The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced a significant reinforcement of safety and enforcement standards for commercial drivers across the nation. As of Friday, all commercial driver’s license (CDL) exams will be administered exclusively in English. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that this move is in line with federal requirements mandating commercial drivers to demonstrate English proficiency to ensure safe operation of large trucks and buses.
During a press conference, Duffy, alongside Derek Barrs, the administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, detailed the enforcement of the English proficiency requirement across all states. “What we’re doing is implementing a rule that will say there’s one language in which you can take your test—it’s English only,” Duffy declared. “You take the test in English. You can’t speak English; you can’t read English—you’re not going to do well on the test.”
The rationale behind this directive is the uniformity of road signs and emergency messaging systems, which are predominantly in English nationwide. The DOT officials believe that this measure will contribute to improved highway safety. Barrs also highlighted additional compliance measures, such as enhanced registration systems to verify identities more robustly and combat fraud.
Efforts to unmask "chameleon carriers," companies that change names and DOT numbers to dodge enforcement, were also discussed by Barrs. He referred to a recent fatal crash in Indiana involving a network trying to circumvent regulatory scrutiny. The enforcement of these measures predates several high-profile crashes that have brought the issue into sharper focus.
For example, earlier this month, a collision in Indiana resulted in the deaths of four members of an Amish community. The big rig involved was driven by a man not legally in the United States who had been issued a nondomiciled CDL. Another incident on the Florida Turnpike involved a driver who had failed an English proficiency exam, which led to a triple-fatal crash. These events underscore the necessity of stringent enforcement of CDL regulations.
The DOT is also cracking down on training programs that do not meet federal safety standards. Last week, indications were that 557 driving schools could face closure for failing to meet these benchmarks. The current enforcement actions have led to the closure of over 7,000 CDL schools.
“When we get on the road,” Duffy emphasized, “we should expect that we should be safe. And that those who drive those 80,000-pound big rigs, that they are well-trained, they’re well-qualified, and they’re going to be safe.” The policy arrives amid ongoing debates in several states regarding language requirements for driver testing. While states like California have offered CDL exams in multiple languages, others like Florida have recently adopted English-only testing.
Industry leaders have expressed their support for the enforcement push. Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, praised the initiative, stating that it would enhance public safety and acknowledge the professionalism of qualified truckers. In Tennessee, driving schools have already adopted English testing as standard practice, with administrators like Melvin Lewis of Class A Driving Academy in Memphis noting that the enforcement is not new but more stringent.
Federal officials have reiterated that the directive does not establish a new mandate but reinforces the existing law. This initiative is expected to have a significant impact on the commercial driving industry and the overall safety of U.S. highways.
