Sunflower State News

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) has introduced the Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) English Proficiency Act, a bill that would require applicants for commercial vehicle licenses to demonstrate proficiency in English before receiving their license.

“Common sense would tell us that anyone driving on American roads, especially those operating large trucks and trailers, should be capable of understanding what the road signs say or how to communicate with police,” said Senator Marshall. “Kansans deserve to know that commercial operators are held to the highest safety standards. I am proud to introduce legislation that ensures those driving the largest vehicles on the road can understand the official language of America: English.”

Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi) have joined as co-sponsors of the bill.

“English proficiency for commercial truck drivers isn’t just practical, it can be a matter of life and death. The unwillingness of previous administrations to enforce this commonsense regulation undermines roadway safety and puts all drivers at risk,” said Senator Hyde-Smith. “I’m proud to work with Senator Marshall to restore this critical safety standard. This legislation is a straightforward, sensible step that will make our roads and highways safer for everyone.”

If enacted, the proposed law would require all CMV applicants to pass an English test covering reading and understanding traffic signs, communicating with law enforcement in English, and providing or receiving directions in English. The bill also stipulates that these tests must not be administered in any language other than English.

The introduction of this bill follows an executive order from President Trump aimed at strengthening enforcement of existing English language requirements for commercial drivers and reversing guidance from the Obama administration that had eased enforcement.

A copy of the full legislative text is available here.