According to a report by trucking logistics company J.B. Hunt, new federal requirements for English-language proficiency (ELP) and enhanced immigration enforcement could take 200,000-400,000 commercial driver’s license (CDL) drivers off the nation’s roads.
First, new requirements for drivers who are not citizens or permanent residents of the U.S.: They must hold specific visas and complete an immigration status check before renewal. J.B. Hunt reports that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration estimates that 97% of the 200,000 non-domiciled CDL drivers will be unable to fulfill the requirements.
Second, a May 20, 2025 executive order calls for stricter enforcement of ELP requirements. CDL drivers must be able to converse with police officers in English, read road signs in English, and fill out reports in English. Those requirements are now being enforced more vigorously, with the result that thousands of CDL drivers have been put “out of service.” The detailed report from J.B. Hunt estimates that 200,000 CDL drivers will be unable to meet the English-language requirements, a figure that indicates a serious, current safety concern for the country’s roads.
