Houston Daily

Governor Greg Abbott has instructed the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to strictly enforce English language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers in the state, as mandated by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations.

"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.”

In response to the governor's directive, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Troopers and inspectors from DPS will conduct reviews of English language proficiency for all commercial license operators traveling on Texas roads. These assessments aim to verify that drivers have the necessary communication skills for safety and regulatory compliance.

The action follows President Donald Trump’s executive order issued on June 25, 2025, which called for full enforcement of English proficiency requirements among commercial drivers. Since then, DPS and associated agencies have taken enforcement actions against about 445 commercial vehicle drivers in Texas due to violations related to English proficiency. Of these drivers, approximately 28 held licenses issued by Texas; around 336 were licensed in Mexico; others had licenses from different states or countries.

Governor Abbott has also ordered DPS to stop issuing intrastate commercial driver licenses to applicants who cannot speak English well enough to communicate with department staff.