Interstate highways crisscrossing the United States are the lifeblood of commerce, with millions of tons of goods moving daily from coast to coast. But in recent months, the trucking industry has been thrown into disarray by a renewed federal crackdown on English proficiency requirements for commercial drivers—a policy shift that is sending shockwaves through border states, disrupting supply chains, and igniting fierce debate among policymakers, law enforcement, and trucking company owners.
Federal rules mandating that interstate truckers be able to read and speak English have been on the books for nearly ninety years. According to Wisconsin Watch, these regulations were first established in 1937 by the Interstate Commerce Commission and require drivers to "sufficiently converse with the general public" and respond to official inquiries. The intent is clear: ensure that drivers can understand road signs, communicate with law enforcement, and navigate emergencies safely. Yet, as the U.S. Department of Transportation recently highlighted, enforcement of these rules has long varied from state to state.
That patchwork approach changed dramatically this summer. On August 21, 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the suspension of work visas for commercial drivers from Mexico, citing the need for stricter English proficiency enforcement. This decision came just days after a deadly crash on a Florida highway involving a driver who, according to Florida and U.S. officials cited by Reuters, did not speak English and lacked legal authorization to be in the country. The Trump administration’s move was swift and sweeping, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy making clear the new reality for drivers and employers alike.
"Federal law is clear, a driver who cannot sufficiently read or speak English—our national language—and understand road signs is unqualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle in America. This commonsense standard should have never been abandoned," Duffy said at a press conference, as reported by USA Today. In April, the Trump administration had already rescinded a 2016 Obama-era directive that had relaxed enforcement of these requirements. Now, the federal government was putting real teeth behind the rules: on August 26, Secretary Duffy announced that all Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) funding would be withheld from California, Washington, and New Mexico unless they "adopt and enforce" English language requirements for commercial drivers within 30 days.
The impact has been immediate and, for many, devastating. In the Borderland region—encompassing key entry points like Sierra Blanca, Laredo, and several Arizona crossings—the suspension of work visas has triggered a dramatic shortage of commercial drivers. Osman Morales, owner of OT Trucking, LLC in El Paso, painted a bleak picture for El Paso Times: "There aren't any drivers and, as a matter of fact, I've started driving shipments again. There are no drivers coming to my company to work when before I would have 10. That loss is about $6,000 a week, and $240,000 a month and they started removing Visas a couple of months ago."
Morales, who has spent decades building his company, says the federal crackdown has left him scrambling to keep his business afloat. "Everything is unstable. The only thing I can do is try to make my company survive by myself. We're still making on-time shipments, but not in the volume I used to have months and years ago," he explained. For many in the industry, the policy shift has not just cut off a vital workforce but also stalled the flow of goods destined for American consumers. The ripple effects are being felt in grocery store aisles, manufacturing plants, and small businesses that depend on timely deliveries.
At the heart of the controversy is not just the letter of the law, but how it is enforced. Federal authorities have accused California, Washington, and New Mexico of failing to properly enforce English language requirements for commercial drivers. In response, New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler pushed back, arguing that federal officials have "mischaracterized New Mexico’s Commercial Driver’s License policy and compliance with federal law related to English Language Proficiency testing." Weisler explained that after new federal guidelines took effect on June 25, 2025, New Mexico developed its own process to comply, since the federal government provided no standardized testing procedure. When state police sought clarification, the answer they received was as vague as it was unhelpful: "You know when somebody doesn’t speak English."
Weisler emphasized that his department had kept the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration field division informed at every step, providing updates on July 24 and again on August 12—well before the tragic crash in Florida. "Contrary to statements made at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s press conference by Secretary Duffy, we kept the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration field division in New Mexico informed of our progress," Weisler stated in a news release.
The renewed enforcement push is not just a bureaucratic matter. According to USA Today, at least 3,000 truckers have been taken off American roads over the past two months after failing mandatory roadside English tests. The top five states for driver removals are Texas, Tennessee, Wyoming, Iowa, and Arizona—with Texas alone accounting for nearly 350 drivers, according to federal statistics. The rules apply not only to U.S. citizens but also to Mexican and Canadian truckers who are allowed to drive in the United States with their own commercial driver’s licenses.
For many in the trucking industry, the crackdown feels like a blunt instrument—one that punishes even those trying to comply. Morales, for instance, argues that policymakers underestimate the regulatory burdens already faced by legal commercial drivers, especially those from Mexico who are attempting to meet English proficiency standards. "Among the consequences are such policies scaring off those able to drive in the United States from Mexico," he said.
Federal officials, however, remain adamant that the rules are essential for public safety. The deadly crash in Florida, involving a non-English-speaking driver without legal status, has become a rallying point for supporters of the crackdown. They argue that the ability to communicate in English is not just a matter of paperwork but a critical safeguard for all who share the road.
As the 30-day deadline for California, Washington, and New Mexico to comply with federal English language enforcement approaches, the stakes are high. Billions of dollars in federal funding hang in the balance, and the trucking industry—already battered by labor shortages and supply chain disruptions—faces an uncertain road ahead. For business owners like Morales and the communities that depend on them, the pressure is mounting with each passing day.
As this story continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the debate over English proficiency for truckers is about far more than language. It’s about safety, commerce, and the very fabric of America’s highways—a debate that shows no sign of slowing down.