No English, No Trucking: FMCSA pulls over 1,200 drivers

The FMCSA has reported that more than 1,200 truck drivers have been removed from U.S. highways for lack of English.

In April, the Department of Transportation announced it would reinstate the mandatory enforcement of English language proficiency (ELP) for all truck drivers in the United States. Through a two-step evaluation process, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) would determine whether drivers meet the requirement or must be placed out of service.

These assessments began on June 25, and to date, the FMCSA has reported that more than 1,200 truck drivers have been removed from U.S. highways due to a lack of English comprehension and communication skills.

The results were published in the FMCSA’s Analysis & Information Online database, which compiles data from roadside inspections. It was also revealed that the vast majority of affected drivers were employed by U.S.-based transportation companies.

FMCSA’s two-phase english evaluations

“If you can\’t read or speak our national language, ENGLISH, we will not allow your truck to endanger other drivers,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a social media post, in which he voiced support for the work of the FMCSA and the Department of Transportation.

The FMCSA’s Analysis & Information Online database shows that over 1,212 actual violations have been recorded for noncompliance with English proficiency requirements—a significant increase in out-of-service (OOS) violations—according to Transport Topics.

To determine whether a driver should be placed out of service, the FMCSA uses a two-part evaluation: the first is an interview with the driver, and the second is a traffic sign recognition test.

According to reports, all roadside inspectors have received specific guidance on how to interview drivers. Every inspection must begin in English. If the driver is unable to understand basic instructions, the inspector is required to conduct an interview to assess their language proficiency and, if necessary, administer the sign recognition test.

In cases where a driver has some comprehension but lacks full command of the language, inspectors are authorized to issue violations indicating that the driver cannot adequately answer official questions, does not understand traffic signage, or otherwise fails to meet all language requirements. It is essential that inspectors thoroughly document the reasons for issuing any OOS violations related to language proficiency.

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Regions with the most english proficiency violations

Another key finding by the FMCSA shows that 99% of commercial vehicles cited for English proficiency violations are registered in the United States. In contrast, carriers based in Canada and Mexico each accounted for roughly half a percent of the violations.

To pinpoint the areas with the highest rates of noncompliance, the FMCSA divided the country into four regions. These were the results reported by the agency:

• Western Region – 412 violations for lack of English proficiency
• Southern Region – 364 violations for lack of English proficiency
• Midwestern Region – 273 violations for lack of English proficiency
• Eastern Region – 163 violations for lack of English proficiency

According to FMCSA data and information shared by Transport Topics, the Western Region also recorded the highest number of violations for failure to understand road signs and traffic signals in english, with 68 incidents, followed by the Southern Region with 65, the Midwest with 41, and the Eastern Region with 25.

The FMCSA will continue administering these evaluations. You can find free resources for learning English at the following link.

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