New Trucking Bill Mandates English-Only CDL Tests and 1-Year Wait for Licenses

The Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act of 2025 is shaking up the rules for getting a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), and it centers on two big changes: language and experience. First, Section 3 mandates that all CDL driving tests—the knowledge exam, the skills test, and even the tests given during entry-level training—must be administered only in English. The Secretary of Transportation has 180 days after the bill is signed to update all federal regulations to enforce this English-only rule nationwide. Second, Section 4 introduces a new prerequisite: you can’t apply for a CDL unless you’ve already held a standard driver’s license for at least one full year, though anyone who already has a CDL when this takes effect is grandfathered in.

The English-Only Barrier to Entry

Let’s talk about that English-only rule. Right now, some states offer CDL tests in other languages to accommodate the diverse pool of drivers needed to keep the supply chain moving. Section 3 effectively ends that practice. For a non-native English speaker looking to start a career in trucking—a job that often offers solid pay and benefits—this is a significant new hurdle. While safety is always paramount, this provision could lock out thousands of qualified drivers who are perfectly capable of operating a truck safely but might struggle with complex technical language on a written exam administered only in English. It raises the question of whether the policy is about improving safety or simply reducing access to the profession for certain groups.

The One-Year Waiting Game

Section 4’s requirement that you hold a regular license for 12 months before applying for a CDL is aimed at ensuring new commercial drivers have some real-world experience under their belt. This sounds like a common-sense safety measure—you need to know how to handle a sedan before you jump into an 80,000-pound rig. For a young person fresh out of high school or someone transitioning careers, however, this means a mandated year of delay before they can access the higher wages associated with commercial driving. Given the persistent shortage of truck drivers, this delay could subtly slow down the influx of new workers into a critical industry, potentially impacting everything from shipping costs to delivery times.

Federal Power Over State Licenses

Finally, Section 5 gives the Secretary of Transportation a serious new enforcement tool. It allows the Secretary to revoke a state’s authority to issue Non-domiciled CDLs or Commercial Learner’s Permits (CLPs) if that state isn't following the federal rules. Non-domiciled licenses are issued to people who don't live in the state, and this provision essentially tells state motor vehicle departments: follow the federal playbook exactly, or lose the right to issue these specific licenses. This is a big deal for states that rely on issuing these licenses and gives the federal government more centralized control over state licensing processes, raising the stakes for compliance errors.