As someone who has spent decades training professional truck drivers, I take highway safety very seriously. The U.S. economy relies on a national freight network that moves goods to every state, through every major highway corridor and into every community. when Safety Standards for Commercial Drivers Wherever the impact diminishes, the consequences will ripple across the country, putting motorists, supply chains and professional drivers at risk.

That’s why I’m deeply troubled by Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas,’s recent remarks at a House Judiciary Committee hearing in which she stated that English proficiency is not required to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle. She equates this to someone driving a rental car in a foreign country where they may not speak the local language. Her claims are misleading, dangerous, and disrespectful of the professionalism of American truck drivers.

Driving an 80,000-pound commercial vehicle is simply not comparable to driving a passenger car. Commercial drivers don’t just follow step-by-step directions from point A to point B. They navigate a complex highway system, respond to emergencies, comply with law enforcement directives, interpret roadside signs, understand weather warnings and coordinate with dispatchers, first responders and inspectors – often under intense pressure. English language proficiency is the foundation of every responsibility.

Across the United States, commercial trucks transport agricultural products from rural communities, move consumer goods through major interstate corridors, and transport critical supplies to ports, factories, hospitals, and distribution centers. From coast to coast, our economy relies on professional drivers to keep goods moving safely and efficiently. This makes strong, consistent safety standards less of a regional issue and more of a national imperative.

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Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, questioned the need for truck drivers to speak English. (John Medina/Getty Images for MoveOn)

Federal law has long required commercial drivers to demonstrate English language proficiency with good cause. A commercial driver’s license is not a check mark on a piece of paper – it is a commitment to the public. It tells every driver sharing the road that the driver of that truck has been properly trained, assessed and adheres to consistent safety standards. Weakening or diluting these requirements undermines trust in the commercial driver license (CDL) itself.

This debate cannot be divorced from the broader realities facing the trucking industry. Across the country, regulators are exposing bad actors who cut corners in training, falsify records or exploit loopholes to push unqualified drivers onto public roads. Not only do these so-called “CDL mills” compromise safety, they devalue the hard work of legitimate drivers and reputable training schools who do things the right way.

As a training professional and president of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA), I see every day the difference between real, rigorous instruction and false claims that promise a “fast” or “guaranteed” driver’s license. real Commercial driver training It takes time. It includes classroom instruction, practical skill development, supervised driver training and clear communication between teachers and students. None of this works without a common language.

To be clear, this is not exclusion. Trucking has always been a gateway to opportunity for people from all backgrounds. CVTA supports expanding workforce — but growth will never come at the expense of safety. Lowering standards doesn’t solve the labor shortage; it creates more crashes, more deaths, more scrutiny, and ultimately fewer good jobs.

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Our drivers — working men and women who make a living the right way — deserve better, not have their jobs trivialized. To suggest that language skills are irrelevant is an insult to the professionalism of drivers, who pride themselves on mastering demanding skills and meeting high expectations every day.

Solutions are not a new legal or political topic. The solution is consistent nationwide enforcement of existing safety requirements. Regulators must fully enforce entry-level driver training rules, conduct meaningful reviews and Shut down fraudulent operators No matter where they exist. Every state should continue to work with federal agencies to ensure that every CDL on the road represents real training, real responsibility, and real competency.

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When you see a truck in the lane next to you, you should trust the driver to read signs, understand emergency instructions, and respond appropriately in a crisis. That confidence starts with maintaining and enforcing safety-first standards.

We owe this to our drivers and traveling public.