FMCSA to begin English tests during roadside inspections

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has formally embraced President Donald Trump’s order to enforce English proficiency requirements among truck drivers.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy signed an order in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday, outlining FMCSA’s immediate policy to enforce English proficiency.

“America First means safety first. Americans are a lot safer on roads alongside truckers who can understand and interpret our traffic signs,” Duffy said at a press conference for the order. “This common-sense change ensures the penalty for failure to comply is more than a slap on the wrist.”

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The policy includes the following requirements for roadside inspections:

• FMCSA inspectors who deem a driver’s English “insufficient” must place the driver out of service.
• Inspectors will measure English proficiency with two assessments: a spoken interview and a highway traffic sign recognition test.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance already added English proficiency to its out-of-service criteria on May 1.

“The only thing separating safe trips from deadly ones can be a simple road sign,” Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, said during the conference. “These signs aren’t suggestions. They’re warnings. They save lives—but only if they’re understood. That’s why English proficiency behind the wheel isn’t some bureaucratic requirement. It’s a life-and-death safety standard.”