Alabama truck drivers support executive order requiring them to read, speak English proficiently
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - An executive order took into effect on Wednesday, re-establishing harsher penalties for commercial truckers who can’t read or speak English proficiently.
President Trump signed an executive order in April saying truckers who can’t read or speak English proficiently will be put “out of service”.
This regulation had been in place for decades up until 2016. The Obama administration then allowed truckers who were evaluated in roadside inspections at weigh stations to be inept in English and only receive a citation.
As of Wednesday, the older regulations are back in place. Drivers who violate the law will now have their license taken away entirely.
Some truckers in Alabama say people who can’t read road signs or communicate with police aren’t fit to drive these heavy trucks, as they put themselves and everyone else in danger.
CEO of the Alabama Trucking Association Mark Colson says this allows commercial truck drivers to be held to the highest standard.
“Alabama truckers represent the highest quality in our industry,” Colson said. “They can’t afford to hire people who can’t proficiently drive a truck or communicate in English because of the litigation environment that’s out there.”
Local trucker Jose Reyes agrees, saying this order is necessary after seeing several horrible truck crashes involving drivers who don’t speak English.
“There was one in Colorado and one in West Virginia, I believe, that were tragic. It was terrible,” Reyes said. “And if this helps prevent another situation like that, then it’s a good thing, and I think any professional driver on the road would agree with that.”
But as a non-native English speaker, Reyes says it’s harder than one may think to judge a driver’s English proficiency in an inspection.
He says in his experience, all truck drivers will be nervous heading into an inspection. When those who aren’t fully confident in their English-speaking abilities go into an inspection, they may make some mistakes in their speech.
“Law enforcement is going to be able to, have to really look at that and say, ‘Okay, wait a minute. Hey, take a step back. Take a couple deep breaths. I’m going to ask you the question again, and let’s move forward,’” he said. “But if it’s something they’re going to use to automatically red flag people or automatically disqualify people, I think that’s going to be a big problem.”
Reyes’ other concern is that stereotypes may come into play during inspections. But in his experience, all inspectors have been professional and treated him with respect.
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