Trump Order Requires All Us Truck Drivers Speak English, Citing Safety Concerns

[Kalé Carey]

A NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP MANDATES TRUCK DRIVERS SPEAK ENGLISH-

OR LOSE THEIR JOBS.

THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS THIS ORDER-

WHICH BUILDS ON A PREVIOUS DIRECTIVE DESIGNATING ENGLISH AS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE U.S.-

IS INTENDED TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY AND ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH EXISTING FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

IT REQUIRES ALL COMMERCIAL TRUCK DRIVERS OPERATING IN THE U.S. BE ABLE TO READ AND SPEAK ENGLISH “SUFFICIENTLY TO CONVERSE WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC”-

UNDERSTAND TRAFFIC SIGNS, AND COMMUNICATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, BORDER AGENTS, AGRICULTURAL CHECKPOINT OFFICIALS, AND WEIGH STATION PERSONNEL.

THE DIRECTIVE CITES A RISE IN TRUCKING-RELATED FATALITIES AND COMMUNICATION BARRIERS BETWEEN DRIVERS AND OFFICIALS AS REASONS WHY IT IS NEEDED-

ATTRIBUTING SOME ROAD SAFETY RISKS TO LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AMONG DRIVERS.

TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY SEAN DUFFY HAS BEEN TASKED WITH ISSUING REVISED GUIDANCE ON ENGLISH PROFICIENCY TESTING AND ENFORCEMENT.

DRIVERS WHO FAIL TO MEET THESE NEW STANDARDS WILL BE REMOVED FROM SERVICE.

THE OWNER-OPERATOR INDEPENDENT DRIVERS ASSOCIATION-

WHICH REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 150,000 TRUCKERS-

EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE DECISION, WITH THE GROUP’S PRESIDENT SAYING QUOTE- 

“BASIC ENGLISH SKILLS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR READING CRITICAL ROAD SIGNS, UNDERSTANDING EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS, AND INTERACTING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.”

HOWEVER, LEGISLATORS WITHIN THE CONGRESSIONAL TRI-CAUCUS HAVE ARGUED AGAINST TRUMP’S POLICIES MANDATING THE USE OF ENGLISH-

SAYING ITS ENFORCEMENT OF MIGHT INFRINGE UPON THE RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANT WORKERS-

AND COULD MARGINALIZE NON-ENGLISH-SPEAKING COMMUNITIES. 

LEADERS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS, CONGRESSIONAL ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN CAUCUS, AND CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS JOINTLY CRITICIZED THE DIRECTIVE WHICH SET ENGLISH AS THE OFFICIAL U.S. LANGUAGE.

THEY DESCRIBED IT AS A “THINLY-VEILED ATTEMPT” TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST IMMIGRANTS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.

THE CONGRESSIONAL TRI-CAUCUS VOWED TO “FIGHT TO PROTECT AMERICANS’ RIGHT TO ACCESS FEDERAL SERVICES IN ANY LANGUAGE”-

ALTHOUGH SPECIFIC LEGAL CHALLENGES TO THE TRUCKING ORDER HAVE NOT BEEN ANNOUNCED.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M KALE CAREY.