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Feds want to tighten law requiring English language from truckers
By Jay Reeves
Associated Press
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Manuel Castillo was driving a truck through Alabama hauling onions and left with a $500 ticket for something he didn't think he was doing: speaking English poorly.

Castillo, who was stopped on his way back to California, said he knows federal law requires him to be able to converse in English with an officer but he thought his language skills were good enough to avoid a ticket.

Still, Castillo said he plans to pay the maximum fine of $500 rather than return to Alabama to fight the ticket.

"It just doesn't seem fair to be ticketed if I wasn't doing anything dangerous on the road," he said.

Federal law requires that anyone with a commercial drivers license speak English well enough to talk with police. Authorities last year issued 25,230 tickets nationwide for violations. Now the federal government is trying to tighten the English requirement, saying the change is needed for safety reasons.

Most states let truckers and bus drivers take at least part of their license tests in languages other than English. But the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has proposed rules requiring anyone applying for a commercial drivers license to speak English during their road test and vehicle inspection. The agency wants to change its rules to eliminate the use of interpreters, and congressional approval isn't required.

Drivers could still take written tests in other languages in states where that is allowed, and they wouldn't have to be completely fluent during the road test, said Bill Quade, an associate administrator with the agency.

"Our requirement is that drivers understand English well enough to respond to a roadside officer and to be able to converse," said Quade, who heads enforcement. Drivers need to be able to communicate with authorities about their loads and their vehicles, he said.

A handful of states and organizations are supporting the change, and no one opposed the new rule in comments submitted to the agency.

The rule change, which Quade said would likely take effect next year, could particularly affect the nation's fast-growing Spanish-speaking population.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated last year that more than 17 percent of the nation's 3.4 million truck drivers were Hispanic, as were more than 11 percent of its 578,000 bus drivers. It's unknown how many speak both Spanish and English.

The issue of English-speaking drivers also could become larger if the Bush administration succeeds with efforts to make it easier for trucks to enter the United States from Mexico. Trucks already are allowed to enter border areas under a pilot program.

An Alabama state trooper thought Castillo, 50, couldn't speak English well enough to drive an 18-wheeler when he was headed back to California from picking up onions in Glennville, Ga. A driver for 20 years, Castillo was stopped in west Alabama for a routine inspection.

Castillo, who says he speaks English at roughly a third-grade level, said he understood when the trooper asked him where he was heading and to see his commercial driver's license and registration. He said he responded in English, though he speaks with an accent.

Castillo wasn't speeding, and the inspection and computer check turned up no offenses, so he was surprised to get a ticket for being a "non-English speaking driver."

"I had heard that Congress had passed that law, so I knew people were getting tickets," he said in an interview in Spanish. "But it didn't seem fair to me because I was communicating fine with him. I don't know a lot of things, but when it comes to my work I understand everything people say to me."

Castillo, a permanent U.S. resident who lives in a farming community near Fresno, said he took his California license test in Spanish because it's the language he's most comfortable speaking.

Jan Mendoza of the California Department of Motor Vehicles said the state gives the written test in both English and Spanish, but the roadside portion of the exam is in English only because of the federal rule.

Limiting the road portion of the CDL test to English-only conversation would help eliminate drivers who don't speak English well enough to talk to an officer on the roadside, Quade said. He sees no conflict in continuing to let applicants take the written test in languages other than English.

"The level of English proficiency we are looking for at the roadside is basic. The (written) CDL is a whole different level. There's multiple choice, fairly in-depth quarters that require more of an understanding of the English language."

English-only testing for commercial licenses is limited to just seven states, according to the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which tracks the issue. Those include Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming and Missouri, which recently passed the rule, according to the group.

The OOIDA supports the English-language rules for commercial drivers, as does the American Trucking Association, said spokesman Clayton Boyce.

"It doesn't require them to be super fluent, just to follow road signs, directions and be able to comply with an officer," said Boyce. "It's not a cultural requirement, it's a safety requirement."

Boyce's group teamed with another industry organization, the Truckload Carrier Association, in recent years in a driver recruitment campaign that included trying to bring more Hispanics into trucking amid a driver shortage.

Deborah Sparks, a spokeswoman for the Truckload Carrier group, said the driver shortage has eased now, she said, but language and driver recruitment could become an issue again.

"Once the economy picks up we'll have a shortage again," she said.

