DOT Secretary Expands English Enforcement
In a cable interview with Fox News, Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy says that he is turning the screws even further on the trucking industry in regards to enforcing English proficiency as a rule of the road. First, it was going after the truck drivers themselves. Then, it was going after the states that enabled them. Now, the DOT is going one step further by holding shippers accountable if they willingly enter into a contract involving a driver who is not proficient at English.
Details
A shipper looking for a good deal on getting goods hauled may want to think twice, as Sean Duffy says negative consequences are in store for those who knowingly abet drivers who cannot understand the language of the road.
“A company can’t hire someone and then do so knowing that they can’t speak English. Huge problem. They should go through their own instruction course to make sure you have a well-qualified driver. And by the way, if you don’t do that, your insurance rates will go through the roof. So we’re going to hold them to account,” he said when appearing on the Will Cain Show.
He continued, “I also think we have to take a look at shippers, people who load up these rigs and send them across the country. There’s a lot of interaction between the shipper and the trucker. If you can’t speak English, those should be held to account. Say, listen, not going to put my load on that truck with that driver because they’re breaking the law.”
The news comes hot on the heels of a recent string of casualties stemming from trucking accidents where the driver did not understand English.
Conclusion
As the Department of Transportation continues to ramp up the enforcement of being able to understand America’s signs in the name of safety, the question that remains is if there are any screws left to tighten. By putting the fire underneath the trucking drivers and companies, the regulators of CDLs, and of business associates, it is hard to say what else Duffy and the DOT can employ to get the industry to better facilitate the English proficiency requirement.
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