When Language Stops the Truck: The Return of ELP Out-of-Service Orders

English language proficiency rules for commercial drivers aren’t new, but renewed out-of-service enforcement has raised the stakes. Here’s what carriers need to know before a driver reaches a roadside inspection.

For decades, federal regulations have required commercial motor vehicle drivers to be able to read and speak English. The issue became national news in 2025 following President Trump's Executive Order, Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America's Truck Drivers.

This order reversed a policy that reduced enforcement of this regulation for nearly a decade. As a result, carriers are reevaluating hiring and qualification practices to ensure compliance.

The English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirement found in 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2) is not a new regulation. In fact, its roots trace back to the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), which first established English language requirements for interstate commercial drivers in 1937.

This story was originally published by TruckingInfo (HDT). Read the full story at TruckingInfo (HDT) →