Shocking news has emerged from the US for Punjabis. The US government has implemented new strict rules. Strict regulations have now been imposed on Punjabi youth seeking jobs in America based on their driving skills. This means that speaking English is now mandatory for drivers in the US.
Furthermore, the Trump administration has started an English speaking test for truck drivers. According to reports, this decision was made after several road accidents involving truck drivers of Punjabi origin in the past few months. Following this, police teams are stopping on-road truck drivers and conducting English speaking tests. So far, more than 7,000 non-American drivers have failed this test, resulting in the suspension of their licenses.
Currently, there are approximately 150,000 Punjabi truck drivers active in the US. According to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, in the English tests conducted until October 30th, many drivers were unable to communicate in English or identify traffic signs written in English. It should be noted that, in view of the increasing number of accidents in the US, the American government had already temporarily suspended visas for Indian drivers.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that under American transportation law, it is mandatory for all truck drivers to be able to read traffic signs in English and speak basic English. According to him, during the Obama administration, this rule was not strictly enforced, resulting in licenses being issued even to drivers who failed the English test. Considering the increase in truck accidents, President Donald Trump approved the mandatory implementation of the English test from June 25, 2025. Under the new policy, police are now conducting on-the-spot English speaking and traffic sign comprehension tests on the road. If a driver fails the test, they are immediately removed from the truck.
It is noteworthy that the state of California has opposed the English language requirement. English is not strictly mandatory for obtaining a commercial driving license here. Although there is a basic English test, people with even a limited understanding of English are granted a driving license in California. This is why most Indian drivers obtain their licenses in California.
