CVSA’s Recent Action Underscores Need for Proper FMCSA Enforcement of Existing Laws

On May 1, 2025, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) announced a significant update to its North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria: beginning June 25, commercial drivers who cannot demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency may be placed out of service in the United States. This change stems from a presidential executive order directing regulators to more stringently enforce commonsense safety standards for professional drivers.

Under the newly adopted provision, inspectors will have the authority to declare a driver out of service if they cannot read and speak English well enough to understand highway signs, respond to safety officials, or complete required reports, in accordance with 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2). This action reinforces a long-standing, existing federal requirement and marks a serious step toward ensuring that every commercial driver operating on U.S. highways meets the basic communication standards necessary for public safety.

The Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA) supports CVSA’s efforts to enhance highway safety and maintain the integrity of the driver qualification process. However, this new enforcement standard also highlights a broader issue: the urgent need for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to fully enforce the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), including the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rule and licensing requirements.

As CVTA has repeatedly emphasized, only properly trained and licensed drivers—who meet all qualifications, including language proficiency—should be allowed to operate commercial motor vehicles. FMCSA must take stronger action to remove non-compliant training providers from the Training Provider Registry (TPR) to ensure that all drivers on the road meet the regulatory standards designed to keep the public safe.