Texas Truck Drivers and English Proficiency Requirement
A spokesperson for Texas Governor Greg Abbott informed Breitbart Texas that truck drivers operating commercial vehicles in Texas should fully adhere to executive orders mandating English proficiency.
As noted in a September 1 report, many commercial driver’s license holders in Texas are currently under “unserved” orders due to insufficient English reading and speaking skills. Governor Abbott stated, “He expects Texas trucking companies to comply with President Trump’s executive order fully. Public safety is our top priority, and we must ensure that drivers can safely navigate Texas roads.”
Mahalerias referenced an executive order from President Donald Trump issued in May that emphasizes the necessity for commercial truck drivers to be proficient in English. This order, highlighted in a White House document, asserts, “President Trump views English as a critical safety requirement for professional drivers to read traffic signs and communicate with border patrol and checkpoint officials.”
Breitbart News frequently reports on serious accidents involving truck drivers who do not meet the English proficiency standards.
American Truck Driver United remarked, “Texas is primarily responsible for non-English-speaking truck drivers on American roads. Many stem from Texas.” Shannon Everett, a spokesperson for US truck drivers, criticized the Texas trucking industry for prioritizing cheap labor from non-citizens over American workers, suggesting that this issue may start as a local problem but quickly escalates to a national crisis as these drivers traverse the country.
Interestingly, a report from WFAA ABC8 indicates that Texas won’t enforce this English requirement for truck drivers operating solely within state lines. An internal email from Major Omar Villarreal of the Texas Department of Public Safety to vehicle inspectors provided this information.
A truck lawyer, Lynn McClaw, informed WFAA that enforcing this requirement would necessitate legislative changes. “This is something the state can definitely pursue,” she remarked.
While it remains uncertain how Governor Abbott will implement this executive order, his spokesperson mentioned that the matter has been raised with the governor’s executive office.
As the Texas Legislature nears the end of its second special session, there’s speculation that if Governor Abbott convenes a third session, he might include the English proficiency issue on the agenda.
Two recent fatalities involving foreign commercial driver’s license holders have spotlighted this matter. In June, a tragic incident near Wills Point, Texas, involved a Cuban immigrant charged with multiple counts of manslaughter; there were claims that the driver could not speak English, though this has not been confirmed by law enforcement.
A separate accident near Austin resulted in another driver, Solomun Weldekir Araya, being arrested, facing serious charges after a deadly incident. Witness reports indicated that Araya, who spoke Tigrinya as his primary language but was said to have some English understanding, was apprehended at the scene. However, the affidavit does not clarify if an English proficiency test was administered.
Furthermore, a recent crash in Florida reinforced concerns regarding English skills impacting public safety. A semi-truck driver, Harjinder Singh, allegedly caused the deaths of three individuals due to not passing an English test, correctly answering just two of twelve questions about language proficiency. His record shows that Washington State issued him a “normal full-term commercial driver’s license,” while California provided a “Limited/Non-Dominant CDL” months later.
American Tracker United has urged Transport Secretary Sean Duffy to prohibit non-dominant CLDs for non-citizens. Everett stressed the need for leadership to ensure safer practices in the trucking industry and to present fair opportunities for American drivers, stating that current practices lead to unauthorized transport of goods and jeopardize public safety.
