Governor Greg Abbott has instructed the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to strictly enforce federal English language proficiency rules for commercial drivers. The directive requires DPS to implement a zero-tolerance policy for compliance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations regarding English proficiency.
“Truckers play an instrumental role in Texas’ robust economy and in keeping our highways safe,” said Governor Abbott. “Every commercial driver license operator on Texas roadways must be able to communicate clearly in English to ensure compliance with traffic laws, follow safety directions, and prevent accidents. Today, I am directing DPS to enact zero-tolerance enforcement of these federal safety regulations across the board—whether drivers are operating across state lines or only within Texas. This approach will keep Texans safe while keeping our economy moving.”
Following the governor’s order, DPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Troopers and inspectors will review all commercial license operators for English language proficiency. These evaluations are intended to verify that drivers can effectively communicate as required by federal standards.
Since June 25, 2025, when President Donald Trump issued an executive order mandating full enforcement of English proficiency requirements for commercial drivers, DPS and its partner agencies have taken action against about 445 commercial vehicle drivers in Texas for violations related to English proficiency. Among those cited, approximately 28 had Texas licenses, around 336 were licensed in Mexico, and others held licenses from different states or countries.
Governor Abbott also directed DPS to stop issuing intrastate commercial driver licenses to applicants who cannot speak English well enough to communicate with department staff.
