Truckers fear job loss as new English language rules take effect – AP News

Report on English Language Proficiency Requirements for Truck Drivers in the United States

Introduction

At a trucking school in Linden, New Jersey, students are actively engaged in training to obtain their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). The training includes maneuvering 18-wheelers, performing vehicle safety inspections, and practicing English language phrases essential for roadside inspections. This initiative aligns with the United States Department of Transportation’s (DOT) updated procedures emphasizing English proficiency among commercial vehicle operators.

Context and Policy Update

Following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump, truck drivers who cannot read and speak English proficiently are now considered unfit for service. This policy aims to enhance road safety by ensuring that drivers can understand and respond to instructions, traffic signs, and electronic message boards effectively.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated, “A driver who can’t understand English will not drive a commercial vehicle in this country. Period.” The enforcement guidelines took effect recently, mandating stricter English language proficiency standards for truck and bus drivers engaged in interstate commerce.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – By improving communication and comprehension among truck drivers, the policy aims to reduce traffic accidents and fatalities.
• SDG 4: Quality Education – The provision of English language classes and multilingual instruction supports lifelong learning opportunities for all.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Ensuring language proficiency promotes safer working conditions and supports sustained economic growth through safer transportation networks.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Multilingual training programs help bridge language barriers, promoting inclusivity within the trucking industry.

Training and Language Support Initiatives

In Laredo, Texas, the Laredo Motor Carriers Association offers free weekend English classes to help truckers improve communication skills. Similarly, the Driving Academy in Linden provides multilingual instruction, combining native language explanations with English practice scripts.

Students and licensed truckers are encouraged to use training videos and language apps to enhance their English proficiency. These educational efforts directly contribute to SDG 4 by fostering inclusive and equitable quality education.

Revised Enforcement Procedures

1. Roadside inspections will assess drivers’ ability to understand and respond to English instructions and recognize highway traffic signs.
2. Inspectors will administer English proficiency tests, including interviews and sign recognition, without the use of interpreters, smartphones, or other aids.
3. Drivers failing to meet proficiency standards may be placed out of service until language deficiencies are corrected.

Concerns and Challenges

• Truck drivers who learned English as a second language express concerns about job security due to potential misinterpretation or accent-related biases during inspections.
• Advocacy groups highlight the risk of discrimination, particularly among minority groups such as Sikh drivers, emphasizing the need for standardized and objective assessment methods.
• The redacted portions of the DOT guidance leave uncertainty about the specific criteria used to determine English proficiency, raising fears of subjective enforcement.

Impact on Road Safety and Economic Activity

The updated English proficiency requirements aim to reduce accidents caused by miscommunication or misunderstanding of traffic signs, thereby enhancing public safety (SDG 3). Improved driver communication supports efficient and reliable transportation systems, which are vital for economic growth and infrastructure development (SDG 8 and SDG 9).

Conclusion

The enforcement of English language proficiency among commercial truck and bus drivers represents a significant policy shift intended to improve road safety and operational efficiency. Through educational support and multilingual training programs, the initiative also promotes equitable access to quality education and decent work opportunities, aligning with multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Ongoing monitoring and inclusive assessment practices will be essential to mitigate concerns regarding discrimination and ensure fair implementation.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article discusses road safety concerns related to truck drivers’ English proficiency, which impacts traffic accidents and fatalities.
2. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Focus on English language learning and training programs for truck drivers to improve communication and safety.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Employment issues for truck drivers related to language proficiency requirements and potential job loss.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Concerns about discrimination against non-native English speakers and minority groups such as Hispanic and Sikh truck drivers.
5. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Improving road safety and traffic management through better communication and compliance with traffic signs.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.6: By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.
2. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Target 4.3: Ensure equal access for all to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.
   • Target 4.6: Ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults achieve literacy and numeracy.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including young people and persons with disabilities.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices.
5. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.2: Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. SDG 3 Indicators
   • Number of road traffic deaths and injuries (implied by the focus on road safety and traffic fatalities).
2. SDG 4 Indicators
   • Proportion of youth and adults achieving proficiency in literacy and numeracy (implied by English proficiency tests and language training).
   • Enrollment rates in vocational and technical education programs (implied by participation in trucking school and English classes).
3. SDG 8 Indicators
   • Employment rate of truck drivers, including those who are non-native English speakers (implied by concerns over job loss due to language requirements).
4. SDG 10 Indicators
   • Incidence of discrimination or barriers faced by minority groups in employment (implied by concerns about subjective English proficiency enforcement and discrimination against Sikh and Hispanic drivers).
5. SDG 11 Indicators
   • Compliance rates with traffic safety regulations and recognition of traffic signs by commercial drivers (implied by English proficiency tests including highway traffic sign recognition).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: apnews.com