Summary
- Sen. Cynthia Lummis to introduce stricter English rules for truckers.
- Drivers must prove their ability to understand signs, communicate in English.
- Bill deems non-compliant drivers "out of service" for safety.
The measure would establish a number of new requirements, such as making sure truck drivers are able to communicate with the general public, comprehend English-language highway traffic signs and signals, reply to official questions, and enter information on reports and records.
Additionally, the bill follows the executive order issued earlier this year by President Donald Trump, which also imposed more stringent English language standards.
In order to increase enforcement of a 2016 amendment enacted under then-President Barack Obama, both Trump's order and Lummis' bill would mandate that anyone operating a commercial motor vehicle who does not adhere to those criteria be declared out of service.
"This legislation will correct the major mistake the Obama administration made in undermining these rules and will codify President Trump’s Executive Order to make our highways safer for all Americans,"
Lummis said.
While English proficiency requirements have existed for truck drivers for decades, a 2016 memo from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration instructed inspectors to give warnings and citations to commercial vehicle drivers who did not meet the English proficiency requirements, rather than place them out of service.
Lummis’ bill, which she and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., plan to introduce, also has a companion version in the House, introduced by Rep. Harriet Haggeman, R-Wyo.
Both are called Connor's Law in honor of 18-year-old Connor Dzion, who was killed in Florida in 2017 when a Canadian truck driver named Yadwinder Sangha crashed into the backed-up traffic.
Similar circumstances occurred earlier this year on August 12, when Harjinder Singh, an illegal Indian immigrant, is accused of hitting and killing three persons in a tractor-trailer while making an illegal U-turn on a Florida highway. All three of the passengers were killed when the trailer jackknifed and struck a minivan.
Legislation filed by Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., would strengthen English language criteria for obtaining a business license and crack down on commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) granted to illegal aliens.
How would enforcement and "out of service" designation work?
During safety inspections, enforcement officers will test commercial drivers’ English proficiency through verbal communication. This includes asking routine questions about trip details, paperwork, and driving factors.
Drivers must demonstrate the ability to read and understand standard traffic signs according to nationally accepted guidelines. Failure to do so can result in immediate enforcement action.
If a driver cannot adequately communicate or fails the language test, inspectors may place the driver "out of service," meaning they are prohibited from operating the commercial vehicle until compliance is demonstrated.