Why CDL Schools Must Be Held Accountable for Training Drivers Who Cannot Speak or Read English
By: Shannon, Founder & CEO of RM Freeman & Associates, LLC
In the trucking industry, we often talk about equipment and freight, but the most important tool a driver has is their ability to communicate. Right now, a disconnect exists between what federal law requires and what CDL schools are producing.
Carriers, safety managers, and dispatchers are increasingly seeing graduates who hold a valid CDL but cannot read a road sign or answer an officer's basic questions in English. This isn’t about being "selective" - it is a direct violation of federal safety standards that puts the entire burden of liability on the carrier.
The Standard is Not a Suggestion
Federal law, specifically 49 CFR §391.11(b)(2), is clear: a person is only qualified to drive a commercial vehicle if they can read and speak English well enough to converse with the public, understand traffic signs, respond to official inquiries, and complete reports.
When a CDL school passes a student who lacks these skills, they aren't helping that driver; they are setting them up for a career-ending roadside inspection. Since June 2025, the FMCSA and CVSA have moved English Language Proficiency (ELP) back into the Out-of-Service (OOS) criteria. If a driver cannot communicate with an inspector, the truck is grounded immediately.
CDL Schools Are Transferring Risk, Not Training - HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE!
Many "fast-track" training programs prioritize volume over quality. By ignoring literacy and language requirements, these schools collect tuition and hand off a half-trained driver to a carrier.
The carrier then inherits the following risks:
Immediate Out-of-Service Orders: One roadside stop can ground a load and spike your OOS rates.
Negligence Claims: If a driver is involved in an accident and cannot read the warning signs leading up to it, the carrier is wide open for a "negligent hiring" lawsuit.
Operational Friction: Dispatchers cannot communicate route changes, and safety managers cannot conduct meaningful training.
Carriers Should Not Be "Trainers of Last Resort"
It has become common for carriers to spend the first week of orientation re-teaching basic pre-trip procedures or translating safety manuals because the school didn't do its job. A CDL school is paid to produce a qualified driver. If a graduate cannot meet the English proficiency standards required by the FMCSA, that school has failed to provide the service they were paid for.
What True Accountability Looks Like
Accountability means that "Approved Provider" status should depend on more than just high pass rates; it should depend on the quality of the graduates. Schools must:
Screen Early: Language proficiency should be assessed before a student spends thousands on tuition.
Prioritize Comprehension: Training should focus on the actual English-based tools of the trade, road signs, inspection forms, and ELD interfaces.
Uphold the Law: Schools must refuse to certify students who cannot safely meet the federal English requirement.
The Road Ahead
This is about professional standards. Trucking involves 80,000-pound machines and high-stakes public interaction. When CDL schools cut corners on communication, they endanger the driver’s livelihood, the carrier’s authority, and the public’s safety.
At RM Freeman & Associates, LLC, we believe in protecting the integrity of this industry. We need to hold training providers to the same level of accountability that carriers face every day at the scale house.
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