Delta News TV, Greenville
Senator Wants CDL Drivers to Pass English Test
Jun 23, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Mississippi Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and a Senator from Kansas want anyone operating a commercial vehicle to pass a test for English proficiency before getting a license.
Hyde-Smith's "Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act" would require potential drivers to be tested on their ability to read and understand traffic signs, communicate in English with law enforcement and give directions in English.
The Mississippi Senator also says the bill would improve safety requirements for both professional truck drivers and everyday drivers.
The act would prohibit the tests from being administered in languages other than English.
According to a Hyde-Smith news release, the proposed act would rescind "Obama-era guidance relaxing the enforcement of these requirements."