This is going a WHILE back so forgive me if I "misremember". I believe when NAFTA was passed it allowed commercial trucks from Mexico and Canada to traverse our roads both internal and through to the other countries. I recall there was a lot of concern for inspections, trucker rules, driving skills, and emissions but we couldn't do anything about it due to the treaty.
Under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), commercial trucks from Mexico and Canada are still allowed to traverse U.S. roads, but they must comply with U.S. regulations on emissions, inspections, and driver qualifications. The USMCA, which replaced NAFTA and entered into force on July 1, 2020, maintains provisions for cross-border trucking (Chapter 15, Annex I) while leaving enforcement of safety and environmental standards to each country’s domestic laws. Here’s how it breaks down:
Emissions
U.S. emissions standards for commercial trucks are governed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act, not the USMCA directly. Foreign trucks entering the U.S.—like those from Mexico or Canada—must meet EPA standards for heavy-duty vehicles (e.g., the Phase 2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards, finalized in 2016 and updated in 2024). Mexico-domiciled trucks, for instance, often face scrutiny because many are older models (pre-2007) that don’t comply with modern U.S. standards like the 2010 EPA diesel emissions rules. However, there’s no blanket ban; they can operate if they pass roadside checks or are grandfathered under specific exemptions. In practice, enforcement varies—border states like Texas see thousands of Mexican trucks daily (over 700,000 crossings annually at Laredo alone, per U.S. Customs data), and not all get emissions-tested unless flagged.
Inspections
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates annual inspections for all commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) operating in the U.S., including foreign ones (49 CFR Part 396). Under USMCA, Mexican and Canadian carriers must comply with the North American Standard Inspection Program, overseen by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). Level I inspections—the most common—check both vehicle condition (brakes, tires, lights) and driver credentials. Mexican trucks, especially, face heightened scrutiny at the border: FMCSA data shows about 25% of Mexico-domiciled carriers’ vehicles inspected in 2023 were placed out of service for violations, compared to 20% for U.S. carriers. Pre-USMCA, NAFTA allowed Mexican trucks only within 20-25 miles of the border; USMCA keeps this restriction for most carriers unless they get full U.S. operating authority, which requires passing a safety audit. So, inspections are a choke point, but compliant trucks can still roll.
Driver Skill
Driver qualifications fall under FMCSA rules (49 CFR Part 391). Mexican and Canadian drivers need a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) equivalent recognized by the U.S., plus a Medical Examiner’s Certificate. USMCA doesn’t lower these bars—drivers must meet hours-of-service rules (e.g., 11-hour driving limit) and carry proper logs, often via Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) since 2017. The catch? Enforcement can lag: a 2022 Government Accountability Office report noted inconsistent verification of Mexican drivers’ credentials at border crossings, partly due to staffing shortages. Still, unskilled or non-compliant drivers risk being sidelined during roadside stops, not banned outright.
The Reality
The USMCA doesn’t override U.S. sovereignty on these fronts—it’s a trade deal, not a regulatory free-for-all. Trucks that don’t meet emissions, inspection, or driver standards can be denied entry or pulled off the road (e.g., via FMCSA’s out-of-service orders), but plenty still traverse legally. In 2023, roughly 5 million truck crossings from Mexico and 6 million from Canada occurred, per the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, with most concentrated in border states like California, Texas, and Michigan. Critics—like U.S. trucking unions—argue lax enforcement lets subpar trucks slip through, but the data shows a functional, if imperfect, system: CVSA inspections catch violators, and compliant trucks keep moving. The U.S. doesn’t “allow despite” these factors—it allows because of compliance, however unevenly enforced.
English Checks Have Begun ‼️ Truck driver in Arkansas at a weigh station
They’re stopping ALL trucks
Everyone is handed a piece of paper
They must read it out loud
They must also write what they’re told to write
“I was actually witnessing people in handcuffs that had been pulled in. I was like, what's going on? He goes, we've come across now that if you cannot read or write in English, that it's a $5,000 fine.
And if you have a company in Arkansas that employs people that can't read or write in English, it's a $10,000 fine paid on the spot.
If you cannot pay it, you're automatically arrested and lose your license”
I now have a Class A CDL and deal with many many long haul truckers. So many Ukranian, Russian and East Indian drivers who do not know English whatsoever.
From what I've heard they memorize the pre-trip inspection part of the CDL exam in English. Like a verbatim script. They simply memorize the script and point to corresponding area's of the truck.
So yes they have to take the test in English but many do not speak English.
If I remember correctly, this was always a requirement as you must be able to fill out a DOT driver's log. No different than a DOT required physical. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Yes, it was a stated goal of The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986. But never enforced?? Just like PA did not start mandating the physicals until around 2011 at which time you had to start registering your physical with PADOT in order to renew your license.
