President Donald Trump has enacted a new executive order that requires truck drivers to demonstrate proficiency in reading and speaking English to be deemed fit for service. This decision has led to a significant policy reversal by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). It undoes the policy drivers issued nine years ago under President Barack Obama’s administration. This update moves road safety squarely into the spotlight. It addresses the acute new problem of exposure to traffic collisions from driver noncomprehension due to lack of language access.
One of the FMCSA’s recent updates, now requires truck drivers to successfully complete an English language proficiency test. In addition to an extended interview, this test incorporates a highway sign recognition component. This amendment follows a string of unfortunate mishaps where drivers’ limited understanding of English likely played a key role in the crash. Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, pointed out, “We have bridges that get hit because drivers don’t understand the signs on the bridges for things like height clearance.”
This is something that concerns many truck drivers, especially those who had to learn English as a second language. They worry that their broken English or thick accents will cause something to be lost in translation when they are questioned. Manuel Castillo, an independent truck driver, immigrated to the U.S. from Ecuador in 1993. He focused his critique on the burdens the new rule creates. He stated, “He makes a lot of problems, especially for Hispanic people.” Even though Castillo speaks and comprehends English, he’s being proactive—he’s been watching industry-related virtual instructional videos to help him learn and better use relevant terminology.
This new policy has resulted in a concurrent series of initiatives. These programs are designed to assist prospective truck drivers build English proficiency. The Laredo Motor Carriers Association is offering free English classes on weekends, with instructor Paul Cuartas emphasizing the importance of preparing students for proficiency tests. He expressed concern about the expectations inspectors may have regarding truckers’ language skills: “I’m concerned because now for all the Spanish people it’s more difficult.”
Al Myftiu, co-owner of Flying J, is on a mission to make communication among drivers better. He’s familiar with the challenges firsthand, having immigrated from Albania in 1993 and worked as a truck driver himself. His goal now is to distill a small book of phrases every trucker would need to quickly learn the language. Myftiu encourages his students, saying, “I tell them, ‘Slow down, speak slowly and people can understand you, and if you don’t understand something, you can ask.’”
The FMCSA’s new policy is adding a layer of subjectivity to the English proficiency test determination. Inspectors will for the first time be empowered to check drivers’ oral English skills at their discretion. Jerry Maldonado, chairman of the Laredo Motor Carriers Association, emphasized the potential consequences of this change: “A driver who can’t understand English will not drive a commercial vehicle in this country. Period.” He highlighted that basic traffic signs such as stop signs are universally recognized, stating, “Everybody knows what a stop sign looks like.”
Today, America’s truck drivers know better than anyone just how important road safety is. This creates real problems with what the new requirements would mean. We’ve found that the best drivers are committed to improving their fluency. They’re enrolled in classes and learning industry lingo on the double by using it in discussion.
Kassem Elkhatib, a trucking industry professional, shared his experiences with language barriers in the field: “We try to ask them questions about the business just to strike a conversation… and they’re not able to communicate with us at all.” This goes to show the need for powerful, clear communication from the industry.
