SEC. SEAN P. DUFFY: American Truckers Are Our Priority — Not Foreign Drivers Who Refuse To Learn English

The unsung heroes hauling the American dream across our highways have never had a stronger partner than President Donald Trump. From the expansion of truck parking to a crackdown on dangerous foreign drivers who can’t speak English, President Trump has placed truckers at the heart of an ambitious America First agenda.

As Transportation Secretary, I’ve worked to champion truckers’ safety, job security, and quality of life. On Monday, I was proud to kick off Trucker Appreciation Week by shaking the calloused hands that keep America moving. I heard firsthand from the men and women behind the wheel how the Trump Transportation Department can keep truckers driving America into the 21^st century.

We opened appreciation week by launching two new pilot programs designed to allow more flexible hours. Truckers deserve practical, data-driven guidelines to make life easier, not more complicated. More importantly, we’re all united to make trucking safer. (RELATED: No English, No Engine: Trump Signs Language Requirement For Truckers) 

Among the top concerns I heard from drivers over coffee and donuts in New Jersey was the refusal of foreign drivers to embrace our national language. I also listened to real frustrations about parking shortages, the exploitation of illegal labor, and record gas prices under the last administration. I left determined to do even more to lift the hard-working men and women who drive our economy.

Our trucker friends said it best when it comes to operating a rig. You MUST:

✅LEARN ENGLISH 📝
✅SEE THE SIGNS 🚏
✅RESPECT THE LAW 🇺🇸

States that don’t enforce English proficiency rules for commercial truck drivers is an insult to truckers who do the work to learn English and… pic.twitter.com/FpB8xwHw7D

— USDOT Rapid Response (@USDOTRapid) September 16, 2025

In July, I promised truckers “No Parking, No Borders, No More,” and outlined a series of actions my department took to address these issues. We unveiled an additional $275 million to expand truck parking with $180 million set aside for a highly congested region in central Florida alone. I also launched an audit of non-domicile licenses to shut down illegal brokering. Truck driving is a low-barrier industry, where all anyone needs to compete is a license and a truck. That leaves truckers vulnerable to foreign drivers undermining wages. My team is reviewing states’ approval of commercial driver’s licenses for non-citizens to identify and eliminate patterns of abuse.

I am also doubling down on actions we’ve already taken to require English proficiency in the face of leftist resistance. Last month in Florida, a criminal illegal alien behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler made an illegal U-turn and killed three people. The assailant did not just fail an English Language Proficiency (ELP) test following the collision. The driver delivered just 2 correct responses to a 12 question verbal test and identified just 1 of 4 highway traffic signs.

How was this driver even on the road? They were licensed by Washington and California. In July, New Mexico State Police failed to administer an ELP test after a speeding ticket despite my order from May reinstating penalties for those who can’t speak English.

Last month, I gave each three states 30 days to prove compliance with the English mandate for commercial drivers. Refusal to enforce this common-sense federal law will forfeit federal funding. Worse, failure to compel truck drivers to learn our language will claim more lives on the road. But the deadline is coming up, and the Trump Transportation Department is prepared to take action. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: US Truckers Plead For Help As Foreign Drivers Use Illegal Gimmick To Rake In Millions)

Under President Trump, federal law is clear: those who cannot read or speak English have no business on our roads. That’s especially true for commercial operators of 80,000-pound vehicles. Since we brought back these rules previously abandoned by Obama, more than 1,500 drivers have seen licenses revoked. We will keep pulling the licenses of anybody who threatens roadway safety.

As Secretary of Transportation, nothing matters more to me than protecting American lives and eliminating hazards on our roads. Under President Trump, we will always put American truckers first.