Texas Truckers Bypass English Rule Despite Governor's Order

English Proficiency Rule Exemption

• 📌 Truck drivers operating solely within Texas remain exempt from the federal English proficiency rule.
• ⚠️ This exemption persists despite Governor Abbott's order to close the loophole a month ago.

Roadblocks in Rulemaking

• 🚧 The Texas Administrative Code currently states the English proficiency requirement does not apply to intrastate commerce.
• ⏳ Changing this requires the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to undergo a formal rulemaking process, typically taking several months.
• 💬 DPS has confirmed they are amending the rule to eliminate the intrastate exception.

Safety and Legal Concerns

• 🚗 Mirroring federal regulations is considered a safety issue by trucking advocates.
• ⚖️ Local trucking attorneys note that the current law puts investigative agencies in a difficult position due to the conflict with federal regulations.
• 🚓 Police agencies across Texas confirmed they are following the current law, which exempts intrastate-only drivers from the English proficiency rule.