This week, President Trump signed an executive order requiring commercial truck drivers in the United States to be proficient in English.
The text of the order also recognizes the essential role that truck drivers play in the U.S. economy and livelihood.
“Every day, truckers perform the demanding and dangerous work of transporting the Nation’s goods to businesses, customers, and communities safely, reliably, and efficiently,” reads the order signed by Trump.
In an EO last March, the president had designated English as the official language of the US. This week, he instead explained that English language proficiency should be non-negotiable for professional drivers.
“They should be able to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with traffic safety, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station officers,” the new ordinance reads, “Drivers need to provide feedback to their employers and customers and receive related directions in English. This is common sense.”
The president added that, “My Administration will enforce the law to protect the safety of American truckers, drivers, passengers, and others, including by upholding the safety enforcement regulations that ensure that anyone behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle is properly qualified and proficient in our national language, English.”
The order states that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is to issue new guidelines on English language proficiency testing and related enforcement policies.
Violation of the requirement would automatically place a driver “out of service.”
“You might not know, but there’s a lot of communication problems between truckers on the road with federal officials and local officials, as well, which obviously is a public safety risk,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt finally explained in an attempt to justify the latest order signed by Trump.
