Commercial truck drivers who cannot demonstrate sufficient English language skills now face immediate removal from US roads under new enforcement rules that took effect today, according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has added non-compliance with federal English proficiency requirements to its out-of-service criteria, meaning drivers who fail roadside assessments will be prohibited from continuing their trips until they can demonstrate adequate language skills.
The change affects Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 391.11(b)(2), which requires commercial drivers to read and speak English well enough to converse with the public, understand highway signs, respond to official inquiries and complete reports and records.
Immediate enforcement begins
Roadside inspection officers across the United States can now use Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration guidance memo MC-SEE-2025-0001 to assess and enforce the English language requirements during routine commercial vehicle inspections.
The rule applies only to operations within the United States, though drivers and motor carriers from Canada and Mexico must comply when operating on U.S. roads. Canadian and Mexican territories remain unaffected by the English proficiency requirements.
Emergency approval process
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Board of Directors approved the change May 1 using emergency bylaws provisions to meet a 60-day deadline established by the April 28 “Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers” executive order.
The emergency process bypassed the usual voting procedure by Class I Members, allowing the board to implement the change within the executive order’s timeframe.
Industry impact concerns
A recent survey by the Canadian Trucking Alliance found one in five trucking companies indicated some drivers might struggle to meet the English language proficiency requirements. About 100 carriers responded to the May survey.
The printed version of the out-of-service criteria, updated annually each April 1, will not include the English proficiency violation until the April 2026 edition. However, enforcement personnel have been instructed that the requirement is currently in effect.
Assessment procedures updated
All applicable inspection procedures now include references to the federal guidance memo during the “Greet and Prepare the Driver” step of roadside inspections. Motor carriers and drivers can find additional guidance and information about the English language proficiency roadside assessment on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates commercial motor vehicle safety with a mission to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is a nonprofit organization of commercial motor vehicle safety officials who enforce federal regulations across North America.
