Let’s cut straight to it — if you can’t read “Bridge Out Ahead,” you shouldn’t be driving 80,000 pounds of anything.
And for the first time in a long time, Congress seems to agree.
Three new bills have rolled onto Capitol Hill with a clear purpose: to fix the messy, inconsistent enforcement of English-language proficiency in the commercial trucking world.
They target three things that shape every fleet’s reality: who gets a CDL, how they’re checked, and what happens when they don’t meet the standard.
This isn’t just another round of politics. This is about safety, communication, and leadership — and it’s about time.
Because at the end of the day, if a driver can’t understand the words “road closed,” that’s not just their problem — that’s everyone’s problem.
Meet the Big Three: SAFE, WEIGH, and STOP
Lawmakers introduced three bills with names that sound like safety slogans but carry serious weight:
⭐ The SAFE Drivers Act — creates a national, standardized English test for all CDL holders.
⭐ The WEIGH Act — requires weigh stations to verify English proficiency and CDL validity during inspections.
⭐ The STOP Act — stops states from issuing licenses or CDLs to illegal immigrants.
Together, they’re designed to close the loopholes that have been quietly endangering roadways for years.
Each one hits a different weak point — and if all three move forward, the days of “good enough English” will be over.
1. The SAFE Drivers Act: One Test to Rule Them All
Let’s start with the one everyone’s talking about — the Standardized Assessment for Fluency in English for Drivers Act, or SAFE Drivers Act.
Introduced by North Carolina Rep. Pat Harrigan, with co-sponsors Rep. Troy Nehls (Texas) and Rep. Bob Onder (Missouri), the SAFE Act aims to replace a patchwork of state-level interpretations with one nationwide test.
Here’s the current reality: Federal law (49 CFR 391.11(b)(2)) already says commercial drivers must “read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records.”
Sounds clear, right? The problem is — there’s no standardized way to measure that.
One state might test English with a basic road sign quiz. Another might skip testing entirely. A third might rely on someone’s “gut” judgment during the interview. That inconsistency has led to gaps in enforcement — and sometimes, tragedy.
The SAFE Act would change that by requiring:
⭐ A uniform English proficiency test for CDL applicants and renewals nationwide.
⭐ An FMCSA-developed exam covering reading, writing, and understanding spoken English.
⭐ Annual reporting by states on pass rates and compliance metrics.
⭐ The power for the Secretary of Transportation to withhold highway funds from states that refuse to comply.
Rep. Harrigan summed it up bluntly:
“If you can’t read ‘Bridge Out Ahead’ or communicate with a state trooper at a crash scene, you have no business driving an 80,000-pound truck on American highways.”
Fleet takeaway?
If you’re hiring or managing drivers, start thinking about communication as a safety skill, not a soft skill. The way you train, test, and document English proficiency is about to matter more than ever.
2. The WEIGH Act: Scale Houses Get a Promotion
Florida Rep. Byron Donalds brought forward the Weigh Station Enforcement to Intercept and Guard Highways Act, or WEIGH Act, which adds a brand-new layer of real-time compliance checks.
Here’s the core idea: Weigh stations are no longer just for measuring weight — they become checkpoints for verifying a driver’s credentials and English proficiency.
If passed, the WEIGH Act would:
⭐ Empower weigh-station personnel to verify CDLs and assess English communication during inspections.
⭐ Require states to enforce standardized procedures or risk losing CDL program authority and federal highway funding.
⭐ Enable DOT to use weigh stations as consistent, nationwide safety enforcement tools.
Donalds explained the reasoning in one sentence that says it all:
“Safety must be the standard, not the exception. The failure of states to enforce basic and commonsense requirements for truckers is putting every American motorist at risk.”
For fleets, this could mean drivers being pulled out of service on the spot if they can’t communicate with inspectors.
That’s not just an inconvenience — it’s a load delay, a hit to your CSA score, and a ripple effect across your operations.
So, now’s the time to prepare. Train your drivers to handle weigh-station conversations clearly and confidently. It’s not just about passing — it’s about keeping freight moving.
3. The STOP Act: Closing the License Loophole
Texas Rep. Jodey Arrington introduced the Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act, also known as the STOP Act.
This one tackles license eligibility and cooperation between states and federal authorities.
The bill would:
⭐ Ban states from issuing any type of driver’s license to illegal immigrants.
⭐ Cut off federal law enforcement funds (specifically, Edward Byrne Memorial JAG grants) to noncompliant states.
⭐ Require state and local agencies to cooperate fully with federal immigration officials and share license and identity data.
Right now, nineteen states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico allow undocumented individuals to obtain driver’s licenses using foreign documents. The STOP Act says — not anymore.
