US to Require Truck Driving Tests in English, Crack Down on Fraudulent Schools

New USDOT rules aim to improve safety and oversight of commercial driver training programs.

Mar. 2, 2026 at 8:47am

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The U.S. Transportation Department announced it will issue new regulations requiring all commercial truck driver testing to be conducted in English. The agency also vowed to crack down on fraudulent commercial driver training schools and companies that do not meet legal requirements.

Why it matters

This move is part of the Trump administration's efforts to address concerns about foreign truck drivers who do not speak English fluently, which raises safety risks on the roads. The crackdown on fraudulent training programs aims to improve the quality and oversight of commercial driver education.

The details

The USDOT plans to end self-certification for commercial truck driving schools after uncovering hundreds of programs that did not meet legal requirements. The new rules will mandate that all commercial truck driver testing be conducted in English, rather than allowing tests in other languages.

  • The new USDOT rules were announced on February 20, 2026.

The players

U.S. Transportation Department

The federal agency responsible for regulating and overseeing transportation in the United States, including commercial trucking.

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The takeaway

These new USDOT regulations aim to improve the safety and quality of commercial truck driver training by requiring English proficiency and cracking down on fraudulent schools. This is part of the Trump administration's broader efforts to address concerns about foreign truck drivers who lack English skills, which can pose risks on the roads.