New DOT rule could worsen trucker shortage, cause delivery delays

The United States does not have enough truck drivers. In fact, a report from altLine, a factoring service, revealed recently that the country is short as many as 24,000 truckers.

This comes at a huge cost. There are so many trucks sitting idle because of driver shortages that altLine reports the freight industry is losing an estimated $95.5 million every week.

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The lack of qualified drivers impacts not just trucking industry profits, but also consumers. It’s a simple fact that when there are too few drivers, this leads to both delivery delays and higher freight costs, as a low supply and high demand inevitably drive up shipping prices.

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“The trucking shortage isn’t an isolated labor issue; it’s a national economic challenge. Billions in potential revenue are being lost in just the freight industry, and the consequences for businesses and consumers further down the chain are immeasurable but undeniably significant,” altLine reported.

Now, the Department of Transportation has announced a new rule that’s going into effect, which could potentially make the situation worse.

New DOT rule could lead to worsening truck driver shortage

On May 20, the Department of Transportation announced a new rule that could reduce the number of truckers available to fill all the vacant jobs. It could also reduce the number of truckers who are able to continue driving their current routes.

A statement on the DOT website explained the new requirement, stating, “Under the new guidance, commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers who fail to comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) longstanding English-language proficiency (ELP) requirements will be placed out-of-service.”

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Drivers who are placed out of service are no longer legally allowed to drive until they correct the issue — which means, in this case, being able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the English language.

The DOT statement explained that the move had been made to put President Trump’s April 2025 Executive Order into effect. That executive order directed the Department of Transportation to rescind guidance that was in place during the Obama administration and which relaxed the language fluency requirements for drivers.

English proficiency requirements exist, but haven’t been enforced

The Trump Administration did not create the idea of English language requirements. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules governing truckers make clear that drivers who don’t read or speak English well enough to understand highway traffic signs and signals are not qualified to be commercial motor vehicle operators.

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However, in 2016, the Obama Administration instructed officials that drivers should not be prevented from driving if they fail to demonstrate the required language knowledge. It is this directive that the DOT is reversing, with the stated goal of improving safety.

“America First means safety first, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Americans are a lot safer on roads alongside truckers who can understand and interpret our traffic signs. This common-sense change ensures the penalty for failure to comply is more than a slap on the wrist.”

Some professional groups support the change, but it could make driver shortages worse

The American Trucking Association, which had raised this issue as a point of concern in an April letter to the Secretary of Transportation, supports the change made by the Administration and issued a statement expressing gratitude.

However, some opponents of the move question whether it will worsen the already-problematic trucker shortage, both by taking current drivers off the road and deterring some foreign-born drivers from trying to qualify for commercial driving positions.

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An estimated 3.8% of the CDL workforce is reportedly limited in their English proficiency, according to an analysis of DOT data conducted by the Women of Trucking Advisory Board. FTR Intelligence also reported an estimated 15,200 English language proficiency violations in the two years prior to March. That’s a significant number of workers.

If thousands are put out of service and more potential drivers don’t enter the profession, truckers could become even more scarce.

With trucks carrying around 72% of freight in the U.S., this will inevitably have consequences, including more lost revenue and a greater likelihood of shipping delays as trucks sit idle. 

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