Originally published at: Florida Takes Shot Across The Bow As State-Level War on Immigrant Truck Drivers Kicks Off - FreightWaves
The Florida Senate Transportation Committee voted 6-3 on Tuesday to advance legislation requiring law enforcement to detain commercial truck drivers in the country illegally, impound their vehicles, fine owners $50,000, and ban the carrier from operating in the state. This is the tip of the spear now aimed at CDL programs nationwide.
BREAKING CDL ELP NEWS…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2026
Washington, DC
The Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC) applauded Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) after the agency announced today that, beginning Friday, February 6th, all driver license knowledge and skills examinations will be administered exclusively in English, including CDL exams.
“For four years, the SBTC has zealously pursued public policies across the nation that would result in states testing for English language proficiency (ELP) in furtherance of Federal Regulations that have been in place since 1937 under 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2). We have repeatedly pointed to the 2002 DOT Inspector General’s CDL Standards Audit report as the compelling incentive to do so,” said SBTC Executive Director James Lamb today.
“We have also called for truckers found not in compliance with the ELP regulation to be placed out of service, a policy that has returned as of June 26, 2025 by order of President Trump,” Lamb added.
“Our efforts culminated in the introduction of Connor’s Law, introduced last year in both the House by Rep. Taylor and the Senate by Senator Lummis and additional bills that would effect legislation to guard who is qualified to be licensed to drive a truck and who must be removed from the road when they are not. And now, the essence of Connor’s Law is about to pass in the Consolidated Appropriations Act’s Transportation bill, one of 6 bills in that package,” Lamb stated.
“Being able to read, speak, and understand English is one such qualification that significantly affects public safety. Our pleas to “Make the Roads Safe Again” have been heard by President Trump, Secretary Duffy, FMCSA, and now the state of Florida. Even DOT OIG is on board and has finally commenced our requested 2022 reaudit of CDL Standards as of September 2025,” Lamb continued.
“Like most things in life, we need to start with common sense. There is no better way for a state to test for trucker English proficiency than to administer the CDL knowledge and skills tests in, well, English. In the state of Florida, at least, common sense will now prevail effective February 6th. We hope other states will follow,” Lamb concluded.
Regards,
/JAMES LAMB/, Executive Director
Small Business in Transportation Coalition, Inc. (“SBTC”)
aka Truckers.com
www.smalltransportation.org
1775 I. (Eye) Street, NW, Suite 1150
Washington, DC 20006
@JimLambUSA
(202) 587-2751
Subscribe to Inside Trucking:
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2026 at 9:54 PM
From: “James Lamb” JimLamb@usa.com
To: “secretaryduffy@dot.gov” secretaryduffy@dot.gov
Cc: Rmurphy1281971@gmail.com, CEI_Mailbox@dot.gov, “HOTLINE, DOT-OIG” HOTLINE@oig.dot.gov, Criminal.Division@usdoj.gov, derek.barrs@dot.gov, Gregory.Zerzan@dot.gov, Shannon@americantruckers.com, mar@marcorubio.com, “Steven.Bradburydot.gov” Steven.Bradbury@dot.gov, Jesse.Elison@dot.gov, “FMCSAExecSecdot.gov” FMCSAExecSec@dot.gov, “Minor, Larry (FMCSA)” larry.minor@dot.gov, “Waters, Cicely (FMCSA)” cicely.waters@dot.gov, “Laurence Socci” laurence.socci@soccilawfirm.com, “John Gallagher” jgallagher@firecrown.com, “editorthetrucker.com” editor@thetrucker.com, “Dana Guthrie” DanaG@TheTruckerMedia.com, “Ahlquist, William” William.Ahlquist@mail.house.gov, “Curry Pajcic” Curry@pajcic.com, muthatruckernews@gmail.com, “Mellissa Dzion” mellissa.a.dzion@gmail.com, AnthonyBryant@flhsmv.gov, jenifer.bradley@mail.house.gov, marvin.hardley@dmv.ca.gov, kevinstrickland@flhsmv.gov, “Robyn Sieron” Robyn@pajcic.com, Lela_Derr@cruz.senate.gov, John_Etue@cruz.senate.gov, brent_robertson@marshall.senate.gov, Jennesh.Agagas@FOX.COM, AGian@newsmax.com, Nicole.Croteau@foxnews.com, jillv@newsmax.com, Mark_Gruman@cramer.senate.gov, truckingmadesuccessful@gmail.com
Subject: PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION & FINAL AGENCY ACTIONDear Secretary Duffy & Administrator Barrs,
In furtherance of our May 27, 2025 Petition for a Decertification Order, this is a Petition for Reconsideration of FMCSA’s January 7, 2026 NOTICE OF FINAL DETERMINATION OF SUBSTANTIAL NONCOMPLIANCE by the SBTC.
We request final agency action on our May 27, 2025 Petition pursuant to 5 USC 555 and the January 7, 2026 agency decision referenced above at this time, and request the agency decertify the state of California’s authority to issue any and all CDLs.
As we have repeatedly stated, the law requires decertification once a final determination of non-compliance has been made. This is non-discetionary and is required by law.
49 USC 31312 states:
(a)In General.—If the Secretary of Transportation determines that a State is in substantial noncompliance with this chapter, the Secretary shall issue an order to—
(1)prohibit that State from carrying out licensing procedures under this chapter; and
(2)prohibit that State from issuing any commercial driver’s licenses until such time the Secretary determines such State is in substantial compliance with this chapter.Please promptly advise the SBTC whether you will be voluntarily complying with your duty to decertify so that we may know whether a Petition for Review to the DC Circuit requesting an order directing you to decertify California will be necessary in this instance. We would prefer not to be forced to jam the Court’s docket and would appreciate a favorable response from USDOT.
Our Petition for Decertification is published at:
https://downloads.regulations.gov/FMCSA-2022-0105-0017/attachment_1.pdf
Thank you.
Sincerely,
/JAMES LAMB/, Executive Director
Small Business in Transportation Coalition, Inc. (“SBTC”)
aka Truckers.com
www.smalltransportation.org
1775 I. (Eye) Street, NW, Suite 1150
Washington, DC 20006
@JimLambUSA
(202) 587-2751Subscribe to Inside Trucking:
www.Youtube.com/@InsideTrucking
Oh, baby baby… Be careful what your wish for. Don’t be suprised as you hear “those documents don’t look real to me” on some lonely roadside… And why would your insurance cover any losses levied against your company? You think the health folks love their “pre-existing condition” clauses? Who doesn’t see our insurers dredging for ‘what detail is wrong with your last decade of paperwork?’ to weasel on payouts?