This Wednesday, June 25, the executive order officially goes into effect, requiring all commercial truck drivers to demonstrate proficiency in the English language as a necessary condition to operate vehicles on the roads of the United States.
The provision does not introduce a new requirement—since federal law has already included this demand for years—but it does drastically change its application.
From now on, any driver who does not pass a language test may be immediately put out of service, without pay and with direct employment consequences for their employer.
The measure has generated alarm and significant divisions in the transportation sector, especially among Spanish-speaking communities, particularly the Cuban-American community, which represents a substantial part of the workforce in this industry.
An order that resurrects a forgotten requirement
The presidential decree instructs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to strengthen the language controls established in federal regulations, which already required commercial vehicle operators to "read and speak English well enough to communicate with the public, understand traffic signs, respond to authorities, and complete reports in English."
However, as the White House argues, this provision has not been enforced for years, which—according to the president—would have compromised road safety in the country.
The executive order takes a practical approach: it requires the DOT to conduct stricter inspections to verify whether drivers understand instructions in English and can answer questions related to their route, cargo, documentation, and service time.
In addition, it explicitly prohibits the use of any type of language assistance during evaluations: interpreters, reference cards, smartphones, or translation apps are excluded.
“A driver who cannot understand English will not drive a commercial vehicle in this country. Period”, declared the Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, when presenting the measure.
How will the application of the regulation work?
Any traffic officer may stop a truck for a minor infraction or during a routine inspection.
If you suspect that the driver does not have a sufficient command of English, a test may be administered on the spot that will include:
-A direct verbal interview.
-Recognition of traffic signals and electronic boards.
-Questions about shipping documentation and destination.
The driver who does not pass this evaluation will be suspended immediately, and both he and the company he works for must rectify the violation before resuming operations.
Although there is no official guideline on how to measure the "sufficient level" of English, the DOT clarifies that inspectors have discretion in deciding whether the driver demonstrates the minimum competence necessary to ensure road safety.
This regulatory reinforcement reverses the directives of the Obama Administration.
In 2016, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) established that drivers with deficiencies in English could receive a summons, but they could not be prohibited from working.
Under Trump, the return to "inactive" status once again becomes an immediate punishment.
Road safety as a central argument
The White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, justified the measure at the end of April by stating that “communication problems” pose an increasing risk on the roads, and ensuring that drivers speak English is a matter of “common sense.”
"Let’s make sure that all our truck drivers, the backbone of the economy, speak English. It’s a common sense policy," he stated at a press conference.
The decree also orders a review of the process for issuing commercial driver's licenses, especially those granted to drivers not residing in the U.S., in order to detect possible irregularities or administrative failures.
The measure falls within a series of recent decisions by Trump regarding national identity.
In March, the president declared through another decree that English is the official language of the United States, reinforcing the symbolic dimension of his immigration and security policy.
Reactions from the sector and practical background
The transportation industry quickly made its voice heard. Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, warned that an excessive or arbitrary application of this regulation could jeopardize the efficiency of the national logistics network.
"We have bridges that suffer impacts because drivers do not understand the height limit signs," said Spencer, referring to accidents caused by language barriers. He also warned about the lack of clarity in the new evaluation protocols and the risks of discrimination.
He also recalled that many truck drivers today use technology as a communication supplement, something that is now prohibited. “With this new policy, if you don't speak English, you're out. And that is going to deeply affect entire communities,” he commented.
The case of Rogel Lázaro Aguilera-Mederos: an example of what is at stake
The case of the Cuban truck driver Rogel Lázaro Aguilera-Mederos has resurfaced as a symbol of what the lack of English proficiency can entail in critical situations. Aguilera-Mederos, who did not speak English and required an interpreter during his judicial process, was sentenced to 110 years in prison for a fatal accident in Colorado in 2019, a sentence that was later reduced following public outcry.
During the trial, it came to light that the company he worked for had already been cited for employing drivers with language deficiencies, which, according to the authorities, contributed to a chain of fatal errors.
