English Proficiency and Comprehension
All instruction at 1 on 1 Truck Academy is delivered in English. Federal law requires a commercial driver to read and understand English, and this page explains the standard we apply, how we assess it, and what happens if an applicant does not meet it.
Why this requirement exists
A commercial motor vehicle driver must be able to read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records. That is the federal driver qualification standard, and it applies to every person who operates a commercial vehicle in the United States.
Since June 2025, a driver who cannot meet that standard can be placed out of service at a roadside inspection. In February 2026 the requirement was written into federal law by Congress.
There is a second reason, and it is the one that matters most inside our building. Classroom instruction, behind-the-wheel correction, and safety direction are all given out loud, in English, in a moving truck. A student who cannot follow spoken instruction cannot be taught safely. We would rather find that out before someone pays tuition than after.
Applies to everyone. Every applicant meets this requirement the same way, using the same assessment, scored against the same standard. It is not applied selectively, and national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, accent, citizenship or immigration status, primary language, and funding source play no part in it.
How an applicant meets the requirement
There are two routes. An applicant either takes our assessment, or provides documentation that already demonstrates the standard.
Route 1 — The institution's assessment
Administered on campus by an institution proctor before enrollment. It has three parts and takes approximately 45 minutes.
| Part | What it measures |
|---|---|
| Part 1 Listening comprehension | Ten items played from a recording, one time each. The applicant follows spoken directions, repeats back instructions, responds to spoken corrections, and answers questions about details such as times and numbers. |
| Part 2 Highway sign recognition | Twelve printed signs. The applicant states what each sign means and what action a driver must take. Signs are taken from the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and the California Commercial Driver Handbook. |
| Part 3 Reading and written response | The applicant reads a short passage aloud, answers written questions about it, explains its meaning in their own words, and completes a short written report. |
An applicant must pass all three parts. No part of the assessment requires prior driving experience or knowledge of the trucking industry, and no item uses vocabulary an applicant has not been taught. Interpreters, translators, bilingual assistance, dictionaries, and electronic translation are not permitted at any point during the assessment.
Route 2 — Accepted documentation
An applicant who provides any one of the following is not required to take the assessment. Documentation is verified and kept in the student's admission record.
- A CASAS Listening STEPS score at National Reporting System Level 5, High Intermediate ESL, or above, administered within the preceding 24 months by a certified test administrator.
- A high school diploma from a school in the United States where English was the language of instruction, evidenced by diploma or transcript.
- Completion of 12 or more semester units of postsecondary coursework delivered in English at an institution in the United States, evidenced by transcript.
- A currently valid Commercial Driver License issued by any United States jurisdiction.
What happens step by step
- Ask about it when you call. Tell us if you already hold any of the documents listed above. If you do, bring it and you will not need to test.
- Take the assessment on campus. It is scheduled with your enrollment appointment, at no charge, before you sign anything and before you pay anything.
- Get your result the same day. The proctor scores as you go and the Chief Academic Officer reviews it.
- If you pass, you enroll. The record goes in your student file and nothing further is required.
- If you do not pass, you may retest once, no sooner than seven calendar days later. If you do not pass the retest, you are not eligible to enroll at that time and you may reapply in the future. We will give you the referral list below.
Accommodations for applicants with disabilities
An applicant with a disability who needs an accommodation to complete the assessment may request one from the Chief Academic Officer before the assessment is scheduled. An accommodation may change how the assessment is delivered. It does not change the standard, and it does not authorize interpretation or translation. An applicant who is deaf or hard of hearing and who holds a valid FMCSA hearing exemption should contact the Chief Academic Officer directly.
Language assistance
1 on 1 Truck Academy does not offer English as a Second Language instruction and does not teach in any language other than English. We do provide meaningful access to vital program information for individuals with Limited English Proficiency, on request and at no cost. That may include oral interpretation by a qualified interpreter or written translation of important documents, for administrative purposes such as enrollment procedures, institutional policies, the grievance process, and student rights. You will never be asked to bring your own interpreter. Core training, CDL test preparation, program assessments, and this admission assessment are conducted in English.
A note about the DMV examinations
Federal law does not permit the use of an interpreter on the Commercial Driver License knowledge test or the skills test administered by the State. Those examinations must be taken in English, without assistance, regardless of which school a person trains at. Anyone considering a CDL should understand this before enrolling anywhere.
Free and low-cost English classes near West Sacramento
If you did not meet the standard, or you want to strengthen your English before applying, these programs serve our area. Several of them are state funded and test their students with CASAS, which means a score from them may qualify you under Route 2 above.
| Provider | Location and contact | Program |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Adult School Washington Unified School District | Yolo Education Center, 919 Westacre Road, West Sacramento, CA 95691 (916) 375-7740 | Adult English language learning, beginning through advanced. Free. |
| Yolo County Library Yolo Reads / ESL Services | Branches countywide including West Sacramento (530) 666-8081 · yolocountylibrary.org | Beginning ESL classes and free one-to-one adult literacy and English tutoring. Free; materials included. |
| Woodland Community College | 2300 East Gibson Road, Woodland, CA 95776 (530) 668-3682 | ESOL, credit and non-credit. Non-credit enrollment fee applies. |
| Davis Adult & Community School | 315 West 14th Street, Davis, CA 95616 (530) 757-5380 | Adult ESL, beginning through advanced. Free. |
| Sacramento City Unified Charles A. Jones Career and Education Center | 5451 Lemon Hill Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95824 (916) 433-2600 | Adult ESL and citizenship preparation. Free or low cost. |
| Elk Grove Adult and Community Education | 8401 Gerber Road, Sacramento, CA 95828 (916) 686-7717 | Adult ESL, multiple levels. Free. |
| Capital Adult Education Regional Consortium | capitaladulted.org | Regional directory of adult education and ESL classes across the greater Sacramento area. |
| 2-1-1 Yolo County | Dial 211 · 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with assistance in other languages | Free referral line for English classes and other community services. |
The organizations listed above are independent third parties. 1 on 1 Truck Academy is not affiliated with, does not operate, does not sponsor, and does not endorse any of them, receives no compensation or referral fee of any kind in connection with them, and has no financial or business relationship with any of them. This list is provided for general information only. The institution does not evaluate, verify, or take responsibility for the quality, availability, cost, or outcome of any program listed, and none of these programs is part of, or a prerequisite administered by, any program offered by this institution. Details change; contact each provider directly.
Filing a complaint
Any applicant who believes they have been treated unfairly under this policy may raise it with the Chief Academic Officer, who serves as the institution's Equal Opportunity Officer, at (916) 380-1218 or office@1on1truckacademy.com. A complaint does not have to be in writing, may be submitted in the applicant's preferred language, and will not result in retaliation. Language assistance for the complaint process is provided on request at no cost.
A student or any member of the public may also file a complaint about this institution with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education by calling (888) 370-7589 or by completing a complaint form, which can be obtained on the bureau's internet website www.bppe.ca.gov. An applicant is not required to raise a complaint with the institution first.
Where this is written down
This page summarizes institutional policy. The governing text appears in Section 11, Admissions Policies, and Section 12, Language Proficiency and Services, of the School Catalog, and in the enrollment agreement each student signs before training begins.
Authority: 49 CFR § 391.11(b)(2), driver qualification and English proficiency. 49 CFR § 383.133(b)(3) and (c)(5), no interpreter on the State knowledge or skills test. 5 CCR § 71810(b)(4)(A) and (B), language proficiency information and English language services. 5 CCR § 71770, admissions standards. 29 CFR Part 38, equal opportunity and language access. 28 CFR § 36.309, examinations and accommodations.