Latest news with #EnglishLanguageProficiency
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Secure Roads & Safe Trucking Act; escaping Yellowknife; theft victim speaks
On Episode 842 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is looking at a scorching hot freight market in Savannah, Georgia. The port is seeing record container volumes, and the market is very tight with outbound tender rejects over 23%. The Secure Roads & Safe Trucking Act just passed in Oklahoma. American Truckers United's Shannon Everett and Harvey Beech talk about how the bill will take unsafe drivers off the roads. We'll also learn what else needs to be done, and we'll get his reaction to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy signing the English Language Proficiency executive order. An $83 million freight fraud ring was busted early this week in Southern California. DK Consulting's Dwight Young drops by the studio to talk about the time he was a victim of a cargo theft ring and the long-lasting impacts it has on operators in this space. In 2023 over 20,000 residents of Yellowknife in Canada had to evacuate due to a devastating fire. Today, we'll meet a trucker, Darko Vidakovic, who had to drive over 3 miles in reverse to escape the blaze. Plus, a container ship in Norway almost hits a house, North Korea gives new meaning to drop shipping and more. Time Stamps 3:15 My freight theft story | Dwight Young15:10 Container ship almost hits house 15:50 Escaping the Yellowknife fire in a semi | Darko Vidakovic 27:00 North Korea's drop shipping 27:30 Duffy signs the EO | American Truckers United 35:17 The Secure Roads and Safe Trucking Act | American Truckers United Catch new shows live at noon EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWaves LinkedIn, Facebook, X or YouTube, or on demand by looking up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player and at 5 p.m. Eastern on SiriusXM's Road Dog Trucking Channel 146. Watch on YouTube Check out the WTT merch storeVisit our sponsor Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts The post Secure Roads & Safe Trucking Act; escaping Yellowknife; theft victim speaks | WHAT THE TRUCK?!? appeared first on FreightWaves.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
‘You're Out': FMCSA Cracks Down on English Proficiency Rules for CDL Drivers
If you're running a fleet or managing drivers in 2025, you'd better speak up, literally. On Tuesday, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued new guidance that officially reawakens enforcement of the English Language Proficiency (ELP) rule found in 49 CFR § 391.11(b)(2). This time, there's real bite behind the bark: Starting June 25, drivers who can't pass a new two-part ELP roadside test could be placed out of service on the spot. This move follows Executive Order 14286 signed by President Donald Trump, titled 'Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America's Truck Drivers.' The order signals a broader push toward tightening up highway safety enforcement, and language comprehension is now squarely in the spotlight. The 2-Part Test According to the FMCSA, every roadside inspection must now begin in English. If a driver shows signs of struggling to understand instructions, the officer initiates a two-step ELP assessment:A verbal interview: No interpreters, no phone apps, no cue cards – just the driver and the officer speaking English. Drivers who cannot respond to official questions adequately fail. A highway sign recognition test: Drivers who pass the interview move on to identifying U.S. traffic signs, including dynamic message boards and MUTCD-standard signage. Drivers who fail either test may be cited and placed out of service immediately. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has already added ELP violations to the North American Standard OOS Criteria, effective June 25. Here's the Rub The public-facing policy memo is heavily redacted. The FMCSA hasn't disclosed which interview questions or signs inspectors will use, leaving carriers scrambling to prepare. Without knowing the standards, enforcing the rule could quickly become inconsistent or biased, or even be challenged in court. It's also triggered a broader debate within the industry about fairness, discrimination and due process, especially as enforcement ramps About Deaf and Mute Drivers? Here's where the conversation gets real. In a recent LinkedIn post, I shared my frustrations as someone who speaks fast and Southern and sometimes isn't understood by Siri or Alexa. I've also trained deaf and mute drivers. Yes, they exist and can legally hold a CDL under 49 CFR § 391.41(b)(11) with an exemption. 'I know drivers who can't write,' I recently posted on LinkedIn. 'I know deaf and mute drivers. I've trained them. So, how do we reconcile a blanket English-speaking rule with a legal framework that already accommodates non-English-speaking CDL holders?' That's the dilemma. Under FMCSA's guidance on CDL testing for hearing-impaired applicants, drivers who are deaf or hard of hearing may use alternative communication methods like sign language or written responses during licensing, but not at the roadside under this new enforcement memo. So what happens when a deaf driver, legally licensed with a waiver, gets pulled over? How does that officer handle a driver who cannot speak but has already been certified under the law? There's a real concern that blanket policies could conflict with disability protections under the ADA or FMCSA's waivers, putting fleets, officers and even the courts in tough legal territory. What Fleets Must Do NowRegardless of your stance, the enforcement is live, and fleets need a plan. Here's where smart carriers start: Update onboarding and qualification: Evaluate English comprehension