As our own Just Mindy reported last week, it was a miracle that no one was killed when a semi was caught on video going the wrong direction on a highway in Missouri. The truck was driven by a Somali who was granted a commercial driver's license by the state of Minnesota despite not being able to read English. Others haven't been so fortunate — we've done a handful of posts on people being killed by immigrant truck drivers who don't seem to be able to read signs like, "No U-Turns."
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that as part of its crackdown on CDLs, the Trump administration is using an English test "to eliminate many foreign-born drivers and blocking asylum-seekers and refugees."
The Trump administration is cracking down on trucker licenses, using an English test to eliminate many foreign-born drivers and blocking asylum seekers and refugees https://t.co/hSGi0bwEMX
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) March 1, 2026
The Journal reports that over the past year, more than 10,700 truckers failed an English test, disqualifying them from driving. Esther Fung writes:
At the State of the Union address last week, President Trump called on Congress to pass a law banning any state from granting commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants in the country illegally. He cited a multivehicle accident in California that severely injured a 5-year-old girl. The accident involved a tractor trailer driven by an asylum seeker who the Department of Homeland Security said was in the U.S. illegally.
For months, the administration has been tightening the rules, starting with stepped-up enforcement of English-proficiency requirements for truckers.
“A driver who cannot sufficiently read or speak English—our national language—and understand road signs is unqualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle in America,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said last year.
The U.S. requires a commercial driver to read, speak and comprehend English at a basic level to adequately communicate with law enforcement and the public in case of an emergency.
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But if illegal immigrants won't drive our trucks, who will? Certainly not Americans.
“Truck driving is an unappealing profession for many Americans but it remains an attractive opportunity for recent immigrants to this country,” said Greg Reed, a transportation attorney with expertise in regulatory and legislative issues.
Are we supposed to be outraged that President Trump wants truckers to be able to read road signs?
Voted for this
— Anodyne 🇺🇲 (@seanzy25255) March 2, 2026
There is no driver shortage
— Mr. Rando (@RandomuserJD20) March 1, 2026
GOOD! Absurd this was EVER allowed.
— MikeMack33 (@mike95589) March 2, 2026
To drive commercially you should know at least intermediate English. Enough to read signs, warning signs, be able to communicate. They aren't driving in the same neighborhood everyday.
— Proxima Centauri (@NOYK1847) March 2, 2026
How this hasn't been the policy before is beyond me
— R (@ratchRatchratch) March 2, 2026
Good, they shouldn’t even be in America to begin with never mind driving trucks.
— J (@mindjitsu) March 1, 2026
Ah, the very sneaky and highly complex "English Test."
— RamenFreak (@freak_ramen) March 1, 2026
In a move that makes sense to literally everybody but @WSJ
— FJB Yurch (@Yurchik41779) March 1, 2026
I spent a lot of money on trucking school and jumped through all the hoops to obtain my CDL. We resent people coming here and basically being given a free CDL. companies like this because the foreigners will drive those miles for half the money that would normally prevail.
— Rob Smith (@robsmith46) March 1, 2026
Why is this a bad thing? Tell it to me like I'm a 4 year old so there's zero miscommunication.
— Eluna177 (@Eluna1771) March 2, 2026
Imagine denying someone a CDL just because they can't read enough English to read road signs.
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