The Trump administration’s Executive Order requiring English literacy tests for truckers has sparked debate over safety versus access in the transportation industry.
At a Glance
- Trump’s new Executive Order mandates English literacy tests for truck drivers in the United States
- Communication issues between non-English speaking drivers and officials pose serious public safety risks on American roads
- Statistics show a year-over-year increase in accidents involving immigrant drivers since 2016, with a notable spike after 2021
- The trucking industry is undergoing significant changes with many American companies closing while immigrant driver numbers remain steady
- English proficiency is deemed crucial for understanding road signs, weather reports, and communication with law enforcement
Executive Order Targets Trucking Industry Safety
The Trump administration has introduced an Executive Order aimed at addressing growing concerns over safety in the American trucking industry amid increased immigration. The order specifically mandates English literacy tests for truck drivers operating in the United States. Karoline Leavitt, representing the administration, confirmed the order will direct “the Department of Transportation to include English literacy tests for our truckers,” focusing on language requirements as a key safety component for professional drivers navigating American highways.
The Executive Order comes at a time when the trucking industry faces significant transformation. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, which initially created a surge in demand for trucking services, the industry has since entered what experts describe as a freight recession. This economic shift has forced many established American trucking companies out of business while the number of immigrant drivers has reportedly remained stable, creating a changing demographic in the industry’s workforce.
Communication Barriers Create Highway Hazards
Industry experts point to communication barriers as a critical safety issue on American highways. “This is a big problem in the trucking community, that unless you’re in that community, 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,” explained Karoline Leavitt.
“We have all these extra drivers on the roads who do not speak English, and that’s sort of a problem given that the language of the road is English. All your highway signs are in English, all your weather reports are in English, all of your enforcement officers are in English,” said Gord Magill.
Gord Magill, a professional trucker and author familiar with the industry’s challenges, emphasizes that these language barriers can have deadly consequences. When drivers cannot understand critical safety instructions, weather warnings, or communicate effectively with law enforcement during traffic stops or inspections, the risk of accidents increases substantially. The industry has reported a troubling correlation between the Biden administration’s “trucking action plan” and rising accident statistics involving commercial vehicles.
Rising Accident Rates Raise Concerns
Data presented by industry observers indicates a concerning trend: accidents involving immigrant drivers have shown a year-over-year increase since 2016, with a particularly notable rise beginning in 2021. This timeline coincides with significant policy changes affecting immigration and transportation regulations, leading many industry veterans to call for stricter safety standards including language proficiency requirements.
“Will be an order directing the Department of Transportation to include English literacy tests for our truckers,” Karoline Leavitt said.
The Executive Order has not been without controversy. Some industry groups have expressed concern about potential worker shortages if stringent language requirements are implemented too quickly. Meanwhile, safety advocates point to the necessity of such measures to protect all road users. The situation illustrates the complex interplay between immigration policy, labor markets, and public safety regulations that continues to shape the American trucking industry’s future.
