A new executive order from President Trump is shaking up border trucking like a pothole on the Tijuana freeway. The mandate? All commercial drivers entering the U.S. must speak English — and they’ve got 60 days to prove it.
Currently, only 3 out of 10 truckers along the border speak English well enough to explain a flat tire, let alone communicate with U.S. safety officials. As a result, this mandate has sent ripples through the transport community — and not the good kind.
Representing the voice of many concerned drivers, Israel Delgado Vallejo, vice president for the Northwest Region of CANACAR (Mexico’s National Chamber of Freight Transport) and delegate in Tijuana, weighed in on the decision:
👉 “There are many capable drivers who simply don’t speak English, and that doesn’t make them less safe.”
In theory, the rule aims to improve communication and road safety. In practice, however, it’s throwing a wrench into binational commerce. The order requires drivers to read signs, follow written instructions, and speak directly to U.S. officers — all in English. If they can’t, they’ll be sidelined.
Meanwhile, truckers and companies now scramble to meet the language requirement. For many, that means urgent training, higher costs, and disrupted schedules — all under a tight two-month deadline.
Moreover, Vallejo warns this could clog ports of entry and delay cargo, affecting everything from avocados to auto parts. “This is a slap in the face to working people who’ve delivered goods safely for decades,” he said.
So now what? Either drivers pick up English fast — or trade slows down faster. Border business just got bilingual. And no, “Spanglish” doesn’t count.
