More than 3,000 commercial truck drivers across the United States have been taken off the road since late June 2025 for failing to meet federal English Language Proficiency (ELP) standards, marking a sharp escalation in enforcement efforts.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 3,020 out-of-service orders have been issued to commercial vehicle drivers for ELP violations in the past few months. These violations stem from roadside inspections where drivers were found unable to meet the minimum federal requirement for communicating in English—a regulation originally mandated to ensure safety and compliance during highway stops.

Regional Breakdown

The data shows a wide geographic spread of enforcement:

• Western Region – 1,141 violations

• Southern Region – 878 violations

• Midwest Region – 615 violations

• Eastern Region – 386 violations

This represents a major increase compared to mid-August, when the total number of ELP-related out-of-service violations was just 1,212.

What Triggered the Crackdown

The intensified enforcement follows a White House Executive Order issued in spring 2025 that demanded full compliance with existing federal ELP rules. As of June 25, 2025, the FMCSA officially rescinded a 2016 memo that had previously discouraged law enforcement from issuing out-of-service orders for ELP infractions. The policy change has now made ELP non-compliance a direct cause for removal from the road.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been vocal in his support of the updated policy. At the end of June, he reported that 1,500 drivers had already been taken off the road under the new enforcement guidelines. His stance was solidified after a high-profile fatal crash on the Florida Turnpike involving truck driver Harjinder Singh, whose English proficiency was called into question during the investigation.

Growing Concerns in the Industry

While the FMCSA insists the measure is necessary to maintain road safety, the sharp rise in violations has raised concern within the trucking industry. Critics argue that the sudden enforcement surge disproportionately affects immigrant drivers and may worsen existing driver shortages. Others believe that pilot programs for improved driver education and multilingual safety protocols might offer better long-term solutions.

According to FMCSA Violation Database.