Transportation Secretary Takes Action Against California
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday that he will withhold $40 million from California, citing its failure to enforce English language requirements for truck drivers.
Investigation Findings
An investigation was initiated following a fatal crash in Florida involving a foreign truck driver making an illegal U-turn on August 12. Duffy pointed to significant shortcomings in California’s enforcement of regulations that became effective in June, following an executive order from President Donald Trump. The state had granted the driver a commercial license, despite the English proficiency rules being in place prior to the incident.
Safety Concerns Raised
According to Duffy, truck drivers who cannot demonstrate English proficiency should be disqualified. He emphasized that the driver in the crash should not have been issued a commercial license due to his immigration status. The incident has sparked political controversy, with California and Florida governors exchanging criticism and Duffy underlining immigration implications in media interviews.
California’s Defense
California defended its practices in a formal response to the Transportation Department last month, yet federal officials were not satisfied. In response to Duffy’s announcement, Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a spokesperson for California Governor Gavin Newsom, highlighted that commercial truck drivers in California have a lower crash rate compared to the national average.
Inspection Results
Duffy stated that since the new language standards were implemented, California had conducted about 34,000 inspections, discovering numerous violations, but only one concerning English proficiency resulted in a driver being taken out of service. Additionally, 23 drivers with violations from other states were permitted to continue driving following inspections in California.
Funding Reinstatement Conditions
The Transportation Department announced that California must implement regulations to enforce English proficiency rules and ensure state inspectors assess drivers’ language skills during roadside checks to have the withheld funds reinstated. Alongside the English language issue, Duffy has signaled plans to revoke an additional $160 million from California due to issues in the commercial driver license issuance process.
Details of the Fatal Crash
The crash resulted in three fatalities when truck driver Harjinder Singh executed an illegal U-turn, leading to a minivan colliding with his trailer. While Singh and his passenger were unharmed, Singh is currently being held without bond on charges of vehicular homicide and immigration violations. Investigators have since scrutinized his immigration status and noted that he failed an English proficiency test post-incident.
