President Donald Trump is continuing to Make America First again by preparing to sign an executive order mandating that truck drivers in the U.S. speak English. The order underscores Trump’s commitment to enforcing American standards and protecting the interests of hardworking American citizens. It seeks to address concerns over communication barriers in the trucking industry. It will be a non-negotiable safety requirement for professional drivers, as the language is critical in ensuring clear and effective communication.
On Monday, Trump is expected to sign an Executive Order to ensure that those operating a commercial vehicle in the U.S. are qualified and proficient English speakers. According to a White House document, Trump has asserted that English is a critical safety requirement for professional drivers, as it enables them to understand traffic signs, communicate with law enforcement, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo personnel, and exchange important information for safe and efficient operations. For years, the federal requirement that commercial drivers be able to read and speak English has gone unenforced. The order will require changes to out-of-service criteria, ensuring that drivers who violate English proficiency rules are taken off the road, thus improving safety.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will be instructed to withdraw and update existing guidance to reinforce inspection procedures for English proficiency compliance. He will also be tasked with evaluating the processes for verifying the authenticity of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and improving truck drivers' working conditions through further administrative, regulatory, or enforcement measures.
Earlier this year, American Truckers United Co-founder Shannon Everett said he was forced to lay off 450 truck drivers because he was undercut by firms using foreign drivers who can’t read or speak English, which ultimately put lives at risk on the roads. He slammed previous administrations for leaving loopholes that enable unregulated immigration into the trucking industry, warning that it jeopardizes the safety of Americans on the road.
WATCH: American Truckers United Co-founder Shannon Everett tells @WillCain he had to lay off American truckers because he was undercut by firms using foreign drivers who can’t read or speak English—putting lives at risk on our roads. pic.twitter.com/rs4kw5OxPH
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) April 4, 2025
