Non-English speaking truck drivers find reprieve in California

SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — Truck drivers who aren’t proficient in English apparently are experiencing leniency when driving through California.

Alfonso Millán Chávez, of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation in Baja California, says truckers in California are only getting warnings and are not losing privileges to drive should they fail a basic English evaluation.

“Authorities in California aren’t being as strict as those in Texas or New Mexico,” he said.

Back in April, President Trump signed an executive order to enforce a law that mandates all truck drivers have enough English skills to understand road signs and communicate with law enforcement when north of the border.

According to Millán Chávez, drivers who are brought in for truck-safety inspections done by the California Highway Patrol, are receiving basic verbal English assessments, those who fail are issued a warning and told to work on improving their English.

“They aren’t being stopped or taken off service, if a driver seems stuck or doesn’t know how to answer, that’s when they get the warning.”

Many truck companies and the National Chamber of Freight Transportation in Tijuana, are offering classes to drivers on weekends as a way to get them familiar with the English language.

“We are respectful and mindful of the new regulations, we’re working to find ways to solve this problem helping truck companies and their drivers.”