Overview

• The Department of Transportation gave California, Washington and New Mexico 30 days to comply or risk losing MCSAP dollars, citing potential losses of $33 million, $10.5 million and $7 million, respectively.
• The standards, rolled out after President Trump’s June executive order, require commercial drivers to read traffic signs and communicate with authorities in English.
• DOT figures show enforcement gaps: about 34,000 inspections in California led to one English-related removal, Washington recorded more than 6,000 safety violations but only four English removals, and New Mexico reported none.
• The Aug. 12 Florida case that catalyzed the push involves trucker Harjinder Singh, jailed without bond on three vehicular homicide counts and immigration charges, as federal and California officials dispute his work authorization.
• Cross-border impacts are mounting as Mexican carriers ramp up English training for drivers, with uncertainty compounded by a recent federal pause on some work visas for foreign truckers.