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Transportation Chief Takes Aim at English Proficiency Rules for Truck Drivers

MarketDash Editorial Team
8 hours ago
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is cracking down on states that issue commercial driver's licenses without proper English proficiency testing, threatening federal funding cuts while California pushes back.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is picking a fight over who gets to drive the massive trucks that haul goods across America's highways. His target? States that he says are issuing commercial driver's licenses without ensuring drivers can speak English well enough to communicate with law enforcement.

The Obama Administration's Role

In a video posted to X over the weekend, Duffy accused "leftists" of sacrificing English proficiency standards "for the sake of POLITICAL CORRECTNESS!" He pointed the finger at former President Barack Obama for reducing penalties for failing English proficiency requirements to what he called a "slap on the wrist."

The Department of Transportation isn't playing around anymore, according to Duffy. The agency plans to take "80,000lb big rigs" operated by unqualified drivers "out of service" due to safety concerns. Duffy emphasized that foreign nationals living legally in the U.S. can absolutely drive trucks, but they need to speak English to communicate with law enforcement and maintain safety on American roads.

California Stands Alone

Here's where it gets interesting. Duffy says 49 states have cooperated with the DOT's enforcement push. The holdout? California. "There's one state, California, who has refused," Duffy said, taking direct aim at Governor Gavin Newsom's administration.

The stakes are real. California has already lost $40 million in federal funding over the dispute. Duffy has threatened to pull an additional $160 million, drawing sharp criticism from Newsom. Minnesota is also in the crosshairs, with Governor Tim Walz facing a 30-day deadline to fix illegally issued CDLs or lose $30 million in federal money.

The Tragedy Behind the Policy

This isn't just bureaucratic squabbling. The controversy erupted after Harjinder Singh, an undocumented individual who received his CDL in California, made an illegal U-turn on a Florida highway that killed three people. That tragedy set off the current regulatory battle between federal and state authorities.

Meanwhile, in Electric Truck Land

While the CDL debate rages, Tesla Inc. (TSLA) is quietly expanding its Semi truck business. The electric vehicle maker just delivered its first Semi to German logistics giant DHL, which says it might expand its Tesla fleet in 2026. The Semi comes equipped with some autonomous driving technology.

Tesla also inked a deal with Uber Technologies Inc.'s (UBER) Freight division. Dan Priestley, Tesla's Director of Semi Program, called the partnership a significant step for EV adoption in the trucking industry.

Back to News

Transportation Chief Takes Aim at English Proficiency Rules for Truck Drivers

MarketDash Editorial Team
8 hours ago
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is cracking down on states that issue commercial driver's licenses without proper English proficiency testing, threatening federal funding cuts while California pushes back.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is picking a fight over who gets to drive the massive trucks that haul goods across America's highways. His target? States that he says are issuing commercial driver's licenses without ensuring drivers can speak English well enough to communicate with law enforcement.

The Obama Administration's Role

In a video posted to X over the weekend, Duffy accused "leftists" of sacrificing English proficiency standards "for the sake of POLITICAL CORRECTNESS!" He pointed the finger at former President Barack Obama for reducing penalties for failing English proficiency requirements to what he called a "slap on the wrist."

The Department of Transportation isn't playing around anymore, according to Duffy. The agency plans to take "80,000lb big rigs" operated by unqualified drivers "out of service" due to safety concerns. Duffy emphasized that foreign nationals living legally in the U.S. can absolutely drive trucks, but they need to speak English to communicate with law enforcement and maintain safety on American roads.

California Stands Alone

Here's where it gets interesting. Duffy says 49 states have cooperated with the DOT's enforcement push. The holdout? California. "There's one state, California, who has refused," Duffy said, taking direct aim at Governor Gavin Newsom's administration.

The stakes are real. California has already lost $40 million in federal funding over the dispute. Duffy has threatened to pull an additional $160 million, drawing sharp criticism from Newsom. Minnesota is also in the crosshairs, with Governor Tim Walz facing a 30-day deadline to fix illegally issued CDLs or lose $30 million in federal money.

The Tragedy Behind the Policy

This isn't just bureaucratic squabbling. The controversy erupted after Harjinder Singh, an undocumented individual who received his CDL in California, made an illegal U-turn on a Florida highway that killed three people. That tragedy set off the current regulatory battle between federal and state authorities.

Meanwhile, in Electric Truck Land

While the CDL debate rages, Tesla Inc. (TSLA) is quietly expanding its Semi truck business. The electric vehicle maker just delivered its first Semi to German logistics giant DHL, which says it might expand its Tesla fleet in 2026. The Semi comes equipped with some autonomous driving technology.

Tesla also inked a deal with Uber Technologies Inc.'s (UBER) Freight division. Dan Priestley, Tesla's Director of Semi Program, called the partnership a significant step for EV adoption in the trucking industry.