Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday signed Senate Bill 242, legislation aimed at “improving safety on Alabama’s highways by ensuring commercial motor vehicle operators meet federal work authorization and communication standards,” according to a press release.
Surrounded by state troopers, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Secretary Hal Taylor, bill sponsors Senator Lance Bell, R-Alabama, and Representative Steve Clouse, R-Alabama, along with Alabama Trucking Association (ATA) President and CEO Mark Colson and board members, Ivey signed SB242 into law in her office.
The legislation requires commercial driver license (CDL) holders operating in Alabama who hold a foreign CDL to possess valid U.S. work authorization. It also requires all CDL holders to demonstrate English language proficiency and makes it a criminal offense to present a false foreign CDL during enforcement encounters.
“Alabama’s economy is booming, and our hardworking truckers play a vital role in keeping goods moving across our state and across this country. At the same time, Alabama families travel these same highways every single day, and they deserve to know the rules are being enforced,” Ivey said. “If you cannot read, write and speak English, you do not need to be driving a commercial vehicle on our roads.”
Bell, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure strengthens safeguards for Alabama motorists while supporting legitimate commercial drivers who follow the rules.
“The Highway Safety and Fairness Act is about protecting Alabama families and ensuring the integrity of our trucking industry,” Bell said. “By giving law enforcement additional tools to address fraudulent licenses, enforce existing federal standards and hold bad actors accountable, this legislation helps keep our highways safe while supporting the hardworking Alabama truckers who follow the rules every day. I commend my colleagues in the Legislature for supporting this bill and thank Governor Kay Ivey for signing this important measure into law.”
Clouse, who carried the legislation in the House, said the bill ensures accountability across Alabama’s transportation system.
“The passage of the Highway Safety and Fairness Act helps ensure fairness, accountability and safety across Alabama’s transportation system,” Clouse said. “By establishing clear requirements for commercial drivers and meaningful penalties for those who violate the law, the Legislature has taken decisive action to protect the traveling public. I am grateful to Governor Ivey for her leadership in signing this important bill into law.”
The legislation builds upon ongoing enforcement efforts conducted by ALEA’s Motor Carrier Safety Unit (MCSU), which conducts inspections and traffic stops involving commercial motor vehicles across the state.
Since October 27, 2025, the MCSU has referred more than 555 individuals to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for immigration status verification following commercial motor vehicle inspections and passenger vehicle stops. Of those referrals, 221 individuals were detained by ICE based on their immigration status.
In addition to the collaboration with ICE, MCSU troopers conduct English Language Proficiency (ELP) tests, which are federally mandated to ensure drivers can read highway signage, understand safety instructions and communicate with law enforcement during inspections or emergencies.
Last December, Ivey announced “significant results” from the coordinated efforts of ALEA and ICE to “crack down on illegal trucking operators.”
Since January 1, 2025, the MCSU has issued 548 English Language Proficiency violations to commercial drivers.
“Our law enforcement officers are already doing the good work to keep these unsafe drivers off Alabama’s highways,” Ivey added.
Taylor said the legislation supports ongoing enforcement efforts to remove unsafe and unqualified drivers from Alabama roadways.
“Under Governor Ivey’s leadership, Alabama continues taking meaningful steps to strengthen highway safety and hold commercial drivers to the highest standards,” Taylor said. “This legislation reinforces the work our Motor Carrier Safety Unit is already doing to ensure drivers operating large commercial vehicles on our roads are properly qualified, legally authorized to work and able to communicate during inspections and emergencies. The results of these efforts are already evident, as Alabama has seen a measurable decline in commercial motor vehicle fatalities and crashes. ALEA will continue working with our partners to remove unsafe and unqualified drivers from our highways and protect the traveling public.”
Colson highlighted the importance of equipping law enforcement with stronger tools to keep Alabama’s roadways safe.
“Alabama’s law enforcement agency is a national leader in highway safety and SB242 will give them additional tools to keep illegal operators off the road. This bill will save lives and help create a fair and level playing field in Alabama,” Colson said. “Most of the solutions to root out bad actors in trucking are being implemented uniformly at the federal level as outlined in a national action plan called Trucking Resurgence. This bill is an important state component that aligns with federal law and increases penalties for law breakers.”
SB242 takes effect October 1, 2026.
