Sean Duffy highlights year-long USDOT trucking crackdown
sean duffy said USDOT and FMCSA spent the past year increasing enforcement of English-language requirements and cracking down on non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses. The department used a May 1, 2026 news release to look back on changes that began after President Trump signed an executive order on April 28, 2025.
The release pointed to a year of action tied to that order, which called for stronger CDL standards, English language proficiency enforcement and improvements to day-to-day working conditions for truckers. Duffy said the administration had already stepped in when state leaders did not keep Americans on the road safe.
Duffy on trucking rules
Duffy said, "The Trump Administration has hit major milestones in our efforts to rein in the trucking industry which has been allowed to operate like the Wild, Wild West for far too long." He also said, "We’ve brought back common sense rules of the road including requiring English language proficiency and valid working documents for foreign drivers."
Those comments came alongside a government accounting of what changed after the order. USDOT said the department increased enforcement of English language requirements and cracked down on non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses over the past year.
Trump order from April 28, 2025
Trump signed the executive order, Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers, a year ago this week. USDOT said the order pushed for stronger CDL standards and better day-to-day working conditions, while the May 1 release framed the department’s enforcement actions as the mechanism for carrying it out.
Duffy said, "When state leaders failed to keep Americans on the road safe, we stepped in and held them accountable and we’re just getting started." That puts state licensing practices at the center of the dispute: the federal department says it has already acted, and it says more is coming.
Barrs backs truckers
FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs added a direct defense of the industry. He said, "I’ve spent my life looking out for the folks on our highways, and I’m telling you, these drivers are the heartbeat of this country."
Barrs also said, "This administration is finally giving our truckers the support they’ve earned to get the job done and get home safe to their families." In practical terms, the department is signaling that enforcement will stay focused on language rules, valid documents and state licensing practices rather than ending with the year-in-review release.
