The short answer
Federal rules have long required commercial drivers to read and speak English well enough to talk with the public, understand road signs, answer officials and fill out records. An April 28, 2025 executive order directed FMCSA to enforce that rule and to make a violation an out-of-service offense. For you, it mostly means clearer pickup and delivery inspections - and the right to insist on one.
★ Key Takeaways
- ✓49 CFR 391.11(b)(2) requires commercial drivers to read and speak English well enough to converse with the public, understand road signs, respond to officials and complete records.
- ✓The April 28, 2025 executive order told FMCSA to replace its 2016 enforcement guidance and work to make an English-proficiency violation an out-of-service offense.
- ✓A driver placed out of service mid-route can delay every car on the truck.
- ✓Don't sign the Bill of Lading until every existing mark is recorded and you understand it; call the company you booked with if you can't communicate with the driver.
Truck drivers' English became a trucking story in 2025, and it touches every car shipment - because the most important ten minutes of any shipment are the conversation between you and the driver at pickup and at delivery. Here's what the rule says, what changed, and what it means for you.
The rule itself isn't new. Federal regulation 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2) says a commercial driver must "read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records." For years, though, enforcement was uneven.
On April 28, 2025, the President signed an executive order titled "Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America's Truck Drivers." It directed FMCSA to rescind its 2016 English-proficiency enforcement guidance, issue new inspection procedures, and work to revise the out-of-service criteria so that a driver who fails the English requirement is placed out of service. The same order told FMCSA to review how states issue non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses.
Out of service means exactly what it sounds like: the driver can't keep driving that truck until the problem is fixed. For a car hauler in the middle of a route, that can leave a full load sitting until the carrier sends another driver - so a carrier that cut corners on hiring can end up delaying every car it's carrying.
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Get My Free Quote →Why it matters at your curb: the driver has to confirm the vehicle and the addresses, inspect the car with you, and record every existing scratch and dent on the Bill of Lading - the document you both sign. If you and the driver can't understand each other, damage goes unrecorded and instructions get missed. That's true whoever the driver is and wherever they're from; it's about communication, not background.
What you can do: before you book, ask the company how it vets the carriers and drivers it works with, and check the company on FMCSA's SAFER system. At pickup, walk around the car with the driver and don't sign the Bill of Lading until every existing mark is written down and you understand what you're signing. If you can't communicate with the driver, call the company you booked with right then - before the car is loaded.
Stricter enforcement can also take some drivers off the road, which can tighten truck supply on some routes, especially in the busy summer season. Booking two to three weeks ahead and keeping your pickup window flexible are the best hedges against that.
We put your shipment in front of vetted, licensed auto transport companies, they compete with their best offers, and you choose the one you book with - and you never pay us a cent. Get your free estimate online, or call us any time at 800-930-7417 with questions.
Frequently asked questions
Do truck drivers have to speak English?+
Yes. 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2) requires commercial drivers to read and speak English well enough to converse with the public, understand highway signs, respond to official inquiries and make entries on reports and records.
What did the April 2025 truck driver executive order change?+
It directed FMCSA to rescind its 2016 English-proficiency enforcement guidance, issue new inspection procedures, and work to make a violation an out-of-service offense. It also ordered a review of non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses.
What should I do if I can't communicate with the driver at pickup?+
Don't sign the Bill of Lading until every existing mark is recorded and you understand it. Call the company you booked with before the car is loaded.
Can the English rule delay my car shipment?+
It can if a driver is placed out of service mid-route, and stricter enforcement can tighten truck supply in busy seasons. Booking ahead and a flexible pickup window help.
Sources
- Executive Order: Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America's Truck Drivers (April 28, 2025) — The White House
- SAFER Company Snapshot — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
About the Author
American Auto Shipping · Updated by American Auto Shipping
Written by the American Auto Shipping team, in auto shipping since 1999. Prices and transit times in our posts are estimates from our published method; the real price comes from the company you book with.