Transportation Department seeks permanent English-only rule for truck drivers

The Transportation Department, led by Secretary Sean Duffy, has drafted a regulation that would embed English-language proficiency standards into federal law for big-rig drivers. Building on an executive order signed in April 2025, the rule would require drivers who cannot read or speak English to be taken out of service rather than merely cited. The change follows a series of high-profile crashes, including one on a Florida interstate, where drivers missed English road signs.

FMCSA Administrator Derek D. Barrs emphasized that the rule would give roadside inspectors unequivocal authority to issue out-of-service orders when drivers fail to understand signs such as “Steep Grade” or “Do Not Enter.” Since the stricter enforcement began, over 26,000 commercially licensed drivers have received out-of-service citations. The agency will release a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register and open a standard comment period before finalizing the rule. A parallel proposal from the Federal Railroad Administration seeks similar English-proficiency standards for train crews.