Take a look
Truck driver Manuel Castillo, 50, is shown near the truck he was ticketed in while driving through Alabama July 7. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)
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Reader comments on this story - 23 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

moon mullins wrote on Jul 29, 2008 8:40 PM:

" I grew up next door to a wonderful southern woman who spoke with such a strong drawl no one in my family could understand what she was saying to us. She gradually toned down her drawl. She might have well been a foreigner. What I don't like about this story is that this Alabama cop is the judge, jury and executioner. He made the interpretation of this trucker's English skills. In the mid 1800's the Irish were considered "a foreign invader". For the past 100 years, it has been Mexicans. Give it a rest! We do assimilate. You don't even recognize most Hispanics around you. We don't even speak Spanish. "

Super Grover wrote on Jul 29, 2008 11:46 AM:

" No matter what the hippies say,ENGLISH is the Language of the USA.........
Dont like it ??
TOUGH !!!!!!! Go to canada and talk to some frenchys "

In Japan wrote on Jul 19, 2008 1:16 AM:

" I have a Japanese driver's license. I interviewed with a translator, took the written test in English, and past the practical without speaking much Japanese. I don't need to speak Japanese to drive and I understand the rules of the road and I'm sure I can understand a police officer giving me a ticket even if I can't talk back to him. Should I not be allowed to drive? Lord, some of y'all seem to think that learning a second language is easy. It's easy to learn what you need for everyday life, but complicated topics, it's easier to operate in your native language. "

ES wrote on Jul 17, 2008 7:02 PM:

" I think it is interesting that you all think that English is the National Language, when there is no such thing. Perhaps the National Language should be Kohokian or Sioux or Illini or something like that. You posters understand that your families came here as immigrants, right? I agree with mdorf4, an officer with a bias could be very disciminate on how he or she enforces this law. "

OPEN EYES wrote on Jul 17, 2008 4:50 PM:

" I THINK THIS LAW SHOULD BE ENACTED NOT JUST FOR COMMERCIAL LICENSE BUT ALL DRIVER'S LICENSE. WHY DO WE KEEP CATERING TO ANYONE FROM ANY OTHER COUNTRY? HOW MANY TIMES IN A DAY DO YOU SEE NOT JUST ENGLISH ON AN ITEM BUT SPANISH ? WHY DOESN'T THE GOVERNMENT STOP ILLEGALS FROM BUYING NAMES ? GO TO LITTLE MEXICO IN CHICAGO AND YOU CAN GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE, SOCIAL SECURITY CARD AND OTHER NEEDED DOCUMENTS FOR VERY LITTLE MONEY. "

MRS. wrote on Jul 17, 2008 3:23 PM:

" RE:Randall Flagg: I drove truck a short while and I met Canadian drivers, all spoke English. My husband drove for about 40 years. I asked him and he said every Canadian he met spoke English. That does give validity to what some are saying about Spanish. Ehy just Spanish, what do we do if others that speak different languages decide we should learn their language too. Personally, I think we might want to learn Chinese the way things are going. "

Randall Flagg wrote on Jul 17, 2008 2:12 PM:

" Do other countries make Americans working there speak their language or get fined? I'm curious if we're the only ones who enforce such a law. I'm sure if it was just French-Canadians driving trucks we would have this law......I'm sure the Mexican thing didn't play a part. "

Askew Vulgarian wrote on Jul 17, 2008 1:43 PM:

" This must be a Southern thing. Take a ride on a CTA bus or train in Chicago. Then try to understand the driver/conductor when they announce the upcoming stops. NO ONE understand them. "

Jarhead71 wrote on Jul 17, 2008 1:34 PM:

" It does not say he has been driving IN the USA for 20 years, just that he has been driving a truck for 20 years. He is NOT a citizen, only a permanent alien resident. He chose to not learn English. If I were a permanent resident in Mexico, I would speak Spanish better than I do now and above a 3rd grade level. He and others like him are Mexican nationals that only watch Mexican TV, listen to Mexican radio and refuse to assimilate into US society. They want all of the benefits of living here and none of the responsibilities that go with citizenship. "

leroy republican wrote on Jul 17, 2008 12:40 PM:

" To FYI: The term "dumb" went out YEARS ago. "Mute" is far more appropriate.
I am all for the law. I think it is great and it's about time it is being enforced, but as mdorf4 stated, it is purely subjective. If the man has been driving truck for 20 years, my guess is he can probably communicate well enough to do his job. "

Bitter Academic wrote on Jul 17, 2008 12:38 PM:

