Foreign truck drivers in the US must now speak English

• Trump Administration gets tough after truck driver related accidents

• Around 1,50,000 Indian truck drivers currently in the US

Washington DC (USA) – The Trump Administration has launched strict action against young foreigners—especially Punjabi youth—who come to the United States seeking jobs as truck drivers based on their driving skills. Speaking English has now been made mandatory for all truck drivers. Tests are being conducted to assess this, and Police officers have begun stopping truck drivers on the roads to test their English-speaking ability. So far, more than 7,000 non-native American truck drivers have failed these language tests. In view of the rising number of truck accidents in the US, President Donald Trump has made English proficiency tests mandatory for drivers effective June 25, 2025.

1. There are currently about 1,50,000 Indian truck drivers (mostly from Punjab) working in the United States. According to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, some truck drivers are unable to read traffic signs written in English.

2. Duffy stated that under US transportation law, all truck drivers must be able to read and understand traffic signs in English. Without this ability, they cannot be issued a driving license.

3. Due to the increasing number of accidents, the US government had already suspended visa issuance for Indian truck drivers around two months ago.

4. In California, English proficiency is not mandatory for obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL). As a result, most Indian drivers obtain their licenses there. In response, President Trump has frozen California’s transportation development funds.

5. Adalberto Campero, CEO of American Truck Chain Company, said that Trump’s decision is damaging the freight transportation sector.

6. According to 2021 data, over 7,20,000 foreign-born individuals are employed in the US transportation industry (including trucks, taxis, buses, and other vehicles). Of these, nearly 1,50,000 are Punjabi drivers.

7. On 22nd October, Jashanpreet Singh, a truck driver from Punjab, crashed into several vehicles in California, killing three people. Following the incident, Police arrested Jashanpreet Singh.