Donald Trump introduced a new measure requiring all truck and bus drivers to take their commercial driver’s license (CDL) exams in English. The president is expanding a broader effort to improve safety standards and remove unqualified operators from American highways.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the policy on Friday, emphasizing that drivers must be able to read road signs and communicate effectively with law enforcement. Florida has already begun administering CDL tests exclusively in English, marking one of the first states to implement the new requirement.
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US proposes mandatory English exam for truck drivers
Several states allowed previously applicants to take exams in multiple languages. California, for example, offered tests in more than 20 languages. Federal officials now argue that such flexibility created loopholes that can be exploited by unqualified drivers and fraudulent training programs.
According to Duffy, some states outsourced CDL testing to third-party companies that failed to properly enforce federal standards. The Department of Transportation has also moved to shut down 557 driving schools that didn’t meet minimum safety requirements.
The crackdown follows a series of fatal accidents involving commercial vehicles. In one case in Florida, a truck driver who was not authorized to be in the United States performed an illegal U-turn, causing a crash that killed three people. Another incident in Indiana earlier this month left four people dead, intensifying scrutiny over licensing practices.
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A necessary policy
The federal government is also working to prevent fraudulent trucking companies from entering the market and to ensure that states comply with commercial licensing regulations. Officials argue that stronger oversight and standardized English-language testing will help protect both drivers and the general public.
Industry leaders have expressed mixed reactions. While many support measures to improve safety and professionalism, some warn that stricter language requirements could reduce the available workforce in a sector already facing labor shortages.
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States where CDL exams have been offered in languages other than english in the US
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Illinois
- New Jersey
- Washington
- Oregon
- Nevada
- Arizona
- Colorado
