The Trump administration announced today that it has revoked commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) for approximately 7,000 truck drivers nationwide. These drivers were deemed unable to comply with newly reinstated federal standards designed to enhance safety on American highways.

Key among the tightened criteria is a mandatory requirement for CDL holders to possess adequate English proficiency. This standard is crucial for ensuring drivers can fully understand and adhere to traffic signs, signals, and instructions encountered daily across the country.

American Truckers United leaders voiced strong support for the increased oversight. Co-founder Harvey Beech stated their organization has been “complaining about the foreign invasion of their industry” which drove down standards in recent years. Shannon Everett added that reducing CDL requirements exacerbated a driver shortage and facilitated unsafe driving conditions, noting similar incidents reported elsewhere.

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy revealed that around 7,250 licenses were suspended since May under these new rules. The administration cited two tragic accidents as pivotal in implementing stricter English testing: one involving an Indian immigrant from California where the driver failed the assessment and another in Indiana with fatal consequences linked to an undocumented trucker.

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that “these people deserve justice” following incidents like the fatal DUI crash involving Jashanpreet Singh, who was subsequently targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The move underscores a commitment to enforcing safety standards.