Changes in Trucking Regulations Following English Proficiency Standards
Over 7,200 truck drivers have been removed from U.S. highways since the announcement by Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. New English proficiency standards are expected to be outlined in May.
Duffy emphasized that commercial truck drivers must be able to speak and understand English to operate large vehicles. If they don’t meet this requirement, they will lose their jobs. He noted that the Trump administration is dedicated to making roads safer.
Around 7,250 drivers were let go for not meeting these newly reinstated standards, previously eliminated by the Obama administration, which allowed non-English speaking foreign drivers to operate potentially dangerous trucks on American roads.
The objective of the new standards is to combat the underground trucking market that employs poorly paid foreign drivers who struggle with English comprehension.
This move follows a tragic incident where an illegal immigrant from India was charged with the deaths of three Americans in California. Duffy criticized the state for not issuing a commercial driver’s license to the individual or enforcing compliance with the new English proficiency rules.
Duffy expressed condolences to the victims’ families, stating, “If Gavin Newsom had followed our new rules, this would never have happened. California broke the law, and now three people are dead and two are hospitalized. There will be consequences.”
Additionally, Duffy is considering withholding millions in federal funds from California for its failure to adhere to regulations concerning commercial driver’s licenses.
In another incident, an illegal immigrant from India allegedly made an illegal U-turn on a Florida highway, resulting in three fatalities.
This individual had failed the written driving test ten times yet was still granted a commercial driver’s license. Both Washington and California, referred to as sanctuary states, have been known to issue permits to undocumented immigrants.
Following the accident, this person underwent an English proficiency evaluation conducted by the Department of Transportation. Reports indicate he only managed to answer two out of twelve questions correctly and misidentified three out of four traffic signs.
