Trump Revives English Proficiency Requirement for Truck Drivers, Affecting Somali and Immigrant Workers

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn (AX) — In a decisive shift in federal policy, U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that mandates commercial truck drivers demonstrate proficiency in English reading and speaking. This new regulation reverses an Obama-era initiative that had softened federal enforcement standards regarding language requirements for truck drivers. As a result, immigrant drivers, particularly a significant number of Somalis contributing to North America’s trucking workforce, may find themselves disproportionately impacted by this change.

The executive order, aptly titled “Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers”, stipulates that drivers must be able to read road signs, effectively communicate with law enforcement and border officials, and follow instructions in English. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been tasked with reinstating the federal regulation known as 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2), which deems English proficiency essential for commercial drivers. According to White House officials, the previous administration had relegated this important regulation.

“Federal law is clear: a driver who cannot sufficiently read or speak English—and understand road signs—is unqualified to operate a commercial vehicle in America,” asserted Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. This statement resonates with the urgency many in the industry feel regarding safety and effective communication on the roads.

To reinforce these standards, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been tasked with updating inspection protocols. The intention is to ensure that inspectors can swiftly place noncompliant drivers out of service. Industry data reveals a troubling trend: prior to the 2016 rollback of regulations, over 80,000 English-language violations were recorded annually. However, between 2021 and 2024, that number plummeted to less than 10,000. Is this an indication of safety benefiting from leniency in regulations, or merely a symptom of a larger systemic oversight?

While some U.S. industry groups have welcomed this policy change—with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) praising it as a return to “a commonsense safety standard”—criticism from immigrant and civil rights organizations is mounting. These groups contend that the executive order presents significant barriers to employment, notably affecting Somali truck drivers who have become integral to the long-haul logistics network across North America.

Cilmi Mohamed Mubaarig, a former truck driver and now a journalist, poignantly highlights the broader implications: “It’s not just Somalis—it also affects drivers from Asia and Latin America. Some Somali drivers don’t speak fluent English but have driven safely for years. The order will now require them to pass a language test.” This raises a critical question: Should language proficiency be the only measure of a driver’s capability, particularly when safety records speak to their experience?

Interestingly, Somali drivers have increasingly entered the trucking profession in recent years, drawn by the allure of flexibility, autonomy, and a peculiar echo of their nomadic heritage. Historically, Somalis were known as roob raac or “rain followers,” maneuvering with the seasons in search of pasture and water. Ideally, they navigate the vast interstates of North America today, hauling freight in a manner that resonates with their ancestral roots.

In our digital age, platforms like Clubhouse and TikTok have emerged as vibrant community spaces where Somali drivers exchange everything from road tips to cultural music, revitalizing a sense of collective belonging reminiscent of their homeland. This not only showcases their resilience but also highlights the rich tapestry of cultural interaction within the trucking community.

The Sikh Coalition, representing another sizeable immigrant trucking demographic, has also raised alarms over this policy. They warn that the order could unfairly discriminate against non-native English speakers and exacerbate labor shortages in an industry already grappling with retention issues. “About 90 percent of the 150,000 Sikhs in the U.S. trucking sector are drivers,” the organization stated. “They play a vital role in maintaining supply chains and ensuring goods reach communities. This order risks excluding many of them.”

In conclusion, this executive order not only marks a significant regulatory shift but also raises essential questions about inclusivity and fairness within the workforce. It’s worth pondering: How might this impact not only the lives of thousands of immigrant drivers but also the very fabric of the trucking industry? Moreover, as we further delve into these regulations, we must reflect on who benefits from policies like these, and at what cost to our diverse communities.

Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring