Despite talks of a slowdown in the domestic shipping industry, shippers could see the ELP mandate benefiting trucking. The Trump Administration implemented the ELP (English Language Proficiency) mandate in June 2025, requiring US truckers to understand English sufficiently. Not meeting specific standards will now result in an out-of-service violation for truck drivers. Trump’s goal behind the mandate is to promote road safety, with him seeing English as a non-negotiable in trucking. Not only is English essential for understanding traffic signs, it is necessary for conversing with safety officers and border patrol. While many believe the ELP will contribute to an industry slowdown, others think it would be beneficial.
Why Is The ELP Mandate Benefiting Trucking?
Many in the industry believe that the ELP mandate will slow trucking because many drivers do not meet the standards. Approximately 10% of US drivers do not meet ELP standards, meaning they could face termination. As a result, this could reduce capacity by limiting driver availability and tightening the market, leading to higher rates. Others believe the ELP will have the opposite effect and improve the industry due to overcapacity. Over the last few years, an overabundance of carriers and low demand have led to a recession. While the industry has recovered since the peak, it has not yet fully recovered.
The belief is that implementing the ELP could result in the cutting of thousands of drivers. Nearly one in four truck drivers in the US is an immigrant, and many are non-native English speakers. Driver loss may not only come from the ELP but also from other immigration policies. Other restrictions include stricter border enforcement and greater non-domiciled CDL scrutiny. This would squeeze capacity and boost rates, further pulling the industry out of recession. Shippers could begin locking in higher contracts to guarantee capacity as available drivers decline in the fourth quarter. Risks from the capacity crunch can include higher compliance costs and potential inflation from the higher rates.
How Would “One Big Beautiful Act” Impact Trucking?
President Trump recently released the “One Big Beautiful Act,” which could further escalate the impact of ELP. Along with exempting the trucking industry from overtime pay requirements, this law will crack down on non-citizen labor. It will also provide millions to government agencies like ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to support immigration enforcement. This would impact thousands of immigrant drivers and grow driver shortages in port-heavy and long-haul locations. The law would also decrease the number of drivers by terminating parole programs, which are a source of drivers.
Regardless of whether the state of the domestic shipping industry is up or down, it should not stop cargo movement. However, the shipper should take the proper steps to ensure the shipment’s success. Speaking to a freight broker before starting is ideal. Brokers are the intermediaries between shippers and carriers and coordinate cargo movement domestically. They do this by connecting to a network of dedicated carriers that offer a range of solutions for your cargo. Brokers also offer services like finding ideal rates, providing documentation, ensuring regulatory compliance, etc. They also offer consultation to find the best course of action to transport your shipment. Reach our brokers at 786-375-9420 or info@a1fsinc.com to begin moving your goods anywhere in the US.