The US Department of Transportation has reinstated a regulation that permits truck drivers with limited English proficiency to be taken off the road, NBC News reports. The measure follows an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump on 28 April and was implemented this week by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Speaking in Austin, Texas—the state with the highest number of heavy goods drivers—Duffy confirmed that commercial drivers who fail roadside English proficiency tests will be removed from service. The law requires drivers to be able to read and speak English well enough to understand road signs, respond to officials, and complete reports.
Previously, the Obama administration had reduced the penalty for failing the test to a citation. The reversal was welcomed by the American Trucking Association, which had listed uneven enforcement of the rule as a top concern in a recent letter to Duffy.
However, civil rights groups have raised concerns about potential discrimination. Mannirmal Kur of the Sikh Coalition noted the risk that drivers could be targeted based on appearance or accent.
“Being ordered out of service could potentially mean unemployment for the truck driver,” she told NBC News.
The group estimates that around 150,000 Sikh and Punjabi drivers work in the US trucking industry. According to federal data cited by NBC, about 3.8% of all commercial drivers in the US have limited English proficiency. Over a recent two-year period, 15,200 violations were recorded, with the largest share in Texas. Trucks with Mexican registration plates made up 3.4% of the total.
NBC News also reported that the DOT will review procedures for awarding commercial licences, particularly to non-resident drivers, amid broader concerns about security and consistency across states.
Critics argue that the rule risks sidelining a portion of the workforce without addressing more systemic industry challenges such as driver training, low pay and long hours. Supporters claim it is necessary for public safety, although the number of large truck crashes and fatalities has declined annually since 2021.
