Understanding what inspectors look for during roadside inspections and how TruckTalk prepares your drivers to pass.
“Every commercial motor vehicle driver must be able to read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, understand highway traffic signs and signals, respond to official inquiries, and make entries on reports and records.”
Inspector asks questions about your documents, hours, route, cargo, and vehicle to assess conversational English ability.
Inspector shows highway signs and asks you to read them and explain what action you would take.
Emergency procedures for real-world situations and a comprehensive 108-question certification exam requiring 90% to pass.
Inspection Coverage
CVSA conducts three levels of roadside inspections. English proficiency can be assessed during any of them. TruckTalk covers every scenario a driver will face.
The most comprehensive — covers the driver AND the vehicle. Includes the complete 37-step procedure.
Driver interview plus a walk-around of the vehicle — no crawling under. Same driver-facing questions as Level I.
Focused entirely on the driver — no vehicle inspection. All about credentials, qualifications, and English proficiency.
Our 15-module curriculum is designed specifically around the DOT two-step assessment process.
Modules 1-8 prepare drivers for conversational assessment
Greetings & Golden Phrases
License, Medical Card, Registration
CDL Class, Endorsements, Restrictions
ELD, Hours Driven, Hours Remaining
Origin, Destination, ETA
What, How Much, How Secured
Engine, Brakes, Lights, Tires, Coupling, Pre-Trip
Violations, Out-of-Service, Warnings, Signing the Report
Modules 9-13 cover all highway sign categories
Stop, Yield, Speed Limit, No Entry
Curves, Grades, Crossings
Routes, Exits, Distances
Construction, Detours, Lane Closures
Electronic Highway Signs
Modules 14-15 cover emergencies and the certification exam
Breakdowns, Accidents, Medical Issues, Road Hazards, Weather
108-Question Inspection Simulation from Greeting to Sign-Off
Training Methods
Ten drill types build skills progressively. Six exam types prove they stuck. Every question features the Inspector Bubble UI with professional ElevenLabs audio — it feels like practicing with a real officer.
Officer asks a question — driver picks the correct English response from four options. The core drill type that appears in every module.
Multiple Choice
Screenshot coming soonGeneric training treats every driver the same. TruckTalk doesn't. Our SM-2 spaced repetition engine tracks per-question performance across every module, automatically resurfacing weak areas at increasing intervals until they stick. Progress saves after every question — even offline — and syncs to the cloud when drivers reconnect.
Fleet managers see color-coded performance dashboards with fleet-wide weak spots, drivers needing attention, and exam readiness — so you know exactly where to focus before inspection day.
A continuous simulation of a complete CVSA Level 1 inspection — not random multiple choice, but a chronological walk-through from the officer's first greeting through signing the inspection report. Sign recognition is woven in naturally where signs would appear during a real roadside stop. 90% to pass.
Upon passing, drivers earn the TruckTalk ELP Certificate — documented evidence of English proficiency training under 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2). This matters during audits, new-hire onboarding, and insurance underwriting.
May 12–14, 2026 — a 72-hour inspection blitz across North America. Every Level I inspection includes the 37-step driver examination, which now includes ELP assessment. This is the first major Roadcheck since ELP enforcement went into full swing.
Focus: ELD tampering + cargo securement
State-by-State Tracker
States are passing their own English proficiency laws on top of federal requirements. At the federal level, Dalilah's Law cleared the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee on March 18, 2026 and awaits a House floor vote, and FMCSA has proposed writing English proficiency into its out-of-service rules.
| State | Bill | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | SB 242 | Signed Effective Oct 1, 2026 · doubles for repeat violations · impound |
| Indiana | HB 1200 | Signed Mar 12, 2026 |
| Iowa | SF 2426 | Signed May 3, 2026 · carriers can be ordered to cease operations |
| South Dakota | SB 164 | Signed Dalilah's Law · Mar 10, 2026 |
| Wyoming | HB 32 | Signed Mar 5, 2026 · second offense is a misdemeanor |
| Utah | HB 118 | Signed Mar 26, 2026 · CDL applicants attest to English proficiency |
Cleared the House T&I Committee March 18, 2026; awaiting a House floor vote. Would require English proficiency for all CDL holders nationwide, with OOS orders for roadside ELP failures, and restrict foreign-based dispatchers and brokers. Named for 5-year-old Dalilah Coleman.
Signed April 28, 2025 (Executive Order 14286). Since June 25, 2025, drivers who fail roadside English checks are placed out of service.
Congress required this rule in the February 3, 2026 spending bill. Proposed Aug 10, 2026, it would write English proficiency into FMCSA's rules as an out-of-service violation, matching roadside practice, except on trips inside U.S.–Mexico border commercial zones. Public comments close Oct 9, 2026.
Last updated September 2026. State bill data sourced from public legislative records.
Whether your state has passed a bill or not, federal enforcement is already active. Don't wait.
Start training your fleet todayOne violation costs more than a full year of TruckTalk for your entire fleet.