An amendment added to Senate Bill 20 by State Rep. Jonathon Wilk (R-Goldsby) would ensure that truckers speak English. Wilk made the amendment last week to the bill, whose principal author is State Senator Kendal Sacchieri (R-Blanchard).
Known as the Oklahoma Secure Roads and Safe Trucking Act of 2025, the bill’s authors said the initiative aims to prioritize safety on Oklahoma’s roads while protecting American jobs. The bill was passed by the Commerce and Economic Development Oversight Committee.
“Prioritizing safety on our roads and protecting American jobs is essential,” Rep. Wilk said. “This common sense measure aligns with President Trump’s America First agenda by ensuring our truck drivers can read road signs, navigate agriculture check points, and communicate effectively with law enforcement.”
The measure stipulates that a non-domiciled commercial driver license or learner’s permit from any other state shall not be considered valid authorization to operate a commercial motor vehicle in Oklahoma and requires operaters to demonstrate sufficient proficiency in the English language. The amendment seeks to create a skilled workforce that meets the trucking industry’s demands while preserving opportunities for American workers, according to Wilk.
While the press release issued by Wilk states that the National Safety Council reports a 49% increase in fatal accidents involving large trucks over the past decade, underscoring the urgent need for improved safety measures, it did not state how many of the accidents were attributed to truckers who are not proficient in English.
