Trump's Highway Safety Order Marks One Year of Industry Changes

Key Details On April 28, 2024, President Trump signed an executive order focused on improving commercial motor vehicle safety. The order directed the Department of Transportation to enforce English language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers, review state issuance of non-domiciled CDLs for irregularities, and take additional enforcement actions. Industry experts call this the most consequential year of CMV safety policy in a generation. Why It Matters The executive order was prompted by serious safety failures involving foreign carriers and unlicensed operators. One case involved a load that passed through four brokers before reaching a Russian-licensed driver who lacked proper equipment. His non-compliant flashlights caused a fatal crash on a busy interstate. Another Chicago-based operation run by a Romanian national connected to twelve deaths and hundreds of crashes continued operating under successor companies despite federal penalties. What Changed These cases reveal systemic gaps in enforcement and carrier accountability. Loads passed between handlers with no verification of driver credentials, operating authority, or equipment compliance. Foreign-operated carriers sometimes escaped accountability by dissolving and restarting operations. The executive order aims to close these loopholes through stricter proficiency standards and tighter oversight of non-domiciled licensing practices.