This week, a Kansas Congressman introduced federal legislation that would require truck drivers to prove they can speak English before they are awarded a commercial driver’s license (CDL).
On June 18, 2024, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas introduced the Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) English Proficiency Act with support from U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi).
The bill would require that all CDL applicants “be tested on their ability to read and understand traffic signs, communicate in English with law enforcement, and provide and receive feedback and directions in English” as part of the knowledge test in order to qualify for their license.
The bill would also forbid the administration of CDL tests in languages other than English. Several states do allow applicants to take CDL tests in languages other than English.
The bill introduced by Marshall differs from recent action taken at state and federal levels to crack down on English language proficiency for commercial vehicle drivers in that it seeks to prevent drivers without English proficiency from ever getting behind the wheel of a truck in the first place. Other recent regulatory and legislative action focuses on strengthening enforcement of English language standards for drivers who are already operating commercial vehicles.
If passed, the law would go into effect two years after the date it is enacted.
“Common sense would tell us that anyone driving on American roads, especially those operating large trucks and trailers, should be capable of understanding what the road signs say or how to communicate with police,” said Senator Marshall. “Kansans deserve to know that commercial operators are held to the highest safety standards. I am proud to introduce legislation that ensures those driving the largest vehicles on the road can understand the official language of America: English.”
“English proficiency for commercial truck drivers isn’t just practical, it can be a matter of life and death. The unwillingness of previous administrations to enforce this commonsense regulation undermines roadway safety and puts all drivers at risk,” said Senator Hyde-Smith. “I’m proud to work with Senator Marshall to restore this critical safety standard. This legislation is a straightforward, sensible step that will make our roads and highways safer for everyone.”
In April 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) to mandate enforcement of existing federal English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements for truck drivers. The EO reversed a 2016 policy that stated that commercial vehicle drivers should not be placed out-of-service for ELP violations. Since the EO was signed, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance updated the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria to make an ELP violation an out-of-service offense once again, effective June 25, 2025.
On May 20, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released an internal memo that provides guidance for law enforcement personnel on how to evaluate whether drivers meet ELP requirements while conducting inspections, establishing a two-step language assessment process.
