Federal Funding at Risk for Several States Over Truck Driver Language Proficiency

California, Washington, and New Mexico could face significant federal funding losses if they do not enforce English language requirements for truck drivers, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

Duffy announced that these states have a 30-day period to comply with the federal English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements. This announcement follows an investigation into a fatal accident in Florida where a truck driver, reportedly an illegal immigrant, executed an unauthorized U-turn.

“This is about keeping people safe on the road. We need to ensure that truck drivers understand road signs and have adequate training,” Duffy emphasized, highlighting the safety of all road users.

The investigation centers around an August 12 crash that involved 28-year-old Harjinder Singh, who, according to officials, is from India and is unlawfully present in the U.S. Singh’s truck collided with a minivan, resulting in the deaths of all three passengers inside.

Following the crash, Singh failed the commercial driver’s license (CDL) test, further shedding light on potential issues with his licensing procedures. Duffy noted that Singh had obtained his CDL in California and Washington and was pulled over in New Mexico for speeding, despite his inability to communicate in English.

Since the ELP requirement was established in June, states were expected to ensure that drivers lacking proficiency in English would be removed from service. However, Duffy criticized California, Washington, and New Mexico for their lax enforcement of this crucial safety rule.

If these states do not act within the given timeframe, California could lose $33 million, while Washington and New Mexico might face losses of $10.5 million and $7 million, respectively. Duffy warned of further consequences if compliance is not achieved, stating, “We don’t want to take money from states, but we will if necessary.”