The English-Only Crackdown: A Threat to Our Trucking Community

Kameel Gaines
Sep 5
6 min read

Updated: Sep 17

The trucking industry has faced regulation after regulation, and we’ve always found ways to adapt. The ELD mandates, the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse, and the tightening of CSA scores have all forced carriers, recruiters, and drivers to rethink the way they work. But the Department of Transportation’s recent English-only crackdown on truck drivers feels different.

This is not just another compliance box. It’s a policy that cuts directly into who gets to participate in trucking, how fleets recruit, and whether drivers feel like they belong in the workforce at all.

The DOT is threatening to withhold federal highway funds from states like California, Washington, and New Mexico unless they enforce strict English-proficiency rules for drivers. At the same time, they’ve frozen visas for immigrant drivers, cutting off one of the few pipelines carriers could still rely on.

I covered this on The Rig on Wheels Show Radio Podcast, but I want to go deeper here. Because when we zoom out, this is about more than policy. It’s about people. It’s about culture. And it’s about the long-term resilience of an industry that’s already been tested by a three-year freight recession, a pandemic, and rising operational costs.

What the Crackdown Really Means

To the outside world, this looks like common sense. If drivers can’t read signs or communicate with inspectors, the thinking goes, then they shouldn’t be behind the wheel. That’s the official justification.

But those of us inside the industry know the domino effect is far more complex:

Recruiting pipelines shrink. States with large immigrant driver populations, such as California, Washington, and New Mexico, suddenly see entire segments of applicants hesitate to apply. Word spreads fast. If drivers believe they’ll be targeted, they stop raising their hands.
Visa freezes choke supply. International drivers have never made up a huge percentage of the workforce, but they’ve been critical in plugging gaps. Cutting off visas eliminates that safety valve.
Recruiters are left policing language. Instead of sourcing talent, recruiters now carry the burden of judging English “proficiency.” That’s subjective and opens the door for bias, inconsistency, and legal challenges.
Carriers shoulder the fallout. Empty trucks mean lost contracts, missed deliveries, and rising costs. In an industry where margins are already razor-thin, this kind of disruption isn’t just inconvenient. It’s dangerous.

Think about it: we’re in a moment where freight volumes are unpredictable, spot market rates are still recovering, and carriers of all sizes are struggling to survive. Add this crackdown, and the pressure multiplies.

And it’s not just about business. It’s about human dignity. Because when drivers who have hauled safely for years are suddenly treated as “risks” because of their accent, that doesn’t just hurt them. It sends a chilling message across the workforce: “You don’t belong here.”

The Human Cost

I can’t write about this without thinking of the drivers I’ve met over my career.

Miguel from Mexico, who stayed late after a Friday run to help a rookie pre-trip his truck. His English wasn’t perfect, but his mentorship was invaluable.

Jaspreet from India, who ran reefers out of California with a spotless safety record. Dispatchers trusted him with high-pressure loads because he always delivered.

Luis from Honduras, who built his reputation one load at a time with humility and pride. He may not have passed a formal English exam with flying colors, but his performance spoke for itself.

Multiply their stories by thousands. These are not fringe cases. These are the men and women who keep freight moving every single day. And under this crackdown, they’d be treated as liabilities.

Let’s be honest, this isn’t about safety. It’s about perception. Because safety isn’t determined by fluency. It’s determined by discipline, training, and accountability. When drivers like Miguel, Jaspreet, and Luis are pushed aside, we don’t just lose workers. We lose mentors, role models, and the kind of culture that makes trucking strong.

Why Safety Isn’t the Real Issue

The DOT points to a tragic crash in Florida as justification. An immigrant driver, struggling with English, couldn’t communicate with law enforcement. Lives were lost. That tragedy is real, and it deserves respect. But to craft a national crackdown based on a single headline misses the point.

Here’s what the data and decades of industry experience tell us:

Most crashes are not caused by language. Fatigue, distraction, weather conditions, and passenger vehicles cutting trucks off are the leading causes.
Immigrant drivers are often safer. Many approach trucking as a hard-earned opportunity. They take the job seriously, follow procedures, and maintain better compliance than some domestic drivers.
Shrinking the pool makes roads riskier. When there are fewer drivers, the ones who remain get pushed harder. More miles. Less rest. And fatigue kills more drivers and families than broken English ever will.

If safety is truly the priority, then the solution isn’t exclusion. It’s an investment:

More standardized training that ensures all drivers, regardless of background, can handle critical communication.
Technology at scale houses and inspection points that bridge gaps in real time.
Accountability for carriers that push drivers into unsafe conditions.

Because here’s the truth: I’d rather share the highway with a driver whose English is broken but whose logbook is spotless than with a native speaker who’s running illegal hours.

Why This Should Matter to You

This isn’t just a “driver problem.” It affects everyone in trucking.

Recruiters are already feeling the pinch. Applicant pipelines are slowing. Compliance burdens are growing. That’s why resources like the Driver Magnet Kit™ matter more than ever because when your pool shrinks, you need every tool available to make your jobs stand out.
Carriers are bleeding costs. Every driver lost to turnover or policy costs $5,000–$12,000 to replace. That’s where partnerships like Rig on Wheels Recruiting Services come in. Carriers can’t afford to treat recruiting like a side hustle; they need experts who can navigate complexity.
Leaders need to compete differently. In a climate where mega-carriers can absorb losses and small fleets can’t, culture becomes your edge. That’s the message of my book Competing with Giants: you can’t always outspend, but you can outshine.
Drivers themselves need to understand this isn’t just policy. It’s about belonging. If you’re a driver, your worth is not determined by your accent. It’s defined by your safety record, your professionalism, and your ability to deliver freight responsibly.

The Bigger Picture: Inclusive Excellence

That brings me to the principle I believe in most: Inclusive Excellence.

Inclusive Excellence doesn’t mean lowering standards. It means raising them the right way. It means treating every driver with dignity, investing in the support they need, and refusing to waste talent because of perception.

What does it look like in practice?

Bilingual job postings that show respect for communities while still requiring English basics.
Carriers that offer English support as professional development, not punishment.
Recruiters who set clear expectations but advocate for drivers rather than exclude them.
Leaders who celebrate diversity as a strength, not treat it as a liability.

Because let’s face it, America’s backbone has always been diverse. Trucking has never been one language, one race, or one culture. It’s been Black drivers, immigrant drivers, women drivers, veterans, and second-chance drivers. That’s our legacy. And that’s our resilience.

When we embrace Inclusive Excellence, we don’t weaken standards. We strengthen them. We keep good drivers in the industry, we build loyalty, and we make roads safer for everyone.

The Road Ahead for Trucking

The English-only crackdown is being sold as a safety policy. But peel back the layers, and you see the real risks:

Recruiting pipelines are drying up.
Drivers walking away.
Retention bleeding cash.
Fatigue and stress are making roads less safe.

If safety is the goal, exclusion is not the answer. Investment is. Investment in training. In technology. In accountability. And above all, in Inclusive Excellence.

Trucking is the backbone of America. And America’s backbone has always been diverse, resilient, and stronger together.

So here’s my call to action:

If you’re a recruiter, sharpen your strategy with the Driver Magnet Kit™.
If you’re a carrier, build real partnerships through Rig on Wheels Recruiting Services.
If you’re a leader, read Competing with Giants and learn how to win with culture, not just capital.
And if you want to hear the full discussion, tune in to The Rig on Wheels Show Radio Podcast on iHeart.