On April 28th, 2025, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order of “Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers,” which tightens English language proficiency requirements for commercial truck drivers. This order directly affects Canadian truck drivers who work on routes to the United States and regularly cross the border. Those who are in Canada on work permits and have the U.S. visas may face serious risks, especially if they are applying for permanent resident (PR) status.
So what is changing for the truck drivers?
Now drivers are required to:
• Read and understand road signs in English.
• Communicate with officers, control service representatives and employers in English.
• Keep records and receive instructions in English.
The U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has signed a directive ordering the immediate suspension of drivers who cannot communicate in English fluently.
Violations of language requirements are now classified as “out-of-service”, which means the driver will be immediately removed from service. In order to exclude suspicious documents the Federal Ministry of Transport will also step in and will be checking the authenticity of driving licenses (CDL), including international licenses.
Risks for Canadian Truck drivers
Canadian truck drivers who work cross-border routes cross the U.S. border almost daily. Many of them, especially those on work visas, face unique challenges.
Insufficient English language skills can lead to serious consequences:
-Revocation of U.S. driver’s license: If an FMCSA inspector finds that a driver does not have sufficient English language skills, his CDL may be invalidated. This automatically makes it impossible to continue working in the U.S.
-Termination by Canadian Employer: Most Canadian trucking companies sending drivers to the U.S. require a valid U.S. driver’s license. Losing a CDL can result in termination, which is especially critical for those who depend on employment to maintain status in Canada.
-Threat to the PR Process: For drivers in the process of obtaining permanent residence in Canada (e.g. through the Express Entry or PNP programs), losing a job can disrupt work history and financial stability requirements, reducing the chances of successfully completing the immigration process.
The US administration emphasizes that insufficient knowledge of English reduces safety on the roads. Failure to understand road signs, the inability to respond to the officer requests or keep records increases the risk of accidents. The order is aimed at improving safety, ensuring fair competition and protecting all road users, including truck drivers themselves.
What should Canadian truck drivers do?
The FMCSA will issue new regulations by the end of June 2025, however the inspections are already being tightened. Here is some advise to Canadian truck drivers, especially those operating under work permits:
-Improve your English: Take an English course, especially one with an emphasis on professional vocabulary (road signs, communicating with inspectors, documentation).
-Check your documents: Make sure your CDL and international driver’s license meet the U.S. and Canadian requirements.
- Contact the employer: Companies should assess the language level of their drivers and possibly provide training to avoid loss of labor.
For Canadian truck drivers working on routes to the US, Trump's new order is not just a formality, but a serious challenge.
Those on work visas or in the process of obtaining a PR should be extremely careful. Insufficient knowledge of English can cost not only their job, but also their future in Canada.
Oleksandra Melnykova, Immigration and Refugee Consultant in Canada.
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