
Potential for Unintended Consequences: Stricter regulations may unintentionally create labor shortages in the trucking industry.
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
This introductory statement asserts the President's legal authority to issue the order, grounding it in the Constitution and US law.
Section 1. Purpose. America’s truck drivers are essential to the strength of our economy, the security of our Nation, and the livelihoods of the American people. Every day, truckers perform the demanding and dangerous work of transporting the Nation’s goods to businesses, customers, and communities safely, reliably, and efficiently.
Proficiency in English, which I designated as our official national language in Executive Order 14224 of March 1, 2025 (Designating English as the Official Language of the United States), should be a non-negotiable safety requirement for professional drivers. They should be able to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with traffic safety, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station officers. Drivers need to provide feedback to their employers and customers and receive related directions in English. This is common sense.
That is why Federal law requires that, to operate a commercial vehicle, a driver must “read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records.” Yet this requirement has not been enforced in years, and America’s roadways have become less safe.
My Administration will enforce the law to protect the safety of American truckers, drivers, passengers, and others, including by upholding the safety enforcement regulations that ensure that anyone behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle is properly qualified and proficient in our national language, English.
This section establishes the order's purpose: to improve road safety by enforcing existing laws requiring English proficiency for commercial drivers.
It highlights the importance of truckers to the economy and national security, and argues that English proficiency is crucial for safe operation.
The section notes a lack of enforcement of existing law and pledges to address this deficiency.
Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of my Administration to support America’s truckers and safeguard our roadways by enforcing the commonsense English-language requirement for commercial motor vehicle drivers and removing needless regulatory burdens that undermine the working conditions of America’s truck drivers. This order will help ensure a safe, secure, and efficient motor carrier industry.
This section outlines the administration's policy regarding truck driver safety and working conditions, emphasizing enforcement of English language requirements and the removal of unnecessary regulatory obstacles.
Sec. 3. Upholding English Proficiency Requirements for Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators. (a) The Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), shall, within 60 days of the date of this order, rescind the guidance document titled, “English Language Proficiency Testing and Enforcement Policy MC-ECE-2016-006,” issued on June 15, 2016, and issue new guidance to FMCSA and enforcement personnel outlining revised inspection procedures necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of 49 C.F.R. 391.11(b)(2).
(b) In carrying out subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of Transportation, through the Administrator of the FMCSA, shall take all necessary and appropriate actions, consistent with applicable law, to ensure that the out-of-service criteria are revised such that a violation of the English language proficiency requirement results in the driver being placed out-of-service, including by working with the relevant entities responsible for establishing the out-of-service criteria.
This section mandates specific actions by the Secretary of Transportation.
It requires the rescission of outdated guidance on English proficiency testing and the issuance of new guidance with revised inspection procedures to enforce existing regulations.
It also mandates revising out-of-service criteria to ensure that drivers failing to meet English proficiency requirements are taken off the road.
Sec. 4. Strengthening Commercial Driver’s License Security for Safer Commercial Motor Vehicle Operations. The Secretary of Transportation, through the Administrator of the FMCSA, shall:
(a) review non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) issued by relevant State agencies to identify any unusual patterns or numbers or other irregularities with respect to non-domiciled CDL issuance; and
(b) evaluate and take appropriate actions to improve the effectiveness of current protocols for verifying the authenticity and validity of both domestic and international commercial driving credentials.
This section directs the Secretary of Transportation to review and improve the security of commercial driver's licenses (CDLs).
This includes reviewing non-domiciled CDLs for irregularities and improving protocols for verifying the authenticity of both domestic and international credentials.
Sec. 5. Supporting America’s Truck Drivers. Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Transportation shall identify and begin carrying out additional administrative, regulatory, or enforcement actions to improve the working conditions of America’s truck drivers.
This section instructs the Secretary of Transportation to identify and implement additional actions to improve the working conditions of America’s truck drivers within 60 days.
Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) The Department of Transportation shall provide funding for this order’s publication in the Federal Register.
This section contains general provisions clarifying that the order does not supersede existing legal authorities, is subject to budgetary constraints and applicable laws, and does not create any new legal rights.
It also specifies that the Department of Transportation shall fund publication of the order in the Federal Register.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
April 28, 2025.
This section indicates the signature and date of the Presidential order.