Truck Driver English Language Law Sparks Debate

2 months ago
2Minutes

By Admin

Washington — A new bill in the U.S. Senate could take certain truck drivers off the road if they aren’t able to read or speak English well enough to meet national safety rules.

The proposal, known as S. 2991, was introduced by Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY). It builds on existing federal regulations under 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2), which say commercial drivers must be able to:

Communicate with the public
Read and understand English road signs and signals
Respond to officials’ questions
Complete written reports and records

A companion bill, H.R. 3608, was introduced in the House by Rep. Dave Taylor (R-OH) earlier this year. Both bills would turn former President Donald Trump’s April executive order into law. That order requires drivers to be taken off duty if they fail an English test, which includes an interview and a traffic sign recognition test.

Federal rules already state that drivers must have basic English skills, but in 2016, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) dropped the penalty for failing those requirements. At the time, the agency said it didn’t have enough evidence to prove that limited English ability affected road safety.

The FMCSA has since changed its stance. In an April press release, the agency said that several deadly crashes may have been caused, at least in part, by drivers who couldn’t read signs or communicate properly in English.

Recent research adds weight to that concern. A University of Tennessee study found that trucking companies with English language violations had an average safety score of 6.23 on the FMCSA’s Safety Measurement System, compared to 1.32 for companies without violations. (Higher numbers reflect poorer safety performance.)

Both the American Trucking Associations and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) have voiced support for Sen. Lummis’s bill.

“The ability to read and communicate in English isn’t just a convenience—it’s a matter of safety,” said OOIDA President Todd Spencer. “Truck drivers handle massive vehicles that can cause serious harm if mistakes are made. Ensuring they can understand signs and communicate with law enforcement helps prevent accidents before they happen.”