U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a series of new actions aimed at improving safety and accountability for commercial truck drivers on U.S. roads. The measures are designed to ensure that operators of large commercial vehicles are properly qualified, including a renewed focus on English-language proficiency and compliance with federal licensing standards.

“We will ask states to disqualify your license if drivers cannot demonstrate English proficiency,” Duffy said in a recent statement. “We do not have the power to revoke licenses directly, so we’re coordinating with states to ensure that unqualified drivers are removed from the roads.”

On truckers who can’t speak English @secduffy says: “We will ask states to disqualify your license…we do not have the power to revoke licenses, so we’re asking states to disqualify licenses from those who can’t speak the language.” pic.twitter.com/o2prcBNBaM

— USDOT Rapid Response (@USDOTRapid) February 20, 2026

The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) outlined several steps to strengthen oversight of the trucking industry. These include requiring commercial driver’s license (CDL) tests to be administered in English, upgrading the registration system with biometric identification verification, and cracking down on training centers and carriers that fail to meet federal standards.

The new actions follow ongoing enforcement efforts, including audits of state motor vehicle agencies, investigations of CDL training providers, and enhanced vetting of electronic logging devices (ELDs). Since May, over 14,000 truckers have been removed from service for failing to meet English-language requirements, and more than 550 training centers have been identified for compliance failures.

Operation SafeDRIVE, the FMCSA’s multi-state enforcement campaign, has conducted over 8,000 roadside inspections, placing hundreds of drivers out of service and removing more than 1,200 vehicles for safety violations. The campaign is ongoing, with additional inspections and sting operations planned to identify unqualified drivers and fraudulent carriers.

ILLEGAL ALIEN TRUCK DRIVER CHARGED WITH KILLING 4 IN INDIANA

On February 3rd, criminal illegal alien Bekzhan Beishekeev of Kyrgyzstan allegedly swerved and drove his eighteen-wheeler head-on into a van killing four innocent Americans: 50-year-old Henry Eicher, 25-year-old Menno… pic.twitter.com/krHAe801OR

— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) February 5, 2026

These enforcement efforts are partly in response to a fatal crash in Indiana on February 3, 2026, in which Bekzhan Beishekeev, a 30-year-old man from Kyrgyzstan, entered the U.S. without authorization and later obtained a commercial driver’s license in Pennsylvania. Beishekeev’s vehicle collided head-on with a van, resulting in the deaths of four individuals. He was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on February 5 and remains in custody pending immigration proceedings, according to an official DHC statement.

The DOT emphasized that continued collaboration with states is critical to preventing unsafe drivers from operating large commercial vehicles. Secretary Duffy said the administration plans to expand sting operations, audit non-domiciled CDL holders, and strengthen licensing enforcement to ensure only qualified drivers are on the roads.

Additional steps include restructuring the CDL training school certification process, shutting down carriers using fraudulent shell companies, and enhancing oversight of electronic logging devices to ensure drivers comply with Hours of Service regulations. These measures are part of a broader effort to restore integrity and public confidence in the U.S. trucking industry.

Secretary Duffy concluded that while significant progress has been made, ongoing vigilance is required. “Americans deserve safe roads,” he said. “Ensuring that truckers are qualified and compliant is essential to preventing accidents and protecting all road users.”