Truck drivers who can’t read English road signs may soon be taken off the road under new legislation passed by the House. The bill ties into Fiscal Year 2026 funding for defense, health, education, and transportation, and includes a mandate to enforce existing English-language rules for commercial drivers.
Section 391.11(b)(2) of title 49 requires commercial drivers to read and speak English well enough to interact with the public, understand traffic signs, respond to officials, and fill out reports. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to update its regulations so that any violation of this rule triggers an out-of-service order for the driver.
The effort aligns with President Trump’s executive order signed in April, titled “Enforcing Commonsense Rules Of The Road For America’s Truck Drivers.” The Senate will now consider codifying the order into law.
Supporters argue the rule is basic common sense. “It’s common sense that truck drivers should demonstrate they can read critical road signs before getting behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound vehicle,” said Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.
Spencer added that truckers regularly need to communicate with law enforcement and first responders and called the move a step toward safer highways.
Last year, federal regulators shut down 78 driver training programs in North Carolina, including those at a Baptist church, a Head Start center, and a community college.
North Carolina’s House delegation voted 12-2 in favor of the measure. Democrats Don Davis, Deborah Ross, and Alma Adams joined Republicans Greg Murphy, Virginia Foxx, Addison McDowell, David Rouzer, Richard Hudson, Pat Harrigan, Chuck Edwards, Brad Knott, and Tim Moore. Democrat Valerie Foushee and Republican Mark Harris opposed it.
