Duffy Orders Non-English Proficient Truckers Off Roads
[Stay on top of transportation news: .]
mandated non-English-proficient truckers be ordered off roads while also pledging federal scrutiny on verification of U.S. and foreign commercial driver licenses.
“From not enforcing English-language proficiency to broker fraud, to non-domiciled CDLs, it kind of feels like the trucking industry has become the Wild West with a lot of bad actors who have been allowed to play in this space,” Duffy noted May 20. “We’re going to end the play of bad actors. We are going to support, encourage and prop up the great businesses and great drivers and the great brokers that make this country work and move our products.”
He traveled to Austin, Texas, where he stood alongside state transportation and trucking industry leaders to sign an order rescinding a 2016 Obama-era memo discouraging enforcement of a federal law requiring drivers who cannot read or communicate in English to be removed from behind the wheel of commercial vehicles.
“We are issuing new guidance that ensures a driver who cannot understand English will not drive a commercial vehicle in this country, period, full stop. Enforcing out-of-service violations is about preventing tragedies and saving lives,” Duffy said.
He said in 2015 (before the Obama memo), more than 99,000 truckers received English-language proficiency violations from law enforcement officers throughout the country that resulted in 1,000 drivers taken out of service. Last year, however, only 10,000 drivers received violations for lacking English proficiency, and none were prevented from continuing to drive.
“Federal law has always been very clear. Commercial drivers must be proficient in English. Allowing drivers who cannot read stop signs or understand police officers’ instructions to operate an 80,000-pound big rig threatens the safety of every American on our roadways,” Duffy declared. “There are numerous examples across the country where we’ve had people who are operating this kind of equipment who can’t speak the language. The results have been devastating and have taken the lives of so many American families. That’s going to end right now.”
He thanked the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance for its prompt cooperation. Starting June 25, English-language-proficiency violations will once again be included in out-of-service criteria in consistent, nationwide road safety enforcement.
NEWS: has announced new guidelines to enhance enforcement of English proficiency for commercial truckers.
Under ' leadership, we're improving highway safety by ensuring every driver is qualified and proficient in English—our national language.
Starting June 25,… — U.S. Department of Transportation (@USDOT)
Duffy said DOT’s new directive not only reinforces President Donald Trump’s April 28 executive order “Enforcing Common Sense Rules of the Road for American Truckers” but that the agency will act further.
In other potential crackdowns, DOT is reviewing security procedures involving how states issue CDLs. “We’re going to review non-domiciled CDLs, and we’re going to improve verification protocols for both domestic and international credentials to ensure only qualified drivers are behind the wheel on American roads. The [executive order] also directs the DOT to improve the working lives of truckers,” Duffy said.
Without specifics, he revealed DOT will examine the ongoing national lack of parking for truckers. He noted that of all the stakeholders he has met since becoming transportation secretary, he has found the trucking industry to be the most vocal about expressing concerns.
A danger to the public.
A drag on our supply chain.
A detriment to truckers' wellbeing.
The severe shortage of truck parking creates countless problems. Fortunately, there are solutions. Congress, it's long-past time to provide dedicated funding to expand truck… — American Trucking (@TRUCKINGdotORG)
“The president’s recent executive order is a clear statement: We support America’s truckers and will safeguard our roadways for our truckers and for the American people. This means enforcing common-sense rules and removing unnecessary burdens that hinder our truckers’ work,” Duffy said. “Our president has grit. This is an industry that also has grit, and you have a USDOT right now that shares that grit. So we are going to work together and fight together to make sure we enforce our laws, make sure our roads are safe, and we take the bad actors out of business and off our roads.”
, CEO of Texas Trucking Association, said the lack of truckers proficient in English has been an ongoing issue for years .
“The very basic premise of what is occurring today is safety,” Esparza said, adding that the trucking industry will continue to work with DOT on other critical issues, such as non-domiciled CDL holders and cabotage.
Want more news? Listen to today's daily briefing belowor go here for more info:
