Truckers in Kansas face new language roadblock

KANSAS (KSNT) – For some truckers in Kansas, the road may end with a language barrier.

Six months ago, President Trump issued an executive order requiring commercial truck drivers to speak English. We contacted the Kansas Highway Patrol to find out if any licenses had been placed Out of Service (OOS) in the Sunflower State.

Since the executive order titled “Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers” was signed by Trump on April 28 and through to Oct. 16, 5,500 licenses have been suspended, with the majority of suspensions issued out of Texas, according to Mexico’s Northwest Chamber Freight Transporters.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP), Kansas-issued commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) are under the purview of the Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR). However, the KHP does enforce state and federal regulations regarding commercial motor vehicle (CMV) enforcement.

“The KHP trained and prepared all CMV inspectors prior to the change in enforcement action and will continue to do so,” said KHP spokeswoman April McCollum. “The inspection of commercial vehicles and drivers helps decrease the potential for fatalities, injuries, and property damage on Kansas roadways.”

Since the Trump executive order was issued this year, 181 inspections of CMVs in Kansas resulted in drivers being placed OOS. Of those drivers, 164 were placed OSS for failing to sufficiently respond to inquiries and directions in English. The KHP reported that 17 drivers were placed in OOS status for failing to understand U.S. highway signs.

According to the KHP, the agency conducted 527 CMV inspections in 2024 that resulted in inspection violations related to English language proficiency (ELP). Of those inspections, 416 were given violations for failing to respond sufficiently to official questions and directions in English and 110 were cited for failing the interview.

The ability to ‘read and speak English sufficiently’ for commercial motor vehicle drivers has been a federal requirement since 1937. In 2016, former President Barack Obama’s administration issued a memorandum that removed the requirement to place drivers OOS for English proficiency violations.

The KHP said no drivers were placed in OSS last year because of the federal regulations. Those inspectors were directed to cite ELP violations, but not place drivers OOS.

KDOR spokesman Zach Denney said the department has had an English proficiency policy for CDL holders since the 2000s. He said that following the Trump executive order, KDOR has also been conducting checks on out-of-state CDL holders. He said that since the executive order was issued, KDOR has denied five out-of-state CDL transfers for failure to meet the English proficiency requirements.

Inspectors are required to do ELP assessments if a driver appears unable to understand instructions, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Authority. The tests consist of a driver interview and a highway traffic sign assessment.

On June 18, Kansas Senator Roger Marshall introduced the Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act, which aims to codify the English requirements into law. The bill has since been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. 

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has threatened to take away federal transportation funds from states that don’t comply and implement penalties for drivers who fail the tests. On Oct. 15, the DOT announced a $40 million penalty to California for failing to enforce the rules. The DOT reports that California is the only state that hasn’t complied with the new English Language Proficiency standards.

On Sunday, Oct. 26, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that he would pull $160 million from California and said the DOT has the option to pull California’s ability to issue commercial driver’s licenses.

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