Trucker English — coming soon
Short daily practice of the English you use on the job: dispatch, inspections, the radio, the shipper and the receiver. We are building it now.
Want to hear when it is ready? Email support@thetruckershub.com with the subject "Trucker English". We will send you one email when it opens.
The English check at a roadside inspection (ELP)
The federal rule (49 CFR 391.11(b)(2)) says a truck driver must read and speak English well enough to talk with the public, understand highway signs, answer an officer's questions and fill in reports. Since June 25, 2025, inspectors can put a driver out of service for not speaking enough English.
- Step 1, interview: the officer asks routine questions in English, and you answer in English. Translation apps, cue cards and interpreters are not allowed.
- Step 2, signs: the officer may check that you understand common highway signs.
Typical topics: where you are coming from and going to, what you are hauling, your hours and log, your licence and papers, your equipment. Practise short, clear answers, for example "I'm coming from Dallas, Texas." or "Please say it again, slowly."
Sources: CVSA · FMCSA guidance. Independent information from The Truckers Hub, not affiliated with FMCSA, CVSA or the DOT, and not legal advice. The officer decides. Last checked: October 19, 2026.