ENFORCING ENGLISH PROFICIENCY FOR SAFETY: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to keep American families safe on the road by ensuring anyone behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle is properly qualified and proficient in English.
- The Order directs the Secretary of Transportation to rescind guidance that watered down the law requiring English proficiency for commercial drivers.
- It mandates revising out-of-service criteria to ensure drivers violating English proficiency rules are placed out-of-service, enhancing roadway safety.
- It instructs the Secretary of Transportation to review state issuance of non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses to identify any irregularities and ensure American drivers are validly licensed and qualified.
- The Order directs the Secretary of Transportation to carry out additional administrative, regulatory, or enforcement actions to improve the working conditions of America’s truck drivers.
SUPPORTING AMERICA’S TRUCK DRIVERS: President Trump recognizes that America’s truck drivers are essential to the strength of our economy, the security of our Nation, and the livelihoods of the American people.
- President Trump believes that English is a non-negotiable safety requirement for professional drivers, as they should be able to read and understand traffic signs; communicate with traffic safety officers, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station personnel; and provide and receive feedback and directions in English.
- Federal law mandates that commercial vehicle drivers read and speak English sufficiently, yet this requirement has not been enforced pursuant to Obama Administration guidance, compromising roadway safety as trucking fatalities have increased since this guidance was issued.
- Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States, killing over 120 people every day.
- The Trump Administration is committed to enforcing this law to protect the safety of American truckers, drivers, passengers, and others by ensuring that anyone operating a commercial vehicle is properly qualified and proficient in English, the national language.
UPHOLDING NATIONAL LANGUAGE STANDARDS: President Trump has long championed the idea that English should be the official language of the United States.
- President Trump previously signed an Executive Order designating English as the official language of the United States.
- With this Executive Order, President Trump is ensuring commercial drivers meet established English-proficiency standards to safely navigate roads, comply with regulations, and communicate effectively with authorities and employers.