The Trump administration has taken direct action, demanding that two major North American railroads guarantee their Mexican train crews possess proficient English language skills when operating on US soil. This move follows federal inspections which uncovered significant safety communication failures.
Safety Inspections Reveal Critical Communication Gaps
Recent targeted inspections, ordered by the administration, revealed a troubling pattern. At rail yards in Texas operated by Union Pacific and CPKC, a number of Mexican crews who had just brought trains across the border struggled to comprehend vital safety information delivered in English. These crews routinely haul trains from Mexico to US rail yards before American engineers and conductors take over.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has now sent formal letters to both rail companies. The letters urge them to re-examine their procedures to ensure Mexican crews are not only proficient in English but also adhere to the rule limiting their operation of trains to no more than 10 miles (16 kilometres) inside the United States.
"An Unacceptable Safety Risk": Administration Takes a Hard Line
This policy forms part of a broader crackdown by the Trump administration on transport workers who lack English skills. The parallel campaign targeting truck drivers aims to ensure all crews can communicate effectively in emergencies and understand crucial instructions.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy left no room for ambiguity on the administration's stance. "Whether you’re operating an 80-ton big rig or a massive freight train, you need to be proficient in our national language — English," Duffy stated. "If you aren’t, you create an unacceptable safety risk."
The Department of Transportation has already demonstrated its willingness to enforce this view, having withheld $40 million from California for not enforcing English proficiency requirements for commercial drivers. Duffy has threatened sanctions against several other states for improperly issuing licences to immigrants residing in the country illegally, a concern amplified by several deadly crashes involving semi-trucks driven by such individuals.
Railroads and Unions Respond to the Federal Mandate
FRA Administrator David Fink warned both railroads they could face enforcement action if inspectors find further instances of non-English proficient crews operating in the US. Specific problems were identified at Union Pacific’s Eagle Pass rail yard and CPKC’s facility in Laredo. While Union Pacific had a translator available, Fink expressed concern that this support might be withdrawn and questioned how well crews understood operating rules and mandatory brake tests.
At CPKC, inspectors found multiple cases where crews had difficulty understanding operating bulletins and US regulations—particularly those requiring hazardous materials and emergency response information to be maintained in English.
Rail unions have welcomed the administration's intervention. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the SMART-TD union, which represents conductors, have long expressed safety, security, and job concerns regarding the use of foreign crews. BLET National President Mark Wallace commended the administration for "standing up for border security, public safety and American jobs." He emphasised, "It’s critical that locomotive engineers are able to speak to dispatchers and first responders in English when trains are moving on U.S. soil."
In their defence, both railroads have stated their commitment to safety and compliance. Union Pacific spokesperson Kristen South said, "We have the same goals — a safe, secure border that keeps the supply chain fluid. Part of ensuring safe operations is good communication." CPKC spokesperson Patrick Waldron affirmed that his company, which runs a continuous network across Canada, the US, and Mexico, ensures international crews do not travel more than the permitted 10 miles into the US, stating, "Safety is foundational to everything we do."
