No Boundaries, No Parking, No Going Back—Trump’s Strategy to Prioritize Truck Drivers

Trump’s Support for American Truck Drivers

In a time when urban elites often overlook the hardworking hands that keep America moving, President Donald Trump has shown his support for American truck drivers.

This spring, I have acted on the president’s executive order regarding English proficiency rules. We’ve decided to reintroduce penalties for those who fail to comply with these language rules, which were previously rolled back during the Obama administration. Essentially, those who can’t read or speak English won’t qualify to operate commercial vehicles. Unfortunately, political correctness led to the removal of these penalties. On Friday, we took significant strides to revitalize the trucking sector by announcing two major initiatives: tackling illegal brokerage practices and increasing truck parking availability.

Many truck stops were constructed in the 1950s and 1960s. They might not win any beauty contests, but they play a crucial role in our supply chain and ensuring highway safety. Every day, around 3.5 million truck drivers transport essential goods—from food to fuel to medicine. These drivers need proper places to rest, refuel, and recharge. Right now, that just isn’t happening.

A 2019 investigation revealed that a staggering 98% of truck drivers struggle to find safe parking spots. With only 11 available for every truck driver nationwide, this shortfall can cost drivers up to 12% of their income. Moreover, parking deficiencies are prevalent in all areas, making it especially challenging along key routes like I-95 on Florida’s east coast. Some drivers resort to illegal parking on shoulders or ramps, which can pose safety risks for everyone. Therefore, we are allocating $275 million to construct more truck parking facilities.

When I took on the role of Transport Secretary, I pledged to make travel safer, easier, and more affordable. Recently, I invited families to join us on a national road trip to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary. My team has collaborated on curating 250 family-friendly destinations that honor our nation’s history. We’ve listened to your feedback, and it’s clear that rest areas need to cater more to families.

American truckers will also benefit from our efforts to facilitate the industry. We’re eliminating unnecessary federal regulations, thus saving truck drivers valuable time and money. This simplification will help them deliver their goods safely and efficiently.

Additionally, we’re committed to maintaining the integrity of commercial driver licenses. The trucking industry is particularly exposed to issues related to immigration. It’s concerning how foreign drivers could compromise the wages of American truckers by offering to do the same work for less pay, a topic that has grown more pressing with the influx of millions of undocumented immigrants due to the current administration’s border policy.

As Transport Secretary, I’ve mandated an audit of non-dominant licenses nationwide to prevent the exploitation of foreign labor. In simple terms, we are assessing state practices related to non-citizen commercial driver licenses to identify and correct any misuse. We are not allowing the previous administration’s policies to undermine the hard work of American truck drivers.