A group of senators has introduced federal legislation aimed at making English proficiency a must for anyone looking to get a new commercial driver’s license (CDL).
What’s in the bill: The proposal says all new CDL applicants would have to take their test in English, with no other language options allowed. This would cover reading and understanding traffic signs and being able to talk with law enforcement.
- Existing rule: Right now, federal regs already say drivers have to be able to communicate in English, but some states still let folks take their tests in other languages.
- This new bill goes further than current state and federal enforcement, making sure drivers without English skills don’t get a CDL in the first place.
Government action: If the bill becomes law, it wouldn’t take effect for two years. The goal is to boost safety on America’s roads by keeping language standards consistent across all states, according to official documents.
Senator Roger Marshall, who introduced the bill, said, “Anyone driving on American roads, especially those operating large trucks and trailers, should be capable of understanding what the road signs say or how to communicate with police.”
- There’s also been recent federal action, including an executive order to bring back strict enforcement of the English language rule and new steps for law enforcement to check drivers’ language skills at roadside inspections.
The bill is now working through Congress as lawmakers debate how English testing should fit into CDL requirements.