English Proficiency Is Now an Out-of-Service Violation — 14,000+ Drivers Sidelined
Under 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2), failing to demonstrate English language proficiency is now a driver out-of-service violation — in effect since June 25, 2025, and reflected in the April 1, 2026 edition of CVSA's Out-of-Service Criteria. Enforcement has produced more than 14,000 out-of-service orders since it began.
The roadside check is two steps: an inspector asks the driver basic questions in English, then shows U.S. highway signs and asks the driver to identify and explain them. A limited exception withholds out-of-service orders — though citations can still be issued — within defined U.S.–Mexico border commercial zones.
For a carrier, an out-of-service driver means a stranded load and a CSA hit. This is now a settled enforcement reality, not a proposal.
What this means for your operation
Knowing which drivers could be exposed — and documenting qualification properly — is exactly the kind of risk WeLink's safety side manages before a load is booked, not after a truck is parked at the scales.
Source: CVSA / FMCSA
Staying compliant is a full-time job. Let us carry it.
WeLink keeps your safety, compliance, and back office audit-ready so rule changes like this one never catch you off guard.
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