I can travel down to Arkansas via backrooms and I don't think the Arkansas State patrol would be at the line waiting to hand out reading requirements. This is probably only on the interstates.
Arkansas is also a very well known drive through state to traffic drugs from west coast to east coast and their state troopers and HP are so incredibly well trained to spot suspicious things this isn’t too terribly shocking. Glad it’s happening.
The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986
The real turning point came with the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986. This act established the CDL program nationwide. As a research paper from the University of California, Berkeley describes, this law standardized the requirements for driving commercial vehicles, essentially creating the modern CDL. The Act’s goal was to improve highway safety by ensuring drivers were competent and qualified to operate commercial vehicles.
One stated goal was to eliminate illiteracy amongst commercial drivers.
This was done by administering a series of multiple-choice written tests, followed by a series of "behind-the-wheel" skill and road tests according to the requirements each individual driver needed. I.e. straight truck, combination, tanker, haz-mat, etc.
I remember not long after, the state of New York said that this law was going to "shut down NY." They began to issue "take home" driver's tests.
Pennsylvania began "Oral" tests and eventually "oral" tests in Spanish.
Older drivers were "grandfathered" in... only needing to take the written tests with no behind the wheel testing required.
Never should have allowed people who cannot read English in control of an 18 wheeler.
This is going a WHILE back so forgive me if I "misremember". I believe when NAFTA was passed it allowed commercial trucks from Mexico and Canada to traverse our roads both internal and through to the other countries. I recall there was a lot of concern for inspections, trucker rules, driving skills, and emissions but we couldn't do anything about it due to the treaty.
According to Grok, it changed with USMCA.
https://x.com/i/grok/share/IvgFASIdvnMpZjQXLEJEJNcHd
Since Grok doesn't seem to work with nitter I'll post the result below.
Under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), commercial trucks from Mexico and Canada are still allowed to traverse U.S. roads, but they must comply with U.S. regulations on emissions, inspections, and driver qualifications. The USMCA, which replaced NAFTA and entered into force on July 1, 2020, maintains provisions for cross-border trucking (Chapter 15, Annex I) while leaving enforcement of safety and environmental standards to each country’s domestic laws. Here’s how it breaks down:
U.S. emissions standards for commercial trucks are governed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act, not the USMCA directly. Foreign trucks entering the U.S.—like those from Mexico or Canada—must meet EPA standards for heavy-duty vehicles (e.g., the Phase 2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards, finalized in 2016 and updated in 2024). Mexico-domiciled trucks, for instance, often face scrutiny because many are older models (pre-2007) that don’t comply with modern U.S. standards like the 2010 EPA diesel emissions rules. However, there’s no blanket ban; they can operate if they pass roadside checks or are grandfathered under specific exemptions. In practice, enforcement varies—border states like Texas see thousands of Mexican trucks daily (over 700,000 crossings annually at Laredo alone, per U.S. Customs data), and not all get emissions-tested unless flagged.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates annual inspections for all commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) operating in the U.S., including foreign ones (49 CFR Part 396). Under USMCA, Mexican and Canadian carriers must comply with the North American Standard Inspection Program, overseen by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). Level I inspections—the most common—check both vehicle condition (brakes, tires, lights) and driver credentials. Mexican trucks, especially, face heightened scrutiny at the border: FMCSA data shows about 25% of Mexico-domiciled carriers’ vehicles inspected in 2023 were placed out of service for violations, compared to 20% for U.S. carriers. Pre-USMCA, NAFTA allowed Mexican trucks only within 20-25 miles of the border; USMCA keeps this restriction for most carriers unless they get full U.S. operating authority, which requires passing a safety audit. So, inspections are a choke point, but compliant trucks can still roll.
Driver qualifications fall under FMCSA rules (49 CFR Part 391). Mexican and Canadian drivers need a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) equivalent recognized by the U.S., plus a Medical Examiner’s Certificate. USMCA doesn’t lower these bars—drivers must meet hours-of-service rules (e.g., 11-hour driving limit) and carry proper logs, often via Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) since 2017. The catch? Enforcement can lag: a 2022 Government Accountability Office report noted inconsistent verification of Mexican drivers’ credentials at border crossings, partly due to staffing shortages. Still, unskilled or non-compliant drivers risk being sidelined during roadside stops, not banned outright.
The USMCA doesn’t override U.S. sovereignty on these fronts—it’s a trade deal, not a regulatory free-for-all. Trucks that don’t meet emissions, inspection, or driver standards can be denied entry or pulled off the road (e.g., via FMCSA’s out-of-service orders), but plenty still traverse legally. In 2023, roughly 5 million truck crossings from Mexico and 6 million from Canada occurred, per the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, with most concentrated in border states like California, Texas, and Michigan. Critics—like U.S. trucking unions—argue lax enforcement lets subpar trucks slip through, but the data shows a functional, if imperfect, system: CVSA inspections catch violators, and compliant trucks keep moving. The U.S. doesn’t “allow despite” these factors—it allows because of compliance, however unevenly enforced.
