Unlicensed Truck Drivers and Safety Violations: Do we need more oversight from FMCSA?

[389 Hood]

But at least someone is addressing the issue.

It was already addressed long ago. The problem is enforcement. How can you enforce a Federal law when the individual states mandate the laws on obtaining a drivers license or CDL? In Florida, you can get any ID, drivers license, CDL, CCP, etc... without having to speak English. The tests are given in a variety of languages. I believe there 20 or more off the top of my head.

It's like anything the government meddles in. The laws are on the books, but are not enforced. Then some schmendrick politician comes along and wants to draft the same law all over again with different wording. Now he's hailed as The Almighty.

Go watch a puppy or kitten chase its tail. It's the same thing, just going round and round.

 

[Shreck]

It was already addressed long ago. The problem is enforcement. How can you enforce a Federal law when the individual states mandate the laws on obtaining a drivers license or CDL? In Florida, you can get any ID, drivers license, CDL, CCP, etc... without having to speak English. The tests are given in a variety of languages. I believe there 20 or more off the top of my head.

It's like anything the government meddles in. The laws are on the books, but are not enforced. Then some schmendrick politician comes along and wants to draft the same law all over again with different wording. Now he's hailed as The Almighty.

Go watch a puppy or kitten chase its tail. It's the same thing, just going round and round.

Could be but what do you suggest? That we give up completely?

 

[Electric Chicken]

Could be but what do you suggest? That we give up completely?

Sting operations at guard shacks.

 

[Mike]

It’s about time.

Glad to see it, though it has been the rule for decades. It was an Obama memorandum that stopped the enforcement of it and the woke nonsense that overtook America prevented anyone from reversing it..... Until Now.

The rules have always been in place, and it seems like multiple states are more than happy to begin immediate enforcement of it.

 

[Mike]

It's going to be real interesting as to how they plan on implementing this rule.

How to instantly eliminate 50% of the trucking workforce!

I think the number is much closer to 1%.

 

[Electric Chicken]

I think the number is much closer to 1%.

It's hard to know who understands the language and who doesn't without meeting them but if foot on the dash and lack of lane discipline are any indication I'd put it closer to 15%.

 

[Rigjockey]

Some cross border truckers based out of Brampton will get shut down at the scale because they are TFWs and LMIA workers and some don't speak or read English.
Also they don't hold a Canadian or American citizenship. IMO you should hold at least one citizenship/passport from either country.

 

[Rigjockey]

Just a side note about those that will be enforcing these rules at the scale...
We have one document that is written in both English and French, same information, different languages, English on the left and French on the right.
Well, the scale master was not happy about that! He said these permits need to be in American!!!
English was not good enough for him.

 

[389 Hood]

Just a side note about those that will be enforcing these rules at the scale...
We have one document that is written in both English and French, same information, different languages, English on the left and French on the right.
Well, the scale master was not happy about that! He said these permits need to be in American!!!
English was not good enough for him.

Another rocket scientist. We compete for the same air as these idiots.

@harryhimalton I agree. That's why I said to watch a puppy or kitten chase it's tail. You 'industry resource' link wasn't a link. It only came up italicized. Many people here, although going to many different parts of our countries don't always reside in heavy immigrant populations. The Cuban, Puerto Rican, Haitian and Latin American culture is very heavy here in Florida. Taking many of them out of their communities would devastate them. They'd be lost because they can't speak English.

 

[freedhardwoods]

Sting operations at guard shacks.

I have loaded at 2 different places recently that had signs saying "If you don't speak English, you won't be loaded".

 

[Rigjockey]

Where I used to work, I would see drivers come in and hold up a phone with the load information. If there was a problem with the load information, they would have to call someone that could translate.

Q) Why is English important for a driver in N. America when the signs are international pictograms?
A) Because we had a driver on the 401 that could not read English on the illuminated construction sign that said, Construction ahead right lane closed and did not slow down or move over and killed a bunch of people.

Not all signs are in international pictograms! Those illuminated sign that flash two paragraphs of information are hard enough to read for someone fluent in English to read as you pass by it at 55-60 MPH.

 

[Duck]

I have loaded at 2 different places recently that had signs saying "If you don't speak English, you won't be loaded".

How would they even know what the sign says?

 

[Uncle Birchy]

How would they even know what the sign says?

I always wondered that too.

At a truckstop these "Foreigners" cant speak "English "

How can they "Read" the Road Signs in "English"

Furthermore "DOT" Rules Regulations "Required" that when ya signed your "CDL" ya could speak & read "English" language.

I Wonder how half these guys today can read a Road Sign or do they just got Auto Pilot and GPS getting em there