Truckers across the country are praising the Trump administration for protecting Americans from what they call “reckless foreign drivers.”
Truckers Applaud Trump Admin For Protecting Americans From Reckless Foreign Drivershttps://t.co/OTNyUR3h3a
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) September 26, 2025
The praise follows a new enforcement policy requiring commercial truck drivers to demonstrate English proficiency.
The order came after a deadly Florida crash in August, where investigators discovered the driver held a non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s License and could not effectively communicate with police at the scene.
For decades, Washington has allowed weak rules and spotty enforcement in the trucking industry. This change signals that safety – and American jobs – come first.
The ATA’s Narrative vs. the Reality of Highway Safety
Truck crashes aren’t rare. According to the White House fact sheet, more than 120 people die in motor vehicle accidents every single day.
Now imagine that the person driving the 18-wheeler next to you on I-15 or U.S. 95 can’t read a stop sign or speak to law enforcement after a wreck.
That’s not just inconvenient – it’s deadly.
A 2021 audit by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that nearly one-third of states failed to properly enforce CDL standards.
That means unqualified drivers were able to get behind the wheel of rigs weighing 40 tons or more.
By requiring English proficiency, the Trump administration is closing a loophole that should never have existed.
Put simply, if you’re hauling freight across America’s highways, you need to be able to follow the rules of the road and talk to police in an emergency.
I-80 and I-15: Nevada’s Roads at Risk
This matters in Nevada more than most people realize. Our state is a major artery for freight.
Interstate 80 runs across northern Nevada, linking California’s ports to the Midwest. Interstate 15 funnels goods through Las Vegas and into the Mountain West.
These highways aren’t just lines on a map – they’re lifelines for our communities.
In rural towns like Elko and Winnemucca, trucking jobs keep food on the table. Family-owned companies can’t compete if federal regulators let giant corporations import foreign drivers who don’t meet the same standards.
Strong rules help level the playing field and protect jobs for Nevadans.
Nevada already requires CDL holders to meet strict residency and renewal standards, but if other states are cutting corners, those drivers end up on our roads too.
That’s why this national policy is so important. It’s not enough for Nevada to enforce the rules if California, Arizona, or Utah are letting unsafe drivers slip through the cracks.
Trump’s Order Protects Jobs and Highways Alike
The trucking industry hauls 70 percent of America’s freight.
For years, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) has claimed there’s a massive driver shortage – 80,000 every year since the 1990s.
But many truckers say the so-called shortage is a myth designed to pressure lawmakers into loosening standards and bringing in cheaper foreign labor.
The new English rule calls that bluff. Instead of bending to corporate lobbyists, the administration is siding with American workers and American safety.
If wages and conditions improve, more Americans will take trucking jobs. That’s how a real market should work.
ATA Wants Subsidies While Safety Slips
Industry lobbyists warn the rule could disrupt supply chains and raise shipping costs.
ATA President Chris Spear even praised parts of the policy in The Daily Caller while still calling for new subsidies to expand training.
But conservatives see that as another corporate handout disguised as reform.
For everyday Nevadans, the question is clear: Do we want to trust our highways and our jobs to foreign drivers who may not meet the standards? Or do we want to raise the bar, protect our families, and keep those paychecks here at home?
America Deserves Drivers Who Know the Rules
This isn’t about paperwork. It’s about life and death on the highway.
Every Nevadan who has driven I-80 in the snow or I-15 in heavy traffic knows what it feels like to pass a semi and hope the driver is paying attention.
The Trump administration’s English proficiency rule makes sure of it.
It’s a win for safety, a win for sovereignty, and a win for American workers.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
