Thousands of Truck Drivers Removed from US Highways for Language Comprehension Issues | Carscoops

      Federal enforcement of English language requirements has sidelined thousands of truck drivers this year, and states are being warned to comply or face loss of funding.

      Crackdowns on truck drivers not meeting English language criteria are increasing across the country.

      This year, nearly 10,000 violations have been recorded, resulting in 3,020 out-of-service orders.

      The U.S. government is cautioning that funding may be cut if states do not enforce English regulations.

      The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration usually operates under the radar but is gaining attention for its enforcement of English Language Proficiency amid the Trump Administration’s measures against illegal immigration.

      Data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration indicates there were 9,873 violations for drivers who “cannot read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, understand highway traffic signs and signals in English, respond to official inquiries, and make entries on reports and records.”

      These violations led to 3,020 out-of-service orders, which the government states “typically grounds a driver or vehicle immediately pending the resolution of the cited issues."

      Significant Increase in Violations

      This marks a substantial rise from 2024, which reported 3,547 violations related to the same English requirement, leading to just one out-of-service order. In 2023, there were 349 violations, with no out-of-service orders issued.

      However, the situation is more complex as there are several sections concerning English. For instance, in 2023, there were 8,801 violations for “Driver unable to read or speak the English language sufficiently to respond to official inquiries,” which resulted in eight out-of-service orders.

      Federal Threats to State Funding

      Despite the nuances, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been advocating for truck drivers to have a grasp of English. Just last month, he warned California, Washington, and New Mexico that federal funding would be at risk unless they implemented and enforced English Language Proficiency (ELP) standards for commercial drivers.

      The government reported, “An investigation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration uncovered significant shortcomings by California, Washington, and New Mexico in properly placing drivers out-of-service for ELP violations. Concurrently, the California Highway Patrol has publicly indicated it does not intend to comply with this crucial federal regulation.”

      Secretary Duffy stated, “States do not have the option to selectively follow federal safety regulations,” emphasizing that neglecting to enforce the law puts the public at risk.

      Truck operators must be able to speak English and understand road signs. Adhere to the guidelines set by @USDOT in your state or risk severe repercussions.‼️Stay tuned tomorrow at 9 AM EST for updates from @USDOT HQ. pic.twitter.com/I9Kwm1v7Mb— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) August 25, 2025

      Credit to Supplybrainchain.