TEN 01-26 is the federal source behind California’s current CDL training notice. Its practical message is straightforward: public workforce programs should consider the English-language qualification for commercial drivers before investing in CDL training and help participants address a gap rather than discovering it after the training dollars are spent.
Source + trust record
Source checked as of September 18, 2026. Primary authority: USDOL TEN 01-26 and EDD WSIN26-06.
Check result: TEN 01-26 remains active and clarifies English-language proficiency requirements relevant to publicly funded CDL training. The governing rule requires sufficient English to communicate with the public, understand signs and signals, respond to official inquiries, and make required entries. The guidance does not create a categorical local English cutoff beyond the governing licensing and program rules. This AI-assisted brief does not receive human legal or compliance review. Official sources control.
WDB decision strip
| Status | Action | Primary owner | Timing | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACTIVE FEDERAL GUIDANCE | ALIGN CDL TRAINING PRACTICE | Training + Program / ETPL Leadership | For current and new CDL referrals | CDL training · English proficiency · WIOA investment · Career planning |
The bottom line
The workforce system should screen the occupational qualification early and solve the readiness gap when it can.
Under 49 CFR § 391.11(b)(2), a commercial driver must be able to read and speak English sufficiently to converse with the public, understand highway signs and signals, respond to official inquiries, and make required entries on reports and records. DOL does not say English learners should be excluded from WIOA. It tells programs funding CDL training to consider whether the participant has a realistic path to meeting the occupation’s licensing and employment requirements.
The four occupational language functions
| Function | Commercial-driver requirement |
|---|---|
| Communicate | Read and speak English sufficiently to converse with the general public. |
| Read the road | Understand highway traffic signs and signals in English. |
| Respond to officials | Understand and answer official inquiries. |
| Complete records | Make required entries on reports and records. |
A five-step investment screen
| Step | Question | Practical response |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Career fit | Is CDL work a realistic employment goal for this participant? | Continue only if work conditions, demand, and the customer’s goals align. |
| 2. Licensing barriers | Are there known federal or state barriers to licensure? | Identify them before committing training funds. |
| 3. English readiness | Can the participant perform the four required functions now? | If not yet, identify the specific gap. |
| 4. Preparation path | Can the gap be addressed through adult education, contextualized English, IET, or a sequenced pathway? | Coordinate the preparation instead of assuming occupational training will solve it. |
| 5. Funding decision | Is there a documented path from training to license to employment? | Commit funds when the sequence is feasible and consistent with WIOA rules. |
What the guidance is not
- It is not a new WIOA eligibility rule for English learners.
- It does not create a universal English test score for workforce programs.
- It does not say language support and CDL training must be completely separate.
- It does not replace current FMCSA or state licensing requirements.
Operational considerations for WDBs
- Review CDL training policy, ITA checklists, and provider guidance against TEN 01-26.
- Make licensing feasibility an explicit assessment step before approving training.
- Define how staff assess functional English without creating an unsupported local cutoff.
- Build referral relationships with adult education, English-language, and IET providers.
- Ask CDL providers how they identify and support participants who may struggle with the language demands of licensure and commercial driving.
- Document why the chosen service sequence is a reasonable public investment.
Watch out
- Do not pay for CDL training first and ask about licensing barriers later.
- Do not create a categorical local English cutoff not required by the governing rules.
- Do not assume training completion proves the participant can satisfy commercial-driver qualifications.
- Do not treat language instruction and occupational training as mutually exclusive when integrated or sequenced options may exist.
Source authority
USDOL TEN 01-26 — Public Workforce Training for Acquisition of a Commercial Driver’s License
EDD WSIN26-06 — Workforce Training to Obtain a Commercial Driver’s License
Status: DOL lists TEN 01-26 as active. The decision screen above is a WPU implementation aid, not a new federal eligibility rule. Current FMCSA and California DMV requirements control licensing. Sources checked September 16, 2026.
Response
[…] Federal companion brief: TEN 01-26 — Public Workforce Training for Acquisition of a Commercial Driver’s License […]