Crackdown on English Proficiency: Over 270 Arizona Truck Drivers Removed from Roads

More than 270 truck drivers in Arizona have been removed from the roads for failing English proficiency tests. This action is part of a crackdown by the Trump administration on enforcing federal language requirements for commercial drivers.

Since June, the U.S. Department of Transportation has conducted roadside tests to ensure that commercial truck drivers can speak and read basic English. According to reports, around 6,000 truck drivers nationwide have been pulled off the road as a result of this enforcement.

The push for increased enforcement followed a tragic incident where an undocumented immigrant caused a deadly crash. The Department of Transportation emphasizes the importance of truck drivers being able to read road signs and communicate with law enforcement.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defended the need for these exams, referencing an August incident in Florida where a commercial truck driver made an illegal U-turn on the freeway, which resulted in the deaths of three people. That driver, an Indian national, had obtained a commercial driver’s license in both Washington State and California despite being in the country illegally.

While the Transportation Department believes roadside tests are necessary, some analysts argue that there is no evidence linking English proficiency to accidents involving commercial truck drivers. There are concerns that Latino drivers, who represent more than 15% of the industry, may be unfairly targeted by law enforcement administering these tests.