Why English Proficiency Enforcement Could Disrupt Your Supply Chain And How to Stay Compliant

Thousands of truck drivers could soon lose their Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) as the U.S. Department Of Transportation enforces English Proficiency Language (EPL) rules – creating a ripple effect across the supply chain. Under this long-standing law, any driver who cannot sufficiently read or speak English will be put Out Of Service (OOS) on the spot – typically during a routine inspection or at a weigh station – and potentially lose their CDL license if they are unable to satisfy the EPL requirements.

Enforcement of this law has been virtually non-existent over the past decade. However, a recent spate of critical accidents has caught the attention of the Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy who believes that these accidents could have been avoided had the drivers been able to read and speak English.

Mr. Duffy’s stance is clear, safety is non-negotiable. To be compliant, drivers must be able to read traffic signs, communicate with law enforcement, and complete required documentation – all in English. The rationale for the law is clear, language barriers can lead to catastrophic accidents, as past incidents have shown.

However, the implications go far beyond roadside safety as the stakes just got higher for shippers. Secretary Duffy recently suggested that the liability for employing drivers who are not compliant with the EPL rules  will extend beyond carriers to include shippers. This means that any shipper that has cargo on a truck operated by a non-compliant driver, could face penalties.

This clearly has negative implications for all businesses moving freight. First, hiring drivers directly is no longer a low-risk option. Verifying compliance with federal EPL standards requires expertise, documentation, and constant vigilance – tasks that most shippers are neither equipped nor inclined to handle. Second, the cost of getting it wrong isn’t just regulatory fines, its reputational damage, disrupted supply chains, and potential legal exposure.

This means that partnering with a reputable logistics provider is the only prudent solution. Established providers processes in place to ensure every driver meets federal standards. In an era where enforcement is expanding and penalties loom large, outsourcing transportation to a compliant, asset-based logistics partner isn’t just smart – it’s essential. Now is the time to review your transportation strategy and partner with a logistics provider that prioritizes compliance and safety, because ignoring this law could put your company in either a major economic hole, or worse, out of business.