Transportation Secretary Threatens Funding Cuts Over English Proficiency for Truck Drivers
WASHINGTON (TNND) — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned Washington, California, and New Mexico that they could lose federal funding unless they enforce English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements for commercial truck drivers within 30 days.
Duffy emphasized that the initiative aims to ensure road safety by ensuring drivers can understand road signs and communicate with law enforcement. He stated, “This is about keeping people safe on the road, your families, your kids.”
California risks losing $30 million, Washington $10 million, and New Mexico $7 million under the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) if compliance is not achieved. Duffy recently signed an order to enforce ELP requirements, noting that non-compliant drivers will be removed from service.
According to Duffy, California has conducted approximately 34,000 inspections under the new standards but identified only one violation related to English proficiency. In Washington, over 6,000 safety violations were noted, yet only four drivers were pulled for language issues. New Mexico has not removed any drivers for ELP violations since the guidelines took effect.
The announcement follows a recent incident involving Harjinder Singh, an undocumented truck driver linked to a fatal crash in Florida, where three individuals died. Federal investigations reveal that Singh obtained commercial driver's licenses in both Washington and California.
Duffy reiterated the importance of adherence to ELP rules, warning, “Follow the rules established by USDOT in your state or there will be serious consequences.”