Truckers cheer English proficiency out-of-service requirement tucked into House appropriations bill

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is praising the inclusion of a measure to tighten English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements for commercial truck drivers included in a spending bill moving through Congress.

House Bill Pushes For Tighter ELP Standards To Become Law

A House spending bill for Fiscal Year 2026 making its way through Congress contains a provision that would codify into law an April 2025 Executive Order issued by the White House mandating that commercial truck drivers are proficient in the English language.

Specifically, the bill would require the U.S. Transportation Secretary to amend Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations to “ensure that non-compliance with section 391.11(b)(2) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, triggers an out-of-service order.”

The long-standing regulation referenced requires that commercial vehicle drivers “can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records.”

While this English language requirement has been on the books for decades, enforcement of the rule was weakened after a 2016 FMCSA memo directed law enforcement officers not to put commercial vehicle drivers out-of-service for language violations.

In response to the White House Executive Order, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) added “English Proficiency” to the agency’s North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria, effective June 25, 2025.

The ELP provision in the House Appropriations bill would work to strengthen these existing measures to ensure language compliance from truckers operating in the U.S.

OOIDA Praises Effort To Remove Drivers Who Fail To Demonstrate ELP

OOIDA cheered Congress for including an ELP provision in the spending bill.

“Nobody cares about road safety more than professional truck drivers. That’s why OOIDA and truckers across America strongly support Congress’ actions to sideline drivers who fail to demonstrate English proficiency. It’s common sense that truck drivers should demonstrate they can read critical road signs before getting behind the wheel of an 80,000 pound vehicle on public roadways. In addition to reading road signs, professional truckers routinely communicate with law enforcement and first responders in order to do their jobs safely and effectively. OOIDA has long advocated for stronger driver training standards and we appreciate this legislative action to make our roads safer for our members and the motoring public,” said OOIDA President Todd Spencer.