Federal Railroad Administration Proposes English Rule for Mexican Train Operators

The English-language proficiency requirement for commercial drivers has now reached Mexican train crews that transport freight across the U.S.-Mexico border. In a recently proposed rule, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) aims to ensure that railroad operating crews can understand critical safety information in English. Announced on July 31, the proposal would amend the regulations governing the qualification and certification of these crew members.

Following inspections at Union Pacific (UP) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) rail terminals in Eagle Pass, authorities found that train crews frequently have difficulty understanding operating bulletins and U.S. regulations, which require information on hazardous materials and emergency response procedures to be maintained in English. In response to these findings, the government urged railroads to reevaluate their practices and ensure that Mexican train crews possess functional English proficiency.

Through this measure, the federal government seeks to strengthen regulatory compliance, arguing that the ability of railroad crews to understand and communicate in English is an essential safety function.

Federal Railroad Administration Seeks English Proficiency for Railroad Crews

The FRA’s proposal aligns with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s broader efforts to ensure that commercial truck drivers are proficient in English. The United States is seeking to strengthen safety not only on highways but also on the nation’s rail network. Although the implications differ, organizations such as the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have expressed concerns for several years over the use of Mexican train crews, arguing that the practice raises safety issues while also affecting worker protections and employment in the industry.

According to the union, Mexican train crews operate trains several miles beyond the border to Union Pacific (UP) or Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) classification yards, where crew changes can be carried out under safer conditions.

In response, the Department of Transportation proposed a rule that would not only require English proficiency for railroad crews but also establish a 10-mile operating limit for Mexican crews entering the United States. The measure is intended to prevent railroads from extending the practice to rail yards located farther inside the country.

Railroad companies said the practice of allowing Mexican crews to operate trains to classification yards in the United States was implemented in 2018 with the approval of the first Trump administration to address smuggling concerns. When trains stop at the border, smugglers often attempt to conceal drugs or other contraband aboard railcars, and migrants may board the trains in an effort to enter the United States.

The FRA stated that this “disparity in qualification requirements and the level of government oversight presents a safety risk” and therefore its “current certification regulations for Mexico-based crew members do not permit the responsible U.S. railroad to accept their qualifications as locomotive engineers or conductors.”

According to the FRA, the public comment period on the proposed rule will remain open through September 29, 2026.