U.S. Department of Transportation Requires English Only CDL Tests for Truckers and Bus Drivers
All truckers and bus drivers will now be required to take their commercial driver’s license tests in English under a new directive from the U.S. Department of Transportation. This move marks the latest step in the Trump administration’s push to tighten safety standards across the industry.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Friday that states must administer CDL exams in English to ensure drivers can read road signs and communicate with law enforcement. While federal rules already require English proficiency, many states have allowed written exams in multiple languages. California, for example, previously offered tests in 20 languages.
Florida has already shifted to English only testing.
English Proficiency Enforcement Under Scrutiny
Federal rules require states to confirm that drivers can speak and understand English before issuing a commercial license. Law enforcement officers are also expected to assess communication skills during traffic stops and roadside inspections.
A recent federal inspection effort covering 8,215 stops resulted in nearly 500 drivers being disqualified due to insufficient English skills. California, after initially resisting stricter enforcement, recently removed more than 600 drivers from the road for failing to meet language standards.
Duffy said the changes are intended to restore safety expectations.
“When we get on the road, we should expect that we should be safe. And that those who drive those 80,000 pound big rigs, that they are well trained, they’re well qualified, and they’re going to be safe,” he said, adding that safety concerns in the trucking industry have been ignored for decades.
Crackdown on Fraudulent Trucking Operations
The policy shift comes as the administration expands enforcement efforts targeting fraudulent trucking companies and noncompliant training schools.
Earlier this week, the Transportation Department ordered 557 driving schools to close for failing to meet basic safety standards. In December, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration moved to decertify up to 7,500 schools nationwide, though many were already inactive.
Officials are also strengthening oversight of electronic logging devices and tightening compliance reviews for CDL programs.
Focus on Fatal Crashes and Immigration Concerns
The renewed scrutiny follows several deadly crashes. In one August incident in Florida, a truck driver who Duffy said was not authorized to be in the United States made an illegal U turn that killed three people.
In Indiana earlier this month, four members of an Amish community were killed in a crash involving a driver who immigration authorities say entered the country illegally from Kyrgyzstan. The FMCSA removed the driver’s employer from service and revoked registrations linked to related companies, including Tutash Express and Sam Express. A Chicago area driving school connected to the case also lost certification.
Targeting “Chameleon Carriers”
Federal regulators are also addressing companies known in the industry as “chameleon carriers.” These firms shut down after violations or crashes, then re register under new names and identification numbers to avoid penalties.
Currently, companies can register for about $300 with proof of insurance and may not face a full compliance audit for a year or more. Some audits are conducted virtually, making it harder to identify fraudulent operations.
Dan Horvath, chief operating officer of the American Trucking Associations, said weak enforcement has allowed unsafe operators to continue business under new identities.
Only a small fraction of motor carriers undergo full in person compliance reviews, he noted.
Duffy said officials are working to strengthen registration systems, increase spot inspections, and ensure states comply with all CDL regulations as part of a broader safety overhaul.
