CTA survey reveals some drivers may struggle with English proficiency requirements
One-in-five trucking companies indicated some of their drivers might struggle to comply with English language proficiency (ELP) requirements in the U.S., according to about 100 carriers who responded to the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) survey since May.
An average of 15% of the surveyed fleets indicated drivers could be negatively affected by the change in enforcement, according to a CTA news release.
Under the new guidance, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s longstanding ELP requirements – FMCSR 391.11 (b)(2) – will be given added attention with new non-compliance consequences.
The industry was notified on May 20 that commercial motor vehicle drivers who fail to comply with will be issued a citation and placed out-of-service when the CVSA driver out-of-service (OOS) criteria go into effect June 25; and could potentially have their drivers’ licences disqualified when warranted.
The policy announcement was prompted by a Presidential Executive Order issued in April.
CTA monitoring situation
“The heightened enforcement attention on this issue has been in place since late May. We will be continuing to monitor the situation closely once the OOS goes active mid-next week and will be comparing it to the survey results,” Geoff Wood, CTA’s senior vice-president of policy, said in the release. “While this appears manageable right now, the trucking industry is experiencing the worst freight recession in 40 years. The full impact on Canada-U.S. trade would likely increase as economies improve and demand for freight transportation rises.”
Other than what has been published by FMCSA, there are no additional details from U.S. law enforcement on how drivers will be tested for language proficiency or exactly how enforcement will be applied in various jurisdictions, the release said.
However, it is understood that FMCSA’s intent is to ensure drivers can communicate effectively with enforcement officials and understand highway signage for the safe operation of their commercial vehicle on U.S. roads and highways.
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Where does all this “free” money come from ???
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The cost of training should paid by the industry if they want to keep these truck drivers.
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They should be, and I believe the numbers are a lot higher.
The lack of foresight of some carriers is amazing.
This has been talked about for years now.
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The CTA should be pushing for this type regulation in Canada, the lack of English comprehension or French leads to unsafe highways which makes you wonder how one would get a license without comprehension of the 2 official languages
I think all drivers should be able to communicate, read and write in basic English at the very least.
To be able to communicate with shippers, recievers, other drivers, to ask for directions or help besides the enforcement issue would be a bonus for all drivers.
If these drivers can’t speak english or french well enough to communicate with law enforcement how did they get a drivers license? No one should have any kind of job in Canada if they can’t speak one of our official languages.
English should have been manditory 30 years ago!
We bend the rules too much for ” New Canadians”. I lost count of how many different languages the written portion of the class A exam in Ontario. This option would not be given in their home lands. We speak English or French in Canada whats the problem with them learning our languages. The CTA is pushing technology for these folks that cannot speak or understand English. Really these folks got nothing better to do than come up with more excuses for not learning the language. I supposed the CTA has another technology to help them write english?. Instead of coming up with B/S, maybe the CTA pushing these folks to learn the language might be a help. Besides these people have their own “Trucking Association” because they wanted nothing to do with the OTA/CTA. That law should be enforced in Canada, some of these drivers cannot even read the switch labels on the dash.
Instead of crying about it, carriers should pay a living wage to Canadian drivers instead of importing drivers who can’t drive or speak English!
The CTA needs to work with the trucking companies that have these drivers to set up classes to teach English better and more training
With a number of trucking companies having laid off truck drivers in the past 19 months and many that have a hiring freeze need to.sit down with the fed gov and pay out of work trucks drivers a max of $700 per week of single or bo dependants in Canada or $800 per week if dependants in Canada and and they could get additional training until they are up to speed in English or and French and other required or relevant course reimbursement because of the surpluses of truck drivers and limit foreign truck drivers to higher wage streams