What the CVSA English proficiency vote mean for shippers

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), a non-profit organization working to improve safety for commercial motor vehicles and their operators in North America, has announced new rules for truck drivers in the U.S. 

These apply to a driver’s level of proficiency in the English language, and any drivers who fail to meet the CVSA’s requirements may be unable to work as usual. 

In this post, we’ll explain these new rules, what they mean, and how they could impact businesses sending freight by truck. 

CVSA announces updating English language proficiency in out-of-service criteria

On May 1st, the CVSA announced that it will add an “English Proficiency (U.S. Only)” section to its North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria. According to this new addition, U.S. commercial truck drivers who cannot read and speak English well enough to communicate with safety officials will be placed out of service. 

This amendment is an expansion of the existing Title 49 CFR 391.11 (b) (2), which requires that drivers be adequately proficient in English to:

• Understand English-language traffic signs and signals 
• Converse with members of the public
• Respond to official inquiries
• Complete reports 

The amendment was made to comply with the President’s Executive Order issued on April 28, 2025, titled Enforcing Commonsense Rules Of The Road For America’s Truck Drivers. The CVSA Board of Directors voted on this change under an emergency provision in the CVSA Bylaws, which enables them to vote on an out-of-service criteria amendment with no need for a vote by Class 1 Members as usual. 

The board used the provision to meet the 60-day deadline discussed in the President’s order. The new rules will take effect on June 25, 2025. 

According to the CVSA’s May 1st press release, inspectors may place a commercial motor vehicle driver out of service if they can’t demonstrate the required level of English proficiency. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued guidance for inspectors to ensure that this new standard is applied consistently. 

Any drivers found to be in violation of the CVSA’s new rules will be placed out of service, preventing them from driving. 

What does this mean for businesses?

For businesses that depend on U.S. freight carriers to transport goods frequently, the CVSA’s amendment could lead to various issues. These may include:

• Driver shortage worsening: The US already has a shortage of truck drivers, and the new rules could exacerbate this situation. One report found that an estimated 24,000 truck drivers would be required to address this shortage, resulting in a loss of $95.5 million each week for the freight industry. Carriers may find it more challenging to fill vacancies once the amendment takes effect.

• Potential shipping delays or disruptions: For carriers employing truck drivers who aren’t proficient in English, any out-of-service orders issued could delay deliveries, reduce available capacity, and prevent them from meeting demand.

• Carrier selection scrutiny: Companies may need to be more selective when choosing freight partners. To minimize risk when starting new partnerships, they should be sure that a carrier complies with the CVSA’s new requirements. 

• Operational adjustments: Freight brokers and shippers might need to reassess their routing or scheduling strategies to account for potential enforcement-related slowdowns or driver shortages. 

• High shipping costs: If carriers invest in extra training or incur administrative costs to comply with the new rules, they may pass these costs on to shippers. 

• Risk of legal exposure: If a company knowingly works with non-compliant carriers and a violation is discovered, they could face reputational or contractual issues. 

• Pressure on smaller carriers: Smaller or independent carriers that don’t already ensure drivers are proficient in English may struggle to adapt to the changes. This could further concentrate freight demand among larger fleets that comply with the new rules. 

Stay up-to-date on shipping news at the DTS blog

Since these are recently announced changes, the CVSA’s new rules may change in the coming months, and we have yet to see exactly how they will be enforced. If you believe your business’s shipments may be affected, staying updated on the latest developments will help you understand what changes you may need to make to avoid disruptions. 

For more on this and other vital industry news, stay updated at the DTS blog. We add new, in-depth posts regularly, covering the latest industry matters and offering insights into key topics. 

Need help navigating the CVSA’s new rules and any other regulation changes that could impact your shipping? DTS is here to help. To simplify your freight transportation and find the most cost-effective options for your business, get in touch with our team today.