All truckers and bus drivers will be required to take commercial driver's license tests in English

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JOSH FUNK
Updated 3:56 PM CST, February 20, 2026
Leer en español

All truckers and bus drivers will have to take their commercial driver’s license tests in English as the Trump administration expands its aggressive campaign to improve safety in the industry and get unqualified drivers off the road.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the latest effort Friday to ensure that drivers meet the federal requirements to understand English well enough to read road signs and communicate with law enforcement officers. Florida already started administering its tests in English.

Currently, many states allow drivers to take their license tests in other languages even though they are required to demonstrate English proficiency. California offered tests in 20 other languages. Duffy said that a number of states have hired other companies to administer commercial driver’s licenses tests, and those companies aren’t enforcing the standards that drivers are supposed to meet to demonstrate their driving and English skills.

These latest enforcement efforts come just days after the Transportation Department said 557 driving schools should close because they failed to meet basic safety standards. The department has been aggressively going after states that handed out commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants who shouldn’t have qualified for them ever since a fatal crash in August.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/cdl-commercial-drivers-licenses-duffy-3a87cd0c83e5e563b1445454418e8f59

[OldBaldy1701E]

1. As soon as someone shows me evidence that speaking English has any bearing on operating a vehicle...

I will accede their design.

But, we know it does not, and this is just more theater by the regime to appease their rabid animalistic base.

Gag.

[EX500rider]

2. " ensure that drivers meet the federal requirements to understand English well enough to read road signs...."

That seems like a necessity IMO.
I am a Class A HazMat driver & agree some command of the english language is required to safely navigate a 80,000 truck going 70mph & understand all the safety rules & regs required for public safety.

[travelingthrulife]

4. Well, how are they passing the tests now?

[EX500rider]

5. Many States were offering the tests in other languages, Fla incld, who just changed that recently

[travelingthrulife]

3. So will foreigners renting cars have to do this as well?

These people are just gigantic balls of butt hurt. Always aggrieved about nothing.

[EX500rider]

6. Tourists can use their home country DL, and are here temporarily in a car, not 18 wheeler

[travelingthrulife]

7. Of course you are right. I wasn't reading that properly.

[GenThePerservering]

8. I think this is reasonable

as long as the testing is clear and directly applicable to the job - no dirty tricks. The English simply needs to be proficient enough for effective communication driving large vehicles in a professional capacity.