Welp, Trump Just Signed an Executive Order Requiring Truck Drivers to Speak English
Welp, in case you missed it, President Donald Trump signed yet another executive order. This latest one? It requires commercial truck drivers in the United States to be proficient in English.
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The order says:
“Every day, truckers perform the demanding and dangerous work of transporting the Nation’s goods to businesses, customers, and communities safely, reliably, and efficiently.” It continued to read, “They should be able to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with traffic safety, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station officers. Drivers need to provide feedback to their employers and customers and receive related directions in English.”
As previously reported, Trump designated English as the country’s official language through an executive order back in March. And during Monday’s signing, he doubled down — saying English proficiency should be nonnegotiable for anyone driving professionally.
“This is common sense.”
More on the Order: What This Means for Truckers
It’s official — drivers must now be able to read and speak English “sufficiently to converse with the general public” in order to legally operate a commercial vehicle in the U.S.
Trump’s order also states:
“My Administration will enforce the law to protect the safety of American truckers, drivers, passengers, and others, including by upholding the safety enforcement regulations that ensure that anyone behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle is properly qualified and proficient in our national language, English.”
And the White House backed him up on it. During a press briefing on Monday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the new measure, saying:
“You might not know, but there’s a lot of communication problems between truckers on the road with federal officials and local officials, as well, which obviously is a public safety risk.”
[Media Placement Suggestion: Clip of Karoline Leavitt addressing press — Alt text: “White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt discusses trucker language law”]
So far, the Trump administration hasn’t broken down exactly how they plan to reinforce the order. But one thing’s clear — if you’re trucking through the U.S., speaking English ain’t optional anymore.
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