Governor Greg Abbott has instructed the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to strictly enforce English language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers in Texas. This directive follows federal regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
“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.”
Under this new guidance, DPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Troopers and inspectors will review all commercial license operators on Texas roads for English language proficiency. These reviews aim to ensure that drivers have adequate communication skills for safety and compliance with federal rules.
Since June 25, 2025, after President Donald Trump issued an executive order requiring full enforcement of English proficiency standards for commercial drivers, DPS and partner agencies have taken action against about 445 commercial vehicle drivers in Texas due to violations related to English proficiency. Of those cited, around 28 had licenses from Texas, approximately 336 were licensed in Mexico, and the rest held licenses from other states or countries.
Governor Abbott also directed DPS to stop issuing intrastate commercial driver licenses to individuals who cannot speak English well enough to communicate with department staff.
