WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday directing federal agencies to enforce long-standing English language requirements for commercial truck drivers.
The order directs the Department of Transportation to rescind a 2016 guidance that administration officials say weakened enforcement of the English proficiency rule. Under the updated directive, inspectors will be authorized to take drivers off the road if they are unable to meet federal language standards.
According to the White House, the goal is to ensure that commercial drivers can safely operate on U.S. roadways, including reading traffic signs, communicating with law enforcement and checkpoint officers, and understanding instructions from employers and customers. The administration argues that inconsistent enforcement in recent years has contributed to reduced roadway safety.
“My Administration will enforce the law to protect the safety of American truckers, drivers, passengers, and others,” says the order. “Anyone behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle must be properly qualified and proficient in our national language, English.”
Beyond language enforcement, the order calls for the Department of Transportation to review the issuance of non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses for irregularities, strengthen procedures for verifying both domestic and international driving credentials, and propose additional regulatory or enforcement measures to improve truck driver working conditions within 60 days.
The administration said these efforts are part of a broader strategy to support America’s trucking workforce and improve safety standards in the motor carrier industry.
While the executive order does not establish new laws, it reinforces and prioritizes the enforcement of existing federal regulations.
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