Trump signs English proficiency order for truck drivers

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday night tasking transportation officials to crack down on illegally licensed truck drivers, specifically drivers who can’t proficiently read or speak English.

What did the order say? The administration insisted that English proficiency is an essential safety requirement for understanding traffic signage and communicating with police and workers at cargo checkpoints. The order rescinded previous guidance that the White House said watered down the law requiring English proficiency for truck drivers. It also ordered U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy to review driver’s licenses to ensure all non-domiciled truck drivers meet the language requirement and are otherwise qualified. Additionally, the order required Duffy to take administrative action to improve working conditions for U.S. truck drivers.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described truck drivers as the backbone of America while addressing the impending order earlier in the day. Truckers communicate a lot with each other and law enforcement while on the road, so not being able to speak English is a major problem on the road, she said.

When did this policy stop being enforced? Previously, drivers who could not meet standards for English communication were placed out of service. Regulators at the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance voted to stop enforcing this policy in 2015. The next year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration followed suit and also stopped placing non-proficient English speakers out of service, according to an office memo. Drivers may use tools like smartphone apps and cue cards to facilitate necessary communication, the memo noted.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has fought for years to bring back the language standards. OOIDA President Todd Spencer insisted that it didn’t matter where people came from, only that they could communicate on the road. He also noted that with regulators no longer enforcing the policy, companies have been able to take advantage of non-English speaking drivers and pay them less.

Did Trump sign any additional executive orders? The president signed an executive order targeting so-called sanctuary states and cities that refuse to cooperate with federal authorities on immigration law enforcement. The executive order required the attorney general and the secretary of homeland security to publish a list of sanctuary jurisdictions and give them a chance to comply with federal immigration enforcement measures. Those jurisdictions that refuse to comply risk loss of federal funding, according to the White House.

Trump also signed an executive order the White House said would strengthen protections for law enforcement agencies that are cracking down on crime. Among other things, the order prioritized increasing federal funding for higher benefits, pay, training, and legal protections for law enforcement officers.