WASHINGTON — More than 9,500 commercial drivers have been placed out of service on U.S. roads since late spring as federal officials ramped up enforcement of long-standing English-language proficiency requirements and broadened audits of commercial drivers’ licenses issued to noncitizens.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has pointed to the total as evidence of a “safety first” approach, saying drivers who cannot demonstrate English proficiency during inspections and traffic stops should not be operating commercial vehicles. The enforcement push follows policy changes that again treat English-language proficiency violations as an out-of-service condition during roadside inspections.
Roughly 9,500 truck drivers had been pulled off the road nationwide for failing to demonstrate English proficiency. Federal guidance emphasizes that commercial drivers must be able to read and speak English sufficiently to understand traffic signs and communicate with officials during inspections. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, which sets widely used out-of-service criteria, restored noncompliance with the federal English requirement as an out-of-service violation effective June 25, 2025.
At the same time, the crackdown has expanded beyond language checks into a broader review of how states issue “non-domiciled” CDLs — licenses generally used by foreign nationals who meet federal requirements and are authorized to work in the U.S. Federal investigators have identified problems in at least eight states, including licenses that remained valid long after an immigrant’s lawful presence or work authorization had expired, or cases where states could not document verification of lawful presence at the time of issuance.
New York became the latest flashpoint on Dec. 12, when the U.S. Department of Transportation said a federal audit of the state’s non-domiciled CDL program found a 53% failure rate in a sample of 200 records and warned the state could lose roughly $73 million in federal highway funding if it does not revoke improperly issued licenses and tighten compliance. DOT also alleged New York’s system defaulted to issuing eight-year licenses to foreign drivers regardless of when legal status expired. New York officials have disputed the department’s characterization, saying the state follows federal rules for this category of licensing, the AP reported.
California has also fought the federal posture. Reuters reported that California filed suit over the federal termination of more than $33 million in grants tied to commercial vehicle safety programs, after the Transportation Department said the state failed to enforce English proficiency rules. California argues the decision is unlawful and harmful to safety programs such as roadside inspections and audits.
Federal officials maintain the emphasis is compliance and safety — but the enforcement wave, and the political battles it has triggered, are now reshaping how states, carriers, and drivers navigate licensing and inspections nationwide.
