As someone who has trained professional truck drivers for decades, I take highway safety very seriously. The U.S. economy depends on a national freight network that moves goods through every state, along every major highway corridor and to every community. When safety standards for commercial drivers are weakened anywhere, the consequences ripple across the country, putting motorists, supply chains and professional drivers at risk.
That’s why I was deeply troubled by Texas Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett’s recent comments at a House Judiciary Committee hearing suggesting that English language skills are not necessary to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle. She likened it to the same practice as someone driving a rental car in a foreign country where they may not speak the language. Her claim is misleading, dangerous and disrespectful to the professionalism of America’s truck drivers.
Driving an £80,000 commercial vehicle is a far cry from driving a passenger car. A commercial driver does not simply follow turn-by-turn directions from point A to point B. He navigates complex highway systems, responds to emergencies, complies with law enforcement instructions, interprets signage, understands weather warnings and coordinates with dispatchers, first responders and inspectors – often under great pressure. English language skills are fundamental to all these responsibilities.
In the United States, commercial trucks transport agricultural products from rural communities, consumer goods along major interstate corridors, and essential supplies to ports, factories, hospitals, and distribution centers. From coast to coast, our economy depends on professional drivers to move freight safely and efficiently. That makes strong, consistent safety standards not a regional concern, but a national necessity.
MIGRATING TRUCKS APPLY CALIFORNIA DMV FOR CANCELED COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSES
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, questioned the need for truck drivers to speak English. (John Medina/Getty Images for MoveOn)
Federal law has long required commercial drivers to demonstrate English language proficiency for good reason. A commercial driver’s license is not a check mark on a piece of paper; it is a promise to the public. It tells every motorist sharing the road that the person behind the wheel of that truck has been properly trained, evaluated and meets consistent safety standards. Weakening or downplaying these requirements undermines confidence in the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) itself.
This debate cannot be separated from a broader reality facing the trucking industry. Across the country, regulators are exposing bad actors who skimp on training, falsify data or exploit loopholes to push unqualified drivers onto public roads. These so-called “CDL factories” not only compromise safety, they also undermine the hard work of legitimate drivers and reputable training schools that do things the right way.
As a training professional and president of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA), I see the difference every day between real, rigorous instruction and sham operations that promise “fast” or “guaranteed” licensing. Real commercial driver training takes time. It includes classroom instruction, hands-on skill development, supervised behind-the-wheel training and clear communication between instructors and students. None of that works without a shared language.
To be clear: this is not about exclusion. Trucking has always been a way to create opportunities for people from different backgrounds. CVTA supports workforce expansion, but growth should never come at the expense of safety. Lowering standards will not solve the labor shortage; it causes more accidents, more fatalities, more control and ultimately fewer good jobs.
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Our drivers – professional men and women who earn their living the right way – deserve better than to have their work trivialized. To suggest that language skills do not matter is an insult to the professionalism of drivers who take pride in mastering a demanding trade and meeting high expectations every day.
The solution does not lie in new laws or political talking points. The solution is consistent, nationwide enforcement of existing safety requirements. Regulators must fully enforce entry-level driver training rules, conduct meaningful audits and shut down fraudulent operators wherever they are. Every state must continue to work with federal agencies to ensure that every CDL on the road represents real training, real responsibility, and real competency.
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When you see a truck in the next lane, you need to be confident that the driver can read the signs, understand the emergency instructions and respond correctly in the event of a crisis. That trust starts with maintaining – and enforcing – standards that put safety first.
We owe this to our drivers and the traveling public.
