Legislative Moves to Enforce English-Only CDL Testing
WASHINGTON — A set of interlinked bills introduced in the U.S. Senate reveals lawmakers’ effort to enhance the likelihood that testing for commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) will be conducted solely in English, potentially leading to new legislation.
Introduction of the Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act
The most recent proposal is the Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act, which was unveiled on Thursday by Senator Tom Cotton, R-Ark.
This legislation mandates that all tests for obtaining or renewing a CDL must be undertaken exclusively in English. Additionally, it empowers the Transportation Secretary to suspend or revoke a state’s ability to issue non-domiciled CDLs if they fail to meet federal standards. The bill also stipulates a requirement for applicants to hold a standard driver’s license for one year prior to acquiring a CDL.
House Companion Legislation
In the House, Representative Andy Barr, R-Ky., has introduced a corresponding bill.
“For everyone’s safety, it is essential to be able to read and comprehend English road signs while operating a commercial vehicle. Our bill demands that commercial drivers pass their tests in English,” Cotton mentioned in a press release.
Integration of Restrictive CDL Measures
Cotton and Barr’s bill, backed by Senators Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., and Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., essentially consolidates two important, restrictive CDL initiatives previously introduced by Senator Roger Marshall, R-Kan. in June and by Senator Ashley Moody, R-Fla. in September. This comprehensive legislation, which includes a new one-year waiting period, serves as a primary vehicle for these initiatives.
Contingency Plans for Political Gridlock
If the comprehensive bill faces delays owing to partisan disagreements over immigration-related provisions concerning non-domiciled CDLs, it can be disentangled and reattached as an amendment to Marshall’s bill, which calls for the CDL knowledge test to be administered exclusively in English.
Related Legislative Efforts
The Senate’s multi-bill approach regarding English proficiency testing for CDLs aligns with similar pursuits by lawmakers in both the House and Senate aimed at preventing non-English proficient truck drivers from operating vehicles. One such initiative, Connor’s Law, submitted earlier this week in the House and in May in the Senate, requires that individuals demonstrate the ability to “read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, understand highway traffic signs and signals in English, respond to official inquiries, and complete reports and records,” for obtaining a CDL.
The Need for Bipartisan Support
As it stands, none of the bills have garnered Democratic support, which will be essential for passage unless the provisions can be included in “must-pass” legislation, such as funding reauthorizations for highways or continuing resolutions.
