What happened?
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued new guidance clarifying that employers who want to hire foreign workers to drive commercial vehicles — such as semi-trucks — must include an English-language requirement in their job postings and visa applications. CDLLife
What does that mean in plain English?
If a trucking company wants to bring in a worker from another country to drive a big rig, the paperwork it files with the government must now clearly state that the driver must be able to speak and read English. It can’t be left out or skipped over.
What happens if employers don’t do this?
If employers fail to include the required English language standard, the DOL will issue a “Notice of Deficiency” and pause processing of the application until the employer fixes it. In other words, the hiring process gets put on hold. CDLLife
Why is English proficiency required in the first place?
Federal rules already require commercial truck drivers to be able to read and speak English well enough to understand traffic signs, communicate with the public, respond to officials, and complete required reports. U.S. Department of Labor
Why is this happening now?
The Labor Department says this move serves two purposes: keeping commercial drivers and other drivers on the road safe, and supporting two White House Executive Orders — one focused on truck driver safety rules and another designating English as the official language of the United States. Goldrush Cam
What’s the bigger picture?
English language proficiency for truck drivers has long been a federal requirement, but enforcement was relaxed starting in 2016. Since 2025, the government has been actively cracking down again, and violations can now result in drivers being pulled off the road during roadside inspections. ONEWAYBIT
The bottom line: The government is ensuring that when companies apply to hire foreign truck drivers, they can’t ignore the English-language requirement. It must be part of the application — and if it’s missing, the process stops until it’s added.
