Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers and Conductors; English Language Proficiency and Other Requirements

Document 2026-15605 is a Proposed Rule published by the Department of Transportation in the Federal Register on July 31, 2026. FRA proposes to amend its regulations governing the qualification and certification of locomotive engineers and conductors to establish English language proficiency as a requirement for a railroad carrier to certify and recertify locomotive engineers and conductors. FRA also proposes that each railroad carrier conducting a triennial examination of skill performance, and an annual operational monitoring observation for locomotive engineers, which are current requirements, conduct those examinations and observations without engaging energy management systems that limit the need for a locomotive engineer to operate the throttle or braking systems. Further, FRA proposes to codify limitations on operations at the southern border, including a 10 route-mile geographic limitation, to ensure domestic training, testing, and certification requirements for Mexican crew members are adequate. In addition, FRA proposes changes to clarify that a locomotive engineer or conductor's territorial qualification is limited to the specific direction of travel traversed during the qualification process. View the original at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/31/2026-15605/qualification-and-certification-of-locomotive-engineers-and-conductors-english-language-proficiency.

No. Document 2026-15605 is not classified as economically significant under Executive Order 12866. Economically significant rules require OIRA review and are estimated to have impacts of $100 million or more per year.