U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Sean P. Duffy has signed an order at a trucking event in Austin announcing new guidelines to strengthen English language enforcement for commercial truck operators, according to a press release on May 20. Under the new guidance, commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers who fail to comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) longstanding English-language proficiency (ELP) requirements will be placed out-of-service.
“America First means safety first. Americans are a lot safer on roads alongside truckers who can understand and interpret our traffic signs. This common-sense change ensures the penalty for failure to comply is more than a slap on the wrist,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.
This new guidance is in line with the President’s April 2025 Executive Order to strengthen highway safety by ensuring that all commercial drivers are properly qualified and proficient in English.
In April, Secretary Duffy announced steps to rescind apolicy that dismissed ELP requirements for CMV drivers.
The original announcement can be found here.
