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3471President Donald Trump signed a new executive order on April 28 that will require all commercial truck drivers in the United States to speak English and pass literacy tests.
The administration argues the order is meant to improve safety on American roads by making communication clearer between drivers, federal officials, and local authorities, especially as reports of miscommunication incidents have grown in recent years.
“This is a big problem in the trucking community,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt during a press briefing.
“There’s a lot of communication problems between truckers on the road with federal officials and local officials, as well, which obviously is a public safety risk. So we’re going to ensure that our truckers, who are the backbone of our economy, are all able to speak English. That’s a very commonsense policy.”
What’s In the Order
The order instructs Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to revoke Obama-era guidance from 2016 that had loosened enforcement of English-language requirements.
According to the White House, the guidance discouraged strict enforcement of existing regulations that already required truck drivers to speak and read English.
Trump’s order directs Duffy to replace it with new inspection procedures designed to make sure drivers are complying with the law.
That law, still on the books, requires that drivers be able to “read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records.”
Under the new order, any driver who cannot meet those standards will be placed out of service, meaning they will not be allowed to operate their vehicle until they pass a qualifying literacy test.
In addition to that directive, the order calls for the Department of Transportation to audit foreign-issued commercial driver’s licenses and enhance the verification process for all commercial driving credentials, both domestic and international.
Trump also framed the order as a natural follow-up to an earlier executive order he signed in March, which declared English the official language of the United States.
“This is common sense,” the president wrote in the text of the new order. “Drivers need to provide feedback to their employers and customers and receive related directions in English.”
He added that the change would help create safer roads, more reliable deliveries, and better working conditions for American drivers.
Broader Implications and Push for Reforms
Beyond the language requirement, the order also directs the Department of Transportation to identify other regulatory or administrative changes that could support America’s truckers.
The White House emphasized that the trucking industry remains vital to the economy and said truck drivers deserve better working environments and fairer rules that help, not hinder, their jobs.
The administration has also cited concerns over the security of non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses, especially in light of a growing number of foreign-born drivers entering the industry through various training programs.
The new order calls for closer scrutiny and a formal review to catch irregularities in the issuing process.
Mixed Reaction Online
As expected, the order sparked a wide variety of responses online, ranging from supportive and serious to sarcastic and confused.
“People have no idea what an issue this is. I’m actually for this,” one user wrote on X.
Another chimed in, “Good, important to know your language.”
One user joked, “Truckers gonna have to read The Great Gatsby before they’re issued a CDL.”
Some raised concerns about the impact on the labor market.
“We need to consider how this could hurt businesses and create worker shortages,” one user noted.
Another added, “MAGA is just jealous they can’t work as hard as immigrants, so they find every excuse to get rid of them.”
Others suggested applying the rule more broadly. “Needs to be implemented for all UberEats and other food delivery drivers. It’s become ridiculous,” someone wrote.
Meanwhile, a few saw the move as overdue. Some users mocked the logic, others supported the underlying principle, and plenty just expressed confusion.
Despite the backlash and online debates, the administration seems determined to follow through.
Supporters say the rule already exists and is just being enforced again to help prevent accidents caused by miscommunication on the road.
Critics say it unfairly targets immigrant drivers and might be more about pushing them out of the industry than actually improving safety.
Some also warn it could make the current trucker shortage worse by cutting out qualified drivers who just need more support with language skills.
Enforcement of the new English proficiency rules and CDL reviews is expected to begin within 60 days.
As the deadline approaches, the trucking industry and its workforce may see major shifts in standards, qualifications, and enforcement practices on a national level.
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