New executive order aims to improve road safety and working conditions
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday that strengthens English language rules for commercial truck drivers. The order enforces federal regulations requiring drivers to read signs, talk with law enforcement, and follow road safety directions.
The Department of Transportation will rescind a 2016 guidance that had eased English proficiency checks. Under the new order, inspectors must place drivers who fail English requirements out of service.
“Proficiency in English is a non-negotiable safety requirement for professional drivers,” Trump said. “This is common sense.”
Stronger CDL security and driver verification
The executive order also focuses on tightening commercial driver’s license (CDL) standards. The Secretary of Transportation must review licenses issued to non-citizens and investigate any irregularities. Agencies will work to verify the authenticity of domestic and international CDLs.
Within 60 days, the Transportation Department must propose additional actions to improve working conditions for American truck drivers. Trump called truckers “essential to the strength of our economy and the security of our Nation.”
English proficiency tied to public safety
This action follows Trump’s March 2025 order designating English as the official language of the United States. The administration stressed that English fluency among drivers protects public safety and national security.
Motor vehicle crashes kill more than 120 people daily in the U.S., according to federal data. The Trump administration claims that trucking fatalities increased after previous administrations weakened enforcement of English proficiency rules.
With the new order, the White House seeks to make American roads safer by ensuring all commercial drivers meet national language and safety standards.
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