SAN DIEGO, Calif. — More than 5,500 commercial truck drivers across the United States have had their licenses suspended or revoked after failing English language assessments, according to Israel Delgado Vallejo, vice president of Mexico’s Northwest Chamber of Freight Transporters.

Delgado Vallejo told El Sol Newspaper in Tijuana that the suspensions are part of heightened federal enforcement of a long-standing rule requiring commercial drivers to understand and speak basic English — enough to read road signs and communicate with law enforcement.

“So far, we’ve registered 5,500 out-of-service and suspended licenses,” Delgado Vallejo said. “We are seeing harder and more stringent enforcement.”

The crackdown follows an executive order issued six months ago by President Trump, which reinstated existing federal law mandating English proficiency for commercial drivers. Delgado Vallejo expects the enforcement effort to continue at least through the end of the year, especially in Texas, where the majority of suspensions have been reported.

Roughly 80,000 drivers transport freight along the U.S.-Mexico border, and about 80% of them reportedly do not speak English, according to industry estimates.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has warned states such as California, Washington, and New Mexico to comply with the English-language enforcement or risk losing federal transportation funds. However, California Highway Patrol officials have stated that the state will not revoke licenses solely because drivers cannot speak English.

According to WFLA News Channel 8.

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