Post -
English Checks Have Begun ‼️ Truck driver in Arkansas at a weigh station
They’re stopping ALL trucks
Everyone is handed a piece of paper
They must read it out loud
They must also write what they’re told to write
“I was actually witnessing people in handcuffs that had been pulled in. I was like, what's going on? He goes, we've come across now that if you cannot read or write in English, that it's a $5,000 fine.
And if you have a company in Arkansas that employs people that can't read or write in English, it's a $10,000 fine paid on the spot.
If you cannot pay it, you're automatically arrested and lose your license”
We need this in EVERY state!!
https://x.com/WallStreetApes/status/1901231018289623373
Heh, CDL holders must be able to speak and understand English.
I've had to deal with truckers that speak very little if any English.
Bravo! Even if its just a few, it might scare the many.
I now have a Class A CDL and deal with many many long haul truckers. So many Ukranian, Russian and East Indian drivers who do not know English whatsoever.
From what I've heard they memorize the pre-trip inspection part of the CDL exam in English. Like a verbatim script. They simply memorize the script and point to corresponding area's of the truck.
So yes they have to take the test in English but many do not speak English.
I did not see this coming. Gonna be a huge demand for truck drivers very shortly.
Show them handcuffs. Everyone understands those. We fell so far that common sense seems revolutionary. Thanks for the hopium fren.
Now do Chicago based trucking companies.
That is awesome!
If I remember correctly, this was always a requirement as you must be able to fill out a DOT driver's log. No different than a DOT required physical. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Yes, it was a stated goal of The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986. But never enforced?? Just like PA did not start mandating the physicals until around 2011 at which time you had to start registering your physical with PADOT in order to renew your license.
https://cdllife.com/2025/arkansas-bill-bans-non-citizens-from-operating-a-commercial-vehicle-without-a-u-s-issued-cdl-and-english-language-proficiency/
I approve. Next, an English test at the voting booth.
I can travel down to Arkansas via backrooms and I don't think the Arkansas State patrol would be at the line waiting to hand out reading requirements. This is probably only on the interstates.
Arkansas is also a very well known drive through state to traffic drugs from west coast to east coast and their state troopers and HP are so incredibly well trained to spot suspicious things this isn’t too terribly shocking. Glad it’s happening.
Trucks don't take the back roads much.
It's a huge win.
Funny accent = can't speak English = not American = Instant deportation
Agreed
Now on to the planes!
Thank goodness, I was worried about CDL drivers w/o English skills, no go after the crazy car drivers (especially in Southeast Florida)!
Must do this at all polling places!
Huge win.
A bunch of states need to do this immediately.
WTF Oklahoma.
As a retired trucker I approve this.
Awesome news! Now do all the states
Bout f'n been telling everyone i can about these drivers
I love this test!
This must be fake. Is there a requirement to read and write in English to get a trucking license. Aren't these licenses state licenses, not federal??
Check the community notes.
Thanks, just did. This is awesome!
ALL ""Licenses"" are Both Federal and State, and all are Commercial, no exceptions....
The Federal Government is where this all begins....
And it's a Gargantuan Scam....
to be fair, I can see how it would be pretty shocking, even though I agree with the purpose behind it.
i get that it's an old law, but clearly enforcement has been lax for a long time.
I don’t understand. Community notes seem yo have be egregious lately being misleading, outright lying, or just adding no context.
The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 The real turning point came with the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986. This act established the CDL program nationwide. As a research paper from the University of California, Berkeley describes, this law standardized the requirements for driving commercial vehicles, essentially creating the modern CDL. The Act’s goal was to improve highway safety by ensuring drivers were competent and qualified to operate commercial vehicles.
One stated goal was to eliminate illiteracy amongst commercial drivers.
This was done by administering a series of multiple-choice written tests, followed by a series of "behind-the-wheel" skill and road tests according to the requirements each individual driver needed. I.e. straight truck, combination, tanker, haz-mat, etc.
I remember not long after, the state of New York said that this law was going to "shut down NY." They began to issue "take home" driver's tests.
Pennsylvania began "Oral" tests and eventually "oral" tests in Spanish.
Older drivers were "grandfathered" in... only needing to take the written tests with no behind the wheel testing required.
This is a great law, so glad it is in effect.
Glorious
We need this in every state period.
BS
Send them all back to Canada. Then they will start hiring Canadian Drivers again.