In April, Trump appointed Sonderling as acting Secretary of Labor, promoting him from deputy secretary. (Al Drago/Bloomberg)
key takeaways:
- President Donald Trump nominated acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling on June 29, receiving an endorsement from the American Trucking Association.
- ATA said Sonderling’s labor policy approach makes sense for the more than 350,000 truckers who work as independent contractors.
- ATA urges the Senate to confirm Sonderling as DOL continues to take action on independent contractor rules and English language proficiency requirements.
The American Trucking Associations is urging the Senate to quickly confirm Keith Sonderling as Secretary of Labor after President Donald Trump announced his nomination.
“ATA strongly supports the nomination of Keith Sonderling to serve as Secretary of Labor,” the ATA president said. Chris Spear said. “He has the experience, policy expertise and proven leadership needed to guide the Department of Labor at a critical moment for America’s workforce.”
His statement came hours after Trump revealed the nomination on social media on June 29. Sonderling is the acting DOL Secretary.
Trump said Sonderling previously served as DOL Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer in the president’s first term and also served as Acting and Deputy Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division.
“Throughout his career, Keith has proven his dedication to delivering strong results for the hard-working people of our country, and I know he will do an incredible job in his new role,” Trump said.
In April, Trump named sonderling After being confirmed by the Senate in March 2025, she was appointed to serve as Acting Secretary of Labor, promoted from Deputy Secretary, a role she held under the administration.
The trucking industry continues to support Sonderling. Speier said Sonderling understands the practical realities facing workers and employers and has demonstrated leadership by beginning to reinstate the Trump administration’s independent contractor rule, first rooted in decades of case law.
“This action is necessary to protect the livelihoods of the more than 350,000 truck drivers who choose to work as independent contractors because of the freedom, flexibility, and economic opportunity this model provides. Independent truck drivers are small business owners who help keep America’s supply chain running, and they deserve a federal labor policy that protects their right to earn a living on their own terms,” Speier said.
Recently, Sonderling directed the DOL to require companies hiring foreign nationals to drive commercial vehicles to verify English language proficiency in job orders and applications.
The agency’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification issued “sub-regulatory guidance” regarding the ability to speak and read English in its FAQs on May 14, saying it “clarifies employers’ obligations to protect workers, motorists, and motorists.”
At the time, Sonderling said the DOL’s ELP requirement would be consistent with federal law under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
“Holding employers subject to existing English-language proficiency requirements is critical to keeping Americans safe on our roads,” Sonderling said.
