California is letting drivers off with a warning if they fail an English proficiency assessment, industry leaders say

Truck drivers who fail an English proficiency evaluation are being let off with a warning in the state of California, Mexican trucking industry leaders say. 

Since the last week of June, an Executive Order has made English proficiency a priority for truck drivers. This means that the inability to pass an english language proficiency assessment is now grounds for being placed out of service. 

As of July 30th, approximately 1,500 truck drivers had been placed out of service for failing to exhibit sufficient proficiency in English. However, trucking industry leaders in the state of California say that state officials are being more lenient with the new rules. 

“Authorities in California aren’t being as strict as those in Texas or New Mexico,” said Alfonso Millán Chávez of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation in Baja California, Mexico. Chávez says that truck drivers operating in California are receiving only a warning and instructions to work on learning English if they do not pass the assessment. 

“They aren’t being stopped or taken off service, if a driver seems stuck or doesn’t know how to answer, that’s when they get the warning,” Chávez said to KTSM.

In Mexico, some trucking companies and trucking industry groups are working to provide english language classes to truck drivers to help them drive legally in the United States. 

“We are respectful and mindful of the new regulations, we’re working to find ways to solve this problem helping truck companies and their drivers,” Chávez added.