DOT Crackdown on English Skills Gains Backing With Federal and State Legislation
Members of Congress have joined the push to remove truck drivers from U.S. roads who are
unable to communicate in English or read American road signs, backing new federal legislation
to enforce English-language proficiency requirements.
On May 30, lawmakers introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives titled Connor’s
Law, authored by Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Ohio) and Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.). The bill
seeks to codify recent guidance from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy that makes English-
language deficiencies grounds for placing truck drivers out of service.
While the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) have required English proficiency
since 1937, enforcement has been inconsistent across states. The new Department of
Transportation guidelines mandate that truck drivers who cannot communicate with law
enforcement or read U.S. road signs will be placed out of service and deemed unauthorized to
operate a commercial vehicle.
These new enforcement rules are set to take effect on June 25, 2025. If Connor’s Law is
passed, the DOT’s guidance would be locked into law and could only be amended by an act of
Congress.
The bill follows an executive order by President Donald Trump declaring English the official
language of the United States and directing federal agencies to enforce English-language
proficiency (ELP) rules among commercial drivers.
Several states are also advancing similar legislation. Oklahoma Governor Rick Stitt on
Wednesday signed a law imposing a $3,000 fine on truck drivers who fail to meet ELP
requirements, along with jail time for repeat violations. Arkansas enacted a comparable law in
April, carrying penalties of up to $1,000.
Connor’s Law is named after Connor Dzion, a college student killed in a crash involving a truck
driver who reportedly lacked English proficiency. The bill has gained support from several major
industry groups, including the Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC), the Owner-
Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), and the American Trucking Associations
(ATA).
Despite the movement, some trucking executives say the crackdown is unlikely to significantly
affect truck capacity in what remains an oversupplied freight market.
