by Key Provisions of the Bill
Background and Context
The trucking industry is currently at the center of political, safety, and immigration debates. A recent fatal accident in Florida drew national attention to a driver who was illegally present in the US. Despite lacking legal status, this driver somehow obtained a commercial driver’s license.
The proposed bill, which could come into effect, prohibits testing in any language other than English. It also establishes additional requirements and grants the federal government more authority to ensure compliance with the rules.
Details of the Legislative Initiative
The bill, titled “Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act of 2025,” was introduced in the Senate by Representatives Tom Cotton, Tommy Tuberville, and Bill Hagerty, while Congressman Andy Barr is leading a similar bill in the House of Representatives.
The bill contains three main components: first, it requires all commercial license tests to be conducted exclusively in English; second, CDL applicants must have held a regular driver’s license for at least one year; third, it grants the Secretary of Transportation the authority to revoke states’ powers to issue non-domiciled CDLs in case of non-compliance with federal standards.
By issuing commercial driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, states like California are undermining federal law and threatening public safety. Our bill restores accountability by strengthening President Trump’s authority to control liberal states when they ignore federal legislation.
Illegal immigrants should not be operating any vehicles, especially the most powerful ones on the road. @SecDuffy is working on requiring English-language testing for CDL applicants and holding liberal states like California accountable for issuing licenses to illegals. I am joining forces with @SenTomCotton,…
Broader Context and Implications
This proposal adds to a growing number of Republican-backed bills aimed at tightening commercial licensing standards and linking them to immigration control. A similar bill, known as the “Connor Act,” proposed by Senator Cynthia Lummis earlier this year, also requires English-language testing for all CDL applicants nationwide.
The trucking industry is facing challenging times regardless of this bill. Industry leaders often cite a serious driver shortage. On the other hand, drivers argue that employers simply do not offer sufficient compensation to make the job attractive. Staff turnover, although difficult to analyze, remains high according to most sources.
For the safety of all, it is necessary to be able to read and understand road signs in English while operating a commercial vehicle. This common-sense bill requires commercial drivers to take the test exclusively in English.
My team contacted the driver who recorded this horrific video. He did the right thing by reporting the wrong-way driver to the police. This could easily have ended in disaster. The fact that foreign truck drivers cannot understand the rules of our roads is…
Credit: MACK Trucks
The potential adoption of this bill could increase pressure on an industry already facing a significant labor shortage. Many experts point out that the English-language testing requirement could further restrict access to the profession for immigrants, who constitute a significant portion of the workforce in this industry. At the same time, road safety remains a priority, especially considering recent incidents involving commercial transportation. The debates surrounding this bill reflect broader societal discussions on immigration policy, safety standards, and labor market regulation in the context of national infrastructure.
