WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 19, 2025 – U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy announced today that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has launched a federal investigation into the Florida truck crash that killed three people earlier this month. The probe will focus on the driver and his employer, White Hawk Carriers, Inc., after preliminary findings revealed major violations of federal safety rules.
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Driver Failed English Test, States Faulted
During interviews with investigators, the truck driver failed the required English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessment—answering only 2 of 12 verbal questions correctly and identifying just 1 of 4 traffic signs. Federal law requires commercial drivers to understand English well enough to safely operate a vehicle and respond to official inquiries.
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Preliminary findings also revealed failures at the state level:
Washington State issued the driver a regular full-term CDL in July 2023, despite asylum seekers and individuals without legal status being ineligible for that type of license. California granted a limited-term, non-domiciled CDL in July 2024, which is now under federal review. New Mexico State Police cited the driver for speeding during a roadside inspection on July 3, 2025, but failed to administer the required ELP test—even though federal enforcement of the rule began June 25.
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Duffy: “A Preventable Tragedy”
“If states had followed the rules, this driver would never have been behind the wheel and three precious lives would still be with us,” Secretary Duffy said. “This crash was a preventable tragedy directly caused by reckless decisions and compounded by despicable failures. Non-enforcement and radical immigration policies have turned the trucking industry into a lawless frontier.”
Duffy vowed that the Trump administration would “use every tool at our disposal” to hold states and bad actors accountable, pledging support for Florida’s ongoing criminal investigation into the crash.
Compliance Probe Already Underway
FMCSA investigators began an on-site compliance investigation at White Hawk Carriers’ California headquarters on August 14. They have since reviewed driver qualification files, obtained in-cab and forward-facing crash video, and interviewed company personnel.
The findings will be turned over to Florida prosecutors as part of the state’s criminal case.
Broader Crackdown on Trucking Safety
Since taking office, Secretary Duffy has made trucking safety a top priority, highlighting foreign drivers obtaining licenses through loopholes in state systems. Earlier this year, he announced:
New enforcement guidance for English proficiency standards.
A nationwide audit into how states issue non-domiciled CDLs.
Regulatory reforms and pilot programs aimed at supporting American truckers while strengthening safety.
“The families of the deceased deserve justice,” Duffy said. “President Trump and I will restore safety to our roads.”
