Sen. Marshall Pushes English Test for New Truck Drivers

Proposed bill would require English proficiency exam for CDL applicants, aligning with Trump’s 2025 executive order on trucking safety.

Published June 20, 2025

On Wednesday, Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS), announced that he would be introducing legislation to require English Proficiency Exams in the acquisition of a Commercial Drivers License (CDL). This move would codify President Donald Trump’s Executive order on this issue.

Senator Marshall seeks to add an English proficiency test to the CDL licensure process, to verify the capabilities of every driver. ‘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,’ Marshall said in an interview with The Federalist.

Common sense would tell us that anyone driving on American roads, especially those operating large trucks, should speak the official language of America: English.

Let’s make this law.https://t.co/7Dxi8ESbyD
— Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) June 18, 2025

Senator Marshall on X said, ‘English proficiency for commercial truck drivers isn’t just practical, it can be a matter of life and death,’ This legislation is not without cause. The Department of Transportation points out two deadly crashes in January, and back in 2019, where both of the drivers were not proficient in English. (RELATED: Immigration Clash in Wisconsin: Evers’ Memo Draws Republican Rebuke Following Judge’s Arrest)

The legislation closely mirrors the Executive Order 14286 signed by President Donald Trump on April 28th, 2025. More commonly known as, Enforcing Common Sense Rules of The Road For America’s Truck Drivers.

The Executive Order requires all people seeking to obtain a CDL, must pass an English proficiency exam, while also being proctored in English. The executive order mentions English Proficiency is a ‘non-negotiable safety requirement,’ that the GOP appears to stand firmly behind.

The current law under Title 49 stipulates, ‘A person is qualified to drive a motor vehicle if he/she can 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.’ If passed, Senator Marshall’s Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act, would be an amendment to Title 49. Adding the necessary strength to the enforcement capabilities.

The Senator believes this bill will not only be seen in his home state in Kansas, but also nationwide, including Wisconsin. Wisconsin is home to over 50,000 trucking companies with over 7 billion miles on public roads, according to the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association.

These truckers represent 1 in every 14 jobs in the badger state. This legislation hopes to ensure that truck drivers are properly prepared as we share the open road with them. (RELATED: Trump Administration to Revoke Biden-Era ESG Investment Rule)