Originally published at: English proficiency rule for truckers shaking up cross-border freight market - FreightWaves
Stricter enforcement of the English language proficiency rule is already having an impact on the freight market between the U.S. and Mexico.
There is no one enforcing it. I talked to some drivers who spoke no English at all, they stated that the authorities are not taking it seriously, no test at all.
And that is another issue that needs to be tackled by this administration. The CVSA is outgrown its pants, in what other public service/safety sector would we be ok with a group deciding what work they will or won’t do? For example, we would not allow Firefighters to come together and decide “Nah we aren’t going to put out house fires anymore, only apartment buildings and factories.” or EMTs deciding that “From this point forward we will respond to Strokes, Car wrecks involving only GM products or local sporting events that give us free admission. If you have a heart attack or something tough luck.” The US gov. makes the rules, the courts decide if they are legal, the State Police and DOT inspectors’ job is to enforce those rules, not decide what ones they like or don’t want to do the work to enforce. The CVSA needs abolished, and the FMCSA needs to come up with an enforcement oversight committee.