Surge in Federal Roadside Inspections
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has reported a significant rise in federal roadside inspections since the Trump administration reinstated English language proficiency (ELP) enforcement for commercial drivers. Between June 25 and August 31, inspections climbed nearly 67%, reaching almost 8,000, compared with 4,772 during the same period in 2024.
Monthly data illustrates the spike:
- June 2025: 2,956 inspections (76% increase year over year).
- July 2025: Nearly 3,000 inspections (79% increase year over year).
- August 2025: Close to 2,000 inspections (42% increase year over year).
By comparison, May — prior to reinstatement — showed a more modest 16% rise from 2024 levels.
Policy Driving the Increase
The surge follows Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s May 20 order reinstating federal ELP standards that had been suspended since 2016. Duffy emphasized safety, declaring that truckers must be able to understand U.S. traffic signs and communicate effectively in English. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance subsequently directed its 12,000 certified inspectors to issue out-of-service (OOS) violations for drivers failing English tests during roadside checks.
President Trump’s April 28 executive order further mandated the rollback of prior guidance that had “watered down” ELP enforcement. The order instructed federal authorities to impose stricter penalties, ensuring non-compliance would carry serious consequences.
States with the Most Violations
Data from FMCSA highlights where ELP-related OOS violations are most common through August 31:
- California: 1,385 violations from 6,400 inspections
- Texas: 1,304 violations from 3,471 inspections
- Arizona: 1,198 violations from 3,231 inspections
- Maryland: 252 violations from 464 inspections
- Florida: 114 violations from 496 inspections
Overall, 3,724 drivers were placed out of service nationwide, including 448 who failed to comprehend traffic signs in English.
Enforcement Pressures on States
By late July, Duffy announced that nearly 1,500 unqualified drivers had been removed from the roads under the renewed enforcement. However, compliance has not been uniform. On August 26, he gave California, New Mexico, and Washington a 30-day ultimatum to begin full ELP enforcement or risk losing $50.5 million in federal funding.
While federal roadside inspections surged, state-level inspections have remained flat at around 1.83 million stops through the end of August. State inspectors continue to handle checks for both federal and state regulations, including weight compliance.
Implications for Trucking
The increase in inspections underscores the government’s intent to tighten safety measures in the trucking industry by ensuring drivers meet English proficiency standards. For fleets and drivers, this means greater scrutiny at weigh stations and roadside checks, higher risks of out-of-service violations, and renewed pressure on states to enforce federal standards consistently.
Source:
Leave a Comment