US President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order requiring all truck drivers operating within the country to demonstrate English language proficiency. The directive is intended to improve road safety and enhance communication standards across the trucking industry.
Highlighting the crucial role played by truckers in keeping the American economy moving, the order stated, “Every day, truckers perform the demanding and dangerous work of transporting the nation’s goods to businesses, customers, and communities safely, reliably, and efficiently.”
What does the executive order require?
According to the order, drivers must be able to read and understand road signs, interact with law enforcement and border agents at checkpoints involving agriculture and cargo regulations. They are also expected to clearly communicate with employers and customers.
The order adds that drivers must possess sufficient English skills to “converse with the general public” and safely navigate commercial vehicles across the United States.
Trump administration vows strict enforcement
The Trump administration has committed to strict enforcement of the rule. “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,” the executive order states.
Potential impact on the trucking industry
This mandate could significantly impact the US trucking industry. Drivers who do not meet the English proficiency standard may be required to undergo language training or could face limitations in their ability to operate commercially within the country.
Will Cain of Fox News reported earlier in April on “The Will Cain Show” that trucking specialists have noted an increase in foreign-born drivers in recent years. According to Cain, citing experts, the former President Barack Obama administration stopped enforcing an English requirement for drivers in 2016, while the Biden-Harris administration promoted an initiative in 2024 that increased truck driving training opportunities for refugees, increasing the number of foreign-born truck drivers operating in the United States.