This case is now cited by both supporters and critics of the new order: for some, it highlights the necessity of the requirement; for others, it exposes how the lack of structural support and linguistic inequality can lead to extreme legal injustices.
Impact on Cuban-American truckers
The Cuban-American community is among the most affected by this measure. It is estimated that between 20,000 and 25,000 truck drivers of Cuban origin are active in the United States, primarily in Florida, where Spanish dominates many logistical operations.
Success stories like that of Rachel Rubio, a young Cuban truck driver who has achieved financial independence through her trade, stand in stark contrast to the current uncertainty faced by those who do not speak English and now fear for their job stability.
Some truck drivers have made the cabin of their trucks their home, a symbol of freedom and progress. The new language requirement could abruptly halt those journeys, especially in immigrant communities that have used transportation as a means of social mobility.
Voices from the Wheel: Between Support and Rejection
The debate not only divides the government and the industry, but it also pits truck drivers against each other.
On social media, the Cuban Daniel Palacios -a former journalist who now drives his own truck- defended the measure based on his experience.
"It is a lot of work if you don't speak English while doing this. You see the truck drivers who don't know English and go directly where they shouldn't. And then you see trucks stuck in the middle of the city, creating chaos," he explained.
Palacios also criticized what he considered a selective political reaction: "They never cared about truck drivers in their lives, but now they defend them because it is convenient for them to attack Trump."
In contrast, in statements to CBS News Miami, veteran truck driver Russell Rocha supported the rule: “If you can’t read or understand a sign, that’s dangerous; it could affect all of us.”
But Yoman Rivera, another driver with 15 years of experience in Miami, expressed the opposite.
"It's a horrible law," he said, adding that although he doesn't master the language, he has never had issues understanding the signage or communicating with the agents.
Logistical and economic consequences
The impact could extend beyond drivers. Experts like Rigo Díaz, president of the road safety group Simplex Group, are warning about the collateral effect:
"It is going to create a crisis in transportation. You can have a driver who does not speak English and is still a safe and professional driver."
According to Díaz, there are currently 70,000 vacancies in the industry that remain unfilled. If the regulation leaves out thousands more, delays in the supply chain could worsen, impacting both consumers and businesses alike.
Other truck drivers interviewed by Telemundo 51 a few weeks ago expressed that concern.
Miguel Campos was straightforward: "It will affect, it will affect."
Hermes Durán warned: "Yes, it will bring its problems," especially for those who understand the essentials for operating but lack conversational fluency.
The National Truckers Association openly criticized the measure, denouncing the narrative that there is an invasion of foreign truckers posing a threat to road safety as "false." They accused the government of manipulating statistics to justify an anti-immigrant political agenda.
For its part, the White House insists that its only motivation is to protect American families and strengthen national security. Trump, in recent statements, reaffirmed that English proficiency is a "non-negotiable security requirement."
Frequently asked questions about Trump's order requiring truck drivers to speak English
Why does Trump's order require truck drivers to speak English?
Trump's order aims to improve road safety by requiring truck drivers to speak English, arguing that communication issues pose a risk on the roads of the United States. The measure seeks to ensure that drivers can understand traffic signs, communicate with authorities, and complete reports in English.
What consequences does a truck driver face if they do not pass the English test?
A truck driver who fails the English test will be immediately suspended from their duties without pay. This may also have direct labor consequences for their employer, who must address the violation before the driver can return to work.
How does this measure affect Cuban-American truck drivers in the United States?
The measure could significantly affect Cuban-American truck drivers, especially in Florida, where Spanish is predominant. It is estimated that between 20,000 and 25,000 Cuban truck drivers are active in the U.S., and many are concerned about their job stability due to the new language requirement.
What impact does the regulation have on the transportation industry in the United States?
The regulation could trigger a crisis in the transportation industry by excluding thousands of truck drivers who do not speak English, which would exacerbate delays in the supply chain. Currently, there are 70,000 unfilled positions in the sector, and this language requirement could worsen the situation.
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