A renewed enforcement of English proficiency rules for commercial drivers is raising concerns across the cross-border trucking industry, where experienced drivers worry about visa renewals, job security, and workforce shortages affecting trade.
Mexican truck drivers, including some with decades of experience, say they are facing difficulties when tested for English proficiency.
Last year, President Trump issued an executive order bringing back an existing law mandating that all truck drivers must have basic understanding of the English language to be able to read road signs and communicate with law enforcement.
Alfonso Millán Chávez, Tijuana’s delegate for the National Chamber of Freight Transporters, said many drivers get nervous and are failing field interviews, which in some cases, is leading to visa-renewal denials.
“These are reliable operators who have been working with a company for 15, 20, or even 25 years,” he said. “When they get nervous, they fail this basic English test and are being denied permits to drive, especially when renewing their visa. This is costing many drivers their jobs.”
Millán Chávez emphasized that the transportation sector is working to improve the English proficiency of its drivers through training sessions offered during extra hours, nights, and weekends.
He also said that as an industry, they will continue their efforts to comply with the English mandates for drivers, helping them as much as possible.
“We would like it to move faster, but we understand that business owners and drivers have to make an effort by taking training sessions outside of regular hours.”
