President Donald Trump's requirement that truck drivers be proficient in English has led to 6,000 truck drivers being sidelined since it took effect in May.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy issued the guidance that roadside inspections would be conducted only in English, and drivers who didn't seem proficient in English would face a two-step evaluation.
If drivers failed the evaluation, they were immediately out of service, rather than just getting a citation and being expected to improve.
Trucking companies and civil rights groups have pushed back on the regulation, saying that research has not shown English proficiency to lower crash risk.
Most recently, the Transportation Department has said it will withhold $40 million in federal highway and safety grants from California, accusing the state of not enforcing the new rules.
The state stands to lose another $160 million if it can't show compliance in the future.
California argued back that its accident rates are below the national average as well as claiming that it is enforcing safety rules.
Other states that have been warned include New Mexico and Washington.
The rule really isn't new, it's just a stronger enforcement of federal regulation 49 C.F.R. § 391.11(b)(2), a statute that has long required commercial drivers to "speak and read the English language sufficiently" that they can hold a conversation with the public, understand highway signage, respond to official inquiries, and complete reports.
Trucking companies have responded by implementing English trainings and assessments to help drivers come into compliance with the rule. They are also implementing contingency plans for if drivers fail inspections and are taken out of service.
Senate Republicans are looking to codify the rule into legislation so that it can't be challenged in the courts--or at least it would be more difficult to do so.
The downside of 6,000 fewer truck drivers could be supply chain problems, because that's 6,000 fewer trucks that could be delivering goods to stores and warehouses.
It does make sense to require English proficiency because road signs are in English and different situations could require a knowledge of English.
Sometimes a new rule is difficult at first, but is a benefit in the long run. It seems like this is one of those rules.