Arrington’s statement was direct:
“My bill will bar rogue states from issuing licenses to illegal immigrants and force them to cooperate fully with federal enforcement. Safety and security must come first.”
What that means for your company: Make sure your hiring and verification processes can keep up. If states tighten license issuance rules, you’ll need airtight systems for identity and document validation.
The Real-World Wake-Up Call
These bills didn’t pop up in a vacuum. They’re a response to real incidents — and one in particular that rocked the industry.
In August 2025, a driver failed both his English and road sign tests after a fatal crash on the Florida Turnpike. That single event lit a fire under lawmakers.
Soon after, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) voted to make English proficiency an out-of-service violation, effective June 25, 2025.
From that date forward, inspectors could immediately place a driver out of service if they couldn’t read or understand English instructions.
Since then, more than 6,000 drivers have already been sidelined for failing English requirements — and fleets are feeling the pinch.
The Trump administration’s April 2025 Executive Order cemented it by directing FMCSA and state DPS offices to enforce English proficiency consistently across the U.S.
No more gray areas. No more “my state does it differently.” The standard is the standard.
If you manage compliance, that’s a big deal. It means what happens in California, Texas, and Colorado must now look the same — and your drivers need to be ready for it.
Why This Matters to Fleet Managers and HR Directors
Now, let’s translate all this policy into what it means for your business.
-
More Consistent Enforcement Across States
No more guessing what each jurisdiction expects. That’s good for planning — but only if your training and documentation match the federal bar. -
Driver Supply Chain Disruptions
When 6,000 drivers get benched for failing English checks, it tightens the market. Recruiting and retention will get tougher before it gets easier. Be ready with training pipelines and mentorship programs. -
Heightened Liability Exposure
If a driver involved in an incident can’t prove English proficiency — and it’s in your file — that becomes a problem for your insurance, your CSA score, and your brand. -
Operational Slowdowns at Weigh Stations
Expect inspections to take longer as English checks become standard procedure. Strong documentation and pre-trip coaching will save hours of lost time. -
Data and Reporting Pressure
States will start submitting compliance reports to FMCSA. Your internal systems should match — because those records may be audited or compared.
What Fleet Leaders Should Do Right Now
If you lead people, trucks, or compliance — here’s how you get ahead.
⭐ Audit Your Driver Files
Check every CDL holder’s documentation, communication records, and testing notes. Make sure you can prove English competency when asked.
⭐ Train for Clarity
Don’t just run the same safety meetings. Build exercises that strengthen real-world communication — reading road signs, responding to inspectors, writing short incident summaries.
⭐ Simulate Weigh-Station Stops
Role-play interactions. Make sure your drivers know how to answer confidently, stay calm, and present documents quickly.
⭐ Document Everything
Training logs, testing results, and notes belong in one centralized system. Platforms like DOTDocs make it easy to organize and retrieve proof during audits or inspections.
⭐ Plan for Capacity Shifts
Some drivers will fail new requirements at first. Have a plan to retrain, reassign, or replace without interrupting operations.
⭐ Collaborate Internally
HR, Safety, and Operations should be aligned now — not after enforcement starts. Everyone should understand what’s changing and why.
Dan’s Take: Common Sense Finally Got a Seat in Congress
Let’s be honest — this shouldn’t even be a debate.
If you can’t read a road sign or respond to law enforcement, you’re not ready for the road. Period.
But here’s what most people miss: this isn’t just about driving. It’s about leadership.
Good communication saves time, money, and lives. It prevents breakdowns in training, dispatch, and safety reporting. It creates a culture of professionalism and accountability.
So while Congress is over there making new rules, real leaders are already building systems to meet them.
They’re auditing, training, documenting, and leading by example. Because real compliance doesn’t start in Washington — it starts in your yard.
Uniform standards make life easier for everyone.
Drivers know what’s expected. Managers know how to prepare. Regulators know how to measure.
And when the standard is clear, excellence stops being optional — it becomes automatic.
At Eclipse DOT, we help fleets turn that kind of clarity into confidence.
Our Micro Audits help you find weak spots before inspectors do.
Our ELDT and CDL training programs sharpen your team’s communication and compliance skills.
And DOTDocs makes sure every piece of paper — from test results to certifications — lives where it should.
Because at the end of the day, it’s simple:
Can’t read, can’t drive. And can’t lead if you don’t prepare.
Gain exclusive access to our CDL & DOT Compliance articles with a trial at DOTDocs.com. And don’t forget to claim your FREE micro audit at THE ECLIPSE DOT MICRO AUDIT. Ready for seamless operations? Discover the difference today!