New English Proficiency Rule Could Sideline Commercial Drivers Beginning 25 June 2025

Abby Willroth is a NAADAC-qualified Substance Abuse Professional located in Central Arkansas. "If you have questions pertaining to DOT Alcohol & Drug Testing Regulation, the Role of an SAP or the Return-To-Duty process, ASK A SAP!"

Effective Wednesday, 25 June 2025, commercial drivers in the U.S. may now be placed out of service if they are unable to demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency during roadside inspections. This new enforcement standard stems from changes adopted by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) in response to President Donald Trump's Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America's Truck Drivers Executive Order issued earlier this year.

What Is Changing?

CVSA will amend its North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria to include a new section under "Part I – Driver" titled “English Proficiency (U.S. Only).”

If a driver cannot read and speak English well enough to:

• Communicate with a roadside safety official

• Respond to official directions or inquiries

• Understand road signs or safety instructions

They may now be declared out of service on the spot, under 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2).

Why This Matters for Employers and Safety-Sensitive Drivers

This change is not just a compliance update—it represents a significant shift in enforcement authority. Inspectors now have the discretion to remove a driver from service solely based on language proficiency. For carriers, this raises the stakes during inspections and places new emphasis on verifying that drivers meet federal English language standards before dispatch.

Legal Background: What 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2) Requires

Under this federal rule, drivers must be able to:

• Converse with the general public

• Understand highway signs and traffic signals

• Respond appropriately to law enforcement or DOT inquiries

• Complete log entries, inspection reports, or other required documentation

Failure to meet these criteria—regardless of driving skill or safety history—can now lead to immediate disqualification from operating a commercial vehicle.

CVSA's Emergency Vote and the Trump Executive Order

This regulatory update stems from President Trump’s executive order titled “Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers.” To meet the order’s 60-day implementation deadline, CVSA's Board of Directors used an emergency provision in its bylaws to bypass the usual Class I Member voting process.

In addition, CVSA announced that it will:

• Petition FMCSA to formally update 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2) to reflect this out-of-service authority

• Request alignment between English language standards in 49 CFR Part 383 (CDL requirements) and Part 391 (Driver Qualifications), to ensure consistency across regulatory sections

Enforcement and Next Steps

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is expected to issue further guidance to roadside inspectors. This guidance will outline how to evaluate English proficiency and apply the new out-of-service authority consistently.

For now, employers should:

• Review driver qualification files to ensure compliance with English language standards

• Prepare for more rigorous inspections

• Consider pre-inspection training or screening for drivers with limited English proficiency

Bottom Line

Beginning 25 June 2025, failure to demonstrate English proficiency during a roadside inspection could take a driver—and your vehicle—off the road immediately. With FMCSA and CVSA moving quickly to enforce these changes, now is the time for employers and safety professionals to double-check compliance.

To review the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) full press release, please click here: CVSA to Add English Language Proficiency to Its Out-of-Service Criteria - CVSA – Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance