States at Risk of Losing Federal Funding Over English Proficiency Enforcement for Truckers

California, Washington, and New Mexico are facing the potential loss of substantial federal funding due to their inadequate enforcement of English Language Proficiency (ELP) regulations for truck drivers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made this announcement, emphasizing that these states have a 30-day deadline to comply with federal ELP requirements, following an investigation of a tragic accident in Florida that involved a truck driver who was in the country illegally and had limited English skills.

Duffy highlighted the importance of road safety, stressing that all drivers, particularly those operating large trucks, must be able to comprehend road signs and receive proper training. The serious incident referenced occurred on August 12, when Harjinder Singh, a 28-year-old truck driver who hails from India, allegedly made an illegal U-turn in Florida, leading to a fatal collision with a minivan that resulted in the deaths of all three passengers.

Following the crash, Singh took a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) exam but failed. Duffy noted that Singh had previously obtained his CDL in California and Washington but was later pulled over for speeding in New Mexico, where he was allowed to continue driving despite being unable to speak English. The ELP rule was established in June, mandating that truck drivers lacking English proficiency must be taken out of service, yet Duffy pointed out that enforcement of this requirement has been minimal in the three states involved.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration chief counsel Jesse Elison confirmed that the states must present a corrective action plan within the given timeframe to avoid losing their funding. California risks losing $33 million, while Washington and New Mexico face potential losses of $10.5 million and $7 million, respectively. Should these states fail to comply, Duffy indicated that they could face further actions, although he chose not to disclose the specific measures that could be taken. He expressed reluctance to withdraw funds but affirmed the necessity of enforcing safety regulations through appropriate methods.