WASHINGTON — A group of legislators are introducing a bill which, if passed, would require all testing required to earn a CDL to be conducted in English.
Congressman Dave Taylor (OH-02), Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (WY-AL), and Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17) introduced the Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act.
“It’s a no-brainer – if you want to drive an 80,000-pound vehicle on American roads, you should be able to read the road signs,” Taylor said. “Ohio families should be able to get in their cars without fear of being in a tragic collision at the hands of a driver of a heavy vehicle who can’t understand critical warning signs. This bill will ensure safety for everyone and prevent any more innocent American lives from being lost.”
The bill is the House Companion bill to S. 2114, which was introduced in the Senate by Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and John Barrasso (R-WY) on June 18. Representatives Buddy Carter (GA-01), Tracey Mann (KS-01), Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), Mary Miller (IL-15), and Paul Gosar (AZ-09) joined Congressman Taylor as cosponsors of this legislation.
Background
Under current law, the process to obtain a CDL requires only that the road skills test be administered in English, while the knowledge test can be conducted in any language. English Language Proficiency itself is not a new requirement.
“Unfortunately, states like California and Washington have used this authority to administer CDLs to individuals with no or little understanding of the English language, leading to drivers failing to understand road signs and taking innocent lives on American roads,” Taylor’s press release said. “By requiring the entire process of obtaining a CDL to be conducted in English, the Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act would ensure that only those who can understand English enough to comprehend road signs can obtain CDL licensure.”
Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act
Specifically, the Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act would:
- Codify English Language Proficiency into law as a requirement for individuals issued a commercial driver’s license, by requiring all individuals to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with officers and other officials and provide and receive directions and feedback in English.
- Prohibits all CMV tests from being administered in languages other than English.
Closing Loopholes
“Our bill ensures the CDL knowledge test is administered only in English, closing dangerous loopholes,” Hageman said. “When an individual operating a vehicle weighing up to 80,000 pounds cannot understand warnings like ‘Slow Down’ or ‘Accident Ahead,’ lives are put at risk. Improving road safety is a significant issue across Wyoming, where tragic accidents claim lives year after year. Our legislation is essential to protect the safety and security of every driver on our roads.”
“Commercial truck drivers play a critical role in our economy. With that comes the responsibility to understand both the signs of the road and the language of other drivers on the highway,” Steube said. “States like California have unleashed a nationwide public safety hazard with their lax English proficiency standards for individuals applying for a commercial motor vehicle license. My bill will protect our roadways by requiring all commercial motor vehicle applicants to demonstrate they are capable of safely operating these large vehicles and communicating in English with their fellow drivers.”
Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC)
“The Small Business in Transportation Coalition applauds the Hon. Dave Taylor for, once again, stepping up and introducing highway safety legislation,” said Jim Lamb, executive director, SBTC. “This important legislation will hold states accountable to test for English Proficiency during written Commercial Driver License (CDL) knowledge testing. Coupled with Congressman Taylor’s H.R. 3608, Connor’s Law, these two bills fully address the SBTC’s calls for both state ELP accountability and a return to strict enforcement of the English proficiency requirement on our nation’s highways through out-of-service orders. We hope this common-sense highway safety legislation will receive bipartisan support in the interest of public safety to ‘Make the Roads Safe Again.’”
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA)
“Nobody cares about road safety more than professional truck drivers,” said Todd Spencer, president, OOIDA. “That’s why OOIDA and truckers across America strongly support Representative Taylor’s CMV English Proficiency Act. It’s common sense that truck drivers should demonstrate they can read critical road signs before getting behind the wheel of an 80,000 lb. vehicle on public roadways. In addition to reading road signs, professional truckers routinely communicate with law enforcement and first responders in order to do their jobs safely and effectively. Representative Taylor’s legislation aligns with OOIDA’s long-standing advocacy for stronger driver training standards and we appreciate his leadership in making our roads safer for our members and the motoring public.
Dana Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has been featured in multiple newspapers, books and magazines across the globe. She is currently based in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.
I strongly agree with this law BUT law makers are forgetting that a 4 wheeler (car, vans, sun’s) can also KILL. SO THIS LAW SHOULD BE FOR EVERYONE NOT JUST CDL.
I think it’s great that everyone acknowledges that truckers are crucial to the American Economy.
However, our rate of pay is stuck in the 1980’s.
How about a bill that raises our pay? Then you have my support.
Otherwise your doing Sh!t for the AMERICAN TRUCKER! Do you understand now why no one wants to do this job except immigrants that you can screw over.
Hey Boss man, you drive a Bentley and I drive a broken down piece of Sh!t! Wake up America!