LINDEN, New Jersey (AP) — At a trucking school in New Jersey, students are actively honing their driving skills, maneuvering 18-wheelers around cones while others perform essential safety checks under the hoods. Instructors utilize a bilingual approach, seamlessly switching between Spanish and English to assist students like Manuel Castillo, a native Spanish speaker, in preparing for roadside inspections by practicing English phrases through printed scripts.
The urgency for improving English proficiency among current and future truck drivers has increased following President Donald Trump’s executive order stating that those who cannot read and speak English proficiently will be deemed unfit for service. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reinforced this point last month, asserting that drivers lacking English comprehension would be prohibited from operating commercial vehicles in the U.S.
The updated regulations from the U.S. Department of Transportation are aimed at enhancing road safety, particularly after incidents where drivers' inability to understand English signs may have led to fatal accidents. The new directive mandates enhanced inspections to evaluate whether commercial vehicle operators can respond to queries and comprehend highway signs.
Many truck drivers who acquired English as a second language are anxious about potential job loss due to language proficiency assessments that could penalize those with heavy accents or slight errors in communication. Companies are now seeing an influx of truckers attending classes, rehearsing scripts, and viewing instructional videos to build their English fluency.
Jerry Maldonado, chairman of the board of the Laredo Motor Carriers Association, expressed concern about the subjective nature of language proficiency evaluations by inspectors. He noted that a lack of confidence in speaking English could make drivers nervous during inspections, depending on the officer's interpretation of their skills.
The English proficiency requirement isn’t entirely novel; however, the intensity of enforcement has ramped up significantly. Aspiring truck drivers must pass a written test and identify various vehicle parts in English during their training. Prior to this policy revision, drivers who struggled with English could receive a citation but were not barred from working. The updated guidelines have reverted to stricter enforcement reminiscent of earlier regulations that necessitated drivers to be proficient in English.
The Transportation Department is committed to improving road safety, expressing concerns regarding instances where truck drivers misinterpreted critical instructions due to language barriers. Maldonado's association in Laredo has initiated weekend English classes aimed at reducing communication issues and enhancing driver safety.
In Linden, the Driving Academy employs multilingual instructors who provide instruction in students' native languages and transition to English for practice and comprehension. Students are encouraged to utilize training videos and language apps, creating a more immersive learning environment to boost their English language skills on the road.
As the new guidelines take effect, roadside inspections are set to follow stricter protocols, requiring inspectors to administer an English proficiency test if they suspect a driver’s comprehension abilities are inadequate. The updated policy eliminates the usage of translators or any aids during interviews, thereby emphasizing the necessity for direct communication in English.
Despite mixed opinions, several truck drivers at the Flying J Travel Center in New Jersey have shown support for the executive order. They argue that reliance on translation programs can hinder a driver's ability to navigate critical road signs. However, a significant concern remains regarding the potential for discrimination, particularly against drivers who speak English with an accent or are unfamiliar with specific vocabulary that inspectors might expect.
Mannirmal Kaur from the Sikh Coalition expressed apprehension about inspectors making arbitrary judgments on drivers' English proficiency, which could result in severe consequences for those affected. The ambiguity surrounding the evaluation process raises important questions about fairness and consistency in how English language compliance is assessed across a diverse driver population.
