1,500 Truck Drivers Taken Off the Road for Lack of English Skills, Says USDOT Chief

Source: Sean Duffy

Washington, D.C. – July 30, 2025

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced that around 1,500 commercial truck drivershave been taken out-of-service for failing to meet federal English language proficiency (ELP) requirements.

In a bold social media statement, Duffy declared:

“Since I took action to enforce language proficiency requirements for truckers, our state partners have put roughly 1,500 unqualified drivers out-of-service. That’s what I call results! If you can’t read or speak our national language — ENGLISH — we won’t let your truck endanger the driving public.”

The announcement underscores the USDOT’s push to tighten safety compliance across the industry. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations mandate that drivers must be able to read and speak English to ensure safe interactions during inspections and emergency situations.

While the crackdown has garnered support from safety advocates, immigrant driver organizations argue that such enforcement may disproportionately affect new Americans working hard to integrate into the industry.