In a move that has reignited debate over trucking regulations and highway safety, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the official reinstatement of English language proficiency (ELP) as a criterion for placing commercial drivers out of service. Speaking in Austin, Texas, alongside industry leaders and the Texas Trucking Association, Duffy emphasized that restoring ELP enforcement is a “commonsense” action to rebuild safety standards and accountability across U.S. highways.

Backed by President Donald Trump’s executive order, the new guidance marks a sharp reversal of the 2016 Obama-era policy, which had discouraged law enforcement from removing drivers solely based on language barriers.

English language proficiency

1. The Policy Reversal: Ending the “Slap on the Wrist” Era

Secretary Duffy was direct in his criticism of previous FMCSA enforcement trends. He cited 2015 data showing:

• 99,000 English proficiency violations, with
• 1,000 drivers were placed out of service.

In contrast, by 2024:

• Violations had dropped to 10,000, and
• Zero drivers were removed from the road for ELP issues.

“This isn’t a bureaucratic matter,” Duffy said. “This is safety. If you can’t understand English, you can’t safely operate on American roads. Period.”

2. Support from the Industry: A “Good Day for Common Sense”

The Texas Trucking Association and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) both praised the decision.

OOIDA President Todd Spencer stated:

“The only thing that separates safe trips from deadly ones can be a simple road sign.”

Industry representatives emphasized that the inability to communicate with law enforcement during roadside inspections creates unnecessary safety risks. John Esparza, president of the Texas Trucking Association, added, “This is basic. If you’re done, you ensure compliance in enforcement and can’t communicate. How do you add”

3.DOT Initiatives: ELP Is Just the Beginning?

While ELP enforcement took center stage, Secretary Duffy also touched on broader regulatory reforms to raise the overall driver qualification and compliance standard. Key initiatives include:

• Reviewing non-domiciled CDL protocols
• Improving CDL verification systems
• Addressing trucker quality-of-life issues, such as parking shortages and unsafe working conditions

Duffy’s tone was assertive, aligning the DOT’s mission with the broader administration’s messaging. Quoting Trump’s now-famous post-assassination attempt line—”Fight, fight, fight“—Duffy reinforced that this move signals the beginning of a renewed regulatory push.

4. Critics Say the Focus Is Misplaced

Although not directly addressed at the Austin event, critics of ELP enforcement argue that language proficiency has not been statistically proven to cause crashes. Recent data from FMCSA and safety studies suggest that issues like:

• Hours-of-Service (HOS) violations
• Impaired driving
• Falsified logbooks
• Expired licenses or medical certifications

…are far more predictive of crash risk than language ability.

These critics argue that the return of ELP enforcement may divert attention from these higher-impact safety issues. However, Duffy and supporters insist that language proficiency is foundational to compliance, especially during emergencies or inspections.

5. Texas as a National Model?

With over $60 billion in road and highway projects underway, Texas is positioning itself as a model of infrastructure investment and regulatory alignment. J. Bruce Bugg Jr., Chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission, welcomed Duffy and echoed the call for all highway users—commercial or civilian—to uphold safety.

Given Texas’s proximity to the border and its volume of truck traffic from Mexico and Central America, the state has been at the front lines of CDL fraud and ELP concerns. The data suggests that such enforcement measures are primarily aimed at border-heavy states where documentation and communication discrepancies are more prevalent.

Conclusion: A Clearer Path or a Missed Opportunity?

Reinstating English language proficiency enforcement signals a return to stricter oversight and aligns with broader calls to raise safety standards across the U.S. trucking industry. While some hail this as a commonsense measure that restores trust in roadside enforcement, others warn it could overshadow deeper systemic safety concerns.

What’s clear is that this decision marks a decisive shift in regulatory tone, one that puts language compliance back on the list of critical qualifications for America’s 3.5 million truckers.

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