The U.S. House of Representatives has taken a bold step to tighten rules for commercial truck drivers with a new spending bill that could reshape road safety standards.

On Thursday, the House passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, also known as House Resolution 7148, which funds three of the 12 Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills: Defense, Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.

The legislation includes language to enforce English proficiency for commercial motor vehicle drivers, referencing Section 391.11(b)(2) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, which mandates drivers read and speak English well enough to interact with the public and understand traffic signs.

This move ties into concerns from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) analysis that could prompt the U.S. Department of Transportation to withhold $50 million in funding from North Carolina over issues with nondomiciled commercial driver’s licenses.

Supporters contend this legislative push is a long-overdue measure to ensure safety on American highways, particularly in states like North Carolina facing scrutiny over licensing practices. The bill’s language aims to codify an executive order signed last April by second-term Republican President Donald Trump, titled “Enforcing Commonsense Rules Of The Road For America’s Truck Drivers.” Now, with a 12-2 vote among North Carolina House members, the bill heads to the Senate for further debate.

North Carolina’s Licensing Woes Under Scrutiny

North Carolina’s troubles with nondomiciled commercial driver’s licenses are at the heart of this story, with FMCSA findings suggesting 54% of these licenses may have been issued improperly, Just the News reported.

This has led to fears of a massive $50 million funding cut from federal coffers. It’s a wake-up call for a state already dealing with the fallout of a federal registry axing 78 licensing programs last year.

Among the casualties of those closures were an eastern North Carolina Baptist church, a Head Start program, and a community college. These involuntary shutdowns highlight the broader impact of regulatory noncompliance. The stakes couldn’t be higher for the Tar Heel State.

Turning to the bill itself, the language is crystal clear: drivers must demonstrate they can read road signs and communicate effectively, or they’re out. The legislation mandates the Secretary of Transportation to update regulations so that noncompliance with English proficiency rules triggers an out-of-service order. It’s a firm line in the sand for an industry where safety is non-negotiable.

Truckers’ Voices Amplify Safety Concerns

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has thrown its full weight behind this measure, and they’re not mincing words. “Nobody cares about road safety more than professional truck drivers,” said OOIDA President Todd Spencer. His point lands hard when you consider the risks of miscommunication on highways.

“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,” Spencer added. Let’s unpack that—when a rig is barreling down the interstate, a missed sign isn’t just a mistake; it’s a potential catastrophe. This isn’t about gatekeeping; it’s about survival for everyone sharing the road.

The progressive pushback on this often frames it as exclusionary, but that misses the mark. If a driver can’t converse with law enforcement or respond to official inquiries, as the regulation requires, how can they navigate emergencies? Safety standards aren’t about feelings; they’re about results.

Congress Draws a Line for Safety

Look at the voting breakdown in North Carolina’s delegation—12 in favor, including heavyweights like Republican Reps. Dr. Greg Murphy and Virginia Foxx, and Democrats like Reps. Don Davis and Deborah Ross. Only two, Democratic Rep. Valerie Foushee and Republican Rep. Mark Harris, dissented. That’s a rare bipartisan nod to a common-sense fix.

Yet, the road ahead isn’t guaranteed to be smooth with the Senate now in play. Will they uphold this push to codify Trump’s executive order, or will political posturing stall progress? The clock is ticking for a resolution that could redefine highway safety.

North Carolina’s predicament serves as a microcosm of a larger national issue—how do we balance regulatory oversight with practical enforcement? The potential $50 million funding loss isn’t just a number; it’s a warning shot that noncompliance carries a steep price.