Authored by Kimberly Hayek via The Epoch Times(emphasis ours),
The federal crackdown on unqualified truckers kicked into a higher gear Friday when the nation’s transportation chief announced thattests for commercial driver’s licenses must be given only in English.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffyrevealedthe latest policy with a goal of ensuring that truck drivers understand English well enough to read road signs and communicate with law enforcement officers. Florida has already implemented English-only tests.
The new order includes modernizing the commercial driver’s license (CDL) registration system, cracking down on fraud, and improving driver safety.
“American families deserve safe roads and we are going to deliver them,” Duffy said in a post on X.
In another post on Friday, Duffysaidthat it is easier for noncitizens to get a CDL than U.S. citizens, noting that under the Biden administration, illegal immigrants seeking licenses were not subject to background checks, unlike American applicants.
“Our new rule restricts eligibility and ensures ONLY qualified drivers can operate big rigs,” Duffy added.
Duffysaida number of states have hired companies to oversee CDL tests, but those companies often fail to uphold the standards that drivers are required to meet.
In May 2025, Duffysignedan order implementing new guidance to enforce English proficiency requirements for truckers. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulationsstipulatethat a driver who cannot read or speak proficient English or understand highway traffic signs and signals does not qualify to operate a commercial motor vehicle.
By December 2025, the administration hadremovednearly 9,500 commercial truck drivers from service for failing English proficiency checks.
Source: ZeroHedge News
