New English Exam Sidelines 6,000 Truckers
Posted by FloridaColonel@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 12 comments
"Between June 1 and Monday, around 6,000 truckers were pulled off the road for English-language proficiency violations, according to a Washington Post analysis of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration data.
On Wednesday, the Transportation Department announced it would withhold more than $40 million in funding to California, accusing the state of failing to comply with the new English-proficiency requirement. “California is the only state in the nation that refuses to ensure big rig drivers can read our road signs and communicate with law enforcement,” Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said in a statement....
The English-proficiency exams have been given for years, but in 2016 the Obama administration loosened the rules, saying drivers who failed the tests would get a ticket rather than being pulled off the road. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, an agency within Transportation, said at the time there was a lack of evidence tying a lack of English proficiency to trucker accidents."
(Just a small note here: "inspections with ELP violations have more overall violations (exclusive of ELP violations) compared to inspections without ELP violations. The difference is substantial: 2.5 times the number of total violations relative to a comparison group, over 2 times the rate for the most egregious violations, and almost 3 times the rate for the most egregious driver violations. Third, carriers with ELP violations have bad safety scores, as measured by the DOT. This is especially true for the vehicle maintenance and unsafe driving categories, where the average carrier scores would often be in "alert" status as defined by the DOT.")
WalmartSushi007@reddit
Now post the names of the companies so we know whos hiring.
ElMeroCeltibero@reddit
You don't want to work for the types of places that hire these guys lol
WalmartSushi007@reddit
You know...that's a valid and good point.
Defiant-Kale-3916@reddit
I would say in my experience this isn't true about California. I got pulled into the Cordelia scale and was given a 10 question English exam alongside 2 other drivers. 1 of them failed. Idk if they took his license and truck but I know he was definitely put OOS. Me and the other guy headed on our way.
Pretty easy questions. It did have 4 questions that had simple math as well. As an example: Susie wanted to buy 2 apples and they were $2.25 each and she has a $5 bill can she afford it. Type stuff. Honestly, if you can't pass it then you really shouldn't be driving.
scottiethegoonie@reddit
They seriously sat u down with pencil and paper to take a test?
RamenPizza113@reddit
Wow
qaf0v4vc0lj6@reddit
I got pulled into a weigh station in Stateville, NC, a couple of weeks ago, and there was an officer standing at the scale asking questions that were clearly designed to gauge English proficiency.
I was previously indifferent to the enforcement of the English provisions, but based on the questions I was asked and the literal 10-second interaction it was, I am all for it now. I didn't have to get out of my truck, I barely had to stop. Easy peesy.
Redsoxdragon@reddit
Someone was complaining a few weeks back that people were failing these tests because they were making them read a few pages of "cat in the hat"
Yes, the bar is that low, yes people are actually crying about it, and yes, i pissed myself laughing
Relic5000@reddit
What were the questions?
qaf0v4vc0lj6@reddit
He was standing at the scale by the intercom and the scale had a solid green the whole time. As I was pulling up he is instructing me (and all the other trucks) to roll our window down.
Officer: Good morning, how are you doing?
Me: Good morning, I am doing good. Just headed to Greensboro.
Officer: What are you hauling?
Me: I am empty.
Officer: So it's safe to say you're not hauling HAZMAT, then, right?
Me: Yes, sir.
Officer: Alright, have a good day.
hera_the_destroyer@reddit
I am all for people coming to this country searching for a better life. That is the essence of America. That being said, anyone in a truck should be able to answer those questions. They open up a dialogue that can contain very important information.
FloridaColonel@reddit (OP)
Just a note on the change in 2016: we actually have some data on that now: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/396011896_Are_English-Language_Violations_Associated_With_Unsafe_Carriers
"Second, inspections with ELP violations have more overall violations (exclusive of ELP violations) compared to inspections without ELP violations. The difference is substantial: 2.5 times the number of total violations relative to a comparison group, over 2 times the rate for the most egregious violations, and almost 3 times the rate for the most egregious driver violations. Third, carriers with ELP violations have bad safety scores, as measured by the DOT. This is especially true for the vehicle maintenance and unsafe driving categories, where the average carrier scores would often be in "alert" status as defined by the DOT."