Speaking at the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) annual meeting in Orlando, FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs strongly defended the agency’s recent enforcement push targeting driver eligibility standards.
Barrs emphasized that ensuring English-language proficiency, enforcing CDL requirements and cracking down on questionable training practices are about saving lives—not influencing freight rates.
Referencing President Trump’s State of the Union address, Barrs highlighted renewed attention to trucking safety and proposed legislation known as “Dalilah’s Law,” which would further restrict non-domiciled and non-English-speaking individuals from obtaining a commercial driver’s license.
English proficiency enforcement, Barrs argued, is essential for reading road signs, understanding safety instructions and communicating effectively during inspections. He acknowledged internal inconsistencies in past enforcement and said the agency is now applying standards more uniformly.
Among recent actions:
– Enforcement of English-language requirements already on the books
– Mandating that CDL proficiency tests be administered in English
– Finalizing a rule limiting non-domiciled CDL eligibility primarily to specific visa holders
– Increased scrutiny of entry-level driver training schools
Barrs stated that approximately 7,000 training schools have been closed as part of federal enforcement efforts. While he later clarified he is not advocating a complete reset of the system, he did call for a “cleaning out” of bad actors.
Asked whether reduced driver capacity—and the resulting freight rate increases—were a concern, Barrs was direct: “If safety strengthens freight rates, then so be it. My job is about saving lives.”
