Trump administration says nearly 10,000 truckers removed after failing English tests

The Trump administration announced that roughly 10,000 commercial drivers were removed from service after failing English-language competency tests, framing the enforcement action as part of a broader effort to protect road safety. Officials linked the removals to immigration patterns that they say emerged during the Biden presidency, asserting that gaps in language proficiency among some drivers create safety risks on U.S. highways.

According to the administration's account, testing and enforcement targeted drivers who did not meet the required level of English understanding for commercial vehicle operation. The move was presented as a public-safety measure intended to ensure that drivers can follow roadway signage, emergency directions and regulatory instructions communicated in English.

The administration’s statement follows ongoing debate about how to balance safety standards with labor needs in the trucking sector. Industry groups have long warned that the U.S. faces a shortage of qualified long-haul drivers, and critics caution that broad removals could exacerbate supply-chain pressures and increase costs for shippers and consumers. Supporters of the administration’s approach say that clear communication and compliance with qualification standards are foundational to preventing accidents and improving enforcement consistency.

Policy analysts note that linking language proficiency directly to accident risk is complex. While language skills can be an important component of safe operation—particularly for understanding safety protocols, road signs and dispatcher instructions—many factors contribute to roadway incidents, including vehicle maintenance, fatigue, training, roadway conditions and enforcement of hours-of-service rules.

The announcement has drawn attention from lawmakers, safety advocates and transportation experts who are weighing the trade-offs between stricter testing and potential workforce impacts. Some civil-rights and immigrant-advocacy organizations may push back on the framing of the issue, arguing that language tests must be administered fairly and that accommodations or training could address gaps without removing drivers en masse.

CNBC reported the administration’s claim and its emphasis on a purported link between recent immigration trends and road safety. As policymakers consider next steps, stakeholders from the trucking industry, safety regulators and advocacy groups are likely to press for data-driven analysis to assess the safety impacts and workforce implications of the testing program.