Over 7,000 truckers banned in US for failing English test: Why Indian drivers are most affected

English test crackdown bars over 7,000 truckers across US; Indian-origin drivers among most affected

More than 7,000 commercial truck drivers have been taken off the road across the United States this year for failing newly enforced English proficiency checks, a move that has hit Indian-origin drivers the hardest.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that 7,248 drivers had been placed “out of service” as of October 2025 for failing to meet English Language Proficiency (ELP) standards under President Donald Trump’s administration.

“US Department of Transportation requires commercial truck drivers to speak and understand English to operate a big rig, or they will be taken out of service. This is about Donald Trump and his administration making America’s roads SAFE again!” Duffy said in a post on X.

The enforcement follows an executive order signed by Trump in April, which declared English the United States’ official national language and made proficiency a mandatory requirement for professional drivers.

“Proficiency in English, which I designated as our official national language in Executive Order 14224 of March 1, 2025 (Designating English as the Official Language of the United States), should be a non-negotiable safety requirement for professional drivers. They should be able to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with traffic safety, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station officers. Drivers need to provide feedback to their employers and customers and receive related directions in English,” the order stated.

In May, Duffy signed a follow-up directive implementing the policy through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

“Americans are a lot safer on roads alongside truckers who can understand and interpret our traffic signs,” Duffy said after signing the order. “This common-sense change ensures the penalty for failure to comply is more than a slap on the wrist.”

The US Department of Transportation has since launched a nationwide campaign to enforce real-time roadside English language tests, resulting in a sharp surge in driver suspensions. The number of truckers removed from service jumped from around 1,500 earlier this year to more than 7,000 by October.

Harjinder Singh truck crash

The crackdown was triggered by a series of high-profile fatal accidents involving Indian-origin drivers, including a triple-fatality crash on Florida’s Turnpike in August. The driver, Harjinder Singh, 28, failed an English proficiency test after the crash, answering only two of twelve questions correctly. He has pleaded not guilty to vehicular homicide charges.

DOT officials have blamed lax state enforcement for allowing such incidents to occur. Secretary Duffy has publicly criticised “sanctuary states” like California for allegedly issuing Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) without applying the stricter federal standards.

The reinstated rule, 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2), requires CDL holders to be able to converse in English, understand road signs, communicate with authorities, and maintain accurate written records. The Trump administration reactivated the rule after scrapping an Obama-era directive that had previously softened enforcement.

According to FreightWaves, at least 5,006 “English language-related out-of-service” violations were recorded through October, with the number continuing to rise as inspections intensify.

How Indians will be imapcted? 

The policy has disproportionately impacted immigrant drivers, particularly from India. The North American Punjabi Truckers Association estimates that 130,000 to 150,000 Indian-origin truckers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, work in the US, many of whom have been affected by the new enforcement.

India remains one of the top sources of commercial drivers in states such as Texas and California, where trucking firms have raised concerns that the measure could worsen America’s long-standing driver shortage.

“Commercial truck drivers must speak and understand English to operate, or they will be taken out of service,” Duffy reiterated.