Thousands Of Indian-Origin Drivers Impacted As US Bars Over 7,000 Truck Drivers For Failing English Test

In a sweeping enforcement move, the United States has barred over 7,000 commercial truck drivers from operating on American highways after they failed English Language Proficiency (ELP) tests during roadside inspections. Among those most affected are thousands of Indian-origin truckers, particularly from Punjab and Haryana, who make up a significant portion of the U.S. trucking workforce.

Over 7,000 Drivers Taken Off Roads

According to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, a total of 7,248 drivers were placed out of service as of October 2025 for failing to meet federal English proficiency standards. The figures, shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, represent a sharp rise from the 1,500 drivers reported just a few months earlier in July.

Duffy said the move was in line with President Donald Trump’s April executive order mandating English as the official national language of the United States. “The Department of Transportation requires commercial truck drivers to speak and understand English to operate a big rig — or they will be taken out of service. This is about making America’s roads safe again,” Duffy posted.

The crackdown follows the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) renewed emphasis on English proficiency as a safety criterion. Under the revised North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria, drivers unable to understand or respond in English during inspections can now be immediately sidelined.

FMCSA’s inspection data shows over 5,000 ELP-related violations recorded through October alone. The enforcement has intensified across states like Texas, Arizona, and California, where a large share of foreign-born truckers operate.

The White House justified the rule, stating that truck drivers must be able to read and interpret road signs, communicate with law enforcement and safety officials, and follow cargo-related instructions in English. The administration says the policy is a “non-negotiable safety measure” designed to prevent accidents and miscommunication on highways.

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Indian-Origin Truckers Most Affected

As reported by The Indian Express, the North American Punjabi Truckers Association (NAPTA) estimates that between 130,000 and 150,000 Indian-origin truckers currently work across the US, mostly hailing from Punjab and Haryana. Many among them have been directly impacted by the new rule. “Many of these drivers have been safely operating for years but are now being penalized for not responding fast enough in English during roadside checks,” said Adalberto Campero, CEO of Texas-based carrier Unimex, in a statement to FreightWaves. “It’s not about safety; it’s about communication style.”

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Carriers along the southern border say the new enforcement has triggered driver shortages and supply chain delays, especially among fleets that rely on cross-border operations. States like Texas, which issued over 3.2 million commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) since 2015 — including more than 50,000 to non-domiciled drivers, have been hit particularly hard.