This Executive Order aims to enforce existing English proficiency requirements for commercial truck drivers, which the order characterizes as having been neglected for years, making American roadways less safe. Citing the March 2025 executive order that designated English as the official national language of the United States, the order frames English proficiency as a "non-negotiable safety requirement" for professional drivers. It emphasizes that federal law already requires commercial drivers to read and speak English sufficiently to communicate with the public, understand traffic signs, respond to official inquiries, and complete necessary documentation, positioning this enforcement as supporting America's truckers while enhancing road safety.
Specifically, the order directs the Secretary of Transportation, through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), to take several actions within a 60-day timeframe. These include rescinding a 2016 guidance document on English language proficiency testing and enforcement, and issuing new guidance outlining revised inspection procedures to ensure compliance with existing regulations. The order also requires revisions to out-of-service criteria so that violations of English proficiency requirements result in drivers being placed out-of-service. Additionally, it mandates a review of non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) to identify irregularities and calls for improved protocols for verifying the authenticity of both domestic and international commercial driving credentials.
Implementation responsibility falls primarily to the Department of Transportation, specifically the FMCSA Administrator, who must not only develop new enforcement guidance but also work with "relevant entities" to revise out-of-service criteria. Beyond the language proficiency focus, the order requires the Transportation Secretary to identify and begin implementing additional administrative, regulatory, or enforcement actions to improve working conditions for truck drivers within 60 days. The order includes standard provisions noting it creates no new legal rights and must be implemented within existing law and available appropriations, while the Department of Transportation must provide funding for the order's publication in the Federal Register.