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Nearly 6,000 truck drivers have been taken off the road in just four months. trump administration started Roadside English proficiency test requiredAccording to a new report.
These 6,000 commercial truck drivers were taken off the road because they failed a roadside English-language proficiency test, Washington Post The report cited federal data from June 1 through Monday. Officials are conducting these tests after President Donald Trump’s April executive Order,
Secretary Sean Duffy signed a follow-up order in May implement policy Through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
“Americans are safer on the roads with truck drivers who can understand and interpret our traffic signs,” Duffy said in an interview. statement After signing the order. “This common sense change ensures that the penalty for failure to comply is more than a slap on the wrist.”
As drivers are taken off the road, analysts report Post There is no data showing any association between proficiency in English and commercial truck accidents. Some activists are also concerned that Latino drivers could be unfairly targeted by authorities Post report, and want more details about how they will be tested.
“English proficiency is such a subjective standard,” said Brandon Wiseman, president of TruckSafe Consulting. Post“What one officer may think is efficient, another officer may think is not efficient. That makes it difficult.”
The Department for Transport has not released the questions to be used by officers, but industry experts have told Post Common questions include, “Where are you going?” and “What was your starting point?”
Adalberto Campero, CEO of Texas-based trucking company Unimex, said he was concerned it would lead to “stereotypes” and “alienating Mexican individuals or individuals of Hispanic heritage.”
“They are intimidated, threatened… because they feel their livelihoods could be taken away,” he said. Post,
Independent The Transport Department has been contacted for comment.
Duffy too announced he will do it on wednesday California would withhold $40 million in funding for the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program, An investigation claimed the state had failed to follow English-language proficiency requirements. According to the Department of Transportation, funding will be restored if California comes into compliance.
“This means state inspectors will be required to begin conducting ELP assessments during roadside inspections and will require those that fail to be taken out of service,” the agency said.
A spokesperson for California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office rejected the Department of Transportation’s claims.
“It looks like the federal transport secretary needs a lesson on his own rules of the road,” the spokesperson said. Independent“The facts are clear and simple – the fatal crash rate of California commercial driver’s license holders was about 40% lower than the national average. Texas – the only state with more commercial holders – is almost 50% higher than California. The facts don’t lie, but the Trump administration certainly does.”
of post California officials have fired seven drivers as of Monday for failing roadside English tests, data analysis showed. In comparison, the outlet Texas has reportedly taken more than 500 drivers off the road.