The Trump administration announced Wednesday that nearly 10,000 commercial truck drivers have been removed from U.S. roadways for failing to meet English language requirements. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the action is part of the administration’s efforts to prioritize road safety.
Duffy stated that 9,500 drivers have been taken out of service for not speaking English at a sufficient level and emphasized that the administration is committed to protecting the safety of American families. The policy follows a series of executive orders by President Donald Trump, including one designating English as the official language of the United States and another directing stricter enforcement for commercial truck drivers who fail language proficiency requirements. The enforcement rules, which went into effect in late June, replaced an Obama-era policy that allowed citations without removing drivers from service.
Industry officials have warned that the stricter measures could significantly reduce the supply of truck drivers amid rising costs and declining freight volumes. Texas and Wyoming have recorded the highest numbers of drivers removed from the road. The administration has linked the increased enforcement to concerns over road safety and has cited cases of unqualified drivers, including incidents involving non-U.S. citizens. Duffy also announced audits of state practices for issuing commercial licenses and withheld over $40 million from California for failing to comply with English proficiency standards.