Over 7,200 commercial truck drivers have been banned across the United States this year for failing mandatory English proficiency tests. The US Department of Transportation acted after several fatal accidents involving Indian-origin drivers raised safety concerns.
Indian Drivers Under Scrutiny
According to the North American Punjabi Truckers Association, about 130,000 to 150,000 Indian-origin drivers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, work in the US trucking industry. Many now face uncertainty due to this sudden enforcement drive.
Federal Crackdown on English Skills
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that 7,248 drivers were marked “out of service” in 2025 after failing roadside English checks. Earlier this year, only about 1,500 had been disqualified. The new push began after a fatal crash in California involving an Indian driver that killed three people.
The Law Behind the Action
The rule being enforced, 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2), requires drivers to read and speak English well enough to interact with the public, understand road signs, and talk to officials. Previously, inspectors could not suspend drivers solely for poor English. Since June 2025, English testing has become mandatory.
Truckers Call It Discrimination
Truckers and companies say the new policy unfairly targets immigrant workers who follow safety laws. They argue that weak English does not always cause accidents and that this rule risks harming both livelihoods and the American supply chain.
