California Reinstates English Proficiency Requirement for Commercial Drivers

California Governor Gavin Newsom and state officials have changed their stance, agreeing to enforce federal regulations that require commercial drivers to show proficiency in English. This announcement came on Friday, confirmed by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The English proficiency requirement only affects those with a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), so it doesn’t impact regular Class C license holders or the general public.

This new rule now applies to long-haul truck drivers, commercial bus operators, and delivery drivers of heavier vehicles. It signals the conclusion of a prolonged conflict between Newsom’s administration and the previous Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, who had accused California of being the only state not complying with nationwide safety guidelines.

For months, California had resisted implementing this mandate, which led the federal government to withhold $40 million in motor carrier safety grants and warn of freezing an additional $160 million in highway funding.

“California is the only state in the nation that refuses to ensure big rig drivers can read our road signs and communicate with law enforcement. This is a fundamental safety issue that impacts you and your family on America’s roads,” Duffy remarked in October when funding was pulled.

The dispute revolved around a federal regulation, 49 CFR § 391.11(b)(2), which necessitates that commercial drivers can “read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public” and “understand highway traffic signs.” California had insisted that its current DMV tests were adequate. However, federal audits indicated a lack of enforcement during roadside inspections.

For instance, after 34,000 inspections in late 2025, California issued only one violation regarding English proficiency, while other states managed to issue hundreds for similar infractions. The situation escalated following notable accidents, including a deadly crash in Florida involving a California driver who couldn’t communicate effectively with law enforcement.

“Why on earth is it easier for a dangerous illegal trucker to get a commercial driver’s license than an American citizen?” Duffy tweeted, asserting that the new rule would tighten the eligibility criteria to ensure only qualified drivers operate big rigs.

With the new agreement, California will take immediate steps to align with the previous administration’s “Safety First” initiative:

• Roadside enforcement: California Highway Patrol has started to place drivers out of service if they fail to meet English proficiency during inspections.

• English-only testing: The state will stop offering CDL tests in multiple languages, transitioning from twenty languages to English only.

• License revocations: California has already removed over 600 drivers from the road and is working to address a separate issue involving 17,000 CDLs issued to foreign-born drivers with expired work authorizations.

“I shouldn’t have had to threaten to withhold millions in funding for California to come to their senses and enforce the law,” Duffy told a local publication. “For those who said we’re playing politics—our efforts have gotten real results for the American people.”

Initially, Newsom described the federal demands as political in nature, pointing to California’s lower truck crash rates. Nevertheless, with the DOT planning to permanently withdraw millions in traffic safety funding, it seems the state’s position became increasingly challenging to maintain.

The DOT noted that the withheld $40 million in Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program funds could be restored if California shows “active and consistent enforcement.”