The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) recently released guidelines for new English safe zones. Safe zones are boundaries where truckers are immune from being placed out of service for not speaking English proficiently. These zones are between 3 and 20 miles from the US border, depending on the municipality’s population. The FMCSA said inspectors may cite the violation but must allow the trucker to continue driving. Safe zones will apply regardless of whether the driver holds a US or Canadian CDL, or a Mexican trucker license. This article explains the rationale for the new English safe zones and outlines the trucking industry’s response.
Why Is The FMCSA Designating New English Safe Zones?
FMCSA’s goal in designating safe zones is to balance the recent, stronger enforcement of English in domestic shipping. Over the past year, the Trump administration has intensified efforts to promote English proficiency in the trucking industry. Trump signed numerous executive orders that would result in out-of-service violations and CDL revocations for failing to meet standards. The goal is to promote safety in trucking, with Trump noting last year, “English is a non-negotiable safety requirement for professional drivers, as they should be able to read and understand traffic signs; communicate with traffic safety officers, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station personnel.” FMCSA says the safe zones will avoid unnecessary disruptions in areas with high cross-border traffic volumes.
What Was The Response To The Release?
The FMCSA’s release of the new policy has received both support and criticism from the industry. Many supporters believe the policy will reduce supply chain disruptions while upholding English proficiency standards, especially near cross-border locations. Inspectors in the safe zones will also learn to assess proficiency fairly, focusing on fundamental understanding rather than accents. Critics believe that the uneven enforcement could unintentionally negatively impact immigrant drivers specifically. Immigrants account for a significant share of the trucking workforce, and longer inspection times can lead to delays. There are also concerns about driver shortages stemming from truckers failing to meet English-language compliance standards.
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