9,500 truck drivers have been sidelined this year for not meeting federal English-language requirements, raising safety and industry concerns.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that 9,500 commercial truck drivers have been removed from service this year for failing to meet federal English-language requirements, according to reports from New York's FreightWaves.
In a post on X, Mr. Duffy framed the crackdown as a highway safety initiative, stating that drivers were taken off the road "for failing to speak our national language - ENGLISH." He emphasized that the administration would prioritize family safety. Data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) indicates there were 8,953 out-of-service violations related to English proficiency.
This enforcement action marks an escalation of the English Language Proficiency crackdown that was reinstated earlier this year. Border states such as Texas and Arizona report some of the highest counts, impacting bilingual fleets the most, according to federal records.
However, industry experts have questioned whether these numbers accurately reflect actual removals. Grace Maher, chief operating officer of OTR Solutions, noted that many entries in the FMCSA system are warnings or citations rather than formal out-of-service orders. She argued that blending the two categories inflates the severity of the campaign and obscures deeper structural issues within the trucking industry.
Ms. Maher explained that drivers cited for failing to demonstrate English proficiency may still be allowed to operate under certain circumstances, while formal out-of-service orders halt trucks until compliance is achieved. She stated that the distinction between a citation and an out-of-service order is "black and white."
Former carrier executive Cliff Bates warned that the focus on English-language enforcement overlooks a broader crisis in the industry. He described a "new ecosystem" characterized by fraudulent Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs), manipulated logging devices, and foreign drivers on temporary cycles who undercut rates. Mr. Bates emphasized that such practices are reshaping the trucking market.
