Trump’s English-Only Rule for Truck Drivers Raises Alarm in Sikh Community

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order requiring all truck drivers in the country to be proficient in English. The order is titled "Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers."

According to the government, the goal is to improve safety on American roads. The order says that drivers must be able to read traffic signs, talk to road safety officers, and communicate with their employers and customers in English.

The White House says that this rule is important to make sure drivers can understand instructions and report problems clearly. It also says that English skills are a necessary part of being a qualified commercial driver.

However, the decision has raised concerns among Sikh advocacy groups. The Sikh Coalition, one of the largest Sikh civil rights organizations in the U.S., says the new rule may unfairly affect thousands of Sikh truck drivers.

There are an estimated 150,000 Sikhs working in the American trucking industry, and around 90% of them are drivers. Many joined the industry between 2016 and 2018 to help meet the country’s growing need for transportation workers.

The Sikh Coalition says the community has played a major role in supporting the U.S. economy and fixing driver shortages. They are worried that the English-only rule could become a barrier to employment for many Sikh Americans and others who speak English as a second language.

Advocates are calling for policies that protect road safety without excluding hardworking drivers who contribute every day to the nation’s supply chain.