Two commercial truck drivers in DeKalb County, Ala., have become some of the first in the nation to receive citations for not speaking English, a federal requirement that has existed since 1937. The White House has said the rule is intended to address safety concerns on U.S. roadways.

The mandate has seen little enforcement in recent years after an Obama administration memo reduced its application. Representative Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) has urged President Trump to rescind the memo, citing a nearly 4 percent rise in fatal truck and bus accidents since 2021. In 2022, nearly 6,000 fatal trucking accidents occurred nationwide.

Bilingual truck driver Jose Reyes said the inability to read road signs or communicate with other motorists and authorities poses risks. “They’re operating 80,000 pounds, and it’s super dangerous,” he said.

Federal data indicates that 3.8 percent of Commercial Driver’s License holders have limited English proficiency. In Texas alone, more than 15,000 language-related violations were recorded in the past two years.

Mark Colson, president and chief executive of the Alabama Trucking Association, expressed support for the citations and reiterated safety concerns. Federal policy requires that drivers cited for language violations be removed from the road.

Industry groups have warned that increased enforcement could exacerbate a national truck driver shortage, which is estimated at 24,000.