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Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an order requiring increased enforcement of English Language Proficiency (ELP) rules for all commercial vehicle drivers.
On September 4, 2025, Abbott issued a new directive to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) requiring troopers to “strictly enforce the English language proficiency requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations.”
The move comes in response to reports that Texas is not enforcing ELP regulations for intrastate drivers due to a loophole in the state’s transportation code which stated that the rules only apply to interstate carriers.
At Abbott’s direction, Texas DPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Troopers and inspectors “will conduct English Language Proficiency reviews for all commercial license operators on Texas roadways.”
Abbott also announced that he has directed Texas DPS to “cease issuing intrastate commercial driver licenses for drivers that cannot speak English sufficiently to communicate with department personnel.”
Officials say that since June 25, 2025, when ELP violations were returned to status as an out-of-service violation, “DPS and partner agencies have taken enforcement action against approximately 445 commercial vehicle drivers in Texas for English proficiency violations. Of those, about 28 held Texas licenses, while roughly 336 were licensed in Mexico, with the remainder licensed in other states and countries.”
“Truckers play an instrumental role in Texas’ robust economy and in keeping our highways safe,” said Governor Abbott. “Every commercial driver license operator on Texas roadways must be able to communicate clearly in English to ensure compliance with traffic laws, follow safety directions, and prevent accidents. Today, I am directing DPS to enact zero-tolerance enforcement of these federal safety regulations across the board—whether drivers are operating across state lines or only within Texas. This approach will keep Texans safe while keeping our economy moving.”
Found on CDL Life
On September 4, 2025, Abbott issued a new directive to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) requiring troopers to “strictly enforce the English language proficiency requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations.”
The move comes in response to reports that Texas is not enforcing ELP regulations for intrastate drivers due to a loophole in the state’s transportation code which stated that the rules only apply to interstate carriers.
At Abbott’s direction, Texas DPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Troopers and inspectors “will conduct English Language Proficiency reviews for all commercial license operators on Texas roadways.”
Abbott also announced that he has directed Texas DPS to “cease issuing intrastate commercial driver licenses for drivers that cannot speak English sufficiently to communicate with department personnel.”
Officials say that since June 25, 2025, when ELP violations were returned to status as an out-of-service violation, “DPS and partner agencies have taken enforcement action against approximately 445 commercial vehicle drivers in Texas for English proficiency violations. Of those, about 28 held Texas licenses, while roughly 336 were licensed in Mexico, with the remainder licensed in other states and countries.”
“Truckers play an instrumental role in Texas’ robust economy and in keeping our highways safe,” said Governor Abbott. “Every commercial driver license operator on Texas roadways must be able to communicate clearly in English to ensure compliance with traffic laws, follow safety directions, and prevent accidents. Today, I am directing DPS to enact zero-tolerance enforcement of these federal safety regulations across the board—whether drivers are operating across state lines or only within Texas. This approach will keep Texans safe while keeping our economy moving.”
Found on CDL Life