as part of your road test, in-person interviews or orientation training. Document it. Reassess current drivers: If you suspect someone may struggle with ELP under the new standard, now's the time to coach or reevaluate roles. Plan for accommodations: If you employ drivers with hearing impairments or waivers, work with legal counsel and document that these drivers meet FMCSA exemption standards. Educate your team on how to handle these edge cases at scale. Invest in training tools: Use systems like Babbel, Duolingo, Jumpspeak, Rosetta Stone, Luma Brighter Learning, Smith System, National Safety Council or in-house driver coaching to reinforce English proficiency, road terminology and situational safety. Stay up to date: The redacted memo leaves room for evolving policies. Bookmark the FMCSA ELD & Safety page and monitor updates to ELP enforcement criteria. FMCSA's revived ELP enforcement is aimed at safety, not punishment, but it risks casting too wide a net. There's little doubt that drivers must understand signs and follow instructions on U.S. highways. But when policy lacks clarity, fairness becomes a moving target. For fleets, the mandate is clear: Validate English ability at the point of hire, support it through training, and protect compliant drivers, especially those operating under federally approved waivers. If 'speak English or park it' becomes the standard, we'd better know exactly what that means and who gets caught in the middle, because you can't learn English overnight at the roadside. The post 'You're Out': FMCSA Cracks Down on English Proficiency Rules for CDL Drivers appeared first on FreightWaves.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
CVSA votes to put truck drivers with limited English out of service
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance board of directors voted on Thursday to make English proficiency violations grounds for truck drivers to be placed out of service, a decision that could significantly reduce trucking capacity. The vote, held under an emergency provision in CVSA's bylaws, came just days after President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing that the federal out-of-service criteria be revised to reflect the policy change, reversing a less stringent policy that has been in place for 10 years. Under the Obama Administration in 2016, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration removed the requirement to place truck drivers out of service for violating federal English Language Proficiency rules. The new out-of-service rule becomes effective June 25. 'By adding English language proficiency to the out-of-service criteria, a commercial motor vehicle inspector may place a driver out of service if they cannot demonstrate proficiency in reading and speaking English,' CVSA stated in a press release. 'The [FMCSA] will issue guidance for commercial motor vehicle inspectors to ensure enforcement of the English language proficiency standard is applied consistently.' While FMCSA sets the safety rules for the trucking industry, CVSA, whose members include state highway patrol officers, has been given the authority, in most cases, to determine whether violating those regulations is serious enough to warrant placing a driver out of service. Insurance experts specializing in the trucking sector have estimated that 10% of the total driver population lacks proficiency in English. With over 3 million interstate CDL drivers in the country, according to FMCSA's most recent statistics, the out-of-service mandate could lead to a significant drop in capacity in the market. CVSA explained that its emergency provision bylaws allow the board 'to vote on a change to the out-of-service criteria without a vote by Class I Members, which is the usual process for changes to the criteria. The board utilized the emergency bylaw provision to meet the president's 60-day deadline, as noted in his executive order.' CVSA stated it will petition FMCSA to update the English language proficiency regulation – [49 CFR 391.11(b)(2)] – to formally identify violations as an out-of-service condition. 'CVSA will also send a petition to FMCSA requesting that the agency harmonize the commercial driver's license English language requirements in 49 CFR Part 383, 'Commercial Driver's License Standards,' with those in 49 CFR Part 391, 'Qualifications of Drivers and Longer Combination Vehicle Driver Instructors,' so that the standards are consistent.' Trump's Executive Order For Trucking Revives a Rule Nearly 90 Years Old Trucking leaders applaud Trump executive order requiring truckers speak English FMCSA exempts deaf drivers despite CVTA objections Click for more FreightWaves articles by John Gallagher. The post CVSA votes to put truck drivers with limited English out of service appeared first on FreightWaves.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
President Donald Trump Signs Executive Order Requiring Truck Drivers Speak English
