Executive Order on English Proficiency for CDL Holders
Washington—Today, following President Trump’s signing of an executive order focused on the enforcement of English proficiency standards for Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders, Dan Horvath, Senior Vice President of Regulatory & Safety Policy at the American Trucking Associations (ATA), issued the following statement:
“We appreciate the Trump Administration for addressing our concerns regarding the inconsistent application of this existing regulation. We look forward to collaborating with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and law enforcement on developing an objective, uniform, and effective enforcement standard.”
Federal Requirements for English Proficiency
According to federal law, all commercial motor vehicle operators must demonstrate proficiency in English. As stipulated under 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2), drivers are required to read and speak English sufficiently to:
- Communicate effectively with the public and law enforcement
- Respond appropriately to official inquiries
- Complete necessary reports and logs
Current Enforcement Status
These requirements are fully active and can result in citations. However, the ATA has noted instances of misinterpretation and inconsistency in enforcing this regulation, likely due to a 2016 enforcement memo by FMCSA addressing these issues.
Calls for Review
Earlier this month, Chris Spear, President & CEO of ATA, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. In the letter, he urged the DOT to “immediately review its directives surrounding the enforcement of the English proficiency standard” and to collaborate with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance to ensure appropriate and consistent enforcement actions are implemented.
