U.S. English Rule Also Applies to H-2A Truck Drivers

Truck drivers hired in the United States through the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program must also comply with federal English-language proficiency requirements when operating commercial vehicles.

The clarification came from the U.S. Department of Labor after questions were raised about whether seasonal foreign workers, including drivers from Mexico, were subject to the same requirements as other commercial drivers.

The rule does not create a separate standard for foreign workers. Drivers operating commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce must have enough English proficiency to communicate with officials and the public, understand highway signs and signals, and complete required reports and records.

For trucking companies and agricultural employers using foreign labor, the requirement also affects the hiring process. Job certification requests involving commercial vehicle operation must include the English-language requirement when applicable.

If an employer fails to include the requirement, the Department of Labor may flag the application and require corrections before the certification process can continue.

The number of positions involved is significant. A FreightWaves analysis found 2,609 certified jobs for heavy truck, tractor-trailer and light truck drivers during the first nine months of fiscal year 2026.

Texas led the country with 515 certified positions, followed by Louisiana with 448 and New Mexico with 272. Those numbers represent approved job opportunities and do not necessarily show how many foreign workers ultimately received visas or began working.

Roadside enforcement falls under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Drivers who fail an English-language proficiency assessment can be placed out of service when operating commercial vehicles in interstate commerce.

The issue has become more important for trucking companies after federal officials increased enforcement of English requirements. The FMCSA has also moved toward formally codifying the current English-proficiency enforcement policy.

Mexican drivers face another documentation requirement. The United States recognizes Mexico’s federally issued Licencia Federal de Conductor for certain commercial operations, while commercial licenses issued only by individual Mexican states do not receive the same federal recognition.