Transportation Secretary Withholds $40 Million from California
On Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the decision to withhold $40 million from California, the only state not enforcing English language requirements for truck drivers.
Investigation Post-Accident
This decision follows an investigation triggered by a fatal accident in Florida, involving a foreign truck driver who made an illegal U-turn. Duffy cited major shortcomings in California’s enforcement of new rules, established in June after an executive order from President Trump. Notably, the state had issued a commercial license to the driver, despite the pre-existing English proficiency requirements.
Driver Disqualification and Licensing Issues
According to Duffy, truckers should be disqualified if they do not show proficiency in English. He remarked that the driver involved in the accident should not have had a commercial license due to immigration issues. This incident has become a contentious political issue, with accusations exchanged between California and Florida governors and Duffy emphasizing the administrative concerns regarding immigration.
California’s Defense and Response
In response to the Transportation Department’s actions, California defended its practices last month; however, it did not satisfy federal officials. A spokesperson for Governor Gavin Newsom countered Duffy’s claims by highlighting that California’s commercial truck drivers have a lower accident rate compared to the national average.
Inspection Findings
Despite California’s defense, Duffy noted that since the new language standards began, roughly 34,000 inspections revealed numerous violations, but only one case involved an English proficiency issue leading to a driver being taken out of service. In another instance, 23 drivers with violations in other states were permitted to continue driving in California.
Regulatory Conditions for Funding
The Transportation Department stated that California must implement regulations enforcing English proficiency for truck drivers and ensure that inspectors evaluate these skills during roadside checks to restore the lost funding.
Tragic Accident Details
The scrutiny around the crash intensified due to questions regarding the truck driver’s immigration status and his failure of an English proficiency test post-accident. Harjinder Singh, the driver, faces multiple charges, including vehicular homicide, after a minivan collided with his trailer during an illegal U-turn. California officials maintain that Singh had a valid work permit and was legally present in the U.S. at the time of the accident.
