Truck drivers who have difficulty reading road signs or communicating with officers are facing growing scrutiny across the country.
Federal rules have long required commercial drivers to know enough English to read road signs, understand directions, and respond during inspections. But for years, drivers who failed to meet those standards were often allowed to stay behind the wheel.
That changed after the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association pushed to restore tougher enforcement. Soon after, President Donald Trump signed an order to bring back penalties for drivers who fail to meet English proficiency requirements.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance followed suit. They reinstated out-of-service penalties for drivers who cannot meet the standard.
Now, states are moving to put those federal rules into state law.
Arkansas and Oklahoma led the charge last year. So far this year, Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming have joined the effort.
Tennessee
Tennessee is the latest state to tighten the English proficiency rules.
Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill aligning state law with federal rules.
If an officer finds during an inspection that a truck driver can’t meet English requirements, that truck is parked on the spot.
The driver stays sidelined until they can prove they meet English proficiency standards. They must be able to communicate with the public, read road signs, answer officers’ questions, and complete required reports in English.
The state will create the test that drivers must pass before returning to work.
If a driver is sidelined, another qualified English-proficient driver can take over the truck.
Motor carriers that continue putting unqualified drivers behind the wheel could face fines of up to $500.
Rep. Lowell Russell, R-Vonore, said safety concerns helped drive the legislation. He pointed to a truck crash in Monroe County, Tenn., where the driver reportedly could not read road signs.
Russell said the law authorizes officers to act immediately when a driver fails to meet safety requirements.
“These drivers are responsible for operating vehicles weighing up to 80,000 pounds at highway speeds, and they must be able to read road signs and communicate effectively,” Russell said.
License exams and vehicle registrations
A related rule change covers driver’s license exams and vehicle registration requirements.
The new law requires written driver’s license exams to be given in English. A one-time exception is included.
To register a vehicle, applicants must provide proof of citizenship or legal status in the U.S.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire lawmakers are taking a similar approach.
A bill headed to the governor would require that all CDL skills and knowledge tests be offered only in English.
Currently, applicants can take tests in six other languages.
Under HB1252, truck drivers who passed the test in another language within the past five years must retake it in English. Failure to do so would result in the loss of CDL privileges.
Interpreters would also be banned during testing.
Supporters argue the measure simply brings state law in line with federal rules.
Joe Scully is president of the New Hampshire Motor Transport Association. He told lawmakers the issue comes down to safety and consistency.
Rep. Ted Gorski, R-Bedford, said even well-trained drivers can face emergencies on the road.
“Our roadway signs are in English, and if someone is going to be driving such a potentially dangerous vehicle, we ought to expect that the driver can understand the signals and signs on I-93,” Gorski said.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania lawmakers are also pushing tougher English proficiency rules.
The Senate approved a bill requiring English proficiency for all CDL-related testing.
Pennsylvania already requires road tests in English. SB1295 would expand the rule to written tests as well.
CDL manuals would still be available in other languages.
Sen. Judy Ward, R-Blair, said the bill closes loopholes that have let drivers who don’t meet federal standards stay behind the wheel.
She said the goal is simple: keep safety standards high and ensure qualified drivers operate some of the largest vehicles on the road.
The bill is now in the House Transportation Committee.
California
California lawmakers are taking a very different path.
A resolution calls on Congress to revisit federal CDL disqualification rules and related penalties.
SJR16 urges federal officials to review and potentially revise penalties that can suspend or revoke CDLs.
Supporters argue that truck drivers are essential to moving goods and keeping the economy running.
Sen. Anna Caballero, D-Merced, said federal disqualification rules have led to an estimated 17,000 CDL suspensions. She said the rules are “effectively ending a driver’s ability to earn a livelihood.”
Caballero argues changes are needed to help address what she claims is a truck driver shortage.
The resolution is scheduled for a June 9 hearing before the Senate Transportation Committee. LL
More Land Line coverage of state news is available.
Credit: Source link
