Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act bill filed to codify ELP fo cdl’s

This week, lawmakers introduced a bill that would tighten English language standards for Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) applicants.

On November 20, Reps. Dave Taylor, Harriet Hageman, and Greg Steube introduced Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act.

Current law allows the CDL knowledge test to be administered in any language, while the road skills test must be administered in English. If passed, the bill would require all testing required to earn a CDL to be conducted in English only.

Lawmakers say that the bill will “ensure that only those who can understand English enough to comprehend road signs can obtain CDL licensure.”

This is a companion bill to the Senate version (S. 2114) introduced in June 2025.

While federal authorities have tightened enforcement of English Language Proficiency standards for CDL drivers already on the road this year, bills like the Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act seek to prevent unqualified drivers from ever obtaining a CDL in the first place.

Truckers call bill to require English-only CDL testing 'common sense'