Why Some US Truck Drivers Could Soon Be Pulled Off The Road

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump has signed a new Executive Order requiring that commercial truck drivers in the United States be proficient in English, a move his administration says will improve highway safety and protect American workers.

The order, signed late last month, directs the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to:

• Rescind past federal guidance that had loosened enforcement of English language requirements
• Revise out-of-service criteria so that drivers violating English proficiency rules can be taken off the road
• Review how states issue commercial licenses to non-domiciled drivers and identify any irregularities
• Take further administrative and regulatory actions to improve working conditions for U.S. truck drivers.

According to the White House, the goal is to ensure that commercial drivers can read and understand traffic signs, communicate with law enforcement and officials, and follow safety protocols.

Federal law already requires English proficiency for commercial drivers, but the Trump administration says enforcement has been lacking in recent years.

"Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States, killing over 120 people every day," the fact sheet states.

It adds that trucking fatalities have increased since the previous federal guidance weakened the English language requirement.

The Executive Order also aligns with Trump's longstanding position that English should be the official language of the U.S. The White House noted that Trump previously signed an order making English as the nation’s official language.

White House officials say the updated enforcement effort is part of a broader push to support American truck drivers, whom the administration describes as "essential to the strength of our economy, the security of our Nation, and the livelihoods of the American people."