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English check · ELP

How the check works

  1. 1

    Interview in English

    Where you're coming from, what you're hauling, show your documents. The questions come from the official list: 12 general and 2 about hazmat. Nearly 9 in 10 out-of-service orders come from the interview (sources).

  2. 2

    Road signs

    The inspector shows you 4 signs from a chart of 24 and asks you to explain them in English. You need at least 3.

They talk fast, and there's no text

This is how a normal question sounds live.

0:03fast

what they'll ask

Listen to the inspector's questions

Tap ▶. Didn't catch it? Open the text and the answer.

where you're coming from

0:02where you're coming from
Text and answerWhere are you coming from?

He means: where did this trip start? Say: I'm coming from Dallas, Texas.

what you're hauling

0:02what you're hauling
Text and answerWhat are you hauling today?

He wants to know your load. Say: I'm hauling frozen food.

documents

0:04documents
Text and answerCan I see your license, medical card, and registration?

Hand over your license, medical card, and registration. Say: Sure. Here you go.

logbook

0:03logbook
Text and answerWhen did you take your last ten-hour break?

He's checking your hours of service. Say: Last night, from 9 PM to 7 AM.

weight

0:02weight
Text and answerHow much does your load weigh?

He wants the weight of your load. Say: About forty thousand pounds.

pre-trip

0:03pre-trip
Text and answerDid you do your pre-trip inspection this morning?

He's asking about your pre-trip inspection. Say: Yes, I did it at 6 AM.

What's allowed and what's not

Allowed

Asking the officer to repeat or to speak slower — in English: Sorry, can you repeat that? Your accent doesn't matter. What matters is understanding and giving an answer that fits.

Not allowed

Interpreters, cue cards, apps, and your phone. The phone goes aside, the earpiece comes out. Your co-driver can't help you.

signs

You'll be shown 4 of these 24

Every sign on the chart has words on it. You need to explain at least 3 of the 4.

  1. 1SPEED LIMIT 50 — Speed limit: 50 miles per hour maximum.
  2. 2ONE WAY — One-way traffic: everyone drives only in the direction of the arrow.
  3. 345 MPH SPEED ZONE AHEAD — An orange sign means a work zone. A 45 mph limit is ahead: slow down early.
  4. 420 MPH SPEED ZONE AHEAD — A 20 mph zone is ahead. Brake early so you enter the zone at 20.
  5. 5RUNAWAY TRUCK RAMP — In 1 mile, an emergency ramp for a truck that loses its brakes on a downgrade.
  6. 6BE PREPARED TO STOP — Be ready to stop: traffic, a signal, or road work ahead. Slow down and keep your distance.
  7. 7RIGHT LANE ENDS — The right lane ends. Move left early and use your turn signal.
  8. 8KEEP RIGHT — Keep right: pass the island or divider on the right.
  9. 9TRUCKS OVER 10 TONS MUST ENTER WEIGH STATION NEXT RIGHT — Trucks over 10 tons must pull into the weigh station — it's the next exit on the right.
  10. 10TRUCKS 40 — Truck speed limit: trucks 40 miles per hour maximum (cars may be allowed more).
  11. 11WEIGHT LIMIT 10 TONS — Weight limit: vehicles over 10 tons can't go any further (often posted before a bridge).
  12. 12WRONG WAY — You're driving against traffic! Stop safely and turn around.
  13. 13ROAD WORK NEXT 5 MILES — Road work for the next 5 miles: slow down, watch for workers and signs.
  14. 14DO NOT PASS — No passing.
  15. 15NO PARKING — No parking.
  16. 16SLOW VEHICLES MUST USE TURN-OUT AHEAD — Slow vehicles (on a grade, that's often a truck) must pull into the turn-out ahead and let traffic pass.
  17. 17RIGHT LANE MUST TURN RIGHT — The right lane is for right turns only. Going straight? Get out of it early.
  18. 18VEHICLES OVER 5 TONS 45 — Vehicles over 5 tons (so your truck too): 45 miles per hour maximum. A US ton is 2,000 pounds.
  19. 19NO COMMERCIAL VEHICLES — Commercial vehicles, trucks included, can't go here. Find another route.
  20. 20ROAD CLOSED TO THRU TRAFFIC — Closed to through traffic: only those who need to get to this road (local traffic, deliveries) can go on.
  21. 21RIGHT LANE MUST EXIT — The right lane turns into an exit. Don't need the exit? Move left early.
  22. 22SLOW TRAFFIC AHEAD / BE PREPARED TO STOP (message board) — Electronic sign: slow traffic ahead, be ready to stop.
  23. 23TURN ON LIGHTS (message board) — Electronic sign: turn on your headlights (fog, tunnel, rain, road work).
  24. 24MAX SPEED 35 MPH (message board) — Electronic sign: the speed limit right now is 35 miles per hour.

if you don't pass

Placed out of service on the spot

  • The truck sits until another driver arrives. FMCSA estimates 2 days of downtime on average.
  • A record for 3 years in your inspection history (PSP): your next employer will see it.
  • California: after an out-of-service order, the DMV calls you in for a test — 15 questions and 4 signs. Fail it twice and you can lose your CDL.

Do the math on 2 days of downtime

$2 400

Lost earnings over 2 days. An example, not a promise: plug in your own numbers.

Test yourself — 2 minutes

Sources: FMCSA, inspector guidance, 05/20/2025; appendix to the 2025 FMCSA policy; FMCSA, MC-SEE-2026-0002, 04/16/2026; Oregon DOT sign chart, May 2026; FMCSA, proposed rule, 08/10/2026; FMCSA SMS/PSP; California DMV, 09/14/2026; our analysis of FMCSA open data, June 2025 – August 2026. Checked 10/12/2026.

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