President Donald Trump enacted an executive order on Monday, mandating that truck drivers in the United States demonstrate proficiency in English, the nation's official language.
This initiative, as disclosed by Breitbart News, underscores the administration's commitment to ensuring that those operating commercial vehicles are adequately equipped to communicate effectively in English.
According to Breitbart, a White House document detailing the executive order emphasizes the necessity for commercial drivers to possess English language skills. The document asserts, President Trump believes that English is a non-negotiable safety requirement for professional drivers, as they should be able to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with traffic safety officers, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station personnel, and provide and receive feedback and directions in English.
This move is part of a broader strategy to enhance road safety and ensure that drivers can navigate the complexities of the nation's transportation system.
The order will instruct Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to overhaul current guidelines, strengthening inspection procedures to enforce English proficiency standards. The document highlights that the existing federal requirement for commercial drivers to read and speak English has been largely unenforced for years. The new directive will revise out-of-service criteria, ensuring that drivers who fail to meet English proficiency standards are removed from service, thereby bolstering roadway safety.
In addition to language proficiency, Secretary Duffy will be tasked with assessing the protocols for verifying the authenticity of commercial driver's licenses (CDLs). The executive order also calls for improvements in the working conditions of truck drivers through various administrative, regulatory, or enforcement measures.
This initiative follows President Trump's previous executive action in March, which sought to establish English as the official language of the United States. The order articulated the benefits of such a designation, stating, "To promote unity, cultivate a shared American culture for all citizens, ensure consistency in government operations, and create a pathway to civic engagement, it is in Americas best interest for the Federal Government to designate one and only one official language. Establishing English as the official language will not only streamline communication but also reinforce shared national values, and create a more cohesive and efficient society."
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