Keeping the roads safe is the trucking industry’s highest priority, and USDOT Secretary Sean P. Duffy recently enforced stricter regulations to guarantee that on-the-road safety takes precedence.
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Updates to English Proficiency and Safety Requirements
On May 20, 2025, USDOT Secretary Sean P. Duffy signed an enforcement order that introduces stricter enforcement for English Language Proficiency (ELP) to all commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. This shift comes years after the 2016 policy that loosened up ELP requirements for the trucking industry. During this shift, instead of drivers being placed out of service (OOS) for ELP failure, they were given citations.
On June 25, 2025, the Implementation of OOS for ELP failure began as a means to enhance highway safety.
Within just 30 days of the implementation, 1,500 CMV drivers were placed in an OOS status due to their lack of English proficiency. This status can result in higher compliance, safety, and accountability (CSA) scores, damage to the company’s reputation, and loss of workers.
This guide provides the key information to help ensure your company stays compliant with the new regulations.
Two-Step Assessment Process for English Proficiency and Safety Requirements
The enforcement order declared that any CMV driver who was not able to speak or understand English would be placed out of service.
The assessment process is as follows:
- An oral interview. Inspectors will make impromptu roadside inspections to assess the driver’s ability to comprehend English. This will be done naturally, through the use of simple questions related to the trip, documentation, or basic conversation. The inspector will assess the responses to gauge the comprehension level of the driver.
- After passing the oral interview, drivers must then take a traffic sign test, which tests their knowledge of basic highway road signs. This might look like the inspector asking the driver to explain certain road signs, to which the driver should answer to the best of their ability.
This two-step process ensures that drivers can safely operate their vehicles without miscommunication issues arising.
What happens if you don’t pass the English Proficiency and Safety Requirements
Depending on the level of comprehension and exceptions, drivers may be placed Out of Service (OOS) if they fail the assessment. Other drivers may face penalties, fines, or higher CSA scores.
If you believe your assessment results are inaccurate, you can request a review through the DATAQ system.
Exceptions for English Proficiency and Safety Requirements
- CMV drivers operating in U.S.-Mexico border commercial zones may be issued a warning citation, but not an OOS status immediately.
- CMV drivers who have hearing exemptions are not disqualified solely on the oral interview. In this case, the roadside traffic sign test will count for the majority of the exam.
How Carriers Can Prepare for English Proficiency and Safety Requirements
The USDOT does not require CMV drivers to be fluent in English; instead, they need a basic level of English proficiency to ensure that safety regulations can be understood and followed.
Carriers can prepare for these tighter regulations by including the assessment as a part of the onboarding process. Natural interviews conducted orally, as well as traffic-sign recognition, will benefit both the carrier and the driver by testing their proficiency before operation.
To comply with new regulations regarding English proficiency and safety requirements for trucking companies, it is important for carriers to know the risks of failure, as well as the process for the assessment. As a company, your workers are a team, and teams must work together to ensure everyone operates safely and in compliance.
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