" to: just a thought: Many companies include instructions in multiple languages so that they can sell their products in countries outside of the U.S. It's more cost-effective to print a larger manual than to manage the logistics of distribution based on which language is included in which box. "

FYI wrote on Jul 17, 2008 12:14 PM:

" I like the idea of English ONLY being spoken in the USA by anyone that lives and works here. This does bring up a question: Do they let 'dumb' people have CDL's? By dumb, I mean not able to speak at all. Last time I checked, there was no requirement to speak at all to drive...I can think of at least one local employer(not sure if still around) that regularly fired workers for speaking to each other while working. Requiring any ability to speak would be discrimination against dumb people. Yes, I'm grinning. "

CharlieHustle wrote on Jul 17, 2008 12:08 PM:

" Wow, what a racist America, requiring immigrants to learn the NATIONAL language. Preposterous!! "

MRS. wrote on Jul 17, 2008 12:06 PM:

" You are correct mh but we also have children from Mexico crossing the border every school day to attend school in the US.The parents waltz them right across the border, the government knows about it. Not only are we paying to educate them we are being dictated to by the Mexican government to us Mexican schoolbooks and teach Mexican curriculum. As far as truck drivers go, they aren't learning English they probably won't be required to. I believe more every day there is a hidden agenda this government doesn't want us to know about...yet. This is going to turn very ugly. I heard the other day we have Mexican drug cartel in 200 US cities. These are not the little guy that brings a backpack of drugs into the US. They are US citizens that come here for the sole purpose of committing crimes. What do you think is coming across the border in those trucks? "

middle of the road wrote on Jul 17, 2008 12:02 PM:

" on this subject. why do i have to push a button to choose English when i talk to my credit card company? it just is not right. "

Rivers wrote on Jul 17, 2008 11:59 AM:

" Anyone else chuckling that someone from Alabama would cite another person for speaking English poorly? I'd bet the police officer would get the same ticket in the rest of the country. Well, maybe not Mississippi. "

mdorf4 wrote on Jul 17, 2008 11:35 AM:

" I don't necessarily have a problem with the law, but it sure puts a lot of power into the officers' hands, since it is at his discretion. If you get a police officer that doesn't like Mexicans, there's a good chance he might think your English isn't good enough. "

mh wrote on Jul 17, 2008 11:31 AM:

" To: Charliehustle- We don't have a national languge!!! THATS THE PROBLEM! The goverment needs to stop arguing and start listening to the people. We are sick of it! "

mh wrote on Jul 17, 2008 11:28 AM:

" I think this is GREAT!! I think they need to take it a step higher. Not being able to speak english has hurt and cost our country dearly. Think of all the money we have to spend in our school system to hire spanish speaking teachers, this takes away money to hire other teachers, which leads to over crowding in classrooms and cuts in activities. It should be a requirement that when you come over here from a different country to live, you must be able to communicate and not be a BURDEN on OUR society!!!! "

62 wrote on Jul 17, 2008 11:23 AM:

" Wow, a law that is being enforced against not speaking English!!! What a novel concept. I would vote that they also have to take the written portion in English. Last time I checked road signs are in English. If you live here for 20 years and are a US citizen, I would think that your English would be above that of a 3rd grader. If you are gonna live here, learn and USE the language. If I move to Paris, I don't expect everyone there to speak English for me--I have to learn the language of my new country. Gets me riled when I am out and those that live here permanently do not use the language. Fine if your a tourist, not if your a citizen. "

just a thought wrote on Jul 17, 2008 11:01 AM:

" I'm a bit pessimistic this morning; bought a television this weekend and there were more instructions in Spanish than English. Not only a waste of paper, my chance to say READ and SPEAK English in the United States. It's simply arrogant of immigrants to think otherwise. Anyone remember Ellis Island about a hundred years ago? See any special interest booths for every nationality there? "

CharlieHustle wrote on Jul 17, 2008 10:26 AM:

" Wow, what a racist America, requiring immigrants to learn the NATIONAL language. Preposterous!! "

Jarhead71 wrote on Jul 17, 2008 10:21 AM:

" This is a good law for an American English speaking country. We need English as the OFFICIAL language of the USA. As stated in the article, it is a safety issue. I was recently in El Paso, TX where one in our group had their rental car totalled by a semi-trailer truck. The truck driver did not even stop to check on the passengers in the car. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. Down there they allow Mexican trucks and drivers within 50 miles of the Mexican border to drive in the USA. They do not even have to read or speak English at all. "
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