(The Center Square) – Congressional action potentially codifying an executive order from the president is another step toward safer roads in North Carolina, a state where Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration analysis is potentially withholding $50 million in federal funding by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The withholding is because North Carolina’s nondomiciled commercial driver’s licenses shows 54% were illegally issued. Congress’ actions could sideline drivers who fail to demonstrate English proficiency and read American road signs, a move praised by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.
On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Consolidate Appropriations Act, 2026, known also as House Resolution 7148.
The resolution funds three of the 12 regular Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills. These are the Defense Appropriations Act, 2026; Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026; and the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
The legislation includes reference to Section 391.11(b)(2) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. Primarily, this requires commercial motor vehicle drivers to read and speak English sufficiently to converse with the public, understand traffic signs, respond to official inquiries, and make entries on reports.
The bill says, “The Secretary shall update the Department’s regulations to ensure that noncompliance with section 391.11(b)(2) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, triggers an out-of-service order.”
Enforcing Commonsense Rules Of The Road For America’s Truck Drivers is the executive order second-term Republican President Donald Trump signed last April. The Senate is next in the attempt to codify the presidential order.
“Nobody cares about road safety more than professional truck drivers,” said President Todd Spencer of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. “That’s why OOIDA and truckers across America strongly support Congress’ actions to sideline drivers who fail to demonstrate English proficiency. It’s common sense that truck drivers should demonstrate they can read critical road signs before getting behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound vehicle on public roadways.
“In addition to reading road signs, professional truckers routinely communicate with law enforcement and first responders in order to do their jobs safely and effectively. OOIDA has long advocated for stronger driver training standards, and we appreciate this legislative action to make our roads safer for our members and the motoring public.”
A federal registry last year removed 78 licensing programs in the state. An eastern North Carolina Baptist church, the Head Start program and a community college were among the entities with involuntary closures.
Thursday’s vote among North Carolinians in the House was 12-2 in favor. Democratic Rep. Valerie Foushee and Republican Rep. Mark Harris were nays. For the measure were Democratic Reps. Don Davis, Deborah Ross and Alma Adams, and Republican Reps. Dr. Greg Murphy, Virginia Foxx, Addison McDowell, David Rouzer, Richard Hudson, Pat Harrigan, Chuck Edwards, Brad Knott and Tim Moore.