On Monday (April 28), President Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating that commercial truck drivers in the United States be proficient in English. The full text explained the move as 'common sense' as the Trump administration continues to make unprecedented moves in the White House. The order is expected to be enforced in 60 days. 'They should be able to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with traffic safety, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station officers,' relayed the order. 'Drivers need to provide feedback to their employers and customers and receive related directions in English. This is common sense.' Trump continued to detail, 'My Administration will enforce the law to protect the safety of American truckers, drivers, passengers, and others, including by upholding the safety enforcement regulations that ensure that anyone behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle is properly qualified and proficient in our national language, English.' According to Newsweek, the Enforcing Commonsense Rules Of The Road For America's Truck Drivers order reversed a 2016 memorandum 'issued during former President Barack Obama's administration, which removed the requirement to place drivers out of service for English Language Proficiency (ELP) violations and eased enforcement standards.' Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association Todd Peters shared his organization's support of the order with the outlet via email. In his message, he communicated the following: 'OOIDA and the 150,000 truckers we proudly represent strongly support President Trump's decision to resume enforcement of English proficiency requirements for commercial drivers. Basic English skills are essential for reading critical road signs, understanding emergency instructions, and interacting with law enforcement. Road signs save lives—but only when they're understood. That's why OOIDA petitioned the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance earlier this year to reinstate English proficiency as an out-of-service violation. Today's announcement is a welcome step toward restoring a common-sense safety standard.' As noted by Jalopnik, truck drivers have already proven their English-speaking capabilities, as they must pass a physical exam, drug test, prove they are legally able to work in the country, pass a written exam, a driving skills test, and a road test, which are all carried out in English. 'You might not know, but there's a lot of communication problems between truckers on the road with federal officials and local officials, as well, which obviously is a public safety risk,' remarked White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on the matter, per The Hill. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is tasked with issuing new guidance to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and enforcement personnel outlining revised inspection procedures necessary to ensure compliance with the new requirements. More from Barack Obama Says Harvard "Set An Example" After Rejecting Trump Demands President Trump Can't Dismiss Exonerated Five Defamation Lawsuit, Judge Rules Amazon Reportedly Moves To Purchase TikTok Amid Looming Ban
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Trump to require that truckers speak and read English
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order on Monday requiring that truck drivers be able to speak English or be placed out of service. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed via social media a Breitbart report on the anticipated order. 'Today @POTUS and I will be making a big announcement to make our roadways safer and put American truckers first,' Duffy posted, linking to the report. The order 'mandates revising out-of-service criteria to ensure drivers violating English proficiency rules are placed out-of-service, enhancing roadway safety,' according to the report. Once effective, the order will reverse a 2016 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration policy change made under the Obama administration that removed the requirement to place truck drivers out of service for violating federal English Language Proficiency (ELP) rules. The issue of English proficiency and related safety concerns among commercial truck drivers was elevated earlier this year after Trump issued an order on March 1 designating English as the official language of the U.S. An informal sampling of over 500 comments submitted to the Department of Transportation after its recent request for recommendations on regulations that should be scrapped or revised found that roughly 10% – mostly owner-operators – want the department to enforce CDL requirements on speaking English. Federal motor carrier safety regulations [391.11(b)(2)] requires that drivers 'be able to read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, and to respond to official inquiries and to make entries on required reports and records.' The expected move by the administration on Monday 'is a welcome step toward restoring a common-sense safety standard,' said Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association President Todd Spencer. 'Basic English skills are essential for reading critical road signs, understanding emergency instructions, and interacting with law enforcement. Road signs save lives — but only when they're understood. That's why OOIDA petitioned the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance earlier this year to reinstate English proficiency as an out-of-service violation.' OOIDA's CVSA request asserts that 'the ability to understand and react to road signs, especially in emergency situations, is critical for public and operational safety,' and that the lack of proficiency 'has led to increased accidents due to misunderstandings or misinterpretations of safety instructions and road signage.' However, the reason CVSA members voted to remove English proficiency from its out-of-service policy in 2015 was that it 'could not substantiate the safety impacts' FMCSA stated in its 2016 policy change. Such safety data, if it exists, may no longer be a consideration by CVSA now that DOT is planning to reinstate the out-of-service policy. NOTE: This article will be updated. FMCSA exempts deaf drivers despite CVTA objections Watchdog calls out lax FMCSA oversight of $2B in grant money Bill would force FMCSA to back off truck speed controls Click for more FreightWaves articles by John Gallagher. The post Trump to require that truckers speak and read English appeared first on FreightWaves.
