U.S. Takes 7,248 Truckers Off the Road Over English Test Failures

Overview

• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said 7,248 drivers were placed out of service by October after failing real-time roadside English checks, up from roughly 1,500 by July, according to FMCSA data.
• Inspectors are enforcing 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2) with immediate debarment for failures starting June 25, requiring drivers to read signs, converse with the public, and communicate with authorities in English.
• Industry and advocacy groups report a heavy impact on Indian-origin drivers, with the North American Punjabi Truckers Association estimating 130,000–150,000 drivers from Punjab and Haryana working in the U.S.
• Officials have linked the crackdown to recent fatal crashes, including an October pileup in California and an August Florida Turnpike collision involving Indian-origin drivers.
• The administration has paused issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers, and Duffy has criticized states such as California over licensing practices, while carriers warn of supply-chain disruptions and unfair treatment of bilingual operators.