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SBTC seeks to establish a requirement that states assess English proficiency during CDL knowledge tests.
On March 1st, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing English as the official language of the United States. As a result, concerns have arisen in the road transport industry regarding the lack of enforcement of a requirement that commercial drivers have a minimum understanding of the English language. However, Trump’s order states that this should not lead to changes in the services provided by any agency.
James Lamb, president of Small Business in Transportation (SBTC), expressed his concern in an email sent to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Lamb noted that, in the interest of public safety, SBTC is requesting a change in the current policy to have drivers who do not meet this requirement placed out of service.
SBTC seeks to reinstate English Language Proficiency requirement
FMCSA guidelines require commercial drivers to be able to speak and read English adequately to interact with the public, understand road signs, answer official questions, and complete reports. However, in 2016, FMCSA removed the English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirement, which allowed drivers who did not meet this requirement to no longer be placed out of service, altering the standard for determining noncompliance with this regulation.
On March 12, 2025, the SBTC board voted to propose the “Standards Affirming Fluency in English (SAFE) Motor Carrier Act of 2025” to Congress. This bill states that states will be required to assess English proficiency during the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) knowledge tests, ensuring that commercial vehicle drivers can read and speak English sufficiently. It also establishes that any driver who fails to meet this requirement must be placed out of service.
A notable case in this discussion is that of a driver from Kahkashan Carrier Inc., whose 2017 accident resulted in the death of an 18-year-old student. The driver’s lack of English comprehension prevented him from understanding warning signs about traffic stoppages. This incident led to a $1 billion settlement for damages.
SBTC requests FMCSA audit
Lamb has requested reconsideration of a request to re-audit the FMCSA as a follow-up to the 2002 audit of CDL standards, according to information shared by The Trucker. The 2002 audit highlighted that federal standards on the English proficiency of commercial drivers required clarification, noting that although carriers must ensure drivers can read and speak English, states were not required to conduct language proficiency tests for CDL licenses.
The audit also revealed that FMCSA guidelines allow states to administer CDL tests in other languages, and that eight out of 13 states visited permitted the use of interpreters. It warned that differences in language requirements between states allowed drivers to obtain CDLs in states with more lenient standards and then exchange them in their home states. The audit suggested that establishing uniform English proficiency standards nationwide would help prevent this issue. FMCSA had considered revising this rule in 1997, but no updates have been published since then.
Updates on this case are expected soon, and it is certain to have a significant impact on carriers and commercial truck drivers.
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