Trump Bans Truckers Who Can’t Speak English – Could SA Be Next?

In a move that’s shocked and divided America, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order requiring all truck drivers to speak English and pass literacy tests.

The White House says the policy is aimed at tackling “communication problems” that pose a road safety risk – especially between truckers and law enforcement or road authorities.

Now, SA Trucker, here’s the interesting part: the law says if a driver can’t prove they’re proficient in English, they’ll be taken off the road, come June 25 2025.

Yoh! Imagine being parked permanently because of a language barrier?

This comes at a time when the US trucking industry is already juggling driver shortages, new regulations, and automation headaches.

Reading and speaking English has now been thrown into the mix as a top priority.

And here’s the real kicker – this new order reverses what the Obama administration implemented back in 2016, when they relaxed English-language requirements in a bid to boost driver numbers.

Before that, since 2001, drivers were required by law to read and write English “sufficiently to converse with the general public.”

Trump’s version? No passing, no driving. Full stop.

“Proficiency in English… should be a non-negotiable safety requirement,” the order reads.

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Drivers must understand traffic signs, respond at checkpoints, and follow instructions at cargo and weighbridge stations – all in English.

Now back to Mzansi.

ALL our road signs? They’re in English. From speed limits to low bridge warnings – English, English, English.

But guess what? You can write your learner’s test in any of Mzansi’s 11 official languages.

So technically, you could pass your K53 in isiZulu and then freeze at a “No Entry” sign in the middle of the Karoo.

Aybo, how does that even make sense?

We love our multilingual vibe – rightfully so – but are we ignoring a real safety risk here?

We’re not saying go full-on Trump and start failing everyone who doesn’t speak English, but maybe we should at least standardise key basics – like ensuring all drivers, especially truckers, can read critical traffic signs.

Because on the road, communication is everything. Whether it’s a SAPS officer waving you down or a weighbridge marshal shouting “Open the door!”, you don’t want to be the oke who nods… and parks on the wrong side of the law.

Your move, South Africa. What’s your take – is English proficiency a road safety issue, or is our multilingual mix working just fine?