Overview
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ordered that all commercial driver’s license exams be administered exclusively in English and asked states to disqualify drivers who fail federal English proficiency checks.
- The U.S. Department of Transportation confirmed California is now enforcing English-language rules during CHP traffic stops, has removed more than 600 drivers from service, and is set to regain $40 million in previously frozen safety funds.
- A recent nationwide sweep recorded 8,215 inspections with roughly 500 drivers cited for failing English standards, and hundreds of drivers placed out of service under Operation SafeDRIVE.
- Federal officials are moving against fraudulent actors in the licensing pipeline, issuing hundreds of proposed removals for ‘sham’ training schools and tightening oversight of carrier registration to curb repeat-offender “chameleon” companies.
- The new rule applies to commercial license holders only, follows fatal crashes linked to poor English proficiency, and responds to audits showing states such as California offered CDL tests in multiple languages.