Truck Transportation Jobs Tick Up; English-Language Rule May Shrink Driver Pool

The U.S. trucking labor market has shown modest gains, though some are warning that a new English-language enforcement policy could soon reverse that progress.

The Developments

• First Year-over-Year Job Growth Since 2023: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that truck transportation employment reached 1,525,400 jobs in May, slightly above May 2023 levels. It's the first such increase in over a year.
• Job Gains Despite Market Headwinds: The rise follows months of smaller job increases and revisions that lowered previous employment baselines. While May saw a minor month-over-month decline (-900 jobs), it still represents a net gain of 9,300 jobs over the last three months.
• English-Language Enforcement Resumes: Meanwhile, the industry faces a potential, yet understandable challenge: President Trump’s executive order reinstating English-language requirements for commercial drivers. Mexican officials confirm that truckers have already received literacy warnings in Texas. One must note that this new rule is to ensure safety on the roadways for all drivers, even if it comes at the cost of reducing drivers on the road for the time being, at least until they are efficient in English.

Cause for Concerns

• Driver Disqualification Risk: Alfonso Millán Chavez of Mexico’s National Chamber of Freight Transportation said only 30% of Mexican B-1 visa drivers meet the English standard. “We’d heard visas were being taken away...but that is not accurate,” he told KXAN. “We do need to pay attention to these warnings.”
• Potential Driver Shortages: Chavez warned that disqualifying drivers over language compliance could be economically damaging. “If they follow through...this will lead to a collapse in the economy,” he said, citing a current shortage of 200,000 U.S. truckers.
• Training Efforts Underway: Chavez said his organization is preparing English classes for Mexican drivers to help avoid further warnings or possible penalties.

At the end of the day, while trucking employment is showing slight recovery, policy changes may soon tighten the labor pool, especially for cross-border freight. With English-language enforcement in motion, carriers relying on B-1 visa drivers should prepare for possible disruptions, especially if their English isn't adequate enough.

Source: CDLLIFE | FreightWaves