"The debate really is, do you want well-trained, well-qualified drivers behind the wheel of a big rig driving on American roads?" Duffy argued. "It's very simple. I think the answer is, every single American, no matter what your political stripes are—that's exactly what you want."

Just last week, an illegal immigrant from Kyrgyzstan swerved into an oncoming van and killed four passengers; the truck driver entered the country during the Biden administration through the CBP One app, and both the "sham" school that certified him and the company he worked for had been shut down.

In 2025, "non-domiciled" commercial truck drivers caused "at least 17 fatal crashes and 30 deaths," according to FMCSA. In one instance, an illegal immigrant, who bombed his English proficiency exam but was granted CDLs by California and Washington anyway, attempted an illegal U-turn on a Florida highway and caused a crash that killed three people. Another "non-domiciled" truck driver triggered a multi-vehicle crash in an interstate tunnel in Wyoming, causing three fatalities and 20 injuries.

The latest rules follow a series of DOT actions meant to bolster big-rig safety. Earlier this month, the FMCSA issued a final rule to ensure that foreign drivers are properly qualified. It limited eligibility to certain visa types that undergo enhanced vetting, limited eligible paperwork, and mandated that states confirm the applicant's immigration status before issuing a CDL.

"While US drivers are subject to strict checks through national databases for past violations—such as DUIs, reckless driving, or crash involvement—states lack the ability to access the driving records of foreigners and illegal immigrants," the agency explained.

Over the past year, the DOT has sought to increase truck safety from multiple angles. In December 2025, it removed 42 Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) from the list of approved devices for allowing drivers to fraudulently violate rules governing how long they could drive without stopping for rest. It also shut down more than 550 CDL issuers that failed to meet safety standards (nearly one-third the number of site visits) in states that outsource the process, as well as de-registering thousands of inadequate CDL training schools.

In January 2026, the DOT turned its attention to drivers, pulling 1,231 vehicles off the road in 8,215 inspections. It decommissioned 704 drivers, "including nearly 500 for English proficiency violations."

Last year, the DOT focused its efforts on auditing state policies, and it found "glaring compliance failures" in states like California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. For instance, in California, which allows drivers to take the CDL test in 20 different languages, more than 25% of "non-domiciled" CDLs reviewed were improperly issued. As a result of those audits, the DOT revoked thousands of CDLs.

In his recent book "Faithful Reason," Christian ethicist Dr. Andrew Walker used road safety regulations as an example of an everyday policy designed to protect human life. "We follow traffic laws because preserving life is good," he writes.

But a commercial truck driver who cannot speak English cannot follow US traffic laws, because he simply cannot read the signs. "Construction Zone," "Wrong Way," and "No U-Turn" convey important messages that are literally the difference between life and death.

"A person who purposefully and wantonly endangers others and themselves is not only engaging in a criminal offense; they are acting outside of their rational mind," writes Walker. An illegal immigrant who climbs behind the wheel of a vehicle weighing between 10,000 and 80,000 pounds, without knowing how to read American road signs, is endangering others. The fraudulent training schools, cut-rate licensure outfits, and lax state regulators that allow him to climb behind the wheel are also endangering others. The Trump administration DOT is taking actions to prevent that, one step at a time. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

Joshua Arnold is a senior writer at The Washington Stand.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Devout Jew Decides to Disprove Scripture by Reading the Bible; Is 'Blown Away' by What He Finds

South Dakota Passes Prenatal Development Education Bill

How Is a Free Cuba in the National Interest of the United States?

Trump Forges Alliance With Conservative Latin American Leaders at the 'Shield of the Americas' Summit

[Video] Trump Has Highest Own-Party Approval of Any 21st Century President, CNN Survey Shows

Noem Saga Grows More Bizarre as IG Accuses DHS of Blocking Investigations, Including One Involving Butler

Trump Says Only Iran Deal He Will Accept Is 'Unconditional Surrender'

'Don't Mess With Texas': 'Overwhelming' Push Back on Sharia Law in the Lone Star State

Update on Savannah Guthrie's Plans, Investigation into Nancy's Disappearance: She 'May Already Be Gone'

Austin's Liberal DA Makes Major Call About Officers Who Shot Suspected Terrorist that Killed 3, Injured Over a Dozen

Media Ignore Arrest of 14-Year Illegal Alien with 30 Arrests in Case of Virginia Bus Stop Stabbing Murder

Poll: 57 Percent of Americans Want All Illegal Migrants Sent Home

US Supreme Court Hands Unanimous Victory to Trump Administration on Asylum Cases

Pentagon Releases Identities of 6 US Soldiers Killed in Kuwait: 'They Laid Down Their Lives'

Hegseth: Iran Regime Is 'Toast' as Israel, US Broaden Strikes

Senator Fetterman Joins GOP to Block Iran War Powers Effort

President Trump Replaces Kristi Noem at DHS with Senator Markwayne Mullin

[Watch] After Fleeing the Regime Decades Ago, She Fights for a Free Iran and Exposes 'Islamic Radicalism'

'Madam President' Melania Trump Becomes First World Leader's Spouse to Chair UN Security Council

Former Indiana Music Teacher Wins Settlement after Being Forced to Resign for Not Using Trans Pronouns