Washington: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has barred more than 7,200 commercial truck drivers nationwide after they failed mandatory English language proficiency tests, officials confirmed. The crackdown comes amid rising concerns over highway safety and follows a series of fatal accidents involving Indian-origin drivers.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the enforcement action on October 30, describing it as a necessary measure to ensure road safety and compliance with federal regulations. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the drivers declared “out of service” in 2025 are legally prohibited from operating commercial vehicles due to their inability to meet English language standards during roadside inspections.
The current figure represents a sharp increase compared to mid-year numbers, when roughly 1,500 drivers had been disqualified. Industry observers note that a significant portion of those affected are Indian-origin drivers, particularly from Punjab and Haryana, who make up a large segment of the U.S. long-haul trucking workforce.
The North American Punjabi Truckers Association (NAPTA) estimates that between 130,000 and 150,000 Indian-origin truckers are active across the country, many recruited through community networks or smaller fleet operators. A NAPTA spokesperson said the sudden enforcement has caused anxiety among drivers, with language barriers compounded by inconsistent testing during inspections.
The crackdown gained momentum after two high-profile fatal accidents this year. In August 2025, a truck driven by Harjinder Singh, an Indian-origin driver, caused a pile-up on Florida’s Turnpike, killing three. Investigators reported that the truck performed an illegal U-turn before jackknifing and crushing a passenger van. The case drew political attention when Donald Trump’s campaign labelled the driver as an “illegal immigrant,” prompting backlash from Indian-American advocacy groups.
In October 2025, another incident involved Jaspreet Singh, a 21-year-old Punjabi-origin trucker, who was charged with three counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated after a high-speed crash on California’s 10 Freeway killed three people. Singh, who reportedly entered the U.S. illegally in 2022, remains in custody without bail.
Secretary Duffy defended the policy, emphasizing that English proficiency is essential for commercial drivers to read road signs, respond to emergencies, and comply with inspections. “Operating a commercial vehicle safely requires clear understanding and communication in English. There is no compromise on this standard,” he said.
Under U.S. federal regulations, all commercial drivers must demonstrate the ability to read, write, and converse in English sufficiently to interact with the public, comprehend highway traffic signage, and respond to regulatory officials.
The FMCSA has stated that enforcement will continue through the remainder of 2025, with periodic roadside checks and proficiency tests to ensure compliance and prevent further accidents on U.S. highways.
