Non-English-speaking truck drivers fined under decades-old federal law as debate grows

TRENTON, NJ – Truck drivers unable to speak or read English are facing increasing fines and legal penalties under a longstanding federal rule—sparking backlash from progressive groups who argue the law is outdated and discriminatory, while federal authorities say they are simply enforcing regulations first introduced in 1936 to protect public safety.

It’s happening all over, possibly even in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania along the I-95 corridor, but no confirmed reports in our area have been reported.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) require that all commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers operating in interstate commerce “can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals