ALABAMA, (WDNews) – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has joined Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) in introducing the Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act, a bill that would require all commercial driver’s license (CDL) testing to be conducted in English and strengthen federal oversight of non-domiciled CDLs.
The legislation also gives the U.S. Secretary of Transportation authority to suspend or revoke a state’s ability to issue non-domiciled CDLs if it fails to comply with federal standards.
“If you drive a truck in the United States, you should be able to speak English fluently,” Tuberville said. “This protects our law enforcement officers and the general public. This is not only about safety and efficiency – it’s just commonsense.”
Sen. Cotton echoed that message, saying, “For everyone’s safety, you must be able to read and understand English road signs when operating a commercial vehicle. Our bill would require commercial drivers to pass the test given in English.”
The Alabama Trucking Association voiced support for the measure. CEO Mark Colson said the organization is already working with state and federal leaders to ensure safety and compliance across the industry.
“One major issue involves B-1 Visa drivers overstaying their cross-border allowances and hauling domestic freight, which is already an illegal activity known as cabotage,” Colson said. “Another pressing concern is the need to address fraudulent or non-compliant CDL training providers who are non-compliant with existing training standards.”
He added that the group continues to advocate for higher safety standards and better enforcement tools for law enforcement and regulators to combat fraudulent licensing and record manipulation.
Under the Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act, all CDL testing—including issuance and renewal—would be conducted only in English. The bill would also require individuals to hold a standard driver’s license for one year before obtaining a CDL.
Supporters say the bill is designed to improve roadway safety, close loopholes in CDL issuance, and ensure that all drivers on U.S. highways can understand and respond to critical road signs and directions.
