Trump Administration Targets English Rule for Mexican Train Crews

The Trump Administration is moving to ensure Mexican train crews operating inside the United States can speak and understand English, mirroring its tougher posture on English proficiency for commercial truck drivers, a step USDOT says is aimed at reducing safety risks and improving communication with inspectors, dispatchers, and first responders.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is tightening oversight of cross-border rail operations after inspectors found inbound crews struggling to interpret safety bulletins and communicate requirements in English during routine inspections of Union Pacific (UP) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) operations.

According to the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), FRA inspectors observed instances in fall oversight activities where inbound crew members appeared to have difficulty understanding General Track Bulletins and responding in English to inspectors’ safety questions, issues the agency framed as immediate operational risks for freight trains entering the United States.

Duffy says the new push is “common sense,” arguing that crews operating heavy equipment must be able to understand rules and communicate with safety officials. David Fink, Administrator, FRA, echoes the safety rationale, emphasizing that dispatchers and first responders must be able to communicate with train crews, “especially during times of emergency.”

What FRA is Changing

USDOT says FRA sent letters to UP and CPKC laying out “concerning findings” and clarifying the FRA’s approval of each railroad’s locomotive engineer and conductor certification programs under federal rules.

The most immediate operational constraint is geographic: crews from Mexico may not operate more than 10mi (16km) into the United States from their point of entry.

The letters also underscore that:

• Uncertified crews must stop at the nearest crew exchange points established by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a requirement USDOT summarized as stopping at the customs inspection point

• Interpreters are treated as performing a safety-critical function and must also be certified under the relevant safety framework

In its letter to UP, FRA said it initiated a focused inspection after learning UP had begun operations involving Ferromex (FXE) crews traveling a short distance into the United States, including in Eagle Pass, Texas.

In its letter to CPKC, FRA said it conducted a multi-disciplinary focused inspection of cross-border freight operations, including CPKC operations at Laredo, Texas, and recorded “numerous instances” where crews had difficulty interpreting bulletins written in English and answering inspectors’ questions in English.

USDOT ties the enforcement posture to 49 CFR Parts 240 and 242, the federal rules governing certification of locomotive engineers and conductors. The agency argues that because US operating rules, dispatcher communications, bulletins, and mandatory directives for US operations are in English, English comprehension becomes “inherent” to safe performance and to certification.

The UP letter also points to hazardous materials documentation and emergency response information requirements that are required to be in English, which FRA said heightens the risk of language barriers during incidents requiring rapid coordination.

USDOT’s announcement included a clear enforcement signal: if crews operate in the US without a sufficient understanding of English to perform duties safely, the administration could pursue enforcement action.

Duffy reinforces the message on social media, writing: “This is common sense!” and arguing English proficiency is a “basic requirement” for operators of trucks or trains to understand rules and communicate with safety officials.

Railroads and Labor React

In public statements, the railroads emphasized safety and continuity of cross-border freight flows. Union Pacific, tells the Associated Press: “We have the same goals, a safe, secure border that keeps the supply chain fluid,” adding that “good communication” is part of safe operations. CPKC says it complies with applicable requirements and stated that its international crews “do not travel more than 10mi into the United States.”

Labor union The Teamsters welcomed the move, saying that the USDOT took “decisive action” to restrict cross-border railroad operations from Mexico. It applauded the administration and Duffy alongside the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), framing the change as both a safety step and a protection for union railroad jobs in border communities.

The rail action lands in a broader policy context: in March 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States. On April 28, 2025, Trump signed a separate executive order: “Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers,” directing stricter enforcement of long-standing English proficiency rules for commercial motor vehicle drivers and framing English as a “non-negotiable safety requirement,” MBN reports.