Transportation Secretary Threatens Funding for States Over Language Requirement
WASHINGTON (TNND) — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that California, Washington, and New Mexico could face the loss of federal funding unless they enforce the English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirement for commercial truck drivers within 30 days.
Duffy stated that this initiative is crucial for road safety, emphasizing the need for truck drivers to understand road signs and communicate effectively with law enforcement. “This is about keeping people safe on the road, your families, your kids,” he said.
California could lose $30 million, Washington $10 million, and New Mexico $7 million from the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP). Duffy previously signed an order reinforcing ELP standards, aiming to disqualify drivers who do not meet the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's requirements.
California identified around 34,000 inspection violations since implementing the new standards; however, only one involved a driver being removed for failing to comply with English language rules. Washington reported over 6,000 safety violations but only four related to language proficiency. New Mexico has not removed any drivers under the new rules.
The urgency follows a deadly crash allegedly involving an undocumented truck driver in Florida who failed to adhere to safety regulations. Authorities reported this driver had obtained commercial licenses in states despite his undocumented status and struggled with basic English comprehension during testing.
Duffy reiterated the importance of language skills for truck operation, asserting that states must comply with federal guidelines to avoid severe penalties.