New bill would enforce English proficiency standards for truck drivers

FIRST ON FOX: A Senate Republican wants to tighten English proficiency requirements for truck drivers after an Obama-era rule change loosened standards.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., plans to introduce legislation that would add stricter English proficiency rules for commercial truck drivers and an enforcement mechanism that would consider them “out of service” if they don’t meet the proposed standards.

The bill would add several standards, including ensuring that truck drivers can speak to the public, understand highway traffic signs and signals in English, respond to official questions, and make entries in reports and records.

GOP REPRESENTATIVE TARGETS TRUCKERS’ ENGLISH SKILLS AFTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT BLAMED IN FATAL CRASH IN FLORIDA

“Wyoming families and travelers deserve safe highways,” Lummis said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “I am introducing this commonsense legislation to ensure that commercial truck drivers who operate heavy vehicles can easily read signs, understand traffic laws, and communicate effectively with law enforcement and emergency responders.”

The bill also comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s executive order earlier this year that imposed similarly stricter English language requirements.

Trump’s order and Lummis’ bill also require that a person operating a commercial motor vehicle that does not meet those standards be deemed out of service; It’s a move meant to add sanctions following a change made in 2016 under then-President Barack Obama.

‘ENGLISH IS NOT OPTIONAL’: Senate GOP bill targets illegal immigrant truckers after Florida crash

The bill comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s executive order earlier this year. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

“This legislation will correct the huge mistake the Obama administration made by undermining these rules and codify President Trump’s Executive Order to make our highways safer for all Americans,” Lummis said. he said.

While English proficiency requirements for truck drivers have existed for decades, a 2016 memo from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration instructed inspectors to issue warnings and cite rather than remove from service commercial vehicle drivers who do not meet English proficiency requirements.

He and Senate Majority Rep. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. There is also a companion version of the Lummis bill they plan to introduce in the House, introduced by Rep. Harriet Haggeman, R-Wyo.

TRUMP ADMIN THREATS OF MILLIONS OF FEDERAL FUNDING CUTATIONS FROM 3 STATES OVER TRUCKER ENGLISH LANGUAGE RULES

Harjinder Singh, a 28-year-old illegal immigrant from India, was arrested on August 16, 2025. (United States Marshals Service)

Both laws are called Connor’s Law after the 2017 traffic death of 18-year-old Connor Dzion in Florida when Canadian truck driver Yadwinder Sangha crashed into blocked vehicles.

CLICK TO REACH THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION

A similar incident occurred earlier this year when Harjinder Singh, an illegal immigrant from India, allegedly crashed into a tractor trailer while making an illegal U-turn on a Florida highway on August 12, killing three people. The trailer collided with a minivan, killing all three passengers inside.

Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., has introduced legislation that would crack down on commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) issued to illegal immigrants and strengthen English proficiency requirements for obtaining a commercial driver’s license.