all truck drivers must now speak english. safety..can you imagine trying to enforce this in Dade county or on the border? I guess it won' be a problem if there is no freight to be shipped.. Trump to Demand All Truck Drivers Speak English in Latest Executive Order: 'Non-Negotiable Safety Requirement' Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order mandating that all commercial truck drivers in the United States must speak English, calling it a "non-negotiable safety requirement" to protect public roadways. Federal regulations have long required commercial drivers to have English proficiency, but enforcement has historically been lax, Breitbart reported. "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," the document reads. According to a White House document reviewed by Breitbart News, Trump's new order will instruct Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to overhaul inspection procedures to strictly enforce English proficiency among truck drivers.
I actually agree with this although this isn't going to do anything to help without an actual plan in place. And as per usual there is no plan in place so it's just going to make everyone's lives more difficult. But yeah, I get regular freight out of Miami and none of my drivers ever speak a lick of English. I use the translator on my phone to direct them. It's pretty unsafe
That doesn't sound unreasonable to me, although some quick research shows the CDL exam is offered in spanish in some states. I'd be curious to know how often language is cited as the reason for any crashes/safety issues. This could be one of those things that sounds like a problem, when in reality it's not, and yet becomes a hot button topic despite minimal potential benefit.
Maybe not speaking but I could see reading english since there are signs and directions that may not be in spanish. Also, depending on where you are driving to, there may not be both english and spanish versions of forms or other documents. Miami I get, but go to BFE Iowa somewhere and probably not much spanish being spoken.
I think you'd be surprised. BFE is usually where you will find migrants doing meatpacking, agricultural work and other food processing.
There was a huge CDL driver shortage a few years back. What happened was labor costs for drivers went up about 25%. Which was passed on in shipping costs. Same thing will happen again here. Just driving up consumer costs for class warfare "wins."
It's not going to make any difference in the impending economic doom. Drivers look to be heavily idle in May and June until Trump folds as the work plummets, regardless of English fluency. The sector has been struggling since inflation has reduced the number of things sold dramatically. April 23, 2025: The trucking industry hits the brakes with tariffs set to dent imports U.S. trucking is heading for a slowdown, with industry players fearing the “worst is yet to come” as tariffs start to crimp imports. Trucking volumes have plunged to near pre-pandemic levels, according to Craig Fuller, founder of the logistics industry publication FreightWaves. Container volumes are down 20% at the busy Port of Los Angeles since a year ago, FreightWaves reported Tuesday, saying “this downturn spells trouble” for trucking firms that ship the overseas cargo inland across the country. Freight trucks carrying goods out of the metro area are “converging downward toward 2020 lockdown levels,” the outlet said. Mack Trucks recently announced layoffs of hundreds of workers at a Pennsylvania plant due to economic uncertainty, betting on slower demand for its iconic freight vehicles.
It’s just not the reality of the situation. On the surface it seems reasonable, but I’d bet it’s a decent % lack English. Funny anecdote, I once had an Amazon driver unable to figure out how to get into our gate. So I imagine he was backing up traffic. He called me, I tried to give him instructions but all he said was “No Ingles. No Ingles”. About 10 minutes later an Amazon rep called and had to help translate.
They can learn English while they are idle for months at a time. Trump is playing 3D chess while you chumps are playing checkers.
I couldn't fathom risking life and limb for a fresh start in a new country and making zero effort to learn the language. I have framers who have been on my job site for a decade that don't know one word of English. I often wonder how they don't learn enough to get by on accident.
You guys do understand that there have been guidelines in place for years that require CDL drivers to both read and speak English, don’t you? I have a buddy who runs logistics for a pretty big company and he says DOT will fine up to $5000 if a driver is pulled over and does not speak proper English. Also, it costs his company several thousand dollars to offer employees in lesser paying jobs the opportunity to attend a CDL driving class but a requirement is they must speak English to do so. I am sure no expert of this subject but if it has been deemed to be an important safety requirement, why be critical of someone actually trying to enforce the regulations?
They should also start enforcing the CDL med requirement where you have to be able to bend down and touch your toes. Knock out about another 50% of drivers if not more.
Is drivers not speaking proper English really causing major issues? Or, is this just another solution looking for a problem? And the real reason it's being signed is racism?
I think Skidmark should change the name of the language spoken in the US from "English" to "American" because MAGA!
+6 Yes, the ability to speak, read, and write basic English is generally a requirement for US citizenship through naturalization. However, there are exceptions for those who are 50 years old and have been a permanent resident for 20 years, or 55 years old and have been a permanent resident for 15 years. Here's a more detailed explanation: General Requirement: During the naturalization interview, applicants must demonstrate their ability to understand, speak, read, and write basic English, as well as knowledge of US civics. Age and Time as Resident Exemption: If you are 50 or older and have been a permanent resident for 20 years, or 55 or older and have been a permanent resident for 15 years, you may be exempt from the English test, but you still need to pass the civics test. Civics Test: Even if you qualify for the English exemption, you will still be required to take the civics test, which may be taken in your native language. Other Exceptions: There may be other exceptions, including medical waivers, for individuals with disabilities that affect their ability to demonstrate understanding of English and US civics. Importance of English Proficiency: English proficiency is seen as crucial for successful integration into American society, enabling participation in community life, political engagement, and daily communication
