The Hidden Challenge in the Driver Shortage: English Language Proficiency

The driver shortage isn’t new. Every industry article, every panel discussion, every coffee break conversation at trucking events seems to circle back to the same refrain: “We just don’t have enough drivers.” Pay is debated. Hours-of-service rules are criticized. Lifestyle issues are discussed. But there’s a piece that rarely gets the spotlight—English language proficiency (ELP). And here’s the kicker: ignoring it could be the quiet reason trucks sit idle, customers complain, and carriers bleed money. A Workforce That Speaks Many Languages The trucking workforce is global. Step into a truck stop in Chicago, Dallas, or New Jersey and you’ll hear more than a few accents. Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. truck drivers today is foreign-born. That’s not a footnote. That’s a cornerstone of the industry. Picture this: A skilled driver from West Africa, South Asia, or Eastern Europe nails the road test. He knows how to handle a 53-foot trailer through mountain passes better than most locals. He re...