Trucking license regulation under Trump's scrutiny proves vital following Florida's unfortunate incident
The recent tragic crash on a Florida highway has brought to light deep-seated flaws in how the federal government licenses and regulates commercial truck drivers. This incident has sparked a renewed focus on the need for stricter regulations to ensure the safety of our roads and the public.
Steve Gold, the founder and CEO of 160 Driving Academy and the Truckers Network Association, has long been advocating for reforms in the industry. The statistics are alarming: truck crashes resulted in 5,472 deaths in 2023, a 40% increase from 2014.
Regarding English proficiency, it has long been a requirement that commercial driver’s license (CDL) applicants must demonstrate the ability to read, speak, and understand English to safely operate and respond to road signs and vehicle maintenance indicators. Recent policy revisions have increased the severity of penalties for drivers who fail to meet proficiency standards. Previously, non-compliant drivers might have only received citations, but now failing to demonstrate English proficiency can result in drivers being placed out-of-service.
Concerning medical certification, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has recently adjusted waivers relating to how medical examiner's certificates (MECs) are used. A driver must have a current, valid MEC to operate interstate commercial vehicles. Due to administrative delays transitioning to the National Registry II (NRII) system for electronic certification submissions, FMCSA temporarily extended the allowance for motor carriers and drivers to use a paper copy of the MEC as proof of certification—from initially 15 days to now up to 60 days after the certificate’s issue date, effective through October 12, 2025.
On the topic of foreign visas and residency, there has been a recent and immediate policy shift. The U.S. government suspended all work visas for foreign commercial truck drivers in August 2025, citing safety risks primarily associated with non-English speakers and the issuing of CDLs to individuals domiciled outside the issuing states (non-domiciled CDLs). This pause is a response to fatal incidents involving non-citizen drivers and concerns that the increased presence of foreign drivers on U.S. roads endangers public safety and affects American truckers’ employment.
These regulations reflect a tightening regulatory environment aiming to enhance roadway safety and address public concern over driver qualifications, especially related to language proficiency and legitimacy of licensing amidst growing numbers of foreign drivers. The Florida tragedy serves as a wake-up call, highlighting the need to shut down fraudulent training schools, enforce English proficiency requirements, and restore integrity to the CDL system.
The American Trucking Association has warned that the FMCSA's rules are "insufficiently robust" to protect the public from fraudulent CDL mills. These small operators often lack compliance departments and hire from questionable schools. Large employers often reject nearly half of driver applicants due to strict safety standards, but 90% of the industry consists of small operators with fewer than 10 trucks.
Truck drivers are responsible for moving 70% of all freight, keeping grocery shelves stocked, and ensuring medicine and fuel reach every community. Today, a work permit or foreign visa is enough to qualify for a non-domiciled CDL, regardless of the driver’s ability to read English highway signs. The accused driver of the crash was an illegal immigrant who crossed the border in 2018.
President Donald Trump's order to review every non-domiciled commercial driver’s license (CDL) issued in recent years is a step forward for highway safety. The Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was supposed to raise the bar in 2022 with its Entry Level Driver Training rules, but these rules are riddled with loopholes.
The illegitimate operations within the commercial driving school sector must be addressed to ensure the safety of our roads and the public. The stricter regulations aim to restore trust in the CDL system and protect the lives of everyone who uses our highways.
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