Federal Highway Safety Directive on Truck Drivers’ English Proficiency

On Tuesday, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a warning, stating that several states could face the potential loss of federal highway safety funding unless the Trump administration enforces rules regarding English proficiency for commercial truck drivers.

Duffy’s position aligns with that of the Alabama Truck Association, which advocates that strict enforcement is necessary moving forward.

“This is a crucial step by President Trump to ensure both safety and fairness in the trucking sector,” noted Mark Colson, the CEO of the Alabama Trucking Association.

He added, “In Alabama, we’re dedicated to this matter, collaborating with various stakeholders including federal representatives, state officials, and law enforcement to uphold transport safety standards. This creates a fair environment for diligent truck drivers in Alabama.”

Related: Alabama Truck Driver Supports Trump’s English Requirement Directive

Duffy’s warning follows a tragic incident on the Florida Turnpike involving an undocumented truck driver, whose actions resulted in the deaths of three individuals when he executed an improper U-turn.

The Secretary remarked that drivers lacking English skills shouldn’t be operating vehicles and that the inadequate enforcement of language rules in some states endangers families.

The Department indicated that in the three states mentioned, there have been numerous roadside checks since the rules were implemented in June. However, few drivers were found to be non-compliant with the English requirements.

For instance, California reported only one violation, whereas Washington had four and New Mexico had none.

Duffy has given these states a 30-day ultimatum to comply or risk losing funding for motor carrier safety programs, amounting to roughly $33 million in California, $10.5 million in Washington, and $7 million in New Mexico.

“As I mentioned after the president’s executive order to instate the English proficiency standard, there are other urgent issues to tackle to bolster highway safety and deter unqualified drivers, like the inappropriate issuance of non-dominant CDLs by various states,” Duffy explained.

Colson’s organization insists that the English proficiency rules aren’t new; they are finally being enforced.

Notably, compliance actions have already begun in Alabama, with penalties being issued to drivers who struggle to communicate with law enforcement or understand road signs, marking the first cases since the federal policy shift.

Both Duffy and Colson concur that additional measures are needed.

“It’s vital to address fraudulent or non-compliant CDL training programs that fail to meet entry-level training standards. These entities should not be allowed to operate. Furthermore, we need to enact stricter protocols to combat fraudulent use of USDOT numbers and carrier operations,” Duffy stated.

“Tackling these issues not only creates a safer driving environment but also enhances national security.”