Trump Administration Proposes USDOT Enforcement Strategy to Protect the Integrity of the CDL System
- andrew.poliakoff
- Aug 26
- 3 min read
USDOT/FMCSA Press Conference on August 26th indicates further action by Trump Administration into preventing truck crashes and licensing shortcuts.
Selected clip in video below, full press conference here.
Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy: “...When an individual comes in to take their CDL skills test, it should be clear if a driver doesn’t understand road signs or speak the language. Yet somehow, they are still passing the skills test. Common sense tells us that doesn’t make sense. We lost three people for no reason, except that a driver who should never have been behind the wheel of a big rig was allowed to drive. That is unacceptable.”
Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy: "So, for future reference, we’re examining how these tests are being administered. Are the rules being followed? Or is there gaming of the system that we need to address? Stay tuned—we’ve been on this issue, you’ve covered it before, and we’re going to stay on it. This is about keeping our American roads safe..." On August 12, a devastating crash on Florida’s Turnpike claimed three lives after a commercial vehicle driver attempted an illegal U-turn across all lanes of traffic. Investigators later found the driver was unlawfully present in the U.S., failed basic English proficiency, and had nonetheless been issued CDLs by Washington and California. Federal law requires CDL holders to be legally eligible, English-proficient, and fully qualified to operate a 40-ton vehicle. When those safeguards are ignored or unevenly enforced, the consequences can be catastrophic.
Actions by Administration Since the Crash
Aug. 14 – A compliance review was opened into the driver’s carrier, White Hawk Carriers, Inc.
Aug. 19 – Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced an investigation into licensing irregularities in Washington and California and enforcement lapses in New Mexico.
Aug. 21 – Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a pause in the issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers.
Aug. 26 – Federal officials warned California, Washington, and New Mexico they could lose up to 100% of their Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) funds—nearly $50 million collectively—if they do not enforce English language proficiency requirements.
The integrity of the CDL system is central to safety in the United States. Regulators had estimated that full enforcement of Entry-Level Driver Training standards would prevent nearly 8,000 crashes over the next decade. Still, those benefits depend on states meeting their obligations and on consistent action against non-compliant providers. Oversight must also be strengthened at the grassroots level—where schools operate—so that bad actors are identified and removed before they put unqualified drivers on the road.
These requirements are common sense. If a driver cannot understand road signs or communicate with examiners, they should not pass a CDL skills test. Yet in some states, these failures still occur. That is unacceptable. Tests must be administered fairly and consistently, and state licensing partners must apply federal standards without exception.
This tragedy is a reminder that a CDL is not simply a credential—it is a license to operate a vehicle with life-or-death consequences. Uniform enforcement of licensing, English proficiency, and training requirements is essential to protect the public and maintain confidence in the trucking profession.
Secretary Duffy issued an order outlining new guidance to enforce the English proficiency requirement for truck drivers in May. Secretary Duffy rolled out a package of initiatives, pilot programs, and regulatory updates intended to improve conditions for America’s truck drivers in June. Watch the full Department of Transportation announcement here.
