Tennessee Pulls 800 Truck Drivers Off the Road Over English Rules as New Federal Rule Moves Forward

NASHVILLE, TN, October 05, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Tennessee Highway Patrol has removed 800 commercial drivers from service for English-language proficiency violations, according to an August 5 release from the Tennessee Trucking Association. The figures come as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration accepts public comments through Oct. 9 on a proposal that would put drivers who fail the requirement out of service immediately.

Patterson Bray PLLC advises people hurt in commercial vehicle crashes to ask about the at-fault driver's inspection history early in a claim. Their truck accident lawyer in Nashville, TN can request those records before they become harder to get.

From June 25, 2025, through March 19, 2026, roadside inspectors nationwide issued 60,399 English proficiency violations, and 19,045 of them led to out-of-service orders, according to the proposed rule.

How Driver Records Factor Into a Crash Claim

Under 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2), a commercial driver must read and speak English well enough to understand highway signs, respond to officials, and complete required reports. After a truck crash, records tied to that rule and others are typically reviewed in this order:

1. The driver qualification file, which federal rules require a carrier to keep for every driver it employs.
2. Roadside inspection reports and any out-of-service orders issued to the driver or truck.
3. Whether the carrier put the driver back on the road before the order was resolved.
4. Hiring and supervision records that may support a negligent hiring or negligent entrustment claim against the company.
5. Electronic logging device data, dashcam footage, and the truck's event data recorder.

Why Timing Matters When Filing

Tennessee generally allows one year from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104. Trucking companies and their insurers often start investigating within hours, and some electronic data can be overwritten unless someone asks for it to be preserved.

"A crash report shows what happened in a few seconds on the interstate, but the carrier's own records often show why," said Chris Patterson, managing partner of Patterson Bray. "If a company knew a driver had been pulled off the road and sent him back out anyway, that's something a jury needs to hear about."

About Patterson Bray PLLC:

Patterson Bray PLLC represents individuals and families across Tennessee and Mississippi in personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and products liability cases. The firm also handles business litigation, estate planning, and family law matters. Managing Partner Chris Patterson earned his J.D. from the University of Memphis School of Law and is a member of the National Crime Victim Bar Association. Governor Bill Lee appointed him to the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees. The firm has offices in Memphis and Nashville and offers free consultations for personal injury matters, which can be scheduled online.

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