Truck Driver English Language Violations Linked to Safety

2 months ago
2Minutes

By Ahsan Ali

A new study has revealed a surprising connection between truck drivers who break English language rules and higher safety violation rates among trucking companies.

The research, released on October 1, was co-led by Alex Scott, an associate professor of supply chain management at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. It examined data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), collected through roadside inspections between May 1 and September 21. The study focused on three major safety areas: Unsafe Driving, Vehicle Maintenance, and Hours of Service (HOS) Compliance.

“It is important to develop and implement policies that identify unsafe drivers and carriers,” the report stated. “It is worth examining whether truck drivers who violate English Language Proficiency (ELP) regulations are actually less safe than other drivers, and whether the carriers employing them are less safe than their peers.”

The results were eye-opening. Inspections involving an ELP violation showed 2.5 times more non-ELP violations and nearly three times as many serious violations compared to inspections without ELP issues. Trucking companies with ELP violations also received worse safety ratings from the FMCSA, particularly in areas like vehicle maintenance and unsafe driving. The study also found that ELP violations occurred at very different rates from state to state.

However, the researchers were careful to note that poor English skills do not cause unsafe driving—they’re just closely linked.

“First, if a driver cannot speak English, they may struggle to understand the many federal rules and regulations that govern trucking,” the study explained. “This could lead to confusion about how to properly maintain trucks or follow hours-of-service rules.”

The report also raised concerns about exploitation in the industry. It suggested that some companies might take advantage of non-English-speaking drivers by pushing them to work under unsafe conditions. “It’s possible that unsafe carriers hire drivers who cannot speak English and then pressure them to perform unsafely,” the study said. “If that’s the case, steps should be taken to protect these drivers from such practices.”

Overall, the study calls for stronger oversight in the trucking industry and fairer treatment for drivers who face language barriers—all while keeping America’s roads safe for everyone.