U.S. English proficiency rule became an out-of-service violation for drivers

In June 2025, failing to meet the U.S. English language proficiency (ELP) requirement became a driver out-of-service violation under the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria, effective June 25.

The rule, 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2), requires drivers to read and speak English well enough to talk with the public, understand traffic signs and signals, respond to official questions and fill out reports and records. The requirement itself was not new, but drivers who could not meet it would now be cited and taken out of service.

How it came about

• A U.S. presidential executive order on April 28 set a 60-day deadline for the change.
• On May 1, the CVSA board voted to add ELP non-compliance to the out-of-service criteria, using an emergency bylaw provision that skips the usual member vote.
• The CVSA said the rule is a U.S. requirement and does not apply in Canada or Mexico, but drivers and carriers from those countries operating in the U.S. must comply.

Canadian exposure

Days before the change took effect, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) released a survey of about 100 carriers. One in five said some of their drivers might struggle to comply, and on average 15% of the surveyed fleets' drivers could be affected.

Geoff Wood, CTA's senior vice-president of policy, said the impact appeared manageable for now, but warned it would likely grow as the economy recovered and freight demand rose, given that the industry was in its worst freight recession in 40 years. The CTA said U.S. authorities had given few details beyond FMCSA guidance on how drivers would be tested, and asked members to report enforcement encounters.