‘I Don’t Need to Speak English to Drive’: Hispanic Truckers Believe Trump’s New Law Requiring Language Proficiency is Unfair

José Flores has been driving a truck on the highways of the United States for 30 years. He transports food between California, Nevada, and Arizona. He knows the traffic signs well and is familiar with the routines he must follow at inspection stops. He has passed the necessary tests to operate a freight vehicle. However, now at 61 years old and about to retire, Flores is afraid of losing his job. A new executive order signed by President Donald Trump requires truck drivers to master English, and the language is a challenge for José. “I read and understand it well enough because my children were born here, but speaking and writing it is another matter,” he explains.

The new law, which came into effect on June 25, mandates that drivers of these commercial vehicles must “read and speak English well enough to converse with the public, understand traffic signs, respond to authorities, and fill out reports or records.” Flores finds this a bit ambiguous and is still uncertain about the level expected of him. His workplace merely warned him about the changes but has not provided specific instructions. “I’ve never had problems doing what I do. In reality, I don’t need to speak English to drive. And there are many others like me,” he asserts.

For years, a law has required commercial drivers to be proficient in the language. However, its enforcement has not always been strict. A document from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published in 2016 determined that inspectors rarely fined or warned drivers who struggled with the language. But on April 28, Trump signed this executive order that enforces the legislation rigorously. Now, truck drivers who do not comply may face fines of up to $10,000 or even revocation of their license. The FMCSA issued further guidance on May 20, which took effect on June 25: a driver who cannot master the language may be put out of service immediately. In fact, they will not be able to continue their route and another driver must replace them.

“I know colleagues who are both owners and operators, who have their own trucks and do not speak much English. What are they going to do if they get stopped and declared out of service?” asks Flores, who arrived in the United States from Mexico at 18 and established himself and arranged his life thanks to this job. “The carpenter doesn’t need English to drive a nail into wood. In the end, driving doesn’t require it either,” he asserts. “As long as one knows the signs and some basic things, it’s enough.”

According to FMCSA figures, over 20% of commercial drivers in the country are of Latin origin, totaling approximately 700,000 professionals. Many have been working without issues for years, with valid licenses, no accidents, or penalties. The problem with the new regulations is that they do not present objective criteria. What does “sufficient mastery” mean? How is discrimination based on accent avoided? What happens if a driver gets nervous speaking a language that is not theirs with an official?

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that English is “a non-negotiable safety requirement.” He stated that there have been documented accidents in which the lack of understanding of the language was a significant factor. However, there is another perception among drivers. Alejandro Morales, a 26-year-old Cuban, believes this law is unnecessary. “All you have to do is look at the ticket you get where you pick up the load, transport it, and know how much weight you can carry, and so on. You don’t need English because almost everything is numbers,” he points out.

Morales has been driving a dump truck for two years, transporting construction materials between Texas and Louisiana. According to him, it’s not necessary to speak with clients or fill out any reports. The language isn’t even required for inspections. “The inspection is to check the truck for any technical or mechanical failures, and when they give you the OK, you hardly have to talk to anyone,” he explains. In case the police stopped him on the road, Morales argues that it can be resolved with translators. “When the officer can’t communicate with you, they always call dispatch and get someone who speaks Spanish. It happened to me once. I got stopped, the officer called, saying he needed someone to translate, and they immediately provided someone. But it’s not like they stop you every day,” he says.

Flores feels the same way: “I’ve never had to have a long conversation in English. I hand over papers, they check me, and I continue on my way. I don’t understand why they want to force us to talk as if we were receptionists.”

The supply chain in the United States heavily relies on road transportation. Over 70% of products are moved in trailers, many of which are driven by immigrants. If the new controls reduce the active workforce, experts predict delays in deliveries and increased logistics costs.

“I feel good driving. I don’t want to retire, but if they take my job away, what do I do? Go work in a factory for less?” Flores considers. “Prices have gone up a lot. Rent, gasoline, food. If I earn less, my money won’t stretch. It affects me and my family.”

Several civil organizations have expressed concern about this policy. To them, it is a form of job exclusion. They claim there is no solid evidence that a lack of English has caused accidents, and that the measure endangers those who have already passed official tests. “If I was given a license, it’s because I understood the test,” says Flores. “If I have worked in this for 30 years, it’s because I know what I’m doing. Why are they going to tell me I’m no longer fit because I can’t explain in English what I do every day?”