A new executive order is resulting in Trump enforcing English in trucking for U.S. truck drivers. On Monday, April 28, President Trump signed an order requiring English proficiency for truckers to be mandatory. Titled “Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers,” this order follows the English Language Proficiency (ELP) rules. Failure to meet standards will now result in an out-of-service violation for truck drivers. The order reverses a policy change made by the Obama administration that blocked the out-of-service placement of non-English speaking drivers. While some in the trucking industry favor this new order, it has also raised concerns from others.
Why Is Trump Enforcing English In Trucking?
President Trump’s goal behind the order is to promote road safety in domestic shipping. A fact sheet released by the White House notes, “President Trump believes that 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.” Along with out-of-service mandates, the order directs Transportation Security to review state-issued non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses. The goal is to ensure that the licenses are valid and that drivers are qualified by identifying irregularities. Additionally, it instructs the Transportation Security to take action to improve working conditions for U.S. drivers.
How Is The Trucking Industry Responding?
The executive order announcement has received a generally positive response from the trucking industry. Some of the most significant supporters included the American Truckers Association (ATA) and the Owner-Operators Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA). OOIDA president Todd Spenser said, “The move by the administration is a welcome step toward restoring a commonsense safety standard.” English proficiency is essential for safety and compliance in domestic shipping. Spencer stated, “Road signs save lives—but only when they’re understood.” The ATA was also against the 2016 policy change from the Obama administration, noting the lack of enforcement. English proficiency in trucking has been in the spotlight after Trump announced English as the official U.S. language earlier this year.
Despite the positive response to the order, industry stakeholders have expressed concerns regarding the implementation. Particularly in areas with a high concentration of non-English speaking drivers. There is a fear that the trucking industry could continue to face a driver shortage. Lessening the labor pool could lead to delays and higher costs for carriers and customers. Others believe the English standards will not prevent accidents, and higher training standards would be a better alternative. The enforcement of the order will start on June 27, which will provide a 60-day window for implementation.
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